Media Centre

2007 News Archive

NTI to Host Annual Televised Year-in-Review Program

NR 07-29 YIR ENG Year-in-Review Program.doc
(December 12, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will broadcast the annual live, two-hour Year-in-Review televised program on the Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN) Northern Service on Jan. 10, 2008 from 9-11 p.m. EST.
President Paul Kaludjak, 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook and Vice-President of Finance Raymond Ningeocheak will all participate in the broadcast with well-known host and former CBC personality Moses Atagoyuk.
NTI …

NTI Demands Intrusive Scientific Wildlife Research be Halted

NR 07-28 INT ENG Intrusive Wildlife Research.doc
(December 5, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) 2nd Vice-President Raymond Ningeocheak today called on federal and territorial governments to halt intrusive scientific wildlife research. Ningeocheak’s comments follow resolutions unanimously passed at NTI’s Annual General Meeting in Rankin Inlet last week.
Inuit have said for years that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit must be incorporated into any scientific research in Nunavut, especially when it comes …

Inuk Lawyer to Begin Work with Nunavut Tunngavik

NR 07-27 OMI ENG Inuk Lawyer Hired by NTI.doc
(December 5, 2007 -Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak announced today that NTI hired Sandra Omik to work as legal counsel to NTI. Omik, originally from Pond Inlet, is a member of the Nunavut Bar Association and a graduate of the Akitsiraq Law Program. Omik graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Victoria.
I am pleased …

Nunavut Tunngavik Annual General Meeting Wraps Up

NR 07-26 AGM ENG AGM Wraps Up.doc
(December 5, 2007 -Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Annual General Meeting members met last week in Rankin Inlet. As well as approving the audited financial statements from the previous fiscal year and adopting the budget for 2008/09, members approved a number of important resolutions, including the Inuit right to education in the Inuit language, sovereignty, stalled Inuit Impacts and Benefits Agreements, several wildlife-related …

Nunavut Tunngavik Membership Approves 2008/09 Budget

NR 07-25 BUD ENG Membership Approves Budget.doc
(December 3, 2007 -Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) Annual General Meeting members approved the proposed budget for the 2008/09 fiscal year last week in Rankin Inlet.
The $40 million budget provides NTI, Regional Inuit Associations, and Inuit Heritage Trust with the financial resources required to carry out regular activities.
This budget stays within the strict spending limits we imposed upon ourselves as we …

Chief Returning Officer Appointed for NTI Elections

NR 07-24 ELE ENG Chief Returning Officer.doc
(November 27, 2007 – Rankin Inlet, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. today announced that Adamee Itorcheak and Ayaya Marketing and Communications will serve as Chief Returning Officer for the upcoming NTI Elections, scheduled for March 18, 2008.
Beneficiaries will elect the positions of President and Vice-President of Finance. Members of the NTI Annual General Meeting will be asked this week to approve a resolution to …

NTI Pressure Leads to Federal Government Increase in Funding for IPGs

NR 07-23 IPG ENG IPG Funding Increased.doc
(November 20, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today reacted to news that funding levels for the Institutions of Public Government have been increased by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
NTI has pushed the Government of Canada to commit to increased funding levels for the IPGS since implementation contract negotiations for the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement began …

Bill 21, the Education Act, Needs Serious Improvement

NR 07-23 ACT ENG Education Act Flawed.doc
(November 7, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Bill 21, the Education Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly today. This concludes the two-year working relationship between Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Government of Nunavut as co-chairs and participants in the Education Act Steering Committee process.
Education Act Steering Committee members were able to come to a consensus agreement on many of the issues in …

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Government of Nunavut Announce Nunavut Day Scholarship Recipients

NR 07-22 REC ENG Nunavut Day Grants Recipients.doc
(November 7, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak and Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik today announced the names of the successful recipients of the annual grant programs launched on Nunavut Day. Entitled Kakiniit, Nunavut Day Cultural and Academic Grants, one scholarship awards funds to students seeking to improve their cultural skills, while the other awards funds to students enrolled …

