Bouchard extends olive branch to Quebec aboriginals

QUEBEC CITY — Caught up in a major political crisis caused by an illegal nurses’ strike, Quebec’s cabinet never got around to approving the Nunavik political accord this week.

But Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard did summon Quebec’s native leaders to Quebec City on Tuesday to try and sell them the Parti Québécois vision of nation building.

Bouchard acknowledged that they may have “questions and worries” about his government’s goals, but he asked them to try and share its dreams.

“We have to walk towards the future,” Bouchard told the gathering of 100 First Nations chiefs, Inuit mayors and elected officials from Nunavik. “We have things to do. There aren’t just conflicts and disagreements.”

Bouchard and his native affairs minister, Guy Chevrette, gamely participated in a sweet grass ceremony and embraced aboriginal leaders, but their message was seriously political.

Bouchard suggested that his sovereignist government’s aspirations might not be so different from native peoples,’ and he urged them to work together, regardless of their differences.

“We’re not going to erase the pages of history. We have to accept each other as we are,” Bouchard said.

He asked participants at the meeting to support two ideas: the creation of a permanent political forum for aboriginals, and the adoption of a broad framework to guide Quebec’s relations with aboriginal people.

“The Quebec government is open to aboriginals,” said Bouchard. “You are an important component of the history, present and future of Quebec.”

Enthusiasm, hostility

Despite their decision to go along with Bouchard, reactions around the table ranged from enthusiastic to hostile.

“If you want to be known as a leader in North America with respect to your relations with native peoples, then you must live by your words,” one leader said.

Frustrated over an impasse in their negotiations with Quebec, the Algonquin delegation actually filed out of the conference room, demanding the resignation of Chevrette.

The Crees’ Grand Chief, Matthew Coon-Come, said he doubted progress could be made unless there was more respect for human rights.

“If this is not done, it will be domination,” said Coon-Come.

Ghislain Picard, the president of the Association of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, criticized the PQ policy of “partnership, development and action” with aboriginals, saying it was conceived without the consultation of the native peoples, and didn’t work.

He said that the government’s practice of negotiating individual deals also short-circuited the traditional First Nations’ solidarity.

Inuit conciliatory

But some native leaders, including the Inuit, who have already signed agreements with the current government, were more receptive to conciliation.

The Kativik Regional Government signed two deals in Quebec City worth $25 million. This money comes out of the $125 aboriginal fund that Quebec announced a year ago.

It’s designed to assist aboriginals with economic development and infrastructure, but so far, Inuit are the only group that have sought a share of the money.

“We’re ready to work with the government,” Makivik Corporation President Pita Aatami said.

Aatami had been hoping to sign the Nunavik Political Accord on Tuesday, but he remains optimistic.

“It didn’t happen today,” he said. “But we believe it will happen in the near future.”

Aatami said he received assurances that the deal will be signed within weeks.

This promise was delivered publicly by Chrevette, and later by Bouchard when he met behind closed doors with the Inuit delegation.