Seeking other partnerships is about opportunities, not relationship with Canada, Obed says

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed says his comments he made in June about Inuit seeking other partnerships were not focused on the Inuit relationship with Canada but on pursuing opportunities with partners who share their interests.

“What we need are good partners, and we need great opportunities,” Obed, the head of the national voice for Inuit in Canada, told reporters in Kuujjuaq Tuesday.

But during ITK’s June 19 Arctic Security Conference in Ottawa, Obed said Inuit should seek other partners if they’re not respected by the federal government.

On Tuesday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney as well as with Inuit leaders in Kuujjuaq, Obed clarified those earlier remarks, while speaking to reporters.

“We are proud Canadians. We are first Canadians and Canadians first,” he said.

He said the federal government discussed its role as a partner with Inuit during Tuesday’s meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, adding that Inuit could forge future partnerships with private industry or other governments, depending on shared interests.

Carney made a one-day trip to Kuujjuaq to  meet with Inuit leaders to advance their shared priorities for Canada’s Inuit regions, including Arctic development and infrastructure and Inuit participation in decision-making.

He was joined by six federal cabinet ministers, including Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, Defence Minister David McGuinty, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty and Northern Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand.

It was the first time a prime minister had visited Kuujjuaq since 2008 when Stephen Harper was in Nunavik’s biggest community.

Discussions also covered improving living conditions in Inuit Nunangat — the Inuit homeland in Canada — including housing, food security, reforming the Nutrition North subsidy program, eliminating tuberculosis and the future of the Inuit Child First Initiative.

Obed said he expects to see progress on the commitments made in the months ahead.

“But as for today, it was a great step in the right direction,” he told reporters.

Following the meeting, Carney participated in a community event on the grounds of Isuarsivik, an addiction recovery and healing centre in Kuujjuaq.

He was greeted with throat singing and musical performances, shared traditional Inuit food with attendees, and was presented with an Inuit harpoon.