Some Crees in northern Quebec are taking action to keep their traditional camps more secure against break-ins and thefts.
Last month, Noah Cheechoo from Mistissini heard about local cabins being broken into. He decided to take a drive out through the logging road to his family campsite to check up on it.
“Sure enough, it got broken into. The doors got kicked in,” Cheechoo recalled.
“It was an overwhelming experience…to us, that kind of shock.”
With the door lock completely broken, the family found that traditional paddles, snowshoes, artwork and blankets were missing. Cheechoo said his mother-in-law’s cabin nearby was also broken into.
“I’ve been with my wife and the family for over 20 years… We’ve never experienced this before. Our camp, our cabins never got broken into,” said Cheechoo.