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Regional Circles

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  • Regional Circles
  • Great Gathering 2023 – March 2023
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From March 22 to 24, 2023, the community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and the City of Gatineau are inviting the chiefs of Indigenous peoples and the mayors of Quebec municipalities to attend the 2023 Great Gathering, an event that merges the 3rd Summit of First Nations and Municipalities with the 3rd Economic Circle of Indigenous Peoples.

 

Participate

The event is intended for chiefs of Indigenous peoples and mayors, as well as economic development representatives of Indigenous peoples and municipalities.

The event is by invitation only. Those invited will receive a letter containing all the information to register for the event and for accommodations.

The 2023 Great Gathering will take place at the Maison du Citoyen in Gatineau from March 22 to 24, 2023.

25, rue Laurier, Gatineau (Québec) J8X 4C8

 

See | Download the Participant’s Guide

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  • Wednesday, March 22

    Welcoming of participants starting from 1 pm.
    Formal activities starting at 4 pm.
    Official banquet held in the evening.
    This day is reserved for Indigenous chiefs and mayors. They may be replaced by a person duly identified for this purpose (vice-chief or vice-mayor).

    4:00 p.m.

    Opening ceremony of the event

    5:00 p.m.

    Welcoming cocktail

    6:00 p.m.

    Official banquet

    8:00 p.m.

    Movie night

    10:00 p.m.

    End of the activities

  • Thursday, March 23

    This entire day is dedicated to discussion circles and conferences. The goal is to inspire participants by showing them examples of projects carried out jointly by Indigenous communities and municipalities in different sectors. Various themes will be addressed, including governance, housing, the environment and sustainable development, the promotion of Indigenous culture and the protection of language.
    This day is reserved for Indigenous chiefs and mayors. They may be replaced by a person duly identified for this purpose (vice-chief or vice-mayor).

    7:00 a.m.

    Sunrise ceremony

    Canadian Museum of History

    7:30-8:30 a.m.

    Continental breakfast

    8:30-9:00 a.m.

    Review of previous summits and objectives

    • Ms. Valérie Plante, mayor of Montreal
    • Chief Ghislain Picard, Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador
    • Ms. Catherine Vallières-Roland, deputy mayor, Quebec City
    • Grand chief Rémy Vincent, Conseil de la Nation huronne-wendat
    • Ms. France Bélisle, mayor of Gatineau
    • Chief Dylan Whiteduck

    9:15-10:00 a.m.

    Explaining the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

    Discussion moderated by Ms. Marie-Ève L. Bordeleau, master of ceremonies

    • Ms. Élisabeth Patterson, Dionne Schulze
    • Ms. Alia Hassan-Cournol, associate advisor to the Mayor, Indigenous reconciliation and international affairs, City of Montreal
    • Ms. France Bélisle, mayor of Gatineau 

    10:00-10:30 a.m.

    Coffee break and networking

    10:30-11:15 a.m.

    Panel on municipal public structures and Indigenous peoples

    Discussion moderated by Ms. Marie-Ève L. Bordeleau, master of ceremonies

    • Mr. Alexandre Bacon, President, Institut Ashukan
    • Mr. Guy Chiasson, Professor of political science and regional development, Université du Québec en Outaouais

    11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

    Discussion circle – Reconciliation in common

    Discussion moderated by Mr. Daniel Feeny, Gatineau city hall

    • Mr. Daniel Côté, President of the Union des municipalités du Québec, prefect of the Côte-de-Gaspé RCM and mayor of Gaspé
    • Chief Terry Shaw, Mi’gmaq community of Gespeg
    • Mr. Serge Bergeron, Mayor of Roberval
    • Chief Gilbert Dominique, Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan (Mashteuiatsh)

    12:00-1:30 p.m.

    Lunch conference – Female leadership: What if reconciliation were to go through women?

    Discussion moderated by Ms. Marie-Ève L. Bordeleau, master of ceremonies

    • Senator Michèle Audette 
    • Grand Chief Savanna McGregor, Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council 
    • Ms. France Bélisle, mayor of Gatineau 
    • Ms. Chantal Lamarche, prefect of the MRC Vallée-de-la-Gatineau
    • Ms. Manon Cyr, mayor of Chibougamau  

    1:45-2:45 p.m.

