Iqaluit (Feb 16/04) - The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is under fire following the release of Auditor-General Sheila Fraser's report for not ensuring the provisions and obligations of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement are being carried out.

"Have the lives of our people improved? Has the economy of Nunavut developed? DIAND has no idea," said Richard Paton, chief operating officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., following a press conference on Tuesday.

"DIAND has no idea how close or how far we are from meeting those objectives, nor does DIAND know what impacts the transfer of resources and money have had on Inuit."

DIAND officials responded, stating it has done its job.

"We can't track every nickel and dime," said Aideen Nabigon, acting director of aboriginal land claims at DIAND in Ottawa.

"It's almost impossible to do a break down," said Nabigon, claiming

DIAND has been "successful" in its handling of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

"We've participated in the process. Most federal obligations have been met."

The Auditor General's report was released on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

NTI held a press conference, praising Fraser's findings.

"It is a timely report," said NTI CEO John Lamb. "With a new government, and a new minister for DIAND, we have a better chance to see more action."

Paton blasted DIAND, saying they spent the last decade "obstructing the federal government's promises to Inuit and Canadian taxpayers."

Quoting the Auditor- General directly, Paton said: "Success is more than meeting obligations. Results matter above all."

NTI officials point to Article 23 as a good example of how DIAND has failed to implement the NLCA.

It states Inuit should occupy 85 per cent of the public service.

According to Lamb, the current numbers show 41 per cent of employees working for the Government of Nunavut are Inuit beneficiaries.

At the federal level, 33 per cent are Inuit.

"Those levels have been going down," Lamb added.

Lamb estimates the federal government's failure to meet the obligations of Article 23 works out to $123 million a year in lost revenue for Nunavummiut.

The NLCA itself was worth $1.1 billion when it was signed in 1993.

Lamb went on to slam DIAND for refusing to discuss funding to train Inuit to meet Article 23 just two years ago.

At the close of Tuesday's press conference, NTI said it was open to the idea of no longer dealing with DIAND on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.