Nunavik appoints self-government negotiators

KUUJJUAQ — The news isn’t official yet but sources say, Quebec, Ottawa and Nunavik are set to announce members of their negotiating teams for the upcoming round of self-government talks.

Minnie Grey, the executive director of Nunavik’s regional health and social services board, confirmed she will be Nunavik’s chief negotiator.

Grey has asked for a two-year leave of absence from her position at the health board and plans to move to Montreal for the negotiations. Elena Labranche, assistant executive director, will take over Grey’s duties in Kuujjuaq.

Grey is a former executive member of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Makivik Corporation and the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. She was also a member of Makivik’s education task force, which called for sweeping changes to Nunavik’s educational system in 1995.

The two other negotiators for Nunavik’s interests are Harry Tulugak and Maggie Emudluk.

Tulugak, a former mayor of Puvirnituq, was also co-chair of the Nunavik Commission that tabled its recommendations on self-government last April.

Emudluk, a councillor in Kangiqsualujjuaq, was previously the community’s mayor. Emudluk was recently selected as vice-chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government.

Emudluk guided her community through the aftermath of the Jan. 1, 1999 avalanche that killed several residents and leveled the community’s school. Since then, she has helped negotiate on behalf of Kangiqsualujjuaq for many deals for new services and infrastructure .

The imminent appointment of these negotiators is a sign that all three parties are intent on proceeding with self-government negotiations, despite an injunction recently filed by the Kativik Regional School Board to stop these talks or change their scope.

The KRG, the Kativik Regional Development Council and the health board have asked Makivik to represent their interests in court against the injunction, which will be heard Dec. 11 in Montreal.