by Mark Sproxton
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 26/97) - Inuit living in southern Canada had a voice at the Inuit Tapirisat's annual general meeting earlier this month.

That voice was one of concern.

Madeline Alexander-Redfern from the Inuit Tungasuvvingat Community Centre in Ottawa wondered how southern Inuit will be included in government programs now that land claims groups have assumed responsibility from Ottawa.

"Individuals in the South are having trouble accessing programs like health, education and training," she said. "If an Inuk leaves the region for training or education, their funding can be cut."

Programs once delivered by Ottawa are now being handled by Nunavut Tunngavik, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Makivik Corporation and the Labrador Inuit Association.

The four groups make up the membership of ITC, along with a president and vice president.

In the past, ITC allowed individual memberships, but changed to the current structure at the annual meeting.

"We received some assurances on these issues," Alexander-Redfern, a Nunavut beneficiary, said. "They said they would have some discussions."

And that, she said, is a step forward.

"The key thing is to be recognized," she said. "In the past we were almost forgotten.

"Sometimes individual problems can become a collective issue. These assurances are a step."

When Ottawa administered the programs, such as Pathways, Inuit living in southern Canada had access regardless of where they lived.

Now, with the regional body in charge of the program, those living outside the region have extra work to make sure they are included in programs.

There are about 7,000 Inuit living in southern Canada, Alexander-Redfern said.