Quebecers' view of Natives negative

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Almost half of 1,000 Quebecers responding to a survey had a negative opinion of the province's Natives. One-quarter of the respondents said they view Natives in a very negative light and an additional 23 per cent had a rather negative opinion of them.

The survey counted 21 per cent of the respondents as having a very positive or rather positive view of the Quebec Native population. More than one in four were neutral.

The poll, conducted June 10-15 by Leger and Leger, was published in LeJournal de Montreal. It came only days after the Mohawks from Kanesatake began work on a disputed piece of land near the Oka golf course.

In a separate poll, conducted by COMPAS and printed in the Financial Post, Quebecers believe that Aboriginals have the right to decide whether or not to stay in Quebec if the province secedes.

The poll finds that 54 per cent support the idea of an Aboriginal referendum. The remainder of the respondents believe First Nations should accept the overall results of a sovereignty vote.