On November 11, 1975, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement was signed by the governments of Canada and Quebec, Hydro-Quebec and two subsidiaries, the Grand Council of Crees of Quebec and the Northern Quebec Inuit Association. It has been described by many as Canada’s “first modern treaty.”

A total of 11 Inuit citizens from Nunavik, representing the NQIA, dedicated approximately four years to the negotiation of the agreement, which took place mostly in Quebec.

This article honours the Inuit who were signatories to the agreement and their roles.

Charlie Watt

Charlie Watt
(Photo courtesy of Charlie Watt)

Charlie Watt, born in Fort Chimo (Kuujjuaq) in 1944, was the president of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association and led the young group of signatories to the creation of the JBNQA.

After that, he pursued a political career, serving as the president of Makivvik for 11 years, from 1978 to 1989.

He was appointed to be a Canadian senator, a role he served in from 1984 to 2018, during which time he worked served on the Senate’s standing committee on fisheries and oceans and the standing committee on Aboriginal peoples.

George Koneak

George Koneak (Photo by Rosemary C. Eaton, courtesy of the Dalhousie University Archives)

Born near Quaqtaq in 1931, George Koneak served as the NQIA vice-president.

In the association’s early days, he served as a field worker travelling all across the Ungava settlements, where he mapped out all the regions which were utilized for hunting and trapping by Inuit.

He became Makivvik’s first vice-president in 1975. He then served as a commissioner at the Language Commission of Northern Quebec in the 1980s, and as Nunavik’s governor from 1994 until the early 2000s. Charlie Watt named him “Nunavik’s Aqiggaq.” In Memoriam, 1931-2012.

Johnny Williams

Johnny Williams
(Photo courtesy of Taqralik)

Johnny Williams worked as a field worker for the NQIA, doing a similar job to George Koneak’s but focusing on the Hudson Bay communities. He became a Makivvik second vice-president in 1977, then a regional councillor representing Inukjuak at the Kativik Regional Government. In the 1990s, he created a taxi service in his home community, the first of its kind. Later in life, he served as Inukjuak’s municipal manager. In Memoriam, 1943-2015.

Zebedee Nungak

Zebedee Nungak (Nunatsiaq News file photo by Jane George)

Born in Puvirnituq in 1951, Zebedee Nungak started as the treasurer, then became secretary of the NQIA. From 1984 to 1987, he served as co-chairperson of the Inuit Committee on National Issues, and became a first vice-president at Makivvik, which led to his election as president of Makivvik. He is a writer, known for his Inuit cultural work and his book called Wrestling with Colonialism on Steroids. He now serves as the Avataq Cultural Institute’s Inuktitut language specialist, where he dedicates most of his time revitalizing the language. He was awarded the National Order of Quebec in 2017.

Pootoolik Papigatuk

Pootoolik Papigatuk
(Courtesy of Makivvik Corp.)

Born near Salluit in 1952, Pootoolik Papigatuk was a director, and treasurer of NQIA during the negotiations of the JBNQA.

He brought his experience to the negotiating table in 2007 when the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement was being drafted. During his career, he served as Salluit’s mayor and municipal manager. He was also the president of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq in the 1990s. In Memoriam, 1952-2021.

Tommy Cain

Tommy Cain
(Photo courtesy of Makivvik Corp.)

Born in 1937, Tommy Cain had already played a significant role in Nunavik before NQIA was established – he was instrumental in the creation of Tasiujaq in his home community in 1963. He served as the mayor of Tasiujaq, represented his community on the Makivvik board of directors and was later appointed Nunavik governor. Cain was also considered an excellent hunter and trapper, and a master at using the spear with a kavikak. He later acquired the Finger Lake Char and Caribou Camp and influenced tourism growth in Nunavik, becoming the first president of the Nunavik Tourism Association in 1992. In Memoriam, 1937-2020.

Robbie Tookalook

Robbie Tookalook
(Photo courtesy of Makivvik Corp)

Born in 1944, Robbie Tookalook had a long political career representing both Kuujjuaraapik and Umiujaq. He was part of the Makivvik board of directors for 21 years, the Air Inuit board for 18 years, the mayor of Kuujjuaraapik for six and half years and Umiujaq mayor for nine years.

He was an influential part of the environmental committees surrounding damming projects in the early 1980s, and played a role in the creation of Umiujaq in 1986.

In Memoriam, 1944-2017.

Peter Inukpuk

Peter Inukpuk
(File photo by Cedric Gallant)

Born in 1951, Peter Inukpuk served as a NQIA director and treasurer.

After the JBNQA was signed, he served as the first Kativik Regional Government chairperson.

His lengthy political career includes serving on the board of directors at Makivvik and as mayor of Inukjuak.

He was also as manager of the Pituvik Landholding Corporation, and more recently as a KRG regional councillor.

Mark Annanack

Born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Mark Annanack began his political career during the co-operative movement and was instrumental in establishing the first co-op in his home community in 1959.

After serving as a director on the JBNQA, he worked with Kativik Ilisarniliriniq in the 1980s.

He also served as the Makivvik’s board of directors representative for Kangiqsualujjuaq, and became the community’s mayor in the 1990s. In Memoriam, 1941-1999.

Sarolie Weetaluktuk

Sarolie Weetaluktuk
(Photo courtesy of the Kativik Regional Government)

Sarolie Weetaluktuk served as a field worker for the Hudson Bay region during the early days of NQIA. He held various positions in Nunavik politics, including Inukjuak mayor, Kativik Regional Government executive committee member, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq president in the 1980s and vice-president of the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec.

Recently, he has served as an administrator with the Avataq Cultural Institute and a representative with Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services. He is currently the Kativik Regional Government council representative for Inukjuak.

Charlie Arngak

Charlie Arngak
(Photo courtesy of Kativik Regional Government)

Born in 1952, Charlie Arngak was first a director at NQIA, but he quickly became fundamental in Kangiqsujuaq’s political sphere as the mayor from 1979 to 1999.

During that time, he initiated talks with the mining company Falconbridge, which led to the creation of the Raglan Agreement in 1995. He has served as a Canadian Ranger for 48 years, receiving an Order of Military Merit in 2020.

He has also served as the Avataq Cultural Institute president and later as the Kativik Regional Government vice-chairperson, including a role on the executive committee.

This article is part of Nunatsiaq News’ commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.