Press Release
Kuujjuaraapik, August 9, 2006 – President Pita Aatami of Makivvik, Chairperson Maggie Emudluk of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), and Premier Jean Charest signed the amendment to the Sanarrutik Partnership Agreement in Kuujjuaraapik today in the presence of Inuit and Government of Quebec representatives. Minister of Native Affairs Geoffrey Kelly and Minister of Natural Resources and Fauna Pierre Corbeil of Quebec and Vice-President Adamie Alaku, 2nd Vice-President Johnny Peters, and Treasurer Anthony Ittoshat of Makivvik, and Vice-Chairperson Michael Gordon and Executive Members Aisara Kenuajuak, Jusipi Annahatak, Peter Inukpuk of KRG, as well as Mayor of Kuujjuaraapik Lucassie Inukpak were part of the delegates to witness the signing of the new amended agreement.
This agreement brings an amendment to the Sanarrutik Agreement that will provide for $10M dollars per year indexed over 22 years. The total amount would be approximately $315 million dollars that will be used in the creation of programs for the prevention of crime and the promotion of safe and healthy communities in Nunavik. The change in the agreement was recently negotiated in order for the Quebec Government to fulfill its obligation of Section 4.4 of the Agreement, which was to establish a detention center in Nunavik, and in which all three parties have agreed today will be satisfactorily fulfilled by this amendment.
Pita Aatami stated, “We are strongly encouraged by the new measures in the Sanarrutik Agreement that are earmarked to answer the social needs of the Inuit in Nunavik. We find that this new amendment will provide a valuable tool to find means of improving our communities at a time that our society is addressing some social concerns.”
The Sanarrutik Agreement, the Partnership Agreement on Economic and Community Development of 2002, provided funding over 25 years that would be used for, among other things, the improvement of policing services, the creation of parks in Nunavik, economic development, and a detention center. This agreement was signed by Makivvik, the Kativik Regional Government, and the Quebec Government.
Chairperson of Kativik Regional Government, Maggie Emudluk said, “This funding will be a beneficial tool for all Nunavimmiut in the areas of crime prevention, in the promotion of safe and healthy communities, to improve social environments, to provide assistance to crime victims and to improve correctional activities. More importantly, all of the above will be dealt with in a culturally appropriate manner.”
Makivvik is the Inuit owned economic development company created following the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) in 1975. It has the mandate to represent the 9,800 Inuit of Nunavik at the political level, and to administer the funds of the Agreement accorded to the Inuit ($90-million has been received over a 20 year period). Makivvik owns subsidiary companies such as Air Inuit, First Air, Nunavik Arctic Foods, Nunavik Creations, Halutik Fuels, Cruise North, and jointly owns with other Inuit regional corporations Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics (PAIL).
Kativik Regional Government (KRG) is a non-ethnic public organization created in 1978 whose jurisdiction covers nearly the entire territory of Quebec north of the 55th parallel. KRG administers the affairs of Nunavik in the areas of municipal affairs, transportation, police, employment, manpower training, income security, environment, childcare services, renewable resources, land-use management, civil security, and economic development.
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For more information, please contact:
Lisa Koperqualuk
Communications Officer
Makivvik
Tel: (514) 386-0669
Julie Grenier
Communications Officer
Kativik Regional Government
Tel: 819-964-2961