The View from Yellowknife

Marc Malone

What is the response of the Government of the Northwest Territories to Dr Irwin's report?

 Dr Colin Irwin has taken on a difficult and complex task. His report attempts to look at the broad social and economic factors shaping the future of the Inuit to the year 2025.

 While the global perspective of the report is refreshing, the findings have many shortcomings. The report is based more on personal impressions, and the impressions of individual interviewees, than on the findings of scientific research. The federal government, which sponsored this research, has the final responsibility for evaluating it.

 The report focuses largely on Inuit education. While it is important to recognize the social and economic problems confronting Inuit, and the challenges posed to the education system, Dr Irwin fails to acknowledge positive trends in education, or to cite any existing successful initiatives. With such a perspective the report can only forecast a hopeless future for the lords of the Arctic.

 A great deal has been accomplished in the education system of the Northwest Territories in a relatively short time. The creation of elected boards, the extension of high school grades in community schools, improved attendance rates, the development of native language and cultural programs, and the increasing participation of native people in post-secondary education are indications of improvement and success. Clearly, the challenges ahead are great, but there is hope for a better future.

 The only hope for change the report offers is that the federal government will resolve the problems experienced by the Inuit with strong and creative policies. In contrast to this position, Dr Irwin acknowledges at the end of the report that "the Inuit are capable of solving most of their problems for themselves provided they are given the opportunity." Many of the positive developments initiated by the territorial government, which Dr Irwin has ignored in his report, are based on this principle.

In the government's view, what does the future hold for the Inuit economy?

 It is difficult to predict the state of the Inuit economy 30 to 40 years in the future. However, it does have considerable potential.

 The Baffin region contains several billion barrels of "average expectation" oil reserves. The Keewatin region is richly endowed with extensive mineral wealth. The Nunavut landscape and culture will foster steady growth in tourism from around the world.

 The GNWT is pursuing policies to improve the economic prospects of the Northwest Territories. In co-operation with CARC, the Department of Renewable Resources is developing a hunters' and trappers' income support program. Wildlife harvesting is essential to both the social and economic fabric of the North, as it entails a $50 million import substitution benefit. Participation in the Council of Atlantic Fisheries Ministers has resulted in increased quotas for the fishermen of the Baffin.

 While it is true that too few Inuit are trained for trade, technical, and professional positions now, educational and employment training opportunities are expanding. There are opportunities for apprenticeship training within government and the private sector, and the demand for managerial training has resulted in the offering of an administrative studies program at the Nunatta Campus in Iqaluit. In 1987, there were five times as many Inuit enrolled (137) in post-secondary education programs as there were just four years earlier in 1983 (28). Increases in Inuit enrolment in post-secondary education programs are likely to continue as more programs are brought closer to home through the campuses of Arctic College.

 It is also reasonable to anticipate that the implementation of the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut claim will build a foundation for economic development in the eastern Arctic that incorporates elements of traditional economies and the modern wage economy.

 Dr Irwin's report suggests that many Inuit are caught between traditional culture and a Western consumer economy. Will it be possible for Inuit to live in a "half-way house"?

 Inuit have displayed remarkable resilience in adjusting to new technological challenges. One example is in communications, where the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, along with other aboriginal organizations and with GNWT support, successfully fought for the TV North Project.

 The territorial government recognizes the value and importance of traditional cultures and activities. The recognition, promotion and development of languages is a priority of the government. This is evident in the report of the Task Force on Native Languages and is reflected more and more in government programs and the delivery of government services.

 The GNWT Department of Education has invited aboriginal groups to participate on advisory committees guiding the development of native language programs. Centres for Teaching and Learning have been established at Coppermine, Iqaluit, Inuvik, and Rankin Inlet. More than 60 Inuit students have graduated as certified teachers from the Eastern Arctic Teacher Education Program since 1981. An Inuktitut studies program is being introduced at the Grade 10 level in 1988-89, and a northern studies course for high school students will be introduced in 1990.

In other countries, people have adapted to new technologies while successfully retaining their cultures. There is no reason to believe the lords of the Arctic will fail to make this transition.

 How effective have governments been al promoting Inuit economic, social, and political self-reliance? What are the main challenges ahead?

 In a short period of time, the Inuit have become intimately involved in a development process leading to self-reliance in Canada. The co-operatives movement is an indication of successful transition. The Inuit have recognized that they need to become the leaders and managers of businesses and governments.

 The N.W.T. legislative assembly has supported the Iqaluit Agreement which contains principles of constitutional development for Inuit and a process leading to a claims boundary. Through policies of transfer and devolution, the government is strengthening Inuit community governments.

The main political challenges are three-fold. First, the Constitutional Alliance, which was reactivated in 1988, is working toward the implementation of the Iqaluit Agreement. A land claims boundary could lead to the creation of a Nunavut territory. Second, a TFN claim agreement would provide Inuit with tools for economic and social development. Third, a renewal of aboriginal talks on aboriginal constitutional rights is essential for the clarification of Inuit self-government.

The economy of Nunavut will benefit greatly from political development. In the meantime, GNWT education, training, business incentives, and sectoral programs have already resulted in progress m such areas as tourism, fisheries, construction, and services.

 Will demographic trends in Inuit communities and the resulting demand for government services lead to a crisis in public sector finances? Do Canadian taxpayers appear willing to make the kinds of investments required?

The population of Nunavut is currently growing at four times the national average. Such growth is likely to continue and to put pressure on public expenditures. The Arctic also has a lot of catching up to do to meet all the infrastructure needs in communities and to provide a level of infrastructure comparable to the rest of Canada. If Canada reduced the current grant to the Northwest Territories or curtailed its growth, it would cause much more hardship to N.W.T. residents in comparison with the effect of an increase in the grant on Canadian taxpayers.

 Despite the fact that Canada does make large transfer payments to the Northwest Territories on a per capita basis, an increase in the transfer grant to bring the level of infrastructure up to Canadian averages, or to keep pace with the likely population growth, would still not present a crisis in public sector finances. Canada has a budget of approximately $1 10 billion, and decisions are made to spend billions on initiative) such as day care. A decision to increase the grant to the Northwest Territories by $1 billion to $2 billion over time to keep pace with the population growth in the Arctic should not be considered a crisis in the context of the total federal budget.

 Canadian society is committed to social programs and funding programs to reduce regional economic disparities. Canadian taxpayers have made investments in all areas of Canada, and it is likely that they will continue to do so.

Do you think Dr Irwin's report is "fair"? Is it a useful contribution to policy debate in the Northwest Territories?

Fairness is not a question that should have to be asked about social scientific inquiry. Instead, Dr Irwin's report can and should be evaluated in relation to its lack of objectivity, which is evidenced by the negative and unbalanced perspective adopted throughout his presentation. He presents a worst-case scenario which does not acknowledge positive developments in any area. This is unfortunate. A more objective and accurate report would have been more useful.

 It should be noted that the suggested solutions put forward by Dr Irwin are not new. They have been, or are being, tried both in the Northwest Territories and southern Canada.

 Dr Irwin concludes his report with a statement that the Government of the Northwest Territories agrees with, and that is fundamental to the provision of territorial programs and services in the Arctic: the belief that "the Inuit are capable of solving most of their problems for themselves provided they are given the opportunity." As stated in the answer to the first question, the positive developments in the Arctic that Dr Irwin has chosen to ignore in his report are based on this belief.

Marc Malone is Principal Secretary to the Government Leader of the Northwest Territories.