Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Apr 28/04) - The newly announced Inuit secretariat will be in place by the end of the fiscal year, said Northern Development Minister Andy Mitchell.

Federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Andy Mitchell tries a few delicacies prepared at the Wild Wolf Cafe during his visit to meet with community leaders in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The guarantee was given by Mitchell this past week in Rankin Inlet, one in a number of stops the minister made to seek input on the secretariat and discuss important issues facing Nunavut.

The secretariat will deal specifically with Inuit issues.

Mitchell said his department hasn't dealt with the specifics of the Inuit secretariat yet.

He said Inuit will be consulted to ascertain what will best meet the needs of the people and organizations that need to deal with the department.

Hear what the people think

"I want to hear what the people think who are going to be most impacted by this decision," said Mitchell.

"Although some issues are very similar, there's specifics to the North, and to Inuit, on how you go about achieving these objectives.

"The secretariat's job is to be able to deal with those issues in an effective way and in a way that's going to work in the North."

Mitchell said there were a number of reasons why the secretariat was announced at this time.

He said those promoting the initiative were effective in their persuasions, and Prime Minister Paul Martin has made a clear commitment to the importance of aboriginal issues.

"The Prime Minister wants to take steps that will make our ability to deal with issues be as effective as possible.

"This (Inuit secretariat) was seen as something that could be effective for achieving our objectives, so we went forward with it."

Gathering information

Mitchell said the consultation process will happen fairly quickly.

He said Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell will be counted on to provide input.

"Nancy has proven herself very effective in reflecting the views of the people here, as well as other parts of the North.

"I will be listening very intently, so I suspect that information will come as a matter of course, and I'll be reaching out for it as well.

"We are going to get it done this fiscal year."