Polar bear hunt decision won't impede groups working on wildlife act
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Coral Harbour (Mar 07/01) - Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s support of Noah Kadlak's proposal to conduct a traditional polar bear hunt will not complicate negotiations with two other groups working on the new Wildlife Act.
The Department of Sustainable Development, which recently refused the Coral Harbour's hunter's request, NTI and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) are negotiating a "made in Nunavut" Act which will be in place by 2003.
"All three parties have conducted themselves in the way all good politicians should, in that there are times we disagree with each other in certain areas," says NTI president Paul Quassa.
"But, we always continue working together co-operatively on other fronts, so I don't see any need to doubt our ability to do so in this case."
Quassa says Minister Olayuk Akesuk has stated quite clearly that he, Quassa and NWMB chairperson Ben Kovic have already conducted a positive meeting on the issue.
He says the three are working hard to come up with a solution to the controversial hunt they can all agree with.
"We're already working together to resolve this issue and I'm confident we'll have something in place before the next polar bear season."
Quassa says if the issue cannot be resolved, NTI may initiate another court proceeding, because it's main role is to protect Inuit rights acquired during the Land Claims process in any way it can.
"In any disagreements between NTI and either the Nunavut Government or the federal government, our objective has always been to try and work together through mediation or arbitration," says Quassa.
"However, if that process doesn't work, we always have the option to go through the courts because NTI is defending Inuit rights protected in the Constitution. These are laws and I cannot see any other way to resolve these disputes than through the courts if we need to in the future."
