Nunavut Tunngavik execs prep for annual meeting this week

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie and Vice-president James Eetoolook at a board meeting at Nanook School in Apex Oct. 19 in advance of the land claim organization’s annual general meeting this week in Iqaluit. (PHOTO BY STEVE DUCHARME)

Blizzards and high winds in the Kivalliq wreaked havoc on travel this weekend, but redeye and early morning flights by Nunavut Tunngavik executives allowed its board of directors meeting, held prior to NTI’s annual general meeting in Iqaluit, to proceed more or less on time.

The short afternoon session at Nanook School in Apex Oct. 19 gave NTI brass a chance to clear the table before the headlining event, which will unfold at the same venue, starting tomorrow.

Several items on the Oct. 19 agenda resolved issues from the last directors’ meeting in early September, while others addressed new developments that have occurred since that time.

Namely, NTI agreed in principle to consider additional funding for the cash-starved Inuit Circumpolar Council-Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami on the condition the respective presidents provide them with clear organizational priorities for the next four years.

Both national Inuit organizations have suffered heavy cutbacks in funding from the federal government in recent years.

ITK’s core budget is down approximately 70 per cent from 2013.

ICC is asking NTI for $150,000 in funding, which is up $75,000 from what they received last year.

ITK, which has never requested funding of this kind from NTI, wants $100,000.

NTI executives were supportive of ITK, however the recent election of Natan Obed, along with a perceived internal shift within the Inuit organization’s hierarchy, had some board members voicing restraint.

“I support them, except ICC, I prefer to support in terms of financially because they only have $1 million [to work with],” said NTI President Cathy Towtongie.

That’s in comparison to an estimated $5.3 million ITK is working with this year.

“Their original mandates have been done, and now they’re seeking increase in funding. What does this mean? What are we going to use ITK for?” asked Kivalliq Inuit Association vice-president, Raymond Ningeocheak.

“They still have a place, because at one point they were the only voice in the North,” said Qikiqtani Inuit Association President PJ Akeeagok.

Both Inuit organizations have until the end of the year to provide NTI with a updated strategys to be considered for funding.

On other issues, the board also passed their amended travel policy after several delays by members to agree on final wording.

The organization’s finance committee will now have the power to approve requests for flight upgrades to executive class in “exceptional circumstances” by board members travelling in excess of four hours a day, and on a case-by-case basis.

NTI will still pursue the lowest available fare as their base policy.

Kivalliq Inuit Association President David Ningeongan was the only board member to vote against the travel upgrade.

In an update to the board, NTI’s chief executive officer James Arreak said a director for the newly established Nunavut Inuit Training Corp. will be hired in November.

The corporation’s board, consisting of five NTI representatives and two from the Government of Nunavut, will manage the funds from a $175-million dollar settlement NTI got froom the Government of Canada who, they alleged, failed to properly train Inuit to fill skilled positions in the territory.

NTI has yet to decide what to do with an additional $85 million they received as part of the settlement, but may use part of that sum to pay off debt.

The annual general meeting for NTI will begin in earnest Oct. 20 and continue until Oct. 22 at the Nanook School in Apex.