Columns

Quebec Inuit enter new era of land-claims agreement

KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ, Quebec ­ In this remote community of 600 on the southern shore of Ungava Bay, Quebec Inuit leaders ushered in a new era in Nunavik's development this week.

Since December, when Hydro Quebec made its last $1 million compensation payment, Makivik's financial future has been entirely in its own hands.

The significance of this milestone was not lost on delegates to the birthright corporation's annual general meeting in Kangiqsualujjuaq this week

Pressure to spend

In his opening remarks to community representatives, board members and a small delegation of elders, Makivik president Zebedee Nungak referred to the great challenge facing this 22-year-old organization: to preserve its $91 million compensation fund.

At the same time, he said Makivik must respond to growing demands to do something about social issues.

Nunavut closely watched

There were other pressing concerns raised during the week-long meetings at the Satuumavik School, and often Nunavut was invoked as an example worth following.

That happened on Wednesday when delegates expressed a desire to combine Nunavik's local hunting, fishing and trapping associations into a regional wildlife management board.

And it was raised again during discussions over access to benefits under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement: Nunavingmiut still have no say as a community in who may become eligible for beneficiary status.

High unemployment, coupled with a high birthrate, continue to challenge Makivik's economic development initiatives.

Most of the 8,600 people in this vast territory, a region covering 660,000 square km, a third of the surface area of the province of Quebec, still live below the poverty level, a problem magnified by the high cost of living in the North.

Where's the jobs?

A survey conducted by the Kativik Regional Government recently concluded that simply to maintain Nunavik's current low level of employment, 25 per cent more jobs than currently exist would have to be created by the year 2000.

Self-government talks with the Quebec government came to an abrupt standstill in 1995, following Nunavik's overwhelming rejection of the Parti Quebecois's sovereignist option.

Makivik's relationship with the province has been strained since then.

No representatives from Quebec or Ottawa bothered to make an appearance this week in Kangiqsualujjuaq.

No government presence

The gradual disappearance of a federal presence in Nunavik was itself a point of concern at one point during the meeting, a subject that elicited a promise from Makivik's leader to lobby for the return of some of these services.

"We're electors, taxpayers and citizens of Canada and Quebec. We're entitled to these services from both levels, we have to remind them of that," said Nungak.

Though Nunavik Inuit have filled a number of jobs at the local government level over the past 15 years, the shrinking public sector alone cannot be expected to provide necessary employment levels.

Makivik's own venture into community-based meat processing has been a disappointing failure so far.

The corporation hopes to focus job efforts this year on an experimental furniture assembly plant in Salluit, and on developing a commercial outfitting industry.

First Air makes money

Makivik's largest subsidiary, First Air, continues to generate lots of money for the Corporation.

But now, confronted with tragic social problems that continue to plague their communities, profit margins in themselves don't seem to offer a great sense of cultural security.

It was clear, when the meetings had come to a close, that communities want Nunavik's birthright corporation to show a more active interest in these issues at the local level, perhaps evening loosening their purse strings for social spending.

The recent hiring of a travelling Inuk crisis counsellor has been received enthusiastically, and according to the corporation's annual report, this program will be expanded to meet demand.

Last year, $275,000 in donations was allotted for crisis-intervention centres in Umiujaq and Inukjuaq, $125,000 for a rehabilitation centre in Kuujjuaq and $50,000 for the Women's Association in Puvirnituq.

Makivik has budgeted $864,919 this year for spending on social issues. That's up from about $550,000 last year.

Snow delayed the arrival of some delegates to this tiny former trading post, 550 km south of Iqaluit.

Phone-line glitches sometimes tested the patience of participants, but the only serious complaint conference organizers heard was that the meeting should never again be scheduled in April, when most delegates would rather be hunting than sitting in a school gymnasium.

Ron Irwin packs it in

Indian Affairs Minister decides not to run for office again.

IQALUIT­ The man who held one of the toughest jobs in the country called it quits.

Ron Irwin, the minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, sent out a statement last week saying he won't seek re-election as MP for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

"This is a personal choice I have made and I am looking forward to being able to enjoy more time with my family and friends," Irwin said.

"It has been an honour for me to serve the government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and the residents of Sault Ste. Marie."

Irwin was first elected to the House of Commons in 1980, was re-elected in 1993 and appointed to Chrétien's first cabinet.

