Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association (CNACA) was established in 2004 in fulfillment pf section 28.7 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). CNACA represents the interests of all the Cree involved in arts, crafts and others cultural industries.


CNACA Mission is to diversify and grow a sustainable arts, crafts and cultural economy in Eeyou Istchee involving partnership among Cree Artist Artisans and Cree communities; that will preserve, promote and enhance the heritage of the Eeyou Nation while both encouraging contemporary means of expression and maintaining Cree Culture, Values, traditions and skills.

Since its founding in 2004, the Cree Native Arts and Crafts
Association has played a leadership role in the development of
Cree arts, crafts, and culture. CNACA represents the Cree artists
and artisans of Eeyou Istchee, a region located in Northern
Quebec covering about 350,000 square kilometers (a huge
territory roughly the same size as Germany).
As part of its mission to grow and diversify a sustainable arts,
crafts, and cultural industry in Eeyou Istchee, CNACA is active in:

• Preserving traditional handicrafts such as the making of
snowshoes, tamarack decoys, mittens, and spruce baskets;

• Encouraging contemporary means of expression, including
painting, sculpture, music, video, and dance; and

• Sustaining Cree culture, values, traditions, and skills.