QC has colonial attitude to Inuit

I am writing in reply to the June 9 letter from Brian McLeod and Peter Keenainaik in which they comment on my guest editorial, “The Baffin fishery is controlled by foreign interests.”

The colonial attitude exhibited by these writers towards Inuit is offensive.

Apparently, the leaders of Qikiqtaaluk Corp. do not believe that Inuit should be trusted with developing economic opportunities that will benefit their communities. We are being told to wait another generation to develop an Inuit-managed community-based fishery.

According to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Qikiqtaaluk Corp. is mandated with “increased business growth for Inuit entrepreneurs.” As a birthright corporation, it was formed to assist communities with economic development. Instead, it has joint ventured with foreign enterprises to compete for 0A turbot quota against those same communities that it should be helping.

As a resident of a community that is adjacent to the 0A fishery I do not intend to wait for another generation to take control of our fishery away from their foreign partners.

I believe that we should have economic independence from the government. We depend on the government too much (welfare, healthcare, handouts and many others). Maybe Brian does not want to see us get our independence economically. Has Brian become a captain, since they’ve been in the fishing business for 20 years?

This is the second time an official representative has told me not to go into the fishing business. A guy working for the Baffin Business Development Corp. told my friend that he will do everything in his power to make us lose. Who’s the beneficiary here?

Nick Illauq
Clyde River