Is there a place for the lyiyuuch, Mi’qmaq, Innu, Inuit, Kanienkehaka in the Quebec family?
The government of Lucien Bouchard is holding out a seat at the table with its new First Nations policy. But it has already been denounced by the chiefs (see News, p. 5).
Marianne Roy is a supporter of Quebec independence who agrees that the government’s approach is wrong. She calls it “outdated,” “paternalistic” and even “slimy.”
Roy is coordinator of Solidarité populaire Québec, a coalition of 133 province-wide groups representing about I million union members, women, environmentalists, students and others. She emphasizes she isn’t speaking on behalf of the coalition, but offers her personal views.
The Nation. What do you think about Quebec’s new First Nations policy?
They still come from a position that is hard to understand. There seems to be complete non-comprehension of why the issue of fiduciary obligations is so key. And why Aboriginal people wouldn’t just say, okay, we won’t deal with the federal government any more; we’ll deal just with you. There’s no understanding of the fact that this is where people’s rights are embedded. You’re not going to give it up for something you don’t know.
Nowhere do I get the feeling that the Quebec government is talking about recognizing the rights of First Nations. It is treated more like a business contract. I can’t understand why they can’t put something together where there would have been more consultation with First Nations.
There’s no real attempt to understand, to put themselves in the other people’s shoes. I mean territorial integrity comes up about 1,000 times (in the document).
Even from a strategic point of view, it’s not smart. Even if your real position is, don’t touch Quebec territory – which is the PQ’s position – it seems to me if you really believe you’re going to be entering into negotiations and discussing issues of that nature with another people, you don’t start off spitting in the face of the other person.
It seems they just don’t understand. And I say that because I don’t think the PQ government are stupid people. Strategically, you’d think they’d want to put something
forward that moves things ahead because, strategically, for them the issue of First Nations’ sovereignty is important because of Quebec’s own national question.
The other thing I wanted to say was I thought this study was done in the context of the Royal Commission. What’s really interesting in the commission’s study is it talks about legal kinds of issues. In fact, we can see there are many different sources of law in what is now Canada. There were laws and traditions that existed before Europeans arrived. They were always there and many people still live according to them. Some of the stuff was integrated into the other law systems, both French and English, in the development of Canada.
Acknowledging this is a good starting point for these kinds of discussions. It may be smart for someone to take that up.
Do you think there’s a fear among the people who wrote this report of going too far In recognizing Native sovereignty?
No doubt. One of the issues in Quebec’s paper is the question of development. It’s true those underlying economic interests and realities are there and no doubt dominate this kind of paper. But I still think it’s strategic and a smart move from the point of view of the Quebec government -not even from the point of view of justice – to develop a position that would be exemplary in international fields, world-wide. Why don’t you get the principles straight, the orientations?
The fact that’s not present, though, what does that tell you about the present government or Its level of strategic vision?
I think the issue of First Nations is one of their weakest points.
Do you think some of the policy Is designed to claim jurisdiction over the entirety of Quebec?
On the issue of Quebec territory, there are no options left open. It’s the bottom line. You can’t even discuss what that might mean. To that extent, yes to your question…
One thing I found that’s really paternalistic, unfortunately, is they mention quite a few times how the number of youth in Aboriginal communities is large, how it’s
going to grow larger, and if we don’t solve these problems there’s going to be trouble. In reading it, they’re talking about trouble for Native communities, but also trouble for Quebec as a whole as well. It’s just the way it’s brought around is a little slimy. Too much the carrot and stick kind of thing. I mean it is a fact. It is a reality. But the way it’s brought up is like saying you better give in on some of these things, otherwise you know what’s down the road and we know what’s down the road too…
The PQ has this terrible inability putting themselves in the shoes of the other people. I think there has to be a lot more dialogue. I’m not even talking about the political level, the governments, but at the people level or organizations.
One thing that strikes me Is the media coverage of Native people Is, at times, I would say almost hateful. Do you have that feeling?
Oh, yes. It’s despicable. Occasionally, you’ll have a good article or a good thing on TV that tries to get at reality, instead of just screaming and yelling at each other. But it’s very once-in-a-while. It has really no impact.
There’s some discussion among various people now to sit down and get this dialogue going among people, not just politicians. It seems to me the government will move once they’ve had the feeling they have to move politically because people want them to move.
How hopeful are you that something like that will happen any time soon?
You can’t say it would be easy. But it’s not something that is insurmountable. There are things that are being done, but it has to be more organized. There has to be a plan of action. Even small groups of people. Getting together and working something out. Go and talk to different communities. Maybe we can come up with something.
I think there are tensions out there that can always explode and I don’t thinkanybody wants that. It just seems incredible. I mean I consider myself a Quebecer.I voted yes in the two referendums. God knows what I’ll do the next one.(There has to be) a partnership with the rest of Canada, some recognition of Quebec forwhat it is. But I’m convinced that same thing has to happen with First Nations. To meit’s so obvious. How can you want self-determination for yourself and not recognize itas a right for others? It’s beyond me.
