the First Nations in Québec reaffirm the fundamental principles of peaceful co-existence

Enjoyment of all human rights

Aboriginal Peoples in Québec have the right to the full and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms - both collective and individual - without hindrance or adverse discrimination, as recognized under international and domestic law.

Aboriginal Peoples are each a distinct "people" and "nation", as recognized under international and domestic law. The treaty-making capacity of Aboriginal Peoples is an important aspect and manifestation of their unique status.

Aboriginal Peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Aboriginal Peoples have the right to self-government on their traditional territories, or on lands owned, occupied or otherwise used by them. They have the right to determine their own social, economic, and political institutions and ensure the integrity of their societies and territories.

Aboriginal Peoples have the right to their own self-identity, culture, language, customs, traditions and spirituality.

Aboriginal Peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual and material relationship with the lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used by them, and uphold their responsibilities to present and future generations in this regard.
Aboriginal Peoples have the right to own, develop, control and use the lands and territories, including the total environment of the lands, air, waters, coastal seas, sea-ice, flora and fauna and other resources traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used by them. This includes the full recognition of their laws, traditions, and customs, land tenure systems and institutions for the development and management of resources.
Aboriginal Peoples have the right to hunt, fish, trap, harvest, gather and barter at all times of the year in the areas traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used by them.
Aboriginal Peoples have the right to effective measures by non-Aboriginal governments to prevent any interference with, alienation of or encroachment upon these rights. In no case may Aboriginal Peoples be deprived of their own means of subsistence, which has essential economic, social, cultural and spiritual dimensions.

Aboriginal Peoples have the right to determine their own priorities for the process of development affecting their territories, lands and resources. For such purposes, they may enter into arrangements of revenue-sharing and other means of wealth distribution.
In development planning and activities, the principle of obtaining the free and informed consent of the Aboriginal Peoples concerned shall be respected. The need to safeguard the integrity of the environment for present and future generations, as well as the importance of sustainable and equitable development, are fundamental principles.

Consistent with their unique status, Aboriginal Peoples have the right to enter into treaties on a nation-to-nation basis. The nation-to-nation relationship is based on equality and peaceful co-existence of peoples. Any notions of domination, subjugation or exploitation are rejected.
Where desired by the Aboriginal Peoples concerned, treaty-making shall be recognized as an essential means for ensuring proper recognition and respect for their land, resource and other fundamental rights, and for related arrangements for sharing. Terra nullius and other out-dated doctrines of dispossession shall not be invoked against Aboriginal Peoples or their rights.
Treaty rights of Aboriginal Peoples include those rights recognized in the past, or which may be recognized in the future, by way of agreements on territorial rights. The rights of Aboriginal Peoples in treaties signed outside Canada or prior to Confederation, as well as Aboriginal title, shall receive explicit recognition under Part II of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Aboriginal Peoples have the right freely to determine their own relationships in a spirit of peaceful coexistence, mutual benefit and full respect.

Aboriginal Peoples have the right to participate directly in constitutional review and other decision-making processes that may affect them or their rights. Where Aboriginal Peoples= status, rights or territories are directly affected, any change to the political and constitutional framework in Canada requires the free and informed consent of the Peoples concerned.
In order to further elaborate on their fundamental rights, Aboriginal Peoples shall have access to a constitutional process that guarantees their full and equal participation.

The rights of Aboriginal Peoples, recognized and affirmed in the Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763, have constitutional protection, since the Proclamation is a constitutional instrument.

The federal and Québec governments are committed to ensuring equitable access to financial resources for Aboriginal Peoples for specified fundamental concerns. These include ensuring effective self-government; promoting equality of opportunity; reducing regional disparities; furthering Aboriginal economic initiatives; and providing essential services and community infrastructures of reasonable quality.
Consistent with their status and rights, Aboriginal Peoples have the right to immunity from taxation.

New and emerging international standards relating to the status and rights of Aboriginal Peoples shall be fully considered in negotiating new or revised arrangements with non- Aboriginal governments. The recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples shall also be fully considered.

The fundamental rights of Aboriginal Peoples are collective and individual human rights and are not subject to surrender, extinguishment or other forms of destruction. These rights may be further elaborated, consistent with their recognition and affirmation under Canadian constitutional, international and Aboriginal law.
Existing government policies shall be altered and laws amended, so as to renounce and eliminate any notion or coercive requirement of surrender and extinguishment of the rights of Aboriginal Peoples.

Partnership with non-Aboriginal governments shall be based on the principles of equality and free and informed Aboriginal consent. Unilateral actions by such governments against Aboriginal Peoples are disrespectful of their fundamental status and rights and therefore rejected.

Notions of territorial integrity, non-Aboriginal sovereignty and legislative or regulatory "effectivity" shall not be imposed on Aboriginal Peoples, so as to result in inequality, domination or other forms of colonialism.
In particular, it is reprehensible for non-Aboriginal governments to link the acceptance of the notions of territorial integrity, non-Aboriginal sovereignty and legislative or regulatory "effectivity" to the provision of financial resources to Aboriginal Peoples. Such linkages are especially unacceptable in relation to essential services, community infrastructures and economic development relating to Aboriginal Peoples.