OTTAWA — Federal cabinet ministers and Inuit leaders are looking to finalize what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau describes as a potentially transformative policy for people in the North.
The document under review at a meeting in the national capital would recognize Inuit Nunangat, an area that compromises much of the North, as a distinct geographical, cultural and political region.
Trudeau said the document also provides a blueprint for ensuring that the needs and perspectives of Inuit are reflected in all federal policies, programs, services and initiatives that apply in the area, or would benefit Inuit.
He pointed to the modernization of Norad and upgrading the string of satellites in the North as an areas where the government can work with Inuit and provide new economic opportunities.
Inuit leaders have done most of the heavy lifting on the policy, Trudeau said.
During opening remarks at the start of the Inuit-Crown partnership committee meeting Thursday afternoon, Trudeau sounded a note of optimism that the policy would be adopted.
Trudeau said the policy is long overdue, but calls it a positive step on the road of reconciliation and in recognizing Inuit self-determination.
“If it is endorsed today, as I’m sure it will be endorsed today, this policy will have a transformative effect not just on our partnership, but also on those in the Inuit homeland,” Trudeau said in his opening remarks.
The head of a national Inuit organization thanked the government for working constructively with Inuit on the new policy.
“We have over the course of the past year had to struggle with the pandemic, also a number of other challenges to undertake our regular work of this particular group, but we’ve persevered,” said Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2022.
The Canadian Press
