Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 30/01) - Implementing a land claims agreement is almost as difficult as finalizing it.

That's why a committee of Nunavut officials has already started developing recommendations about the goals that need to be accomplished during the next 10 years of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement implementation period.

Iqaluit resident Abraham Tagalik is working on recommendations for the next stage of implementing the land claim.

Such a contract is necessary because it acts like a schedule or framework for ensuring all 42 articles in the agreement are implemented.

The current implementation contract, which the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut made with the government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government, is set to expire in 2003, a decade after the agreement was ratified.

The parties involved in developing recommendations for the next contract represent progress made over the last eight years. For example, the government of Nunavut replaced the GNWT when Article 4 of the agreement -- outlining the official creation of Nunavut -- was implemented on April 1, 1999.

"The creation of Nunavut was a major one. Of all the symbolic things, that's pretty much the major thing," said Iqaluit resident Abraham Tagalik, NTI's chief negotiator.

Joining him at the table is David Akeeagok of the government of Nunavut and a federal government employee.

Tagalik said having an Inuk represent the territorial government is also a significant accomplishment.

"At the table, we're dealing with an Inuk negotiator at the government side. It's good to see the Inuk presence there," he said.

The trio has already begun meeting and taking care of some preliminary tasks. Tagalik said they were expected to produce a final report by May of 2002.

"We've been trying to come up with an action plan and set priorities," said Tagalik.

That document will be forwarded to an implementation panel made up of representatives from NTI, Nunavut and Canada.

The panel will then finalize the recommendations and create an official contract.

Tagalik said reviews of the implementation process over the last eight years would allow them to fine-tune their recommendations.

"NTI ... they're not above going to the root of the problem and finding out what can be done better this time around. That's a good tool to use," said Tagalik.

"We've seen what works, what doesn't work, what could be better planned. Whatever it takes to work better, that's what we have to do."

Particular attention would be paid to institutions of public government and Inuit employment and government contracts would be focused upon, Tagalik added.