OTTAWA,
ON, May 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Since the signing of
the Inuit Nunangat Declaration in 2017, the Government of
Canada and Inuit leaders have
continued to meet annually and work together through the
Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC) to advance shared
priorities, strengthen the Inuit-Crown partnership, and create a
more prosperous Inuit Nunangat.
Today, the Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami,
Natan Obed, federal Cabinet
ministers, and elected Inuit leadership from the Inuvialuit
Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivvik, and
the Nunatsiavut Government gathered for a meeting of the ICPC in
Ottawa, Ontario.
During the meeting, leaders discussed a collective vision for
joint implementation activities for the Inuit Nunangat Policy,
endorsed by ICPC leaders in 2022. They committed to work vigorously
to advance the Policy, which would result in transformative changes
by directing how federal departments and agencies design and
deliver policies, programs, and services that apply to Inuit and
across Inuit Nunangat. Leaders agreed to work toward a partnership
to establish an Inuit-led university in Inuit Nunangat.
The Prime Minister, President Obed, and ICPC leaders discussed
the recent federal budget, which includes an investment of
$370 million for Inuit Nunangat to support housing and
community infrastructure in Inuit communities. Leaders also
noted the investment of $45 million over two years to support
Makivvik and Canada working
together on the federal response to address the negative and
enduring impacts of the historical slaughter of sled dogs and the
loss of Inuit culture, which are deliverables of the ICPC's
Reconciliation Measures priority area. Leaders highlighted the
Government of Canada's recent
announcement of an independent oversight body headed by a new
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation and its implications
for Inuit.
ICPC leaders discussed progress achieved over the last year,
which included reaching milestones in longer-term work underway in
many priority areas as well as improvements in ICPC's management
and administration systems, as recommended by the evaluation report
endorsed last year.
Quotes
"The Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee was founded on the
principle that an equal partnership between Inuit and the Crown is
essential to reconciliation. We are ensuring that trust,
transparency, and accountability remains at the heart of everything
we do. We are committed to working with Inuit leadership through
the ICPC to build and advance a renewed Inuit-Crown
relationship."
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime
Minister of Canada
"Open and honest discussion between Inuit leadership, the Prime
Minister, and Cabinet members is pivotal to bringing about the
transformational change the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee was
intended to create. Through this work two years ago we announced
the Inuit Nunangat Policy: the first federal policy to align
government intent regarding substantive equity for Inuit with
outcomes. Today, we have made strong advances in our commitment to
implement the Policy. This is a commitment to our collective
prosperity, and the prosperity of all Canadians."
— Natan Obed, President of Inuit
Tapiriit Kanatami
"We gather around this table three times a year to continue
driving progress on Inuit priorities. From housing to health care
to land claim implementation, Inuit know the needs of their
communities. Inuit are advocating for and driving solutions, and we
will be a partner in this work. Much remains to be done and we will
continue to work together – at this table and outside of it – to
make life better and more fair for people all across Inuit
Nunangat."
— The Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous
Relations
Quick Facts
- The Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC) was founded on the
principle that an equal partnership between Inuit and the Crown is
essential to reconciliation. The Committee meets three times a
year. Once a year, it is co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the
President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
- The ICPC also includes as permanent participants the
presidents of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada, the National Inuit
Youth Council, and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada.
- Participants at today's meeting included:
- Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau
- Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous
Relations
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of
Foreign Affairs
- François-Philippe Champagne,
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
- Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social
Development
- Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern
Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development
Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic
Development Agency
- Patty Hajdu, Minister of
Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal
Economic Development Agency for Northern
Ontario
- Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of
Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
- Sean Fraser, Minister of
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
- Bill Blair, Minister of National
Defence
- Natan Obed, President, Inuit
Tapiriit Kanatami
- Duane Smith, Chair and Chief
Executive Officer, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
- Aluki Kotierk, President, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
- Johannes Lampe, President,
Nunatsiavut
- Pita Aatami, President, Makivvik
- Nancy Etok, President,
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
- The proposed Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation
would take shape as an Agent of Parliament. The Commissioner's role
was co-developed with Modern Treaty Partners to ensure independent,
credible, effective, and sustainable oversight of Modern Treaty
implementation, and hold the federal government accountable to
Parliament for Modern Treaty objectives, obligations, and
relationships.
- The Commissioner must hold the confidence of Indigenous Modern
Treaty Partners, and thus consultation with Indigenous Modern
Treaty Partners will be an integral part of the legislative and
appointment process.
- Inuit Nunangat is the Inuit homeland in Canada. It encompasses the land, water, and
ice of the Inuit land claim regions of the Inuvialuit Settlement
Region of the Northwest
Territories and the Yukon,
Nunavut, Nunavik in Northern Quebec, and Nunatsiavut in
Northern Labrador.
- Co-developing and implementing an Inuit Nunangat Policy
has been a priority of the ICPC since March
2020. The Inuit Nunangat Policy, endorsed by ICPC leaders in
2022, marks the first time the Government of Canada has co-developed an overarching,
whole-of-government policy of this nature.
- The Inuit Nunangat Policy recognizes Inuit Nunangat as a
distinct geographic, cultural, and political region. It outlines an
approach for the design and renewal of all federal policies,
programs, services, and initiatives that apply in Inuit Nunangat or
benefit Inuit. This approach will improve coordination across Inuit
Nunangat and ensure engagement with Inuit in these processes.
- A guiding principle of the Inuit Nunangat Policy is
recognition that federal investments for Inuit and Inuit Nunangat
are an important element of the right of Inuit to
self-determination and self-government. The Policy directs federal
government organizations to consider the unique rights, interests,
and circumstances of Inuit in their approach to directly fund Inuit
Land Claims Organizations.
- The ICPC's current priorities include:
- Inuit land claims implementation;
- Inuktut revitalization, maintenance, protection, and
promotion;
- Inuit Nunangat policy space;
- Reconciliation measures and missing and murdered Indigenous
women and girls;
- Education, early learning, and skills development;
- Health and wellness;
- Environment and climate change;
- Housing;
- Infrastructure;
- Economic development and procurement;
- Legislative priorities;
- International Inuit priorities;
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning;
- Sovereignty, defence, and security; and
- Homelessness.
Associated Links
- Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee evaluation report
- Inuit-Crown Partnership endorses historic Inuit Nunangat Policy
to better support Inuit self-determination
- Prime Minister of Canada and
President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami announce the Inuit-Crown
Partnership Committee
- Advancing reconciliation with a new Commissioner for Modern
Treaty Implementation
- Budget 2024 backgrounder: A Fair Future for Indigenous
Peoples
- Map of Inuit Nunangat
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office