Salon Rouge, 1983: A Historic Exchange

The following exchange between Eliyassie Sallualuk, then ITN representative, and René Lévesque, then Premier of Quebec, took place in 1983 at the Salon Rouge of the Quebec National Assembly, the same room where the Agreement in Principle (AIP) for the creation of the Nunavik Regional Government was signed on December 5, 2007.

“Eliyassie Sallualuk: If all exisitng groups of Nouveau-Québec decide to work together for the creation of such a government, could you tell them: OK, let’s go?

René Lévesque: My answer is yes. (...) It is quite simple: if the Inuit unify their approaches in the way of an autonomy within Québec, in order to have better management of their affairs, to pass laws in fields that concern them directly, to organize their life, we would be ready at once to discuss that with them and to accept this consideration. We could negotiate from this base whenever they want. (...) We would be ready anytime but it is up to them to decide.”

Parliamentary Commission of the Quebec National Assembly, November 23, 1983

The Government of Quebec had then convened a special Parliamentary Commission on Native Affairs and for the occasion invited representatives of all First Nations of Quebec along with Inuit delegates.

At that time, in 1983, there were still many dissident voices among Inuit on issues related to the JBNQA, and such internal division naturally transpired during the hearings of the Parliamentary Commission since Inuit of all factions were invited and could express different views.

Prior to that particular exchange with Eliyassie, Premier Lévesque had  said that his government could hardly negotiate autonomy with opposing factions and that, first, Inuit had to come up with a unified position.

It is at that very moment that Eliyassie raised the question which prompted René Lévesque to provide the answer that would constitute the first Quebec Government commitment to negotiate the creation of a Nunavik Government and the first in a series of events that would culminate in 2007 with the signing, in the same Salon Rouge, of the AIP.

More info: A New Round of Negotiations
And: The Nunavik Commission Approach

  • January 24, 2008
  • Webmaster

Visit us often

www.nunavikgovernment.ca

On this interactive website, you can express your opinions. Your comments are welcomed. Simply click on the "comments" link below a message and type away!

Here, you will find up to date information (news articles). There are also sections providing historical background, documents about the negotiations, photos, video clips and a glossary of important words.

The Nunavik negotiating team