Presentation to the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples re: Implementation

NR 08-11 SEN ENG Senate Appearance.doc

(February 26, 2008 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Acting President James Eetoolook appeared today before the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples to speak about implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. As part of its study into implementation of land claims agreements

NR 08-09 ACF ENG All Candidates Forum.doc

(February 22, 2008 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) NTI Elections Chief Returning Officer Adamee Itorcheak today announced that Inuit Broadcasting Corporation would produce an all candidates forum phone-in show (Qanuq Isumavit?) for the nominees running for president and vice-president of finance in the upcoming NTI Elections, scheduled for March 18, 2008.

Qanuq Isumavit? will air live on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 from 8-9 p.m. EST on APTN North only. Callers can call 1-800-337-6186 or from Iqaluit 979-0810 with their questions for candidates. Callers are asked to keep their questions very short. All candidates for president and vice-president of finance will be given a two-minute opportunity to respond to the questions.

Competing for the position of president is Mickey Akavak, Jack Anawak, Paul Kaludjak, and Abraham Tagalik. Competing for the position of vice-president of finance is Jayko Aloolloo, James T. Arreak, and Raymond Ningeocheak. Candidates have until Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. local time to withdraw their nomination papers.

The position of president is a four-year term, while the position of vice-president of finance is a two-year term. Eligible voters can head to the Advance Poll on March 11, 2008 or cast their ballots on Voting Day, March 18, 2008 until 7 p.m. local time. Proxy forms are also available. Inuit who are Canadian citizens, 16 years of age or older and enrolled or eligible to enroll under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement can vote in the upcoming election.

For further information:

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

Adamee Itorcheak
Chief Returning Officer
Ayaya Marketing & Communications
Tel: 1-866-979-2111
nticro@ayaya.ca

NR 08-10 NOT ENG Notice of Election.doc

(February 20, 2008 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) NTI Elections Chief Returning Officer Adamee Itorcheak today gave official Notice of Election for the executive officer positions of president and vice-president of finance.

Competing for the position of president is Mickey Akavak of Kimmirut, Jack Anawak of Rankin Inlet, Paul Kaludjak of Iqaluit, and Abraham Tagalik of Iqaluit. Competing for the position of vice-president of finance is Jayko Aloolloo of Pond Inlet, James T. Arreak of Iqaluit and Raymond Ningeocheak of Rankin Inlet. Candidates have until Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. local time to withdraw their nomination papers.

The position of president is a four-year term, while the position of vice-president of finance is a two-year term.

Eligible voters can head to the Advance Poll on March 11 or cast their ballots on Voting Day, March 18 until 7 p.m. local time. Proxy forms are also available from Itorcheak, from community liaison officers, or from the NTI website.

Inuit who are Canadian citizens, 16 years of age or older and enrolled or eligible to enroll under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement can vote in the upcoming election.

For further information:

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

Adamee Itorcheak
Chief Returning Officer
Ayaya Marketing & Communications
Tel: 1-866-979-2111
nticro@ayaya.ca

NR 08-08 FIS ENG NTI Asks DFO to Reverse Decision.doc

(February 19, 2008 - Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Acting President James Eetoolook today called on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to reverse their recent decision to transfer 1,900 metric tonnes of offshore turbot quota to fishing companies owned by non-Inuit in southern Canada.

The transfer of SeaFreez’s turbot quota to two non-Inuit-owned fishing companies based in southern Canada means yet another loss of potential to create desperately needed jobs for Inuit and revenue for Nunavut’s developing fishing industry, said Eetoolook. Nunavut interests were not consulted or even given the opportunity to provide advice or interest in acquiring the quota until after the decision was made last month. This is unfair. That fish comes from waters adjacent to Nunavut, and Inuit deserve the chance to fish that resource, he said.

Under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, government is obligated to seek the advice of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board on wildlife management decisions that affect Inuit harvesting rights and opportunities in the offshore and marine areas. NTI learned last week that DFO made the decision without consulting the NWMB.

We understand the NWMB was not given adequate notice or the opportunity to provide advice before the decision was made. The manner in which DFO made this decision is unacceptable and violates the NLCA, as well as the mandate and authority of the NWMB. I am asking DFO Minister Loyola Hearn to reverse his decision and allow Nunavut fishers the opportunity to acquire the quota, said Eetoolook.

