NR 02-13 KUG ENG Board Meeting Kugaaruk.doc

(September 6, 2002 – Iqaluit, NU) – Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) will hold its next Board of Directors’ Meeting in Kuugaruk, Nunavut beginning September 10th to the 12th, 2002.

The Board will discuss a number of topics of immediate interest to the Inuit of Nunavut in addition to receiving the regular reports from the executive and NTI’s affiliated organizations.

One of the most important of these topics is the negotiation, which NTI is currently engaged in with the Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut (GN) to update the funding for implementing the Land Claims Agreement. The Boards, such as the Water Board, the Wildlife Management Board, and others depend upon this funding for their day-to-day operations. The GN is also seeking a substantial increase in funding to implement such initiatives as improving Inuit employment levels in government and to support the use of Inuktituk in all its forms as the working language of government.

The NTI Board will also be hearing a report on the progress on the revisions to the Wildlife Act. The GN, NTI and the Wildlife Management Board have been meeting monthly, and community consultations began last March, to develop a made in Nunavut’ piece of legislation to deal with this very important issue.

As was announced in the press on August 15, NTI and Strongbow Resources have signed a non-binding MOU to explore for minerals on a minimum of 566,000 hectares (1.4 million acres) of prospective Inuit Owned Lands (IOL’s) in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. This alliance between Strongbow and NTI marks the first large-scale industry-aboriginal partnership to explore for minerals in Nunavut. The Board will be examining this MOU in detail.

Among some of the other issues which the Board will be discussing are the Firearms Legislation, the development of the Nunavut offshore fishery and the matter of the Dog Slaughtering and, since NTI and the GN reached a settlement of their differences over the NNI policy, both parties are now engaged in a renewed effort to get the Appeal Board established and working.

The NTI budget for 2003/2004 Budget will also be presented followed by a Canadian Airlines presentation and a report on the Enrollment issue will be discussed. Finally, on Thursday, September the 12th, 2002, the Board will take part in a workshop part on Social and Cultural Development is scheduled for to end the three- day meeting.

Copies of the agenda are available upon request.

For more information, contact:

Nancy Campbell, Director of Communications
Tel: (867) 975-4900
Fax: (867) 975-4943
Toll Free: (888) 646-0006 Paul Irngaut, Executive Liaison Officer
Tel: (867) 975-4900