2001 in Nunavik: a year of decision

The story of the year in Nunavik was the public release of the Nunavik Commission’s recommendations on a new self-government deal with the province of Quebec.

The Makivik Corporation’s decision to accept the report and forge ahead with fast-tracked negotiations means that someday soon, the people of Nunavut will face tough decisions in redefining their relationship with Quebec.

January

* The surprise resignation of Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard leaves Nunavimmiut with some good memories and more than a few worries about what their future holds. Bouchard expresses a growing desire to spend more time with his wife, Audrey, and his two sons, aged 9 and 11.
* Kuujjuaq resident Johnny Angnatuk, 40, a municipal sewage truck driver, dies at the Montreal General Hospital. According to the Surêté du Québec’s major crime squad, a dispute over alcohol sparked the fatal incident that leads to his death. Charged in conjunction with Angnatuk’s death are his son, Bobby Angnatuk, and Gary Makiuk.

February

* Quebec Native Affairs Minister Guy Chevrette heads to Europe to show the Parti Québécois’s sovereignist policies haven’t alienated all native peoples in the province.Along for the all-expenses-paid trip are Makivik Corporation’s president, Pita Aatami, and its corporate treasurer, Anthony Ittoshat, as well as Simon Awawish of the Attikamek community of Obedjiwan, and Clifford Moar, chief of the Innu community of Mashteuiatsh.
Aatami says he isn’t worried about observers reading too much into his presence on this jaunt. He says he doesn’t feel like he’s being “used” to promote Quebec’s sovereignty agenda.
* While IMAX movies usually generate a torrent of breathtaking and memorable images, the premiere of “The Great North” bombs.
“The Great North” was supposed to be a movie about the one million caribou that roam Nunavik. Instead, it mixes a story about caribou with trite, out-of-date material about Inuit and some good footage of reindeer-herding Sami.

March

* Annie Popert, one of three Inuit commissioners on the Nunavik Commission, goes public with her misgivings over the commission and its recommendations for a new regional government. “I feel very worried about our future. What I’d like is for the people to become aware of the political implications of the Nunavik government,” Popert says. “It’s to let people know we have to be very, very careful.”
* The First People’s Business Association holds its 4th Mishtapew Awards of Excellence Gala in Montreal.
* Nunavik Arctic Foods receives the “Agri-food Award.” A subsidiary of Makivik Corporation, Nunavik Arctic Foods produces smoked caribou, caribou bourguignon, pâtés, and sausages. The “Natural Resources Award” is given to Puvirnituq’s Pitsituuq Smoke Plant Inc. Also among the finalists are Avataq’s Inuit Herbal Teas and the Keewatin Meat and Fish Ltd.
* During her weeklong stay in Nunavik, Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson and her entourage attend several community feasts, go to church, listen to throat singers, visit soapstone carvers, and even try their hand at ice fishing and skidooing. They spend one night in an igloo.
* A marathon meeting in Salluit produces a plan to ease the community’s growing pains. The action plan buys some urgently needed time, so Salluit won’t run out of fuel. Its measures will protect the community’s tank farm, which lies at the foot of an avalanche-prone slope, while a committee looks for a solution to Salluit’s future needs for more space.
* On March 20, in Kuujjuaq, Thomas Suppa Angnatuk dies of a stab wound to his heart. Martha Annanack, a translator at Kuujjuaq’s Tulattavik Hospital and a local union activist, is charged with first-degree murder in his death.
* Nunavik’s largest and most politically-charged event, the annual general meeting of Makivik Corporation, starts up in Kuujjuaraapik.
Among updates on bread-and-butter issues, such as housing, unsettled claims, marine infrastructure, and reports from youth and wildlife researchers, is the long-awaited tabling of the Nunavik Commission’s recommendations for a new regional government in Nunavik. Dissident commissioner Annie Popert is ostracized by other commission members.
* Nunavut leaders also visit Makivik’s annual AGM. Veiled in the expected exchange of pleasantries and gifts is a warning to Makivik, to drop its offshore claim to the Davis Strait and stop eyeing Nunavut’s turbot quota.
* Nunavut’s premier Paul Okalik tells those at the Makivik meeting there are “no problems with your traditional use” of the Davis Strait region.

