On May 15, Josée Legault, a prominent Quebec nationalist and Le Devoir columnist, participated in a talk show in Montreal. In it she mentioned a few “facts” and comments on the s of James Bay.

She said Crees have an extremely high level of illiteracy. Crees, she said, would have to prove internationally and to Quebec that we would have more to gain staying with Canada than an independent Quebec. Legault also called into question the way the Cree referendum was run and the high rate (95 per cent) of desire to stay with Canada. She said the high Cree level of illiteracy raises questions about the validity of the Cree referendum.

When I heard about the high level of illiteracy among Crees, I was stunned. Every Elder I’ve known writes and reads Cree, and the rest of the voting population writes and reads English and/or French. The ballots were in three languages. Information on the referendum went out by pamphlet, radio, television and print media. Leaders explained the importance of the situation and Crees responded.

Instead of assuming the “extreme high level of illiteracy” or lack thereof, I telephoned Luke MacLeod of the Cree School Board. He estimated the Cree rate of illiteracy at 5 to 10 per cent. A far cry from the estimated 28-per-cent rate in Quebec. As Luke commented, these types of comments are typical of the stereotyping so commonly made about Native people. “The only time they see a difference is when they come up North to visit,” as Luke put it. “A lot of people say, ‘We didn’t know it was like this.’ When you look at most Canadians and their perceptions of Native peoples, they might as well be Europeans.”

Josée, I would ask only one thing of you—that in the future instead of making accusations that are unfounded except in hearsay, that you visit the Cree communities and ask people of voting age if they understood the Cree referendum choices. You will find that they did.

Perhaps you may say that a 95-per-cent response in favour of a certain choice is absolutely ridiculous, but tell that to the Ukrainian people who voted over 90-percent in favour of independence for their people back in the early 90’s. Were they ridiculous? Indeed, would Quebec be ridiculous if they voted in such overwhelming numbers to separate?

To go further, Legault says the Cree referendum can only be taken seriously if they can prove that they have more to gain by staying in Canada. But does she believe that francophones have to prove to anyone but themselves that they have more to gain by separating? Not from what I can see from the separatist leadership.

But that is what you seem to be saying to the Crees in my viewpoint. That your people have the right to a referendum and everyone better abide by the results. But when it comes to the Natives, we have to prove ourselves worthy to a dominant society that imposed racist laws upon us. Yes, that includes Quebec in the past, present, but hopefully not in the future. After all, Quebec was part of the Canada that participated in residential schools and other forms of genocide practiced on the Crees.

Let us look at your statement that “10-11,000” Crees have no demographic base for an independent state. There is a country that has a population of 6,000 citizens. It is part of the UN. Shall we kick them out as not having a demographic base?

You seem like an intelligent person, but lack the full picture. I extend an invitation to come and visit with us. You may find that the forest has more trees than you expected.