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RANKIN INLET - The Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) won two Canadian North Mining Awards at the Nunavut Mining Symposium in Iqaluit earlier this month.

The KIA was named best organization, while its director of lands, Luis Manzo, took the Mike Hine individual award.

Kivalliq Inuit Association president Jose Kusugak and director of lands Luis Manzo, right, had their personal and organizational efforts recognized at the Nunavut Mining Symposium in Iqaluit earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Agnico Eagle's Meadowbank Division captured the Corporate Award.

KIA president Jose Kusugak said he was pleasantly surprised by the awards.

He said the KIA is opening an office for dealing specifically with the Inuit Impact Benefits Agreement and mining companies.

"We have a large lands department with a lot going on in the Kivalliq right now, so it's time to have an office dedicated to mining," said Kusugak.

"Our lands department has done very well during the past few years compared to the other regions, so it was quite deserving of this award."

Kusugak said the lands department is challenging work because of the difficult issues it deals with.

He said the KIA is working hard to do the best it can for the region in dealing with the mining industry.

"The KIA and mining companies both have shareholders, so many issues have to be negotiated back and forth so both sides can come out feeling like winners.

"We learned a lot from our first negotiation with Agnico Eagle and that experience will help as we negotiate with Areva.

"What's important right now is that we're viewed as a fair organization."

Kusugak said an environment can be created where mining is successful, the region benefits from its activity, and issues on land and wildlife are properly addressed.

He said another issue the KIA is monitoring is the potential for thousands of southerners to come to the region to work at the mines.

"We need to have control over our future because there's a real possibility for the people of the Arctic to become a minority in their own region.

"Mining companies can make their money, and we'll have training and jobs in the region if it's all negotiated properly and nobody's walking away from the table.

"We can all be winners in this arrangement."

Manzo, 47, whose work also earned recognition from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. this past month, has been with the KIA for 10 years.

He said he had no idea he was getting the award.

"I didn't even have a suit with me at the symposium and had no plans of going to the reception until someone from the mining industry talked me into it," said Manzo.

"I'm humbled by this award, but we still have a great deal of work to do to align the industry in a way that sustains mining and development.

"We choose uranium and gold to put in the line of fire to prove their viability.

"With two different commodities, if one goes down, the other is still able to help sustain the economy."

Manzo said the lands department has worked very hard to create databases to streamline the application and licensing processes.

He said the system they have in place allows the KIA to screen applications as they come in and makes the process quicker for applicants.

"We have a web application for land use which allows applicants to apply online.

"The process is faster because everything is contained on the site, including the ability to make sure they're not infringing on a sensitive area they'd have to move from."

Manzo said the rush of exploration during the past three years created the need for faster information, which the KIA now supplies.

He said the KIA is the only agency to have addressed that need during the past three years.

"Not even the feds have an online application process to manage information.

"When a company needs information on an area, our database contains geology, claims, past history, wildlife, water - everything we need to present a report in minutes.

"This minimizes the time it takes to review a proposal and lessens mistakes companies might make in a possibly sensitive area.

"It's been quite labour-intensive over the years getting all this in place."

Larry Connell, Agnico Eagle corporate director of sustainable development, said Manzo has done a great amount of work to help the KIA prepare for permitting.

"The individual award recognizes the work Luis has done to help the KIA set itself up to take advantage of any upturn in the mining industry," said Connell.

"The KIA is our landlord and we've had our battles with Luis, but I deeply respect his professionalism.

"The man puts a lot of time and effort into his job, totally focused on doing something well for the people of the Kivalliq."