Separatists major threat to Cree - Coon Come

Page 1

New Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau is no Rene Levesque, said Matthew Coon-Come, Grand Chief of the Council of Crees. Parizeau may be taking on the responsibility of Native Affairs as did his Parti Quebecois predecessor, but he hasn't taken the best interests of Aboriginals to his heart, Coon-Come said.

Parizeau was sworn in as Quebec's 26th premier Sept. 26, and took the Native Affairs portfolio as his own. While it's true Native issues will be in the forefront in the Quebec political agenda in the coming years, it doesn't mean Parizeau took the portfolio for this reason.

"He was just doing what Mr. Levesque was doing, and he's not Mr. Levesque."

Parizeau named 14 men and six women to cabinet positions, including assigning a new portfolio of Restructuring (in the event of separation) to Richard Le Hir, a controversial PQ member who publicly slighted Native culture by saying it has nothing to teach modern society.

Coon-Come said there is much to be concerned about, now that the provincial electorate have chosen a separatist government. Statements the PQ made before and after they got into power pose a major threat to changing Native status and rights, he said.

"They said they would not maintain the fiduciary obligations of Canada. They said they would cancel the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, which is our signed Treaty. They've maintained they would only recognize cultural rights, but deny us our political rights and classify us as minorities. They've said that they would take the Cree and the north territories without their consent. These are the kind of statements that have made which are very worrisome."

Coon-Come has met with Parizeau numerous times, but never in his capacity as premier. The Cree leader said he would have no problem meeting with Parizeau as a head of a provincial government in the context of reminding Quebec of its obligations and commitment to the James Bay Agreement. But he would have to think twice about meeting with a government that denies him the right to discuss a new constitution for Quebec.

There is a conflict with claims the separatists are making about the right to self-determination for themselves while denying this same right to First Nations, Coon-Come said.

The Cree people support parallel referendum where Native people could determine whether they want to go with a sovereign Quebec, remain in Canada or go on their own.

"If Quebec wants to paddle away in a canoe, we have a choice if we want to jump into the canoe with Quebec or remain on dry land. That is the choice that we have," said Coon-Come.

Meanwhile, Parizeau jump-started relations with First Nations with an announcement he was prepared to off them natural resources royalties so Natives might have control over their economic future in an independent Quebec.

Coon-Come warned the Parizeau government would want to make sure it is seen as trying to accommodate Native concerns and give the impression that something was being done, when in reality it does nothing.

"I think that this government, because of their obsession to separate from Canada, they will want to do what is necessary to make sure they get the support and backing of other Quebecers."

In the meantime, the province's First Nations will work together to develop a common strategy to deal with the separatists, and most importantly to Coon-Come, defend Cree rights.