Nellie Cournoyea

The Political Leaders. Prime Minister Mulroney flanked by Tom Siddon, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and Paul Quassa, President, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

I am pleased to be in Iqaluit to celebrate the signing of the Nunavut Final Agreement. Before I speak, I would like to welcome the Right Hon. Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Paul Quassa and Mr. Tom Siddon sitting at the head table. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of Mr. Dan Norris, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, my colleagues from the legislative assembly and Rosemary Kuptana, President of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.

The importance of this settlement to Inuit of

Nunavut and to all Canadians is complimented by the presence of the Prime Minister of Canada. I welcome him to Arctic Canada and thank him for supporting the Inuit Claim Final Agreement and the creation of Nunavut. I am honored to share the sense of accomplishment of the Inuit of Nunavut with him and everyone here today.

Being here reminds me of the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Claim Agreement of the Beaufort Delta Region. Next week marks the 10th anniversary of that signing.

From our experience with the Inuvialiut claim, I understand the hard work and the challenges which have faced Inuit negotiators and fieldworkers over the last 17 years. They deserve congratulations and our respect for this achievement.

Officials of the Government of the Northwest Territories, as well as the federal government negotiators, have also devoted many years to this claim.

In particular, I would like to mention Ross McKinnon, Senior Negotiator for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Charles Overvold, Executive Director of the Aboriginal Rights Secretariat, and Christina Scattolin from the Department of Justice, to thank them for their work.

Most importantly, I extend my congratulations to the people of Nunavut for their patience, perseverance and support when things must have appeared uncertain. Most of all, today's celebration is for these people.

The occasion of the signing of the Nunavut Final Agreement is not only historic because it is the largest aboriginal claim settlement in Canada. It is historic because it formalizes a commitment to create Nunavut.

Inuit have always insisted that the settlement of the claim and the creation of Nunavut proceed hand in hand. Their determination to achieve that goal resulted in federal agreement to bring the claims legislation and the Nunavut Act to parliament together.

The Nunavut Politial Accord, signed by the parties last October here in Iqaluit, outlined a process which gave life to that commitment.

The claim settlement and the creation of Nunavut represents a new relationship between Inuit and Government. The

The Political Leaders. Prhlle Ministel- Mulroney flanked bv Tom Siddon, Minister oi Indian Affairs and Northenn Denclopments and Paul Quass.l. President, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

basis for that relationship will be established by the successful implementation of the claim and through the planning process to create Nunavut.

Today is a day for celebration, but it is not the end of the hard work. The implementation of the Final Agreement's provisions is as important as the negotiation of the Agreement itself.

I know from experience that implementation should not be under-estimated. Most importantly, it requires an ongoing financial and political commitment to fulfill not only the provisions of the Final Agreement, but also the spirit and intent of the settlement.

An implementation plan for the Final Agreement has been developed by the parties, to clarify obligations and provide funding to fulfill them. This plan will facilitate the implementation process and avoid problems faced in other claim settlements.

Division and the creation of Nunavut will lead to many new and important opportunities for residents of both Nunavut and the Western Territory.

Critical to the success of Nunavut is a recognition that eastern Arctic residents will only achieve their aspirations through adequate training and education, to allow them to participate fully in the Nunavut Government.

Also, fundamental to the Nunavut planning process is a federal commitment to legislative and financial certainty as to the continuation of programs and services to both eastern and western residents, including resources for the new infrastructure and for the operational costs of creating two Territories.

It is much easier to talk about change than make it happen. Many people here remember that reaching this point has sometimes been difficult.

As parliament ratifies the claim settlement legislation and the Nunavut Act, we will continue to work together to give real and practical life to these commitments. Our work can provide a vision for other Canadians.

Northerners now call on politicians from all parties to give approval and speedy passage to the Nunavut Act and the Claim Settlement Legislation. We have a lot of faith in you, Mr. Prime Minister, to pull this off.