MEMORANDUM OF MUTUAL INTENT

For many years, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has been working and collaborating with the community of Algonquins of Barriere Lake (ABL), located in the Parc de La Vérendrye in Québec, to address important issues related to effective program delivery and financial management.

In 1994, financial problems began to surface. INAC decided that an intervention was required to redress the financial situation. Support was provided as well as assistance from Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO) to prepare a recovery plan. Following a long-lasting leadership crisis, the community became deeply destabilized in 1995. In January 1996, as a result of a deep division in the community, INAC acted upon the choice of the community for an interim band council. Because of the financial and political situation, INAC appointed a third-party manager to administer ordinary governance of the First Nation. These circumstances led to a breakdown of the relationship between ABL and INAC.

In October 1997 a Memorandum of Mutual Intent (MOMI) was signed between ABL and INAC in order to restore the relationship and bring the community at par with other First Nations in relation to housing and community infrastructure.

The MOMI is a statement of common intentions where both parties agree to work together toward the realization of the community's vision for the future. It affirms INAC's commitment to establishing a renewed relationship with ABL and to work with them in realizing their vision and their priority needs through the use of current programs, authorities and resources.

The main objectives of the MOMI are to:

• Establish a renewed relationship with the community
  
• Restore essential programs and services (education, health and safety) that were disrupted during the leadership crisis in the band council
  
• Promote special initiatives that would address social problems
  
• Enhance educational development and governance capacity
  
• Establish a level playing field in terms of community infrastructure
  
• Address the financial situation of ABL

HOUSING AND CAPITAL PROJECTS

From 1998 to 2000, INAC has provided more than $2.5M for the major upgrade of the existing housing stock in Barriere Lake. In 2001, proposals have been made by the Department to address the need for new housing. However, ABL has yet to submit a viable housing plan within the framework of the existing housing policy.

INAC has also provided substantial financial resources in recent years to contribute to the community's rebuilding and recovery. Some noteworthy developments include:

• Construction of a gymnasium
  
• Water and sewer systems
  
• Construction of a water treatment facility
  
• Construction of teacherages
  
• Extension of the Band office
  
• Enhancement of social and educational development
  
• Provision of policing and fire protection services
  
• Governance and capacity building

All of these represent an investment of more than $10M (including the above $2.5M). INAC is committed to work with the community towards the realization of its needs and priorities by the best use of current programs and resources. Results achieved so far, as described above, are a clear demonstration of INAC's commitment.

ELECTRICITY

The Barriere Lake community is powered by a diesel station. The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec are both committed to covering the connecting costs of the community to the Hydro-Quebec power network.

INAC has filed a proposal in that sense, which included a housing component. INAC is still awaiting a formal response from the First Nation.

TRILATERAL AGREEMENT

Since 1988, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have been concerned about the logging operations in La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, where they practise their traditional way of life. In 1990, they began to pressure the Government of Quebec to stop logging operations in the reserve. After meetings and correspondence between the parties, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake proposed that an agreement be formulated to ensure sustainable development. On August 22, 1991, the Trilateral Agreement was signed by the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and the Quebec and federal governments. Its main objective was to develop a draft Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) for renewable resources (wildlife and forests). The Agreement covers a 10,000-km2 territory in the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve. The work agreed upon in the Agreement was to be completed by May 26, 1995. It was to consist of three phases: Phase I, the gathering of scientific data and the traditional scientific knowledge of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake on renewable resources in the territory (this phase has been completed); Phase II, the development of an IRMP for renewable resources (wildlife and forests) and Phase III, the formulation of recommendations for implementing the IRMP. Once phases II and III were completed, there were to be negotiations between the Quebec government and the Algonquins of Barriere Lake on how to implement the recommendations formulated in Phase III.

Because of the Government of Quebec's jurisdiction over natural resource management, the Trilateral Agreement was basically negotiated between the former and the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. The Algonquins of Barriere Lake signed the agreement to protect the environment, ensure sound resource management and obtain a strong economic lever for the community. The Government of Canada signed the Agreement in support of the community.

The process was slow in getting starting and the actual work did not begin until May 1993. In the fall of 1994, special representatives of the provincial government and the Algonquins assessed the situation and concluded that 19 additional months were required to complete the IRMP. On June 21, 1995, the Government of Quebec extended the deadline for the production of the IRMP to December 31, 1996 by an order-in-council. Subsequently, INAC confirmed its intention to maintain all commitments related to the Trilateral Agreement. Throughout 1996, however, little progress was made on the IRMP, due mainly to a leadership crisis in the Barriere Lake community. Consequently, to complete the IRMP, the parties agreed to continue to support the trilateral process beyond its expiration date (December 31, 1996).

On May 22, 1998, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and the Government of Quebec signed a bilateral agreement on an approach and process to complete phases II and III of the Trilateral Agreement. Although the federal government was not a signatory to the bilateral agreement, it agreed to continue to support the Algonquins of Barriere Lake in the process until September 30, 2001, the date by which the IRMP should have been completed according to Quebec government experts. In October 1999, the Chief of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake was informed that a final lump sum payment would be made for the project, covering the period until the end of September 2001. However, the funds allocated to the IRMP were depleted by the summer of 2001 even though the IRMP had not been completed.

Since the signing of the Trilateral Agreement in August 1991, the federal government has invested close to $5 million and the Government of Quebec, $2.7 million, in the agreement. Although the IRMP has not been completed, these investments have led to significant achievements, notably the development of a database, in-depth studies on flora, fauna and the forest, and the gathering of traditional scientific knowledge. In addition, individual map biographies were produced with the help of members of the community who practice a traditional lifestyle in order to describe hunting, fishing and trapping activities and land use; this information was digitized into a Geographic Information System (GIS).

In addition, maps of sensitive areas (burial grounds, medicinal plants, etc.) were produced and major studies were completed on harvesting, topography, social customs, traditional ecology, sustainable natural resource development and the adoption of measures to harmonize processes established to identify, conserve and protect Algonquin cultural and heritage resources.

INAC will not allocate any additional funding to the completion of the IRMP. The Department has limited resources that must be used to meet First Nations' basic needs. However, it invites the Algonquins of Barriere Lake to establish new partnerships to solve the problem of funding and completing the IRMP. It is also ready to discuss any project that may arise from the IRMP, such as economic development projects. In addition, the community of Barriere Lake, like other First Nations, will continue to have access to regular INAC programs.

PROPOSED LAND ADDITIONS TO THE RESERVE
The Quebec Government and the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have reached an agreement on expansion of the existing reserve covering an area of approximately 6.5 sq. km. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to implement federal and provincial policies and processes regarding land additions to reserves which includes land surveys, environmental assessments, etc.

Last Update : 2004-02-13

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