    Discussion circle on housing – Common issues and success stories

    Discussion moderated by Ms. Marie-Ève L. Bordeleau, master of ceremonies

    • Ms. Adrienne Jérôme, former Chief of the Conseil de la Nation Anishnabe du Lac Simon 
    • Mr. Guy Latouche, Advisor, Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador 
    • Mr. Laurent Odjick, Director, Société immobilière du Regroupement des centres d’amitié autochtones du Québec 
    • Ms. Alexandra Ambroise, coordinator, Mitshuap Raphaël-Napa-André 
    • Ms. Céline Brindamour, mayor of Val-d’Or 

    3:15-4:30 p.m.

    Presentation on Identification First Nations

    • Mr. Mickel Robertson, Director General, First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission 
    • Ms. Aroussen Gros-Louis, wendat multidisciplinar artist

    3:15-4:30 p.m.

    Promotion of Indigenous culture... authenticity and diversity

    • Mr. Dave Laveau, Executive Director, Indigenous Tourism Quebec
    • Mr. Martin Soucy, Chief executive officer, Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec

    4:30-5:00 p.m.

    Review of the day and commitments

    6:00-8:00 p.m.

    Networking cocktail presented by Tourisme Outaouais

  • Friday, March 24

    This day is focused on economic development with a program featuring discussion circles interspersed with periods of exchanges and networking. Various success factors allowing for the realization of joint projects will be presented through the themes of economic development, Indigenous tourism and employment and training.
    This day is open to Indigenous economic development officers (EDOs)*, economic development representatives of municipalities*, chiefs of Indigenous Peoples and mayors.

    *One representative only per community or municipality.

    7:00 a.m.

    Sunrise ceremony

    Canadian Museum of History

    7:30-8:30 a.m.

    Continental breakfast

    8:30 a.m.

    Opening speech

    9:00-9:45 a.m.

    Discussion circle – Municipal economic development structures and Indigenous Peoples

    Discussion moderated by Ms. Chantal Hamelin, Director General, Secretariat to the Cree Nation Abitibi-Témiscamingue Economic Alliance

     

    • Mr. Mickel Robertson, Director General, First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission  
    • Mr. Ken Rock, Executive Director, Société de développement économique Uashat mak Mani-Utenam  
    • Mr. Vincent Lecorne, Director General, Association des professionnels en développement économique du Québec  

    9:45 am

    Discussion circle – Indigenous tourism, a tool for rapprochement

    Discussion moderated by Ms. Michelle Picard, Account Manager, Native Commercial Credit Corporation and member of Quebec Indigenous Tourism board of directors

     

    • Mr. Dave Laveau, Executive Director, Indigenous Tourism Quebec
    • Ms. Julie Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer, Outaouais Tourism
    • Mr. Marc Plourde, Vice-President, Partnerships Relations, Quebec Outfitters Federation

    10:30-10:45 a.m.

    Health break

    10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

    Visit of the Kiosk and Networking Zone presented by BDC and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

    12:00-1:00 p.m.

    Networking lunch presented by First Nations Executive Education (HEC Montréal)

    1:00-2:00 p.m.

    Discussion circle – Environment and sustainable development and structuring projects

    Discussion moderated by Ms. Marie-Ève L. Bordeleau, master of ceremonies

    • Chief Lance Haymond, Kebaowek First Nation
    • Ms. Claire Bolduc, Prefect of the Témiscamingue RCM
    • Grand Chief Jacques Tremblay, Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk
    • Mr. Michel Lagacé, Prefect of the Rivière-du-Loup RCM

    2:00-3:00 p.m.

    Discussion circle – Prosperity for all through First Peoples’ innovation

    Discussion moderated by Mr. Dave Sergerie, Strategic Advisor, First Nations Human Resources Development Commission of Quebec (FNHRDCQ)

    • Ms. Wanda Lafontaine, Employability Partnerships Representative, First Nations Human Resources Development Commission of Quebec (FNHRDCQ)
    • Mr. Alexandre Bacon, member of the Board of Directors, First Peoples Innovation Centre
    • Mr. Sheldon MacGillivray, Centre Director of Maniwaki Continuing Education, Rapid Lake School, and Val-d’Or Continuing Education within the WQSB

    3:00 p.m.

    Commitments

    3:30 p.m.

    Circle transfer ceremony

    • Chief Dylan Whiteduck, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
    • Representative of the next host community

    4:00 p.m.

    Closing remarks

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Click here to see the full program

Consult our FAQ

Contact

If you have any questions regarding the event, we invite you to contact:

Indigenous elected officials and economic development representatives

Ms. Marie-Christine Tremblay
418-843-1488 ext. 1225
mtremblay@cdepnql.org

Municipal elected officials and municipal economic development representatives

Ms. Mathée Warnett
819 243-2345 ext. 7127
warnett.mathee@gatineau.ca