Ghislain Picard, the outgoing regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, is stepping down after more than 30 years of dedicated service. Born in the Innu community of Pessamit on the St. Lawrence River's north shore, Picard has spent his career tirelessly advocating for Indigenous rights in Quebec. At 69, he has decided to retire, believing he has accomplished all he could in his role.
Throughout his tenure, Picard has been a vocal critic of the Quebec government's handling of Indigenous issues. He has seen both progress and setbacks in the fight for Indigenous rights and has witnessed key moments that have shaped his career. As Canada faces potential economic challenges, Picard warns that Indigenous matters risk being sidelined.
“It seems like when the going gets tough, then Indigenous issues seem to easily … be placed on the back burner,” – Ghislain Picard
Picard's career began in the 1980s when he helped establish community radio stations featuring Indigenous language programming. His leadership abilities were recognized early on when he was named vice-president of the Conseil Atikamekw Montagnais in 1989. Over the years, he has been at the forefront of many battles to advance Indigenous rights.
Picard acknowledges Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's initial commitment to Indigenous peoples when he assumed office in 2015. However, he expresses concern over the diminishing focus on these issues in recent years.
“Certainly, it’s more inspiring than the relationship that we’ve been accustomed to.” – Ghislain Picard
Picard remains optimistic about the progress made over the past three decades. He believes that Indigenous issues have become more prominent and unavoidable.
“I think, very humbly, that maybe the biggest achievement would be … that Indigenous issues now are not so easily avoidable,” – Ghislain Picard
Despite this progress, Picard emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and dedication to securing a place for Indigenous peoples in Canadian society.
“We just have to keep reminding ourselves that we need to stay the course, and we need to stay alert.” – Ghislain Picard
His tenure has not been without challenges. Picard has opposed significant energy projects such as the Energy East oil pipeline and a major LNG project rejected by Quebec in 2021. He believes First Nations should have a voice and role in new energy developments.
“They don’t provide us any kind of feeling that they can be trusted.” – Ghislain Picard
Picard's commitment to Indigenous rights extends beyond policy and governance. His work with community radio stations highlights his dedication to preserving Indigenous languages and cultures.