April

* The Ivakkak dogteam race steams to the finish line. Nine teams of Inuit dog mushers race over sea ice and overland from Umiujaq to Puvirnituq, a distance of 440 kilometers along the Hudson’s Bay coast, using the traditional fan style on teams with between six to 12 dogs.
Competing for the Ivakkak Cup, a silver trophy, and a variety of other prizes are: Johnny May Jr, Charlie Watt Jr, Masiu Nassak, Adamie Qumak, Nutaraaluk Iyaituk, Lucassie Alayco, Tamusi Sivuaraapik, Charlie Inukpak, and Adamie Inukpak. Sivuaraapik, 59, from Puvirnituq wins the race.
* The Nunavik Commission’s long-awaited report on the region’s future government is now public.
The 100-page report, Amiqqaaluta, or Let us share: Mapping the road to a government for Nunavik, is tabled at Makivik meeting in Kuujjuaraapik.
Its recommendations for more decision-making in the region are supposed to tackle the region’s social and economic problems, because “the way to solve many of these problems is related to the establishment of a new government.”
The report makes a giant detour around the political landmines of Quebec, and doesn’t, for instance, spell out how Quebec’s sovereignty could affect a Nunavik government, or try to answer the concerns of neigbouring native peoples.
* Hunters and trappers in Nunavik come up with their own management proposal for beluga.
At a meeting in Kuujjuaq, they ask officials from the federal department of fisheries and oceans to leave, so they can develop their own proposal for a new beluga management plan for Nunavik.
According to the new proposal, Nunavik’s total beluga harvest will increase to 370 animals, a figure much closer to the actual hunt in recent years, where hunters have consistently gone over-quota.
* Quebec’s minister of child and family welfare Linda Goupil and KRG chairman Johnny Adams are to sign an agreement transferring powers for daycare services to the KRG in Kangiqsualujjuaq.
Under the terms of the four-year deal the KRG will oversee daycare centre permits, inspect daycares, process complaints and look after technical and professional support for daycare centres.

May

* Teachers with the Kativik School Board have given their union a mandate to strike if their demands aren’t met. “They voted nearly 90 per cent in favour of a strike. We would do this after the beginning of the next school year,” says Marcel Duplessis, president of the Northern Quebec Teaching Association. With a turn-out of 87 per cent, members vote 88 per cent in favour of a strike.
Negotiations toward a new deal have stalled over disagreement about who will pay for retention bonuses, travel benefits for locally hired teachers, and the need for additional support resources in schools.

June

* Quebec’s liquor board, the Société des alcools du Québec, tightens up on its free-and-easy access to booze over the Internet.
* Quebec’s cabinet approves a plan to demolish the remains of the gym of the Satuumavik Gym in Kangiqsualujjuaq and to salvage an unused extension to the former school.
The plan involves pulling the extension to another location, well out of the shadow of the avalanche-prone slope. Existing classrooms will then be renovated into social housing units.
* A delegation from Nunavik visits Greenland and the communities of Narsaq and Qaqortoq from June 20 to 23 to observe their seal industry.

July

* In early July in Umiujaq, a constable with the Kativik Regional Police Force shoots a local man in the shoulder after being threatened and pursued by the knife-toting man.
SQ spokesman Ronald McInnis says the shooting occurred when a domestic dispute spiraled into violence between the constable and a man who had been fighting with his girlfriend. “He was afraid for his life,” McInnis said of the police officer.
* From July 3 to 10 more than 240 youth aged 12 to 18 hone their skills at the Junior Rangers’ annual summer camp near Kangirsuk.
Six Junior Rangers attend from every community in Nunavik. They are joined by Junior Rangers from Quebec’s Lower North Shore region.

August

* Natives and non-natives join together to plant a tiny white pine near the centre of Montreal’s First Nations and Inuit garden, which opens to the public on Aug. 3.
This newest addition to the much-larger Montreal Botanical Garden focuses on the plant life and cultures of Quebec’s eleven native nations. Avataq, Nunavik’s cultural institute, participates in the design of the garden’s “nordic” section, devoted to vegetation found in the tundra and sub-Arctic regions.
* Despite an aggressive advertising campaign in the media and on the Internet, the KSB nets only 300 applications for teaching jobs – a discouragingly low number in comparison with the 1,200 that the school board received a few years ago.
* At Kuujjuaq’s Aqpik Jam the accordionists, rock bands and throatsingers from Nunavik, Nunavut and Greenland steal the show away from southern musical imports that include a Beatles tribute band.

