Cree Hunters Economic Security Board and Partners Contribute to Reconstruction Fund

The Cree Hunters Economic Security Board, alongside 16 mining and exploration companies, has announced a collective financial contribution of $750,000 for the Reconstruction Initiative Forest Fires Fund 2023. This fund aims to restore cabins destroyed by the 2023 wildfires in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec. The collaboration involves the Cree Hunters Board, mining industry, and local communities, enabling reconstruction efforts from 2025, complementing ongoing work by the Cree Trappers' Association.

Wildfires affected 11% of the land and nearly 60% of traplines, underscoring the critical need for this initiative. Key contributors include CHESB with $400,000, and Newmont Éléonore with $50,000, with additional contributions from companies like Critical Elements Lithium Corporation and Rio Tinto Exploration.

Leaders like Normand Champigny of Quebec Precious Metals and Serge Larivière of the CHESB highlight the importance of this initiative in supporting Cree traditional lifestyles, emphasizing the need for cabins in sustaining their way of life.