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Around
Nunavut
December
5, 2003
KIA reaches benefits deal with Tahera
The Kitikmeot Inuit Association has struck a tentative Inuit impact and benefit
agreement with Tahera Corp. for the company's proposed Jericho diamond mine.
Such agreements, called "IIBAs" are required by the Nunavut land
claims agreement.
Tahera's $50-million Jericho mine, located near Contwoyto Lake, is only about
one-twentieth the size of the massive Diavik and Ekati projects just across
the border in the Northwest Territories.
But Jericho will be Nunavut's first diamond mine, and KIA expects that its
deal with Tahera will be a model for future IIBAs between Inuit and mining developers.
"[T]he agreement establishes precedents for future IIBAs with respect
to water compensation and protection of the environment that will make it easier
for mining companies to work with Inuit on mining projects," a KIA news
release says.
Right now, the two parties are calling their deal an "agreement-in-principle,"
but they plan to sign at a ceremony early in 2004.
The deal will cover Inuit employment, training and contracting opportunities
on the mine project, water use and environmental protection.
December
5, 2003
NTI prepares for March
16 election
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
is beginning to prepare for its March 16 executive election, with the appointment
of Helen Klengenberg as Chief Returning Officer, and Lazarus Arreak as Assistant
Chief Returning Officer.
Klengenberg's firm, Aarluk
Consulting, will hire 43 deputy returning officers and 19 poll clerks to help
run the election.
The positions of president
and second vice-president are up for election.
Nomination papers will
be made available to candidates by Jan. 24, and completed nomination papers
are due by Jan. 26.
All Nunavut land claims
beneficiaries who are at least 16 years of age as of election day are eligible
to vote.
December
5, 2003
Student nurses receive
cheques
Premier Paul Okalik and
Ed Picco, the minister of health and social services, has handed out bursary
cheques ranging from $500 to $2,500 to students at Nunavut Arctic College's
health career access and nursing programs.
Those receiving bursaries
last week included:
- Health Career Access:
Mishael Gordon, Taina Kubluitok, Gloria Mimialik, Jessinta Niakrok and Ragee
Tasiutaq.
- Nursing, first year:
Micah Arreak, Eva Eeseemailee, Charlotte Osler, Linda Porter, Mona Ulayuruluk
and Charlotte Zawadski.
- Nursing, second year:
Pallulaaq Ford, Sarah Kilpatrick, Theresa Koonoo, Rebecca Lonsdale, Andrea
Mclarty, Michelle Modesto and Susie Pearce.
- Nursing, third year:
Sipporah Peterloosie.
- Nursing, fourth year:
Lily Amagoalik and Asenath Idlout.
Despite his department's
deficit, Picco said the future of Nunavut's nursing program, which costs about
$1 million a year, has never been in doubt.
"I'm glad that we're
adding to the deficit," joked Okalik. "But we don't mind. It's an
investment. I wished I could have had this support when I was in school. I just
paid off my student loan last week."
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Nunavut 99
