Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 18/02) - Cathy Towtongie says removing the Nunavut Social Development Council's designated Inuit organization status will strengthen Inuit health.

The president of Nunavut Tunngavik announced the move during the land claims organization's recent board meeting in Coral Harbour.

The council will become a department within NTI, with a $2.5-million budget. All staff can keep their jobs.

"Nunavut is facing a social emergency," said Towtongie, citing a bevy of diseases and social ills.

Towtongie said the move will prevent duplication of services and allow Inuit to work on a united front to improve health and social conditions in Nunavut. She also said the decision would give NTI more bargaining power with the federal government.

"The government uses division among Inuit organizations as a means of avoiding or limiting consultations with Inuit organizations," she said.

However, at least one municipality believes the takeover is a bad move.

Elijah Evaluarjuk, the mayor of Iglulik, said the community's hamlet council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the change. He said it leaves the door open for NTI to take over other land claims organizations.

"We're not happy," said Evaluarjuk. "If NTI is going to become program deliverers for social services in Nunavut, NTI and the government of Nunavut have to consult the municipalities contracted to deliver social services."