Counter-colonial governance, treaty-making, and territorial rights (2025-2026)
This series of events, activities and outputs – leading into the 50th anniversary of the November 11, 1975, signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement – considers the significance of this pivotal development, setting it within a broader discussion and analysis of Indigenous strategies for empowerment and recognition of territorial rights in Quebec, Canada, and internationally. Our events and activities investigate the legacy of the JBNQA for the contemporary political situation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Quebec, Canada and beyond. How did the JBNQA shape a particular kind of counter-colonial governance among the signatory nations? How did it influence the negotiation or non-negotiation of new treaties by neighboring Indigenous nations? How well do such treaties support the territorial rights of Indigenous peoples? What kind of life projects do they enable and promote? At the same time, investigation of the JBNQA legacy opens out onto the wider possibilities and challenges for counter-colonial strategies. What approaches alternative to, or in tandem with, treaty-making can ensure the continuity of Indigenous ways of being and relating? How can academic researchers support the ontologically grounded and counter-colonial processes of Indigenous nations as citizens, collaborators, partners and allies?
Supported by a Connection grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and a partnership between CICADA and Société Recherches autochtones au Québec, this project is coordinated by Colin Scott (McGill University), Émile Duchesne (Université Laval), Jasmin Habib (University of Waterloo) and Harvey Feit (McMaster University).
Thinking Power, Autonomy and Counter-colonial Action through Relationships – Harvey Feit Festschrift Colloquium (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, May 2-4, 2025)
May 2-4, 2025, colloquium co-organized by Jasmin Habib (University of Waterloo) and CICADA members Émile Duchesne (Université Laval) and Colin Scott (McGill University) to honour the career of anthropologist Harvey Feit. Building on the long-standing work of Feit in Eenou-Eeyou Ischtee communities (Cree Nations), this conference explores connections between northern communities in Canadian, Alaskan, Australian and Scandinavian contexts relating to self-governance, knowledge co-production, and policy engagement in Indigenous territories.
Treaty-making and its Alternatives, 50 years after the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (Canadian Anthropology Society Annual Conference, McGill University, May 8-9, 2025)
Two paper sessions and two roundtables were organized by CICADA members Émile Duchesne (Université Laval) and Colin Scott (McGill University) to better understand how the JBNQA has framed the contemporary negotiation of treaties in Quebec and Canada. The presentations explored the impact of JBNQA among its signatory nations (Cree, Inuit, and Naskapi) as well as its resonance among other First Nations in Canada (Ilnuatsh, Wendat, Atikamekw, and Kluane). The central question of these explorations was: Is there an alternative to treaties to assert indigenous sovereignties? What approaches, alternative to or in tandem with treaty-making, can ensure the continuity of Indigenous ways of being and relating?
The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement: The First 50 Years (Montréal, November 18-19, 2025)
Over the course of two days, the event brought together Indigenous leaders, consultants, lawyers, policy practitioners, and academics to discuss the treaty experience, its contemporary context, and its future.
These encounters stimulated dialogue and reflection on what the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) and the Northeastern Quebec Agreement (NEQA) have enabled, both among the signatory nations (Eenou Eeyou, Inuit, and Naskapi) and neighbouring nations (Anicinapek, Innu, and Atikamekw), and what still needs to be addressed to assert Indigenous sovereignties.
Opening ceremony – JBNAQ: The First 50 Years, November 18, 2025
Cœur des sciences of the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Opening words by: Colin Scott – Director, Centre for Indigenous Conservation and Development Alternatives (CICADA), Professor in the Department of Anthropology at McGill University and Émile Duchesne – Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Université Laval
With distinguished guest presentations: Philip Awashish – Negotiator and Signatory of the JBNQA, Elder, Louise Nattawappio – Chief of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, Charlie Watt – Negotiator and Signatory of the JBNQA, former Canadian Senator, and Johnny Mameanskum (text read by Colin Scott) – Former Senior Representative of the NEQA Land Claims Settlement
See video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duSZYgzeO5s]
Day of conference, November 19, 2025
Cœur des sciences of the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Roundtable 1: Negotiation and ratification
With: Charlie Watt – Negotiator and Signatory of the JBNQA, former Canadian Senator, James O’Reilly – Former lawyer for Eenou Eeyou, writing the legal history of JBNQA, and Harvey Feit – McMaster University Professor emeritus, advisor for the Eenou Eeyou during the JBNQA negotiation (text read by Émile Duchesne)
Animator: Colin Scott – Director of the Centre for Indigenous Conservation and Development Alternatives (CICADA), Professor in the Department of Anthropology at McGill University
See video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjtmaDD7EA8&t=2s]
Roundtable 2: Life projects and future generations
With: Jedidat Matoush – Assistant Coordinator, Cree Nation Research Institute, Leona Shecanapish – Administrative Assistant, Chief & Council of Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, and Suzy Kauki – Activist and Researcher for the Saimatsianiq project
Animator: Étienne Levac – PhD Candidate, Departement des sciences des religions, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
See video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6pzyVxhFJU&t=3773s]
Roundtable 3: Treaty negotiation among neighbouring nations
With: Ghislain Picard – former Chief of Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, Constant Awashish – Grand Chief of Atikamekw Nation, and Maurice J. Kistabish – Anicinapek negotiator, Part-time professor at the Faculty of Civil Law and at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ottawa
Animator: Robert Lanari – Director, Société Recherches autochtones au Québec (SRAQ)
See video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkskJ2mkA4A&t=227s]
Roundtable 4: Governance, research, and Indigenous lifeways
With: Nadia Saganash – Director, Quebec and Indigenous Relations at Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government, Serge Larivière – Director General, Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Board, and Paul Wilkinson – former Negotiator with the Naskapi Nation and Retired Consultant
Animator: Bobi Steel – PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology at McGill University
See video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsJksoay56c&t=3340s]
