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NUNAVUT - On Jan. 15, Chuck Strahl, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, announced Bruce Rawson would be the Chief Federal Representative for Nunavut devolution.

"I am extremely pleased with Minister Strahl's announcement today of the appointment of Mr. Rawson," stated premier Eva Aariak. "This will permit us to move forward with the negotiation process in the near future."

Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., said Rawson's appointment was an indication that the federal government was finally ready to begin negotiating a devolution agreement for the shifting of powers from the federal to the territorial government.

"Yes, it's a sign of progress," he said last week. "I hope we can now sit down and present the priorities that we will be putting on the table for negotiation."

Rawson, a former deputy minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, will be the chief negotiator for the federal government during devolution talks with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik.

The three parties signed a devolution negotiation protocol last September, laying out the parameters for discussions.

"I know the GN side has been calling for (negotiations) because they're going to be the main holders of the responsibility," said Kaludjak. "I know for a number of years they've been putting it forward to the federal side to get some action and I think we're there now."

"A devolution agreement remains a priority for Nunavut and we will work with Canada and Nunavut Tunngavik in making ourselves ready to be the managers and regulators of the resources on and beneath our lands and seabed," stated Aariak earlier this month.

While Nunavut Tunngavik is just beginning to identify its priorities with respect to negotiations, Kaludjak confirmed that resources would be one of its primary concerns.

"Well, we have a few, but we're still drawing out what needs to be first," he said. "No doubt, resources, natural resources, and those kinds of things will be a priority."

While the Northwest Territories has struggled to gain control over resource revenues, Kaludjak said Nunavut could take a cue from the hurdles its neighbour has come up against.

"I think we can learn from that," he said. "What were the basic planning processes for the NWT side that led the unexpected difficulties that were encountered? How do we avoid that and what can we do ourselves to prevent that?"

Upon the announcement of Rawson's appointment, Leona Aglukkaq, federal minister of Health and Nunavut's MP, affirmed the importance of devolution in terms of Arctic sovereignty.

"The people living in the North want to play a role in the development of the North," she stated. "Giving territories greater control of their destiny is an important piece of Canadian Arctic Sovereignty."