Log Book

Mistissini

Xavier, March 17, 2006

Departure for Mistissini with Peter. Our mission is to install and configure the server and the network system at the Child and Family Services (CFS) including those of the Grand Council/CRA (GCC/CRA) personnel based at this office. We have a timetable quite charged, but in four days all should be done. This Monday morning I find myself with many familiar faces at the airport. There is a meeting being held in Wemindji and most are headed there. My voyage will be much shorter: an hour by plane bound for Chibougamau... then another hour by car until Mistissini. Away we go! Upon our arrival, nothing is really in place... work had to be finished the week preceding. But, this was no challenge... or rather we have the experience! One may say it is an advantage because one is not obstructed by what exists. Our installation is conducted in a manner that is most practical and effective.

The weather is splendid! The temperatures are mild... a few degrees above zero. I am in a hurry to leave to take some pictures. There still remains a good amount of snow and with the blue sky it is really pretty. Unfortunately, I could not leave until the evening. The day was long... we have much advanced at the technical level and all is progressing well. After the evening meal I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the Lodge. I also took a short walk by the lake to admire the sunset. Then at the fallen night I find myself in my room. The sleep is not long in coming...

The following day, I have an appointment with Peter at 7h50 to get an early start in our days' work. The principal technical points are functional... but it again poses to be a full day. In addition to connecting the server of the CFS, we also had some work from the CHRD office. The last PC of the day was that of Donnie Nicholls of the GCC/CRA. After a long configuration... and especially a large amount of data to secure in the server, Donnie speaks to us about a problem with his router at his place. An hour later we find ourselves around a good meal at his place with moose meat and the bannock that a friend had just prepared and which arrives hot on the table. It was really very good... and we have a good evening! I think that these invitations where time is spent eating traditional foods or socializing with people of the community are the best memories of my voyages.

Then, during the remaining two days, we have advanced on the PC for the users. All is in place and functional Thursday morning. Peter accompanied me back to the airport in Chibougamau. I return to Montreal. Peter must remain one more day to connect the PC of Ashley Iserhoff, Deputy Grand Chief. It was a short but intense voyage, once moreover, on splendid landscapes and with hospitable people!

Xavier, February 18, 2005

Friday 6AM - The alarm clock rings but I am already awake eager to hit the road to Mistissini with Peter. I meet him at the Sheraton to carry down the CHRD server from his room to put it in his oversized Ford F-150 truck. This way, if Peter's Ford would have been stolen, we'd still have the server and the information it contains - very valuable information.

At 7AM we leave Montreal. Eight hundred kilometers of highway awaits. Despite the beauty of the landscapes surrounding us impatience catches up to us. It is only once we arrive in Roberval that I realize how long this trip is; we have only traveled have the trip! The 250kms before Chibougamou are chaotic, especially when you have just traveled 450 kms. Huge bumps on the road, logging trucks driving full speed, trees, trees, trees, and more trees!

Upon arrival in Mistissini we head to the CHRD to install the server in the aptly named server room. It revs up and all is good. We grab a bite to eat and head to sleep feeling exhausted from ten hours of driving.

On Saturday and Sunday, Patrick works with us to connect all the PCs, authenticating them on the domain and recreating user profiles. His help is deemed precious and we make good headway.

 

 

 

 

 

To celebrate her birthday, Bella invites us to a traditional meal at her in-laws where an excellent table awaits us. We eat in the cabin behind the house and as Peter says, 'This really feels like we're in the bush.' I keep a good memory of this meal - in the culinary sense as well as the chance I had to share a meal with such warm hosts!

 

The rest of the week will consist in configuring all the PCs, troubleshooting any arising problem, completing the Internet configuration and ensure the proper functioning of everything. While proceeding with all these tasks we had the opportunity (thanks to Peter's innumerable contacts) to meet with different people and present to them different services available from Soleica. Having Patrick as part of the Soleica team on location is also a great break. The notion of proximity and also the acquaintances he has with locals is all very important for the services we offer.

 

The departure for Chibougamau is set at the end of the day. But before that, I must drop by our Montreal office. I try to be as fast as possible, so as not to miss my plane... But fortunately, it is even later than me. I finally arrive in Chibougamau one hour past schedule. The Air Creebec employee calls for a taxi before closing the airport. I wait for 15 minutes, sheltered, as much as possible from the -36 degrees outside.

The next morning I meet up with James again at breakfast. We leave at 7:45 am for Mistissini. Hundred kilometers separate us from this city that counts around 3000 inhabitants. Furthermore it is a charming city with beautiful small houses. We begin with our work and everything goes smoothly. We finish up everything we have to do, very quickly. No problem came up.

Xavier, February 16, 2004

The departure for Chibougamau is set at the end of the day. But before that, I must drop by our Montreal office. I try to be as fast as possible, so as not to miss my plane... But fortunately, it is even later than me. I finally arrive in Chibougamau one hour past schedule. The Air Creebec employee calls for a taxi before closing the airport. I wait for 15 minutes, sheltered, as much as possible from the -36 degrees outside.

The next morning I meet up with James again at breakfast. We leave at 7:45 am for Mistissini. Hundred kilometers separate us from this city that counts around 3000 inhabitants. Furthermore it is a charming city with beautiful small houses. We begin with our work and everything goes smoothly. We finish up everything we have to do, very quickly. No problem came up.

 

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