During that time, Irwin had to deal with the rising expectations of aboriginal Canadians, many of whom began to speak out more forcefully after the violent confrontations between aboriginal people and police in Oka, Quebec, in 1990.

Irwin was also running the department that was expected to do something concrete about the findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

That commission criss-crossed the country gathering extensive evidence of abuse, neglect and racism that many aboriginal Canadians have been subjected to at the hands of their governments and fellow Canadians.

During his reign, he also clashed with several native leaders, some of whom have gone so far as to call him a white supremacist.

Respected by Inuit

Northern Inuit leaders say they grew to respect the man who favoured allowing local people make decisions instead of forcing his will upon them.

"We will definitely miss him," says NTI president Jose Kusugak.

Kusugak says Irwin allowed the people of Nunavut to decide for themselves where their capital should be located and whether to accept gender parity for Nunavut's first legislature.

"It makes us accountable to our own decisions," Kusugak said.

Irwin also "stuck his neck out" for the Inuit of Nunavut by pushing for the $150 million in federal money to build Nunavut's infrastructure and for approving the deal that will see a consortium of Inuit birthright corporations build and own that infrastructure, Kusugak says.

Although he'd like to see the next government appoint an aboriginal person to head the Indian Affairs ministry, Kusugak says Inuit leaders will work with whoever takes over from Irwin.

"To the Elders, Chiefs, Aboriginal, Metis and Inuit peoples who have befriended me and taught me, meegwetch," Irwin said in the statement announcing his plans to retire from politics.

Makivik's annual general meeting in Kangiqsualujjuaq

Put people before business, Makivik leaders told

KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ, Quebec ­ Nunavik Inuit say they want the Makivik corporation to combat their region's crippling social problems.

As Makivik representatives from 14 Nunavik communities made clear at the corporation's annual general meeting in Kangiqsualujjuaq, the rapid evolution of traditional communities continues to exacerbate pressing social problems.

Tales of suicide, drug addiction, alcoholism and the lingering effects of sexual abuse dominated discussions on Tuesday, along with repeated calls for communities to take back some control of the "healing" process.

Elders have role to play

Johnny Akpahatak, a community representative for Aupaluk, said he himself had suicidal thoughts as a young man, but recalled the intervention of an elder who helped him through a difficult period.

Akpahatak urged elders in the communities to act as counsellors for young people in distress.

"I really think that the elders should be given a chance," said Akpahatak. "They are very good in helping young people. Let's turn back to our elders and maybe give them some income for doing this."

Take charge

Robbie Tookalook of Umiujaq called on Inuit parents to take more responsibility for their own children, and cautioned them against growing dependent on state-run social service agencies.

Otherwise, "we have only ourselves to blame for the problems," said Tookaluk, who described witnessing children growing up in the streets without guidance, while their parents gambled and abused alcohol.

"No wonder people are committing suicide."

Parents must parent

In a tear-filled plea for a return to family and community values, Martha Greig, the vice-president of Pauktuutit, declared that Inuit parents have become too accustomed to surrendering parental control to government authorities.

"We have given too much responsibility to others for our children," said Greig. "We give our children to the social services, and to the priest. But it's a mother and a father who must look after kids."

While delegates looked inward and reflected on the work to be done at the community level, at least one representative voiced concern over the birthright corporation's preoccupation with business ventures.

Candidate speaks out

Lucy Carrier, the member from Kangirsuk who challenged Zebedee Nungak's presidency this week, said she would like to see Makivik spend less time worrying about the bottom line, and more time addressing social issues.

"Many times the people are left out, whereas the organization thrives," Carrier said.

"I think that people in positions of power should be more ready to listen to what their people want."

Makivik vice-president Mark Gordon acknowledged that the corporation is considering playing a larger social role in the communities than it has in the past, especially since the provincial and federal governments no longer have the same presence.

But the division of Makivik's social, political and economic functions into different entities along the Nunavut model may still be a long way's off.

"I think that the concept of pursuing this further and looking at this seriously will certainly evolve," Gordon said. "But things like this are new to us and the other question is, do we have enough resources to deal with issues like these, and deal with them separately?"

Who's a beneficiary?

Members also pushed hard this week for some sign from Makivik that action would be taken to curb abuses of Inuit beneficiary status.

Unlike entitlement provisions in the Nunavut land claim agreement and those enjoyed by Quebec Crees, authority to determine Inuit beneficiary status resides with the provincial government in Quebec City.

