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Premiering May12th to May 16th at 6pm, we are airing a special series of news stories exploring the northern way of life. Kelly Noseworthy went to the shores of James Bay to find out how changes in climate and the environment affect the traditional way of life in four Native communities: Attawapiskat First Nation, Moose Factory, Fort Albany First Nation and Kashechewan First Nation.

Monday May 12th - Flood Evacuation - Stay or Go?

Annual spring ice breakup threatens many of the Native communities on the shores of James Bay every year. For many families, the decision to evacuate is an emotional one.

 

 

Tuesday May 13th - Flooded Homes

During the ice breakup this spring, hundreds of people were forced out of their homes because of flooding. Get a first hand look at how one person is coping.

 

 

Wednesday May 14th

Profile of a Flood Coordinator

During the flood season, the safety of an entire community rests on the advice of one person. In Attawapiskat, its Steve Hookimaw...here's his story.

 

 

Moose Factory Hotel Clean-up

This year's spring ice breakup caused major flooding in the James Bay area. Homes and businesses were damaged. Find out how one local business is drying out!

 

 

Thursday May 15th - Community Water Treatment

In many ways, these companies operate like any other Canadian town, but when it comes to water treatment there are unique concerns.

 

 

Friday May 16th - Five Nations Energy Power

When a storm knocks out power, for most of us, it's a minor inconvenience. But, in remote communities, damage to the grid can take days or even weeks to repair. In this report, we look at a power company working to provide a reliable source of energy along the shores of James Bay.

 

Attawapiskat

The Attawapiskat First Nation is located approximately 260 km north of Moosonee, near the mouth of the Attawapiskat River along the western coast of James Bay. It has an on-reserve population of 1,498. Timmins is 500 km to the south. The community can be accessed by air and winter road or by barge during the summer.

Attawapiskat has two reserves. Attawapiskat No. 91A, where the people reside, has a land base of 131 hectares. Attawapiskat No. 91 is located up river and has a land base of 27,040 hectares, although Attawapiskat No. 91 is uninhabited and the land is used primarily for traditional purposes.

The reserve has a hospital, nurses' residence, post office, First Nation-operated elementary and secondary schools, band office, Northern Store, church, community hall, arena, all-weather airport, and police station. In addition, a team of First Nation Peacekeepers work in the community.

Attawapiskat's on-reserve secondary school, built by the First Nation, means a great deal to the community. In the past, leaving home to attend school created many disruptions in the community, especially for those students who were separated from their families and homes for extended periods of time. The school also provides opportunities for mature students to continue secondary education at home.

The community, which has approximately 260 houses, has an extensive road system, diesel generation system operated by Ontario Hydro, and water system. A new sewage system was constructed in 1994-1995. Dykes are now being constructed to protect the community from spring flooding, which sometimes necessitates emergency evacuations.

Source: Five Nations Energy Inc.

Fort Albany & Kashechewan

The Fort Albany #67 Indian Reserve is unique because there are two First Nations residing on the land - Fort Albany and Kashechewan. The Fort Albany reserve has a total land base of 36,346 hectares.

The Fort Albany reserve originated as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post. The reserve boundaries were described in the 1905 Treaty No. 9. During the 1950s, the reserve divided into two communities; Albany and Kashechewan. A result of this division was that Albany maintained its largely Roman Catholic identity, while Kashechewan remained mostly Anglican.

The Fort Albany First Nation is on the south bank of the Albany River about 15 kilometres upstream from James Bay, and has an on-reserve population of 900. The community of Fort Albany consists of three areas: the mainland, Anderson Island and Sinclair Island. Kashechewan, with an on-reserve population of 1,600, is located close by along the north bank of the Albany River. Both communities are approximately 150 km north of Moosonee.

Each First Nation now maintains their own public buildings, institutions, social services, air strips, and governments. Hospital services are available at Fort Albany only, but the community of Kashechewan has a health clinic. Both Fort Albany and Kashechewan are accessible by a winter road that connects the communities to the town of Moosonee. During the summer months, barges deliver materials and supplies. Even so, for most of the year, the communities are accessible by air travel only.

Source: Five Nations Energy Inc.

Moose Factory

Moose Factory is located near the mouth of the mighty Moose River on an island approximately 13 miles south from the southern tip of James Bay. It is 186 miles north of Cochrane Ontario. The closest urban centre is Timmins, Ontario. The neighbouring community is the town of Moosonee which is located on the mainland approximately three miles from Moose Factory.

The overall population of the community is approximately 2,700. The total Moose Cree membership as of December 31, 2005 is 3,562. The on-reserve population is 1,531 and the off-reserve population is 2,031.

History of Moose Factory

Since time immemorial the members of Moose Cree First Nation (formerly known as Moose Factory Band of Indians) have occupied the large portions land, which is now referred to, as Moose Cree traditional territory.

The Crees were a peaceful nation who, for most of the year, would travel to and from harvesting areas, living off the land. During the summer months they traveled on the waterways by canoe: harvesting and preserving fish, berries and other food staples. Bountiful waterfowl was harvested during the fall months along the shores of the James Bay.

Prior to the arrival of harsh winter months the families made their way to their wintering grounds where they will harvest big game and fur bearing animals. Just prior to the spring thaw, the Cree families hunted waterfowl as they migrated north. Thus was the annual cycle of the swampy Crees.

The early exposure to the European society had drastically influenced the lifestyle of the local inhabitants of the area. A fur trading post was "established" in Moose Factory area in 1673 by the Hudson's Bay Company. As a result, the Crees began to congregate in and around the fur trade post and became deeply exposed to European lifestyle. Today, Moose Factory holds the "distinction" of being Ontario's oldest English speaking settlement in Ontario.

Source: Moose Cree First Nation