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The Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement

THE AGREEMENT IN BRIEF

Agreement

The Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement addresses the use and ownership of Nunavut land and resources in James Bay, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, as well as a portion of northern Labrador and an offshore area adjacent to Labrador. The Governments of Canada and Nunavut and Makivik Corporation, an organization that represents about 10,000 Inuit in Nunavik, signed the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement on December 1, 2006.

Settlement Area

The Nunavik Inuit Settlement Area is comprised of two areas:

1. The Nunavik Marine Region, which covers the Nunavut offshore islands adjacent to Québec, the intervening waters, and the offshore islands including the ice that separates them.
   
   
2. The Labrador portion of the Nunavik Inuit Settlement Area, which covers an offshore area adjacent to Labrador from Killinik Island to just north of Hebron and an onshore portion in northern Labrador, consistent with the boundaries of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve of Canada.

Lands

The Nunavik Inuit will own and have surface and subsurface rights to 80 percent of the total area comprised by the islands in the Nunavik Marine Region, an expanse of approximately 5100 square kilometers. In addition, approximately 400 square kilometres will be shared with the Crees of Eeyou Istchee in a joint zone. Nunavik Inuit Lands will include all lands above the ordinary high water mark, and the mines and minerals found within, upon or under them.

Overlaps

The Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement reflects three successful overlap agreements between the Nunavik Inuit and each of three other Aboriginal groups in the region: the Nunavut Inuit, the Crees of Eeyou Istchee and the Labrador Inuit.

Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve of Canada

The Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement, once approved and ratified through legislation by Parliament, would give national park status to the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve of Canada. The park will be approximately 10,000 square kilometres, extending from Saglek Fjord in the south to the northern tip of Labrador, and from the provincial boundary of Québec in the west to the Labrador Sea in the east.  The new park will protect an area of spectacular Arctic wilderness, home to a variety of wildlife and numerous archaeological sites.

Wildlife management and harvesting

The Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board will be established as an institution of public government to manage and regulate wildlife.  Nunavik Inuit will have the right to harvest any species of wildlife in the Nunavik Marine Region to fulfil their economic, social and cultural needs, unless the board establishes a limit in accordance with the terms of the agreement.  Nunavik Inuit harvesting will take priority over other forms of harvesting.

Capital Transfers

Canada will provide a capital transfer of $54.8 million, calculated in 2005 dollars, to the Nunavik Inuit Trust, to be paid out over nine years from the effective date of the agreement.

Resource Royalty

Nunavik Inuit will be entitled to receive annual royalties from the Government of Canada based on resource development in the Nunavik Marine Region.  This amount will equal 50% of the first $2 million and 5% of any additional resource royalties received by the Government that year.

Implementation

Canada will make a one-time payment and ongoing implementation funding payments totalling some $40.1 million in the first 10 years of the agreement to support federal implementation funding obligations. This includes $36.6 million to Makivik and the Nunavik Inuit Trust, and $3.5 million for the Government of Nunavut obligations. Additionally, Canada will pay to Makivik and the Nunavik Inuit Trust $38.7 million which will include costs such as financial compensation for the resolution of Nunavik Inuit claims in Labrador, and the Parks Impact and Benefits Agreement for the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve.

Certainty

The Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement will provide for certainty over lands and resources with respect to the Aboriginal rights of Nunavik Inuit.

Ratification

In October 2006, Makivik Corporation held a ratification vote in 15 Inuit communities across Nunavik.  An overwhelming 78 per cent of Nunavik Inuit endorsed the Agreement, with voter turnout at 81 per cent.

Canada’s New Government introduced legislation in the House of Commons. Upon passage of the proposed legislation by Parliament, the Governor-in-Council will set a date for the agreement to come into force.

KEY MILESTONES OF THE NUNAVIK INUIT LAND CLAIMS NEGOTIATIONS

August, 1993 - The Government of Canada and Makivik Corporation began Agreement-in-Principle negotiations.

October 25, 2002 - Signing of the Agreement-in-Principle.

November 15, 2005 - Representatives of all parties initialled the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement.

December 1, 2006 - Signing of the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement by Makivik Corporation, the Government of Nunavut and Canada’s New Government.