The government of Nunavut intends to incorporate the best of traditional Inuit and contemporary government systems. Elders will play a crucial advisory role in government, just as they do in every other aspects of Inuit society and traditional political structure. The Government of Nunavut will necessarily be highly decentralized to respond to the needs of its 28 far-flung communities. Government departments and agencies will be set up in communities throughout the territory.
Preparations for Nunavut's self rule began several years ago with training and development programs sponsored by organizations such as The Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Nunavut Arctic College, the Northwest Territories government, and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The Government of Canada has committed about $40 million to recruiting and training Nunavut public service employees. Health care and promotion, police and other protection services, and other assorted services continue to be provided by both the Northwest Territories and the Canadian government.
The Government of Nunavut faces enormous challenges. Goals of self-sufficiency, increased education and income levels, and the creation of employment and economic development opportunities among the most pressing. Nunavut has a cost of living two to three times higher that the rest of Canada. There is only one hospital in the entire territory although nursing stations and limited health care is available to most of the area. They also have the challenge of preserving their cultural identity and heritage with no blue-print or precedent to guide them as they address twentieth century problems.
Nunavut leaders recognize the many difficulties ahead. The creation of the new government has allowed the Inuit to take charge of their own destiny and apply the adaptability they have demonstrated by surviving 4,500 years in the world's harshest environment. Hunting, trapping, and fishing continue to be important to the economy. The people in most communities still rely on caribou, seals, and fish as their primary food source, and Canada's government now provides meat inspections so that the Inuit can sell some of their meat across Canada. They expect to be able to develop tourism, already their third largest industry, into a thriving enterprise. The arts and crafts of the Inuit are world renowned and sought after by the public and private sectors. Up to 30 percent of the Inuit receive some income from arts and crafts, and well know artists sell their work for thousands of dollars.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Andy Thomason's Indigenous Peoples topic, please visit the Discussions page.