This lack of control over who can have access to hunting rights, educational benefits, free health and dental care and housing assistance goes to the heart of the current self-government debate.

Should non-northerners benefit?

A provision in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) also allows lawful non-Inuit spouses of Inuit and the offspring of these unions to enjoy the same benefits­whether or not they live in the North.

"This has created in the 20 some years since, a unique set of problems," says Makivik president Zebedee Nungak. "We have more than a few cases of blatant abuse of this provision."

The Corporation began proceedings three years ago to put a stop to these marriages of convenience, but the issue remains unresolved.

Tightening the rules for entitlement requires an amendment to the JBNQA, and Makivik's eligibility committee has still to finish consultations with the communities before it can put forward any proposal, Nungak said.

Ideally, such an amendment would transfer authority for granting beneficiary status to a local enrolment committee, with whom Inuit and non-Inuit newcomers alike would have to plead their case.

"We would also like to establish some sort of a regional body where appeals, and any sort of entanglements dealing with beneficiary status can be straightened out," said Nungak.

Some community members suggested easy access to beneficiary status may already be luring non-Inuit to the North.

George Koneak, an elder and a member of Makivik's board of governors who sat on the eligibility committee until this week, threw up his hands.

"There's no point talking about self-government unless we protect our traditional way of life," Koneak said.

Interim commissioner delay Chrétien's fault, says NTI boss

IQALUIT ­ It's up to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to decide when to appoint Nunavut's interim commissioner, NTI president Jose Kusugak said this week.

Kusugak says he regularly calls Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Ron Irwin to "keep pushing buttons" to find out what's stalling the appointment.

"It is at the prime minister's desk now, the whole issue with the election call and so on, that even the minister is sitting there going, 'well Jose, I have no news, it's at the prime minister's desk,'" Kusugak said this week from Broughton Island where NTI executive members are meeting.

Kusugak says he tells Irwin and his officials that people in Nunavut expect ­ and have the right ­ to information about the appointment.

"That's why I have made a point of calling the minister's office before Nunatsiaq News or CBC calls to be able to officially say, 'I don't know because it's at the Prime Minister's Office, apparently," Kusugak said.

In the meantime, he says NTI and other officials are meeting to try to work on other issues that don't need the involvement of the interim commissioner.

"The show must go on," Kusugak says.

Anawak expected to get job

Nunatsiaq MP Jack Anawak, one of three men once on a short-list for the job, is expected to be appointed next week.

But rumours and speculation about the date for Anawak's appointment are as rampant in Nunavut as snowmobiles on the tundra and ravens at the garbage dump.

The Nunavut Implementation Commission had recommended that Ottawa appoint someone to the job by the fall of 1996. Ron Irwin told reporters that Ottawa would fill the post before the end of 1996.

The interim commissioner will play a lead role in helping plan and get Nunavut's government ready for April 1, 1999, when the Northwest Territories is divided into Nunavut in the east and into an as yet unnamed territory in the western Arctic.

The interim commissioner will have a say in hand picking senior members of Nunavut's public service, and have the power to enter into negotiations with other governments and unions.

Liberals seek successor

Although Anawak hasn't announced he won't run again in the next election, already Nunatsiaq Liberals are planning meetings to pick his successor.

Iqaluit MLA Ed Picco said this week he's 99 per cent sure Anawak will get the appointment and he's trying to lead the search for a replacement.

Picco adds that he thinks Anawak did a great job as MP.

Baffin Liberals come to life

IQALUIT­The last time the Nunatsiaq Liberals held a nomination meeting, they slapped incumbent Jack Anawak on the back and wished him well.

This time around, there may be a battle to decide who will represent the people of Nunatsiaq in Parliament in the upcoming election, now expected to be held June 2.

The past few Liberal candidates have all hailed from Rankin Inlet, where coincidentally the nomination meetings were held.

But this time the previously invisible Baffin Liberal Party forces are standing up and making some noise.

Iqaluit MLA Ed Picco is hosting a pre-nomination meeting for interested Liberals on Sunday April 13 from 4-6 p.m. at the Discovery Inn.

"We want to sign up new members and look at possible candidates for the upcoming federal election," Picco says.

"There will be candidates from other regions coming forward...We'd like to see a Baffin candidate."

