Historic $1.5B deal marks first renewal of Nunavut Agreement since 1993
Renewal commits $1.5 billion over 10 years and $77.6 million annually from federal government
From left, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed watches as Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk, federal minister Gary Anandasangaree and Premier P.J. Akeeagok sign the first renewal of the Nunavut Agreement implementation contract in over 30 years in Ottawa on Saturday. (Photo by Nehaa Bimal)
The federal government and Inuit leaders signed a long-awaited implementation contract under the Nunavut Agreement Saturday — the first time the contract has been renewed since the agreement was signed more than 30 years ago.
The deal includes $1.5 billion to be paid out over the next decade plus an immediate, ongoing commitment of $77.6 million annually.
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk, and Premier P.J. Akeeagok made the announcement at Nunavut Sivuniksavut, an Ottawa college for Inuit students.
Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami president Natan Obed was the master of ceremonies.
“Today is a celebration,” Obed said. “We’re celebrating a significant moment in time today in Inuit self-determination, partnership with the Crown and the implementation of nation building.”
The funding will support NTI, the Government of Nunavut, the Nunavut Planning Commission, Nunavut Impact Review Board, Nunavut Water Board, Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal, and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
The agreement includes $50 million for the Nunavut Inuit Heritage Centre, a long-awaited initiative to house and protect Nunavut’s archeological and cultural records. Last June, Iqaluit city council heard organizers are considering a possible site for the centre near the Upper Plateau neighbourhood.
“This agreement is the pathway to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of Inuit. It nearly triples the funding for regional wildlife and hunters and trappers organizations,” Tunraluk said, calling the organizations “Canada’s boots on the ground throughout Nunavut.”
Renewing the implementation contract after 10 years will involve all sides reviewing the existing deal, updating issues such as funding amounts and recipients, and committing to the new terms, Anandasangaree said.
The Nunavut Agreement, signed in 1993, led to the creation of the territory in 1999, but its full implementation has faced challenges.
NTI sued the federal government in 2006 for failing to implement key parts of the agreement, leading to a settlement in 2015. Under the settlement’s terms, NTI received $255.5 million in compensation from the federal government.
On Saturday, Anandasangaree said the new funding ensures a long-overdue commitment is met.
More than $600 million will go toward Inuit employment and training, addressing a major gap in the public service. A recent labour force study cited by Tunraluk found more than 10,000 Inuit — 89 per cent of them youth — are interested in working in government.
“You will see Inuit move into government employment in large numbers in the coming years,” he said. “This is the most significant commitment ever made for training in government positions.”
Saturday’s deal is expected to complement the 2024 Devolution Agreement between the federal and territorial governments and NTI, which transferred greater decision-making power and authority over its Crown lands to the territory.
Akeeagok said the two agreements work in parallel, with the devolution deal bringing decision-making home while the implementation contract ensures promises of the Nunavut Agreement are finally put into action.
“This is about making decisions about Inuit by Inuit,” Anandasangaree said.
“The role of the federal government is to support you, not to replace your voice.”
Akeeagok said the focus must now shift to action in order to see the “true benefits” of the Nunavut Agreement.
“I really hope that 10 years down, we’re not back to where we were — where there are disagreements, where there’s no big recognition that it’s important,” he said.
Anandasangaree acknowledged that while the contract marks a significant milestone, it will be reassessed upon renewal in 10 years. He emphasized that the $77.6 million in annual funding is ongoing, but future negotiations and co-development will be necessary to address areas of increased need.
The signing of the implementation contract occurs amid significant political transitions in Canada. On Sunday, the Liberal party will elect a new leader who will also take over as prime minister after Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
Also, a federal election must be held no later than Oct. 20.
For now, the northern leaders say the focus must be on implementation of the Nunavut Agreement.
“Today is the beginning of the contract period that has the potential to change the country for the better,” said Tunraluk.
“Tomorrow, let us focus all of our attention on the implementation, so we can realize the promises made to Inuit by Canada through the Nunavut Agreement more than 30 years ago.”
The orgy of spending never ends, even under a prorogued parliament. That should never be allowed.
Unbelievable.
Thank you negotiators and the leaders working together to get this done just in time, before a leadership change.
I’m not a fan of Trudeau but this PM has worked closely with indigenous people and making sure Inuit sit at the table to help decide what is priority and work in partnership instead of the government telling you what is the priority.
Great job everyone and thank you to the PM Trudeau for supporting this. So much new funding for Nunavut over the years and this will have long lasting benefits for Nunavut.
With a Rebel Yell, we shout, “MORE, MORE, MORE!!!”
Please Sir , I want some more.
Mind boggling amount for about a population of 40K.
If you ask me , not enough , need more , ” WE WERE HERE FIRST ”
Really? Those our ancestors replaced would be surprised by that, don’t you think?
I always see these comments about “the people that were here before”. Do you mean the Tuniit (Dorsets) or the Thule? If you’re so broken up about it, why can’t you even bother to look up what they’re called? It didn’t happen the way you think it happened.
Maybe Nunatsiaq News should do an article about this history. Would maybe shut some people up. But then again, maybe not.
Didn’t go to school much? Inuit displaced the people here before them.
So instead of $1.5 billion how about 50 years’ supply of tea, flour and saw blades?
Unlike southern Canada, there are a lot of needs in the north that is taken for granted in the south, this helps to bridge that gap, meaningful commitment to bring Nunavut forward.
We waited 32 years for this to be renewed, I guess it just accumulated since 1993.
But the monopoly of Northwest Company and the recently acquired only airline of the north now in the hands of billionaires profiting off the poverty of Nunavut is fine?
Both companies you mention (Northwest Company and Exchange Income Corporation) are publicly traded companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange, owned by their shareholders. They are not “in the hands of billionaires”. Anyone can buy shares. Perhaps you should invest instead of complaining.
Does that mean finally
85 % Inuit hire will finally
Be honored?
or at least there will be
support to increase be higher at what it is, I think
perhaps it remained steady
around 49 – 51% since the NLCA was signed. No change for 30 years ??
Does it matter, that part of the agreement to hire
85% Inuit be ignored.??
Less than 1% of inuit have a university-level education. We’re a long way away from 85% representation. We’ve all seen Article 23 training fail people over and over again. Training isn’t a substitute for an education. Nunavut needs more Inuit certified tradespeople, educators, health care workers. Nunavut doesn’t need more NS-educated bureaucrats, those don’t help reach the goal of self-determination. Hopefully things can change in the next 25 years, but it starts at home with proper parenting. The future is in your hands Nunavut.
With the new Arctic University this has potential to raise the amount of Inuit with a university degree.
Nunavut has a trades school in Rankin. Where are all the inuit trades people? Why isn’t the Dept of Education releasing enrolment, drop-out and success rates?
Yes great potential with the Arctic university, so what is your solution to increasing Inuit getting these jobs and getting a higher education? Do you have any meaningful ideas that would help?
If inuit can go to ottawa to attend NS, why aren’t they continuing on to university or college in ottawa?
Hopefully one day there’s a need for a university in inuit nunangat, but let’s focus on getting high school graduation rates in line with the rest of canada first.
Baby steps.
Article 24 isn’t a commitment to hire 85% Inuit. It’s a commitment to methodically, intelligently and diligently work towards a representative public sector workforce.
Focusing on the 85% while ignoring the details is not helping.
85% smoking rate achieved at least eh 🚬🚬🚬
The old airline was owned by Inuit millionaires, and Arctic Co-ops are owned (or at least controlled) by regular Inuit.
Somehow that wasn’t the issue.