Inuvialuit take a step closer to self-government

Inuvialuit leaders signed an agreement-in-principle July 21 that will serve as the foundation for a final self-government agreement for the Inuit of the Western Arctic. (IMAGE COURTESY OF STATISTICS CANADA)

Nunavut’s neighbours to the west have moved one step closer to self-governance following the signing of an agreement-in-principle with Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

At a July 21 ceremony in Inuvik, Inuvialuit leaders signed a document that will be become the foundation for a final self-government agreement for the Inuit of the western Arctic in the future.

A final agreement, if approved, would create an ethnic Inuvialuit government, with decision-making powers in areas like health, education, culture and language — areas currently run by the federal and territorial governments.

The signing of the agreement-in-principle shows good faith on the part of both governments, said Nellie Cournoyea, chair and chief executive officer of the Inuvialuit Regional Corp., the birthright organization that has led negotiations.

“Today marks an important step in ensuring that government programs and services provided to the Inuvialuit are designed and delivered in a manner that fully respects and accommodates Inuvialuit culture, lifestyle and traditions,” Cournoyea said in a July 21 release.

The new agreement builds on the 1984 Inuvialuit Final Agreement, the first comprehensive land claims agreement signed north of the 60th parallel.

It covers the six communities in that region: Aklavik, Inuvik, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok.

And, unlike other self-government structures considered in the Inuit Nunangat, this one would be an Aboriginal government — by and for the Inuvialuit.

The new government would have decision-making powers in areas like child and family services, including adoption; culture and language; early childhood education and kindergarten to Grade 12 schooling; health, including traditional healing; income assistance and wills and estates.

The basic model of a future Inuvialuit government will consist of a regional council, led by an ataniq (leader) elected by all eligible Inuvialuit and representatives from each community.

Efforts towards self-government date back to 1996, when the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. began jointly negotiating with the Gwich’in Tribal Council towards a self-governance agreement.

By 2005, those efforts had led to a split between the two groups and the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. began negotiating its own agreement in 2006.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada said the full agreement-in-principle will be posted on its website by the end of the month.