Twelve years after the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) launched a truth commission to record the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 systemic efforts to colonize Inuit of the Qikiqtaaluk region, the government issued an apology Wednesday.

The atonement included $20 million as an initial investment to begin correcting wrongs of the past.

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett made the apology in Iqaluit while standing before elders from each of the regionSA国际影视传媒檚 13 communities.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 another chapter in our history that we really are putting a closure to,SA国际影视传媒� Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) president P.J. Akeeagok told Nunavut News.

SA国际影视传媒淎n apology is more than just words. It really allows you to let go of the strings that youSA国际影视传媒檝e been holding on to your whole life, really. Some of the experiences of Inuit, when they were kids, theySA国际影视传媒檙e still holding on. The social issues that you see are directly linked to the experiences that they faced and that was told to the truth commission.SA国际影视传媒�

But Akeeagok said, while the apology is meaningful, more was required: SA国际影视传媒渢rue investments to revive what was lost.SA国际影视传媒� What was lost includes Inuit dignity, autonomy and culture. He said future generations are the ultimate focus of the work QIA is doing as a result of the truth commission.

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Of the $20 million, QIA will place $15 million in its Legacy Fund, using roughly $600,000 of interest annually for programs.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 huge in what weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to deliver in key programs based on the 25 recommendations (from the truth commission). This allows us to plan for the future, too, long-term and solution-oriented,SA国际影视传媒� said Akeeagok.

A further $2 million will be used for Inuit history and governance programs, and $2.9 million will go towards a qimmiit (sled dog) revitalization program SA国际影视传媒� of which $100,000 annually for seven years will go to the Nunavut Quest dog-team race.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was very lucky and privileged to have gone to Arctic Bay this year when the Quest came from Pond Inlet to Arctic Bay. The spirit of the Nunavut Quest SA国际影视传媒� you feel it. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 hard to even explain how much pride it gives you, how much sense of belonging you feel,SA国际影视传媒� said Akeeagok, adding organizers always struggle to fundraise each year.

The use of qimmiit is more than symbolic, he said, as young Inuit revive the use of dog teams, including for hunting.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty special to see the next generation starting to take shape in terms of finding their role in what was almost lost,SA国际影视传媒� Akeeagok said.

Finally, $2 million will be devoted to a travel and healing program for Inuit impacted by the Dundas Harbour relocation, and the closing of Kivitoo, Paallavvik and South Camp communities. The details havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been worked out yet, but the program is intended to mitigate the impact on Sanikiluaq and Qikiqtarjuaq families, for whom the past is still very raw and painful.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e really pleased to get this initial investment. The first two years are going to be really critical in terms of really laying out that foundation, that baseline in terms of really making an impact on every Inuk in this region,SA国际影视传媒� said Akeeagok.

Peace and healing, with an eye to the future 

Before the truth commission was established in 2007, the produced a report for Parliament in which the policing organization disputed Inuit allegations of qimmiit killing. The truth commission sought to tell the stories of those who had experienced devastating events which took place between 1950 and 1975.

SA国际影视传媒淎round 350 Inuit were interviewed in terms of the colonial policies that really tried dismantling who we are as Inuit, whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 your language, your culture, your mobility,SA国际影视传媒� said Akeeagok.

The stories included forced relocations and imposed sub-standard housing, the killing of dogs SA国际影视传媒� a vital mode of transportation SA国际影视传媒� and residential school.

In his speech Wednesday, Akeeagok referenced some of the truths told by Inuit.

SA国际影视传媒淭he report echoes voices such as SanikiluaqSA国际影视传媒檚 Lottie Arragutainaq, who spoke about being forced to leave her home with only the clothes on her back,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淰oices such as QikiqtarjuaqSA国际影视传媒檚 Jacopie Nuqingaq and PangnirtungSA国际影视传媒檚 Solomonie Qiyutaq, who spoke about their struggle to survive after the slaughter of their qimiit SA国际影视传媒� their primary tool for going on the land and harvesting food for their families.SA国际影视传媒�

Akeeagok expressed gratitude for the work of retired Justice James Igloliorte, who oversaw the truth commission, and Madeleine Redfern, who was the executive director, as well as Joanasie Akumalik, Stevie Aulaqiaq, Joe Attagutaluk, Phillip Paneak and Joanasie Karpik.

SA国际影视传媒淭he testimony you hear in the reports is very raw. We owe gratitude to those folks who allowed the space for Inuit to share their story,SA国际影视传媒� he told Nunavut News.

Akeeagok said QIA chose to be patient and steadfast, rather than going the litigation route.

SA国际影视传媒淕oing to a saimaqatigiigniq approach, which is having that mutual understanding of letSA国际影视传媒檚 get to the root of this and really start building our future,SA国际影视传媒� Akeeagok said.

To that end, beyond the apology and $20 million, a memorandum of understanding was signed during the apology event between the QIA and the federal government to establish the Saimaqatigiigniq Fund. The fund SA国际影视传媒渁llows Canada and QIA to turn the page on the apology process and look toward the future well-being of Inuit with long-term support for core social and cultural programs, as well as innovation and capacity development initiatives,SA国际影视传媒� according to a QIA document.

The announcement follows QIASA国际影视传媒檚 ramped-up efforts, beginning in early 2019, to achieve saimaqatigiigniq with the federal government. Saimaqatigiigniq is also defined as SA国际影视传媒渁 new relationship, when past opponents get back together, meet in the middle, and are at peace.SA国际影视传媒�

Akeeagok met with Bennett many times in 2019, though he says the Inuit organization has been working hard on the file since 2010, when the report was released. Former premier Eva Aariak led the QIA team. Inuit Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk and Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq sent letters of support for the QIA to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Bennett in January.

SA国际影视传媒淭he stars have to align for something like this, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 not a full conclusion. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 very important to know itSA国际影视传媒檚 an initial investment in terms of where weSA国际影视传媒檙e going,SA国际影视传媒� Akeeagok said.

He adds the apology acknowledges the reality of all Inuit in Inuit Nanangat, and the negotiations between QIA and the federal government do not close the door for other Inuit to investigate compensation.