Greetings MCFN Members and Families:

Everyone is back to school, back at work, and, hopefully, back to normal!  I hope you all enjoyed your summer holidays and our Gathering this past August.

It was very good to visit with family and friends again this year...and it was especially good to see and experience some of the traditional preparation of wild game, etc., that was a part of CreeFest.  It brought back memories of how my father, Brodie Fletcher, used to cook some of the game that was displayed...although most of the cooking in my family was done by Mom, Mabel Fletcher, at that time. 

The children seemed to really enjoy the language tent and learning some of the words and expressions of the Cree people.  The entertainment was great and was enjoyed by young and old.  It was very special to see and hear my cousin, John Fletcher, and his group playing some of the good old time tunes for polka-ing and square dancing.  All in all, I think everyone enjoyed the festival.  Thank you very much to the organizers.  You did a fabulous job and many of you were honourably mentioned previously, so I will not list everyone again.

In reference to our Land Transfer, I received a message from Ontario Negotiator, Dan Goodwin, on the last day of the Gathering , that he had heard from Minister Duguid that the Supplementary Consultation for the land transfer would be proceeding as soon as possible.   As soon as possible, I was told, would be about the end of October.  I gave this message to Chief Glenn Nolan to pass on to the rest of our Council and to the members who were still at the Gathering. 

We are still waiting to hear from Ontario as to when they will be proceeding.  This is the process that has delayed the transfer for the past two years and we are eagerly awaiting for the news that it has started.  Our LTAC team is up-to-date with our part of the process and are more than ready to move forward.

I continue to attend all of the scheduled Chief and Council meetings, and am available for conferences when requested.  I will continue to work for my community for the balance of my term in office.

               Take care all, travel safe,

               Audrey Bateson, Councillor

               Missanabie Cree First Nation