(Quebec) According to the Innu leaders, François Legault is on the wrong track by fearing that the Petapan treaty, negotiated between Quebec, Ottawa and three communities, will result in an Aboriginal “right of veto” and the questioning of the indivisibility of the territory Quebec.
“At no time, in the text [du traité] which is concluded between all the parties […] we are not talking about a right of veto. At no time are we talking about a possibility of dividing the territory,” insisted the Innu chief, Gilbert Dominique, on Tuesday. “That’s one of the reasons [pour laquelle] we ardently wished to meet Mr. Legault. To also understand his perception of the text of the draft treaty”, he adds.
The chiefs of the three Innu communities of the Regroupe Petapan (Mashteuiatsh in Lac Saint-Jean, Essipit and Nutashkuan on the North Shore) made the trip to the National Assembly on Tuesday to ask Quebec to “come back to the negotiating table for the conclusion of their modern Paix des braves. They were accompanied by members of the Liberal Party of Quebec, Quebec solidaire and the Parti Quebecois.
The Innu reacted to the remarks of the Prime Minister who affirmed in mid-May that he feared that the Petapan treaty would cede to the natives “a right of veto” on the development of economic projects. François Legault also said he was worried about the notion of the inherent right to self-determination, an issue that is still not resolved, and which could make the Quebec territory divisible, according to him.
“Currently, the government lawyers who are in there […] tell us that what is proposed as a treaty could give a right of veto and make the territory divisible,” explained the Premier on the eve of the CAQ convention in Sherbrooke. He explained in this sense that he wanted to remain “prudent like all the governments before him”, but that the intention is always to get along with the Innu.
Moreover, a motion reiterating “the importance of concluding such an agreement” with the Innu and asking the Legault government to “continue accelerated negotiations in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible” was adopted Tuesday at the unanimity. The elected Caquistes voted in favor of the text presented by Liberal MP André A. Morin jointly with the opposition.
Waiting for a counter-proposal
“To have spoken with one voice, I find it extraordinary,” rejoiced Mr. Dominique, referring to the motion. The latter now says he expects the treaty “to be settled as soon as possible”. Indigenous leaders have been waiting since March 31 for the Legault government’s counter-proposal and still have no idea of the new timetable for negotiations.
Mr. Legault was not present during the vote on the motion. His cabinet clarified that the Prime Minister is “always leaving [le Salon bleu] after question period is over, except when he moves motions as Prime Minister or there are deferred votes”.
In the absence of news, the Innu leaders raised their voices a notch last May. The Press reported that the three communities could take legal action against the big companies that exploit ancestral lands if the “silence” of the Legault government persists. Rio Tinto and Resolute Forest Products were notably informed that Mashteuiatsh was suspending negotiations.
On Tuesday, the Innu chiefs gave the negotiation another chance. ” I dare to hope [que nous n’aurons pas à mettre] implementation of this strategy of last resort… […] because that’s not what we want. But, at the same time, after 40 years, I think, everyone is going to agree that it’s time […] that we can agree on a treaty that has been discussed and negotiated in an honorable way,” indicated Mr. Dominique.
The part of the treaty concerning Ottawa was concluded recently. It was François Legault who, in the middle of the election campaign, had set the deadline for bringing 40 years of negotiations to a conclusion on March 31.
Asked about the slowness of the negotiations by André A. Morin, the minister responsible for relations with the First Nations and the Inuit, Ian Lafrenière recalled that he wants to “do things the right way”.
“We cannot be blamed today for being ambitious. We cannot be blamed today for wanting to do more than what has been done in the past,” he said. “It is a government that is responsible, that is organized. You know that the majority of people agree with Petapan. There are those who disagree. There are indigenous communities that ask me not to sign Petapan. So we have to listen to everyone. We have to reassure them,” he added.
The Petapan treaty provides financial compensation for “past damages” caused by the exploitation of the ancestral territory, called Nitassinan, as well as a “real participation” formula for current and future economic development projects. The Innu are asking the Legault government for a block of energy of 500 megawatts and the obligation for forestry companies to come to an agreement with them when exploiting ancestral lands.
It is also expected that a share of the royalties collected by Quebec on Nitassinan be paid, at a minimum of 3%.