Our leaders and particularly our elders, had grown increasingly concerned about the future for the Cree Youth, and consequently of the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee.

• In 1985, the International Year for Youth, our political leaders at the Grand Council/ Cree Regional Authority took action to address this growing concern;
• The Grand Council formally initiated a process that was to lead to the opportunity for full integration and involvement of Youth in the political processes and decisions that affect them.

The

Grand Council of the Cree/ Cree Regional Authority funded the first Cree Youth Conference, held on August 14 to 16, 1985. Forty-Five (45) delegates from the nine (9) Cree communities attended and discussed -

• Education, traditional pursuits, economic development, culture, treaties and agreements, Cree government and relationship with other native groups;
• Highlight - The request to create the Cree Regional Youth Council and have it serve as a "training camp for future Cree Leaders"

The delegates adopted (GCCEI) members Res no: (178/87) and CRA members Res. No: (162/87) to mandate the council of the Cree Regional Authority to immediately establish the planning and development of a Youth Department.

A Task Force established and funded by the Grand Council of the Cree recommended:

• The creation of a Youth Department within the Cree Regional Authority, fully dedicated to addressing the Youth issues; further, the objective, structures, and implementation of the new Department would involve the Youth directly,
• Each community should have its own Youth Council, in accordance with objectives and structures determined by the Youth in each community.

A committee with a Youth representative from each community was established with a mandate to develop a recommended appropriate objectives and structures for the proposed Youth Department.

The Committee recommended the terms of reference for:

• The proposed Youth Department; and,
• The Cree Regional Youth Council first requested at the Annual Conference on Youth, in 1985. The committee fully supported the original goal that the Youth Council serve as a "training camp for future Cree Leaders";

Cree Nation Youth Council (CNYC) of Eeyou Istchee is established as a consultative organization under the umbrella of the GCCEI/CRA

Signing of the financial agreement with the Government of Quebec giving the responsibility of managing the RYIF to the CNYC.