In Nunavik we have special ways of sharing. For example, we share beluga after a catch, berries in the autumn and the warmth from the stove in our tupiq (tent).
Inuit culture is going through great changes. Do you agree or disagree? Why? What is the most important thing being lost in Inuit culture?
Secondary students from several schools in Nunavik have commented on the question as part of a KSB project involving five villages. We thought that many of their comments merit being read by other people as well and, with their persmission, we are posting a few of them here.
Join in their discussion. Is Inuit culture going through great changes? What do you think is the most important thing being lost in Inuit culture?
A big thank-you for sending so many heart-warming replies!
Near the end of November, the negotiators, Minnie Grey and Harry Tulugak met with eleven John Abbott college students and their counsellors. After the meeting, we asked them to share their thoughts on this question:
Do you think the future of Nunavik is positive or negative?
If yes, how? If no, why not?
The following question is particularly intended for participants in the Kuujjuaq forum on the theme of Self-governance in Arctic Societies: dynamics and trends. Anyone else that would like to add their opinions or comments is also invited to do so.
"What does self-governance mean to you? Where do you live, and in your opinion, are you part of a political or social structure that is self-governing?"
We were sent this email asking for your point of view:
After the conference, A New Way of Governing: The Experience of the Inuit of Nunavik, this question was sent to the website:
These questions were sent to us by a visitor to the website:
> I am a new resident of Fort Smith, NWT and am interested in
> self government issues. Looking in from the outside it would
> seem to me that Nunavik would have more power if it was separated
> from Quebec.
>
> a) Could Nunavik become a separate territory like Nunavut?
> b) Could Nunavik join Nunavut?
>
> It would seem that the people in Nunavik have much more in common
> with Nunavut than Quebec, thus would be better off joining Nunavut.
> I would think that if Nunavik was still part of the NWT when Nunavut
> was created that Nunavik would have become part of Nunavut, thus
> joining Nunavik with Nunavut would seem to make sense.
>
> Best regards,
> Brian S
What do you think? Why have the people of Nunavik chosen to negotiate their own government? What kind of a relationship do you think Nunavik should develop with Nunavut?
The objective here is to move minds and produce more ideas and share these ideas.
The concept of block funding has been discussed by our leaders for many years. It was linked & continues to be linked to decision making authority. Presently all "Public" funds are negotiated and "earmarked" for specific envelopes and can be used for no other purpose; i.e. Health and social services dollars cannot be used for funding municipal construction of roads, and vice versa, municipal funds cannot be used to hire nurses or doctors.
‘Life in Nunavik’ was a popular discussion topic. Many comments made by young people expressed a deep concern about social problems. “We live in a society where there are a lot of social problems. How can we get a "Nunavik government" when we can't solve our social problems…”?
This is a good point for reflection and a topic for exchanging ideas. All societies have social problems and so does Nunavik. All societies work towards solving their social problems and Nunavik is no different. It is not realistic nor possible to solve all social problems but it is possible to make large steps in that direction.
We would like your opinions. What do you think the most important social problems in Nunavik are? What do you think should be done to address or solve them?
address a problem: direct one's attention to a problem
Visit us often
www.nunavikgovernment.ca
On this interactive website, you can express your opinions. Your comments are welcomed. Simply click on the "comments" link below a message and type away!
Here, you will find the most up to date information (news articles). There are also sections providing historical background, documents about the negotiation, photos, video clips and a glossary of important words.
The Nunavik negotiating team
