(May 4, 2017 – Iqaluit, Nunavut)     Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) Acting President James Eetoolook today noted that much work remains to be done to fulfil the obligations set out in the Settlement Agreement that was signed two years ago by NTI, the Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut (GN). The agreement ended NTI’s lawsuit against the Government of Canada for an accumulation of broken implementation promises.

“Signing the Settlement Agreement was an important milestone in the history of Nunavut Inuit and Indigenous Peoples worldwide because it proved that government is legally responsible for promises made when signing modern treaties,” said Eetoolook.

Eetoolook expressed disappointment however, because key commitments made in the settlement agreement are taking longer than anticipated, including the completion of a full set of department-by-department Inuit Employment Plans within the Government of Canada and the GN, and the adoption of a federal contracting policy specific to Nunavut.

“NTI will continue to press our federal government and GN partners so that specific implementation promises are kept. NTI will ensure the Nunavut Agreement is used as a key building block in developing a territory that enhances Inuit political, social and economic self-determination,” said Eetoolook.

Eetoolook noted that NTI had fulfilled its Settlement Agreement obligations by launching the new $175 million Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation and bringing into force the revised Nunavut Agreement Article 38.