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Archdeacon Nancy has begun her second week in Wemindji, on James Bay, and has sent some information back to us in her home parish about her corner of Wemindji and some experiences of her first week.

The rectory she is staying in is three buildings from the shoreline of James Bay, along which she and her dog Farley walk each day. Next door to the rectory is a construction site, where they are building a new high school, work on which starts early! The weather so far has ranged from 4 degrees on the chilliest morning to the mid 20’s on a nice afternoon. Typical daytime temperatures are around 10 degrees, often strong winds, which are a blessing as they keep the flies away.

The church itself, St. John the Baptist, is beautiful and simple, very well kept, with both clear glass windows and three stained glass ones. The photo above is one of the stained glass windows depicting a very northern scene. This scene represents the deep truth for so many of the people in Wemindji: their faith in Creator God and their love of the land.

Everything in Wemindji stops for Moose Week and then again for Goose Week, when the people go out on the land to hunt and not only fill their freezers, but also the freezers of neighbours and elders in the community. The hunt is not only crucial for survival, but also key to how the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee maintain and pass on their cultural practices and traditions to the next generations.  

Nancy+ shared with us her views on a communion service she celebrated with elders at the Elder Day Care, all of whom would have spent their childhood in residential schools. Although they would have learned English, they prefer to speak their native Cree, and in a moment of grace, Nancy apologized to these elders for not speaking their language, a true moment of reconciliation. In Nancy’s words, “It is such a privilege to share faith and time with the people of Wemindji.”

For more photos of Wemindji, visit the "gallery" menu item.