According to the former chiefs of Chisasibi, Eastmain and Wemindji, life within the community and population growth brought about changes in relations between the Crees.

"I think that just the idea of knowledge in the bush does not equate to knowledge in the community. Unless you look at it from a purely “Value” point of view, I would say those principles should apply everywhere, I should be able to live my Cree principles and values wherever I am but sometimes the community does not allow that. One good example is if a couple of families stay together in the bush for a certain period of time, the relationship is very natural. When those same families come back into the community they may just pass each other going to the store [without saying hello. Being in the community] is a different way of relating to people and I think this is one of the impacts that have greatly affected the Elders. They have mentioned this on numerous occasions but I think they are wise enough to know that this is something they may not be able to change." (Former Chief of Wemindji)

"We are not close anymore. Before, we lived together and helped each other. I used to see my father in the same house. We got along. Since we are exposed to modern life style, I hardly see my brother and my kids anymore. Closeness is not there anymore. We used to all share the same space, everybody got along. Now everybody does their own thing. We are so individualistic. We don’t want to help each other. When someone in the family has a problem, nobody goes there to help. It is the same in a lot of families. They can’t even talk to their siblings. We are so influenced by other people coming in the community and by how they deal with situations. There are also more marriage breaks ups. Even young people. They start a family and then they break up. Everything is changing, and I have a feeling that we don’t know how to handle that change." (Former Chief of Chisasibi)

"Everybody had a portion of land. It was not visible, but there was a barrier between coastal and inland people. Before, you would not see a Coastal accept somebody from inland. It was not visible but was in the minds of people. You could sense it. Life started to change in the community because of that. Knowledge of survival was being introduced to coastal people. Not everybody does things the same ways. Everybody had their own way of making snowshoes and snow shovels. There started to be classes: I make things better than you do. In the past, you used to let nature take its course, you never asked anybody how he was doing that particular fall. Before, you could see the pelts when visiting somebody so people could see how you were doing. Inlanders knew how to trap, and Coastal people were known as sharp shooters. The competition started when people started living in the community. Inlanders who were hunting on the coast were not expected to do as well as Coastals. Understanding survival skills has been transformed in a business sense. Before, giving away a catch was a way of showing respect, now people sell it. It came about with programs where you are able to make money for a living. Sharing is not there anymore. Now it is exchanges. " (Former Chief of Eastmain)