First session of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government - A historic moment for First Nations relations in Québec

WASKAGANISH, QC, Jan. 21, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - François Gendron, Deputy Premier, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, today joined Martine Ouellet, Minister of Natural Resources and responsible for the Secrétariat au développement nordique, Élizabeth Larouche, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Luc Ferland, Member for Ungava and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources for northern affairs at a historic ceremony to mark the first session of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government.

The event, which Premier Pauline Marois was keen to attend via video from Davos, was held at the invitation of Matthew Coon Come, Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees and of Manon Cyr, Mayor of Chibougamau, appointed as the regional government's first chair for a two-year term.

"The creation of this administrative body marks a historic step forward in terms of harmonizing relations between the Québec government, the James Bay population, and the Cree regarding the governance of the territory of the former Municipalité de Baie-James. I strongly believe this progressive approach will let both communities contribute even more significantly to the prosperity of a territory with such a promising future," said Minister Gendron.

"Structured to respond to its territory's current issues and challenges, the new regional government will play a far greater role in northern development by creating a favourable climate for large-scale projects. In this sense, it will indeed serve as a catalyst for regional development, able to determine the development potential of natural resources and the land based on its specific needs," said Minister Ouellet.

"This regional government is the first public management structure with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal representation. It is a decisive step in building open and respectful relations between our two nations," said Minister Élizabeth Larouche.

The regional government, whose council comprises 22 seats shared equally between the Cree and the James Bay population, exercises the powers and duties granted to a local municipality, a regional county municipality, a regional conference of elected officials and a regional land and natural resource commission for category III lands in the former Municipalité de Baie-James, a territory of 277,000 km².

"The Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government is the result of a long-standing tradition of 'living together,' which bears witness to the mature relationship between the Cree and the residents of James Bay, who have sat their representatives around the same table in our region for the first time in history," said MNA Luc Ferland.

"As citizens of the North, we are all responsible for helping to build forward-looking partnerships for residents of the region, and this is the very opportunity we have thanks to the creation of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government," said Manon Cyr, Council Chair of the Regional Government and Mayor of Chibougamau.

"This Regional Government which we are inaugurating today reflects a vision of a new path for this region which is based on the noble principles of inclusiveness, democracy, and social harmony," concluded Grand Chief Dr. Matthew Coon Come, Vice Chair of the Regional Government.

Sources:

Antonine Yaccarini Press Attaché Office of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 418 563-0458 Geneviève Héon Press Attaché Office of the Minister of Natural Resources and the Secrétariat au développement nordique 418 643-7295

Information:

Émilie Lord Media liaison officer Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire 418 691-2019, ext. 3242

 

SOURCE: Conseil exécutif

Sources:
Antonine Yaccarini
Press Attaché
Office of the Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs
418 563-0458

Geneviève Héon
Press Attaché
Office of the Minister of
Natural Resources and the
Secrétariat au
développement nordique
418 643-7295

Information:
Émilie Lord
Media liaison officer
Ministère des Affaires
municipales, des Régions
et de l'Occupation
du territoire
418 691-2019, ext. 3242