Nunavut fishers only have access to 27 per cent of the total allowable catch of the commercial turbot quota in division 0B, the marine area adjacent to Baffin Island. Had the 1,900 MT been allocated to Nunavut, it would have raised Nunavut’s commercial turbot quota in 0B to 61.8 per cent, making Nunavut’s emerging fisheries more viable. Atlantic provinces receive 80-95 per cent of the quota in their adjacent waters.

For further information:

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

NR 08-07 CUL ENG Culture and Society Report.doc

(February 13, 2008 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Acting President James Eetoolook today released the Annual Report on the State of Inuit Culture and Society, entitled Saqqiqpuq: Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education in Nunavut. The annual report is an annual obligation of Article 32.3.4 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and the 2005-07 report focuses on the education system in Nunavut.

Improving the education system and education results in Nunavut is a primary aspiration of NTI. Without renewed attention and investment from all stakeholders to improve kindergarten to Grade 12 education, Inuit will not be able to fully access the government’s obligations under the NLCA, access benefits of economic development, or fully access the necessary tools to build a fully functioning Inuit society, said Eetoolook.

Eetoolook said the current education system and the proposed Education Act do not do enough to formally entrench and empower Inuit language, values, culture and society into its governance, administration, and delivery. The first education bill, introduced in 2000, was withdrawn in 2002. NTI is concerned the current draft legislation has not addressed some of the major concerns associated with the first attempt, specifically local control of education and language of instruction. The current draft bill has passed two readings and could pass third and final reading during the next session of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, scheduled to convene Feb. 19 in Iqaluit.

Eetoolook called on MLAs to read NTI’s annual report to better understand why the proposed legislation must be improved before it can achieve its intended purpose.

In the report, NTI calls upon the Government of Nunavut to replace the dissolved regional boards of education with suitable alternatives.

We expressed our serious concern about the loss of local control in 1999 and we stand by that nearly nine years later, said Eetoolook. Inuit parents and communities must enjoy the same fundamental decision-making rights about their children’s education as other parents in Canada.

Eetoolook said NTI, alongside educators, lobby groups, parents and communities have since asked for new forms of local control to be established, but the GN has denied repeated requests.

One of the root problems in the education system, and a cause of the GN’s failure to meet its land claims obligation under Article 23, is the lack of a concerted, coordinated effort to deliver Inuit language instruction from K-12, said Eetoolook. Our report states that Nunavut’s education system neither produces students fluent in written and oral Inuit language, or a high quality fully transferable degree in English. The language of instruction model must change to produce fully fluent bilingual graduates grounded in our first language - the Inuit language.

In order to bring about the necessary transformative change to Nunavut’s education system and to the proposed Education Act, NTI makes several recommendations in the annual report, four of which are fundamental:

Inuit society, language, and culture must be entrenched as the foundation of the K-12 education system in Nunavut.
Inuit language must be the principle language of instruction for Inuit students in Nunavut schools as an inherent right.
Local autonomy must be returned to the governance of the education system by adequately replacing the abolished regional boards of education with an equivalent structure.
Immediate and creative measures must be instituted to drastically increase the numbers of Inuit teachers in the schools.

As required by Article 32 of the NLCA, Saqqiqpuq: Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education in Nunavut is to be tabled in the Nunavut Legislative Assembly and the House of Commons.

For further information:

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

NR 08-04 END ENG Nomination Period Ends.doc

(February 12, 2008 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) The Nomination Period for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Elections will close Feb. 19, 2008 at 5 p.m. local time. Eligible candidates must file their nomination papers with the Chief Returning Officer by that time.

Elections for the NTI executive officer positions of President and Vice-President of Finance will be held March 18, 2008. Voters can head to advance polls March 11, 2008, and may also vote by proxy.

Eligible candidates must be Canadian citizens, at least 16 years of age and be enrolled or eligible to enroll under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

Nomination forms for President and Vice-President of Finance can be obtained from Chief Returning Officer Adamee Itorcheak at Ayaya Marketing & Communications, from Community Liaison Officers and from NTI’s website.

Candidates are responsible for ensuring that nomination papers sent to the Chief Returning Officer are received. If nomination papers are not received by deadline, a potential candidate will not be permitted to run in the NTI Elections.

Potential candidates may withdraw their nomination papers until 5 p.m. local time on Feb. 22, 2008.

