The Cree First Nation

The Cree First Nation call themselves Eeyou and their land is called Eeyou Istchee. The Eeyou are united through their common interests, their traditional values and their culture. 10 Cree First Nations communities in northern Quebec

A First Nation who went from an extensive trade alliance with the Hudson Bay, who were extorted by Europeans who only wanted to expand their wealth and their influence and Cree communities who are now independently administered through their local governments.

Photo from the Cree Nation and Government

The Cree Peoples of Eeyou Istchee

Eleven Cree communities and hundreds of "traplines" formally called traditional family hunting and trapping grounds. A long-established territory mostly located in the northern part of the province of Quebec.

Each elected Chief sits on the Board of Directors of the Grand Council of Eeyou Istchee and on the Council of the Cree Nation Government. Both Councils address common Cree nations and common Cree issues.

Nine of the eleven Cree communities are part of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. The tenth, Washaw Sibi is in the process of establishing its community and will soon join the Treaty while the eleventh, the MoCreebec maintains a unique affiliation with the other Eeyou First Nation. Eleven Cree Nations and eleven websites.

Cree First Nation
Administration and Government

Each Cree First Nation is administered independently through its local government and each elected Chief sits on the Board of Directors of the Eeyou Istchee Grand Council and on the Council of the Cree Nation Government to address common Cree Nation issues.

Two distinct legal entities - the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and the Cree Nation Government - but with identical membership, board of directors and governing structure managed and operated as one organization by the Cree Nation.

Photo from the Cree Nation and Government

Cree Nation issues such as Apatisiiwin* skills development, Child and family services, Commerce and industry, Capital works and services, Eeyou Eenou police force, Environment and remedial works, Finance and treasury, Human resources, Justice and correctional services and Social and cultural development. *Apatisiiwin in Cree, employment, training and jobs in English.

The Cree language belongs to the Algonquian language family, the most widely spoken Indigenous language in Canada followed by the Iroquian language family. Cree stories that tell about their past, their religion, the presence of a Great Manitou and the belief that all natural objects animals, plants, trees, rivers, mountains, rocks have souls.

The 10 Quebec First Nations are the Abenakis, Anishinaabeg, Atikamekw, Crees, Huron-Wendats, Innus, Maliseets, Mi'kmaq, Mowhawks and Naskapis plus, the Inuit in Inuit Nunangat.