Bill 97: As tension rises, Quebec ministers return to the table with First Nations leaders

As pressure builds against Bill 97 – Quebec’s new forestry law that could privatize ancestral land – the provincial ministers of Indigenous Relations and Natural Resources interrupted their vacations this week to visit Atikemekw territory. Their visit followed on months of protests culminating in a tense confrontation last week between Atikamekw protestors and loggers. On Tuesday, Ian Lafrenière, Minister Responsible for Relations with First Nations and the Inuit, and Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, reported they had met with leaders from the three Atikamekw communities near La Tuque. On Wednesday, the ministers met with Regional Chief François Verreault-Paul and other leaders of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL). This meeting was notable because less than a month earlier, the AFNQL suspended discussions with the Quebec government over the issue, claiming Blanchette Vézina had “consistently refused to commit to a proper and meaningful process.” Bill 97 proposes sweeping changes to the way forestry is organized in Quebec, and Indigenous opponents say it threatens to privatize their ancestral land. The bill has been a flashpoint for protests since it was introduced in April. Read more: Opposition grows to proposed forestry bill in Quebec The ministers’ visit follows confrontations between Atikamekw activists (many of whom identify as land defenders and hereditary leaders) and non-Indigenous loggers last week. Images and videos shared on Facebook and other social media showed face-to-face confrontations as well as, in one case, what appeared to be a logger driving a heavy truck very slowly into a land-defender standing in the vehicle’s way. Atikamekw territory, known as the Nitaskinan, is located in the central part of Quebec, some five hours north of Montreal. The actions in the region had various groups appealing for peace. The band council of the Atikamekw Nation of Wemotaci released a statement calling for calm. That statement noted the conflict was spreading to social media, and stressed the need for “respect and restraint.” Logger in a tense confrontation with MAMO First Nations land defender Dave Petiquay. Photo: Lisanne Pittiwki, Facebook The logging contractor Rémabec published its own call for “respectful dialogue,” welcoming the statement from Wemotaci’s Council. The company, headquartered in La Tuque near Wemotaci, asked forestry contractors to avoid blockaded sites along Route 25, which runs between the two communities. Earlier this week, the APNQL was calling Quebec leaders back to the table, urging the Quebec government in a news release “to take responsibility” for the deteriorating situation and “establish the conditions of a genuine and constructive dialogue.” At the same time, however, land defenders were putting out social media calls for reinforcements to join them in peaceful protest, and loggers were likewise attempting to rally supporters for a potential confrontation. Such a altercation did not occur, and since last weekend there has been a tentative peace on the ground leading into the meetings between First Nations and provincial leaders. Back to the table Following the meeting with Atikamekw leadership, both Lafrenière and the Council of the Atikamekw Nation (representing the communities of Wemotaci, Opitciwan, and Manawan) published optimistic statements. “One thing is clear: we all agree that it is essential to amend the forestry regime,” Lafrenière said in the statement, “in particular, by making changes to take into account the rights of First Nations.” Lafrenière noted that meetings with the Atikamekw Nations would continue, as early as next week. The Council of the Atikamekw Nation reaffirmed its opposition to Bill 97, but noted discussions between Atikamekw Councils and the Quebec government would be reactivated and community meetings would occur in Atikamekw communities to “collectively establish the preferred directions for forestry.” Furthermore, the Council announced the implementation of a pilot project between the Atikamekw Nation (including un-elected territorial chiefs) and forestry companies to “experiment with new forestry practices that respect Atikamekw values.” Finally, the Council said all parties agreed to make “significant amendments to Bill 97” to “achieve true social and political acceptability.” Blanchette Vézina told APTN News the two meetings were constructive. Ministers Blanchette-Vézina and Lafrenière visit Atikamekw territory to discuss Bill 97. Photo: Ian Lafrenière, Facebook She would not comment in detail on the meeting with the AFNQL, saying the discussion was confidential, but noted “we are on the right track, both First Nations and ourselves.” When the amendments