Quebec Innu unhappy with Tobin/Bouchard meetings

Premier Lucien Bouchard came to St. John's today to met with Premier Brian Tobin. It was supposed to be an update on the Churchill Falls negotiations. Before the day was out the Innu were again demanding a seat at the bargaining. And Premier Bouchard was distracted by events in Ottawa.

A fake smile for a photo op and then it's down to business for Tobin and Bouchard. But the Innu of Quebec and Labrador say there's something missing here. Them. Innu Lawyer Armand McKenzie: "It seems they gonna make decisions first between themselves. They work together, Bouchard and Tobin, they discuss our future, our environment, natural resources, without the Innu. We're not just here for a photo op."

But a photo op is exactly what the two provinces had planned. Innu Leaders say Tobin and Bouchard should have learned their lesson a year and a half ago, when the Innu interrupted their last news conference about the ten billion dollar project proposed for Churchill Falls.

Armand Mckenzie: "They learned nothing about what the indigenous people are saying, what they're doing, their attitude, they're killing the project."

While reporters waited for the news conference with the two leaders, a threat from the Innu to walk away from the proceedings. Then Tobin arrived alone, sans Bouchard, with apologies. Bouchard was too occupied with Ottawa's legislation on Quebec secession. So why weren't the Innu at the table earlier? Tobin says it's hard enough to get a memorandum of understanding with 2 Premiers talking, how hard would it be if there were a whole group of people all with different axes to grind?

Bouchard only appeared to meet with the Innu later, and for the planned photo session before rushing back to Montreal.