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September 7, 1979

As Michael Amarook of Baker lake won the presidency of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, delegates gathered at ITC's 1979 annual general meeting in Igloolik sat down to consider ITC's latest proposal for dividing the NWT: "Political Development in Nunavut."

Amarook elected president of ITC

CHRIS NEILL
Nunatsiaq News

IGLOOLIK — Elections for the executive of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada were held yesterday in communities across the North. Almost all results have been received at the ITC annual general meeting in Igloolik.

Unofficially, the new president is Michael Amarook, the vice-president is John Amagoalik, and secretary-treasurer is Kathy Towtongie.

This is the first time that all adult Inuit have been able to vote for the ITC executive; previously the voting was limited to ITC members attending the annual general meeting. About 3500 of the estimated 7000 voters turned out. In Frobisher Bay, turnout was about 30 per cent of the estimated 500 voters.

Reporter Chris Neill is in Igloolik and sent the following report on activities there:

Representatives of ITC, Inuit organizations, various levels of government, as well as Commissioner John Parker have been participating in discussions, debate and negotiations at the ITC Annual general meeting being held in Igloolik September 3 to 7.

President Eric Tagoona opened the meeting Monday. He said that the past year has been one of the most challenging and difficult years that ITC has faced in trying to hold on to the Inuit homeland, safeguard Inuit culture, and maintain the Inuit way of life.

He said that with the question of constitutional change in Canada, ITC has taken advantage of an important opportunity available for Inuit to obtain self-government. Mr. Tagoona charged that Inuit rights and constitutional positions have been "far from adequate to support the Inuit right to exist as a distinct people within Canada."

He stated that ITC intends to insist on the Inuit people's right to be self-governing through the promise of the federal minister for federal-provincial relations, Bill Jarvis, for full participation in the upcoming First Ministers' conference in Ottawa.

Mr. Tagoona announced his intention to submit a report entitled "Political Development in Nunavut (the North)" to the meeting, and to forward it to Jake Epp, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development if it was approved.

That report, a proposal for change in the government structure of the Northwest Territories, was described as a blueprint for Inuit government in the Eastern Arctic. It was discussed during a series of closed meetings at the conference.

In his opening speech, Mr. Tagoona spoke of the progress of organizations such as Makivik Corporation, the Inuvialuit in the Western Arctic for the signing of an agreement-in-principle for their land claims settlements, the Baffin Region Inuit Association, Parks Canada, CBC and the CRTC, and issues such as the Baker Lake uranium case, pipeline construction and the Inukshuk Anik 8 project.

The rest of the first day of the conference was spent on the financial report and meetings closed to the press concerning Nunavut land claims and constitutional development.

Day two of the meetings heard reports from the Inuit associations of Baffin, Keewatin, Kitikmeot and Labrador, as well as the Makivik Corporation and on day three, Inuit Tungavingat Nunamini (ITN). The Committee for Original Peoples' Entitlement (COPE) did not attend.

Reporting for the Baffin Region Inuit Association (BRIA), president James Arvaluk of Frobisher Bay reviewed the progress made in game management, drilling and exploration projects in the Baffin region, and study programs initiated during the year.

In particular he spoke about the completed Nanisivik Mineral Resources Social Impact Study, which assessed the social impact of the mine on the area. The study is the result of complaints of workers who claimed their lives and their family lives are upset as the result of prolonged periods away from their home community.

Workers spend six weeks at the Nanisivik mine, then two weeks at home. BRIA proposes a shorter work week period if economically feasible.

Regarding the harvest studies, Mr. Arvaluk expressed BRIA's satisfaction that the regulatory process of quotas on wildlife may be changed and a more efficient system devised. He also expressed satisfaction that the Migratory Birds Convention Act between Canada and the United States would be lifted this year.

In addition, Mr. Arvaluk told the gathering that BRIA would continue to support ITC and work with land claims field representatives to develop a policy to present to ITC.

More details of the annual general meeting next week.

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