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MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC - Representatives of Makivik Corporation and the Government of Canada gathered in Montréal today to sign the Nunavik Inuit Marine Region Agreement-in-Principle (AIP). Today’s signing marks a significant step towards completing Nunavik Inuit Aboriginal claims over their traditional territory.

Nunavik Inuit claims to the mainland area of Nunavik, the region of Quebec north of the 55th parallel, were dealt with by the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement of 1975. The present AIP addresses the Nunavik Inuit claim to the offshore area known as the Nunavik Marine Region (NMR), an area under the jurisdiction of Canada and Nunavut. The NMR comprises certain islands and waters of Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, and is critical to Nunavik Inuit since it provides 85 percent of their wildlife harvesting.

“Through this agreement, which has taken much time to achieve, Nunavimmiut begin a step in the right direction–for us to begin managing the offshore area, an area that has been instrumental in keeping us alive, and to confirm ownership of the islands upon which many of our ancestors were born,” said Pita Aatami, President of Makivik Corporation, which represents some 10,000 Nunavik Inuit.

“We have reached a significant milestone on the path toward an agreement which will provide greater economic and social stability for the region,” said the Honourable Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. “Negotiating and settling land claims is part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Aboriginal people in Canada. Settling this land claim will help to strengthen Nunavik Inuit communities by clarifying land title and resource ownership and use in the area.”

The AIP sets out the main elements to be included in the Final Agreement. Under the Final Agreement, Nunavik Inuit will own 80% of the claimed islands in fee simple, including surface and subsurface resources. Nunavik Inuit will receive $50 million as a capital transfer paid over time, as well as a share of the resource royalties accruing to government from development activities in the NMR. The AIP also provides for the establishment of a new wildlife management board and other management institutions for the NMR compatible with the existing public management regimes for the Nunavut Settlement Area as set out in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement signed in May 1993.

The next step in negotiations will be the land selection process, which will begin following the signing of this agreement. Negotiators will then proceed with Final Agreement negotiations.

The Nunavik Inuit Marine Region AIP deals only with the Nunavut portion of the Nunavik Inuit outstanding Aboriginal claim. There is also a Labrador onshore and offshore portion to this claim–it has been accepted by Canada and remains unsettled and will be dealt with at a later date.