Agreement Respecting a New Relationship Between the Cree Nation and the Government of Quebec
Encyclopedia
The Agreement Respecting a New Relationship Between the Cree Nation and the Government of Quebec (dubbed as La Paix des Braves, French for "The Peace of the Braves" by the Parti Québécois
government) is an agreement between the Government of Quebec
, Canada
, and the Grand Council of the Crees
. It was signed on February 7, 2002 in Waskaganish, Jamésie, Quebec
, after decades of court
battles between the Cree and the Government of Quebec
. The name was inspired by the 1701 Great Peace of Montreal
, also known as "La Paix des Braves".
Parti Québécois
Premier of Quebec
Bernard Landry
and Grand Chief of the Crees Ted Moses
, the Agreement implemented existing obligations of the Quebec government to the Cree people under section 28 of the James Bay Agreement of 1975 after decades of court
battles. It provided for the sharing of revenues and joint management by the Cree and the Quebec government of mining, forestry and hydroelectric resources on traditional Cree lands in Quebec, known as the Eeyou Istchee
. It aimed at developing more equitable Cree participation in employment and revenue in natural resource industries in Northern Quebec
. http://www.gcc.ca/gcc/querelations.php
The preamble of the Agreement recognize the treaty as a symbolic "nation to nation" agreement between the Cree
and Quebec
. This 50-year agreement allows for joint jurisdiction between the Quebec government and Cree in the seven municipalities of James Bay
and surrounding territories. In exchange, the Cree consented to hydroelectric
development of the Eastmain
and Rupert River
s by Hydro-Québec
. In Quebec, "La Paix des Braves" is one of the most popular and consensual achievements of the Bernard Landry government (2001–2003).
The Agreement followed recommendation made by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
, abandoning the notion that First Nation peoples in Canada must extinguish claims to their territories in order to settle land claim disputes. http://www.cpsu.org.uk/downloads/Moses-discours-Angl.PDF Moses declared: "Quebec becomes a leader in the application of the principles recognized by the United Nations
in regards of aboriginal development. Quebec will be able to show that the respect of aboriginals is compatible with her national interest. The federal government
should inspire itself with this agreement in its negotiations with Natives across Canada." Moses lauded Premier Landry's new attitude: "He understands that the Crees must be part of
Quebec’s vibrant economy and a living part of its economic and cultural mosaic." http://www.cpsu.org.uk/downloads/Moses-discours-Angl.PDF Matthew Coon Come
, a former Grand Chief who had opposed the Quebec Government (notably on hydroelectric development) and the sovereigntist movement in the past, said: "This is the type of cooperation and financial engagement that the federal government should offer to other native nations", calling on the federal government to follow the recommendation of the Royal Commission
.
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
government) is an agreement between the Government of Quebec
Government of Quebec
The Government of Quebec refers to the provincial government of the province of Quebec. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the Grand Council of the Crees
Grand Council of the Crees
The Grand Council of the Crees , or the GCC, is the political body that represents the approximately 16,357 Crees or “Iyyu” / “Iynu” of the Eeyou Istchee territory in the James Bay and Nunavik regions of Northern Quebec, Canada...
. It was signed on February 7, 2002 in Waskaganish, Jamésie, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, after decades of court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
battles between the Cree and the Government of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The name was inspired by the 1701 Great Peace of Montreal
Great Peace of Montreal
The Great Peace of Montreal was a peace treaty between New France and 40 First Nations of North America. It was signed on August 4, 1701, by Louis-Hector de Callière, governor of New France, and 1300 representatives of 40 aboriginal nations of the North East of North America...
, also known as "La Paix des Braves".
Summary
Negotiated by sovereigntistQuebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry, is a Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician, who served as the 28th Premier of Quebec , leader of the Opposition and leader of the Parti Québécois .-Personal:...
and Grand Chief of the Crees Ted Moses
Ted Moses
Ted Moses, is a Cree politician from Eastmain, a small remote village in northern Quebec, Canada. He is a former Grand Chief of the Crees . In addition, Mr. Moses is a recipient of the title of "Officer" of the National Order of Quebec.-Profile:Ted Moses was born in Eastmain, in the James Bay...