have been prepared, she added, there will be an official announcement. The ministers’ meeting with the Council of the Atikamekw Nation, as well as individual leaders, was more complex, particularly given it also included representatives of the forestry industry. “The objective of this meeting was to agree on certain things,” Blanchette Vézina told APTN. “First, to use the right channels of communication and send a message calling for calm, so that there would be mutual respect between non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples, because that is essential; it is the basis of everything.” At the same time, that meeting did not include Atikamekw territorial chiefs, the hereditary overseers of individual traplines in Atikamekw territory. But Blanchette Vézina saw potential for those leaders to be brought into the discussion through the pilot project designed to unite First Nations with the forestry industry. “First Nations in the communities have committed to consulting with families, territorial leaders, and community members to improve, let’s say, governance in relation to consultations,” she explained. “While we wait for the current forestry regime to be amended, I believe this pilot project will provide concrete assistance in improving relations between family leaders, territorial leaders, community members, the band council, and the forestry industry.” MAMO First Nations’ position Conspicuously absent from this week’s meetings were representatives of the MAMO First Nations organization, which unites self-identified land-defenders and territorial chiefs from Atikamekw and Innu communities. Members of MAMO First Nations have been at the forefront of the fight over Bill 97. Its members are those visible in videos of confrontations that emerged online. However, MAMO spokesperson André Pikutelekan said the organization would have existed whether or not Bill 97 had been tabled. “For us, it’s about keeping our trees, keeping a healthy forest,” Pikutelekan told APTN. “There is no negotiation. If we talk about negotiation, it is so that the territory is not affected. Our main and almost sole goal is to protect the forest of the territorial chiefs.” Pikutelekan stressed that the Indian Act limits the power of elected chiefs and band councils to reserves. “Outside of that, band councils have no authority,” Pikutelekan argues. “But the titles and rights belong to the families who occupy the territory. So, whether ministers go and talk to band council chiefs, whatever they decide has no legal implication on the rights of territorial chiefs.” Even if Bill 97 didn’t spark the creation of MAMO First Nations, Pikutelekan said, it has helped raise the group’s profile. “It really seems to me that, in terms of the environment, this may be the first time that a group has been so large, well-organized, and adamant about truly protecting the territory. All the others I’ve seen have either given up, compromised, negotiated, or lost. And this is the first time I’ve seen such purity of intention.” MAMO First Nations, Pikutelekan explained, has no organizational intention of working with band councils, which they see as inherently corrupt or inclined to compromise. Territorial chiefs involved in MAMO are free to do as they please, and Pikutelekan said only about half of the Territorial chiefs in the Wemotaci area are involved in MAMO. Yet Pikutelekan does not expect the situation to escalate. Though a variety of voices have warned that the conflict over forestry in general and Bill 97 in particular could create the same tinderbox conditions that ignited in the 1990 Siege of Kanehsatake (or the Oka Crisis), Pikutelekan says his organization is and will remain peaceful, unarmed, and unmasked. Remaining peaceful has worked in MAMO’s favour, he added. While MAMO members have faced some aggressive tactics, Pikutelekan said their non-violent approach has helped win the support of a variety of non-Indigenous people, from hunters, cottage owners, and vacationers to business owners and outfitters. Likewise, forestry companies and contractors have insisted their workers and subcontractors stand down and meet peace with peace. The end goal for MAMO is much greater than defeating Bill 97: following on a series of major Supreme Court rulings, Pikutelekan hopes to see MAMO First Nations and traditional chiefs legally recognized. “If we go to court,” he said, “we’re very positive that we’ll probably win the first instance, maybe the second too, but if we go to the Supreme Court, we’re almost certain to win. And that win will affect many communities across Canada, especially in areas where there are no treaties. “It’s not a question of money,” Pikutelekan noted, “it’s a question of territorial protection, but real protection, not bargaining as is always done.” Continue Reading