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We are a people guided by
a profound sense of respect. We, as Crees, are taught
about the importance of respect in everything we do and
in every encounter. Our elders have passed on from
generation to generation the importance of having
respect for the animals we hunt and to be grateful to
the animals for giving themselves to us for our
sustenance. We are taught respect for the natural
environment as it is the trees and the waters and all of
nature that provide us with all we need for our
survival. We are also taught respect for every
individual since they too are part of the gift from the
Creator. So, historically, when non-Native people first
entered our territory our first instinct was not to
impress upon them notions of ownership or restrictions,
but to acknowledge their needs and to respect those
needs and to expect that our respect would be
reciprocated. That of course did not happen and
indigenous people throughout the world have paid a dear
price for that.
Part of the challenge which is facing us now as an
indigenous nation is to stay true to the rich and
meaningful cultural heritage which we have inherited and
to apply it to our current realities and circumstances.
The challenge which I believe lies before us is nothing
more nor less than a process of reinventing ourselves.
We, as leaders of the Cree Nation, and the youth who
will be the leaders of the future, have a profound duty
to contribute to the building of the Cree Nation. Armed
with our cultural heritage it is our task to take the
future into our own hands and mold that future in a way
that will enhance the way of life for the next
generations of Cree people to come.
I would like to share with you a picture I have of what
the Cree Nation could look like in 50 years and what we
need to do to get there.
But before I do that I want to give you some very
interesting information about the population of the Cree
Nation.
There is now emerging a very striking and hugely
important demographic reality in northern Quebec
(demography is the study of population trends). It is
clear from the data which has been developing over the
last few years that in a relatively short period of
time—perhaps ten to fifteen years—and if things continue
as they have been, the Crees will be the dominant
population group of northern Quebec. The Cree population
has been, and continues to increase at a significant
rate while at the same time the Jamesian population is
decreasing at a rapid rate. By the year 2021, if the
current trends continue the Cree population will be
approximately 17,000, and the Jamesian population will
be under 10,000.
This demographic reality combined with the opportunities
which are present in the New Relationship Agreement with
Quebec means that the Cree communities and the Cree
Nation as a whole, as the permanent and majority
population, could and should become the major economic
force in northern Quebec. Any serious understanding of
this territory, and any serious planning for the future,
must acknowledge this reality. It must be recognized
that the future of resource development activities—and
indeed most economic development sectors—in northern
Quebec will to a significant degree involve the Cree
communities as the permanent and growing population in
the region.
The picture which I want to give you of what 50 years
from now will look like is based on the belief that we
will have lived up to the challenge and that we have
become the major economic, social and political force in
northern Quebec. We are, at that time in the future, the
major developers of resources, the major tourism
centers, the major commercial entrepreneurs. We are
represented by Crees at all levels of government—local,
provincial and federal. We maintain our own institutions
for the delivery of a full range of educational, health
and social services. We have our own form of democratic
government which provides a full range of services to
address the needs of our people. In short, we are at
that time a thriving, healthy and dynamic indigenous
nation.
In order to seize the opportunity which lies before us
and to realize this vision there is much which we need
to do—as a Cree Nation and also as individuals. We know
we have considerable challenges in the area of human
resource development. To meet the challenge of the
future we must be certain that we have the skills and
the education to be the entrepreneurs, the professionals
in the areas of forest management, mining, tourism,
business development, accountants, lawyers, doctors,
nurses, and all the other professions required to
maintain a nation.
And this is where the current youth come into the
picture. If the vision which I outlined has a chance of
being realized it will be because of what you as
individuals do, the choices you make about your own
futures, and your personal commitment to make a
contribution to the future of the Cree Nation. If we do
not begin to seize the opportunity, if our youth do not
see the opportunities for the future, then the
opportunity will be lost.
And if that opportunity is lost then the Cree Nation
will be relegated to an insignificant enclave of
communities whose people occupy their time with a
combination of traditional pursuits and narrowly defined
local community development consisting of some housing
construction and a range of educational and social
services. The monies which will be entering the
communities as a result of the New Relationship
Agreement may not circulate within the community for
long and will leave the communities in the form of
awarded contracts and professional services because
there will not be enough Cree professionals to benefit
from those activities.
On the surface the communities may appear to be wealthy
because of increased capital spending and infrastructure
improvements, but there may not be an increase in
productive members of Cree society or the creation of
truly healthy communities. The wealth which is possible
may not come to the Cree people but instead be exported.
But this scenario can be avoided by the determination of
our people to see a different outcome.
So, in conclusion, I call upon the Cree youth of Eeyou
Istchee to join in a great challenge and a great
movement to realize a vision of what the Cree Nation can
become. I call upon you to seize the moment, to seize
the opportunity, and learn everything you can so that
you can contribute to a great cause. I call upon the
youth of Eeyou Istchee to dedicate yourselves to the
building of the Cree Nation!
Meegwetch.
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