James Bay Cree hydroelectric conflict
Encyclopedia
The James Bay Cree hydroelectric conflict refers to the resistance by James Bay
Cree
to the James Bay Hydroelectric Project
and the Quebec Government
, beginning in 1971.
in the Baie-James region of northern Quebec. The James Bay Cree, fearing the project would flood lands traditionally used for hunting and trapping, lobbied against the project.
The Quebec Association of Indians, an ad hoc association of native northern Quebecers, won an injunction on 15 November 1973 blocking the construction of the hydroelectric project until the province has negotiated an agreement with the First Nations. Although the judgement was overruled by the Quebec Court of Appeal
seven days later, the judgement confirmed Quebec's legal obligation to negotiate a treaty covering the territory, even as construction proceeded.
The Grand Council of the Crees
, representing the Cree villages of Northern Quebec, was created in 1974 to better protect Cree rights during negotiations with the governments of Quebec and Canada.
The governments of Canada and Quebec and representatives from each of the Cree villages and the most of the Inuit villages signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
on November 11, 1975.
The new village of Chisasibi
, on the southern shore of La Grande River, replaced the Fort George settlement on an island at the mouth of the river in 1981.
The construction of first phase of the James Bay Project
was completed in 1986.
In 1986 the Quebec government announced plans for the Grande-Baleine hydroelectric project involving the creation of three power plants and the flooding of about 1,700 square kilometres of land (3% of the Grande-Baleine watershed) upstream from the Whapmagoostui
village.
In 1991, under the direction of Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come
, the Cree launched a very visible protest of the Grande-Baleine project in New York City
.
Following agreements in 1989 and 1992 with the Governments of Canada and Quebec, a new Cree village, Oujé-Bougoumou
, was created in 1992 for the 600 Cree of the Chibougamau
area.
The Quebec government canceled the Grande-Baleine hydroelectric Project in 1994.
The Cree and the Government of Quebec signed the landmark Agreement Concerning a New Relationship, also known as Paix des Braves, in 2002. Far more than an economic deal, this was seen as a "nation to nation" agreement. The agreement paved the way for the construction of a final element of the original James Bay Project, the Eastmain-1 power station.
The Cree and the Government of Quebec signed an agreement in 2004 providing for the joint environmental assessment of the Rupert River Diversion. The Rupert River Diversion was approved in 2007 and construction began.
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...
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...
to the James Bay Hydroelectric Project
James Bay Project
The James Bay Project is a series of hydroelectric development with a combined installed capacity of over 16,000 megawatts built since 1974 for Hydro-Québec by the on the La Grande and other rivers of Northern Quebec....
and the Quebec Government
Politics of Quebec
The 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...
, beginning in 1971.
A brief timeline of the James Bay Cree
The Quebec government announced plans in 1971 for a hydroelectric projectJames Bay Project
The James Bay Project is a series of hydroelectric development with a combined installed capacity of over 16,000 megawatts built since 1974 for Hydro-Québec by the on the La Grande and other rivers of Northern Quebec....
in the Baie-James region of northern Quebec. The James Bay Cree, fearing the project would flood lands traditionally used for hunting and trapping, lobbied against the project.
The Quebec Association of Indians, an ad hoc association of native northern Quebecers, won an injunction on 15 November 1973 blocking the construction of the hydroelectric project until the province has negotiated an agreement with the First Nations. Although the judgement was overruled by the Quebec Court of Appeal
Quebec Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal for Quebec is the highest judicial court in Quebec, Canada....
seven days later, the judgement confirmed Quebec's legal obligation to negotiate a treaty covering the territory, even as construction proceeded.
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...
, representing the Cree villages of Northern Quebec, was created in 1974 to better protect Cree rights during negotiations with the governments of Quebec and Canada.
The governments of Canada and Quebec and representatives from each of the Cree villages and the most of the Inuit villages signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
The James Bay And Northern Quebec Agreement was an Aboriginal land claim settlement, approved in 1975 by the Cree and Inuit of northern Quebec, and later slightly modified in 1978 by the Northeastern Quebec Agreement, through which Quebec's Naskapi First Nations joined the treaty...
on November 11, 1975.
The new village of Chisasibi
Chisasibi, Quebec
Chisasibi is a village on the eastern shore of James Bay, in the Eeyou Istchee territory in northern Quebec, Canada. It is situated on the south shore of La Grande River , less than from the river's mouth...
, on the southern shore of La Grande River, replaced the Fort George settlement on an island at the mouth of the river in 1981.
The construction of first phase of the James Bay Project
James Bay Project
The James Bay Project is a series of hydroelectric development with a combined installed capacity of over 16,000 megawatts built since 1974 for Hydro-Québec by the on the La Grande and other rivers of Northern Quebec....
was completed in 1986.
In 1986 the Quebec government announced plans for the Grande-Baleine hydroelectric project involving the creation of three power plants and the flooding of about 1,700 square kilometres of land (3% of the Grande-Baleine watershed) upstream from the Whapmagoostui
Whapmagoostui, Quebec
Whapmagoostui |beluga]]") is the northernmost Cree village in Quebec, located at the mouth of the Great Whale River on the coast of Hudson Bay in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. About 500 people, mostly Inuit, live in the neighbouring northern village of Kuujjuarapik. The community is only accessible by...
village.
In 1991, under the direction of Grand Chief 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...
, the Cree launched a very visible protest of the Grande-Baleine project in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Following agreements in 1989 and 1992 with the Governments of Canada and Quebec, a new Cree village, Oujé-Bougoumou
Oujé-Bougoumou, Quebec
Oujé-Bougoumou is the newest Cree community located on the shores of Lake Opemisca, in the Jamésie region of Quebec, Canada...
, was created in 1992 for the 600 Cree of the Chibougamau
Chibougamau, Quebec
Chibougamau is a town in central Quebec, Canada, located on Lake Gilman. It has a population of 7,563 people , which makes it the largest community in northern Quebec...
area.
The Quebec government canceled the Grande-Baleine hydroelectric Project in 1994.
The Cree and the Government of Quebec signed the landmark Agreement Concerning a New Relationship, also known as Paix des Braves, in 2002. Far more than an economic deal, this was seen as a "nation to nation" agreement. The agreement paved the way for the construction of a final element of the original James Bay Project, the Eastmain-1 power station.
The Cree and the Government of Quebec signed an agreement in 2004 providing for the joint environmental assessment of the Rupert River Diversion. The Rupert River Diversion was approved in 2007 and construction began.
External links
- James Bay Project and the Cree CBCCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
Archives, - Part II: The Cree Struggle to Maintain Autonomy in the Face of Government Intervention, The James Bay Cree and Whitemen in the 20th Century, Harvey A. Feit
- The James Bay And Northern Quebec Agreement And The Northeastern Quebec Agreement, Indian and Northern Affairs CanadaIndian and Northern Affairs CanadaThe Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies relating to Aboriginal peoples...
July 1993