For further information:

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

Adamee Itorcheak
Chief Returning Officer
Ayaya Marketing & Communications
Tel: 1-866-979-1222

NR 08-06 URA ENG NTI Grants Uranium Rights.doc

(February 7, 2008 - Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Acting President James Eetoolook today announced that NTI signed a memorandum of understanding with Kaminak Gold Corporation that includes the rights to explore for uranium on Inuit Owned Lands parcel RI-30. This parcel, 300 kilometres west of Rankin Inlet, was selected by Inuit during Nunavut Land Claims Agreement negotiations specifically because of its outstanding potential to host a high grade and sizable uranium deposit. NTI hopes to sign the final agreement next month.

The NTI Board of Directors passed a uranium policy in September, 2007, and our employees have worked hard to implement that policy. I am happy that we have now signed our first MOU for uranium exploration, said Eetoolook. The MOU allows Inuit to benefit from this industry while ensuring the protection of our people, the wildlife and the environment.

Under the terms of the MOU:

Kaminak Gold Corporation (KAM - TSX.V) is to spin-out all of its uranium interests in Nunavut, including its interest in two other Nunavut uranium properties (Washburn and Baker Lake) into a new company under a plan of arrangement (Newco). Newco will then issue NTI 1,000,000 shares over 36 months.

Upon signing of the MOU, Kaminak paid NTI C$50,000 and starting December 31, 2008, Newco will pay an advanced royalty of C$50,000 to NTI every year until a mine commences production on the IOL parcel.

Upon completion of a feasibility study on any portion of the property, which includes Newco’s adjacent 230,000 acre Yathkyed property, NTI has the option of taking either a 25% participating interest or a 7.5% net profits royalty in any mine that is developed subject to the study.

Newco shall perform a minimum of 6,000 metres of drilling on IOL parcel RI-30 before the fourth anniversary of the agreement, including at least 3,000 metres to be completed on the Lac Cinquante uranium deposit.
Upon completion of a National Instrument 43-101-compliant report that outlines a measured resource of at least 12 million pounds of uranium oxide, Newco will pay NTI a cash sum of C$1,000,000.

The property is subject to an underlying 12% net profits royalty payable on all minerals to NTI. During periods of positive operating revenue, gross uranium revenue shall be calculated as 130% of the actual value of the product. This royalty is in addition to the 7.5% net profits royalty that NTI has the option of receiving as described above.

For further information:

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

NR 08-05 COM ENG NTI Elections Commissioner Named.doc

(February 6, 2008 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Chief Returning Officer Adamee Itorcheak today announced that Sandy Kusugak was appointed by the NTI Board of Directors to serve as Elections Commissioner for the NTI Elections to be held March 18, 2008.

The term of the NTI Elections Commissioner is Feb. 5 - May 4, 2008. In her role, Kusugak will review and investigate any complaint of violation of NTI Elections’ rules, and make recommendations to the NTI Board of Directors as to the appropriate remedy or penalty.

Kusugak brings extensive elections experience to the role of Elections Commissioner. She currently serves with Elections Nunavut as the Chief Electoral officer, and has played a key role in the Government of Nunavut’s elections for several years.

When voters head to the polls next month, they will elect a President for a four-year term and a Vice-President of Finance for a two-year term. Nomination Period for candidates runs Feb. 4 - 19 at 5 p.m. local time. Nomination forms are available from Itorcheak, or from NTI’s website.

Eligible candidates and voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 16 years of age and be enrolled or eligible to enroll under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

For further information:

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

Adamee Itorcheak
Chief Returning Officer
Ayaya Marketing & Communications
Tel: 1-866-979-2111
nticro@ayaya.ca

NR 08-04 LAN ENG NTI Celebrates Language Week.doc

(February 5, 2008 - Iqaluit, Nunavut) Following the onset of Language Week in Nunavut yesterday, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) President Paul Kaludjak encouraged Inuit across the territory to speak Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut to the best of their ability on a regular basis. Recent data released by Statistics Canada shows there has been a decrease in the amount of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun spoken in the home over the past several years.

Kaludjak said a strong desire to have Inuit language continue as one of Canada’s most vibrant Aboriginal languages plays a critical role in NTI’s tireless work to lobby the Government of Nunavut to improve the proposed Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act. Both pieces of legislation received second reading, and it is anticipated the bills could become law during the next session of the Legislature, scheduled to open Feb. 19 in Iqaluit.

NTI believes the proposed legislation before the Nunavut Legislative Assembly still needs improvement, said Kaludjak. NTI will not rest until we are guaranteed that Inuit language rights are fully met. In our submissions to the Ajauqtiit Standing Committee, we were adamant that government provide the necessary resources to allow Nunavut to begin to function in the Inuit language now - not 20 years from now when our linguistic abilities have further eroded, said Kaludjak.

For further information:

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