For the First Nations, cultural preservation required conquest of their traditional territories. Among the Pekuakamiulnuatsh, the Ilnu (Innu) of Mashteuiatsh, hunting of migratory birds is a reason for conquering Pehkupessekau (Pointe-Racine), at the mouth of the Mistassini River, at the entrance to Lac Saint-Jean, a gathering place . and transmission in which thousands of years of tradition continue.
The extreme heat of a Saturday afternoon in May did not hinder the Dominique family’s celebration.
My mother’s birthday, explains Julienne Dominique, who prepares hare stew for the occasion. She celebrates her birthday in Pointe-Racine every year.
The Dominiques built and occupied a camp every spring in Pehkupesekau.
My father is huntingsaid Julienne Dominique, who is now sitting at the table with her sister Doris and her mother, Yvonne Manigouche.
We boarded a canoe from Mashteuiatsh, he said. We met other families on the water. We are the last nomads.
We stayed here until the bustards left for the North, Julienne Dominique continued. We could hear them, they were passing just above the tent, so when we didn’t hear anything, we knew we had to leave.
But we always have a hard time leaving and going back to the village, he said. We always have grief when it comes time to leave the territory. We are fine.
” It is our privilege to be here and to experience what our ancestors experienced. We can still practice our traditions in the territory. “
I am very proud to see people from the community coming and interested in continuing the traditionsglad for her part Doris Dominique to join the conversation.
It’s always a gathering place, he says. The estuaries have always been a meeting place for us, and that’s still what we do to this day.
Certainly before we boarded the canoe or portage, but now we got by car, smiling he admits. The values remain, however.
Nearby, Julienne’s 10-year-old granddaughter, Amy-Jade, listens to the women in her family talking while drawing.
She wanted to accompany the hunters, her grandmother said. He helps us all the time. He was always there and he wanted to learn.
When we kill bustards and white geese, we pull them out and then I burn the feathers and remove the fat with a knife. That’s what I like to do in the woodsAmy-Jade confessed before sitting down to eat for the birthday meal.
From confrontation to unity
Officially, the Pehkupessekau site, where some families such as the Dominiques, gather is still part of the Dolbeau-Mistassini municipality.
The area is a haven for migratory birds, and only Pekuakamiulnuatsh can practice hunting there. Their presence there has been there for almost thirty years.
There was a confrontation that must have taken place in the early 1990s, a fairly intense confrontation, with force. People fought for access to the siterecollection of Councilor Jonathan Germain.
In 1992, another location near Pehkupesekau, Boulianne Island, was the scene of this battle. While the hunters from Mashteuiatsh were there, wildlife officials confiscated their weapons.
After discussions between the community leader and the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs at the time, an agreement was reached.
Over time, we made agreements with nearby municipalities, along with the government to say that for us it was important. This is a traditional annual event, so we want to continue to exercise our rights and our skills in hunting migratory birds here.said Mr. Germain.
A shipping site
In the community tent that serves as the kitchen, it is filled with game preparation offered at the gathering.
Nina Bossum oversees the cleaning and seasoning of the Canadian geese, beaver and caribou to be served.
Twenty years ago, he learned how to make shakupuan, the traditional method of preparation, from Albert Raphaël and his wife in Pehkupessekau.
I started asking him to find out how he was, and next year I would come back and watch him do it again, he recalled. He took me under his wing and showed me everything.
It’s a skill that’s always practiced, he says. I learned this from Albert and now I can show it to others.
Even now, Mr. is not far away. Raphaël. Si Ms. Bossum did not hesitate to ask him for his advice and approval.
Albert is the one who really wants us to do this, Nina Bossum said. This is his last year, Albert is 84 years old. This will be the last time we will do it together.
The cooking game takes some time. The meats are hung over a long fire.
Mrs. Bossum and Mr. Raphaël need to watch it and keep it up all day.
According to Mr. Raphaël, a lot of preparation time is worth it.
I’m always told it’s good, but it’s not to braghe said laughing.
This is the last time I will do it [la viande] here, but I’ll be back for a walkhe concludes.
Gabrielle PaulGabrielle Paul
Source: Radio-Canada