September

* At the KRG, Makivik Corporation’s building and the community’s municipal offices, workers are now connected to the Internet, 24 hours a day, thanks to new wireless technology. At the same time, Nunavik’s co-operative network, the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec, wants to provide Internet service through its cable network.
* The disastrous events in the U.S. on Sept. 11 set off a chain of response in Nunavik, grounding planes and passengers throughout the region and setting emergency services into action. About 50 or so U.S. caribou hunters are stranded in Nunavik.
* The president of the Kativik School Board, Markusi Qinuajuak, submits his resignation to the KSB’s council of commissioners. Qinuajuak, who served as school board president since 1998 says he resigned for personal reasons.
Larry Watt, the board’s vice-president, assumes the duties of president on an interim basis. He later resigns in Nov. and is replaced by Sarah Aloupa.
* At a KRG meeting, regional councillors say they want their regional police force to be more stable, do a better job and get more on-the-job support. Mary Palliser says cops in Inukjuak are afraid of dealing with violent, drunk teens on their own.
She says they don’t have enough back-up from the Kativik Regional Police Force. “They keep saying the KRPF is not organized,” Palliser says.
* Crown prosecutors ask the Court to name two repeat sexual offenders as dangerous offenders or long-term offenders. William Fleming, 31, of Kuujjuaraapik has been found guilty of a sexual assault, while, Sala Niviaxie, 36, of Inukjuak has been found guilty of sexual touching on a minor.
If they are found to be be dangerous offenders, the two will be sentenced to indefinite periods in jail. As long-term offenders, they can look forward to a prolonged jail sentence and a longer period of supervised probation.
* Teachers who belong to the Northern Quebec Teachers Association approve the new collective agreement struck in May with the Kativik School Board and Quebec’s education department.
* Quebec’s public security department sends some emergency equipment to Nunavik, so the region will be better prepared to meet any future crises. Included in the shipment are 874 beds, 700 air mattresses, 726 blankets, 288 sleeping bags, 800 pillows, 300 men’s hygiene kits, 300 women’s hygiene kits and 48 air mattress pumps.

October

* At the end of the Nunavik Government meeting in Kuujjuaq, a resolution giving Makivik Corporation the go-head to pursue self-government negotiations with Quebec and Canada passes.
Makivik’s president, Pita Aatami, says a lack of unanimous support is disappointing, and that he still can’t understand why some Nunavimmiut are worried about moving ahead with self-government talks.
* Kids in Kuujjuaraapik postpone their trick-or-treating when a fire at the Hydro-Quebec generating station knocks out power to the community for four days.

November

* Seven of Nunavik’s 14 communities get new mayors following municipal elections. Michael Gordon, the incumbent mayor of Kuujjuaq, is particularly pleased that Kuujjuamiut decide to elect him for another term.
Gordon beats his only rival George Peters 397 to 206 to win the election. Peters is a former president of the Kativik School Board. He resigned from this position in 1998, following an arrest for drug trafficking and possession.
* The Kativik Regional Government councillors choose new leaders. Johnny Adams is returned as chairman of the KRG executive, which also includes vice-chariman Maggie Emudluk, Michael Gordon, Jusipi Annahatak and Josie Tulaugak.
The councillors also chose new representatives who will sit on the boards of Nunavik’s major organizations.
Josie Tullaugak will serve as the KRG council’s speaker and Sarollie Weetaluktuk will serve as deputy speaker
* At a special hearing in Kuujjuaq, Quebec Liquor Board president Jacques Dufour tells the management of Kuujjuaq’s Ikkaqivik Bar they have until Dec. 21 to produce a plan to preserve the social peace and prevent laws from being broken.
Dufour’s suggestions for this plan include putting a stop to serving booze to drunken patrons, hiring more bouncers, and even installing security cameras.

December

* The Kativik Regional Police Force wants help tackling its own problems, and those problems in the communities. “We want to hear what we’re doing wrong and what we’re doing right,” said KRPF deputy chief Luc Harvey.
Harvey and KRPF chief Brian Jones say they’ll consult with all 14 Nunavik communities in January. After this tour, police will draft an action plan and submit it to the KRG council’s next meeting, in February.
* Quebec, Ottawa and Nunavik are set to announce the names of their negotiating teams for the upcoming round of self-government talks.
Minnie Grey, the present executive director of Nunavik’s regional health and social services board, will be the chief negotiator for Nunavik. The two other negotiators for Nunavik’s interests are Harry Tulugak and Maggie Emudluk.
* The KSB takes Makivik and Nunavik’s other regional organizations to court. Nunavik’s education board slaps Makivik, the KRG, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services and the Kativik Regional Development Council with a declaration that seeks a temporary stop as well as a permanent injunction on self-government negotiations.
* Nunavik’s co-operative network, the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec, moves ahead with its plan to offer Internet services to Nunavik. At the same time, the Kativik Regional Government is continuing with its own plan to install a wireless telecommunications system throughout Nunavik. Both the KRG and FCNQ are vying for federal and provincial funds to kickstart their own vision of Internet service to Nunavik.
* Quebec’s electoral commission, the Commission de la représentation électorale, tables its ten-year review of the electoral map, with recommendations on how to divvy up Quebec’s 125 ridings. Despite high hopes for change, there is no good news in it for Nunavik, and a seat for the region in the provincial legislature – the assemblé nationale or National Assembly – is still as remote as ever.
* Sammy Duncan of Kuujjuaq becomes the new president of Taqramiut Nipingat Inc. broadcasting service.