, the Agreement implemented existing obligations of the Quebec government to the Cree people under section 28 of the James Bay Agreement of 1975 after decades of court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
battles. It provided for the sharing of revenues and joint management by the Cree and the Quebec government of mining, forestry and hydroelectric resources on traditional Cree lands in Quebec, known as the Eeyou Istchee
Eeyou Istchee (territory)
Eeyou Istchee is a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality of Quebec, represented by the Grand Council of the Crees. Its geographical code is 993. It comprises numerous scattered non-contiguous communities primarily enclaved within the municipality of Baie-James, but not a part of...
. It aimed at developing more equitable Cree participation in employment and revenue in natural resource industries in Northern Quebec
Nord-du-Québec
Nord-du-Québec is the largest of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec, Canada. With , of which are lakes and rivers, it covers much of the Labrador Peninsula and about 55% of the total land surface area of Quebec....
. http://www.gcc.ca/gcc/querelations.php
The preamble of the Agreement recognize the treaty as a symbolic "nation to nation" agreement between the Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. This 50-year agreement allows for joint jurisdiction between the Quebec government and Cree in the seven municipalities of James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
and surrounding territories. In exchange, the Cree consented to hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
development of the Eastmain
Eastmain River
The Eastmain River is a river in northwestern Quebec which rises in north central Quebec and flows 800 km west to drain into James Bay. 'East Main' is an old name for the east side of James Bay. This river drains an area of 46,400 km²...
and Rupert River
Rupert River
The Rupert River is one of the largest rivers in Quebec, Canada. From its headwaters in Lake Mistassini, the largest natural lake in Québec, it flows west into Rupert Bay on James Bay. The Rupert drains an area of . There is some extremely large whitewater on the river, but paddlers can avoid...
s by Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
. In Quebec, "La Paix des Braves" is one of the most popular and consensual achievements of the Bernard Landry government (2001–2003).
The Agreement followed recommendation made by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was a Canadian Royal Commission established in 1991 to address many issues of aboriginal status that had come to light with recent events such as the Oka Crisis and the Meech Lake Accord. The commission culminated in a final report of 4000 pages,...
, abandoning the notion that First Nation peoples in Canada must extinguish claims to their territories in order to settle land claim disputes. http://www.cpsu.org.uk/downloads/Moses-discours-Angl.PDF Moses declared: "Quebec becomes a leader in the application of the principles recognized by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in regards of aboriginal development. Quebec will be able to show that the respect of aboriginals is compatible with her national interest. The federal government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
should inspire itself with this agreement in its negotiations with Natives across Canada." Moses lauded Premier Landry's new attitude: "He understands that the Crees must be part of
Quebec’s vibrant economy and a living part of its economic and cultural mosaic." http://www.cpsu.org.uk/downloads/Moses-discours-Angl.PDF Matthew Coon Come
Matthew Coon Come
Matthew Coon Come is a Canadian politician and activist of Cree descent. He was National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations from 2000 to 2003.Born near Mistissini, Quebec, Coon Come was first educated in a residential school...
, a former Grand Chief who had opposed the Quebec Government (notably on hydroelectric development) and the sovereigntist movement in the past, said: "This is the type of cooperation and financial engagement that the federal government should offer to other native nations", calling on the federal government to follow the recommendation of the Royal Commission
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was a Canadian Royal Commission established in 1991 to address many issues of aboriginal status that had come to light with recent events such as the Oka Crisis and the Meech Lake Accord. The commission culminated in a final report of 4000 pages,...
.
See also
- Politics of QuebecPolitics of QuebecThe politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
- Government in Quebec
- James Bay Agreement