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May 2, 2003

Quebec Inuit and Cree finalize offshore agreement

Eases the way for future negations with federal government

ODILE NELSON

Quebec's Inuit and Cree leaders removed a significant hurdle blocking their own separate paths to offshore agreements with the federal government when they signed an Offshore Overlap Agreement on April 30.

The agreement outlines common areas of use and resources in the offshore region of the James and Hudson Bays.

Negotiations for the agreement began more than two years ago. Pita Aatami, president of Makivik Corp., and Ted Moses, grand chief of the Council of the Crees, added their signatures on Wednesday.

"This Offshore Overlap Agreement is another important step in Crees and Inuit co-operation and sharing. As the two James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement signatories, the Crees and Inuit continue to work together to improve the lives of our people," Aatami said in a press release.

But the agreement does more than reflect the cooperative attitude of the two aboriginal nations.

For several years, both the Inuit and Cree of Quebec have been negotiating separate offshore agreements in the region with the federal government.

The overlap agreement signed this week will be attached to both of these agreements.

Though the agreement was not necessary to complete the two separate agreements with Ottawa, the high level of co-operation between the two aboriginal groups should help finish their respective negotiation processes.

Nunatsiaq News could not obtain a copy of the final agreement before press-time this week.

A Makivik spokesperson said, however, that the agreement divides the offshore area into three geographic management zones: one Inuit, one Cree and one jointly managed.

The agreement covers wildlife management and resource use in the region's waters and islands.

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