In April 1971, Quebec’s Premier Robert Bourassa introduced a significant plan known as the “project of the century,” aiming to exploit the vast hydroelectric potential of the northern region to stimulate the economy and meet rising energy demands. The initiative entailed constructing 11 hydroelectric dams, with eight situated along the La Grande River, spanning from the heart of the province to James Bay, 900 kilometers to the west. Additionally, three other rivers – the Eastmain, Opinaca, and Caniapiscau – were to be redirected to form extensive artificial reservoirs, inundating 11,500 square kilometers of forest area, equivalent to about 30 times the size of the Island of Montreal.
This ambitious project, unprecedented in Quebec’s history, spanned 40 years and currently generates 17,000 megawatts of power, constituting half of Quebec’s present electricity production. The undertaking required a multitude of workers, ranging from engineers to cooks, forming a small village deployed to a remote worksite over a thousand kilometers from Montreal. However, a crucial oversight emerged during the preparation of an access road – the failure to engage Cree and Inuit communities whose territory faced irrevocable transformation due to the colossal project.
Charlie Watt, an esteemed Inuit political leader, reminisces about the impact of the James Bay hydro project on his traditional lifestyle. Observing the diminished flow of the Koksoak River – diverted to sustain the James Bay dams and power half of Quebec – he laments the restrictions on activities like caribou hunting, which were once easily accessible. Watt recounts the initial discovery of the government’s development intentions in the region, learned incidentally while perusing a post office notice outlining Premier Bourassa’s economic development scheme for the North.
Watt’s and other Indigenous community members’ shock and fear over the project’s implications led to the formation of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association, seeking to ensure local voices were heard. Similarly, Cree communities near James Bay expressed opposition to the project, emphasizing concerns about the flooding of traditional trap lines vital for their livelihoods and cultural practices.
Amidst growing tensions and disparities in power dynamics between the government and Indigenous groups, legal interventions became necessary. Following a landmark decision by Judge Albert Malouf in 1973, construction work was halted, compelling the province to engage in negotiations with Cree and Inuit communities. Despite initial setbacks and internal disagreements among Indigenous parties, the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) in 1975 marked a historic milestone. This comprehensive agreement, spanning over 450 pages, delineated hydroelectric, mining, and forestry development protocols in the region, requiring Indigenous groups to forfeit rights to their traditional territories in exchange for greater autonomy and financial compensation.
