QIA announces Tallurutiup Imanga and Tuvaijuittuq community tour

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association will head off on another community tour of the five hamlets affected by the Tallurutiup Imanga Inuit and Tuvaijuittuq Agreements.

QIA will hold community meetings in Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Grise Fiord, Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay. At the meetings, QIA staff will share information about the negotiated Inuit benefit agreement and over $250 million of negotiated benefits for Inuit.

“We are extremely proud of the investments we negotiated for Inuit in the High Arctic through the Tallurutiup Imanga Inuit and Tuvaijuittuq Agreements,” P.J. Akeeagok, QIA’s president, said in a news release.

“This community tour will give QIA a chance to share news about these achievements with Inuit in the impacted communities and discuss the next steps for how these investments will be realized.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to Iqaluit in August to announce the creation of the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area.

Tuvaijuittuq, meaning “the place where the ice never melts” in Inuktut, is expected to retain year-round sea ice until 2050.

The protection status prevents any new activity in both of these areas for up to five years, though Inuit can still harvest from either region.

Trudeau’s visit also marked the completion of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area through an Inuit impact and benefit agreement.

Tallurutiup Imanga, also known as Lancaster Sound, is described as twice the size of Nova Scotia and the largest protected site of its kind in Canada.

“By protecting these vital areas, we are safeguarding our environment for future generations while advancing Inuit self-determination and preserving Inuit cultural practices, languages, and customs,” Trudeau said at the Aug. 1 press conference, held at Nunavut Arctic College.

The Inuit impact and benefit agreements for both protected areas aims to promote Inuit stewardship, providing an additional $55 million for Inuit training and employment.

Trudeau also announced funding related to both protected areas: $190 million over seven years to build harbours, food-processing facilities and a training centre in the five closest communities: Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Clyde River.

Together, these areas cover more than 427,000 square kilometres.

The schedule of community meetings is as follows:

• Nov. 12, 2019: Clyde River
• Nov. 13, 2019: Pond Inlet
• Nov. 19, 2019: Arctic Bay
• Nov. 20, 2019: Resolute Bay
• Nov. 21, 2019: Grise Fiord