Abel Bosum facts for kids

Abel Bosum (born November 4, 1955) is an important leader and negotiator for the Cree people. As of 2019, he served as the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees of Northern Quebec (Eeyou Istchee). He was also the President of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government. Mr. Bosum has worked with the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec since 1977.

From 1984 to 1998, he was the Chief of his home community, the Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation. During this time, he successfully negotiated a large agreement with the governments of Quebec and Canada. This agreement helped build a new village for his people. They had been forced to move seven times before because of mining and forestry work in Northern Quebec. In 1998, he became the main negotiator for the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec. Since 2015, Abel Bosum has also led the Aanischaaukamikw Foundation and the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute.

Abel Bosum's Early Life

Abel Bosum was the oldest of 11 children. He was born on an island in Dore Lake in Northern Quebec. His mother was Lucy Bosum. His father figure was his stepfather, Sam Neepoosh, who passed away when Abel was 14 years old.

For ten years, Abel attended the La Tuque Residential School in La Tuque. After leaving school, he worked in mines and took fishing jobs. He did this to help support his family.

His Career and Leadership

Working for the Cree Nation

Abel Bosum studied business. At 22, he started working for the Grand Council of the Crees (GCC). He became the head of their economic development department for six years. While helping other Cree communities, he realized his own people needed support to improve their lives.

Chief of the Oujé-Bougoumou

In 1984, at 28, Bosum became the Chief of the Oujé-Bougoumou people. He held this role for 14 years. The Oujé-Bougoumou name means "the place where the people gather" in Cree. For many years, his people had struggled. They were forced to move their homes seven times between 1926 and 1970. This happened because of new mineral discoveries in their traditional lands near James Bay. By the 1970s, many lived in simple shelters without running water or heat. They were split into different family groups.

Before becoming chief, Bosum helped connect community members and elders. The elders wanted to take action to improve their situation. As chief, Bosum worked to negotiate with the Canadian and Quebec governments. He wanted to get better living conditions for his people. He also worked to protect their Indigenous rights.

Negotiating for the Oujé-Bougoumou

Abel Bosum faced many challenges in his negotiations. One big problem was that the Oujé-Bougoumou were left out of the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). This agreement gave money to Cree people in the region to help their communities grow. However, because of a mistake in 1936, the Oujé-Bougoumou had no recognized land rights. This meant they did not get benefits from the JBNQA.

Bosum's plan was to get his people recognized. He had a study done that showed their unique identity. This gave them a stronger claim as a distinct people. He then proposed a plan to get land for them. The Grand Council of the Crees supported them, as the Oujé-Bougoumou had no money of their own.

During negotiations, Bosum held many meetings to bring his community together. He wanted to reunite his people and organized a political group. By uniting them around a shared vision, he encouraged younger generations to push the government for action.

Overcoming Political Challenges

The Canadian government said the Oujé-Bougoumou needed land to be recognized. But the Quebec government did not want to create new federal lands. After much effort, Quebec's Premier René Lévesque agreed to give a small piece of land for a village. With this promise, the federal government agreed to start talks to officially recognize the Oujé-Bougoumou.

Quebec wanted them to settle in areas without mining or forestry opportunities. This would limit their chances for business. In the early 1980s, the Oujé-Bougoumou's traditional land was used by many companies. In 1985, Bosum tried to negotiate with the new Premier, Robert Bourassa, but they could not agree.

Bosum then contacted John Ciaccia, who had worked on the original JBNQA. Ciaccia advised Bosum on how to meet the agreement's rules. Bosum got a verbal agreement to renegotiate Oujé-Bougoumou land. He was able to get a territory similar in size to other Cree nations. Some Oujé-Bougoumou were registered under the Mistassini nation, which was part of the treaty. This allowed Mistassini land to be transferred to them, bringing the Oujé-Bougoumou under the treaty.

Bosum also gained support from the Grand Council of the Crees. The GCC said they would not sign any government agreement unless the Oujé-Bougoumou were included. This helped Bosum meet with the Prime Minister of Canada and get more federal promises. By 1986, he could choose a site for their new village.

