NTI Applauds the Establishment of the Nunavut Marine Council

(February 22, 2012 - Taloyoak, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Vice-President James Eetoolook today applauds the efforts of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, the Nunavut Water Board, the Nunavut Planning Commission and the Nunavut Impact Review Board (collectively the IPGs) in establishing the Nunavut Marine Council (NMC) under Section 15.4.1 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

"Marine areas in Nunavut are crucial to Nunavummiut and Canadians, and they have provided food, clothing and shelter for Inuit and their ancestors for thousands of years," said Eetoolook.   "The NMC will serve a critical function in providing advice and making recommendations to government agencies, especially given the increasing scientific, economic, military and other activities in Nunavut in recent years."

Eetoolook also urge the government to support the Business Case put forward by the NMC and the IPGs, and to provide adequate and sustainable level of funding to the NMC to enable it to carry out its full functions.