“We were always led to believe that we didn’t have any rights. We were just squatters on the land. First of all, of course you believed it, and later you start to think: Why are we just squatters? We’ve been here thousands of years…” - ROBERT KANATEWAT

The Eeyouch of Istchee traces the history of the James Bay Cree of Northern Quebec from 1971 when Robert Bourassa announced his "Project of the Century" – the damming or diverting of all major rivers in Eeyou territory, to the present in four powerful episodes. The series speaks to the social, political, economic, and spiritual life of the Eeyouch as they defended their rights and built a modern Eeyou nation.

The story is woven together from a multitude of Eeyou voices, not always in agreement with each other, as they relay memories from their own perspectives. This film series is a powerful educational resource for the younger generation, showing where the Eeyouch have come from, what they have experienced, fought for and accomplished, what lessons they have learned, and what advice they have for the future.

Series also available in French.