Makivvik can nurture once-threatened qimmiit tradition with $45M federal money
Federal government’s apology turns page on ‘historic injustice’ while money for ‘healing’ can create lasting legacy
Children pose alongside their dogs in the 1960s in Kuujjuaq. (Photo courtesy of Bibliothèque et Archives nationals du Québec)
A lot of good things can be done with the $45 million the federal government is giving to help Nunavik heal from the slaughter of qimmiit — Inuit sled dogs — carried out in the 1950s and 1960s.
Wise, careful use of that money should make sure the once-threatened dogsledding tradition survives for generations to come.
Now Ottawa has made the much-anticipated apology for the practice. Ensuring that money is put to the best use should be part of the lasting legacy of this tragic episode in Nunavik’s history.
The federal government gave an enormous responsibility, duty and honour last week to Makivvik Corp. to administer the $45 million that came with Ottawa’s apology for the slaughter of the dogs by the RCMP, Quebec police and other non-Inuit community members.
Makivvik, whose role is to protect the rights of Nunavik’s Inuit, for decades had been calling on the government to apologize for the killing of sled dogs, which had a devastating effect on Inuit hunting, trapping and travel traditions.
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree delivered the formal apology in Kangiqsujuaq on Nov. 23, calling the dog slaughter a “terrible historic injustice.”
Anandasangaree also announced the $45 million for what the government called “reconciliatory programming” and gave Makivvik Corp. the responsibility for administering that money.
Ottawa didn’t appear to put many conditions on how the money should be used. A news release referred to a hope that it would lead to a reintroduction of dogs into communities, removing barriers to accessing the land, and the promotion of healing from the dog slaughter.
But a lot of things could fit under that very broad category of “reconciliatory programming.”
It’s fitting that Makivvik, whose president Pita Aatami has been credited for drawing attention to the issue for 25 years, be entrusted with the responsibility of administering the money.
There has been talk of compensation to the few remaining elders who are old enough to have been directly affected by the killing of their dogs more than 50 years ago.
Certainly, one suggestion could be to take a page from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in Nunavut. It uses annual Qikiqtani Truth Commission funding to run the Nunavut Quest dogsled race and the Qimmiit Revitalization program, both aimed at keeping the dogsledding tradition alive.
Nunavik already has Ivakkak, an annual dogsled race created by Makivvik in 2001 to promote the dogsledding tradition in Nunavik.
Nunatsiaq News readers, at times, have been critical of Makivvik’s past money management and skeptical of its ability to use big sums of money in a way that directly benefits Nunavimmiut.
The legacy of bonuses paid to First Air directors in 2008 continues to haunt Makivvik, which owned the airline, and make people question its financial management.
There’s also a responsibility on the federal government to verify that the $45 million is used appropriately.
There have been plenty of examples over the past 10 years of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government pushing money out the door without keeping a close eye on what happens to it after the cheque is cashed.
Anandasangaree’s apology should help turn the page on a bitter episode in Nunavik’s history. But good, transparent use of the $45 million can help ensure the once-threatened qimmiit tradition continues.
Eeyaaiii!!!
As a tradition, dog sleds are great. As a practical form of transportation, they are as obsolete as the horse and buggy. And soon electric snow machines will operate reliably in cold weather without the noise and stink of current models — if there’s any snow left for either dogs or machines.
It’s fascinating that anyone in his right mind would give credence to anything initiated or administered by the Liberals or Makivvik – whether money, programs or policies. The evidence is glaring that both entities are wasteful and incompetent on their best days, corrupt on most
No more dogs! The money should be used for spay and neutering! Ppl are irresponsible……..
I remember that my father’s dogs were given poison with gun oil. The dogs food seal meat and I was watching them squirt gun oil on their food. My first dog was one of them and my father was using her as a lead dog.
I remember few men who had dog team in Kuujjuaraapik.
There was, Late Charlie Quarak, Late Daniel Cookie, late Alex Niviaxie and my father Davidee Niviaxie.
My father and Jeremiah Sala as hunting partner used to be asked to go caribou hunting for the town. I used to cry wanting to follow them.
My first dog name was Doggy.
All the dog teams were wiped out in Kuujjuaraapik.