Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, we raised that concern. It was the Cree Trappers' Association that raised the matter with the commission. As far as we know, there hasn't been any further discussions between the Cree and Quebec on the matter, yet. At this stage, we simply don't know how far Quebec is going to go with taking over the whole gun registry system after the federal government terminated the program.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you Mr. Saganash. Thank you for your comments in Cree as well, for I am a Cree person too, and I perfectly understood what you said. I'd like to just say something about the fact that the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act honours the Cree language as well as the Naskapi language, because there is a legal requirement under the act that we produce our biannual report in French, English, Cree, and Naskapi.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. Since 1986 the commission has heard from the Cree-Naskapi people about many issues and concerns. That's almost 30 years that we've been around. These concerns raised by the people usually form the basis of our recommendations in the various reports we have prepared. Many of these issues have been resolved.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I will just comment on the social issues. Before the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement of 1975, the Cree had a population of about 6,000. In 2010 we had a population of about 18,000. So within that time period--1975 to 2010--the population has about tripled in size. Back in 1975 the Cree communities were isolated.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, members of the committee. The Cree-Naskapi Commission was established by special federal legislation, the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act. This act flows from a modern-day treaty. There are actually two treaties, the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and the 1978 Northeastern Quebec Agreement .

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are the local police. They're affiliated with the Quebec police. But there are continued discussions on the Cree regional police force that will be set up. Also, I believe Bill C-28, amending the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act, refers to any police that will be established between the Cree and Quebec.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think it is quite clear in the act itself that if there is any conflict between federal or provincial law, the act prevails. Even the bylaws enacted under the act prevail over provincial law. So if the act recognizes traditional law, customs, and practices in the exercise of local government, then obviously the bylaws or the traditions, practices, and customs would prevail over provincial law.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Customs are centred around the values of the Cree people. One has to do with the way elections are conducted. There is a traditional way of carrying out the processes concerning elections. The chairman mentioned it earlier. Mr. Saunders mentioned that sometimes a death in the community may postpone the date of an election.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are some ongoing discussions between Canada, Quebec, and first nations in Quebec. Discussions generally at the moment concern overlap claims. There are first nation claims within the territory covered by the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and the Cree have claims outside of the territory of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, so there are discussions going on between the parties concerned there.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  These 32 points you see on pages 8 and 9 come out of our various reports, of course, and the investigations that the commission has conducted. These are the reasons to update the act, as we say, so that it reflects the present reality and the evolving dynamics of local government and the state of aboriginal and contemporary law.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Number 11?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The Cree-Canada liaison committee was established to discuss any outstanding issues resulting from the implementation of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and from the implementation of the new agreement between the Cree and Canada concerning a new relationship. This is a form of a dispute resolution mechanism.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. On the question of traditional law, being a Cree person myself--we call ourselves Eeyou--we are not, of course, a lawless society. We have our own laws that are enunciated through our traditions, customs, and practices. We do have our laws for elections and for other matters in the Cree community.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The bill before the House concerning certain amendments to the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act enables the Cree Regional Authority to receive and carry out assumed federal responsibilities as listed in the Agreement Concerning a New Relationship between the Government of Canada and the Cree of Eeyou Istchee.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. In order for the land transfer to Ouje-Bougoumou to take effect, certain amendments to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement are required, amendments for lands to be set aside as category I and category II for the benefit of the Ouje-Bougoumou. Some type of amendment is required in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.