The driving forces for negotiating the Nunavut Agreement were Inuit relationships with wildlife, the environment, and the hunting way of life. Inuit sought self-determination and recognition of jurisdiction. For these aspirations to be realized, Inuit must lead planning and design of all major initiatives in their homeland. This begins with taking a holistic approach to economic development that includes social and cultural considerations. Of course, a critical component of this process is co-operation between the Crown and Inuit.
For Inuit, economic development must be guided by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit Knowledge). This means that the decision to pursue development and the processes to achieve development must be guided by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. Taking this approach applies an Inuit worldview to decisions and actions that influence Inuit lives….This document is informed by Inuit political history as described in the Qikiqtani Truth Commission and discussed in A New Shared Arctic Leadership Model. This document is QIA’s articulation of how the current Federal Government can advance the process of reconciliation by focusing its efforts upon specific outcomes.
Specifically, QIA requests the following from the Government of Canada:
- That the Government of Canada formally and publicly acknowledge the findings of the Qikiqtani Truth Commission, including an acknowledgement that high levels of suicide, addiction, incarceration, and social dysfunction found in the Qikiqtani Region are, in large part, symptoms of intergenerational trauma caused by historical wrongs.
- QIA is requesting that the Prime Minister formally apologize for these historical wrongs as a clear and decisive step towards Saimaqatigiingniq.
- That the Government of Canada make a formal commitment to support the implementation of recommendations set out in the Qikiqtani Truth Commission Report.