And Natsiq Kango, secretary treasurer of NTI, said that isn't fast enough, and clearly shows the issue is not a high priority with the institution.
"It's completely outrageous for Arctic College to say that it will take so long," she said.
But Greg Welch, president of Nunavut Arctic College, said representative levels of employment for Inuit will be accomplished by 2015. By this time, Inuit will hold 80 per cent of the positions at the college.
He estimated there will be 50-per-cent Inuit employment by 2000. Thirty per cent of all positions are now held by Inuit.
Welch said the numbers will rise so slowly because of the high level of training needed for the jobs, particularly for the college's instructors.
"This is a unique area," he said. "The combination of years of training and years of experience for instructors is considerable."
Currently, only 18 per cent of instructors are Inuit.
He also said it takes time for positions to become available. People leaving previously held positions, expansions for additional positions and the financial means to support the positions all affect the availability of jobs.
NTI is asking to work together with the college to review the Nunavut Unified Human Resources Development Strategy to shorten this period of time.
"They need a new business plan to develop programs so that the positions that need to be filled can be filled by Inuit within the next couple of years," said Kango.
She said the plan is not strict enough and must be changed.
"Arctic College officials have the know-how to put this system in place in Nunavut," she said.
"It's disappointing that the leading post-secondary institution in the Nunavut region is telling us that they'll need almost a quarter-century to hire Inuit to representative levels."
Arctic College should be a leader in this area, but so far it has disappointed the Inuit, she said.
However, Welch said their plan is only a guideline anyway, and admits it may be possible to shorten the time needed to meet the demands.
"Plans are made to be changed," he said. "The approach the college took was positive, but realistic. It promises to reach those numbers or better them."
In the meantime, he is encouraging more Inuit to get the training they need.
He predicts more jobs will become available over the next five to 10 years.
"With the new territory emerging and the commitment for the Inuit employment plan, more will be able to get jobs," he said.