The Cree vote counted

For years the mantra of the Cree taking control of our own destiny has been repeated over and over again. Here and there we saw major steps in this direction: defeating Hydro-Québec’s Great Whale Project, assuming federal and provincial obligations under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and, most recently, gaining a proper role in the regional government of traditional Cree territory.

Another proud moment in our recent political history was the election of Romeo Saganash to represent our riding in Canada’s Parliament. This was a concrete example of the Cree participating in and gaining access to the power structure in Canadian politics.

As we noted two issues ago, we have lagged behind in participating in provincial politics. But the results of the April 7 election in the Ungava riding demonstrated that a big jump in Cree participation made a major impact. By almost doubling Cree voter turnout, we essentially decided the election of the member for the riding that covers all nine communities in Eeyou Istchee. Cree voters made the difference in choosing Ungava’s representative in the National Assembly, which for the first time in the riding’s history is now a Liberal, Jean Boucher.

Despite a shameful lack of information from Elections Quebec on how to vote, the Cree turned out in larger numbers than ever before. Every Cree community saw an increase in voter participation from the last Quebec election in 2012, with some almost doubling their participation.

Let’s break it down:

Whapmagoostui saw a 10% turnout compared to 8.6% in 2012.
Chisasibi: 21% of those eligible voted, while only 13.2% did in 2012.
Wemindji: a 29.5 % turnout; in 2012, 20.8%.
Eastmain: 26.1% compared to 17.3% last election.
Waskaganish: 25.9%, up from 20% in 2012.
Nemaska: 16.25%, a small increase over the 15.2% in 2012.
Waswanipi: 29.1%, a 10% increase over 2012’s 19.%.
Mistissini: 23%, almost twice the 12.4% participation in 2012.
Oujé-Bougoumou: 32.2%, the highest turnout in the Cree communities, and a healthy increase from the 26.3% turnout in 2012.

In total, 2219 people voted in the nine communities, almost double the 1195 who did so only 18 months ago. As we emphasized in this space during the election campaign, a greater voter participation by the Cree could make the difference, and you responded by adding 1024 more votes than we did in 2012.

Now, look at the vote difference in this election between the winner, Jean Boucher, and Parti Québécois incumbent Luc Ferland: 1014. And poll results showed that the Cree overwhelmingly voted Liberal.

In other words, every vote counted.

It is a wonderful thing to take control of your future. What this means is that political parties will now pay more attention to Cree voters. They will be courting us. They will listen to our concerns, desires and vision of the future. And our voice will be heard in the National Assembly of Quebec.