Eeyou Marine Region Lands Claims Agreement

The Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement (the “Offshore Agreement”) is the result of 10 years of negotiations on the rights and obligations of the Crees and Canada in the offshore area of Eeyou Istchee. This area is known as the Eeyou Marine Region (EMR), or in other words, the area of the offshore that the Crees have traditionally occupied and used.

This Treaty, like other Canadian treaties with Aboriginal peoples, basically acknowledges Cree ownership and other rights to certain areas in the offshore and it is also a recognition by the Crees that certain Canadian laws apply in these areas. The rights in this Agreement belong to all Crees, those that live on the coast and those that live inland. As such, for the purposes of this Treaty a majority of all eligible Crees have indicated their acceptance of the Offshore Agreement by referendum. Therefore, all Crees enrolled as beneficiaries under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement are automatically enrolled as beneficiaries under this Agreement.

  Eeyou Marine Region Agreement
  Cree Offshore Agreement – Summary
  Cree Offshore Agreement – Executive Summary
  Agreement relating to the Cree/Inuit offshore overlapping interests area

Signing of the agreement relating to the Cree/Inuit offshore overlapping interests area. From left to right: Paulossie Novalinga, Norman Cheezo, David Masty, Ted Moses, Abraham Rupert, Lucassie Inukpuk, and Pita Adamie.

Our Boards

Three (3) co-management boards that operate under the terms of the Agreement with Cree representations equal to the combined representation from Canada and Nunavut on each Board (for example, two (2) Cree representatives, one (1) Federal and one (1) Nunavut representative).

IMPACT REVIEW BOARD

The Eeyou Marine Region Impact Review Board (EMRIRB) mandate is to review the eco-systemic and socio-economic impacts of project proposals.

PLANNING COMMISSION

The Eeyou Marine Region Planning Commission (EMRPC) mandate is to guide the development of planning policies, priorities and objectives.

WILDLIFE BOARD

The Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board (EMRWB) mandate is to act as the main instrument of Wildlife management and the main regulator of access to wildlife.

Cree Lands

The Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement (the “Offshore Agreement”) is the result of 10 years of negotiations on the rights and obligations of the Crees and Canada in the offshore area of Eeyou Istchee. This area is known as the Eeyou Marine Region (EMR), or in other words, the area of the offshore that the Crees have traditionally occupied and used.

This Treaty, like other Canadian treaties with Aboriginal peoples, basically acknowledges Cree ownership and other rights to certain areas in the offshore and it is also a recognition by the Crees that certain Canadian laws apply in these areas. The rights in this Agreement belong to all Crees, those that live on the coast and those that live inland. As such, for the purposes of this Treaty a majority of all eligible Crees have indicated their acceptance of the Offshore Agreement by referendum. Therefore, all Crees enrolled as beneficiaries under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement are automatically enrolled as beneficiaries under this Agreement.

International Agreements

This Offshore Agreement provides that the Crees will be involved in discussions leading to government positions on international wildlife agreements dealing with wildlife harvested in the EMR. Also, the Wildlife Board will be involved in the negotiation or amendment of inter-jurisdictional agreements within Canada on wildlife.

The proposed Offshore Agreement provides that harvesting in the EMR must conform with the terms of international agreements on wildlife that were in existence before the Agreement came into force.

Cree Consultation

Under the proposed Offshore Agreement, the government will consult the Crees on issues directly affecting the EMR, for instance:

Before allowing mineral exploration or development in the EMR;
Before authorizing the construction and operation of pipelines and oil rigs;
Before finalizing a strategy for the management of marine areas;
In the development and implementation of plans for the management of marine areas;
Before authorizing tidal or hydroelectric energy production.

Eeyou Marine Region Org Chart

Please click on the diagram below to load a higher resolution image.