Advancing the Second Year Priorities of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee

INUVIK, INUVIALUIT, NT, June 27, 2018 /CNW/ - The Inuit Crown Partnership Committee is a bilateral mechanism for advancing work on shared priority areas between Inuit and the federal government. Yesterday's meeting provided an opportunity for Inuit leaders and federal Ministers to review progress on the seven priority areas defined in year one of the Committee and discuss concrete actions to move forward on work plans and the eight priorities for the second year of the Committee as identified by Inuit and the Crown during the annual meeting with the Prime Minister in March 2018.

The Committee discussed opportunities to advance better outcomes for K-12 education for Inuit as well as child and family services, in particular developing an Inuit-specific Child-First Initiative. The leaders adopted revised one year work plans on priorities such as housing, health and wellness, and education, early learning, and skills development. The Committee also discussed the Arctic Policy Framework and northern infrastructure, and Inuktut revitalization, maintenance, protection, and promotion.

In addition, members of the Committee raised the primacy of the full implementation of Inuit land claims agreements, which form the legal foundation of the relationship between Inuit and the Crown, as well as the ongoing work by the federal government on the Recognition and Implementation of Rights Framework. This included discussions around the establishment of the modern treaty implementation review commission.

The conversations included a commitment to work in partnership to implement the actions outlined in the revised work plans before the spring of 2019. The decisions made during this meeting help ensure that work on shared Inuit-Crown priorities continues to be pragmatic and fulsome, benefitting Inuit and in turn all Canadians.

Quotes

"Yesterday we came together to continue the meaningful and open discussions that are the basis of our Inuit-Crown Partnership. I am very pleased with concrete actions we have taken to advance the priorities in Inuit Nunangat and the steps we have taken together towards true reconciliation and a brighter future for Inuit."

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

"I am encouraged by the decisions made yesterday to adopt revised work plans that will guide Inuit-Crown action on our shared priorities in the coming year. Having Inuit leaders at the table with federal ministers allows for frank and open discussion, and identification of the solutions and actions required to create prosperity for Inuit and in turn all Canadians."

National Inuit Leader Natan Obed
President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

Quick Facts

• The Inuit Crown Partnership Committee was created in February 2017 and was founded on the principle that an equal partnership between Inuit and the Crown is essential to the reconciliation process.  The Committee meets quarterly and once per year the Prime Minister participates to co-chair the meeting with the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Inuit Organization.
• The Committee includes the Prime Minister and relevant federal ministers to the priority areas identified. For Inuit, the Committee includes the elected leaders of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivik Corporation and the Nunatsiavut Government. Presidents of the National Inuit Youth Council, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, and the Inuit Circumpolar Council are members of the Committee as observers.
• Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, along with her colleagues the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services and the Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce, and Labour, Arif Virani, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories met with Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Duane Smith, Chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Johannes Lampe, President of Nunatsiavut; Aluki Kotierk, President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated; Rebecca Kudloo, President of Pauktuutit, Inuit Women of Canada, and Herb Nakimayak, Vice President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, to further advance outcomes for Inuit and all Canadians through the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee.

Associated Links
Inuit Nunangat Declaration on Inuit-Crown Partnership

Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee makes progress on shared priorities, March 29, 2018, News release

Government of Canada to create Recognition and Implementation of Rights Framework, February 14, 2018, News release

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SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

For further information: media may contact: James Fitz-Morris, Director of Communications and Issues Management, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, 819-997-0002; Media Relations, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-953-1160