Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the establishment of the Nunavut Partnership Committee between the Government of Nunavut (GN) and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI)
On March 25, President Aluki Kotierk and I signed a declaration to formalize our working relationship in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, this partnership declaration is another step towards our ongoing efforts to strengthen the Government of Nunavut’s working relations with NTI. This commitment followed the release of the Katujjiluta Mandate, which was developed in collaboration with Nunavut’s Inuit Organizations.
The creation… read more.
Mr. Speaker,
This year, I had the privilege to spend Nunavut Day at Qaumajuq at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The new museum is home to the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world.
Nunavut, especially our Kivalliq region, is closely tied to Manitoba. It was an outstanding experience to spend our territorial holiday in Winnipeg on July 9. I had travelled there to attend an annual meeting of Canada’s premiers.
It was fitting to attend and speak at the signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding between the Manitoba Inuit Association and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 29th annual Indspire Awards.
On May 12, I was proud to be in attendance as Nunavut’s Melissa Attagutsiak was presented with the 2022 Indspire Award for Youth. Her father accepted the award on her behalf.
Mr. Speaker, Melissa is a fashion designer, owner of Nuvuja9, and student at Nunavut’s Arctic College. Melissa showcased her first collection titled “Sinaa” during the International Indigenous Fashion Week in Paris, France. Her work features traditional materials such as seal fur. Through fashion Melissa celebrates her Inuit culture and… read more.
Mr. Speaker,
I rise today to acknowledge and thank my colleagues.
When we jointly developed the Katujjiluta mandate, we promised to be transparent and accountable. With this second progress report, we continue to follow through on that promise.
We also promised to work together. Through this mid-term mandate-review process we demonstrated that we are all indeed working together for the betterment of Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, we heard Ministers share their many successes two years into this term despite the unplanned obstacles such as the COVID closures in December 2021.
We also… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about my participation in the Arctic Security and Sovereignty Summit held in Iqaluit on October 3, 2022.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut senator Dennis Patterson hosted this one-day event in partnership with local and regional organizations including Nunavut’s Inuit Development Corporations Association and Nunasi Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, at this event we spoke about Arctic sovereignty and how to strengthen and support healthy and resilient communities throughout the North.
Mr.… read more.
Mr. Speaker,
Following the historic signing of the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement on January 18, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and I held a bilateral meeting.
We spoke about the importance of devolution signing for Nunavut’s future. The cultural component of the event, which showcased so many of our great and talented performers, brought the strengths of Nunavummiut to the world.
I brought forward, again, how housing is our number one issue and that we need more investment from our federal partner. Nunavut has done its part to build more houses faster by partnering with… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about my recent visit with the Prime Minister of Canada.
I was joined for the bilateral meeting by the President and Vice President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. We spoke about the urgent need to close Nunavut’s housing gap. Addressing Nunavut's housing gap is key to bolstering Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic. Strong, resilient communities are supported by reliable social infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, at our last meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked me to show that our government was working in unison with Inuit organizations on a plan for… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to recognize a few people who played a lead role on our successful road to signing the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.
Most of us see the completed 239-page devolution document as a tool with a simple purpose – to return decision-making related to Nunavut public lands and waters to Nunavut, where it belongs. In three years, we will make our own resource decisions and retain revenue from the extraction of those resources.
Namminiqsurniq – achieving greater autonomy.
What we don’t see is the hours, days, weeks, months, and years of… read more.
Mr. Speaker, Katujjiluta identifies Elders and “aging with dignity in Nunavut” as a key priority area. Our mandate promises to develop a comprehensive Elder and senior care strategy with broad input from Elders, families, communities, and partners.
I’m proud to announce, Mr. Speaker, work is underway towards a Strategic Action Plan for Elders in Nunavut. We have contracted Iqaluit consultant Mary Wilman to work in tandem with the Iqaluit-based company Lichen Consulting to do this review. We aim to complete the new framework by December. Elders groups are being engaged at regional gatherings… read more.
Mr. Speaker, It was my pleasure to welcome my Northern counterparts, Yukon’s Premier Ranj Pillai and Northwest Territories’ Premier R.J. Simpson, in Mittimatalik from May 6 to 9 for the annual Northern Premier’s Forum.
In our meetings we discussed shared priorities, including Arctic security and sovereignty, disaster preparedness and response, critical infrastructure gaps, housing needs, and the health and well-being of Northerners.
I want to thank my friend, Levi Barnabas, the Vice President of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, as well as Minister Karen Nutarak, Mayor Joshua Arreak and the… read more.