NSDC wants greater role in advising Nunavut government

MONTREAL — After hearing what Nunavut bureaucrats had to say at a recent meeting of the Nunavut Social Development Council in Iqaluit, the council’s president, Mary Wilman, is worried about the role that Inuit tradition and culture will play in the new government.

At the meeting, the Nunavut government’s departmental officials reported to the NSDC board on how they are carrying out social and cultural policies and programs appropriate for Inuit.

“We expressed some concerns about the lack of response and cooperation from the different departments,” Wilman said.

Wilman is also concerned that she hasn’t received any feedback on a traditional knowledge discussion paper that the NSDC deposited with the Nunavut government in June.

“It relates to language, education, culture and traditional beliefs, which could be very useful to the government,” Wilman said.

Wilman said she had expected some response from the Nunavut government’s department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth by now.

But Culture Minister Donald Havioyak told her that the whole matter has been transferred to Premier Paul Okalik’s office. Then Wilman was referred back to Havioyak’s department.

“They’re passing the buck,” Wilman said. “That makes me question the government’s commitment. They don’t seem to know where to go with it.”

Article 32 of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement gives the NSDC the mandate to “assist Inuit to define and promote their social and cultural development goals and objectives.” The NSDC is supposed to encourage the Nunavut government to design and carry out these goals through its policies and programs.

Wilman was dismayed by Okalik’s recent speech at the Qikiqtaaluk Inuit Association’s annual general meeting last week, where he talked about the government’s Maligarnit Qimirrujiit.

“But here we are, established under the land claim agreement, and we could play that advisory role,” she said. “Why is the government creating another body?”

Wilman has asked to meet with Premier Okalik to discuss these concerns. She said that she has the “full support” of her board in aggressively pursuing NSDC’s mandate and agenda.

“I’m going to tell the Nunavut government that the NSDC is the body that could develop something that is reflective of Inuit needs, particularly in the role of health care,” she said. “Inuit have high expectations.”

The NSDC board has also decided to move its office from Igloolik to Iqaluit, for at least two years, to keep closer tabs on the new government.

Wilman said the appointment of a new executive director for the NSDC will be announced shortly.

The NDSC also intends to rotate the location of its board meetings among Nunavut’s three different regions, to raise the organization’s profile and give its board a better appreciation of the regions.

The next board meeting is scheduled for the week of December 4 in Rankin Inlet.