'Let us not fall into fear.'

INUKJUAK – Delegates at Makivik Corp.'s annual meeting were told last week the plan for Nunavik's new government is to be ready by year's end.

Yet despite a generation of talks on the subject, it seems that some in the region feel the plan is moving ahead too quickly.

After years of dealing with the familiar existing regional organizations – seen by Nunavimmiut as promoting Inuit interests – there are fears that a new public government may maintain only a diluted interest in the politics of aboriginal identity.

But the two negotiators responsible for hammering out the deal to enhance the region's autonomy say that the population is mistaken.

"If anyone says the Nunavik government is being rushed into, this is not the case," said Harry Tulugak, who first became active in the push for self-government in the 1980s. "Let us not fall into fear."

The proposed government will have jurisdiction over the territory now administered by the Kativik Regional Government, Kativik School Board and the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services.

Makivik Corporation will remain to represent Inuit as trustee of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement commitments, while Avataq Cultural Institute is expected to continue promoting Inuit heritage in the region.

"People have been misinformed," said negotiator Minnie Grey. "People fear change when they don't understand. We need this new government."

Grey insists that the existing regional organizations are, in fact, non-ethnic.

But it is the reality of an overwhelmingly Inuit population which colours the current administration with an ethnic cast. Inuit now outnumber non-natives in the region by a vast margin.

"We want to have our language and culture as the basis of our government," she said. "But right now we are governed from afar."

Senator Charlie Watt said he sees a general trend by governments to get away from guaranteed protection of aboriginal rights.

"The risk is that people think they can have a public government here and still have their rights protected," he said.

The new government is also intended to achieve more efficient decision-making.

Currently, the school board, health board and regional government rely on 51 elected representatives. After they merge, a new regional assembly will feature just 21 seats.

"I foresee our quality of life will improve when the organizations amalgamate and work together," Grey told the Makivik meeting.

Makivik vice-president Johnny Peters voiced a concern of many that the future government must retain real powers to legislate rights on behalf of Inuit.

Makivik president Pita Aatami gave assurances the plan will stall if Inuit rights are threatened by any deal.

"We will not go ahead with a Nunavik government if our language and culture are not recognized," Aatami said. "The Quebec government has known this since the days of Bill 101."

Grey indicated that after the Nunavik government is established, a second phase would see the Inuit seeking new powers which could, in effect, achieve the long-desired goal of true self-government for northern aboriginal people in Quebec. "It's an evolution," she said.

The draft plan is to face the public's approval in a region-wide referendum scheduled for 2010.