Ted Moses
Encyclopedia
Ted Moses, is a Cree
politician from Eastmain
, a small remote village in northern Quebec
, Canada. He is a former Grand Chief of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee). In addition, Mr. Moses is a recipient of the title of "Officer" of the National Order of Quebec
.
, in the James Bay
region of Quebec. After studying at Ryerson University
in Toronto
and McGill University
in Montreal
in school administration, he was Chief and Mayor
of the village of Eastmain from 1987 to 1990. He was elected Grand Chief of the Crees in 1984. He is active on the international stage, speaking at numerous events about aboriginals and tolerance
. Sometimes referred to as Dr. Ted Moses, he is the recipient of two honorary Doctorates of Law. http://www.usask.ca/nativelaw/publications/jah/moses.htmlhttp://www.beesum-communications.com/nation/archive/12-16/moses.html
. As a matter of fact, he currently serves as the Ambassador of the Council at the UN.
Bernard Landry
(of the independentist
Parti Québécois
, or PQ) and the government of Quebec, Moses and the Council developed this agreement. Far more than an economic deal, it was a "nation to nation" (the Cree and Quebec nations) declaration of peace
after long, bitter legal disputes between Cree leaders and the Government of Quebec
. The payments from the Quebec Government pays for Quebec obligations contained in the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. These obligations where transferred from the Quebec Government to the Cree Government. The Cree Government decides what are the priorities.
The Paix des Braves brought big controversy but also many economic and social benefits to the Crees. The Cree communities voted in community referenda to accept the Paix des Braves. The approval was over 65% with a majority voter turnout. The Paix des Braves now in it sixth year provides 77 million dollars per year to the Cree Communities from the Quebec Government. These payments indexed by electricity, mineral, and forestry sales from the Cree traditional territory will last for another 45 years. These payments from the Quebec Government will be replaced with payments from a Cree Heritage fund set up by the Cree by investing 15% of the present payments from Quebec Government.
This was and still is widely seen as a symbolic show of mutual respect and recognition of the national status and right to self-determination
of each people. It was put into concrete action when Ted Moses surprised many by supporting the re-election of Landry's Parti Québécois in the 2003 Quebec election
after years of refractory attitudes of the Cree people towards Quebec sovereignism. He declared:
(Ungava is the electoral riding of the Cree of Quebec.) Moses and the PQ leader have indeed become close: Landry invited Moses to his wedding on June 26, 2004.
During the campaign for the 2004 federal election
, Moses also stated that he was counting on the Bloc Québécois
, the PQ's brother party in at the federal level of Canadian politics, to defend aboriginal rights at the federal level.http://www.gcc.ca/archive/article.php?id=3http://www.ottertooth.com/Reports/Rupert/News/rupert-surrender.htm#ma25 Moses did not formally support the BQ, saying that it "did not need it" because of its considerable lead in polls. Furthermore, he declared in a speech in Europe that Quebec and the Paix des Braves were examples to follow for the world regarding relations with aboriginal peoples.
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
politician from Eastmain
Eastmain, Quebec
Eastmain is a Cree community located on James Bay at the mouth of the Eastmain River, Quebec, Canada. It is the smallest of the coastal Cree villages with a population of 606 people...
, a small remote village in northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada. He is a former Grand Chief of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee). In addition, Mr. Moses is a recipient of the title of "Officer" of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
.
Profile
Ted Moses was born in EastmainEastmain, Quebec
Eastmain is a Cree community located on James Bay at the mouth of the Eastmain River, Quebec, Canada. It is the smallest of the coastal Cree villages with a population of 606 people...
, in the James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
region of Quebec. After studying at Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in school administration, he was Chief and Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the village of Eastmain from 1987 to 1990. He was elected Grand Chief of the Crees in 1984. He is active on the international stage, speaking at numerous events about aboriginals and tolerance
Toleration
Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve"...
. Sometimes referred to as Dr. Ted Moses, he is the recipient of two honorary Doctorates of Law. http://www.usask.ca/nativelaw/publications/jah/moses.htmlhttp://www.beesum-communications.com/nation/archive/12-16/moses.html
UN recognition
Chief Moses was instrumental in obtaining formal recognition for the James Bay Crees as a Non-Governmental Organization in consultative status to the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. As a matter of fact, he currently serves as the Ambassador of the Council at the UN.
La Paix des Braves
Another important achievement is the signing of the "Paix des Braves" (French for "Peace of the Brave"). Along with PremierPremier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry, is a Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician, who served as the 28th Premier of Quebec , leader of the Opposition and leader of the Parti Québécois .-Personal:...
(of the independentist
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
, or PQ) and the government of Quebec, Moses and the Council developed this agreement. Far more than an economic deal, it was a "nation to nation" (the Cree and Quebec nations) declaration of peace
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a state of war between the parties...
after long, bitter legal disputes between Cree leaders and the Government of Quebec
Government of Quebec
The Government of Quebec refers to the provincial government of the province of Quebec. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
. The payments from the Quebec Government pays for Quebec obligations contained in the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. These obligations where transferred from the Quebec Government to the Cree Government. The Cree Government decides what are the priorities.
The Paix des Braves brought big controversy but also many economic and social benefits to the Crees. The Cree communities voted in community referenda to accept the Paix des Braves. The approval was over 65% with a majority voter turnout. The Paix des Braves now in it sixth year provides 77 million dollars per year to the Cree Communities from the Quebec Government. These payments indexed by electricity, mineral, and forestry sales from the Cree traditional territory will last for another 45 years. These payments from the Quebec Government will be replaced with payments from a Cree Heritage fund set up by the Cree by investing 15% of the present payments from Quebec Government.
This was and still is widely seen as a symbolic show of mutual respect and recognition of the national status and right to self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
of each people. It was put into concrete action when Ted Moses surprised many by supporting the re-election of Landry's Parti Québécois in the 2003 Quebec election
Quebec general election, 2003
The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:...
after years of refractory attitudes of the Cree people towards Quebec sovereignism. He declared:
- "I support Bernard Landry... my friend and my brother... and I will recommend to my people to support the actual Member of Parliament of Ungava, Michel Létourneau."
(Ungava is the electoral riding of the Cree of Quebec.) Moses and the PQ leader have indeed become close: Landry invited Moses to his wedding on June 26, 2004.
During the campaign for the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, Moses also stated that he was counting on the Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
, the PQ's brother party in at the federal level of Canadian politics, to defend aboriginal rights at the federal level.http://www.gcc.ca/archive/article.php?id=3http://www.ottertooth.com/Reports/Rupert/News/rupert-surrender.htm#ma25 Moses did not formally support the BQ, saying that it "did not need it" because of its considerable lead in polls. Furthermore, he declared in a speech in Europe that Quebec and the Paix des Braves were examples to follow for the world regarding relations with aboriginal peoples.