The Cree describe themselves as a hunting people. Up until the 1950s almost the entire Cree population was fully engaged in hunting, trapping and fishing. Today many Cree live a more sedentary existence as wage earners within their communities but they still have close links with the land. Many Cree families are still primarily dependant on hunting, trapping, and fishing for a livelihood while a significant proportion of the wage earners hunt part time.

The hunting, trapping and fishing activities of the Cree can be divided into two main groups, the communities that live on the coast of James Bay and those that live in the interior. The coastal Cree are heavily dependant on the geese that migrate through their territory each spring and fall. It's estimated these goose hunts provide the coastal communities with four months supply of meat each year. While the coastal Cree also have their hunting grounds relatively close to their villages, the Cree communities in the interior are more dependant on big game like moose and caribou and their hunting grounds are often far away from their communities.

Both full and part time hunters follow the annual cycle determined by the movements of the animals and the land, but it is only the full time hunters who leave their villages each fall for the winter hunting and trapping season which can last from six to nine months. This seasonal cycle originated in former times but was adapted to accommodate the needs of the fur trade. Nevertheless it is thought of as traditional and still underpins the economic life of the Cree today.

During this winter hunting period the Cree are dispersed over 170,000 square kilometres of the James Bay territory. The whole region is divided up into areas that are used by each of the Cree bands and then sub divided into individual or family hunting areas. These areas, known as trap lines vary in size between 100 and 1,500 square miles. They are owned by an individual but are often used by a small group of hunters, with family or friendship ties, with the owner acting as the group's leader

Food

The territory of the James Bay Cree is rich in game and the Cree have always depended on the animals they hunt for food. Beaver is perhaps the most common meat but they also eat moose, caribou, otter, porcupine, ducks, geese and a whole variety of fish. In the summer they collect berries and edible plants. Nowadays all the communities have modern stores with a wide range of North American foods but ‘bush food’ remains very popular.

Transport

The most important form of transport for the Cree was the canoe. They used to be made of birch bark but now modern materials like fibre glass are used. It was common for them to make long journeys to their hunting and trapping grounds by canoe travelling on rivers, streams and lakes. Until the arrival of the snowmobile the Cree travelled on foot in the winter time using snow shoes. They had different types of snow shoes for different uses. They used birch toboggans for carrying their equipment and supplies.

Traditional Beliefs

Traditionally, the Cree lived in an animate spirit world. They perceive animals as being like man in that they have intelligence, character, and most have souls and spirits the same way that people do. The hunters believe that the animals they catch are a gift from ‘Chuetenshu’, the North Wind and lord of the animals, and from the animals themselves. They believe that most animals willingly give themselves to the hunter. These 'gifts' place a hunter under an obligation to cause the animal no unnecessary suffering and to observe set procedures for retrieving, butchering and disposing of the animal and to completely utilise the flesh and other useful parts. With certain prey that the Cree hunt like bear, beaver, otter and porcupine there are restrictions on the eating of the meat. There are certain parts of the animal that must only be eaten by men and other parts only by women. Failing to observe these procedures, the hunters believe will result in punishment by either the North Wind that can freeze you, or by the animals that will no longer allow themselves to be caught. There have been missionaries in Cree communities for many years and nowadays most Cree are Christians.

Clothing

Most Cree now wear modern clothing and when they go hunting in the winter they are likely to wear store bought mass produced cold weather clothing like parkas, earflap hats and skidoo suits. Some do still prepare and tan their own moose and caribou hides and make some of their own hunting clothes like Moccasins and mittens.

Social problems

In most James Bay Cree communities social problems have seen a sharp increase over the past 30 years, mainly domestic violence, child neglect, juvenile delinquency and suicide attempts.

These problems are largely the result of changes to the Cree culture, acculturation, unemployment, and alcohol and other substance abuse. In fact, public health officials and many Cree themselves believe that alcohol consumption is responsible for the majority of the problems in the community.

Text © B & C Alexander