Petapan Treaty | “We have never been so close to delivering,” retorts Quebec

(Quebec) Ian Lafrenière contradicts indigenous leaders who deplore “an impasse” in the Petapan treaty negotiations. Quebec and the three Innu communities have never been so close to getting along, retorts the minister responsible for First Nations and Inuit.

“The fact that we have negotiated for so many years, there are some who have lost confidence, I understand that, but we must not be discouraged when we reach the finish line,” argues the minister in an interview. Ian Lafrenière assures that the Legault government’s desire remains to reach an agreement “quickly” with the Innu communities of Mashteuiatsh, Essipit and Nutashkuan.

“If we had done a 10 kilometer together, I would say that there is one last 500 meters left,” illustrates the minister.

However, the leaders accuse Quebec of negotiating in “bad faith” which “endangers” the draft treaty for which Ottawa has already given its agreement. Innu leaders signed a strong letter Monday in which they claim to have been “deceived” by the Legault government. In their missive, they also open the door to possible legal recourse if the impasse persists.

“On the contrary, I think that we have never been so close to delivering, but it is normal that there are things that stick,” said the minister, recalling that the talks have been going on for more than 40 years.

It was François Legault himself, who, in the middle of the electoral campaign, had set the deadline for negotiations at March 31, 2023. It was to underline “this sad anniversary” that the Innu chiefs took up their pens.

Negotiations stumble in particular over the definition ofinnu-aitun, which comes to define Innu culture, explained the chief of Mashteuiash, Gilbert Dominique. “There have been certain proposals […] which would have ensured that the practice of our traditional activities on our territory would be the equivalent [à la pratique] Quebec sport hunters, we are not in the same place,” he lamented in an interview.

However, this is a concept that had been “agreed” in the general agreement in principle in 2004, argued Mr. Dominique, who sees this as a step backwards.

The issue of the inherent right to self-determination is also not resolved, according to the leader. François Legault expressed reservations last spring, suggesting that the treaty could thus give “a right of veto” to the Innu and “make the territory divisible”.

In their letter, the Innu once again demand a meeting with the Prime Minister, an interview that Quebec “keeps putting off,” they write.

Legault must take leadership, according to an expert

The former Common Approach negotiator for Quebec, Louis Bernard, believes that the Prime Minister must take leadership on the issue. “If there are hesitations, I am not saying that they are not reasonable, but we must take the means to resolve them as quickly as possible, it has been dragging on for a year. There are certainly people dragging their feet,” he explains.

“It is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to ensure that his government decides,” adds Mr. Bernard, who has the impression that Mr. Legault “is not comfortable” with control of the file.

“On the fact that the natives would have a right of veto, that is not true. All the powers that the treaty gives them are power over the natives, continues Mr. Bernard. There is no question of veto or right to separate […] we hear that from people who don’t know that.”

Ian Lafrenière assures that Mr. Legault is committed to meeting the leaders, but not at this stage.

“When we carry out a negotiation like that, it’s normal to keep the Prime Minister, the person who is the highest authority, for the end when there will be just two or three elements on which we will have to decide,” pleads the minister who says he wants to “use this card at the right time”.

A year ago, when Ottawa reached an agreement with the Innu, there were whispers behind the scenes that Quebec was awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on federal law C-92 for the autonomy of their child protection services. . A favorable decision would have allowed him to renegotiate certain clauses of the treaty, it was said. Quebec was finally dismissed by the highest court in the country in February.

The Petapan treaty, described as a modern Peace of the Brave, provides financial compensation for “past damage” caused by the exploitation of the ancestral territory, called Nitassinan, as well as a formula for “real participation” for projects of current and future economic development.

The Innu are asking the Legault government for an energy block of 500 megawatts and the obligation for forestry companies to come to an agreement with them when exploiting ancestral lands. It is also planned that a share of the royalties collected by Quebec on Nitassinan of a minimum of 3% will be paid.

With Mylène Crête, The Press