Some Cree land users want change in how development happens in northern Quebec

Some Cree land users say their voices are being sidelined by their own local and regional governments, as development projects roar ahead in northern Quebec. 

Now a group of tallymen, as they are called, have come together to press for change in the way development happens in Eeyou Istchee, the traditional name for the Cree territory. 

Tallymen are each responsible for a given family's traditional hunting grounds in northern Que. Cree communities.

"We wanted to unite as one," said Josiah Cooper, 29, who is the son of a tallyman and entrepreneur near Waswanipi.  

Cooper organised the meeting of tallymen in Gatineau in July with the financial help of his father Gary. About 40 people attended.

The group plans to meet again in Val d'Or from Aug. 25-27. 

They are demanding better consultation and better communication about development happening on their traplines. They also want more access to economic opportunities coming from projects on their traditional lands, according to Cooper. 

"[We heard from tallymen] 'When I'm out in the lake, I see helicopters flying around [or] when I'm goose hunting or moose hunting. I don't even know what's going on in my trapline,'" said Cooper. 

"They had a lot [of the same] issues and concerns because their bands were not consulting them or they didn't have any say on their hunting areas," he added. 

He said many tallymen he's spoken with felt resource companies were very open to working with land users and open to limiting activities during hunting seasons, but were being discouraged from being in direct contact with them by local Cree leaders.

'Nobody wants to hear us'

Clarence Shecapio is one such tallyman. His trapline is at the northern edge of Mistissini's traditional hunting territories near an outfitting camp called Mirage and La Grande 4, a massive hydroelectric installation located more than 1,500 kilometres from Montreal. 

A resource company is interested in a lithium deposit on his trapline, he said.

"It's our home and there's some points where we want to get involved or some areas that we want to save. And it seems like nobody wants to hear us or hear our voice," Shecapio said. 

Mario Lord is another tallyman who attended the first meeting in Gatineau. His trapline near Waswanipi is heavily affected by forestry activities. 

Twenty-five years ago, a large court case in his name helped strengthen constitutional protections for the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA), according to the Cree Nation government website. The JBNQA is a land claims agreement that the Cree Nation signed with Que. in 1975, after a lengthy court battle. 

"We've got to fight for our rights to live on the land and still use it," Lord said. 

"I grew up on the land since I was eight years old … My grandfather used to carry me on his back. It was the best life before forestry came."

"When I inherited my land, I felt like a billionaire. And today I feel like a little shoe boy just getting a little peanut [here and there]," Lord said. 

Grand Chief open to investigating

The Grand Chief of the Cree Nation, Mandy Gull-Masty, said it's her job to defend land users' rights, whether they are full-time hunters and trappers, or Cree who harvest more occasionally or use the land in other ways.

"These people's rights are extremely high level, the highest level of recognition that you can have," said Gull-Masty.

"My door is open to hear from this group. They have not contacted me, but it is my role as the Grand Chief to defend the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and to defend their rights as land users," Gull-Masty said.

Gull-Masty said in the Cree Nation, tallymen, band councils and a resource company are required to work together in the early stages of mineral exploration, with the support of the Cree Mineral Exploration Board and mining liaisons in each community.

Once an exploration project reaches the point of potentially being a mine, then the affected family is supposed to have preferred status, be given the opportunity for training and to bid on contracts relating to the mine. 

Gull-Masty is a former mining negotiator for her community of Waswanipi and said one of the most challenging things as a potential project moves forward is to keep the community, the tallymen and the company informed of all steps. 

Gull-Masty added that if that communication on the ground isn't working, she needs and wants to know.

She added that the rules are also in place to protect both tallymen and the Cree Nation and ensure there is proper oversight of any contracts.

Cree Trappers Association meeting soon

She also added that the only entity recognized under the JBNQA to speak on behalf of the tallymen is the Cree Trappers Association (CTA), and working outside that framework would be very challenging, if not impossible. 

"They are legally mandated, [the CTA is] the body that is supposed to be ensuring that if there are concerns of land users …  that they are brought forward in the process of project development," said Gull-Masty, adding that if this is not happening, it can further be escalated up to her office.

For his part, Clarence Shecapio says the CTA is not fulfilling this part of its mandate at the moment, but adds he's still willing to work with them. He also feels that the CTA doesn't have the influence nor the resources it once had.  

Cooper, who organised the meetings, said for him, working with the Cree Trappers Association is not an option at the moment. 

"They had their job to do [for] many years and everything was just a dead end. So the CTA is off the books for now, until they get more organised or more involved," Cooper said.

CBC News reached out to the Cree Trappers Association for comment. In an emailed response it said it has reached out to the group of tallymen and hasn't received a response. 

The CTA is holding its annual general meeting this week. The Grand Chief is expected to attend the meeting and address the matter with CTA members and tallymen.