Charlie Watt facts for kids

Charlie Watt (born June 29, 1944) is a respected Inuk leader from Nunavik, Quebec. He used to be a Canadian Senator.

Before becoming a Senator, Charlie Watt was a hunter and a businessman. He worked for the Canadian government's Department of Indian and Northern Affairs from 1969 to 1979. He was also an important early leader in the movement for Indigenous rights in Canada. He helped represent the Inuit people of Quebec in big discussions about their land.

In 1984, he was chosen to serve in the Senate of Canada. He was the second Inuk person ever to become a Senator. In 1994, he received a special award called Officer of the National Order of Québec.

After serving for 34 years, Charlie Watt left the Senate on March 16, 2018. He did this because he was elected as the President of Makivik Corporation. This was his third time being elected to this important role. He wanted to focus all his energy on his duties with Makivik.

Charlie Watt is the brother of Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who is also a well-known activist and writer.

Working for Inuit Rights

The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement

In April 1971, Charlie Watt was chosen as one of the six founding directors of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association. This group is now known as the Makivik Corporation.

Around this time, the government of Quebec planned a huge hydroelectric project. This project would build dams on the traditional lands of the Inuit and Cree peoples in northern Quebec. The project was called the James Bay Project. However, it did not respect the rights of the Indigenous people living there.

In 1972, the Inuit and Cree groups went to court to try and stop the project. Even though their first win in court was overturned, they kept fighting. By 1975, they successfully negotiated a major agreement. This agreement was called the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). It was signed in November 1975. This agreement was a big step forward for recognizing the rights of First Nations in Canada.

Charlie Watt has also been involved with many Indigenous businesses. These include the Makivik Corporation, Air Inuit, Seaku Fisheries, Uttuulik Leasing, and Kigaq Travel.

He also co-chaired the Inuit Committee on National Issues from 1979 to 1984. He worked with other important groups like the Nunavik Constitutional Committee and the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. He was also one of the first directors of the Circumpolar Chamber of Commerce.

In 1997, he received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This award is now known as the Indspire Awards.

Serving in the Senate of Canada

A Long Career in Politics

Charlie Watt was appointed to the Senate on January 16, 1984. He was chosen by the Prime Minister at the time, Pierre Trudeau. At 39 years old, he was one of the youngest Senators. He was also the second Inuk person in Canadian history to serve in the Senate.

Senator Watt represented the province of Quebec. He served in the Senate of Canada for 34 years, from January 16, 1984, until March 16, 2018.

During his time in the Senate, Charlie Watt did many important things. He started the Special Committee on Aboriginal Peoples in 1984. This committee later became the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. He also served on other Senate committees, including Fisheries and Oceans and Legal and Constitutional Affairs. In 2017, he founded and became the first Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on the Arctic.

Championing Inuit Rights

Charlie Watt is especially known for fighting for Inuit rights in Canada. He also made history by speaking his language, Inuktitut, in the Senate Chamber and at committee meetings. He helped change the Senate rules so that his mother tongue could be used. He also helped create the first materials about the Canadian Parliamentary System in Inuktitut.

He also worked closely with First Nations and Metis communities across Canada.

In 2007, he worked on a report called "Taking Section 35 Rights Seriously." This report was about protecting Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.

Later that year, he introduced a bill to help lower the high cost of living in northern Canada. He wanted to make Nunavik (northern Quebec) a GST-free zone. Even though the bill did not pass, it helped bring attention to the unique challenges and high costs faced by people living in the North.

In his final year in the Senate, Charlie Watt created the Special Committee on the Arctic. He was the first person to lead this committee. Their work continues today.

Personal Life and Education

Charlie Watt went to schools in many different places. These included Kuujjuaq, Quebec; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Kingston, Ontario; Ottawa, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Brandon, Manitoba.

He is married to Ida (Epoo). They have five children: Donald, Robert, Lisa, Billy, and Charlene.