Innu Chiefs and Côte‑Nord Municipalities Renew Partnership

On 30 July the Innu chiefs and elected officials of the Côte‑Nord regional municipalities met at Mani‑utenam to review the 2015 Innu‑Côte‑Nord rapprochement protocol. Both sides affirmed a desire to update the agreement to reflect current realities and to continue joint work on health and social services, education, worker transport, regional de‑isolation, population attraction and retention, and sustainable economic development.

Micheline Anctil, prefect of the MRC of Haute‑Côte‑Nord and interim president of the Assemblée des MRC de la Côte‑Nord, said the partnership "represents a lever for the future of the region". Innu Nation spokesperson Martin Dufour stressed the shared aspirations of the Nitassinan peoples and the municipalities. The protocol will be refreshed while preserving recognition of Innu ancestral and treaty rights and the right to self‑determination. The meeting also honoured former chief René Simon of Pessamit, who will not seek re‑election in the 2026 leadership vote.