large area east of James and Hudson Bays is where the Eeyou Istchee has lived since the glaciers left about 5,000 years ago. They have held title to it since the beginning of time, which was confirmed under common law by the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the James Bay, and Northern Quebec Agreement of 1975. The Crees name Eeyou Istchee means Peoples Land. They are an Algonqian speaking people (GCCEI). Schooling for Cree children started from birth through the age of five to six years old becoming totally involved in learning their language, social patterns, traditional norms, expectations appropriate for their age and sex. Upon the late arrival of the 1950s the childrens way of life changed drastically as they were sent from the homes away to boarding schools. They were taught for nine months of the year a different language, ate different foods, and teachers taught them what they thought would be useful to them for a modern way of life. The children soon found it difficult while they were in school as well as when they returned home. They felt like they did not belong in either world (GCCEI).A Cree term used having a variety of meanings is Nitao. It has five basic meanings: to see something or to look at something; to go to get or to fetch something; to need something; to want something; and to grow or continue to grow (GCCEI). The Cree believe animals are gifts and do not only give themselves, they are given by the wind persons and by God or Jesus. The wind persons live at the Four Corners of the earth and have specific personal characteristics related to particular seasons, weather and animal patterns, hunting conditions, and success. The wind persons also like God to the world (GCCEI). The Americans see the meaning of power as a way to control others or the world. The Crees see power in a different complex way being that human knowledge is always incomplete, and there is a gap between what humans think and what actually happens. ...
