Travels in Eeyou Istchee

The mouth of the Rupert river with the sun setting over James Bay. The image was captured from the community of Waskaganish. 

Ian Diamond and I had been traveling for many hours. He is a professional photographer living in the community of Waskaganish. We were on photo expeditions for clients in Ottawa.

The location was set in the James Bay region. A place in the far reaches of northern Quebec known as Eeyou Istchee. 

The mandates were to shoot for the Grand Council of the Crees. We were to record the latest development in the Communities within Eeyou Istchee and generate a bank of images for their Annual Reports. The trip would take us to a number of Cree communities where welcoming people greeted us willing to open their doors while allowing us to interrupt their usual routine with the cameras glued to our faces.

We drove for hours on these trips along Route du Nord a lengthy snow-covered dirt road that extends from the James Bay Coastal region of the Cree Nation deep into the interior where the communities of Ouje Bougomou, Waswanipi and Mistissini are located. 

Time in the north is always rewarding, from past experiences I have a constant pull or yearning to go back. Taking the photo gear and recording events along the way makes these trips special occasions that forge memories.  

Experience while in Eeyou Istchee always includes the customary huge generosity and style of the people we meet while on the road. The photographs provide a permanent record of the travels and refreshing memories bringing back the good times between long haul road travel through the vast Cree Nation and engaging times in the communities with those we meet for our short stays along the way. On one excursion we drove through Mistissini.

After many hours on the Route Du Nord southbound, we arrived in Mistissini. Little did I know that the trip was timed precisely for a “Journey of Hope” which took place. Young people celebrating in regalia, snowshoes, toboggans and traditional gear set out for long walks bringing attention to local concerns in their community. 

We captured many images from the event. The walker entourage organized inside canvas roofed structures that were kept warm by wood stoves. A spot on the outskirts of the community alongside the ice-covered water-font of Lac Mistassini. The lake is a vast freshwater labyrinth of channels, islands, and open expanses. A magnificent body of water that holds the size record for the largest freshwater lake in the province of Quebec. We were offered traditional bush food while awaiting the walkers' departure. A display of a Moose head being butchered took place being prepared for a feast. I was presented with an eyeball. 

The walkers suited up-in the lodging space, about to embark outside into the biting cold through a veil of snowfall for arrival on foot across the ice advancing toward the town onward into the community centre. 
We captured this event using the Nikon’s and touring with the vehicle to get decent vantage points.

On another expedition after a long day on the road, we made it to Ouje Bougoumou. The notable architecture throughout the community is designed by world-famous Architect Douglas Cardinal. We arrived just before the sun was setting. The stay here was booked at the very modern Capissisit Lodge the rooms here use a Nordic style interior. From the welcoming front desk, you enter into a towering wooden post and beam atrium. 
The natural light pouring down across three floors from above.

The Capissisit Lodge design opens up the outdoor panoramas inside with massive picture windows bringing the space alive with grandeur and light from the big sky outdoors and spectacular landscape. Time spent at this modern inviting retreat made that journey a great escape into the north.

Ian and I made it to Lake Opemisca minutes away from the lodge with some time before nightfall.  When we arrived the setting was wide open to a beach and distant views of tree lines on the horizons, typical of boreal forest that is familiar in most of the Cree Nation. A vantage place with an endless horizon out across the vast waterway and forest landscape expanses. 

Coming from urban living in the south on a clear sky evening in the northern regions magic happens. Within Eeyou Istchee looking into the evening sky. The sun explodes across the big sky with outstanding displays of colours, patterns, and silhouettes these sun settings are truly a sight to behold they form a backdrop to life in the territory which is breathtaking.

A family there on the lake front that evening was having a get together on the beach which they had situated all to themselves. 

Once the sun got lower in the sky it created a magnificent odyssey of light. Two young children were playing on a single dock in the foreground performing a dance which they staged under the sky. They offered a dynamic presence that put movement and life into the composition this moment of drama a fortunate event that cemented the human expression. In my view that was a gift that made the spectacular landscape come alive framing the image along our journey to Ouje Bogoumou.

A picture tells 787 words.