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IQALUIT - Nunavut's beneficiaries' organization has applauded the government's renewed long-term vision and five-year mandate, outlined in this year's speech from the throne.

The mandate, entitled Tamapta: Building Our Future Together, was announced by the premier and tabled by the legislative assembly on the day of Nunavut's 10th anniversary, April 1.

A large crowd gathered inside and outside the legislative chamber to hear Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Nunavut's commissioner, give her address on the territory's 10th anniversary, April 1. - Gabriel Zarate/NNSL photo

Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), expressed his support for the new mandate, in particular, its commitment to seeing the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement fully implemented.

"I was delighted to hear the government will be working alongside NTI to implement the (Nunavut land claim)," Kaludjak stated. "NTI shares the vision and guiding principles outlined in Tamapta in our own mandate."

Developed by Nunavut's third legislative assembly, the mandate will guide the creation of an action plan reflecting the government's priorities, which include addressing the needs of those who are most vulnerable and giving Nunavut a stronger presence both nationally and internationally.

The action plan is scheduled to be completed later this year by the entire assembly as a "detailed guide for the activities of government," said Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, commissioner of Nunavut.

In her address on April 1, the commissioner outlined the four key areas of action, including an emphasis on existing priorities like education and training.

"We will make better connections between education, continuous learning, skills training and employment," Hanson announced. "And we will continue to strive for more effective collaboration with partners – with Inuit, with community governments, and between governments and departments – because we cannot work alone."

The assembly has also committed to creating a "report card" of its expenditures, structure and programs. The status report, to be completed later this year by an organization outside of the GN, will incorporate feedback from government staff.

Another direction of the mandate is to re-invoke the guiding principles that were established at Nunavut's outset.

"I think it is important to stress that we have been guided in our early work as a new government by Inuit societal values, including the principles outlined in Pinasuaqtavut by the previous government. We have adopted those guiding principles as the basis of building our future together," said premier Eva Aariak last week.