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In the meantime, our
population has continued to grow, and it has grown at a
rate which is much higher than the growth rate of Quebec
and the rest of Canada. More and more individuals have
been entering the labour force and expecting jobs and
personal revenues to support them and their families.
For quite a long time we have been aware that there were
certain upper limits for job creation associated with
the benefits of the Cree-Naskapi Act. Once the jobs
related to operating our villages were filled this would
not be an area for significant job growth in the future.
We knew also that there were limits to the number of
hunters that the land could sustain on an ongoing basis
and, therefore, we would eventually reach upper limits
to the number of people who could be supported by the
Income Security Program.
It became apparent to us that future job creation
potential would need to focus on two major areas: first,
the gradual introduction of Crees as professionals to
assume positions in the Cree School Board and the Cree
Board of Health and Social Services; and secondly, in
the area of economic development.
The first of these areas—the development of Cree
professionals and their assuming roles as teachers,
nurses, doctors, accountants and administrators—while
necessary and desirable, also has upper limits. Once
Crees would be in these positions, there would not be
significant growth from the point of view of job
creation in these areas.
It was obvious that the only significant, long-term and
sustained growth in jobs for the future of the Cree
Nation would be in the area of economic development.
We have always argued that our successful entry into
modern economic development required that several key
necessary conditions be in place. Most importantly among
these necessary conditions are land and natural
resources, financial resources and human resources.
The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement together
with the New Relationship Agreement have provided us
with the recognition of our interest to the land and its
natural resources, and now, the New Relationship
Agreement will provide us with the financial resources
to become major economic players in our traditional
territory. We now have a recognition of our interest in
any resource development which takes place on our
traditional lands and this agreement will provide us
with the financial tools to leverage this recognition
into future benefits. The New Relationship Agreement
represents a pivotal turning point in the historic
direction of aboriginal policy and a turning point in
the history of the Cree Nation.
After many years of doing battle with the Province of
Quebec over our fundamental rights, Quebec finally came
to understand the importance of our relationship to the
land and our need to be involved in all matters related
to the development of the resources within our lands. We
have now entered a new relationship with Quebec based on
mutual understanding and mutual respect.
Part of this new relationship has been that we have had
our fundamental rights within our traditional territory
finally acknowledged.
Our historic claim to the ownership of our traditional
territory has had as its objective to be able to
exercise a significant measure of control over
development, and to also derive benefits from the
resources within our lands. This “paix des braves”, this
New Relationship Agreement between the Crees and Quebec
has provided us with a recognition of our claim and we
are now ready—as we have always maintained—to
participate as active players in the economy of the
region.
1, 2,
3,
4
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