Anawak replacement sought

Although the current Liberal MP hasn't declared he won't run again, Picco says he's 99 per cent certain Anawak will soon be appointed as Nunavut's interim commissioner.

The formal nomination meeting may be held this year in Cambridge Bay, where local candidate Helen Klengenberg, with the backing of the Keewatin wing of the Liberal Party, is expected to contest the nomination.

Picco, a Liberal Party member since 1983, says he's declined offers from supporters urging him to run for MP.

Although Picco wouldn't confirm it, Nunatsiaq News has learned that Eva Adams-Klaasen, former GNWT employee and now executive assistant to NTI's secretary-treasurer Natsiq Kango, may be interested in running.

"I haven't had time to give it consideration right now," Adams-Klaasen said from Broughton Island.

With the possibility of a fight for the nomination looming, she said Nunatsiaq might be one riding that Prime Minister Jean Chrétien decides to directly appoint a female candidate.

"It would make everyone's lives a lot easier up here if he would just appoint someone," she said.

Picco says Deputy Premier Goo Arlooktoo was interested in the job, but has decided not to run this time. Iqaluit Mayor Joe Kunuk has been approached to run, but isn't interested either, Picco says.

Picco says he expects local Liberals like Fred Coman, Stu Kennedy, Brenda McDonald and new member Joe Kunuk to attend the pre-nomination meeting.

NTI president Jose Kusugak says he's been called by some people interested in running for MP, but says his organization won't formally back any candidate or political party.

"It's starting to get fun already," Kusugak says.

Boundaries commission starts Nunavut tour

A commission touring Nunavut wants to know what people think about how the Nunavut legislative assembly's electoral districts should be organized. But don't tell them what you think about gender parity ­ they don't want to know.

IQALUIT ­ Setting up the boundaries for the Nunavut legislative assembly's first electoral districts began this month.

The Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission has started its work on figuring out how Nunavut's new constituencies should look. The commission has just three months to do the job.

Justice Ted Richard, a former territorial MLA from Yellowknife, is heading up the three-member commission, which includes Sandy Kusugak and former MLA Titus Allooloo.

The NWT Legislative Assembly gave the commission its mandate last month to recommend not only the boundaries, but also the names for Nunavut's electoral districts. That report must be completed by the end of June.

The commission will hold its first round of public meetings in the Keewatin beginning the week of April 21.

From there it will move to the Kitikmeot region the week of May 5, to south Baffin the following week and then on to communities in north Baffin.

Lots of questions

It's a daunting task, because questions such as how many MLAs will represent Nunavut, and whether the political ridings will be single or dual memberships haven't been answered.

Nunavut leaders agreed at the Cambridge Bay meeting in February that the Nunavut legislative assembly will have no less than 20 MLAs and no more than 22.

Whether those MLAs will represent an area alone, or whether they'll share that responsibility with another MLA hasn't been decided.

That means the commission must come up with two electoral maps, with two boundary designs each, one for 10 or 11 dual-member constituencies, and one for 20 or 22 single-member ridings.

No time to waste

Sandy Kusugak said three months isn't much time to complete that task, but neither is there time to delay setting the political boundaries for Nunavut.

"There's a lot of things that have to follow after the commission does it's report," Kusugak said.

"There's another time line in place preparing for the first Nunavut election and the first Nunavut legislature, so I think this has to appear on a timely basis for the election to happen."

Don't ask about gender parity

The number of electoral districts may depend on the outcome of a plebiscite set for May 26 which will ask Nunavut residents if the first legislative assembly should have an equal number of men and women MLAs elected under a dual-membership riding system.

But however Nunavut residents decide on the issue of gender parity and however that decision influences the makeup of Nunavut's legislative assembly, it isn't on the boundary commission's agenda.

Justice Richard wants to make it clear that the commission will not hear debate on that topic during public hearing scheduled for several Nunavut communities.

The business of the commission is to set boundaries for Nunavut. And setting or changing electoral boundaries isn't new to people in the territories.

Within the past several years there have been a number of changes, most notably when the NWT Legislative Assembly increased its size from 22 to 24 seats and when the Pine Point constituency disappeared.

"This process has happened a few times in the last few decades," Richard said. "It's not new."

Want to hear from public

Though the commission doesn't want to hear about gender parity, it does want to hear what people think about boundaries. The commission plans to send out information packages to the communities it's been requested to visit.

