The Cree and the Inuit have solved the problem of land overlaps.
The president of Makivik Corporation, Mr. Pita Aatami, and Cree Grand Chief Ted Moses, signed an agreement Aug. 21 in Kuujjuaraapik-Whapmagoostui to resolve the Cree and Nunavik Inuit offshore overlap areas in James Bay and Hudson’s Bay.
The terms of the Agreement provide for a shared Cree-lnuit overlap area from the Nastapoka Islands in Hudson’s Bay to South of the La Grande river in James Bay.
“I had a meeting with Grand Chief Moses a few months ago and we both agreed that the differences between the Cree and Inuit relating to the offshore region needed to be resolved through dialogue. I am very pleased to have reached this agreement with the Cree” said Aatami.
Moses said the agreement renews “the historic alliance between the Crees of Eeyou Istchee and the Nunavik Inuit which was established at the time of the negotiations and signature of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.” Since 1974, both the Cree and the Inuit have tried to resolve with the government of Canada their aboriginal claims in the offshore region of James Bay, Hudson’s Bay and Ungava Bay. In March, Makivik Corporation and the federal government initialed an Agreement-in-principle concerning Nunavik Inuit offshore rights and interests. The Grand Council and the federal government are still negotiating the terms of their own Agreement-in-principle relating to the offshore area in James Bay and in southern Hudson’s Bay.
The agreement will be submitted for ratification to Inuit and Cree communities by Sept 21.
