Regional Youth Events Takeover

Every year, the Cree School Board organizes regional events for our students to help inspire learning in the arts and science, to encourage public speaking skills, to celebrate Cree culture, and promote good sportsmanship. In brief, here’s what you may have missed for March 2023.
Scroll to: Science Fair - Public Speaking - Basketball
Québec Indigenous Science Fair 2023
March 21-23, 2023
Students were invited to the Québec Indigenous Science Fair 2023 by the Quebec Aboriginal Science and Engineering Association (QASEA) and Université Laval. Almost 60 teenagers from 17 Quebec First Nations and Inuit communities met at Université Laval, including eight from Eeyou Istchee.
Below is a list of the results of our students, organized by category:
Grade 5 Category
- 3rd Place – Angel MacLeod & Lennox Swallow – Voyageur Memorial Elementary School, Mistissini – Water: The Essence of Life
Grade 6 Category
- 2nd Place – Jonathan Rambotis – Voyageur Memorial Elementary School, Mistissini – Shake, Rattle & Roll
Secondary 2 and 3 Category
- 2nd place – Rory Henry Felstead & Kristopher Neeposh Décoursay – Luke Mettaweskum School, Nemaska – Colourful Fire
Secondary 4 and 5 Category
- 2nd place – Malachi Coonishish – Waapihtiiwewan School, Oujé-Bougoumou (selected for the L’EXPO SCIENCES PAN-CANADIENNE).
Congrats to our young scientists!
Regional Public Speaking
March 23, 2023
The Joy Ottereyes Rainbow Elementary School in Wemindji hosted the Regional Public Speaking Contest on March 23, 2023. Students gave outstanding speeches that were engaging and motivating to many.
The following are the results of the Regional Public Speaking contest, organized by category:
Cree Category:
- 1st Place - Kassius Sutherland - Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School, Waswanipi - Do You Think Aboriginal Youth are at risk of losing their culture?
English Category:
- 1st Place - Kaylee Ryan Capissisit - Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School, Waswanipi - Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women
- 2nd Place - Samir Kinder - Waapihtiiwewan School, Oujé-Bougoumou - Why we should ban animal testing
- 3rd Place - Tanisha Bear - Voyageur Memorial High School, Mistissini - How can Post-Secondary education lead to a betterment of Cree society?
French Category:
- 1st Place - Mallory Dixon - Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School, Waswanipi - Do sports help or hinder academic performance?
- 2nd Place - Deandra Spencer-Tebiscon - James Bay Eeyou School, Chisasibi - My biggest concern for Eeyou Istchee is...
The Cree School Board Regional Public Speaking trophy/plaque was awarded to the school with the most points. Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School of Waswanipi is this year’s school champions. Congrats to all students!
Youth Basketball Tournament 2023
March 17-19, 2023
We haven’t had a Cree School Board Regional Basketball Tournament for over ten years. It was a thrilling weekend for seven communities who gathered in Mistissini to shoot some hoops at the Voyageur Memorial School gymnasium. All 130 players were smiling and dribbling their way to the title in spirit of competition!
“There was a lot of new friendships built, team bonding and sportsmanship showed at this tournament,” said Melissa Rickard, Coordinator of Student Engagement, “students are excited for next year.”
Congratulations to our finalists, James Bay Eeyou School Boys and Voyageur Memorial High School Girls, as well as our 2022-2023 Champions, Voyageur Memorial High School Boys and École Wiinibekuu School Girls.
Final Scores, organized by category:
Girls Category:
- Champions: École Wiinibekuu School at 18 points
- Finalists: Voyageur Memorial High School at 10 points
Boys Category:
- Champions: Voyageur Memorial High School at 39 points
- Finalists: James Bay Eeyou School at 18 points
Skills Competition, organized by category:
Girls Category:
- Free Throw: Bryn from Waswanipi
- Knockout: Bryn from Waswanipi
- 3 Pointer: Tyana Shecapio from Mistissini
Boys Category:
- Free Throw: Ralph House from Chisasibi
- Knockout: Nolan JR Gunner from Mistissini
- Knockout: Estevan Gunner from Mistissini
- 3 Pointer: Zack Gunner from Mistissini
- Horse: Nolan JR Gunner From Mistissini
Congrats to all players!