"We're trying to make it as accessible as possible, to let everybody know what some of the issues are, what some of the things are they should be thinking about," Kusugak said.

"We can't know what matters most in communities - whether it's language and dialect issues that are important or whether it's size that's important," she said.

There are currently 10 MLAs representing Nunavut in the NWT Legislative Assembly. Those members are elected in five districts in the Baffin region, three in the Keewatin and two in the Kitikmeot

"They're a basis which we work from and also a basis people can resort to, to say we need something better," Commissioner Allooloo said.

When he was Amittuq MLA, Allooloo was criticized by some Igloolik residents who felt he didn't visit there often enough.

Allooloo said people may want to see those boundaries changed to better represent historical ties with neighboring communities or modern transportation routes.

Double the MLAs?

Having dual-member ridings could mean adding another 10 or 11 MLAs within the current boundary system with very little change. But having two MLAs represent one political district isn't a popular choice for governments in Canada.

In fact, until last year's provincial election, Prince Edward Island residents were the only ones in Canada electing their MLAs in shared ridings.

The 16 dual-member system was cast aside in favor of 27 single-member constituencies as a cost-saving measure in the country's smallest province.

Redrawing boundaries also addressed the problem of electoral districts which didn't fairly represent the population they served.

Who won't get an MLA?

But while northerners may be more familiar with single-member constituencies, implementing that system with 20 or 22 MLAs in Nunavut would be a dramatic change. Justice Richard said it could lead to many small communities asking for their own MLAs.

"That, as I see it, will be the main problem," Justice Richard said.

He said the commission also expects residents in larger communities, such as Iqaluit, to request that the boundaries fairly reflect the population. He added, however, that the commission isn't bound by law to divide boundaries along strict population lines, something that's never been done within the territories.

After the commission completes it's report, the assembly will debate it and make its recommendation on which design it wants. The three members of the Nunavut Political Accord will then agree on a system.

The assembly reconvenes Tuesday, May 27.

"They obviously want the report from us, but whether that means they're going to deal with it right away I don't know," Justice Richard said.

The commission will accept written submissions until May 5. People can contact either the commission office in Iqaluit (1-888-655-1333) or Yellowknife (1-800-661-0872) for more information.

NWT midgets stand tall in Nova Scotia tourney

IQALUIT­ Goalie Brad Holmes watched helplessly from the bench as his teammates tried to score two goals to tie the game.

With only 1:27 left to play, Holmes says he thought the game was over. The Yellowknife-based goalie had let in four goals. His rival at the other end of the ice only two.

"It's the worst feeling you can have as a goalie," Holmes says, who watched an iced puck nearly cross into his empty net icing the game.

Second place?

Being down two goals meant the gritty, makeshift team from the Northwest Territories would likely finish second in the largest hockey tournament in the province of Nova Scotia.

Not bad for an unheralded team that had never played together before. Tournament organizers had even politely suggested that the NWT's Midget AA team might fare better playing in the less competitive A division.

But after going undefeated through their first five games, the NWT team wanted to bring back the gold in the final.

When Danny Hunter flipped in a loose puck in a goal mouth scramble to pull within one goal with less than a minute left to play, there was a faint hope.

When Dwayne Twerdin netted the equalizer with 42 seconds left to play, the NWT players exploded with joy. They had a chance.

"Their defence coughed it up and I just spun around and shot it," Twerdin said, admitting that he thought the team was going to lose when they were down by two goals.

With 13 seconds left, team captain Jimmy Twerdin rung a shot off the goalpost, but the puck didn't cross the line and they went to overtime.

Overtime heroics

The tournament's overtime rules make the teams play three players against three. After 10 minutes, and several close calls, the teams were still knotted at 4-4.

In the second overtime period, the teams had to pit two exhausted players against another two exhausted players.

With three minutes left to play in the double overtime, Yellowknife's Danny Hunter took a pass from teammate Trevor Schlepper at the blueline, broke in alone, deked the goaltender and with a nifty backhander, put the puck behind the sprawling Nova Scotia goalie.

It was over.

"Oh my God I can't explain it," Hunter said at the Iqaluit airport after the team returned Monday. "Just seeing that goal cross the line was one of the biggest thrills of my life....It was unreal. It was awesome."

The 17 NWT players, from Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Hay River and Yellowknife and their three coaches poured on the ice.

The tears flowed from the dejected faces of their Nova Scotia rivals.

