Improving governance with Nunavut's Hunters and Trappers Organizations

HTOs increased capacity opens up new opportunities

IQALUIT, Feb. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - The sustainability of hunting and harvesting activities in Nunavut is an important value for Inuit in the territory. That's why each community has individual Hunters and Trappers Organizations (HTOs) that help regulate harvesting practices and manage economic development opportunities that may arise from marine and wildlife resources.

To support Nunavut HTOs' managing local resources and taking on economic opportunities, the Government of Canada is investing $216,000 to assist with the development of tools to update their governance system.

The funding was announced today by Deb Schulte, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and the Minister responsible for CanNor.

The funding will support the development of training material dedicated to HTOs on the Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat's website. The material will focus on accounting, human resources, governance, and policy and procedures. To ensure accessibility, all of the resources will be available in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun.

Quotes 

"By working with the Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat, the Government of Canada is able to bring about significant improvements to the governance of Hunters and Trappers Organizations. This will allow them to take advantage of funding opportunities and increase economic development in communities across Nunavut. The fact that these resources will be provided in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun speaks to the importance of the modernization."

Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and the Minister responsible for CanNor

"Hunters and trappers play a key role in providing food and support in communities across Nunavut. By providing this funding, the Government of Canada is giving these organizations the materials and training that will allow them to seize new opportunities and help further economic development."

Deb Schulte, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue

"The training and materials HTOs will receive from this funding will have a significant impact on communities. Once completed hunters and trappers in communities across Nunavut will have more information and better access to resources to help them, leading to new opportunities. We're happy to be working with CanNor to achieve this goal."

Jason Mikki, Executive Director, Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat (NIWS)

Quick Facts 

• CanNor is investing $216,000 with the Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat (NIWS) contributing $54,000 for a total of $270,000 in funding over two years.
• The NIWS is a not-for-profit Inuit organization which provides financial and administration assistance to HTOs across Nunavut.
• HTOs are non-government organizations with membership open to all Nunavut Inuit residents.

Associated Links  

• Nunavut fisheries benefitting from CanNor funding

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SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

For further information: media may contact: Dani Keenan, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, 343-291-1710; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [e-mail]; Craig Welsh, Communications Advisor, Nunavut Region, CanNor, 867-975-3722, [e-mail]; Jason Mikki, Executive Director, Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat (NIWS), 867-645-4860

Related Links

http://www.cannor.gc.ca