Tungavik/Nunavut land claim signed

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Inuit of the Eastern Northwest Territories are just one step away from having their own government and territory, the first Aboriginal-controlled in Canada.

Following more than 20 years of negotiations between the Inuit and the Canadian federal government, the Nunavut Final Land Claim Agreement was signed May 25 in Baffin Island.

The final hurdle before the legislation could hit the floor of the House of Commons was cleared in Iqaluit when leaders of the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, NWT and Canada signed the final agreement before a jubilant crowd filling the gym of Inuksuk High School.

The agreement finalizes the settlement of the largest land claim agreement in Canada, making the TFN the largest private landowners in the western hemisphere.

John Amagoalik said it felt very good to be at the signing ceremony. Amagoalik is the former president of the Unuit Tapirisat of Canada and has been described as the father of the TFN claim.

However, the veteran lobbyist cautioned the claim had yet to receive royal assent. Unexpected delays can arise and until the legislation is passed, he would hold off celebrating. Amagoalik said that once the claim receives royal assent he will relax, but only for a short time.

"Then we have to get right back to the grindstone. Negotiations was hard work, but implementation starts and may not necessarily be easier," he said.

The government leader of the Northwest Territories agreed a lot of hard work still lies ahead for the TFN.

"I know from experience that claims implementation should not be underestimated. Most importantly, it requires an on-going financial and political commitment to fulfil," said NWT Government Leader Nellie Courmoyea at the Iqaluit signing ceremony.

Courmoyea helped negotiate the Inuvialuit land claim in the western Northwest Territories before entering politics.

Amagoalik said that he expects the legislation to be ratified by early June. The legislation was introduced May 28 and is expected to be rushed through Parliament by mid-June.

Once ratified the agreement will give the Inuit title to 353,610 square kilometres, an area larger than the combined areas of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. In addition they will receive subsurface rights to 36,257 square kilometres.

The 17,500 Inuit will also receive a cash settlement of $1.14 billion paid out over 14 years and a percentage of resource royalties.

More significantly, the ratified claim will create an Inuit-controlled territory from the eastern NWT. The new territory, called Nunavut which means 'Our Land', takes in

the entire District of Keewatin and most of the District of Franklin. The new territory is set to come into existence in 1999.

With its creation, the Inuit will have de facto self-government. It is also the first time since Louis Riel's provisional government helped create Manitoba that Aboriginal people have created a new Canadian government.