(Lac-Simon) “We don’t really care about the CAQ,” says the head of the Anishnabe community of Lac-Simon, Adrienne Jérôme, who says she “never had good relations” with the Minister and outgoing MP for Abitibi-Est, Pierre Dufour.
Posted at 5:49 p.m.
She answered questions from journalists on the sidelines of Liberal leader Dominique Anglade’s visit to the CPE Takinagan, in Lac-Simon, on Friday. A rare passage of a political leader in an indigenous community during an election campaign.
Pierre Dufour “never really met our needs, especially in the caribou file,” she said. It’s been like a really bad relationship. He never showed up to meetings. He was already invited, and it was very difficult. It is clear that it is not he who makes the decisions. It is clear that he has no knowledge. The specialists speak for him. »
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
The Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks and outgoing MNA for Abitibi-Est, Pierre Dufour
As for the Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs, Ian Lafrenière, “we have a good relationship with (him), as a friend, but no more”. “I am very disappointed with the CAQ. Mr. Lafrenière did not lift a finger for Bill C-92 ”, a federal law which aims to grant full autonomy to Aboriginal communities in terms of child services, but which Quebec is contesting in the Supreme Court. “Even at the level of 96” on the French language, “it was difficult. The CAQ, we do not have it too much in our hearts. »
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs, Ian Lafrenière
The CPE has just opened its doors, and no government representative was present during the event according to its director. Chef Adrienne Jérôme does not give credit to the CAQ for the construction of this installation. “We have been working on this CPE for a long time. At least 10 years. It’s not thanks to the CAQ, I would tell you. […] We built a daycare center to be able to encourage parents to go to school, to be able to go to work too. »
Councilor Lucien Wabanonik points out that it is rare for a political leader to pass through the community. “The visit of Mr.me England is important. But what’s going to be more important is how she’s going to translate that into engagement. »
He asked her directly if she is committed to implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He didn’t have a clear answer. “This Declaration is really important, and the nation-to-nation relationship that we need to build. For us, it is very important. What we want to put forward, […] it is this notion of dialogue. And that’s why we’re here today, to establish this dialogue. […] Relations with First Nations are definitely a priority. She pointed out that the former mayor of Kuujjuaq, Tunu Napartuk, is her candidate in Ungava.
Adrienne Jérôme said that “the community doesn’t really follow the Quebec elections” and that the turnout is low. According to Mr. Wabanonik, this is partly because the parties are not very interested in the issue of the ancestral rights of the First Nations.
The housing crisis is glaring in the community, according to Adrienne Jérôme. “We are almost 3000 in population and we have 300 or so homes. It’s 10 per unit. And we have 80 births a year, ”she illustrated.
Abitibi-Est is a riding that the caquiste Pierre Dufour snatched from the Liberals in 2018. The former mayor of Senneterre, Jean-Maurice Matte, wears the colors of the PLQ this time.