Qikiqtani Truth Commission chair Jim Igloliorte listens to testimony of Inuit during the commission's visit to Iqaluit last month.

“We have no problem at all with people referring to it as the dog slaughter commission, because it’s the sexy tag that people want to hear,” said Qikiqtani Truth Commission chair Jim Igloliorte.

“But at the same time we want to make sure that people, when they come to our hearings, not have a sense that they’re compelled to speak only about that.”

The mandate of the commission is to investigate the truth surrounding the alleged dog slaughter, relocations and other decision-making of the government up until 1980, and its effect on Inuit culture, economy and way of life.

The commission, an initiative of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, began touring Qikiqtani communities in January this year, starting with Kimmirut. They have reached eight communities so far, collecting the testimony of roughly 150 Inuit.

In 2006, the RCMP released a 771-page report that concluded that RCMP did kill some dogs, but it was not a slaughter, but targeted killings to counter problems including diseased, dangerous or stray dogs.

Igloliorte noted that because of the timing of the RCMP report and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s response, namely to set up the Qikiqtani Truth Commission, there is sometimes a misconception that the commission’s mandate deals solely with the alleged dog slaughter.

“What we’re trying to do is not respond to the RCMP report but take the Inuit perspective,” said Igloliorte. “There’s a lot of value in hearing about people’s histories and life stories so we want to present that to the Inuit but to do a well-researched educational type research work as well.”

He noted that the goal of the RCMP’s report differs from that of the commission.

“I think it’s fair to say as well that the RCMP report probably was interested in looking at the whole question of how there was a perception that the RCMP were directed by Ottawa to kill dogs for a specific reason. We’re not necessarily looking for that kind of smoking gun,” said Igloliorte. “What we want to see is what do Inuit remember of the killing of the dogs (and) under what circumstances.”

In addition to Inuit oral history, the commission is researching government archival materials. The commission will also visit Ottawa to speak with Inuit who have relocated as well as RCMP veterans who worked in the Qikiqtani region in the past.

“What we want to do is dig deeper and look at that time period,” said Igloliorte, adding that it is the Inuit of the Qikiqtani who asked the QIA to investigate the matter.

“They’re the ones who told the Qikiqtani Inuit Association we have a story to tell, we have a history to tell. It’s still impacting us, it’s still affecting us,” said Igloliorte.

Other issues that arose during the period up to the 1980 included health, transportation, education, culture and lifestyle. The end product of the commission is a report, which is expected to be submitted to the QIA by September 2009. Igloliorte hopes that the results of their work will be used by researchers, educators and students to find out about themselves and what happened in that time period.

“There should be a lesson to government about consulting with people, about approaches to different cultures, understanding the culture before you go and make rules,” said Igloliorte.