Nunavut kicks off 20th anniversary of land claims agreement

Nunavut minister and Iqaluit West MLA Monica Ell greets elders April 11 at a ceremony to kick of celebrations around the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

“In our busy daily lives, it is easy to lose sight of the historic times that we are living through. I hope the 20th anniversary celebrations will be a time to rekindle the spirit and inspiration behind our desire to reclaim the self-reliance at the heart of our way of life,” Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak said April 11 in front of the snowhouse built for a ceremonial cabinet meeting to launch the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

Participants sit in an igloo outside Nunavut legislative assembly building after the ceremonial cabinet meeting held April 11 to mark the 20th anniversary of the signature of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Front row, from left to right: Aqsaarniit Middle School students Dodie Netser, Samuel Kuluguqtuq and Emily Ann Niego. Back row: Minister Monica Ell, elders Moses Atagoyuk, Simon Nattaq, Annie Nattaq, Premier Eva Aariak, elder Inuapik Sagiatook who lit the qulliq, Ministers James Arreak and Peter Taptuna. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GN)

Bright sun illuminated the interior of a large snow house built next to the Nunavut legislative building in Iqaluit on April 11.

And in this calm space, on benches covered by sealskins and warmed by a qulliq, cabinet ministers held a ceremonial cabinet meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of the signature of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

During the anniversary year, the Government of Nunavut plans to commemorate “the historic agreement that forever changed the people of a new territory and Canada’s place in the Arctic,” Premier Eva Aariak said.

“This anniversary will be a time to look back on all that we have achieved,” she said.

Aariak said she and her ministers met in the igluvigaq to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NLCA signing, as well as “Nunavut’s rich heritage and the power that comes from piliriqatiginniq, or working together towards a common cause.”

During the short cabinet meeting, elder Inuapik Sagiatook lit a qulliq and two resolutions were read, a news release said (but, as no media were invited to attend, it’s uncertain exactly what those resolutions said).

Four Aqsarniit Middle School students, chosen to represent the future generations of Nunavummiut, also participated in the event as observers.

Deputy ministers also had a chance to sit in the igloo for a photo.

Then, afterwards, Aariak spoke to the crowd, saying that “this is also a time to look forward.”

“The next step in building Nunavut will involve taking back control over our lands, waters and resources under devolution,” she said.

Aariak said 2013 will open a “new chapter in our story as we begin negotiations to make that happen,” although no date has yet been publicly announced for the start of the talks.

The Government of Nunavut’s deputy ministers pose April 11 inside an igloo built to kick off the 20th anniversary celebrations of the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)