Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act (CNQA) • ᒋᒥᔅ ᐱ ᑭᔭ ᓇᔅᑲᐱ [ᐅᑕ ᑯᐸᒃ] ᐎᓱᐛᐅᓐ

The CNQA, assented to on 14 June, 1984, gives effect to the commitment of Canada in Chapter 7 of the NEQA to adopt self-government legislation for the Naskapis. Among other things, the CNQA does the following:

• it says that the Nation’s by-laws apply only on Category IA-N land; i
• t creates the Nation as a corporation, replacing the Naskapis de Schefferville Band. As a corporation, the Nation has certain powers, such as the power to enter into contracts, that a Band under the Indian Act does not have;
• it says who are the members of the Nation;
• it establishes the powers of the Nation;
• it restricts the right of the Nation to engage in commercial activities;
• it says that the Nation acts through its Council, and that Council acts by adopting resolutions or by-laws;
• it establishes the basic procedures for Council meetings;
• it says that Council may make committees by by-law, but those committees can exercise only advisory or administrative functions and are responsible to Council;
• it describes the officers of the Nation;
• it lists certain types of by-laws that the Nation can adopt for purposes of local government;
• it establishes how to adopt by-laws and resolutions, including those that are subject to approval by the electors;
• it stipulates the minimum requirements for holding Nation elections;
• it specifies the minimum conditions for holding Nation meetings and referenda;
• it establishes the rules for financial administration;
• it defines who has the right to enter and live on Category IA-N land;
• it defines who has rights to certain renewable and non-renewable resources on Category IA-N land;
• it defines the circumstances under which the Government of Québec can expropriate Category IA-N land;
• it defines how interests in land and buildings can be allocated by the Nation;
• it establishes how the Nation can give some or all of its Category IA-N land back to the Government of Québec;
• it establishes a system for registering interests in land and buildings on Category IA-N land;
• it defines how the Nation can expropriate land or buildings on Category IA-N land;
• it creates the Cree-Naskapi Commission ("CNC") and describes its role;
• it establishes a system for disposing of "traditional" property on the death of a Naskapi;
• it specifies who is exempt from paying taxes, including income taxes, under certain circumstances;
• it establishes that the property of the Nation and of individual Naskapis on Category IA-N land cannot as a general rule be seized or taxed; and
• it defines certain powers related to policing and the administration of justice.
  
  More on the CNQA (English Only)

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James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) • ᒋᒥᔅ ᐱ ᑭᔭ ᒋᐛᑎᓄᒡ ᑯᐸᒃ ᓂᔅᑯᒧᐅᓐ

The NEQA was signed slightly over two years after the JBNQA. Its intention was to recognize in favour of the Naskapis substantially the same rights and benefits as those recognized in favour of the James Bay Crees and the Inuit of Québec in the JBNQA in 1975.

In some case, it was impossible to recognize the rights of the Naskapis without amending the rights of the James Bay Crees and the Inuit of Québec under the JBNQA. Consequently, Complementary Agreement No. 1 to the JBNQA was executed at the same time as the NEQA. It amended Sections 22 and 23 of the JBNQA, both of which deal with environment and future development. It also amended Section 24 of the JBNQA to recognize the hunting, fishing, and trapping rights of the Naskapis and to identify the parts of Northern Québec where those rights could be exercised. Finally, it amended Section 1 of the JBNQA to modify and add certain definitions.

More on James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (English only)

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Northeastern Québec Agreement (NEQA) • ᒋᐛᑎᓄᓯᒡ ᑯᐸᒃ ᓂᔅᑯᒧᐅᓐ

The NEQA is the lands claim settlement entered into by the Naskapis, the Government of Québec, the Société d’énergie de la Baie-James, the Société de développement de la Baie-James, Hydro Québec, the GCCQ, the NQIA, and the Government of Canada on 31 January, 1978.
Its 20 chapters cover the following topics:

• Chapter 1 Definitions
• Chapter 2 Principal Provisions
• Chapter 3 Eligibility
• Chapter 4 Territorial Descriptions
• Chapter 5 Land Regime
• Chapter 6 Technical Aspects
• Chapter 7 Local Government over Category IA-N Land
• Chapter 8 Naskapi Local Authority over Category IB-N Land
• Chapter 9 Transitional Measures
• Chapter 10 Health and Social Services
• Chapter 11 Education
• Chapter 12 Administration of Justice
• Chapter 13 Police
• Chapter 14 Environment and Future Development
• Chapter 15 Hunting, Fishing and Trapping
• Chapter 16 Compensation and Taxation
• Chapter 17 Naskapi Legal Entities
• Chapter 18 Social and Economic Development
• Chapter 19 Programme to Assist Hunting, Fishing and Trapping
• Chapter 20 Relocation

As a land claims settlement, the NEQA is constitutionally entrenched by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. This means that the NEQA prevails over any inconsistent law adopted by Canada or Quebec. There were some persistent problems with the implementation process which led to the negotiation of the NEQA Implementation Agreement, which was signed in September, 1990. More on the Northeastern Québec Agreement and the NEQA Implementation Agreement (English Only)

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Northeastern Quebec Agreement Complementary Agreement (NEQACA) • ᐎᔭᑎᔅᑕᑲᓄᒡ ᒋᐛᑎᓄᓯᒡ ᑯᐸᒃ ᓂᔅᑯᒧᐅᓐ

The NEQA can be amended only with the consent of the Naskapis and the other affected signatories.

On 11 November, 1993, Complementary Agreement No. 1 amending the NEQA was executed. It recognizes the right of the Naskapis to hunt certain species of animals commercially and to raise certain species in captivity. If commercial hunting or the raising of animals in captivity is to be practised on Category IA-N land, the consent of the NNK is required, and the NNK has the power to adopt by-laws regulating such activities.
Complementary Agreement no. 1 (English Only)
Complementary Agreement no. 10 (English Only)

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