By Xavier Kataquapit
I’ve been filled with a renewed sense of hope for the future through the work of Jeronimo Kataquapit, who has made it his mission to highlight the connection that the people of Attawapiskat have to the land and its waters.
He is the son of James Kataquapit and Monique Edwards who are both deeply connected to families in Attawapiskat and Fort Albany First Nation. James is also my cousin. Jeronimo’s grandparents, Alex and Susan Kataquapit and Daniel and Elsie Edwards, have always represented traditional Cree families who are deeply connected to the land.
Jeronimo, his brother Jonathan, and their parents James and Monique have been sharing a series of video logs on a recent trip they have embarked on from Attawapiskat to travel west along the river to share and highlight the traditional land where they come from.
It is part of a protest and call to action for everyone to stand up against recent government policy, such as the Ontario government’s Bill 5 and the federal government’s Bill C-5. You can follow their journey on Facebook at Here We Stand - Call to Action
They hosted a series of gatherings in Attawapiskat leading up to their journey to allow young people to paint and share a family flag to symbolize their participation. Jeronimo and his family plan to take the flags and post them on the Attawapiskat River to show the world our people are still connected to the land. They hope to travel as far as the Muketei River, 200 km inland and connect with allies in Neskantaga First Nation, an Ojibway First Nation, on Attawapiskat Lake, 400 km from James Bay. Their journey will also be joined by supporters from the other James Bay communities who will meet them at different points using float planes.
The Ontario government’s Bill 5, according to a Chiefs of Ontario (COO) statement, is described as ‘It concentrates decision-making power in the hands of ministers and the Lieutenant Governor without mandating First Nations involvement, threatening sovereignty, land stewardship, and ongoing reconciliation efforts.’
The federal government’s Bill C-5 was described by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) as ‘Chiefs raised strong concerns over the rushed legislative process, lack of meaningful consultation, narrowly defined national interest that excludes First Nations priorities and perspectives, a failure to support First Nations priorities such as closing the infrastructure gap, and the broader implications for rights and jurisdiction’.
First Nation leaders and advocates are protesting and fighting back against both sets of new government powers which essentially threaten to override First Nation rights on the land they live on. The Ontario Bill 5 allows the provincial government to designate special economic zones that would allow companies to bypass regulations and rules that are meant to protect the environment, ecology, water and rules to consult with First Nations on development. The Ontario government is focusing its attention on the Ring of Fire mining zone west of James Bay and right at the head waters of the Attawapiskat River.
During their first video posting, the group stopped at the confluence of the Attawapiskat and Lawashi River at a place called Mahkehshekamik, or the Fox Channel. I was happy to see them there as it was one of the places I had visited with James and my dad Marius and brothers many years ago in the summer to fish and gather logs. It felt good to see the pictures of the majestic red hued water in this part of river as the channel can narrow down to wild rapids between the rocks and then open up to wide open expanses of water lined with endless pristine forests.
I felt happy when James and Monique spoke Ininewmoon (Cree language) to share how they spotted moose, geese and even a set of giant pelicans. This is the magic of the land as the time they spend there means that both Jeronimo and Jonathan get to hear the stories, legends, history and culture of our people from their parents.
Every mile of this great river has a story of how it fed people, saved people from starvation, where adventures happened and also stories of people that had been lost to the land. Many locations tell a story of travel by canoe, by portage and in the winter about people moving by dog sled, snowshoe and snowmobile to travel to and from their fishing areas, hunting camps, traditional family trap lines, birth places and burial grounds. These lands are not merely some place for resource developers to invade and tear apart to make money. This land is our home and has been since the dawn of time. It is who we are as a people.
I was deeply moved by Jeronimo’s direct action to spend time on the land he and his family want to defend. The journey is only part of the protest led by leaders speaking out against Bill 5 and Bill C-5 in events across the province and country organized by Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN), COO, AFN and so many chiefs, council members and groups spearheaded by First Nation youth in northern Ontario, such as Jeronimo Kataquapit, Jonathan Edwards, Ramon Kataquapit, Shem Mattinas, Cedar Iahtail and Leeon Prince, to name a few.
Meegwetch to all who are standing up for the land.
Top photo: Jeronimo Kataquapit (right) with his father James Kataquapit on the Attawapiskat River as part of their protest ‘Here We Stand - Call to Action’ against recent government decisions that threaten First Nation rights. Jeronimo and his family want to demonstrate to the world their people’s connection to the river and the land. Photo by Jeronimo Kataquapit.