Iqaluit (July 02/01) - Mary Alainga isn't getting the answers she wants.

In fact, Alainga isn't getting any answers at all, and that frustrates the Iqaluit resident because as a Nunavut Land Claims Agreement beneficiary, she's entitled to them.

Inuit organizations are directly accountable to beneficiaries, which means when Alainga has questions about meetings or the way money is spent, the organizations are obligated to address her concerns.

Alainga said that isn't happening with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. Specifically, Alainga said she was unable to find out exactly how much money QIA spent on board governance workshops in Ottawa this spring.

Although a preliminary figure of $300,000 was released by QIA, Alainga still wants to see a final price tag. She also wants to know why the money was spent south of the Nunavut border.

"I know four or five Inuit facilitators who could have delivered those workshops," said Alainga. "If they were held in Rankin Inlet or Cambridge Bay or Iqaluit, the money would have stayed in Nunavut," she said.

Alainga asked QIA president Meeka Kilabuk about the matter at a recent press conference and was told she'd be given the information as soon as it was available.

Insufficient response

That's not good enough for Alainga, who wants answers now. She said she planned to approach Pauloosie Kilabuk, Iqaluit's QIA board representative, but would not go to the QIA office because other beneficiaries were denied answers that way.

"(Meeka Kilabuk) refused to answer some people so I didn't even bother to do that," said Alainga.

Kilabuk was unavailable for comment, as she is on leave of absence until July 18 -- at the request of the association's executive council. She is expected to be back in time for a board meeting in Grise Fiord later this month.

Kilabuk has been the subject of harsh criticism lately because of her management style and the resignations of several staff. Personnel shortages mean the organization is having difficulty fulfilling it land claim-mandated duties.

Because Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. funds QIA, the association is financially accountable to NTI. The Baffin birthright organization is also tasked with carrying out duties given them by NTI. When they are left undone, it is up to NTI to step forward. While they have no authority to remove the president of a regional Inuit association, NTI can assume responsibility for the unfinished tasks.

"We exercise our power by removing those designations," said Paul Quassa, NTI's outgoing president.

"If a particular (regional Inuit association) is losing staff, that makes me question whether they are able to carry out the designations we give them, such as land management," said Quassa.

James Eetoolook, who is slated to replace Quassa July 31, said QIA's troubles would be discussed at the next NTI board meeting, although he was unable to say when that would be. "We haven't met with QIA yet, but we are going to discuss it," he said. "It is not on the backburner."

The role of the government

If Alainga remains unable to get the answers she's seeking, she can approach the Department of Indian Affairs for the information. Because the government funds NTI and money is passed on to QIA, both organizations are required to provide DIAND with annual audits.

However, Steven Outhouse, a spokesperson for DIAND, said the department is bound by rules stemming from a 1998 Alberta court ruling that forbids the release of financial information about aboriginal organizations.

Outhouse said Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault wants to make changes in the way the department lumps together public and private financial information so the public would be able to analyse how their dollars were spent.

"That's being worked on ... we're looking at next fiscal year," said Outhouse.

"It's important Canadians see how public money is spent."