Kuujjuaq self-government meeting long on talk: Grey

Minnie Grey, a head negotiator of the defeated Nunavik Regional Government Agreement, says recent discussions on a future government for the region have Nunavimmiut “going around in circles.” (FILE PHOTO)

A chief negotiator of the defeated Nunavik Regional Government Agreement says the recent Kuujjuaq meeting on governance did little to advance plans for any new regional government.

“There were so many governance issues discussed, that one wonders why we are not working on creating a government,” said Minnie Grey about the meeting, held Nov. 15 to 17. “Instead we are going around in circles without any movement forward, trying to come up with solutions to get there.”

Last April, Nunavik residents overwhelmingly voted to reject a proposed agreement for a new regional government for the region.

Now Nunavimmiut are too preoccupied with the region’s past and current problems to see their future clearly, said former KRG negotiator Grey.

There was plenty of productive discussion at the Kuujjuaq meeting, Grey acknowledged.

But delegates from Nunavik communities and regional organizations spent many hours discussing the disadvantages and benefits of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and the many social challenges facing Nunavik.

Senator Charlie Watt, a vocal critic of the rejected NRG agreement, agreed there’s much work to do before Nunavimmiut decide on their next step.

But Watt, who also sat through the three-day meeting, said people first need to resolve their grievances and concern over the extinguishment of their land rights.

“Those matters are still very much in the minds of people and they’d still like to deal with this, possibly through court action,” he said. “It’s hanging in the air, preventing people from moving ahead.”

Now, the trick is working to correct those past wrongs while marking a clear path into the future, said Watt, who was one of the JBNQA’s chief negotiators.

The 22 principles and objectives outlined in the discussion paper adopted at the meeting represent many interests, although it’s “not satisfactory to all,” he said.

Delegates took home the “discussion paper for a Nunavik government,” to consult with their home communities in time for Makivik Corp.’s general meeting in March 2012.

Watt believes that could give Nunavimmiut enough time to reach consensus, if proper consultation is done.

“We still have quite a long way to go, but Inuit unity is a priority,” Watt said.