Moose Cree First Nation

Moose Cree First Nation is a Cree-speaking Nation, and the Cree language (n-dialect) is widely spoken, especially among Elders and cultural leaders. Moose Cree culture emphasizes a close spiritual and practical relationship with the lands and waters of James Bay.

Cultural priorities include:

• Year-round harvesting of goose, moose, and fish
• Spring and fall hunting camps
• Elders’ oral history and land-based education programs
• Cree syllabics education and language immersion programs

Moose Cree First Nation is a founding signatory to Treaty 9, signed in 1905. The community’s relationship with the Hudson’s Bay Company and early colonial forces goes back centuries, with Moose Factory established in the 1600s as a fur trading post.

This long history of trade, resilience, and diplomacy positions Moose Cree as a central voice in Northern Ontario’s governance and natural resource policies. The community has actively asserted its treaty rights in recent legal and political forums, especially concerning environmental assessments and cumulative impacts.

• Pre-1600s–1700s
  Cree families occupy the Moose River region, sustaining themselves through hunting, fishing, and trading along river systems.

• 1673: Establishment of Moose Factory
  Hudson’s Bay Company sets up a major trading post at Moose Factory, where Moose Cree families work, trade, and interact with newcomers.

• 1905–1906: Treaty 9 Signed
  Moose Cree signs Treaty 9 under the impression their rights to land and livelihood would remain intact.
  Oral accounts differ from the written treaty’s interpretation.

• 1950s–1970s: Disruptions from Residential Schools and Hydro Development
  Children are sent to residential schools in Fort Albany and other locations; hydroelectric projects alter traditional lands and water routes.

• 1980s–2000s: Legal and Environmental Action
  Moose Cree launches legal challenges and participates in environmental reviews to protect their homelands from overdevelopment.

• 2000s–Present: Active Stewardship and Economic Planning
  The Moose Cree Nation is deeply involved in regional land use planning, hydro negotiations, and asserting sovereignty in relation to infrastructure and Ring of Fire–related projects.

Moose Cree First Nation is governed by an elected Chief and Council and is a member of the Mushkegowuk Council and Nishnawbe Aski Nation. The Nation’s governance model blends contemporary structures with traditional guidance from Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

Moose Cree First Nation Joint Ventures (JVs) and Economic Development

Moose Cree First Nation is active in numerous Joint Ventures (JVs) and economic projects aimed at balancing prosperity and environmental stewardship.

Key projects include:

• Amisk-oo-Skow Comprehensive Environmental Agreement with Ontario Power Generation
• Moose Cree Construction LP – supporting infrastructure and housing
• Hydro One partnerships on transmission projects
• Tourism and heritage initiatives on Moose Factory Island
• Cultural monitoring and environmental services
• Moose Cree’s economic strategy emphasizes long-term revenue generation, capacity building, and community-led business ownership, working together with mining companies.

Moose Cree leads environmental reviews and is involved in several regional environmental monitoring programs focused on:

• James Bay water quality
• Shoreline erosion and habitat protection
• Cumulative effects of mining, hydroelectric, and forestry activities
• Climate resilience in Far North communities
• Moose Cree First Nation has been outspoken about the need for inclusive impact assessments regarding the Ring of Fire’s downstream effects.

Moose Cree First Nation’s territory is ecologically vital, encompassing key parts of the James Bay watershed and supporting traditional knowledge, biodiversity monitoring, and environmental stewardship.

• James Bay Watershed: Moose Cree territory includes a vast delta, wetlands, and boreal ecosystems that are home to migratory birds and keystone wildlife
• Wildlife Monitoring: The community works with partners to track changes in moose, bear, and bird populations
• Medicinal Plants and Traditional Use Areas: MCFN elders still harvest traditional medicines in protected zones

• Chief Mervin Cheechoo: A respected leader advocating for environmental protection and Indigenous jurisdiction
• Stan Louttit (1951–2013): Former Grand Chief of Mushkegowuk Council and Indigenous advocate
• Lawrence Martin: Musician and former Ontario regional Chief

• Historical Significance: Moose Factory is Ontario’s oldest English-speaking settlement, established in 1673 by the Hudson’s Bay Company.
• Island Living: Moose Factory is located on an island in the Moose River and is accessed seasonally by water taxi, train, or ice road.
• Cree Language Days: Moose Cree First Nation schools run weekly language days focused on Cree storytelling, music, and syllabic writing.
• Community Goose Hunt: Each spring, community members participate in a large-scale goose hunt — an event with cultural, spiritual, and food security value.
• Museum and Heritage Centre: Moose Factory hosts the Cree Cultural Interpretive Centre, preserving oral history and traditional artifacts.