Agreement with the Oujé-Bougoumou Crees"More than ever, the concept of mutual respect is a vital component of our relations with the Cree nation." - Premier Jean Charest

Oujé-Bougoumou, November 7, 2011 – In the wake of today’s signing of Complementary Agreement No. 22 – a historic agreement to include this Cree community in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) – in Oujé-Bougoumou, the Government of Québec and the Crees have also concluded a “Final Settlement Agreement”.  With Québec Premier Jean Charest attending, the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, Dr. Matthew Coon Come, the Vice-Chairman of the Cree Regional Authority, Ashley Iserhoff, the Chief of the Oujé-Bougoumou community, Reggie Neeposh, and the Minister responsible for Native Affairs, Geoffrey Kelley, signed the Final Settlement Agreement Related to Certain Issues Referred to in Schedule G of the Agreement Concerning a New Relationship Between Le Gouvernement du Québec and the Crees of Québec.  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister responsible for the Nord-du-Québec region, Pierre Corbeil, was also present at the ceremony.

The Final Settlement Agreement will have a number of positive effects. In particular, it provides for a full description of the lands which will form the land regime of Oujé-Bougoumou in conformity with the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.  It also provides for the full discontinuance of the legal action taken by Oujé-Bougoumou before La Paix des Braves. The Government of Québec will give the Oujé-Bougoumou Crees $20 million to definitively bring these lawsuits to a close, an amount that will undoubtedly help generate many new socio-economic development possibilities for the community. Furthermore, the Agreement will enable the Assinica National Park, announced last May, to be created. 

“More than ever, the concept of mutual respect is a vital component of our relations with the Cree Nation. Thanks to this agreement, past legal action has been resolved and the Oujé-Bougoumou community can now fully benefit from all of the recognized rights and advantages that other Aboriginal communities enjoy under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. We are participating in an event that allows us to plan the future with confidence and optimism in terms of the socio-economic development of this vast region,” said the Premier.

For his part, Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come stated that “as important as this signing ceremony is to Oujé-Bougoumou, today is also an important occasion for the Cree Nation as a whole. It represents a further step in the development of the Nation-to-Nation relationship between the Cree Nation and Québec that has been evolving since the signature of La Paix des Braves. Québec has shown innovativeness and creativity in the negotiations leading to this important Final Settlement Agreement. For this we are very appreciative.”

“The signing of Complementary Agreement No. 22 and this Final Settlement Agreement is a historic step forward, and it once again demonstrates the solidity of relations between the Government of Québec and the Cree Nation. This is the culmination of several years of work and cooperation among the various parties. I am proud to witness this moment with the Oujé-Bougoumou community today,” said Mr. Kelley.

“We are truly grateful for the efforts which Québec has made in concluding this historically important Agreement for Oujé-Bougoumou. This Agreement represents a major milestone in our taking our rightful place in the political, social and economic landscape of this region. After so many years of hard work the dreams of our Elders have finally been realized,” noted Chief Reggie Neeposh.

“As Minister responsible for the Nord-du-Québec region, I am delighted with this agreement. I am convinced that it will help in the settlement of other issues pertaining to the more effective and efficient management of the James Bay area, benefitting everyone,” added Minister Corbeil.

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