May 4, 1990

After 15 years of hard negotiations, the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut and the federal government produced a land claims agreement-in-principle. However, an agreement between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories still had to be set, the Nunavut Accord had to be negotiated, and Inuit still had to ratify the final land claim agreement.

TFN agreement-in-principle signed

SIOBHAN MOSS
Nunatsiaq News

IGLOOLIK — April 30, 1990 marked an historic occasion for Nunavut Inuit, with the signing of the first-ever land claim agreement-in-principle between Inuit and government officials.

The Tungavik Federation of Nunavut's (TFN) land claim, which represents approximately 18,000 Inuit in the NWT and covers approximately 2 million square kilometres, has been under negotiation since 1976 and is scheduled to be ratified in early 1992.

The occasion in Igloolik marked the beginning of this final ratification process, with government and Inuit officials signing a land claim agreement-in-principle (AIP).

Over 400 people from all over the Eastern Arctic and the rest of Canada flocked to the small community of Igloolik over the weekend for the signing of the AIP. They were not disappointed. Celebrations for the event included community feasts, singing, dancing, performances and games.

In exchange for aboriginal title to land in Nunavut, the AIP gives Nunavut Inuit constitutionally-protected rights to land, money renewable resources, and social and political development.

The agreement includes title to approximately 350,000 square kilometres of land and 36,257 square kilometres of subsurface mineral rights (for oil, gas and minerals), and $580 million dollars.

It also includes rights to harvest wildlife, provisions for equal membership with government agencies in public government institutions, and a commitment from the territorial and federal governments and TFN to "support, in principle, the creation of a Nunavut territory and the financing of a Nunavut government... as soon as possible."

As the AIP was signed by Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon, TFN President Paul Quassa and NWT Government Leader Dennis Patterson, federal aides told the DIAND office in Ottawa to transfer an initial $3 million of the settlement to TFN's account.

An additional $2 million will be transferred between now and when the final agreement is reached, in approximately 18 months' time. When the final agreement has been signed, $54 million will be handed over, and the remainder of the money will be paid out over 14 years for a total of $580 million.

Quassa spoke of the AIP as a "social and political contract through which Inuit are showing their commitment to Canada, and Canada is showing its commitment to us."

Siddon told the audience at the signing ceremony: "Canadians are receiving a great gift from the Inuit." He said that by committing these lands to Canada, Inuit would now be able to take on important social, political and administrative responsibilities.

Siddon spoke of the Meech Lake Accord as being the next step and an important one, "so that the government can settle constitutionally the definition of self-government and aboriginal peoples."

Although Siddon has come to the TFN negotiations only recently, he pledged to give his "wholehearted support" to the task of reaching a final agreement within the next 18 months and "to give this matter the highest priority."

There is a great deal of work to do within the next 18 months before the details of the final agreement are completed. Some of the larger tasks will be to identify which lands will be selected for the title, develop an implementation plan, discuss political development and compile a list of Inuit beneficiaries of the claim.