NTI Contaminated Sites Devolution Paper

NR 07-07 MID ENG Midwifery Conference.doc

(March 10, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut)

Inuit Nunaat Midwifery Gathering
Promoting, Supporting and Strengthening Inuit Midwifery
March 13, 14 and 15
9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Frobisher Inn, Baffin Room

Open Door Event - Everybody Welcome
Tuesday, March 13
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Everyone in Iqaluit is invited to a presentation and discussion about Inuit midwifery with Inuit midwives.
Frobisher Inn, Baffin Room

Inuit Midwives; regional and national Inuit organizations; and Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments will be working together to strengthen midwifery in Inuit Nunaat.

For further information:

Stephen Innuksuk
Associate Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Tel: (867) 975-4922 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
stephen@tunngavik.com

NR 07-06 RSS ENG Residential School Settlement Approval.doc

(March 9, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today announced that judges from all Canadian jurisdictions met at an historic court session in Calgary and that final approval of the Residential School Settlement Agreement is expected with the next two weeks.

For the last year and a half, NTI worked very hard to ensure that Nunavut Inuit who were sent away to residential schools, and resided in hostels or residences, would benefit from the Residential School Settlement Agreement. I am pleased to tell Inuit today that final court approval is at hand, said Kaludjak.

All of the nine judges from across Canada who heard the motions to approve the settlement last fall met in Calgary in person or by conference call yesterday, Mar. 8, to finalize the Orders. It is expected that the Orders will be signed and issued during the week of Mar. 12 by each of the courts. As soon as the last Court has issued its Orders, formal approval will be in place

A second round of notice to former residential school students will commence Mar. 22 to provide information about the settlement. Individuals will then have until Aug. 20 to decide if they wish to opt out or receive the benefit of the settlement.

NTI and the Government of Canada are planning information sessions to assist former students in Nunavut communities with making the decision to be included or to opt out.

Former students who don’t want a payment under the settlement, or who think they can get more money than the settlement provides by suing the Government of Canada or the churches on their own, will be advised to remove themselves (opt out) by submitting an Opt Out Form.

Inuit who choose to opt out of the agreement will be advised to talk to a lawyer. NTI will not directly provide legal advice to Inuit, but will refer people to a lawyer who can talk to them free of charge.

Former students who want a payment from the settlement, and who never want to sue the Government of Canada or the churches on their own, will be advised not to remove themselves from the agreement. Inuit who choose to be included in the agreement do not have to talk to lawyers. However, they will need to fill out a form to register to receive the Common Experience Payment. Forms will be available one month after the opt out period ends.

The Common Experience Payment provides former residential school students with $10,000 in financial compensation for their first year of residential school, and an additional $3,000 for each year after that. Students who resided at a residential school or hostel are eligible for this compensation for loss of language, culture and family environment.

Former students who were subjected to sexual abuse and serious physical abuse can participate in the agreement’s Independent Assessment Process. NTI recommends that Inuit consult a lawyer if they wish to participate in this portion of the agreement. The Residential School Settlement Agreement includes some financial assistance toward legal costs if an individual establishes an entitlement to a further award.

Significant funding for healing, truth and reconciliation, commemoration and education initiatives are also available as part of the settlement agreement.

At last, Inuit can find closure and heal from this terrible time in Canadian history. NTI will also continue to assist Inuit in their healing efforts through the Qauma Mobile Treatment Project, said Kaludjak.

For further information:

Stephen Innuksuk
Associate Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated

NR 07-05 POL ENG Polar Bear Resolution.doc

(March 2, 2007 - Rankin Inlet, Nunavut) The Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Board of Directors passed a resolution at their recent meeting in Kugaaruk adamantly opposing the United States’ proposed listing of polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The resolution also demanded the American government use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in an assessment of polar bears to determine their current standing.

The designation of threatened under the Endangered Species Act is a result of non-government organizations attempting to lobby the United States government to officially recognize climate change. Their application to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is based on evidence of global warming.

NTI 2nd Vice-President Raymond Ningeocheak said the application is based on a forecast, adding that it threatens Inuit harvesting culture.

Much of the justification for the listing is based on a forecasted prediction of climate change and the depletion of sea ice, and incomplete scientific information on the western Hudson Bay polar bear population. They are speculating that there is a decline in the polar bear population, said Ningeocheak. Polar bears in Canada have shown a steady increase in number over the past 50 years. Furthermore, scientists know that polar bear populations are cyclical and fluctuate.

Ningeocheak also noted that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit belief is that the western Hudson Bay polar bear population has not suffered a decline, but rather changed in distribution.

If the designation is successful, it will restrict the importation of polar bear skins into the United States, thereby eliminating American polar bear sports hunts in Nunavut.

This would be a significant loss to the Nunavut economy, said Ningeocheak.

For further information:

Kerry McCluskey
Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Tel: (867) 975-4914 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
kerry@tunngavik.com

NTI v. Canada (A.G.) – Crown Statement of Defence