As the Inuvik Native Band stakes a larger presence in the community following its election earlier this year, and a newly finished building between Northmart and the Children First Centre, the organization also looks to a future involved in self-government talks with the Nihtat GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council.

SA国际影视传媒淚 consider ourselves as partners,SA国际影视传媒� said Jozef Carnogursky, president of the NGC. SA国际影视传媒淎lthough we are two separate and distinct organizations, I think probably 99 per cent of the members are the same. Moving forward in self-government, the plan is to combine the two and in the end weSA国际影视传媒檒l have one government.SA国际影视传媒�

Inuvik Native Band Chief Lawrence Neyando confirmed that plan.

The two groups serve a similar purpose, with Nihtat representing GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n in Inuvik and the Inuvik Native Band representing native status holders in town.

The NGC has already expressed its desire to pursue its own self-government agreement for Inuvik, separate from the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council. At the GTCSA国际影视传媒檚 2017 annual general assembly, a direction was put forth to gather the communities to talk about plans for self-government, but that meeting has not yet taken place. Carnogursky confirmed that his direction comes from his membership, which has expressed the desire for InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 own self-government agreement.

SA国际影视传媒淎ny negotiations on the self-government agreement in Inuvik will be a jointly negotiated agreement between Nihtat GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council and the Inuvik Native Band,SA国际影视传媒� said Carnogursky. SA国际影视传媒淲e wonSA国际影视传媒檛 go without the other. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what weSA国际影视传媒檝e agreed to and if oneSA国际影视传媒檚 not ready then we wait. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e doing it together and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 just the way itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to go.SA国际影视传媒�

That future might still be some time away, depending on how slowly these negotiations proceed. For now, Neyando is excited about the bandSA国际影视传媒檚 new life in its new building, which the Inuvik Interagency Committee sold to the band for $1.

SA国际影视传媒淢ondaySA国际影视传媒檚 game on,SA国际影视传媒� he said at the open house Friday, Sept. 22.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e open for business to work with other organizations and members of our community, not only for our members but for the community and to work with everybody.SA国际影视传媒�

Beyond a receptionist, band manager and finance officer, the band is looking to hire a program officer. Neyando is still taking feedback for what kind of programs his membership might want. Ideally, heSA国际影视传媒檇 like to serve both youth and elders at the same time, while not stepping on the toes of any other organizations in town.

After a summer full of work to get the building ready, heSA国际影视传媒檚 excited about the future of the Inuvik Native Band.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 getting awesome feedback from the community,SA国际影视传媒� said Neyando, plus donations from individuals and businesses.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not slowing down. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e just going to keep going forward.SA国际影视传媒�

He thanked community members for their support.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are a number of people that have been giving me advice and I take it all to heart,SA国际影视传媒� added Neyando. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very grateful for everything thatSA国际影视传媒檚 happened so far.SA国际影视传媒