The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) / Cree Regional Authority


The Grand Council of the Crees is the political body that represents the approximately (2003) 14,000 Crees or “Eeyouch” (“Eenouch” – Mistissini dialect), as they call themselves, of eastern James Bay and Southern Hudson Bay in Northern Quebec. The Grand Council has twenty members: a Grand Chief and Deputy-Grand Chief elected at large by the Eeyouch, the chiefs elected by each of the nine Cree communities, and one other representative from each community. The present Grand Chief is Matthew Mukash and the Deputy Grand Chief is Ashley Iserhoff. The Council’s head office is in the Cree community of Nemaska, although it also has offices in Montreal and Ottawa.

The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and the Cree Regional Authority are two distinct legal entities; however, they have identical membership, board of directors, governing structures and are de facto managed and operated as one organization by the Cree Nation.

The Cree Regional Authority (CRA) is the administrative arm of the Cree government. It has responsibilities in respect to environmental protection, the hunting, fishing and trapping regime, economic and community development, the Board of Compensation, and other matters as decided by the board of directors. The Board of Directors is made up of the Chairman of the CRA, who is also the Grand Chief, Matthew Mukash, and the Vice-Chairman Ashley Iserhoff, as well as the Chiefs of each of the nine Cree Communities, and one other person from each community appointed by the community.

The Headquarters of the CRA is located in Nemaska, James Bay, Quebec. In addition, there is also an office located in Montréal. The CRA has departments of traditional pursuits, community services and human resources development, and administrative services. There is also a Cree embassy located in Ottawa, ON.

The Department of Traditional Pursuits provides professional advice to the nine Cree communities, in respect to the planning of local projects, and environmental protection. In addition, it supports Cree initiatives concerning the implementation of sustainable forestry practices, mining, and hydroelectric development. The Traditional Pursuits Department works with the Local Environment Administrators and with the Cree members of the environmental and social protection regime set out in Section 22 of the James Bay Northern Quebec Agreement.

The Community Services Department implements initiatives in respect to the home care programs in the Cree Communities, the setup and operation of the Cree Tourism Association, and the Cree Crafts Association. In addition, this department provides support to the Cree communities in capital planning, and economic development.

The Human Resources Development Department delivers programs in respect to the training of Cree individuals so that they may take advantage of employment opportunities within the Cree communities and within the James Bay Territory. The Department works with the local management board concerning training needs of the Cree Communities, and with the Cree / Canada Territorial Special Initiatives Program in respect to training for employment opportunities created by development in the territory. The department also administers certain aspects of urban programs for Cree individuals. In the nine Cree communities, the department administers the employment insurance program, maintains a database on Cree training and employment and as well, provides local people with information about job opportunities in the community, in the territory, and elsewhere.

The Administrative Services Department maintains the corporate register for the CRA, it also provides administrative backup to all departments in terms of personel services, and financial administration.

The Cree Regional Authority (the “CRA”) was created pursuant to legislation of the Quebec National Assembly: the Act respecting the Cree Regional Authority, R.S.Q., c. A-6.1, first adopted in 1978.  The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) (the “GCC(EI)”) was created by Letters Patent issued in 1974 by the Deputy Registrar General of Canada pursuant to the Canada Corporations Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-32.

Both corporations are created on a not-for-profit basis. All Cree beneficiaries are members of the GCC(EI)-CRA. Both organizations must report annually to the Cree beneficiaries in an annual general assembly. This reporting includes the presentation of audited financial statements and of activities reports. The GCC(EI)-CRA is governed by a Council-Board of 20 members elected by the Cree beneficiaries.  For more information, please visit www.gcc.ca.

Photos:
top - The headquarters of the GCC & CRA in Nemaska, QC
bottom - Nemaska, QC - the location of the GCC & CRA headquarters

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