The effects of devolution on labour relations and the economic impacts of resource development were the themes of this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 regional Inuit association (RIA) panel at the 2024 Nunavut Mining Symposium.

This year, the panel comprised Olayuk Akesuk, president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA); Gabe Karlik, chief operating officer of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA); and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) vice-president Paul Irngaut and Kevin Kablutsiak, NTISA国际影视传媒檚 director of communications. Kitikmeot Inuit Association President Robert Greenley was unable to attend due to inclement weather.

According to Iqaluit Mayor Solomon Awa, the overarching SA国际影视传媒渢opic of concernSA国际影视传媒� from all of the RIAs pertained to labour relations and Inuit hiring practices.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat comes down to a lot of training,SA国际影视传媒� said Awa. SA国际影视传媒淭he general idea is how the Inuit can benefit mostSA国际影视传媒� what I heard [from the panel] is [about] hiring Inuit and giving more employment opportunities to the local population, so the money stays in the community.SA国际影视传媒�

Qikiqtani Inuit Association

SA国际影视传媒淸QIA] has worked hard to ensure that Inuit in the Qikiqtani region benefit from responsible resource development, whether it be through direct employment, contracts awarded, and training opportunities that lead to employment,SA国际影视传媒� Akesuk told Nunavut News.

The QIA is responsible for 13 Baffin communities and has had many projects on the go. Some examples discussed at the panel include:

-The Tuvaijuittuq Land Guardian program currently operating in five communities, which monitors the lands and waters and records harvesting and gathering samples.

-The Tulluriutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) Marine Protected Area, funded by the federal government, has resulted in five marine facilities in the High Arctic now under construction.

-The Q-Step training program has trained many Inuit at the training facility in Morrisburg, Ont., and recently was augmented by $25 million over five years to cover a variety of fields.

Panel moderator Dennis Patterson stated that SA国际影视传媒渢he QIASA国际影视传媒檚 Qikiqtaaluk Corporation has 11 wholly-owned subsidiaries, most notably QC Fisheries, which is currently building its own new fishing vessel and developing Inuit expertise in fishing through the Nunavut Marine and Fisheries Training Consortium, which trains folks from all across Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow that Nunavut has devolution,SA国际影视传媒� Akesuk said, SA国际影视传媒渨e need to start looking at more ways we can support Inuit into getting into leadership positions that will directly or indirectly impact the resource development sector. In order to maximize economic benefits to Inuit from resource development projects, Inuit need to be at the design stage of the projects. Inuit need to understand what the proposed scope of the project will be and be provided the opportunity to respond to the proposed scope. One critical place this can happen when projects are proposed to take place on Inuit-owned lands is through the negotiation of Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreements.

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to see Inuit lead in as many aspects as possible, and we all need to work together to make this a reality. The more Inuit we train now in different professions, the more they will be ready to maximize benefits for themselves and for Inuit in their communities. We are committed to ensuring QIA advocates for responsible resource development that will help diversify the economy in Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� concluded Akesuk.

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated

SA国际影视传媒淩esource development companies operating in Nunavut must formulate and faithfully execute comprehensive plans to train, educate, employ, and retain Inuit workers,SA国际影视传媒� said Kablutsiak. SA国际影视传媒淚t is also just as important that these companies provide meaningful opportunities for Inuit-owned small businesses in Nunavut to carry out contract work. It has always been our view that any corporate undertaking in Nunavut should benefit our people.SA国际影视传媒�

NTI is responsible for funding the operations of the RIAs from interest earned through the Nunavut Trust. Some initiatives have included monthly supplementary funding for Elders and a commitment of $2 million towards Inuit television programming.

According to Patterson, SA国际影视传媒淣TI has a major role in delivering housing for the Nunavut 3000 strategy, and its Makigiaqta program has funded many programs, including youth camps, a nursing program and science projects for youth. NTI will be holding a strategic planning session to review its Revenue Trust Formula, for which $180 million has been set aside.SA国际影视传媒�

Kivalliq Inuit Association

SA国际影视传媒淭he biggest thing from our perspective is jobs and training, and trying to balance this with wildlife and exploration,SA国际影视传媒� said Karlik. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e the only region I know of that stops all operations and traffic during caribou migration season, because they go through the [mining area].SA国际影视传媒�

He said itSA国际影视传媒檚 10 to 14 days on average each year that mining operations are shut down so caribou can cross. Monitors with the Kivalliq Inuit Association and the hunters and trappers organizations are employed, and the Government of Nunavut is also a partner.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 finding that balance,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to balance everything and show a way to do both exploration and preservation of wildlife.SA国际影视传媒