Cree Nation gov't lifts boycott on city of Val d'Or
'We are going to have to work very hard to... attack the cancerous discrimination that keeps us separated'
Saying it is satisfied things are moving in the right direction, the Cree Nation government announced today it is lifting a boycott of the Quebec community of Val d'Or, put in place in reaction to allegations that police officers with the Sûreté du Québec abused and sexually assaulted aboriginal women in the city.
Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come held a joint press conference with Pierre Corbeil, the mayor of Val d'Or, along with chiefs from the nearby Algonquin communities of Lac Simon, Kitcisakik and Abitibiwinni.
Leaders of the groups signed the Déclaration de Val-d'Or at the press conference, ending the boycott.
"We have seen (Val d'Or) working hard to remedy the relations that have been damaged and broken," said Coon Come. "We have decided that our children need to play their tournaments here, and bring back some healing."
The allegations against the SQ officers came to light in a Radio-Canada investigation done by the program Enquête in October.
Coon Come said it was important for the chiefs to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with Val d'Or as the city commits to fight racism head on, something the mayor of Val d'Or appreciates.
"We are talking about a real atmosphere of reconciliation and collaboration," said Corbeil. "If Val d'Or was highlighted by these unfortunate events, we will also be highlighted for these positive initiatives."
Some of the initiatives Corbeil has committed to are the creation of a liaison committee within the municipality and conducting a policy review. The city is also launching diversity campaigns and holding cultural awareness sessions with municipal employees.
In early December, Val d'Or city council also passed a motion calling on the Quebec government to launch a provincial inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Coon Come said this morning that this was the most important action Val d'Or has taken.
"It is only through a provincial judicial inquiry that we will get a true understanding of how deep the problem (of discrimination) runs," said Coon Come. "And where we are going to have to work very hard to root out and attack the cancerous discrimination that keeps us separated."