Feb. 5, 2019 – The government has touted Bill C-91 as being developed in collaboration with Indigenous people, including more than 50 “engagement sessions” across Canada, attended by more than 1,200 people.  ITK President Natan Obed disagrees with that characterization. “Despite being characterized as a reconciliation and co-development initiative, the Government of Canada engaged Inuit in bad faith throughout this legislative initiative,” he said in a statement. “The absence of any Inuit-specific content suggests this bill is yet another legislative initiative developed behind closed doors by a colonial system and then imposed on Inuit,” Obed said. ITK called the new commissioner role “powerless.” President Naten Obed, Inuit Tapariit Kanatami

ITK had sought an Inuktitut-specific standalone bill, or specific provisions in the legislation tabled Tuesday. That did not happen.