Slow progress on land claim implementation “shocking”

Cathy Towtongie, president of NTI, described as “shocking” the federal government’s progress on implementing the land claim.

“A five-year review initiated in 1999 found that less than one half of our land claim had been implemented,” she said in her address to delegates at the organization’s annual meeting last week.

“A new five-year review due this year will not find things are much better.”

She told delegates she would push for action and try to get the Department of Indian and Northern Development to make Nunavut a priority.

“Somehow, DIAND became distracted with other agendas elsewhere and with their accountability agenda with First Nations,” she said.

“As a result, they did not allocate enough resources, interest and energy to the Nunavut claim file.”

During an NTI-sponsored “State of the Claim” conference next year, she said beneficiaries will have the chance to share information and find out where things stand.