A dramatic breakthrough has occurred in Cree-Quebec relations.
Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come and Cree Chiefs met for the first time with Premier Jacques Parizeau on May 23. They agreed to resume formal talks on a wide variety of outstanding issues from economic development, infrastructure, services for Elders and the “modernization” of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
The deal puts an end to six years without formal talks between Crees and Quebec. Talks were suspended in 1989 when the Liberal government announced plans to build the Great Whale River Project.
The surprise deal with Quebec is outlined in a two-page “memorandum of understanding” (see page 18 for the full text). It was negotiated between Chief Billy Diamond and David Cliche, PQ advisor on Native affairs.
“We can go to court but we still have to talk. We can go to the international community and make speeches but we still have to talk,” said Grand Chief Coon Come. “We haven’t given up anything. But I think we have an obligation to Crees to take this government to task.”
The Grand Chief said Quebec sovereignty is not on the table. “We agreed to disagree on the issue of sovereignty,” he said, adding that Crees will discuss their future at upcoming hearings of the Eeyou-Astchee Commission.
Quebec agrees to start talks on giving Crees funds for sewers and water distribution, economic development and care of Elders and people with disabilities. Talks will also start on revenue-sharing from development projects, reorganizing the SEBJ and SDBJ, and eventually larger questions like the James Bay Agreement and self- government. In return, the Cree side temporarily shelved the court action against the Great Whale project “I think the intention is there. There’s a political will,” said the Grand Chief. “The only way to do this is to sit down at the table. Actions will speak louder than words, and the results will hopefully come at a later time.”
Asked if the deal gives a boost to the PQ’s sovereignty plans, he said, “No, it doesn’t worry me. We didn’t agree we’d stop our activities internationally.”
But Deputy Grand Chief Kenny Blacksmith had a few concerns. “I strongly recommended to the Cree Chiefs not to sign,” he said. “Basically we do everything for them and they do nothing for us.”
Chief Blacksmith said he and other Chiefs “only learned at the 11th hour” about the deal and Crees didn’t have enough time to discuss it internally. He said the deal gave the PQ “a photo-op for their own agenda,” while Crees got only minor concessions on services which other Canadians take for granted as basic rights. Larger questions like self-government, Aboriginal rights and recognition of the Cree people as a nation are getting overlooked, he added.
“I’m not against everything that’s being done,” he said. “I’m just concerned.”
At a meeting of Chiefs to discuss the deal one day before the signing, at least one Chief reportedly had reservations.
Chief Matthew Mukash, who couldn’t be in Quebec City, told Will Nicholls he is concerned by the lack of debate. “The people should’ve been given an opportunity to examine this before it was signed. No Band Councils got a chance to see this.”
More in our next issue.
