Question Period Note: Treaty Negotiation with the Regroupement Petapan

N.A.

• In the Fall of 2023, the Government of Quebec asked the Government of Canada and the Regroupement Petapan to renegotiate elements of the draft treaty. The treaty has been in negotiation for decades.
• The parties are working collaboratively to find a way forward, recognizing the courage and resilience of the Innu of Petapan.
• Our Government remains committed to working toward the completion of this Modern Treaty which would be the first in Quebec in over fifty years.

The Regroupement Petapan includes three Innu communities in Quebec: Mashteuiatsh, Essipit, and Nutashkuan, with a combined population of over 13,000. Tripartite negotiations began in 1980 for the Innu's comprehensive land claim, covering the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, North Shore, and Quebec City areas.
On March 31, 2004, Canada, Quebec, and the Mamuitun mak Nutashkuan Tribal Council (now Regroupement Petapan) signed a general agreement in principle. In 2004, four Innu communities signed the agreement, but one of them (Pessamit) has since left the negotiation table.
Negotiations on a final treaty have since been pursued. In March 2023, Canada and Regroupement Petapan reached an agreement on all federal elements of the draft treaty. However, in the Fall 2023, Québec asked Canada and the Regroupement Petapan de renegotiate fundamental elements of the Treaty. Trilateral discussions are ongoing to try to find a solution for all parties. The situation is publicized and the Chiefs of the Regroupement Petapan have expressed their frustration.

If pressed on disclosing information
•Negotiations remain confidential at this time. If pressed on consultations with other Indigenous groups
• The Government is committed to fulfilling its consultation obligations with all Indigenous groups concerned before signing the Treaty.
• We have not yet reached the consultation stage, which will commence when we reach a tripartite consensus on a draft Treaty. If pressed on any overlap issue
• We encourage Indigenous groups to discuss common issues related to territorial overlap among affected Indigenous groups.