Makivik AGM may see little debate on self-government

Makivik Corp. is set to hold its 2012 annual general meeting March 26 in Chisasibi. (FILE PHOTO)

Makivik Corp. is set to hold its annual general meeting starting March 26 in Chisasibi — the organization’s first AGM chaired by its new president Jobie Tukkiapik.

The annual meeting includes Makivik’s board of directors, made up of representatives from each of Nunavik’s communities, and delegates from other organizations who sit and discuss regional issues.

Many Nunavimmiut expected that discussion on a Nunavik government would be at the top of this meeting’s agenda, held in the southernmost Inuit settlement on James Bay, home to 4,000 Cree but only 110 Inuit.

A document called “a discussion paper for a Nunavik government” was drafted during a three-day meeting last November, when Nunavimmiut met to forge a common voice on any future negotiations for a Nunavik government.

That was six months after people in Nunavik voted against the proposed Nunavik Regional Government, a model that would have merged regional organizations under an elected Nunavik Assembly.

Final recommendations were meant to go to Makivik’s annual general meeting in Chisasibi, to serve as a launching point for future self-government negotiations.

But since November, Makivik has received no feedback from the communities, said Minnie Grey, a chief negotiator of the Nunavik Regional Government agreement.

And Grey, who is still responsible for Nunavik government post-referendum activities, should have received that feedback by Feb. 15.

That’s according to a letter sent out by former Makivik president Pita Aatami Jan. 16, just days before he lost his position to Tukkiapik in the organization’s presidential election.

In the letter, Aatami requests that the communities contact Makivik to indicate if they agree to the contents of the draft declaration, and to send along any suggested amendments or additions.

“If we do not receive any feedback from you by this date, we will assume that you agree with it as it is presently drafted,” Aatami wrote.

If that’s true, then the entire region has agreed to the draft document, which means Makivik should approve the document by resolution.

But some Nunavimmiut say they weren’t even aware of Aatami’s letter.

At this point it’s not clear how the declaration or any feedback will be presented at the meeting, Grey said.

Grey could only say the Chisasibi meeting was to hear from a representative from each community sent specifically for the Nunavik government discussion.

Makivik President Jobie Tukkiapik did not return Nunatsiaq News’ requests for an interview.

Nunavik Government Declaration