Auditor General Finds Implementation Failure with Inuvialuit Claim

NR 07-21 INU ENG News Release Auditor Generals Report.doc
(October 31, 2007 – Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik President Paul Kaludjak today said the implementation failures surrounding the Inuvialuit Final Agreement are further evidence that federal land claims implementation policies are not working and are in need of early, fundamental and far-reaching reform. Kaludjak made his comments following the release of Auditor General Sheila Fraser’s report yesterday.The Auditor General has also …

American listing of Polar Bears would undermine management

NR 07-21 PBL ENG Polar Bear Listing.doc
(October 20, 2007 – Rankin Inlet, Nunavut) The Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 2nd Vice-President Raymond Ningeocheak says if the United States list the Polar Bears as threatened under its Endangered Species Act, it would be more harmful to the Polar Bears, as it would undermine the co-management system that’s already in place in Nunavut.
The Board of Directors passed a resolution adamantly opposing the …

NTI and GN Wrap up NLCA Terminology Workshop

NR 07-20 NLA ENG News Release Terminology Workshop.doc
(October 19, 2007 – Iqaluit, Nunavut) Elders, interpreter/translators, and Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) resource people from across Nunavut met this week for a joint Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) and Government of Nunavut (GN) Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth terminology workshop.
Workshop participants focused on the most important terms and concepts of the NLCA. The goal of the workshop was to …

NTI Releases Qauma Project Schedule

NR 07-19 QAU ENG Qauma Project Schedule.doc
(September 27, 2007 – Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. today released this year’s schedule for the Qauma Mobile Treatment Project.
In 2007/08, the project will deliver healing and treatment services in four Nunavut communities as identified by a steering committee comprised of former residential school students from Nunavut. Healers will form a team to travel to communities for one month periods to provide healing …

NTI Congratulates Government of Canada on Implementing Settlement Agreement

NR 07-18 CEP ENG Common Experience Payment.doc
(September 20, 2007 – Iqaluit, Nunavut) On behalf of Nunavut Inuit, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak expressed gratitude following the beginning of the implementation of the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
Application forms for the settlement agreement’s Common Experience Payment were mailed to former students across Canada yesterday, including an estimated 2,800 Nunavut Inuit.
The impact of residential schools on former students, our …

NTI Board of Directors Approves Uranium Policy

NR 07-17 URA ENG NTI Board Passes Uranium Policy.doc
(September 18, 2007 – Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook announced today that the NTI Board of Directors unanimously approved a policy concerning uranium mining in Nunavut during their week-long meeting in Arviat. In accordance with the policy, NTI will support uranium exploration and mining in Nunavut if these activities are carried out with the objectives and …

Common Experience Applications Mailed to Former Residential School Students

NR 07-16 CEP ENG Common Experience Payment Applications.doc
(September 6, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today said Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. would continue to assist Inuit with the Residential School Settlement Agreement process.
The Residential Schools Settlement Agreement opt out period ended last month. Application form for the common experience payment will be mailed to former students on September 20, 2007. Because the form is complex, …

Kakiniit Nunavut Day Grants Deadline Extended

NR 07-15 EXT ENG Nunavut Day Grants Extended.doc
(September 6, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. today announced that the deadline for Kakiniit, Nunavut Day Cultural and Academic Grants was extended to Oct. 15, 2007.
Launched by NTI and the Government of Nunavut on Nunavut Day this past July, the grant program will award $1,000 to five students seeking to improve their cultural skills, while the other will award $1,000 …

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Government of Nunavut Announce New Nunavut Day Scholarships

NR 07-14 NDG ENG Nunavut Day Grants.doc
(July 9, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak and Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik today unveiled two new annual grant programs in honour of Nunavut Day. Entitled Kakiniit, Nunavut Day Cultural and Academic Grants, one scholarship will award $1,000 to five students seeking to improve their cultural skills, while the other will award $1,000 to five students enrolled in academic …

NTI’s Residential Schools Settlement Agreement Community Outreach Program Concludes

