Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated's annual board of directors meeting concluded on March 21 with several key resolutions passed.
The land claims organization recognized the urgent need for action to control tuberculosis in the territory. The board approved $4 million to go to the Government of Nunavut (GN) for TB clinical care.
Additionally, the board approved Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) expenditures to support three-months worth of hampers for each TB patient during their treatment, contributions to communities with TB outbreaks, as well as a campaign to address the stigma of the disease.
NTI鈥檚 $29.4-million core-funded budget and a $2-million budget for the Nunavut Hunters Support Program were approved by the board, marking a 3.7 per cent increase. A new Core Funding Model Policy was also adopted, which is designed to ensure transparent, predictable and equitable funding for NTI, regional Inuit associations (RIAs) and the Inuit Heritage Trust (IHT).
To enhance financial oversight, NTI's finance committee will meet more frequently to review budget variance reports for NTI, the RIAs and IHT.
Earlier this month, the Government of Canada announced a one-year extension of the Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI) program. While that news was welcome, key details of the one-year extension had yet to be communicated, including the funding amount. A long-term funding commitment is considered essential to protecting the rights of Inuit children in Nunavut and ensuring access to essential government-funded health, social, educational products, services and supports, according to NTI.
The board had its first public briefing on the renewed land claim implementation contract. NTI has prioritized ensuring that the implementation contract is evidence-based 鈥� using economic reports and costing models to determine its proposals.
The board reviewed a detailed briefing on the pre-employment training strategy. Described as a "landmark agreement," it secured $1.5 billion in funding over the contract鈥檚 term from 2024-2034, which includes training for Inuit employment ($679.7 million), Hunters and Trappers associations/regional wildlife organizations ($211.9 million), institutions of public governance ($338.9 million), NTI institutional capacity funding ($118.3 million), the Nunavut Heritage Centre ($50 million), and GN non-article 23 funding ($107 million).
A major focus of the contract is to increase Inuit government employment in government. Inuit make up 85 per cent of Nunavut's population, yet hold only 50 per cent of government jobs. NTI referred to the agreement as a "vital tool" to address the employment imbalance and create meaningful opportunities for Inuit within the public sector.
"Through this renewed contract, Inuit can expect greater employment opportunities, stronger public governance, enhanced wildlife and heritage funding and reinforced support for NTI and RIAs in implementing the Nunavut Agreement," NTI stated.
The board meeting had been scheduled to be held in Arviat, but due to inclement weather it was instead conducted online.
