News Flash: The Cree forestry court case is in limbo.
Rumor Mill: The case is dropped.
The Truth: The Grand Chief called an emergency chiefs’ meeting by request of the provincial negotiator, Chief Billy Diamond. The negotiator, who this year made Cree history by finally getting Quebec to agree to the MOU deal with the Crees, had bad news. The Quebec government was refusing to give the money because the Crees were showing “bad faith,” as evidenced by the court case. “Billy,” as one person put it, “wasn’t getting much of a favourable response.”
Of all the five chiefs in the meeting who represented the Cree communities involved in the court action, one couldn’t make it, one had just been elected and wasn’t up to par on the issue, two of them were represented by non-chiefs and the fifth was the provincial negotiator, who brought Quebec’s demands to the meeting.
The Result. It was agreed to suspend the court action temporarily while negotiating with Quebec and Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come was instructed to write to Natural Resources Minister Guy Chevrette informing him of this.
My Response: What a sweet deal for Quebec. At the first sign of serious opposition the Cree leadership backs down, rolls over and submits to Quebec’s demands. You have to ask why. Perhaps it was because a lot of the Cree communities had already started spending the promised $ 15 million in MOU money, thereby opening themselves up to Quebec’s blackmail. Kenny Blacksmith, former Deputy Grand Chief, warned about the potential of blackmail when the MOU was first signed. “It now appears as long as the Cree don’t stand up and voice Cree rights… then Quebec will hand over a few dollars to keep us quiet,” wrote Blacksmith (Vol. 5, No. 6, February 13, 1998).
At this point there are important questions that arise. First, this forestry court case was a much-talked-about issue. The five affected communities were consulted. People added their names as plaintiffs proudly. The Cree people were empowered. Given the change in attitude, I would ask that if local Cree government isn’t about empowering the people, then why don’t we just give it back to Indian Affairs? After all they were good at making bad decisions people didn’t want. It would seem at last count that the Cree people in the five affected communities were heavily in favour of this court action. Should we not find out if this is a decision that the people want? Given the nature of the previous forestry community consultation process, would not a full discussion of the differing issues of the MOU and the forestry case be right and true to the people?
The second question is if any chief was so dependent on Quebec’s handouts, wasn’t it a conflict-of-interest for them to make this decision? Wouldn’t they be less suited to make an impartial judgement in the best interests of the Cree people as a whole? It would be interesting to know how much of Quebec’s money was spent and by who.
As for the Quebec government I feel nothing but shame and despise the iron hand within the velvet glove. I see the Great White Father manipulator rears his ugly head yet once again in this age of enlightenment. I ask, why should fundamental rights be subject to blackmail over a court case? Is this Quebec government not interested in justice? Should we not find out the rights and wrongs of the matter in a lawful and just fashion?
Instead, we get the message that if we do not do what they say, they will attack us on all fronts.
When I think of Quebec I know that, now and as in the past, they don’t want justice. Otherwise, why this I Ith-hour attempt involving the violation of basic human rights? The $ 15-million MOU fund was promised for needed community projects that other Canadians take for granted and, besides, were guaranteed in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. These promises are being violated while democracy and self-government become a sad farce. It seems the Indian can’t question the wisdom and desires of the Great White Father without consequence.
Since the Cree victory over the Great Whale project, we have been in an enviableposition of power for a First Nation. This power could, and has been, translated intogreat achievements. We have no reason to subject our fundamental rights to blackmailover the forestry court case. Yes, by all means, let’s negotiate. We’ve been waiting forthis day for over 20 years. But let’s keep the pressure of the case alive. After all,isn’t this pressure the reason Quebec is now taking the Cree concerns seriously?Negotiating from a position of power would benefit the Cree Nation more.
