A Future Full of Hope

Take our rightful place, assert ourselves rather than make demands, take back what is ours, build a true nation-to-nation relationship, no longer accept unilateral actions and suffer the impacts of development, assert our right to develop ourselves, to govern ourselves, to work, to build own-source revenue capacity to ensure we flourish and are independent—these are all legitimate aspirations reminiscent of then Premier Jean Lesage’s rallying cry of  “Maîtres chez nous” (masters of our own house) on November 11, 1962. That simple campaign slogan marked the beginning of a heady period in Québec known as the Quiet Revolution. 

First Nations and Inuit people have reached a turning point that is surprisingly similar to the Quiet Revolution experienced by Quebecers: emergence of a new generation of leaders, development of their own institutions, an unprecedented political, social and economic awakening, a strong sense of pride in who they are, a growing desire to be recognized nationally and internationally and a ferment in artistic and cultural expression and development.

Two inspiring women, Fanny Wylde and Eva Ottawa, together at the Great Gathering of First Nations (Pow Wow) in Mashteuiatsh in July 2018. Ms. Wylde (left) is an Algonquin from the community of Pikogan in the Abitibi region. In 2007, she became the first female lawyer in the history of the Algonquin people, and the first public prosecutor of the Couronne autochtone du Québec. After working with the director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions’ office in Amos, she performed various mandates for the Cree and Algonquin First Nations. In January 2017, Wylde joined the team of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Eva Ottawa, an Atikamekw from Manawan, earned a sociology degree in 1996 and a law degree in 2002. She has held various strategic positions in her community and nation. In 2006, she was elected Grand Chief of the Atikamekw Nation by universal suffrage and was then re-elected in 2010. She held the position until 2013. She is currently doing her master’s degree in law at the University of Ottawa, specializing in customary adoption, while assuming various governance mandates with the Atikamekw First Nation.

Photo credit:  Eva Ottawa

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Quiz Unraveling Myths
Quiz Unraveling Myths

Question 3 of 33

Which group makes up the largest proportion (64%) of tourists frequenting Aboriginal businesses?

One might think that the majority of tourists come from Europe. However, according to statistics compiled by Tourisme Autochtone Québec in 2016, this is not the case, though they still constitute a major and interested clientele (nearly 20%), second only to Quebecers (nearly 64%).

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