Nihtat wants to pursue own self-government
Inuvik-based Gwich'in organization wants to steer its own future; Gwich'in Tribal Council calls for referendum
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 22, 2017
INUVIK
The Nihtat Gwich'in Council (NGC) has expressed its desire to pursue its own self-government agreement, something the Gwich'in Tribal Council (GTC) is calling drastic.
Jozef Carnogursky, president of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, defends the NGC's interest in taking on self-government itself but says that decision wouldn't mean separation from the Gwich'in Tribal Council or the Gwich'in nation in any way. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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The GTC distributed a news release last week responding to the NGC board's desire to seek a separate negotiating process for self-government.
In the news release, the GTC stated it is taking the position that any decisions made by any of the four individual designated Gwich'in organizations must be ratified through and by the GTC's annual general assembly as the overall authority for the GTC under the terms of the land claim agreement.
"The AGA provided the initial mandate to the GTC to pursue self-government for Gwich'in participants and has reaffirmed said mandate each year," stated the news release.
The NGC represents Gwich'in in the Inuvik region.
Jozef Carnogursky, president of the NGC, declined to do a full interview on the matter, but e-mailed a statement to the Inuvik Drum.
"I don't want to comment directly on the release other than to say that we see things differently on self-government and we are confident in our decision as it was made in the best interests of our membership," stated Carnogursky.
He said there may be some misunderstanding on what was decided. The NGC wants to make clear it is still and will always be part of the GTC and any other board that deals with the collective requirement of the lands and assets established under the Gwich'in's claim.
"None of that changes," stated Carnogursky. "We have simply exercised a right under the land claim agreement with regard to self-government."
Jordan Peterson, vice-president of the GTC, said the GTC supports any decisions the designated Gwich'in organizations make.
"We just want to make sure that we're transparent and that we involve all the input from our membership and their membership," said Peterson.
"We have an obligation to ensure that these types of decisions are communicated to the participants so that they're aware of such a drastic change in the process."
In the original news release, Peterson stated that he would like to see the NGC receive a mandate to withdraw from the current process with a full referendum and further direction from the GTC annual general assembly.
Carnogursky said the Nihtat Gwich'in do not see this decision separating or dividing the GTC or the nation in any way.
"Rather, we see it as an evolution of our roles at the community level to take on more control of issues, programs and services that affect our members," stated Carnogursky.
"We have said yes to directly empowering our community and our members with regard to self-government and we don't see one negative aspect to that approach."
Should the Nihtat go down this path, they will be following communities such as Deline or Old Crow in pursuing their own self-government agreements.
"As there is always two sides to every story, we encourage our members to contact us with any questions they may have on this decision," stated Carnogursky.
The NGC will be holding its community assembly July 8.