Proud father looked on

One proud face beaming from the stands was Danny Hunter's father who had flown in from Guelph, Ontario to watch his son play.

"I haven't seen my Dad in about two years," he said. "I have to say that one was for him. He was so proud of me, it was amazing. I was glad he was there."

Airport welcome

A lively crowd greeted the players at the Iqaluit airport Monday afternoon, with banners, cheers, music and applause.

With their gold medals around their necks, dressed in new coats they were given for winning the tournament, players accepted hugs and congratulations from their many fans.

They also showed off the oversized hockey jersey banner that declares them Midget AA champions of the South East District Minor Hockey Association tournament.

Putting NWT on the map

"No one knew where Iqaluit, Northwest Territories was when we got there," says coach Brian Twerdin. "They sure know who we are now."

Twerdin says it's the most amazing comeback he's seen in his 20 years of hockey.

"I've played a lot of hockey, I've coached a lot of hockey, I've never seen a comeback like this. Never," he says.

Down by two goals, it was coach Ross Bennett who made the decision to pull their goalie.

"That was our only shot," Bennett said. "We put the six guys on the ice that we figured could give us a chance."

Twerdin admits he had his doubts, but he also had a lot of faith in his players.

"It didn't look good. But these guys played five previous games and there was no quit in them. I don't say you knew they'd pull it off, but they just didn't quit," Twerdin said.

The Royal Canadian Legion helped sponsor the team's trip, and the players, aged 16-17, helped out with bingos throughout the year to help raise money.

The team also got some help on airfares from First Air and Canadian Airlines.

Bennett says if he had to pick a most valuable player, it would be captain Jimmy Twerdin who played solid defence through the tourney.

The nine players from Iqaluit are Norman Gaiyan, Stephen Gendron, Marty Gendron, Reggie Kenneally, Isaccie "Ice" Kootoo, Richard Monger, Tivi Qiatsaq, Dwayne Twerdin, Jimmy Twerdin, and coaches Ross Bennett, Reg "Boomer" Wynes and Brian Twerdin.

The six Yellowknife players are Kevin Cymbalisty, Brad Holmes, Cory Holtzer, Danny Hunter, Trevor Schlepper and Cory Stead.

Pangnirtung's Wayne Kilabuk and Hay River's Rodney Beck round out the championship team.

Will they go back next year to defend their title?

"We'll see," says a tired-looking Bennett who says he's too hockeyed out right now to think past the Toonik Tyme tournament this weekend in Iqaluit.

My Little Corner of Canada

Joanasie's huskies

Joanasie pressed his forehead against the window of the airplane and looked down on the sea ice below.

It was late June but the sea ice of the High Arctic was still solid except for open leads.

"I'll be travelling on that tonight," he thought to himself.

Joanasie had left home almost a year ago to go to school and was now returning. He looked forward to seeing his family and his three dogs.

His father had given him the three dogs on his fourteenth birthday. He could hardly wait to harness up Kayuq, Nasalik and Kamelik and take off across the spring ice. He prayed that they would still remember him as their master.

The airplane started to descend and Joanasie came back from his thoughts and buckled up. His friend Sam, who was sitting next to him, was excited as the small community came into sight in the distance.

The plane flew directly over the community as it approached the landing strip a few miles away. He could see the familiar yellow truck leaving the community on the road to the strip. The truck was just arriving as the plane came to a stop near the small airport terminal.

Lloyd MacKenzie, the school teacher, greeted the six students as they climbed down off the plane. After collecting their luggage, they all climbed into the yellow truck and took off for home.

Joanasie felt happy, shy and excited as they arrived in the community. His family came out of their small house as the truck stopped in front. His little brother grabbed his leg as soon as he got out of the truck. His mother came up to him and kissed him on the cheek. His father greeted him and shook his hand.

Joanasie took his bags to his small room and came back into the family area.

"How are my dogs?" he asked, looking at his mother.

His mother looked at him and didn't say anything. She looked in the direction of Joanasie's father.

"What happened to them?" Joanasie asked.

His father hesitated for a moment and then answered.

"The RCMP shot them all last week."

Joanasie felt a rush of anger rush through his body.

"Why?" he asked.

"They said they had to get rid of all dogs who had no owners," his father answered.

"But they belonged to me," Joanasie protested.

"We tried to tell them that but they said a 14-year-old boy could not be responsible for huskies," his father said.