NR 07-08 COW ENG Community Outreach Workers.doc
(June 27, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak announced today that community outreach workers finished their visits to all Nunavut communities to ensure Inuit fully understand the Government of Canada’s Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
The agreement is now in the 150-day Opt Out Period. During this period, former students and their families must decide whether to stay in the settlement …

Bowhead Whale Hunt to Proceed in 2008

NR 07-11 BOW ENG Bowhead Whale Hunt.doc
(June 21, 2007 – Pangnirtung, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) 2nd Vice-President Raymond Ningeocheak announced today that Nunavut’s next bowhead whale hunt will take place in the summer of 2008.
The decision about the date was made earlier this month during a Wildlife Policy Advisory Committee (WPAC) meeting. The chairs and vice-chairs of the Regional Wildlife Organizations sit on WPAC, and Ningeocheak sits as …

NTI Disappointed in Peary Caribou Decision

NR 07-10 PEA ENG Peary Caribou Designation.doc
(June 20, 2007 – Pangnirtung, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 2nd Vice-President Raymond Ningeocheak today expressed disappointment in federal Environment Minister John Baird’s decision to recommend to federal cabinet that it designate Peary caribou as endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
Minister Baird’s decision rejects the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board’s (NWMB) final decision that the Peary caribou population on Queen Elizabeth Islands be …

Stronger Language Bills Needed to Protect Inuit Language

NR 07-09 LAN ENG Language Bills Introduced.doc
(June 6, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) President Paul Kaludjak was present yesterday in the Nunavut Legislative Assembly when two new pieces of language legislation were introduced by Culture, Language, Elders and Youth Minister Louis Tapardjuk. Kaludjak said that the bills are a good start, but that both Bills 6 and 7, the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language …

NTI Welcomes the Inuit Nunaat Midwifery Gathering in Iqaluit

NR 07-07 MID ENG Midwifery Conference.doc
(March 10, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut)
Inuit Nunaat Midwifery GatheringPromoting, Supporting and Strengthening Inuit MidwiferyMarch 13, 14 and 159:00 am to 4:30 pmFrobisher Inn, Baffin Room
Open Door Event – Everybody WelcomeTuesday, March 137:00pm to 9:00pmEveryone 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 …

Courts Ready to Approve Residential School Settlement Agreement

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 …

NTI Opposes American Designation of Polar Bears as Endangered

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 …

NTI Makes Presentation to Parliamentary Committee

NR 07-04 SEA ENG Standing Committee Presentation on Sealing.doc
(February 15, 2007 – Rankin Inlet, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 2nd Vice-President Raymond Ningeocheak appeared before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans earlier this month. The committee is studying Canada’s seal hunt and invited NTI, as well as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, to make presentations to better understand the significance of the Inuit seal harvest.
Ningeocheak spoke about the historical and current …

Inuit Organizations and Government Complete IIBA Negotiations

NR 07-02 IIB ENG IIBA Negotiations Conclude.doc
(February 9, 2007 – Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook today announced that an Agreement-in-Principle between Inuit organizations and the Government of Canada was reached for an Umbrella Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement (IIBA) for Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and National Wildlife Areas in Nunavut.
Negotiations for the IIBA began in 2004. Several Inuit organizations were party to the process …

NTI Announces Photo of the Year Contest Winner

NR 07-03 PHO ENG Photo Contest Winner.doc
(February 8, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today announced that Namen Inuarak of Pond Inlet won NTI’s Photo of the Year Contest for 2006. Inuarak won $500 in prize money and an enlarged copy of his photograph after a selection committee of NTI employees viewed the top submissions for 2006.
NTI began the photography contest for Inuit last …

NTI Celebrates Nunavut Languages Week

NR 07-01 LAN ENG Language Week.doc
(February 6, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook is using Nunavut’s Language Week to celebrate Inuit languages.
I thank Inuit families and communities for continuing to use and transmit Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. Our language is a fundamental part of our Inuit identity, and it deserves to be celebrated, said Eetoolook.
NTI believes Inuit languages must be used in …