From Stadacona to the REM · Drawing 28 of 36
An agreement for the North
1975
In 1975, the Cree and the Inuit negotiated a major agreement with governments and public companies. The James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement addressed land, rights and community services.
Look together
Why write an agreement down?
An idea to try
Draw together the map of an imaginary territory and decide as a pair where a road goes, with no one deciding alone. Talk about how it feels not to be consulted.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Signed on November 11, 1975, the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement was Canada’s first modern treaty. It followed Cree and Inuit opposition to hydroelectric work begun without their consent. The agreement defined land categories, harvesting rights and structures for services.
The signing is symbolic. A complex agreement does not end every disagreement: discuss why people should be heard before decisions affect the place where they live.
Sources and context (3)
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. Source titles appear in their original language; some linked pages are in French.
- Musée canadien de l’histoire — Quand les Cris et les Inuit ont transformé le Canada moderne
- Radio-Canada — Il y a 40 ans, la Convention de la Baie-James était signée
- Makivvik — James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement
Source review: 2026-09-19. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.