(OTTAWA) Federal ministers and Inuit representatives have endorsed what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau describes as a potentially transformative policy for northerners.
Posted at 7:33 p.m.
After a meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC) on Thursday in Ottawa, Trudeau announced that the new Inuit Nunangat policy had been approved by all parties at the table.
It recognizes Inuit Nunangat, an area that includes much of the North and approximately 35% of Canada’s landmass, as a distinct geographic, cultural and political region.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed pointed out Thursday night at a news conference that Inuit are not part of the Indian Act and have a separate relationship with the Crown, making a policy like this is important to respect Inuit self-determination.
“Sometimes on the road to reconciliation, we have days when there are apologies, days when there are important funding announcements that bring equity to Inuit communities,” Obed said.
“And other times in this Crown-Inuit relationship, there are days when we create systemic changes in bureaucracy and in federal departments. And this policy allows that to happen,” he added.
Trudeau said the document provides a plan to ensure Inuit needs and perspectives are reflected in all federal policies, programs, initiatives and services that apply in the region or that would benefit Inuit.
Mr. Trudeau pointed to the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the upgrading of the satellite chain in the North as areas where the government can work with Inuit and provide new economic opportunities.
Inuit leaders have done the heavy lifting on the policy, the premier said.
Also in his opening remarks to the meeting, Mr. Obed thanked the government for working constructively with Inuit on the new policy.
“Over the past year, we have had to overcome the pandemic, as well as a number of other challenges to undertake the regular work of this particular group, but we persevered,” Mr. Obed said.