Cree Nation Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come not vying for re-election

After 40 years ofpublic life, Matthew Coon Come, the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec, has announced via social media that he will not be seeking re-election later this summer.

"On behalf of my family, l want to thank our Cree people of Eeyou Istchee for giving me the privilege and honour to represent our Cree Nation for this long," Coon Come wrote in a short statement Tuesday.

He said just to be nominated for public office is "a great honour."

"My God, continue to bless our [Cree]Nation," he wrote.

More than 30 of his years in Indigenous politics have been with the Cree Nation, first as a bandcouncillorand chief in his home community ofMistissini, Que., and most recently as the Grand Chief ofthe Grand Council of theCrees.

Coon Come was the driving force behind the provincial inquiry into the treatment of Indigenous people, after widespread allegations of abuse by police in and aroundVal-d'Or, Que.,came to light in 2015.

The inquiry on how Quebec treats Indigenous people began inVal-d'Or earlier this week.

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"It has been aprivilegeand a great honour to have sat by your sidethroughoutthe unprecedented battle for true justice for the Indigenous Women ofVal-d'Or, our Sisters," wrote EdithCloutier, the executive director for the Vald'OrNative Friendship Centre, to Chief Coon Come.

"Your leadership and political couragehas contributed to the healing journey for each one of those strong women. You are an artisan of reconciliation, a great leader and a good man."

'Leadership means sacrifice'

Coon Comewas first elected Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees and Chairman of the Cree Regional Authority in 1987.

As Grand Chief in the early 1990s, Coon Come was a key figure in a successful campaign to stop the second phase of the James Bay hydroelectric project. The development would have flooded Cree and Inuit territory along the Great Whale River near the communities ofWhapmagoostuiandKuujjuarapik.

"We are the victims of environmental racism," Coon Come said at the time, as 60 Inuit and Cree from Northern Quebec set outto paddle a canoe-kayak hybrid known as the Odeyakinto New York City to protest the project.

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In 1994, Coon Come was awarded the Goldman Environment Prizefor those efforts.

Another of Coon Come's more recent accomplishments is the creation of theEeyouIstchee-JamesBay Regional Government, which saw the establishment of a jointCree-Jamesiangovernment and gave Cree more control over areas near their communities, known as category 2 and 3 lands.

"You gave your heart to the people and dedicated your life toEeyouIstchee," wrote VirginiaWabano, former president of the Cree Women ofEeyouIstcheeAssociation, in response to Coon Come's announcement. "You gave up many opportunities and many aspects of your personal life...'Leadership means sacrifice:'Your sacrifice is acknowledged and appreciated.MeegwetchGrand Chief."

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During his last months in office, Coon Comealso pushed for the ratification of a draft governance agreement and a constitution for the Cree Nation, documents which need the approval of the Quebec and federal governments.