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INUVIK
Nellie Cournoyea has been returned as the chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Committee.

Former premier Nellie Cournoyea is back for her ninth term as chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. - T. Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

It's the ninth term for the former premier who has held the office since 1996.

"I have a passion for it," Cournoyea said in an interview on Feb. 1. "I've been involved right from the beginning in the claim."

Cournoyea brings a honed public presence to the position. In person, Cournoyea speaks in a no-nonsense manner. There's little in the way of obfuscation or the too-common tactic of "staying-on-message" but she possesses a dry sense of humour, and expresses a concern and compassion for the people she represents.

"I work hard and this is my home," Cournoyea said. "I have the desire to make us the most progressive (organization of its type) moving forward."

The IRC was established in 1984 to manage the settlement outlined in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. It's an umbrella group with several branches that range from a development corporation to investment to a game control panel.

"I have to make sure everyone is satisfied," she said. "We all have to work together in this region, and collectively we want to see progression.

"We need more employment opportunities here," Cournoyea said, noting the somewhat difficult time the Inuvik region is having economically.

"We have to try to keep people positive. It takes a lot of time to weather the ups and downs."

Looking ahead, Cournoyea said she also views the devolution process and the self-government as amongst her highest priorities this term.

"We've been involved heavily in the negotiation of devolution and self-government," she said. "It's an evolutionary process, and we have to make sure the Inuvialuit perspective is there. We have to make sure our own claim as Inuvialuit is not eroded."

Cournoyea said it's also important to make sure that any changes are kept in accordance with the implementation of land claims.

Six communities comprise the Inuvialuit settlement region, each with their own respective community corporation: Inuvik, Aklavik, Paukatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok. The Inuvialuit beneficiary residents in those communities vote on their own boards. The individual heads of those boards comprise the board of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation proper. It's the members of those community boards who elect the chair, Cournoyea said, rather by direct election from beneficiaries.

She said the corporation is a private organization, rather than a government institution, and it's common for corporate elections to be handled in this fashion.

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