Quebec First Nation looks to Nunavik for support

Naskapi chief Noah Swappie asked the KRG council Nov. 27 if Kawawachikamach residents could be eligible for support under its cost of living reduction program. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

KUUJJUAQ — The Kativik Regional Government council has made a show of support to the Naskapi nation, its neighbours to the south, as that First Nation looks for subsidies to offset its high cost of living.

This support remains largely symbolic for now, but it’s raised questions about the Naskapi-Inuit relationship in Nunavik, where both share traditional hunting territory.

Naskapi chief Noah Swappie came to the KRG council meeting last week in Kuujjuaq to share the results of a 2012 cost of living survey carried out in Kawawachikamach, the Naskapi community of 1,000, located about 250 kilometres south of Kuujjuaq.

The survey compared consumer prices in Kawawachikamach with those in the South, and found that the community’s cost of living is similar to that of Nunavik, and actually higher than that in Kuujjuaq.

The survey showed that the cost of food in Kawawachikamach is 61 per cent higher than in Quebec City, compared to 56 per cent higher in Kuujjuaq. Food prices across Nunavik are considered 81 per cent higher than in the South.

Those results were surprising, Swappie said, given that Kawawachikamach’s goods are delivered by truck and then train — which considered much cheaper than plane or sealift used to transport goods to Nunavik.

But there are no efficient measures in place to help the Naskapi, Swappie said, and the First Nation hasn’t had any luck with the Quebec government.

Because Kawawachikamach has access to year-round surface transportation, the community is not eligible for Nutition North subsidies.

That’s what prompted Swappie to ask the KRG council Nov. 27 if Naskapi could be eligible for support under its cost of living reduction program, which subsidizes food, household items, gasoline and hunting equipment for most Nunavimmiut.

Because of its shared hunting territory and historical connection to Nunavik, the Naskapi nation holds a seat on the KRG council.

But the First Nation has not before benefitted from Nunavik’s programs.

“It’s a bit of a grey zone,” Swappie told the council Nov. 27. “Sometimes I ask myself why I am sitting here? How can I benefit more from sitting on the KRG council?”

“That’s why we’re here now, to push this file and address the high cost of living in our community.”

While Nunavik has for the past several years received $5 million a year to offset the high cost of living in the region, the Quebec government more than doubled those subsidies for the next three years.

That means the region will receive $33 million in subsidies between 2014 and 2016.

But this may be the first time ever Nunavik has itself approached for support.

Given the cost of living agreement was negotiated between the Quebec government and Nunavik’s leadership, the KRG said it would be impossible to re-do its budget and reduce funding to Nunavimmiut in order to re-allocate to the Naskapi nation.

That’s why councillors instead opted to pass a resolution of support for the Naskapi nation as it makes its case to Quebec.

“We support you as Aboriginal people… and we understand your point,” said KRG chair Maggie Emudluk. “Maybe in the coming months, we will be able to negotiate with the government together.”

The Naskapi of Kawawachikamach have already asked for the same rights and recognition Inuit have received from the federal and provincial governments — a request they say has been ignored.

At a 2005 symposium in Montreal, Naskapi leaders asked Nunavimmiut leaders to relinquish jurisdiction over any Naskapi lands located north of the 55th parallel, the area covered under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

The Naskapi are signatories to a complimentary land claims agreement signed in 1978, called the Northeastern Quebec agreement.