NR 02-17 WIL ENG Wildlife Symposium.doc

(November 1, 2002 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Despite bad weather that forced the Nunavut Wildlife Symposium to split into two smaller events, participants felt the end results were still productive. With Cambridge Bay weathered out for the Oct. 20-24 symposium, Baffin Region delegates were diverted to Iqaluit for a mini-Symposium and a Focus Group assembled in Rankin Inlet for Kivalliq Region delegates.

I regret that we could not bring delegates from all three regions together as planned, said Raymond Ningeocheak, 2nd Vice President for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the host of the Wildlife Symposium. I am looking forward to meeting with the Kitikmeot delegates early in the new year to discuss and get direction on a number of important issues to hunters and trappers.

At the Iqaluit meeting, Managers and Secretary Managers from a number of Hunter and Trappers Organizations discussed a number of issues around new territorial Wildlife Act, including the need for the government to provide information about the Act in plain language, as well as work more closely with HTOs and beneficiaries. Delegates in Iqaluit also agreed to:
Call on the territorial and federal governments and NTI to work towards building a laboratory facility in Nunavut for testing animal and food samples for contaminants,
Call on the territorial government to review the present status of community freezers and meat cutting facilities in the Baffin Region, and
Call on NTI to improve or replace existing HTO offices as well as increase operational funding so that HTO staff have competitive salaries and benefits.

Delegates in both Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet talked about the general status of HTOs, challenges faced by HTO Managers, and NTI’s Harvester Support Program. Copies of the resolutions are available upon request.

For further information:

Nancy Campbell
Director of Communications
Tel: (867) 975-4900
Fax: (867) 975-4943 Stephan Kilabuk
Wildlife Department