The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, 1975
One of the most important land claim settlements for Inuit was the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, which was approved in 1975.
In the 1960s, the government of Quebec had been pushing to further expand the province's endeavors in terms of energy. By 1971, the government had created the James Bay Development Corporation in order to increase development for the gathering of natural resources. The first major project on the corporations agenda was to build a hydroelectric dam in James Bay.
In the 1960s, the government of Quebec had been pushing to further expand the province's endeavors in terms of energy. By 1971, the government had created the James Bay Development Corporation in order to increase development for the gathering of natural resources. The first major project on the corporations agenda was to build a hydroelectric dam in James Bay.
In 1993, Aboriginal activists fought for the right to the land their peoples had live on for centuries. After legal action was taken, the government of Quebec was obligated to discuss the terms of the program with the Aboriginal peoples of the area in question. The negotiations continued until an agreement was finally met in 1975. The settlement composed consisted of steps towards self-government for the Inuit residing in norther Quebec, carried out through the creation of the Makivik Corp., and the Kativik Regional Government, as well as 450,000 square kilometres of land and the formation of of Nunavik, a distinct region for Inuit.
On November 11th, 1975, Inuit leaders Charlie Watt and Zebedee Nungak, then-Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa, andCree Chief Billy Diamond, signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. This would set a standard for future land claim settlements, and push for that the rights of Aboriginal peoples to be respected, which is something that is essential to Canada's movement for an egalitarian society.
On November 11th, 1975, Inuit leaders Charlie Watt and Zebedee Nungak, then-Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa, andCree Chief Billy Diamond, signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. This would set a standard for future land claim settlements, and push for that the rights of Aboriginal peoples to be respected, which is something that is essential to Canada's movement for an egalitarian society.