The next step in Nunavut’s journey

EVA AARIAK
Premier of Nunavut

When Inuit leaders began to meet back in the 1970s, they were setting out on a journey.

The first step of this journey was the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. The second step was establishing our territory and the Government of Nunavut.

The next step of Nunavut’s journey is a process called devolution. It is something that all Nunavummiut need to understand and to think about.

Today, many people believe that when Nunavut was created, Canada transferred the territory’s lands to the GN and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

That, however, is not what happened. Under the land claims agreement, NTI became responsible for Inuit Owned Lands, but they amount to just under 18 per cent of the territory.

The GN took on responsibility for Commissioner’s Lands, but they comprise just one per cent. So the Government of Canada still controls over 80 percent of Nunavut, generally called federal Crown lands, as well as the resources under the seabed.

That means Ottawa still has final decision-making authority over most of Nunavut, and will receive the royalty and tax revenues from any resource development that takes place on those lands or seabed areas.

This brings me to devolution. Devolution means the transfer of authority for Crown lands and the resources they contain from the federal government to the GN. There are two main reasons why devolution is so important to Nunavut.

First, if Nunavut can gain control of its own resources, especially minerals, oil and gas, over time it will become less dependent on southern Canada.

Second, by bringing decision making back home to Nunavut, Nunavummiut will be able to exercise responsible local management over those lands and resources.

Devolution is also about equality. The provinces in southern Canada own their Crown lands. Because Nunavut – as well as the Yukon and the Northwest Territories – are still territories, devolution is needed to allow us to make decisions on Crown land in our respective territories.

Devolution wouldn’t give us ownership of Crown lands, but it would give us authority over those lands and resources. In fact, the Yukon already has a devolution agreement with Canada, signed in 2003.

The NWT has been negotiating a devolution agreement for several years. I believe Nunavummiut should have the right – like other Canadians – to have responsibility for our own lands and resources.

The GN and NTI began talking with Canada about devolution in 2004. Six years later, though, the federal government has still not appointed a negotiator. Over the years it will take to come to an agreement, I am confident that the GN, NTI and Canada can work together to make sure Nunavut is ready.

We shouldn’t forget that devolution isn’t just good for Nunavut – it’s also good for Canada. Canada’s sovereignty over the Arctic depends on its use and occupancy of the area – that is, it depends on Nunavummiut.

As Canada acknowledged in its recent statement on northern foreign policy, Nunavut’s political development – including devolution – gives substance to Canada’s claim to Arctic sovereignty.

Nunavut’s journey is also Canada’s journey. Nunavut is striving to be treated as a full and equal member of the Canadian family, and to complete the map of Canada.

The next step of this journey is devolution.

Nunavut is tired of being told that we’re not ready. We are ready to negotiate.

The question is: is Canada ready?