PRESS RELEASE
August 8, 2018 – Makivvik extends sympathy to the family and friends of John Ciaccia, who passed away Tuesday August 7th in Beaconsfield, Quebec. Inuit describe Ciaccia as a man with integrity, and as Quebec’s chief negotiator for the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA), he made an important contribution in the development of the Nunavik region Inuit know today.
“I remember vividly negotiating with John Ciaccia,” said Makivvik President Charlie Watt Sr. “John was open minded. He listened to the Inuit point of view, and took it into account. He was fair minded, and I believe he worked hard to ensure our perspective was included in the James Bay Agreement, over forty years ago. He will be remembered.”
Ciaccia was both a federal and provincial political leader, however he spent most of his time in Quebec politics, and was Robert Bourassa’s representative in the James Bay and Northern Quebec negotiations which spanned the years from 1973 when the James Bay Project of the Century was announced, to 1975 when the JBNQA was eventually signed, late at night on November 11th in Quebec City.
He readily agreed to appear in the Makivvik documentary film, “Now That You Can Stand” chronicling the negotiations leading up to the signing of the JBNQA. In the film he shed light, forty years later, on the stakes at hand from the Quebec government perspective, while still respecting the implications for the Inuit and the Cree, who would be most affected by the mega-project.
Inuktitut Translation will follow
Contact:
William Tagoona
Communications Coordinator and Media Relations
Makivvik
Tel. 819-964-2925
wtagoona@makivik.org
www.makivik.org
Makivvik is the land claims organization mandated to manage the heritage funds of the Inuit of Nunavik provided for under the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. Makivvik’s role includes the administration and investment of these funds and the promotion of economic growth by providing assistance for the creation of Inuit-operated businesses in Nunavik. Makivvik promotes the preservation of Inuit culture and language as well as the health, welfare, relief of poverty, and education of Inuit in the communitie