(October 26, 2017 – Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) President Aluki Kotierk announced today that NTI has successfully concluded its 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Cambridge Bay.
“The Members had discussions on many important issues such as the need to increase Inuit employment and promote the Inuktut language. NTI also pledged substantial funding for several infrastructure projects,” said President Kotierk. “I am confident that the decisions made during this year’s AGM will have lasting impacts in the years to come and will contribute to the long-term development and promotion of Inuit culture and wellbeing.”
Highlights of the AGM resolutions include:
- On Article 23, NTI Members called on the Governments of Canada and Nunavut to immediately develop strong Inuit Employment Plans (IEPs) for all departments, with the necessary detail and funding commitments to achieve 85% Inuit employment.
- On language, NTI Members asked the Government of Canada to recognize Inuktut as an official language in Nunavut, and to provide funding to Nunavut for bilingual services at the same level as that for French.
- NTI Members called on the Governments to make it a priority to establish an Arctic University in Inuit Nunangat that is rooted in Inuit culture and language.
- NTI pledged $5 Million dollars towards the construction of an Inuit Heritage Centre in Nunavut. Currently, Nunavut is the only jurisdiction in Canada without a heritage centre or a similar facility. The Inuit Heritage Centre will enable Inuit to repatriate, house and display Inuit artifacts and other cultural and historic specimens in their homeland.
- On Elders’ care, NTI Members again raised concerns over the dire need for an adequate number of long-term care facilities to ensure that Elders in Nunavut communities can receive basic care in their home communities.
- NTI Members also raised serious concerns on the Government of Canada’s plan to legalize cannabis on July 1, 2018. The Members called on the Government to postpone the legalization, to consult with Inuit on the issue including whether to legalize, the timing and mitigation measures on potential negative impacts. The Members also asked that treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug and alcohol additions be established in Nunavut as part of the legalization plan.
President Kotierk also announced that NTI Board made a decision this week to pledge $4 Million dollar to assist Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) to construct or purchase a centralized student residence. NS, based in Ottawa, is an award-winning college program for Inuit youth. “The Board Members strongly believe in the importance of investing in Inuit pursuing education.” said President Kotierk.
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