Iqaluit (Apr 14/03) - Ten years ago, one of the most significant landmarks in contemporary Inuit history.

In 1993 the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was ratified. The document is the largest aboriginal land claims agreement in Canada, encompassing 350,000 square kilometres of land.

The product of nearly two decades of work, beginning with the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, it enshrined the rights of Inuit people in the North.

Later, TFN was succeeded by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated which was charged with the responsibility of upholding the principles enshrined in the of NLCA.

Ultimately, the process led to the creation of Nunavut in 1999.

"The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was, and still is, an amazing accomplishment," said John Lamb, executive director of NTI.

The statement was made during an anniversary celebration held at the Discovery Inn on April 3. Similar celebrations were held in each region of the territory. Lamb said the NLCA allowed for the creation of Nunavut, the protection of Inuit rights, provided for more Inuit job and training opportunities and ensured Inuit a place in the development of future territorial policy.

But, the agreement is more than just a collection of rights recognized in the Canadian constitution, it reflects the sweat and tears of a people.

"So many people gave so much to this process," said NTI president Cathy Towtongie. She said many sacrificed family and personal time to dedicate themselves to the signing of the NLCA and the creation of Nunavut.

"The Inuit dream that burned in the minds and hearts of our leadership, back in the '60s ... gave life to so many," said Towtongie.

"How much easier would have been their individual lives if they had not cared so much. We are lucky they did."

Looking back

Raymond Ningeocheak, second vice-president with NTI, was with Arctic Cooperative Limited during the time the NLCA was being negotiated.

He recalls passionate and long meetings as the negotiating team, headed by Paul Quassa on the Inuit side and Tom Malloy for the feds, went back and forth over details of the land claim.

"We had a meeting in the House of Commons with Tom Siddon (minister of Indian Affairs) and it was two in the morning," remembered Ningeocheak.

Before the negotiations were finished, Siddon attempted to leave his seat.

"Louis Pilakapsi (a member of the negotiating team) told him to sit back down to finish the negotiation. He sat back down. They made an agreement to finish paying off the $40-million debt," said Ningeocheak.While campaigning for the ratification of the NLCA, Ningeocheak said 79 per cent of people voted in favour of ratification, which would eventually lead to the recognition of Inuit rights and a number of organizations assisting to maintain those rights.

Looking forward

The establishment of the NLCA and the creation of Nunavut are the realizations of decades of hard work. With those profound accomplishments in the past NTI is now looking to the future.

"Those hopes and dreams that led to the successful negotiation of our land claim must still drive us on to more successes," said Towtongie.

"We should not deceive ourselves -- there is a long way to go yet to see this claim fully implemented."

- With translated files from Doris Tautu

Timeline

1973: Tagak Curley of the Inuit Tapirisat (now Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) of Canada takes the Inuit Use and Occupancy Study to the Government of Canada. The study secures the federal government's commitment to negotiations with Canada's Inuit. The study catalogues a variety of information backing Inuit land claims

1976: Negotiations between the federal government, the GNWT and the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut (TFN)

1982: TFN releases its proposal for the land claim agreement.

1993: TFN is succeeded by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI)

November 1992: The Inuit of Nunavut ratify the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA)

May 25, 1993: the NLCA is signed by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. NTI is charged with the responsibility to uphold the spirit of the principles enshrined in the NLCA

July 9, 1993: NLCA comes into force

April 1, 1999: Nunavut is established as a territory in accordance with one of the 41 articles in the NLCA granting Inuit the right to self government.

2003: NTI celebrates 10 years.