Signature of the Paix des Braves with the Crees on February 7, 2002
Seated on the left in the foreground is Bernard Landry, Québec Premier at the time, and next to him, Ted Moses, then Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees of Québec.

In the Agreement concerning a new relationship between the Gouvernement du Québec and the Crees of Québec (also known as the "Paix des Braves"), signed on February 7, 2002, the Crees agreed in principle to construction of the project, subject to the conditions in the Boumhounan Agreement, as well as compliance with applicable legislation and the environmental and social protection regime under section 22 of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement.

Details of the project design and construction are covered in the Boumhounan Agreement signed by the Québec Crees, Hydro-Québec and Société d'énergie de la Baie James. The Cree communities of Mistissini, Nemaska, Waskaganish, Eastmain, Wemindji and Chisasibi actively participated in the project-related environmental and technical studies through the Cree–Hydro-Québec Feasibility Study Group. Cree traditional knowledge and their knowledge of the land thus played a major role in data collection and interpretation.

Commonly known as the Boumhounan Committee, the Cree–Hydro-Québec Feasibility Study Group was created in 2002 to circulate project information and promote discussion with the Crees. The Committee participated in the data collection protocols and in the environmental and technical field surveys. Composed of six Cree members and four SEBJ and Hydro-Québec members, the Committee has held 21 meetings and organized more than 25 workshops and information and discussion panels.

Created under an agreement between the Niskamoon Corporation, Hydro-Québec and the Société d'énergie de la Baie James, the Follow-Up Committee will be continuing the work undertaken by the Boumhounan Committee, whose role was to promote discussion with the Crees during the draft-design phase of the project.

The Follow-Up Committee is made up of members from Hydro-Québec, SEBJ and the Niskamoon Corporation, as well as representatives from the Cree communities of Mistissini, Nemaska, Wemindji, Chisasibi, Waskaganish and Eastmain. The Committee's mandate is to

Niskamoon Corporation Over the past few years, Hydro-Québec and the Crees have signed a number of agreements relating to hydropower development in James Bay. The Niskamoon Corporation brings together the various administrative entities that have stemmed from these agreements, with a view to providing a framework for effective cooperation between the Crees and Hydro-Québec, and to facilitate access to the measures, resources and programs set up for the Cree people and their communities. Read more

• coordinate support for trappers and tallymen throughout the project;
• circulate information in the communities regarding Hydro-Québec's project-related studies and programs;
• act as a forum to ensure that Cree representatives participate in discussions concerning environmental issues that are important to the Crees;
• provide feedback on planned mitigation measures and inform the communities about them.

The Cree–Hydro-Québec Follow-up Committee will use a number of methods to circulate information and encourage discussion, including the following:

• Meetings with Cree land users directly affected by the project
• Public information sessions in the communities
• Publication of the Boumhounan Newsletter three times a year (first issue published in August 2007)
• Radio broadcasts
• Representatives of the Cree communities on the Committee

The Cree–Hydro-Québec Follow-up Committee will meet once a month throughout the project construction phase. The Committee's secretariat will be in the Société d'énergie de la Baie James offices in Montréal.

For information about the Committee and its operations, call 514 286-2020, extension 2022 or write to: tellier.helene.3@hydro.qc.ca.

Marie-Hélène Côté Technical Assistant Environment, SEBJ	Réal Courcelles Advisor Aboriginal Relations, HQ	Martin Desgagné Advisor Aboriginal Affairs and Follow-Up, HQ
Réjean Gagnon Project Manager Environment, SEBJ	Philippe Mora Project Administrator Environment and Agreements, SEBJ	Sandie Poliquin Advisor Environment, HQ
André Tessier Advisor Environment, HQ

Marc Dunn Niskamoon Corporation	René Dion Niskamoon Corporation	Sammy Blackned Wemindji
Edward Gilpin Eastmain	Ryan Erless Waskaganish	Lawrence Jimiken Nemaska
Wilbert Shecapio Mistissini	Robbie Tapiatic Chisasibi

Hélène Tellier Advisor Agreements Management, SEBJ