Eeyou Istchee James Bay


Eeyou Istchee James Bay is a local municipality in the Jamésie in administrative region of Nord-du-Québec. Located to the east of James Bay, Eeyou Istchee James Bay covers of land, making it the largest incorporated municipality in Canada — only eight unorganized territories are larger. Its territory covers almost entirely the Equivalent territory of Jamésie.
The hydroelectric power plants of the La Grande Complex are all located within the municipal boundaries of Eeyou Istchee James Bay, making the municipality strategically important to Quebec's energy policy. Other important economic sectors are mining, softwood logging, forestry, and tourism.
WWW greibj-eijbrg.com

History

The municipality of Baie-James was created in 1971 and was run by the board of directors of the Société de développement de la Baie James. It managed the territory of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement between the 49th and 55th parallel, with the exception of the Cree Category 1 lands and the enclaves of Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Matagami.
In December 2001, the municipal council was reformed. It became a municipality of a special type directed by the mayors of the four enclave towns, as well as the chairpersons of the local community councils of Radisson, Valcanton and Villebois. An eighth seat was reserved for a representative coming from the non-urban territory. The municipality gained additional authority and could exert certain powers as a regional county.
On July 24, 2012, the Quebec government signed an accord with the Cree which resulted in the replacement of the municipality of Baie-James by the municipality of Eeyou Istchee James Bay. The agreement came into force on January 1, 2014, and is designed to give the Cree expanded powers over lands and resources outside of the Cree municipalities and associated reserved land. The new government consist of Cree and Baie-James residents each having an equal number of votes within the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government.

Geography

Eeyou Istchee James Bay, extends from the eastern shore of James Bay to the Otish Mountains of the Laurentian Plateau, its mainly composed of the boreal forest. The municipality comprises all lands of Jamésie minus the four municipalities of Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Chapais, and Matagami. However, the territory includes four unconstituted localities :

Demographics

The language statistics are as follows : 48% of Eeyou Istchee James Bay speak French as their first language, 9% speak English as their first language, 0.2% speak both French and English as a first language and 34% have a different first language

Government

Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government is the administrative body in charge of Eeyou Istchee James Bay. It is the largest country third-level subdivision by land area worldwide.
The Regional government covers a territory comprising all lands of Jamésie minus the four local municipalities — also known as the enclosed municipalities' — of Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Chapais, and Matagami, and eight of the nine Cree communities of Eeyou Istchee TE.
However, the territory includes four unconstituted localities :

Composition & local governance

Local governance is carried out by way of the council of regional government, which for its first ten years is to be composed of 11 Cree representatives, 11 Jamésien representatives, and one non-voting representative of the government of Québec. The Cree representatives consist of the Grand Chief of the Cree Nation Government and then ten members appointed by the Board of the Cree Nation Government from within its own ranks. The Jamésien representatives consist of members of the local municipal councils of Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, and Matagami as well as non-Crees in the Eeyout Istchee James Bay Territory and are appointed by the provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy. Finally, the non-voting representative of the government of Quebec is appointed by the Deputy Minister of the Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire from amongst its staff.

Current composition

Chairperson: Mandy Gull-Masty
Cree representatives are:
  • Norman A. Wapachee
  • Christina Gilpin
  • Gaston Cooper
  • Clarke Shecapio
  • Raymond Shanoush
  • Daisy House
  • Robbie Kawapit
  • Irene Neeposh
  • Michael Petawabano
  • Clarence Jolly
Jamésien representatives are:
  • Manon Cyr
  • René Dubé
  • Guy Lafrenière
  • Denis Lemoyne
  • André Elliot
  • Alain Poirier
  • Jacques Fortin
  • Luc Michaud
  • Claudine Desgagnés
  • Sébastien Lebrun
  • Jonathan Mattson
Government of Québec representative: Philippe Boivin

Regional governance

The enclaved settlements are not under the jurisdiction of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government unless an enclaved settlement, by a unanimous vote of its local council, requests partnership with the regional government. In that instance, the territorial regional government may carry out the powers of a regional county municipality.

Provincial & federal representation

Eeyou Istchee James Bay forms part of the federal electoral district of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou and has been represented by Mandy Gull-Masty of the Liberal since 2025. Provincially, Eeyou Istchee James Bay is part of the Ungava electoral district and is represented by Denis Lamothe of the Coalition Avenir Québec since 2018.

Infrastructure

The primary roads to and within Baie-James are:
Air transportation is through the La Grande Rivière Airport near Radisson, which provides scheduled air service to Montreal and Puvirnituq.