Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 28/02) - Nunavut Tunngavik chief executive officer John Lamb was on the hot seat last Wednesday morning when he explained why the land claims organization removed the issue of assignment rights from the wildlife symposium agenda just hours before it was to proceed.

Speaking to some 26 wildlife representatives from the Baffin region -- as well as to a group of 20 women, elders and disabled persons assembled specifically for the assignment rights presentation -- Lamb said NTI just wasn't prepared for the discussion.

"We should have been ready, but we weren't. We take this off the agenda today with a firm commitment ... that the executive will meet on a face to face basis with the parties of this dispute. This is a firm commitment," said Lamb.

The issue of the assignment of Inuit harvesting rights has been a long and contentious one. Because the article governing assignment -- Article 5.7.34 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement -- was never legally defined, parties concerned with harvesting rights are forced to define it for themselves.

Included in the NLCA, presumably to allow Inuit unable to hunt for themselves to continue to eat country food by assigning their harvesting rights to another Inuk or to a non-Inuk spouse, groups in Iqaluit interpret the article differently, thereby creating tension between the various parties. The long rift looked as if it would end after a successful two-day workshop in June, but the issue resurfaced when the HTA held a vote on their proposed assignment policies in August. Many individuals who want to assign their rights felt the HTA forced the policy through too soon and with too few members participating in the vote.

"At that meeting in August, they (Amarok HTA) largely ignored the recommendations that we made at the meeting in June. They went back to what they had before," said Rebekah Williams, a spokesperson for the group assembled at the meeting.

Williams is calling on NTI to ensure the rights of beneficiaries are equally represented and protected. However, by striking their item from the agenda, Williams said the group is concerned NTI is skirting the issue.

"We just feel like we were slapped," said Williams, following Lamb's explanation.

"We're concerned NTI will not be sensitive to our rights. Article 5 is the largest in the Claim. Why are they not prepared?" she asked.

Lamb said their lack of preparation stemmed from an ill employee and from NTI's desire to have Article 5.7.34 reviewed and interpreted by their legal department.

"That's in the process now," said Lamb.