A Joint Political Table between the Government of Quebec and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) , which brings together 43 chiefs, was created in March with the aim of renewing and restoring relations. This is the origin of the Grand Cercle économique held on November 25 and 26 in Montreal: to come together to find ways to ensure the full participation of Indigenous Peoples in the Quebec economy. People from the business community and political decision-makers were gathered with the eight chiefs of the Anishinaabe, Innu, Ilnu, Wendat and Mi'kmaw nations as well as the chief of the AFNQL, Ghislain Picard.

Commitment of municipal and business communities

The equation between the labour shortage in Quebec companies and unemployment among Aboriginal people is simple. There is a real opportunity to transform challenges into reciprocal opportunities. We still need to understand the realities on the ground. “There was this large company that wanted to recruit, and no one showed up,” says Danièle Henkel, who hosted a panel on business partnerships. “We need to overcome prejudices and misunderstandings. When the company moved to the territories to go to the communities, it was able to recruit nearly 600 employees. Many simply did not have the means to go to the job interview.”

That said, more and more links are being created between indigenous people and municipalities. In terms of tourism development in particular: the Fédération des pourvoiries du Québec and Aventure écotourisme Québec were rewarded for the Nordic incubator-accelerator project in collaboration with indigenous communities aimed at developing nature and adventure tourism north of the 49th parallel. For its part, Tourisme Autochtone Québec supports indigenous entrepreneurs to develop and promote their projects: “Indigenous tourism is a tool for rapprochement, pride, a way of occupying the territory, sharing our languages and getting to know each other,” emphasized the general manager, Dave Laveau.

As for Mélanie Paul, president of Inukshuk Synergie and Akua Nature , she is behind several successful partnerships. She is also co-founder, with Danièle Henkel, of Mocassins et talons hauts, whose mission is to promote First Nations women entrepreneurs and create alliances with non-Indigenous business people. “I strongly believe in the potential of building bridges, developing business models with everyone’s resources. Economic development plays a leading role in improving the living conditions of Indigenous people, which I have witnessed in my career that began in social services. Many are ready; we must show them role models, give them hope and support them,” she shared with great emotion.

Another incubator to propel young Indigenous entrepreneurs is HEC Montréal, which took the opportunity to make a historic announcement: the creation of the First Nations Leadership School, inclusive and diverse in their image, initiated by and for the Indigenous leaders of tomorrow.

At the end of this meeting, more than 130 groups had committed to the First Nations and the Inuit Nation in order to build fruitful and respectful collaborative relationships. The declaration was endorsed in person by the Union des municipalités du Québec, the BMO financial group, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (on which an Indigenous person sits on the board of directors), the Conseil du patronat du Québec, Pomerleau, Rio Tinto and Hydro-Québec. They committed to recognizing the existence of ancestral territories and treaties, to promoting the conclusion of agreements with Indigenous peoples to contribute to the active participation of communities in economic growth and to ensuring equitable representation of Indigenous peoples in the workplace.

These commitments still need to be endorsed on the ground. Let us recall that a similar meeting took place 15 years ago. The same issues of recognition and participation were addressed and left unanswered at the First Nations Socio-Economic Forum. The white elephant was still present in the room in recent days…

“Is Quebec capable of doing things differently?”

"The land is the basis of wealth in this province," said National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Rose-Anne Archibald. "It is our natural resources that make Quebec a pioneer in green energy," retorted Chief Gilbert Dominique.

Land claims and profit sharing, that is, the share of royalties related to the development of natural resources, and the question of access to them, even when they are located on the ancestral lands of the First Nations, are at the heart of the claims that must be addressed in order to envisage a possible reconciliation.

François Legault and his Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Ian Lafrenière, responded that they were ready to sit down with each of them to discuss "Nation to Nation." According to Chiefs Dylan Whiteduck and Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, this is a divide and conquer tactic. "We all have the responsibility together to think about future generations, and in particular to offer a sustainable, structured economy, not just on a case-by-case basis according to the projects.

Certainly, the Indigenous leaders present at the Economic Circle were heard by the business community. “As for the government, the time has come to tell each other the truth,” urged Chief Ghislain Picard, emotionally affected by his own admission. The talking stick was passed around. The truth was heard, and with it clear needs. Everyone now expects a real sharing, a real commitment from Quebec, so that future generations can grow up in an era of reconciliation. So that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can participate together in the economic and social life on the lands where they grew up.