Carney ‘gets it,’ Obed says after meeting with new PM
Inuit leaders optimistic about future of Indigenous-Crown relationship after prime minister visits Iqaluit
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the Nunavut commissioner’s residence to meet with Inuit leaders on Tuesday. (Photo by Daron Letts)
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Inuit leaders in Iqaluit on Tuesday on his way back from his whirlwind trip to Paris and London.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed said he was impressed by the prime minister’s decision to visit the Arctic early in his tenure.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed speaks with reporters Tuesday in Iqaluit. (Photo by Daron Letts)
“We’ve talked a lot as Inuit about the Inuit-Crown relationship, and our modern treaties really are the basis for Canadian sovereignty,” Obed, whose national organization represents Inuit in Canada, said in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.
“And a prime minister acknowledging that and saying he went to France, to Britain, and now to the Canadian Arctic as the three pillars of the foundation of this country, shows that he gets it.”
Obed said, “He is stepping right in in a leadership role in a time of urgency and crisis and recognizing Inuit Nunangat for what it is — it’s an essential part of the country, and the Inuit and Inuit self-determination are a key component to team Canada.”
Carney also met with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk and representatives from Nunavut’s three regional Inuit associations to establish what the Prime Minister’s Office referred to on Carney’s itinerary as “a link of collaboration” on major infrastructure projects.
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated President Jeremy Tunraluk said he felt “heard” during a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Iqaluit, Tuesday. (Photo by Daron Letts)
“The meeting went very well,” Tunraluk said, adding he felt Carney listened thoughtfully to their opinions.
The organizations shared their perspectives on the importance of the Inuit Child First Initiative, whose funding was recently renewed for another year, as well as the proposed Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project to bring high-speed internet, and the signing of the SINAA agreement to preserve marine ecosystems in the Qikiqtani Region.
Arctic sovereignty was also front and centre in the discussions, Tunraluk said.
“We need to be included as part of Arctic sovereignty,” he said. “[Prime Minister Carney] was able to make sure that he was collecting all the information that we were giving him.”
Carney emerged from the NTI meetings wearing a blue atigii, a traditional Inuit pullover, presented by Tunraluk and created by Iqaluit seamstress Emily Joanasie.
It’s a life inside the bubble politicians live… as promises are made and broken. As with the revamping of the voting system Trudeau promised but at the first sign of a hiccup it was dropped. It is not the time to be naive, to be led down the garden path.
This is just too cute.🤪
Innu-miaq-naat.
Carney “got it” according to Obed and Tunraluk “felt heard”(?)
An “AWWWW “♥️ moment for Nunavut.
I dont think Obed gets it.
Agreed. Just full of hot air and saying nothings as per usual.
As opposed tooooo … you?
Forever in debt 💸 cause all the cash flowing into their accounts 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
WEF PLACEMENT , WAKE UP.
Giving a blue atigi to a Liberal Prime Minister. I think there’s somebody that doesn’t “get it”.
The collar colors are the Ukrainian flag.. look closer my friend. Minor but major details indeed.
I… still don’t really think that’s a good idea? Why make the new Prime Minister a Ukrainian-coloured atigi? Sure, we can all stand in support of Ukraine, but is that really an issue to make a deal of during his first visit here? How about make him one in Nunavut’s colours? Now that would be cool.
Bringing up the colours of an atigi is the argument of a 9 year old.
Colours and politics are different around the world; in the US, blue is associated with the Democratic Party, so it’s a weird thing to focus on.
If the trim was purple and green you would say ‘eEeWw It’S pUrPlE aNd GrEen’ … They’re just colours – grow up.
Say what you want his visit sounds definitely less tone deaf than Pierre pollieve. While the liberals might not be perfect, at least they don’t. Just want to pillage the natural resources and build the military base and probably gut out major funding to health services. #axethetax