Jean-François Arteau, Ad.E.

jfarteau@kesserwan.com
514 807-2213 #2

Advocatus Emeritus, Jean-François Arteau is a member of the Barreau du Québec. He obtained his Baccalaureate and his Master of Laws from the University of Montreal.

Me Arteau notably acted as the Assistant Director General and Director of the Legal Department of the Kativik Regional Government and then as the Legal Advisor and Executive Assistant to the President of Makivik Corporation. These positions allowed him to play a key-role in the development of policies and strategies that had a substantial impact on Inuit communities and at the international level for nearly fifteen years (1998 to 2012).

From 2012 to 2015, he was Vice-President of Housing Development with the Quebec Housing Corporation and later Special Advisor to the Associate Secretary General of the Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat of the Government of Quebec.

Me Arteau has developed policies on environmental issues, climate change impacts on the Inuit way of life, and on access to natural resources of the region. These policies helped Inuit leaders to make sound decisions and to implement innovative initiatives and programs to adequately meet the challenges and priorities of Nunavik Inuit.

He was also Chief Negotiator for the Sanarrutik Agreement and Assistant Chief Negotiator for the creation of a Nunavik Regional Government that has inspired different Quebec Aboriginal Groups in the pursuit of their own self-determination.

His remarkable social involvement has enhanced the situation of the Nunavik Inuit, in a world in perpetual change. The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have recognized his exemplary work.

Jean-François Arteau is an international expert on Arctic issues. His close collaboration with the  Henry Jackson School of International Studies of the University of Washington in Seattle is a good example.

He has received numerous awards, namely the “Bourse Victorin-Germain and Alphonse-Marie Parent » for academic excellence. He is also Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. In 2013, he was awarded the prestigious Mérite du Barreau.

Me Arteau is a well-known author and speaker. 

Publications

  • "Quebec's Arctic Policy?", To be published
  • "Plan Nunavik: Past, Present and Future", Makivik Corporation (2010)
  • "Le Nunavik: région à découvrir" in Horizon Rural, Secrétariat rural, Agriculture et agro-alimentaire Canada (2010)
  • "Le froid, le droit, les Inuit", in Bulletin de droit municipal (August 1998)
  • "Les aspects juridiques de la communication municipale" in Guide québécois de la communication municipale
  • "L’expérience canadienne des aspects juridiques de la communication municipale" dans Legicom, revue européenne du droit de la communication

Conférences

  • "Québec Policy on the Arctic: Challenges and Perspectives", Thomson Hall, University of Washington, USA (May 2015)
  • "Nunavik and Homeownership Program", National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), Nashville Tennessee, USA (October 2012)
  • Presentation on the Plan Nunavik as part of an IGF meeting entitled “Le Plan Nord: pour un Québec prospère", IGF Hilton Quebec, Quebec, Canada (December 2011)
  • "Présentation sur le Nunavik et le Plan Nunavik", Consulate General of France in Quebec, Quebec, Canada (November 2011)
  • "The Inuit of Nunavik, Northern Quebec, Canada – Challenges, Aspirations, Economic Development", Conference Board of Canada – Canada’s North Beyond 2011, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (October 2011)
  • "The Arctic in Transition – Nunavik Inuit, Québec, Canada – Issues, Challenges and Priorities", International Conference The Arctic in Transition: Regional Issues and Geopolitics, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada (October 2011)
  • "Our Ice Dependent World – Impact and Challenges for the Inuit of Nunavik, Arctic Quebec, Canada",  6th Open Assembly of the Northern Research Forum, Hveragerdi, Iceland (September 2011)
  • "The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement – Inuit of Nunavik: Challenges and Successes", Conference Board of Canada Centre for the North Roundtable Meeting, held in Radisson, Quebec, Canada (May 2011)
  • "The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement – Inuit of Nunavik: Challenges and Successes", 2011 Aboriginal Law Conference, The Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba (April 2011)
  • "Successes, Challenges, Innovation - The Road to the Creation of an Autonomous Public Government in Nunavik", Third Akureyri Symposium on Polar Law – Human Rights and Good Governance, Akureyri, Iceland (September 2010)
  • "Création du Gouvernement régional du Nunavik. Un monde en changement – Défis et succès", Forum Autochtone organized by Insight and relating to Territory, Economy, Society and Culture,  Quebec, Canada (March 2010)
  • "Les Inuit du Nunavik – un monde en changement: défis et succès", Canadian Embassy, Paris, France (March 2010)
  • "Igloos to the Internet: Inuit in the 21st Century", Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, USA (Spring 2010)
  • "Canada’s Sovereignty in the Arctic: an Inuit Perspective", Canadian Studies Centre (June 2010)
  • "Création d’un gouvernement autonome du Nunavik", Cree and Inuit of Northern Quebec – Territory, Economy, Society and Culture, Université d’Angers, France (October 2009)
  • "Creation of an Autonomous Government in Nunavik, Québec, Canada", National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, Netherlands (October 2009)
  • "Accord jalon pour une nouvelle forme de gouvernement au Nunavik", United Nations, New York (May 2009)
  • "Les enjeux du développement durable dans le Nord", Centre d’Études Nordiques, Université Laval (January 2006)
  • "The Inuit of Nunavik: Perspective on Self-Government", Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (January 2005)
  • "The Inuit of Nunavik: Perspective on Self-Government", Harvard University (January 2005)
  • Expert Meeting: The Arctic in Motion. Territory, Economy, Society and Culture of the Nunavut and Nunavik Inuit 
  • Northern Sovereignty and Political Geography in North America Workshop, Washington DC, USA