The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) has formally responded to the Parti Québécois’ Blue Book, which outlines its vision for an independent Quebec separate from the federation of Canada. The publicly released Blue Book presents an extensive economic, social, cultural, linguistic future plan for Quebec, but its chapter on relations with First Nations remains empty.
The MCK’s response letter formally rejects the Blue Book as a legitimate independence vision, citing three fundamental concerns: the absence of consultation with Kahnawake; potential infringement of the constitutionally protected relationship between First Nations and the Crown under section 35 of the 1982 Constitution Act and failure to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly on Indigenous languages and cultures. Ultimately, it fails to adequately recognize the constitutional, political, territorial, linguistic, and cultural rights of First Nations Peoples.
The MCK maintains that Quebec’s objective of separating from Canada would not be a purely internal political matter. It would constitute a fundamental constitutional restructuring with direct consequences for First Nations rights, territories, treaties, and relationships with the Crown.
“The future of Quebec cannot be determined as though First Nations do not exist,” continued Diabo. “Political parties may have different positions on federalism, independence, language, and the constitution, but none of them has the authority to unilaterally determine the future of our lands or diminish our rights. More importantly, if Quebec wishes to pursue an independent future, they will need to figure out how to do so without any of our lands.”
Principally, any political vision that claims to protect language and culture while excluding First Nations languages and perpetuating barriers for First Nations communities fails to meet the standards of reconciliation, equality, and First Nations self-determination.
The MCK’s response to the Blue Book is being sent to Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and transmitted to the National Assembly of Québec so that all elected representatives are formally made aware of Kahnawà:ke’s position.
