MONTREAL — Indigenous leaders in Quebec say Premier François Legault’s resignation could open a rare window to reset relations between First Nations, Inuit communities, and the provincial government — and to deliver on commitments they argue stalled soon after the CAQ took power.
When Legault took office in 2018, he publicly acknowledged First Nations and Inuit as the first peoples of the land and held early meetings with Indigenous leaders. Some describe that period as an initial “honeymoon,” marked by promises to advance reconciliation — including adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
But several leaders now say key files never moved forward, and that a series of provincial decisions weakened trust.
Former Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador chief Ghislain Picard says the government’s momentum faded quickly, despite early commitments. He points to the province’s decision to challenge federal Indigenous child welfare legislation (Bill C-92) as a major rupture, arguing it signalled Quebec’s reluctance to recognize Indigenous governments as decision-makers.
Community advocates also cite Legault’s refusal to acknowledge systemic racism — particularly after the death of Atikamekw woman Joyce Echaquan in a Joliette hospital in 2020. A coroner’s findings linked systemic racism to her death, but the province has continued to reject that framing. Quebec also declined to adopt Joyce’s Principle, which calls for culturally safe and equitable health care for Indigenous people.
Na’kuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, says the government’s messaging and policies have had real-world consequences. She points to the province’s approach to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as the rollout of Bill 96, Quebec’s language law. While exemptions exist for Indigenous communities, she says they are not consistently applied when people seek support from police or the health-care system.
A recent report from Quebec’s ombudsman raised similar concerns, including gaps in how language rules are applied and shortcomings in cultural safety training across health services.
Despite the strained relationship, Indigenous leaders say the leadership transition could bring progress — if the next premier makes Indigenous priorities central rather than reactive.
AFN Quebec-Labrador Chief Francis Verreault-Paul says adopting UNDRIP should be a top priority for whoever leads the province next. He argues the declaration would help reduce repeated legal disputes and set clearer ground rules for consultation, decision-making, and rights recognition.
Verreault-Paul acknowledges the Legault government took some steps on specific files, including measures related to missing Indigenous children in the health system and a number of agreements connected to energy projects. But he says larger commitments have stalled — including the Petapan Treaty, which Quebec had previously signalled it hoped to conclude by early 2023.
The treaty would recognize self-determination for the Innu communities of Essipit, Pekuakamiulnuatsh, and Nutashkuan and move them outside the framework of the federal Indian Act. Quebec’s Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière says negotiations are ongoing and insists a deal is within reach before the end of the mandate.
Lafrenière also says Quebec intends to embed UNDRIP principles through the Petapan Treaty process, while acknowledging the government made missteps and that more understanding is needed across institutions.
Meanwhile, Indigenous leaders warn that legislative timelines remain a flashpoint. Verreault-Paul says First Nations are too often forced to respond after bills are tabled, even when proposed laws could affect rights, land, and governance — citing concerns raised about Quebec’s constitution proposal and legislation aimed at speeding up infrastructure projects.
With an election ahead and a new CAQ leader to be chosen, Indigenous leaders say the next government will be judged not on statements, but on whether long-promised changes finally become law, policy, and practice.