"I told them that I was looking after them for you but they said they had been given orders from their bosses to get rid of all extra dogs. I even got angry with them but they didn't pay any attention."

Joanasie felt numb. He was sad and angry. He went to his room and closed the door. He sat down on his bed and wept.

Letter to the editor

Prayers for cancer survivor

I was so moved by Sheila Tiglik's story in the March 28 issue of Nunatsiaq News.

Looking at her picture she looks so young. What an ordeal she must have gone through in the beginning thinking she was pregnant then realizing it was cancer.

She is so brave and strong! Our prayers are with her.

It's so good to read people stories in Nunatsiaq News. A nice change from NTI, Ron Irwin, et al.

Joanna Awa

Winnipeg, MB

Editorial

Irwin will be missed

Nunavut residents and other Canadians are going to miss Ronald A. Irwin, whose career as minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is about to end.

Last week, Irwin told the world that he won't be a candidate in the next federal election, saying he wants to spend more time with family and friends.

That's just about the most honorable motive you could possibly find for quitting a tough job. Irwin deserves our respect for listing his priorities in the right order.

Although many aboriginal people may disagree, history will likely show that, until now, Irwin may have been the best Indian Affairs minister ever to serve in a Liberal government.

He wasn't the kind of guy who was any good at endless perorations on how many inherent rights to self-government can dance on the head of a pin.

But he was the kind of guy who could sit across the table from aboriginal leaders, look them in the eye, and say "Let's make a deal."

He was clearly a pragmatist who wanted to produce concrete results, not more manure with which to fertilize the growth of academic treatises on aboriginal rights and the Constitution.

To do that, he mostly ignored Canada's national aboriginal organizations and the elites who run them, and dealt directly with regional and local leaders.

After the spectacular failure of the Charlottetown Accord and the subsequent demise of the many would-be philosopher kings and queens who helped devise it, that wasn't a bad approach to take.

But in doing so, he alienated many national aboriginal leaders. Not so long ago, Ovide Mercredi even went so far as to accuse Irwin of being "a white supremacist."

Irwin, of course, is not a racist. He may even be one of the few Indian Affairs ministers who wasn't.

But Mercredi's outburst reveals the rage that Irwin inspired three years ago when he circumvented the Assembly of First Nations to sit face-to-face with the aboriginal people of Manitoba to talk real talk about self-government.

Many Nunavut residents didn't have much respect for Irwin when he started his job ­ but that has clearly changed.

Perhaps because he was preoccupied with treaty and status Indian issues, or perhaps because he was poorly briefed by his staff, four years ago Irwin didn't seem to know much about Nunavut.

But eventually, Irwin came to learn much about Nunavut. He showed that in March of last year, when he made his historic announcement outlining the federal Cabinet's commitment to the creation of Nunavut.

Sadly, there was also a cynical and manipulative side to Irwin's approach. Shortly after he took at the top job at DIAND, press releases announcing innumerable new spending projects on southern Indian reserves gushed almost daily out of DIAND's headquarters.

While the budgets of every other federal government department were cut by up to 50 per cent, DIAND's budget stands alone as the only one that has grown since the Liberals took power in 1993.

But most of that spending has been of no benefit to Inuit. New social housing projects are going up on treaty Indian reserves all across Canada ­ but for Inuit and other off-reserve aboriginal peoples, it has come to a standstill.

Clearly, Irwin and his Liberal government have been directing aboriginal money to where their worst aboriginal political problems are most likely to erupt.

But in doing so they have probably violated their fiduciary obligations to Inuit and other off-reserve aboriginal peoples. If the Liberals end up winning the next election, they must correct that.

Having said that, we must also recognize DIAND's accomplishments during Irwin's tenure.

They include the settlement of the 100-year-old Nisga land claim, a commitment to resettle the Innu of Davis Inlet, an agreement to compensate the High Arctic exiles, and the beginning of a massive transfer of DIAND responsibilities to the aboriginal people of Manitoba.

Irwin's successor will be lucky to produce such an honorable record. JB

These materials are Copyright (C) 1997 Nortext Publishing Corporation (Iqaluit), and may be freely distributed throughout the Internet, or other electronic computer networks or bulletin boards, as long as this notice remains intact and the articles are reproduced in their entirety. These materials may not be reprinted for commercial publication in print or other media without the permission of the publisher.