Nunavik to establish own government

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The Nunavik Constitutional Committee and the government of Quebec have entered into an agreement that will eventually see an elected regional assembly in place north of the 55th parallel.

The agreement sets out the guidelines of negotiations between the two groups and by April 30, 1995 a draft agreement will be prepared that would establish the Nunavik Assembly and Government.

This assembly would govern under the jurisdiction of the provincial government, but will have the power and the financial resources to respond to the specific needs of residents in the north, including social and economic issues, the agreement reads.

Negotiating for the province is former federal liberal cabinet minister Francis Cox. Makivik Corporation president Simeonie Nalukturuk will head negotiations for the Nunavik Constitutional Committee. Other players include the Kativik Regional Government and the Kativik School Board.

Negotiations begin with six points already established, including that the assembly will be non-ethnic in nature. This means that any permanent resident of the Nunavik territory will be eligible to participate in this northern government.

Of the matters for negotiation is the formulation of amendments to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and the laws related to the agreement for the establishment of the Nunavik Assembly. These amendments will in no way lessen the rights of the Inuit under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the agreement ensures. The establishment of the assembly will not affect the rights of Crees and the Naskapis living north of the 55th parallel, it adds.

The cost of the negotiations is established at $800,000. The province has committed up to $300,000 to help defray costs. The Nunavik party will participate to the tune of $200,000. The balance of the cost is expected to come from the federal government. Both parties intend to approach Ottawa for this financial participation.

Although the idea of a northern government has been bandied about for more than a decade, it has been only during the last few months that real negotiations have occurred, said Michel Payant, spokesperson for Nalukturuk.

With a provincial election slated for September, how this agreement will stand up under a possible Parti Quebecois government was not a subject the current ruling liberals were comfortable in discussing.

Press attache to Christos Sirros, Quebec's Minister of Native Affairs and Natural Resources, said she wouldn't speculate on what the future might hold in store if the current government is ousted. According to Nalukturuk, negotiations will continue regardless of who heads the government.