Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 16/00) - Some Inuit living in the NWT say it's about time the president of the Nunavut land claims corporation came to meet them.

Twice already this year, Nunavut Tungavik Incorporated president Paul Quassa has cancelled scheduled visits. Now, a third visit to Yellowknife has been tentatively set for the week of Nov. 6.

It's billed as an opportunity for Inuit beneficiaries in the NWT to discuss land claim benefits.

NTI is the land claims corporation created to protect Inuit rights outlined in the Nunavut Agreement and uses income from the $1.148 billion in capital transfer funds over the next 14 years to for services to beneficiaries.

Quassa had cancelled two prior visits to Yellowknife because of bad weather.

The last meeting was scheduled in late June but despite advertising the cancellation about 15 people showed up. Some felt disappointed and embarrassed because it was the second cancellation.

Some of the Inuit in the NWT feel they've been left in the cold by NTI because they don't live in Nunavut. They say the repeated cancellations reflects the little importance NTI holds for Inuit living outside Nunavut.

"I feel frustrated," said Sara Kuniliusee, originally from Broughton Island and now living in Yellowknife.

"Sometimes I wonder; I don't know how I fit in," she said. "I feel rejected."

Kuniliusee said there are many questions she'd like answered.

"I have a daughter attending school and I paid for her registration," said Kuniliusee. "I don't know where to get reimbursed."

There is no NTI office in Yellowknife even though there is a substantial Inuit population of 200-300 people.

"We haven't gone through the agreement; there are a lot of misunderstandings," said Kuniliusee.

Communications officer Al Vigoda said NTI is not excluding Inuit in the NWT but that the cancellations were the result of scheduling realities.

"We want to have the meeting happen," said Vigoda, "The president will be there the week of Nov. 6."

He added that he couldn't pinpoint a date because a venue has not been chosen yet.

Kuniliusee said she hopes the upcoming meeting will not end up being the third cancellation.

"Inuit are asking for more attention," she said.