The natives lift their blockade on the railway between Mauricie and Abitibi

Deancing catastrophic their relationship with the Quebec government, Aboriginal people in Mauricie blocked rail transport for six days between La Tuque and Senneterre and for a day, at Lac-Saint-Jean.

“We want to meet Prime Minister François Legault to assert First Nations rights in their ancestral territory,” said Journal DAVE PETIQUAY, spokesperson for the territory’s guards.

With around thirty natives from the Atikamekw nations, Innu and Abénaquise, he blocked the railway on Thursday morning connecting the Tuque, in Mauricie, and Senneterre, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. They repeated the operation on Monday and Tuesday on the Roberval – Chibougamau network. Everything went without violence.

“We are aware of the situation and we follow her closely,” said Jonathan Abecassis, spokesperson for the CN.

He could not specify how many trains were affected by this blockade, but we know that the passenger trains of Via Rail ceased to circulate during the demonstration.

“Catastrophic”

Looking for a “better governance on their lands” from which they feel excluded due to the agreements between Quebec and the forest companies, Mr. Petiquay is represented by the lawyer Frédéric Bérard, doctor of constitutional law.

“My clients are determined to take all legal and legitimate means to make their voices heard,” comments M^e Bérard. The treatment that has been reserved for them with Bill 97 on forest management is a disaster, in addition to giving our forests to the companies on a silver set. ”

Band advice

Mr. Petiquay does not speak on behalf of the Atikamekws Band Council or the Innu, but claims to have the support of that of Wôlinak. He believes that natives must be invited to government discussion tables when it comes to exploitation of the territory.

“There will be appeals filed against the government in time,” added Mr.^e Bérard.