Leader of a small northern Ontario Indigenous community dies at 74

Allan Jolly, the leader of a small Indigenous community in Ontario's far north called Mocreebec, died on Sunday, Jan. 19, at the age of 74.

Jolly said it was his dream for Mocreebec – which is recognized as a First Nation in Quebec, but not in Ontario – to have a place members could call their own.

"So here we are living here in Moose Factory, in Ontario, and we are Quebec-status Indians," Jolly said in a 2023 interview with CBC.

"We're living in the Treaty 9 area, which we're not signatories to. And now our treaty, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, is primarily on the Quebec side." 

Many of Mocreebec's members live in Moose Factory, an island community at the south end of James Bay.

On the mainland, to the west of Moose Factory Island, is the town of Moosonee. 

Jolly told CBC's Morning North that some Mocreebec members already live on the mainland in Moosonee. Before he died, discussions were underway to create a new community for Mocreebec members in Moosonee.

"I'd like that final decision to be made and I think we took that first step," he said of those discussions.

Jolly said most of Mocreebec's members would rather stay in Ontario than relocate to Quebec. 

'He was a great guy'

Moosonee Mayor Wayne Taipale considered Jolly a friend.

"He was a great guy. He was a real leader, a real go-getter and he will sadly be missed," he said.

Taipale said Jolly was an important community partner and helped launch several businesses in the community, including bringing cable television to Moosonee.

"We only had two channels, but he lobbied and he went after it," he said.