NTI postpones debate on assignment rights

MIRIAM HILL

A women’s coalition in Iqaluit is waiting to hear whether Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will step in and clear up the city’s long-running dispute over assigning hunting rights.

Between 15 and 20 women, including elders and the disabled, attended a wildlife symposium in the territory’s capital on Wednesday.

Led by MLA Rebecca Williams, who is married to a non-Inuit man, the group was scheduled to make a presentation to representatives from hunters and trappers organizations and regional wildlife organizations from across the territory.

But Williams found out Tuesday that NTI had removed the Hunting Rights Assignment topic from the agenda.

According to Article 5, Section 7 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, Inuit can give away their hunting rights to another Inuk or “a spouse or a person cohabiting as the spouse of an Inuk.”

However, exactly who can give away and receive these rights, as well as the process involved in rights assignment has been hotly contested for years in Iqaluit, and the quarrelling parties have been waiting for guidance from NTI about how to proceed. Williams said the cancellation of the Wednesday presentation felt like a slap in the face.

“It’s an organization and Article 5 is the largest in the claim, why are they not prepared?” Williams asked. “It’s been an issue for a long time and they’re still calling it a sensitive issue. Why is it sensitive? Is it because qallunaat may go hunting? Is that why it’s sensitive?”

John Lamb, NTI’s chief executive officer, told delegates at the symposium that the reason the item was removed from the agenda was because the organization wasn’t prepared and the person who had been working on the file was on sick leave. Lamb made a commitment on behalf of the executive of NTI to meet face-to-face with the parties involved as soon as possible.

Williams said her group has been trying to meet with NTI President Cathy Towtongie for two weeks to no avail and is worried their views won’t be heard or taken into consideration.

“We’re concerned that NTI will not be sensitive to our rights and at the same time I voted for these people to represent my rights,” she said.

In an interview, Lamb said NTI staff is working at coming up with a legal interpretation of the issue based on what is said in the NLCA.

“Different groups have taken positions and what I think is going to be important is that the parties come to the table ready to articulate their positions clearly with a recognition that the claim is a basis for a resolution and that compromise may be required on all sides,” Lamb said.