Quebec judge will tour Nunavik communities

Makivik Corp. and the Quebec government will conduct an "independent examination" of alleged sled dog killings in Nunavik communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

This inquiry is not connected to the Qikiqtani Truth Commission, created by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, which plans to interview Inuit and non-Inuit in 13 Baffin communities about the killing of sled dogs during roughly the same period.

Nunavik's parallel inquiry was not discussed at Makivik Corp.'s annual general meeting, held last week in Quaqtaq.

However, information from a binder distributed at the AGM shows the inquiry will be headed by Quebec Superior Court Justice Jean-Jacques Croteau.

Croteau, who has already started a tour of Nunavik communities, will "review and analyze the events that occurred during the 1950s and 1960s concerning Inuit sled dog killings."

By the end of 2008, Croteau will submit a report to Quebec, Makivik and the federal government – but only if Ottawa provides money to cover the inquiry's expenses.

The report will include a description of sled dogs, their use by Inuit and the relationship of Inuit with these dogs during the 1950s and 1960s.

The report will also provide an overview of the "possible grounds for the slaughter" and how the killings were undertaken, including the way the dogs were killed, how many were killed and when they were killed.

The report will include consultations with Inuit leaders and dog owners as well as the "reaction expressed by the Inuit leadership and dog owners."

The report will look at other information regarding sled dog killing, including the 2005 brief Makivik submitted to Quebec and the federal government, the Makivik-produced video "Echo of the Last Howl," personal testimonies from Inuit and non-Inuit, the RCMP's final report from 2006, and legislation regarding loose dogs that would have been applicable at the time.

As a judge, Croteau is familiar with contentious issues in northern Quebec.

In 1999, he ruled in favour of the Crees on a side motion that was part of a larger legal action, declaring that the Quebec government and its forestry industry had "openly and continually violated" Cree rights under the James Bay land claims agreement.

Quebec and 27 logging companies appealed his ruling and, along with Canada, demanded that Croteau be removed from hearing the lawsuit.

Quebec Superior Court Chief Justice Lyse Lemieux, who heard the motion, agreed to remove Croteau, saying his ruling might be perceived as biased against the forestry companies, Quebec and Canada.