July 9 is a well-recognized day celebrated annually by Nunavummiut.
The 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement between the Inuit and the Government of Canada SA国际影视传媒� the largest land claims agreement in Canadian history SA国际影视传媒� will be acknowledged on that special day across the vast land of 1.9 million square kilometres, which close to 41,000 Inuit call home.
Paul Irngaut, vice-president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), the organization that ensures the obligations of the land claims agreement are fulfilled, said NTI is providing funding to each region for communities to hold their celebrations on July 9 SA国际影视传媒� a public service holiday in Nunavut.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 to recognize the milestone. The Nunavut Agreement is constitutionally protected and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a very modern treaty with the Crown. It gives a lot of certainty, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a way to move forward with the government of the day. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an opportunity to celebrate it,SA国际影视传媒� Irngaut said.
Long-standing contributions
And while Arctic security has become a prominent strategic concept lately, Irngaut said the Inuit have contributed to the security of Canada long before the land claims agreement was ever conceived.
SA国际影视传媒淚n terms of relocation of Inuit to the High Arctic, as well as other locations in the North, to bolster Canada's sovereignty and security... we've contributed that way a lot for Canada, and our agreement recognized the contributions of Inuit that were relocated, and also we made sure that Inuit are consulted in every aspect of any development in the Arctic,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Irngaut noted that soon after Mark Carney became prime minister, he visited Nunavut on a stopover following a meeting in Europe to understand the priorities and needs of Arctic communities.
SA国际影视传媒淲e met [Carney] here and we are very much aware of Bill C-5 that has passed through Parliament, and it talks about infrastructure and security in the Arctic," he said. "And there's major nation-building projects that will happen in Nunavut, so it's just recognizing our role in the sovereignty of and security of the North.SA国际影视传媒�
Celebrating Nunavut Day reflects the values of Inuit culture and self-determination, according to Irngaut.
SA国际影视传媒淲e recognize the roles that our forefathers had taken, especially the negotiators. Some of them have passed away. Some of them are still alive, but we recognize them, and their contribution to Nunavut during those celebrations.SA国际影视传媒�
In terms of what the most significant moment was during the process of Nunavut becoming a territory, Irngaut said what stands out to him was the recognition of the institution of public government, and also the creation of the Nunavut government under the agreement.
SA国际影视传媒淏ecause without our agreement, the Government of Nunavut would not exist. That's one of the things that was negotiated under the agreement,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
As a relatively new territory, Irngaut acknowledged that Nunavut is SA国际影视传媒済oing through growing pains.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淎nd lack of infrastructure in the North is very apparent,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淚 think one of the things that we as a territory are trying to grapple with is the lack of infrastructure, but Bill C-5 will hopefully help contribute to the creation of different projects that we have been fighting for in our territory since the creation of Nunavut.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think we work very closely with the federal government. We've created mechanisms to talk to the federal government on different things through the elite Crown partnership committee SA国际影视传媒� meetings that the ITK (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) and the federal ministersSA国际影视传媒� chair, and sometimes the prime minister is involved in these discussions. So I think that's recognition of our agreement SA国际影视传媒� that the federal government has taken the steps to recognize our contribution to Canada,SA国际影视传媒� Irngaut said.
He also recognized the advances being made by young Nunavummiut in a maturing territory.
SA国际影视传媒淪o I think we should be proud of the young people, of the young leadership ... because we have youth representatives in every level of the government, and also in our organizations, and in regional organizations, so I think that's an accomplishment that they should be proud of,SA国际影视传媒� Irngaut said.
Focus on Inuit
For former federal and territorial politician Manitok Thompson, who is newly retired from her role as executive director at the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, the Nunavut government still needs to grow into SA国际影视传媒渁 well-oiled machine.SA国际影视传媒�
Too many jobs are going to people who have just arrived in Nunavut, she noted.
SA国际影视传媒�(The) Nunavut government still needs to see how Inuit can be hired as directors and managers and respected in those positions. The bureaucracy is filled with senior staff who are not familiar with communities,SA国际影视传媒� Thompson said.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur land claims need to be respected and remembered about Inuit rights within their land claims.SA国际影视传媒�
Thompson said there is a need for more leadership training camps for Inuit youth to move into politics and to be given opportunities to advance into senior roles in government.
SA国际影视传媒淲e need politicians who have a vision and a passion for the Inuit to get ahead.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a sad state when mothers start begging for food to feed their children on social media. The old politicians in the past had a fight in them to see Inuit succeed,SA国际影视传媒� Thompson remarked. SA国际影视传媒淣unavut needs to step up and get to work on the issues that affect everyday lives.SA国际影视传媒�
Community celebration planned
In Mittimatalik, or Pond Inlet, one of the many communities preparing to celebrate Nunavut Day, Mayor Joshua Arreak said day-long events are planned for the 1,500 or so residents.
A community feast and barbecue will be held featuring caribou, community radio games will take place and a Miss and Mr. Pond Inlet competition will be hosted at the community hall.
Arreak said it's important for youth to be aware of the Nunavut agreement and its privileges, but even so, they should know that for many generations, Inuit have lived in the Arctic and managed wildlife across Nunavut.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey never said anything about animals becoming extinct, and they have managed wildlife for centuries, for many years, and did it well," he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat's what they should be aware of, even the biologists... [Inuit] have a very good track record of managing wildlife, and for some reason, that has been taken away and we're given a quota system, which we're not used to.SA国际影视传媒�
Overall, Arreak said Inuit are strong and know they can survive in the harsh winter climate.
SA国际影视传媒淚nuit have to know how to survive, which is not recognized or acknowledged anywhere else, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 a fact. And food is very important because thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how we survive. We need the animals to survive.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 unique and itSA国际影视传媒檚 special for the Indigenous peoples in Canada. We have lived here for thousands of years and managed and survived."
In Iqaluit, Nunavut Day will be celebrated on the Nakasuk School grounds with a barbecue, a traditional clothing contest, a seal-cutting competition, a creative traditional clothing contest, a bike decorating contest and a bannock-making competition.
