Indigenous Leaders Clash with Quebec Justice Minister Over Constitutional Proposal
A National Assembly hearing on Quebec's proposed constitution turned confrontational on Thursday, with Indigenous leaders denouncing the plan as assimilationist and colonialist. Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette responded by accusing one chief of misrepresenting their previous discussions.
Ceremonial Staff Dispute Sets Tense Tone
The clash began even before testimony started, after some chiefs were barred from entering the hearing room because authorities refused to allow a sacred eagle staff inside, citing security concerns. Francis Verreault-Paul, chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL), condemned the decision, noting that the emblem posed no danger and that a ceremonial mace is routinely carried in the legislature.
The chair of the committee, Coalition Avenir Québec MNA André Bachand, said he did not want to "create a precedent" by allowing the staff into the hearing room. This initial dispute set a tense atmosphere for the proceedings that followed.
Criticism of Consultation Process
In his testimony, Verreault-Paul said Indigenous leaders are prepared to work with Quebec in good faith, but argued the constitution, as drafted, should be scrapped entirely. He criticized Jolin-Barrette for failing to hold required nation-to-nation discussions before drafting the proposal, known as Bill 1.
"The minister did not even invite the AFNQL to take part in the hearings," Verreault-Paul stated, "forcing our group to request a slot to be heard. Even then, a 30-minute exchange hardly amounts to meaningful consultation."
The chief revealed that in a meeting with Indigenous leaders last fall, Jolin-Barrette had specifically told them: "This constitution will not recognize your rights, but it will not deny them either. So it's erasure and invisibility."
Assimilation and Colonialism Concerns
Another chief, Lucien Wabanonik of the Lac-Simon Anishnabe Nation, delivered powerful testimony to MNAs, stating that accepting the CAQ's constitution would mean "abandoning our rights, our traditions, our culture" and submitting to "our own assimilation for the benefit of the Quebec state."
Wabanonik argued that Jolin-Barrette's project "marginalizes and renders invisible the legal traditions and systems of government of our nations — a hallmark of colonialism." He noted that the legislation refers to Indigenous peoples only twice, in an introductory and declaratory way, without returning to them in the rest of the bill.
"That silence alone speaks louder than a thousand words," Wabanonik asserted. "Sidelining Indigenous communities runs completely counter to what a process based on respect, equality and the coexistence of our peoples should be."
Minister's Defense and Disagreement
Jolin-Barrette expressed disappointment that Indigenous leaders are not supporting the constitution, but defended his proposal. He stated that it would not take any rights away from Indigenous communities, rejecting the notion that his legislation is colonialist or assimilationist.
"The Quebec state respects your rights," Jolin-Barrette said. "We will continue to have a nation-to-nation relationship, and there is absolutely nothing in Bill 1 that harms the rights of Indigenous nations."
The proposed constitution's preamble states that the "Quebec State recognizes the existing ancestral and treaty rights of the Indigenous nations of Quebec" and notes that the "National Assembly recognizes the right for the First Nations and Inuit in Quebec, descendants of the country's first inhabitants, to maintain and develop their language and culture of origin."
Conflicting Accounts of Private Meeting
Jolin-Barrette took exception to Verreault-Paul's characterization of their private meeting, stating that some of what the chief recounted was inaccurate without elaborating on specifics. "You know very well that's not what I said," the minister responded during the hearing.
Verreault-Paul stood by his statement, noting that it is recorded in the meeting's minutes. "Now you're saying in front of everyone that my statements are inaccurate," he countered. "I can tell you, there are people behind me who were present at the meeting, and that is what you said, Mr. Minister."
Broader Opposition and Next Steps
The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador brings together the chiefs of 43 First Nations communities of Quebec and Labrador, representing 10 nations. Jolin-Barrette's far-reaching constitutional plan has drawn broad opposition beyond Indigenous communities, with critics complaining that it was drafted behind closed doors and warning that it endangers minority rights while concentrating too much power in provincial government hands.
Under the CAQ's proposal, the constitution would come into force by June 24, 2026. The hearings continue next week, with the Grand Council of the Crees scheduled to testify, ensuring that the debate over Quebec's constitutional future will remain contentious in the coming days.
