'He was a visionary': Inuit leader remembered in Northern Quebec

RobbieTookalook, an Inuit leader who was instrumental in the signing of the 1975James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreementis being remembered as one of the pillars of modern-dayNunavik.

Tookalookdied on Oct. 4,in his homevillage ofUmiujaq,on Hudson Bay.

''It was important for him to die in the north,'' said his friend Sen. Charlie Watt, who visitedTookalooka few weeks before his death.

Watt said even in hisfinal days,the 73-year-old wanted to discuss elements of the James Baytreatythat have not yet been implemented.

''That'sRobbiefor you,'' said Watt, describing him as a person who was fully committed to any issue he took on.

Defining Canadian history

TheJames Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement was the first majorland-claims agreement in Canada.

In addition to providing financial compensation for Cree and Inuit communitiesaffectedbythe massive James Bay hydroelectric development project,it defined future relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments.

Watt remembers meetingTookalookin the early1970sinInukjuak, Que.,during the firstlegal challenge to the hydroelectric project.

Watt said hewas amazed byTookalook'sability to handle himself in a bureaucraticlegal setting, an environment that stoodin such stark contrast tohis northern community.

''He was quite energetic, active and tried his best to represent his people,'' said Watt.''He is going to missed by a lot of us.''

For more than two decades,Tookalookwas a board member ofMakivikCorporation,the administrative body that now represents theNunavikInuit.

Makivik'scommunicationsco-ordinator,WilliamTagoona, whoalso metTookalookin the1970s, remembers his dedication to Indigenous peoples.

''He knewwe were being left behind, put into a corner, and he wanted to get out of that. And the only way was to speak up for yourself,'' saidTagoona.

Both men weresent to residential schools, an experience thatshapedTookalook'scommitment to Indigenous rights, saidTagoona.

• 'Reconciliation in action': Quebec Cree leaders sign governance, funding agreement with Ottawa

• Cree Nation closer to self-governance, greater control over lands with new agreement

''What it really taught us was to fight for what you need, to fight for what you saw was injustice.''

TagoonasaidTookalookwas overjoyed when his daughterLouisadefeated him in an election for a seat on the board of directors ofMakivik.

She also succeeded him as mayor ofUmiujaq.

''He was a firm believer in the next generation taking over,'' saidTagoona.

Tributes pour in for 'leader, teacher'

MakivikCorporation posted a tribute toTookalookon itsFacebookpage, describing him as ''agreat leader fromUmiujaq,"the village he helped build in the1980s.

Tagoonasaid he was moved to see hundreds of people respond to the post, which goes on toread,''He said it seems like he spent his whole life in politics but adds he liked the life of a hunter the most.''

Tagoonasaid this was fundamental toTookalook'slife's work.