Nunavik youths get hands-on look at negotiating a treaty

To develop future generations’ leadership and negotiation skills, close to 40 youths gathered in Inukjuak last week to perform a three-day Nunavik treaty simulation.

“Oh my God, was it ever fun,” said Janice Parsons, president of the Qarjuit Youth Council, in a phone interview.

From Jan. 26 to 29, participants from across the region met at the Inukjuak community centre and shared knowledge with elders, some of whom were part of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association that first signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement 50 years ago.

A breakdown of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement was given to participants of a treaty simulation last week, increasing their knowledge of Nunavik. (Photo courtesy of Qarjuit Youth Council)

The agreement, signed in 1975, established the legal rights of Inuit and the Cree Nation in northern Quebec.

Last week’s event was organized by Qarjuit Youth Council, Makivvik Corp. and the Gordon Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to empowering Canada’s North.

It was an exercise to gather information and a better understanding of the agreement, and to learn negotiation tactics.

“A lot of it was really preparing the youth to start negotiating with Makivvik and Quebec [in the future],” said Parsons.

“It was a success, the youth were very involved, engaged, and willing to learn. It really looked like an actual negotiating table with the government.

“The whole entire time during their negotiation simulation, I was in tears,” she said.

Parsons participated the first time a simulation was held in Kuujjuaq in 2022. Although that event was more spontaneous, the one in Inukjuak was organized and sets the path to potentially stage more in the future.

The event stressed “the importance of learning how to negotiate, in preparation for our youth to thrive in advocacy, and leadership,” she said.

Inukjuak Mayor Peter Inukpuk, who was a signatory to the agreement 50 years ago, was at the event to listen and talk with participants.

“We were able to listen directly from original signatories, their experience, their struggles, their sacrifices,” Parson said.

Treaty simulation participants learn public speaking and negotiation skills at the Nunavik treaty simulation, in Inukjuak last week. (Photo courtesy of Qarjuit Youth Council)

“The youth learned that there were not many options for those original signatories.”

Parsons said she would like to see Nunavik treaty simulations held about every two years to help young people learn about self-governance, self-determination, leadership and what is happening in the region.

Of the nearly 40 participants, just under 20 were from Nunavik Sivunitsavut. They travelled from Montreal to participate.

Parsons said it was difficult to find more people to come to Inukjuak and participate. She wishes more would come, noting there aren’t enough young people in Nunavik interested in being elected to leadership positions in the region.

“Our youth are not willing enough to participate in any event,” she said. “I really want to figure out why youth are not engaging enough in training opportunities.”

She added, “Each year, the number [of participants] is getting smaller and smaller,” although there are some who continue to take part.

“I dream to see higher numbers, because this is our future as youth, our children’s future,” she said.