The Kangiqliniq Hunters and Trappers Organization is circulating a petition to remove Kono Tattuinee from his role as president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not going to be pushed aside by anybody,SA国际影视传媒� said Harry Ittinuar, interim chair of the Kangiqliniq Hunters and Trappers Organization (KHTO). SA国际影视传媒淲e are going to stand our ground. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 Inuit-owned land weSA国际影视传媒檙e fighting for. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 our caribou herds weSA国际影视传媒檙e fighting for.SA国际影视传媒�
The petition lays out three main issues with Tattuinee, and ends with the threat that if the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) board of directors denies the petition, the KHTO will then petition Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. to revoke the designation of KIA itself.
Of primary concern are comments Tattuinee made during the Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan meetings in Rankin Inlet in September.
During the meeting, Tattuinee stated that KIA wants to retain flexibility to manage Inuit-owned lands and that any development on caribou calving grounds would happen only after thorough consultation with affected communities, as well as being compliant with existing regulatory processes.
Tattuinee is quoted in a statement as saying during the meeting that SA国际影视传媒渢he Kivalliq Inuit Association would only consider supporting development of a mine in a calving ground under very specific conditions,SA国际影视传媒� including no activity during pre-calving, calving or post-calving periods, as well as operations being shut down entirely from mid-May to mid-July.
From the KHTOSA国际影视传媒檚 perspective, that statement SA国际影视传媒渄ismissed the demand by the Inuit of the Kivalliq region to protect the caribou populations, thereby threatening the remaining food security, traditions and culture of Inuit against the membershipSA国际影视传媒檚 demand and direction.SA国际影视传媒�
Two other concerns are listed. One accuses Tattuinee of violating a KIA bylaw during a board meeting in Rankin Inlet on Oct. 5 SA国际影视传媒渨hen he would not allow voting members to vote at the meeting.SA国际影视传媒�
As well, the KHTO alleges that Tattuinee took action at the annual general meeting on Oct. 6 to omit a motion from the KHTO to stop the construction of the road to Itiglak to protect the caribou migration routes SA国际影视传媒渁nd further misled the members when he refused to accept motions from voting members of the societySA国际影视传媒� thereby relinquishing his privilege to serve as the president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association.SA国际影视传媒�
Tattuinee sent a statement to Kivalliq News in response.
SA国际影视传媒淔irst and foremost, the petition contains untrue statements,SA国际影视传媒� he stated.
SA国际影视传媒淭he KIA canSA国际影视传媒檛 make decisions to simply allow development on caribou calving grounds. The NIRB (Nunavut Impact Review Board), water board, NPC (Nunavut Planning Commission) are all part of reviewing any potential development.SA国际影视传媒�
Tattuinee went on to say he supports the important work the KHTO does, especially when it comes to protection of caribou.
SA国际影视传媒淚 myself am a hunter and know the importance of caribou for our families and Inuit,SA国际影视传媒� he wrote.
Responding to his quoted statement at the land use plan meeting, Tattuinee said the petition is taking it out of context.
SA国际影视传媒淭he statement simply provides an explanation on the potential process that would be followed if any development was proposed on calving grounds and the potential conditions that would have to be followed,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Tattuinee.
He also disputed the allegation that a motion was omitted from the AGM.
SA国际影视传媒淚 will continue to serve proudly in my role as KIA president working closely with all Inuit and organizations such as the HTO to protect our lands, our culture, our wildlife and support the betterment of our region for future generations,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Tattuinee. SA国际影视传媒淚 will be meeting further with the HTO so that we can accomplish this work together.SA国际影视传媒�
