INUVIK - For Annie Aleekuk, the Inuvialuit Land Claim agreement has done far more than just provide wealth for her people.

"Someone was thinking way ahead 25 years ago," the Inuvik resident said. "I really appreciate that because it makes us understand who we are as a people and where we come from."

Town elder Emma Dick, 83, left, offers a traditional prayer as part of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement 25th anniversary celebration ceremony while IRC chairperson Nellie Cournoyea looks on. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

A fiercely proud Inuvialuit woman, she was among many from the community who came together for a day-long, spirited Inuvialuit Day celebration held at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) building June 5.

In her public address, Nellie Cournoyea, IRC CEO and chairperson, was quick to deflect praise, putting much of it on many "selfless" volunteers who worked for more than a decade getting the document right - many of whom who have since died.

"There was so many people that gave of their time because it was the right thing to do," she said. "It gets kind of lonely here sometimes because you'd like to see some of them here. A lot of them have passed on but their knowledge is in the claim and the claim is built on their knowledge."

The claim secured more than 90,000 square kilometres of land, including rights to oil, gas and minerals covering nearly 13,000 square kilometres. Through a door-to-door, collective approach, Cournoyea, who was key in the process, said beneficiaries ensured that wildlife and environmental preservation found a place in the historic agreement signed with the federal government.

Most importantly, she said, the agreement gives formal voice to a unified people, which cannot be understated.

"People always had their opinions, a commitment to make sure things are done right, but if you're not organized or have institutionalized governments, governments and other companies don't listen, it's just another meeting."

Frank Hansen was one of many on hand for the event. He has deep ties with the IRC, having served nine years as the chair of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) board. He is currently the chair of the Inuvialuit Investment Corporation (IIC) board and he's tried to advance the group in a business sense.

He said because of solid investments and the co-operation of many, the IRC has come a long way in the past 25 years.

Although the IRC remains on solid footing, Cournoyea is quick to point out that there are plenty of challenges that lie ahead, especially investing in education and creating more jobs.

"We have a lot of work to do, but I think self-sufficiency and well-being is where we have to go," she said. "We have to work together as a family to support each other. We're not a lot of people and we all need each other."

Two years ago, Canada's auditor general, Sheila Fraser, released a report criticizing the federal government for not fulfilling significant obligations laid out in the agreement 23 years earlier. The report found the government didn't have a process in place to implement parts of the agreement and, as a result, the government had not returned ownership of 13 parcels of land to the Inuvialuit.

Since then, the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has completed two land exchange agreements and is in the process of returning several parcels of land.

As per one of the report's recommendations, the government has reportedly put in place new learning tools to ensure employees working with contracts under the agreement understand the government's obligations.

Margot Geduld, a spokesperson for the department, said last week that the government is making progress on the report's recommendations.

"The government of Canada has been taking steps to address the auditor general's concerns, and it's expected that Indian and Northern Affairs will have implemented all six of the auditor general's recommendations regarding the Inuvialuit final agreement by the end of the 2009-2010 fiscal year," Geduld said.

- With files from Katie May