James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement facts for kids
The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (French: Convention de la Baie-James et du Nord québécois) is a special agreement about land and rights for Indigenous peoples. It was approved in 1975 by the Cree and Inuit people of northern Quebec. Later, in 1978, the Northeastern Quebec Agreement (French: Accord du Nord-Est québécois) added the Naskapi First Nation to the agreement.
This agreement deals with how land is used and developed in northern Quebec. It also set up many important groups and rules for the culture, social life, and government of the Indigenous communities involved.
Contents
History of the Agreement
A long time ago, before Canada became a country, the lands of northern Quebec were part of a huge area called Rupert's Land. This land was managed by the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1870, Rupert's Land became part of Canada.
Later, in 1912, a large part of this northern land was given to Quebec. But there was a condition: Quebec had to make a treaty with the Indigenous peoples living there. This treaty needed to recognize their cultural rights. It also meant they would give up their claim to the land to Quebec and Canada. At that time, no such treaty existed for this area.
In the 1960s, Quebec started planning big hydroelectric projects in the north. In 1971, they created a company to build the James Bay Hydroelectric Project. This was a huge plan. The government of Quebec started it without asking the Indigenous peoples.
The Cree and Inuit people of northern Quebec were against this project. They formed a group called the Quebec Association of Indians. This group sued the government. On November 15, 1973, they won a court order. This order stopped the hydroelectric work until Quebec made an agreement with the Indigenous nations.
However, this court order was quickly overturned a week later. But the need for Quebec to negotiate a treaty for the land remained. So, even though construction continued, talks began.
Over the next year, Quebec worked to create the agreement. On November 15, 1974, a first agreement was signed. It involved the governments of Canada and Quebec, Hydro-Québec, the Grand Council of the Crees, and the Northern Quebec Inuit Association.
The final agreement, the James Bay And Northern Quebec Agreement, was signed on November 11, 1975. This first agreement covered the Cree and Inuit peoples. Later, on January 31, 1978, the Naskapi people of Quebec signed a similar agreement. They then joined the groups set up by the 1975 agreement.
The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement has been updated many times since then. Also, the Constitution Act, 1982 made the rights in this agreement part of Canada's Constitution. This means these rights are now very strong and protected by law.
What the Agreement Covers
The James Bay agreement covers many important topics. It was the first major agreement between Canada and Indigenous peoples since the 1920s. It became a model for many agreements that followed. Here are some of the main things it set up:
Lands
The agreement divided the traditional lands of the Cree, Inuit, and Naskapi into three types:
- Category I Lands: These lands are set aside only for the use of Inuit and Cree people. They own these lands for their communities.
- Category II Lands: These lands belong to the Quebec government. But Indigenous peoples have special rights to hunt, fish, and trap there. If there are plans for logging, mining, or tourism, the Indigenous peoples share the power to decide.
- Category III Lands: These are the largest areas. Indigenous peoples have some specific hunting and harvesting rights here. All other rights are shared, and rules are made together.
For the Inuit in northern Quebec, above the 55th parallel, Category I lands are about 14,000 square kilometers. Category II lands are about 150,929 square kilometers. Category III lands are huge, nearly 60% of Quebec, at 908,000 square kilometers.
Even though Inuit communities own Category I lands, the Quebec government still owns the minerals underground. They need permission from the local village and must pay for any mining. Category I lands cannot be sold or given away, except to the Quebec government.
Category II lands belong to Quebec. But the Inuit have the only rights to hunt, fish, and trap there. Quebec can use these lands for development. But they need the village's permission and must pay for it.
Category III lands are all other lands. Quebec owns them. The government can approve development projects without asking nearby communities. These lands are for both Inuit and non-Inuit to use for hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Environmental and Social Protections
The agreement created groups like the Kativik Environmental Quality Commission (KEQC) and the Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee (KEAC). These groups check and approve development projects in Nunavik.
Their job is to make sure new projects do not harm the land, animals, or people. They also make sure companies follow rules and meet the needs of the people and the environment. Companies must study the environment and show their plans to these committees. The committees then decide if the project can go ahead.
Indigenous peoples have always had a deep connection to the land and sea. It is where they have lived for thousands of years. The land, wildlife, and sea provide food and resources. These rules help make sure the land is respected for future generations.
Economic Development and Financial Compensation
In exchange for signing the agreement, the governments of Quebec and Canada, along with Hydro-Québec, agreed to pay a large amount of money to the Indigenous peoples. This was about $225 million Canadian dollars.
This money is managed by three Indigenous-owned companies. These are the Cree Board of Compensation, the Makivik Corporation, and the Naskapi Development Corporation. They use the money to help their communities grow and develop.
Education
The agreement set up special school boards for Indigenous communities:
- The Cree School Board for Cree villages.
- The Kativik School Board for people in Northern villages, mostly Inuit.
- A special school for Naskapi students in Kawawachikamach.
The agreement strongly encourages teaching in Indigenous languages in these schools.
Inuit Education
The Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (formerly Kativik School Board) is the only school board for elementary, high school, and adult education in Nunavik. It covers all 14 communities in Nunavik. The school board also helps students from the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement go to college or university.
- Language of Instruction: The agreement says that Inuktitut should be the main teaching language. Other languages are also used as they were before.
- Cultural Programming: The school board can create programs to teach about Inuit culture and language. This includes Inuktitut classes, culture classes, and culture weeks.
- Adapted Calendar: Schools in Nunavik can have special calendars. This allows for "culture weeks" where students can do traditional activities like hunting trips.
- Teacher Training: The school board can set up special training for its teachers. Inuit teachers learn about Inuit culture and teaching methods.
Local Government
The agreement created new local governments for Cree and Inuit communities in Quebec. Cree communities became Cree villages, and Inuit communities became Northern villages. Everyone living there, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, can vote.
The Cree Regional Authority was set up to govern the Quebec Cree region. The Kativik Regional Government was set up for the residents of Nunavik.
Inuit Local Government
The agreement created a local government for each of the 14 Inuit villages north of the 55th parallel. These are called "The Municipality of ___________". They include places like Kuujjuaq, Puvirnituq, and Salluit.
These municipal offices provide many services. They handle health and cleanliness, town planning, public services, traffic, and recreation. For example, they deliver water, manage waste, run fire departments, and clear snow.
Anyone can run for municipal office, whether they are Inuit or not. You must be a Canadian citizen, have lived in the village for at least three years, and have no municipal debts. Each village has a mayor and 2 to 6 councilors. Elections are like other municipal elections in Canada. Anyone 18 or older, who is a Canadian citizen and has lived in the area for at least 12 months, can vote.
Health and Social Services
The Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay is in charge of health and social services for Cree communities. In Nunavik, these services are provided by the Kativik Health and Social Services Council.
The agreement set up how Quebec would provide money for health services. The health system is still part of the provincial system, but it is changed to fit the region's needs. The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS) was created in 1995.
The NRBHSS works to improve the health and well-being of people in Nunavik. It makes sure health programs fit the needs of the people and the region.
Each of the fourteen communities has a local nursing station. These stations offer services from dentists, nurses, and doctors. In smaller communities, people might need to fly to larger centers like Kuujjuaq or Puvirnituq for a doctor. Sometimes, people need to go to hospitals in southern Quebec for serious illnesses.
