School Board calls impending framework agreement futile

The framework agreement for Nunavik self-government has not been released yet, but the Kativik School Board is already highlighting what it perceives to be flaws in the document.

“It seems to be a lot of trouble to go through, to simply rearrange the furniture, gain nothing and risk disrupting services to the population,” a press release issued by the school board on Feb. 5 says.

The board cautioned that the new agreement promises to amalgamate Nunavik’s various administrative bodies into one “unified entity” without guaranteeing additional powers to the body. It also offers no guarantee to protect the region’s education budget under proposed block-funding.

The board reiterated its long-repeated accusation that Makivik Corporation, which appointed the negotiators for the self-government talks with the provincial and federal governments, is acting without the mandate of Nunavimmiut.

“Makivik has been acting unilaterally and without authorization, as if it alone was the Nunavik Party. At no time was Makivik ever given the mandate to enter into any type of negotiations on behalf of the people of Nunavik,” the release says.

“If we are hoping to have our own government, we must learn to govern according to rules. Nobody is above the law, not even Makivik. Instead of bullying ahead, perhaps Makivik should learn to work with other Nunavik organizations to build a true Inuit consensus.”

Makivik received a copy of the release late Wednesday. Officials said they could not respond to the document before Nunatsiaq News’s publication deadline.