Cree Nation gov't lifts boycott on city of Val d'Or

Saying it is satisfied things are moving in the right direction, the Cree Nation government announced today it is lifting a boycott of the Quebec community ofVal d'Or, put in place in reaction to allegations that police officers with the Sret du Qubec abused and sexually assaulted aboriginal women in the city.

• Cree gov't to cancel events in Val-d'Or after SQ sex abuse allegations

Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come held a joint press conference withPierre Corbeil, themayor of Val d'Or, along with chiefs from the nearby Algonquin communities of Lac Simon, Kitcisakik and Abitibiwinni.

Leaders of the groups signed theDclaration de Val-d'Or at the press conference, ending the boycott.

"We have seen (Val d'Or) working hard to remedy the relations that have been damaged and broken," said Coon Come. "We have decidedthat our children need to play their tournaments here, and bring back some healing."

The allegations against the SQ officers came to light in a Radio-Canada investigation done by the program Enqute in October.

• VIDEO |Enqute investigation into Val d'Or now available in English

Coon Come said it was important for the chiefs to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with Val d'Or as the city commits to fight racism head on, something the mayor of Val d'Or appreciates.

"We are talking about a real atmosphere of reconciliation and collaboration," said Corbeil. "If Val d'Or was highlighted by these unfortunate events, we will also be highlighted for these positive initiatives."

Some of the initiatives Corbeil has committed to are the creation of aliaison committee within the municipality and conducting a policy review. The city is also launching diversity campaigns and holding cultural awareness sessions with municipal employees.

In early December, Val d'Or city council also passed a motion calling on the Quebec government to launch a provincial inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Coon Come said this morning that this was the most important action Val d'Or has taken.

"It is only through a provincial judicial inquiry that we will get a true understanding of how deep the problem (of discrimination) runs," said Coon Come. "And where we are going to have to work very hard to root out and attack the cancerous discrimination that keeps us separated."