Pavlov's House Party
5th December 2010, 13:36
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Cree+mark+anniversary+historic+signing+with+embass y+opening+Quebec+City/3925586/story.html
QUEBEC — The Quebec Cree on Friday marked the 35th anniversary of signing of the historic James Bay Agreement by opening an embassy in Quebec City.
The First Nation says it is taking the unusual step to ensure a permanent presence in the provincial capital to pursue negotiations on several arrangements stemming from the 1975 agreement and the province's ambitious plan to develop northern Quebec.
"We are working with the government of Quebec on various projects and we felt it was necessary that we establish an office here," said Matthew Coon Come, grand chief of the Quebec Cree.
He said the bureau, located on the Grande-Allee near the province's national assembly, is more than just a symbolic gesture.
"We call it a Cree embassy. It's only right because it's a nation-to-nation relationship and we take that relationship very seriously," added the leader of the 18,000 Cree of northern Quebec.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest, who attended the official opening ceremony Friday, stressed the province welcomes the Cree presence in Quebec City.
"Texas calls itself the Republic of Texas and they have their flag. I'm not bothered by that at all. I think it speaks to the pride of who they are," Charest told reporters outside the embassy.
The Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa said, to its knowledge, the Cree appear to be the only First Nation in the country to have opened such an embassy.
The opening coincided with the 35th anniversary of the signature of the James Bay Agreement, which saw the Cree and other northern native communities compensated for lands lost to Hydro-Quebec, with the James Bay hydroelectric project.
The Cree sued the Quebec government for lack of implementation for the James Bay Agreement and they settled for $4.5 billion in 2000, with the so-called Paix des Braves.
"That paved the way for a real partnership and laid the foundation on which we can build our future," Coon Come said.
The Cree are also gearing up for the Charest's Plan Nord, a vision to develop the economy in Quebec's northern reaches, which are seen as untapped territories for wind energy.
Under that plan, Quebec has decided to develop 300 MW of wind energy along with 3,000 MW of hydroelectric power.
"We are working hard together with the Cree on the Plan Nord," said Pierre Corbeil, the province's native affairs minister.
Charest stressed the progress made since the signature of the James Bay Agreement will facilitate discussions with the Cree on future development.
"As we talk about the Plan Nord, we are going to build on that foundation and key (to) the relationship is respect," Charest said.
QUEBEC — The Quebec Cree on Friday marked the 35th anniversary of signing of the historic James Bay Agreement by opening an embassy in Quebec City.
The First Nation says it is taking the unusual step to ensure a permanent presence in the provincial capital to pursue negotiations on several arrangements stemming from the 1975 agreement and the province's ambitious plan to develop northern Quebec.
"We are working with the government of Quebec on various projects and we felt it was necessary that we establish an office here," said Matthew Coon Come, grand chief of the Quebec Cree.
He said the bureau, located on the Grande-Allee near the province's national assembly, is more than just a symbolic gesture.
"We call it a Cree embassy. It's only right because it's a nation-to-nation relationship and we take that relationship very seriously," added the leader of the 18,000 Cree of northern Quebec.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest, who attended the official opening ceremony Friday, stressed the province welcomes the Cree presence in Quebec City.
"Texas calls itself the Republic of Texas and they have their flag. I'm not bothered by that at all. I think it speaks to the pride of who they are," Charest told reporters outside the embassy.
The Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa said, to its knowledge, the Cree appear to be the only First Nation in the country to have opened such an embassy.
The opening coincided with the 35th anniversary of the signature of the James Bay Agreement, which saw the Cree and other northern native communities compensated for lands lost to Hydro-Quebec, with the James Bay hydroelectric project.
The Cree sued the Quebec government for lack of implementation for the James Bay Agreement and they settled for $4.5 billion in 2000, with the so-called Paix des Braves.
"That paved the way for a real partnership and laid the foundation on which we can build our future," Coon Come said.
The Cree are also gearing up for the Charest's Plan Nord, a vision to develop the economy in Quebec's northern reaches, which are seen as untapped territories for wind energy.
Under that plan, Quebec has decided to develop 300 MW of wind energy along with 3,000 MW of hydroelectric power.
"We are working hard together with the Cree on the Plan Nord," said Pierre Corbeil, the province's native affairs minister.
Charest stressed the progress made since the signature of the James Bay Agreement will facilitate discussions with the Cree on future development.
"As we talk about the Plan Nord, we are going to build on that foundation and key (to) the relationship is respect," Charest said.