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About us
How are we?
History
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The Native Alliance of Quebec was founded in 1972 by Mr. Kermot A. Moore of Kipawa, QC. Mr. Moore, former Air Force soldier and author-historian perceived the dangers threatening a large part of the native population of Quebec. He quickly weaved a solidary network in order to face these dangers. Backed by people who shared the same vision, he created the Laurentian Alliance of Metis and Indians without Status of Quebec which today, is known under the name of the Native Alliance of Quebec. In the beginning, Mr. Moore was surrounded by the following people: - Kipawa : Mr. Francis Robinson |
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In the months and years that followed, numerous other people joined the ranks and devoted themselves to the native cause such as Mr. Fernand Chalifoux and Mr. Rhéal Paul to name a few.
Three years after its founding, the Alliance counted about fifty communities across Quebec from the North-West and James Bay territory to the North Coast, covering the Lac-Saint-Jean and Saguenay regions, without forgetting the Outaouias, the Laurentides and certain native concentrations situated close to Montreal and Quebec City. Today, we count 66 communities.
From the beginning, the NAQ has been involved iteself in numerous fields of activities from education to the research of aboriginal rights.
In 1972, the head office was situated in Montreal, then in 1977 it moved to Val d’Or to finally relocate to Hull in 1980, under the presidency of Mr. Fernand Chalifoux, who, in order to facilitate our representation from a central administrative network, regrouped all the necessary elements for the structural mechanism important to the survival of the association.
« NOS DROITS D'ABORD », « OUR RIGHTS FIRST »
Goals
The Native Alliance of Quebec Inc. is an association of people of aboriginal descendance residing in the provice of Quebec where in large majority the indian birth is not recognized by the Indian Act of Canada. Although we are of aboriginal citizenship, we cannot benefit from the cultural, economic and political advantages that our status brothers and sisters posses according to the Indian Act of the Government of Canada.
Our association, founded in 1972, represents approximately 26,000 members today and, according to previously performed genealogical research and Statistics Canada, we are about 65,000 people or more of aboriginal descendance in Quebec identified by the non-status or off-reserve indian terminology or Metis.
For the general population, the members of our people are identified by many different ways but here, the belonging to our culture is identified by our way of life and by what we hold in our hearts, it is for this reason that we demand the acceptance of our people as a disctinct and dynamic people capable of taking care of itself.
Objectives
A) Take the interest of the Metis and off-reserve Indian people on all occasions and to coordinate their efforts in the goal to promote their common interests in one collective action.
B) Promote recreational activities for the Metis and off-reserve Indians, to assist them in the development of a social fraternity, a dignified and human understanding to contribute to help our people better understand their history, their accomplishments and their contribution to the Canadian society.
C) Honor the Metis and Indian Grand Chiefs of North America.
D) Be interested in the spiritual and temporal well-being and of all the Metis and off-reserve Indians of Canada.
E) Establish and maintain the necessary funds to ensure legal advice to safeguard their legal and constitutional rights.
F) Discuss the recommendations needed with the federal and provincial government concerning laws and regulations affecting the interest of the respective governments for the well-being of the Metis and off-reserve Indians in the province of Quebec and in Canada.
G) Metis and off-reserve Indians must be ready to do what is necessary to improve their living conditions in the economic, social, well-being, education, human rights, political and cultural fields.
H) Subscribe, become a member and cooperate with the other organizations, incorporated or not, having in whole or in part the same objectives as the Alliance.
I) Make arrangements and arrangements with any government or authority (municapal, local or other) that seems favourable to the objectives of the Alliance and obtain from the said government or authority rights and priveleges or concessions that the Alliance might find interesting to excersise and to conform to these arrangements, agreements, concessions, rights or priveleges.
J) Engage in research in order to better permit the Alliance to accomplish it’s goals, that is to say to help the communities of amerindian ascendance to improve their living conditions, to undertake an educational campaign to stimulate interest regarding the needs and problems such as language, traditional culture, folklore and crafts.
K) Invest and treat matters with monies not immediately needed by the Alliance, this to be submitted and determined at the proper time and place.
"justify">L) To do any incidental or favourable action that could help attain the objectives and exercise the powers of the Alliance.The Organization
In the goal to carry out this task, the organization counts sixty-six (66) communities in order to better respond to the particular needs identified in each community. The matters of each branch are managed by an administrative council elected by the members. These sixty-six (66) communities which represent 26,000 members to date actually form the base of our people.
In order to better respond to the needs of it’s communities, the NAQ is divided into five (5) regions:
- Region 01 : Abitibi - Témiscamingue;
- Region 02 : Outaouais - Pontiac - Gatineau - Labelle;
- Region 03 : Montréal - Trois-Rivières - Estrie - Gaspésie;
- Region 04 : Saguenay - Lac St-Jean - La Tuque - Québec;
- Region 05 : Côte-Nord - Basse-Côte-Nord.
Each regional council is composed of two representatives of each branch. The executive of these regions forms the Provincial Council of Direction.
Politics versus services
Since 1995, the NAQ has undertaken a major internal reorganization that aims, among other things, to distribute the responsabilities between the NAQ and it’s different corporations and services.
About politics
From this point on, all the efforts of the NAQ at the provincial level are concentrated on the files relating to the aboriginal rights of our nation. For example: self-government, hunting and fishing, territorial claims, etc., as well as the support of our service corporations.
About services
Since 1996, all services are delivered exclusively through Corporation Waskahegen and it’s affiliated corporations such as Habitat Métis du Nord, Fonds Waskahegen, Carrefour Widgiwagan, etc. The main services are housing, economical development, labour market development and employment.
Who can benefit from our services?
The NAQ had to modify the policy regarding access to its services because of a multitude of salesmen of fake card, granted too often to people claiming to be native and who were not.
After a resolution during its provincial annual assembly in 1995, the only those eligible to the services of the NAQ and it’s corporations are:
1- The members of the NAQ;
2- The status indians living off-reserve permanently;
3- Any other native person who is not a member of any other association, and who does not wish to be a part of any other association and who is able to prove this as required by our code of citizenship.
The NAQ has the mandate to defend the interests of the members of its nation and must ensure that only natives are served by its corporations and services.
How to become a member
Membership to the NAQ is open to any native living off-reserve in Quebec who meets the following criteria:
1 - Be of aboriginal descendance (identity);
2 - To self-identify as such (pride);
3 - To be accepted by the community (belonging).
To become a member, you must present yourself to a local assembly and ask to become a member. Only those who live in an isolated area can make this request through the provincial office our at one of our reginal offices.
© Coppyright - Native Alliance of Quebec - Alliance autochtone du Québec
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