Several people showed up at the informative meeting on the Pekuakamiulnuatsh draft constitution last week at the Mamik center in Chicoutimi as the process was about to close.
The constitutional process launched in 2019 aims to give the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, the name designating the Ilnus (Innu) of Lac-Saint-Jean, a basic law to govern the political functioning of the First Nation in respect of its values and customs. .
This meeting with country members, the fifth in a new series, was organized by the Tipelimitishun commission, which has overseen the process since its inception.
Asked about the level of participation in the process, commissioners Hélène Boivin and Guylaine Simard were aware of the challenges associated with participation in the Ilnu country of Lac-Saint-Jean.
The minimum threshold of participation in the referendum that will focus on the ratification of the constitution is 35% of the country’s members. However, the participation rate in the last band council election was only 16%. Of this percentage, only about fifty members living outside the reserve got their right to vote, Hélène Boivin explained.
A sufficiently high threshold of referendum participation is necessary because it is a question of asserting the legitimacy of the constitution in the face of the outside world.
” We will impose this constitution on other governments […] To give it strength, there is an issue of legitimacy. “
The two commissioners are still unsure about participation in the process. The lack of mobilization at last week’s meeting could be explained, according to them, by the fact that it was an informative and non-consultative meeting.
One of the only people present at the meeting expressed frustration at the lack of participation and the impression that people were afraid of losing what they already had.
Hélène Boivin believes there is no objection to the process in the community, only misunderstanding. People don’t know what they have and what they can losewhich refers among other things to litigation on the rights of children between Quebec and the federal government in Bill C-92.
During the consultations, Tipelimitishun presented the constitution to Pekuakamiulnuatsh as a shield to defend the country, Hélène Boivin explained.
However, the commission hopes with confidence the continuation of the process in which the text of the constitution, the result of consultations over the last three years, will be made public.
The mobilization of Pekuakamiulnuatsh can increase rapidly. People may be waiting to see the result, to have the project in their handsaccording to Hélène Boivin.
The pandemic as a driver of mobilization
Consultative meetings organized by videoconference during the months of pandemic isolation had a positive impact on the mobilization of Pekuakamiulnuatsh according to Hélène Boivin For the first time, we were able to bring together members living in the community and outside in one meeting. he says.
The people of Mashteuiatsh and those from outside the community who do not share the same visions have been able to exchange ideas, creating a new dynamic with which the commission is very pleased.
Although the meeting in Saguenay brought together a few people, nothing prevented the commission from expressing satisfaction with the progress of the process. Hélène Boivin was thrilled to notice the existence of a new generation, a wealth among the country’s members and the interest of many in learning about their culture, even though some had lost their cultural ties within several generations.
Determined to decide for yourself
The referendum originally scheduled for the fall of 2021 has been postponed. The COVID-19 pandemic was not the only factor that pushed back the deadline for the project. We completely wiped the slate, we started from scratch explained Hélène Boivin.
After initial stages of consultation with members and discussions between the commissioners, it was decided that the form of political organization planned remained tainted by the colonial system.
” We like this structure [politique] be more like who we are, how we have traditionally worked […] “
After reflection, the commission was able to think of a political structure involving the representation of members depending on their background and situation.
The structure will give equal importance to executive and legislative power. We also see the possibility that the constitution established an assembly of all member countries as the basis of political power.
Phase 4 of the process of ratifying a constitution will continue until next fall. This stage focuses on the consultation of members on the constitutional project.
The earlier stages involved consultation of members with the aim of writing a text according to specific themes including values, institutions, territorial organizations or amendment procedures.
The Tipelimitishun commission plans to launch public hearings in two parts; a first where the text of the constitution will be presented and explained to the members and a second where the commission will receive comments from the members of the First Country.
The final text will be submitted for referendum in 2023.
Source: Radio-Canada
