The trail of the Rabbit Fur Coat

One of the most exciting things that happened with our museum collection in the last few months was the amazing reunification of an object with the family of the maker.

In May 2015, ACCI hosted a Curatorial workshop lead by Moira McCaffrey, and one of the attendees was Linda Stewart Georgekish from Wemindji. At this time, she mentioned to us that her late mother Demaris Gilpin Stewart had made a rabbit fur coat ‘for a museum’ back in the 1980s and that she has been looking for it ever since! We informed her that we do have a few rabbit fur coats in our collection and that we would keep an eye out.

           A few months ago, Linda posted a photograph on Facebook of her nephew, Bernard Stewart, modelling the coat when he was a boy in 1980:

Bernard Stewart, 1980

ACCI Hosts Major Tourism Announcement by Minister of Tourism

The Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute has once again hosted a major tourist gathering in the region. The Quebec Minister for Tourism, Pascal Bérubé was at ACCI to announce a Funding Agreement totaling $1.4 million to be invested in the region for tourism development.

Representatives from the Crees and Jamesian along with The Cree Tourism Association , Eeyou Itschee and James Bay Tourism were present to hear this exciting news.   ACCI President Diane Ottereyes-Ried welcomed the Minister Bérubé to ACCI.  Abel Bosum, of the Ouje-Bougoumou Council, welcomed the Minister to the Community.

Minister Pascal Bérubé did not hide his admiration for the building that houses the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute. 

Minister Pascal Bérubé’s message in the guest book reads…

“A wonderful visit to the heart of the heritage of the great Cree Nation.

A fascinating culture that is worth being known.

Long life between the friendship our two peoples”