Human Rights Concerns

While negotiating for a new home, the Oujé-Bougoumou lived in temporary shelters. Bosum called their situation "urgent." He worked to protect their health and well-being. He got money to install trailers with washrooms and running water in their camps.

Bosum showed the media the difficult conditions his people faced. The Oujé-Bougoumou also attended conferences about human rights and housing. They shared their struggles. By showing these human rights issues in a developed country, Bosum put more pressure on the governments. This led to more serious negotiations.

Peaceful Protests

The federal government offered $14 million for the new Oujé-Bougoumou settlement. The community felt this was not enough. After much discussion, Bosum refused the offer.

After a year of silence from the government, the Oujé-Bougoumou decided to act. Bosum encouraged his people to occupy the site they had chosen for their village. They also blocked a nearby road used by mining and forestry companies. This action affected businesses and created tension.

A Final Agreement

Raymond Savoie, a provincial minister, led a group from Quebec to work out an agreement. The governments agreed to support building the village. They also agreed to create a fund for social and economic development. This fund would help Oujé-Bougoumou people find jobs and create future opportunities.

However, the federal government later pulled out of the fund. Bosum continued to negotiate only with the province. This led to a final deal. The Oujé-Bougoumou received money for their village's buildings, $20 million for social and economic development, and 167 square kilometers of land. Bosum then used this agreement to push the federal government for their support. In 1992, Bosum and the Oujé-Bougoumou signed a deal for $43.6 million from the federal government for their village.

The Oujé-Bougoumou Village

The new village is located at Opémisca Lake, Quebec. It was built with the Oujé-Bougoumou people's ideas. About 750 Cree people live there. The United Nations recognized it as one of 50 model communities worldwide. This is because it met the community's needs while being good for the environment and using modern technology. Even though it is in a remote area, most people have jobs. New houses are still being built for young Cree people. The village is special in Canada because it offers excellent living conditions in modern homes for Indigenous peoples. Its design reflects the "values and culture of the Oujé-Bougoumou people."

Later Career

Village Chief

As chief, Bosum worked to help his people grow socially and economically in their new home. He made sure they had access to natural resources to support themselves. He also helped address community challenges. He aimed to show that Indigenous groups can use resources well and become independent.

Grand Council of the Crees Negotiator

In 1998, because of his success with his own nation, Bosum was chosen to negotiate for all the Crees of Quebec. In 2000, he helped end a two-year disagreement between the Crees and Quebec.

In 2002, Bosum led the talks for the Agreement Respecting a New Relationship Between the Cree Nation and the Government of Quebec (also known as La Paix des Braves). This agreement helped the Crees take part more in the region's economy. It also allowed them to make decisions about their own development using funds from the provincial government.

Bosum has also negotiated for the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay and the Cree School Board. He represented the Grand Council of the Crees in talks with other Indigenous nations. He also negotiated with five mining companies. He made sure that Cree people in mining areas received financial benefits, jobs, and environmental protection.

Between 2000 and 2012, he negotiated with Quebec on the JBNQA. They reached a new agreement for sharing control of the region. This gave the Crees more power over their traditional territory. The agreement also created new Cree government structures.

Charitable Work

On April 2, 2015, Bosum became president of the Aanischaaukamikw Foundation and Cree Cultural Institute. He helped raise $25.6 million to develop this non-profit institute. Money came from Cree and non-Cree governments, companies, foundations, and individuals.

Grand Chief

On July 24, 2017, Abel Bosum was elected Grand Chief of the Council of the Crees of Northern Quebec for a four-year term. He won with 55.9% of the votes. He took over from Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come.

As Grand Chief, he oversaw the Canadian government's adoption of Bill C-70. This bill gives the Eeyou Istchee more political self-determination. It allows the Grand Council of the Crees to create their own laws that fit their culture. It also gives them more say on local government issues, including development. Bosum said this bill is an important step towards full Cree self-governance.

Recognition and Awards

In 1998, Abel Bosum received Canada's National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This was for his work in community development with the Oujé-Bougoumou Cree community.

In June 2016, Bosum received an honorary doctorate from Bishop's University in Quebec. In 2018, he was appointed a member of the Order of Canada. This honor recognizes amazing achievements, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.