Self-government in Nunavik takes giant leap forward today

IQALUIT — The path to self-government for Nunavik has been long and arduous, but a political accord to be signed today in Montreal will build a powerful, new momentum behind the process.

“I can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” says the Makivik Corporation’s president, Pita Aatami, “I am very, very happy.”

Aatami, Quebec Native Affairs Minister Guy Chevrette, and federal Indian Affairs Minister Bob Nault are set to sign the Nunavik Political Accord, a tripartite agreement that sets Nunavik’s self-government process into motion.

They were also to have signed a decree today that establishes the Nunavik Commission, a seven-member body that will develop a timetable, plan of action, and recommendations for the structure and operations of a new public government in Nunavik.

Because the Nunavik Political Accord and the decree are ministerial-level agreements, Nunavik’s self-government process will no longer be subject to the kinds of upheavals and delays it’s suffered since Quebec’s former premier, René Lévesque, first came out in favour of greater self-government for the region.

“We will be on an equal footing with our counterparts in the South,” Aatami said.

Many delays

Over the past few years, self-government negotiations in Nunavik have been derailed by referendums on sovereignty, elections, labour disputes and even natural disasters.

Deadline after deadline passed, even after Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard publicly renewed his government commitment to the process when he came to Kangiqsualujjuaq in September, 1997.

The most recent deadline of June 24 was scrapped, due to the Quebec nurses’ strike.

“Yes, it did delay too long,” Aatami said.

But over the past weeks Aatami has persistently lobbied the Quebec government to move the Nunavik accord through cabinet.

Aatami admits that the final accord isn’t ideal, but, he says that as a document of compromise, it will permit self-government negotiations to proceed.

In the accord, the three signatories agree to work towards developing some form of a public self-government for Nunavik.

Existing rights protected

They agree to maintain the existing rights of Nunavimmiut under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and also as an aboriginal people of Canada.

If the JBNQA is to be modified, Aatami said that any changes will have to grant Nunavimmiut “equal or better” rights.

The accord doesn’t resolve certain touchy issues, such as the obligation to maintain Quebec’s jurisdiction over Nunavik, and it doesn’t spell out exactly what form of government Nunavik will have either.

Earlier draft versions of the accord said that Nunavik would have an elected assembly, that could, theoretically, be on an equal standing with Quebec’s National Assembly.

But all references to such an assembly have been removed from the final version of the Nunavik Accord.

This deletion allayed the fears of Quebec politicians and bureaucrats who were fearful of granting too much autonomy and power beforehand to Nunavik.

Commission will work out details

The exact form of self-government for Nunavik will be left up to the Nunavik Commission, which is to be formally established November 5.

The commission will have eight months to complete its research and consult with the public and other interested parties.

It will then have three months to deliberate and come up with its recommendations. The commissioners’ final report will be submitted to the three signatories of the accord for further negotiation.

The members of the Nunavik Commission include three appointees from Nunavik and two each from the federal government and Quebec.

Members announced as of Nunatsiaq News press-time this week include:

Harry Tulugak- former mayor of Puvirnituq, co-op activist and long-time proponent of self-government;
Johnny N. Adams, chairman of the Kativik Regional Government and former mayor of Kuujjuaq;
Annie May Popert, administrator and educator, orginally from Kuujjuaq;
Marc-Adelard Tremblay, professer emeritus from the Université de Laval;
Jules Grégoire, a lawyer and professor at the Université du Québec;
Work starts immediately

The commission will have a budget of $770,000, of which $130,000 will be provided by the Makivik Corporation. The Quebec and federal governments will supply the rest, in equal proportions.

The chief negotiator for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Donat Savoie, said that he’s relieved that the accord is finally to be signed. The federal government had approved the accord months ago, but was waiting for the Quebec cabinet to approve it before scheduling its official signing.

Fernand Roy, Quebec’s chief negotiator, said that his government considers the accord to be an “important step” in its relations with Inuit.

Roy, who will continue to provide administrative back-up to the commission, said its new appointees will meet for the first time on Friday and begin immediately to set the terms of reference for their work.

The commission’s public consultations will likely start up early in the new year.