Prime Minister and Inuit Leaders Discuss Strengthening Partnership
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Natan Obed, leader of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, met in Kuujjuaq, Quebec, to discuss ways to improve the relationship between Ottawa and the Inuit. The meeting marked the beginning of a session of the Inuit-to-Crown partnership committee.
Carney was accompanied by six cabinet ministers for the meeting with Inuit leaders. Obed emphasized that while the Inuit are proud Canadians, there is always room for improvement in their relationship with the federal government.
"We feel like this is a moment in time where we do need to work together and we need to do work in a way that protects our interests in our homeland, but also Canada's interests globally," Obed said.
Carney acknowledged the importance of the Inuit's role in the region. "Let's be clear, this is your homeland. You are the rightsholders," he said. He also highlighted the need to incorporate Inuit perspectives and knowledge into government approaches and to partner with Inuit businesses.
The Inuit-to-Crown Partnership Committee
The Inuit-to-Crown partnership committee brings together Inuit leaders and federal cabinet ministers three times a year. The prime minister typically attends one of these meetings.
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, Defence Minister David McGuinty, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, and Northern Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand joined Carney at the meeting.
Obed praised the forum as a "bright spot and model for nation-state diplomacy and cooperation with Indigenous peoples." He noted that no other government has a similar forum between elected officials and Indigenous peoples.
"ICPC is also an asset for Canada and for all Canadians. At a time of renewed geopolitical focus on the Arctic region, ICPC stands alone as the only bilateral mechanism coordinating work between an Arctic state and an Indigenous people within its Arctic territory," Obed said.
Focus on Arctic Security and Sovereignty
Obed emphasized the Inuit's expertise in the Arctic, stating, "Inuit are the foremost experts on the Arctic. We know our lands, waters, environment and communities best."
ITK recently hosted an Arctic security and sovereignty summit, where they called for the federal government to be a better partner and rejected what they described as outdated, colonial approaches to Arctic policy.
Obed warned that if the relationship with Ottawa is not feasible, Inuit could seek other partnerships abroad. He mentioned the Inuit Nunangat University, noting that without Ottawa's support, ITK might turn to foreign partners for assistance.
Carney responded by stating that Ottawa would work on this issue. "We need to move beyond the infrastructure component," he said, citing Ottawa's $50 million contribution to the school. He also mentioned the need for governance authorization and a long-term funding model.
Other Issues on the Agenda
Other topics discussed during the meeting included Arctic sovereignty, security and defense, housing and food security, the proposed Inuit university, and Inuit health and wellness.
Carney highlighted areas where Ottawa and the Inuit could deepen cooperation, particularly on Arctic security and defense. He pointed out the importance of collaboration in developing infrastructure such as health services, broadband, and community facilities.
"We can only develop those in tandem so that all benefit," Carney said. He also mentioned unique opportunities for partnership and procurement in Inuit Nunangat, emphasizing that it is a different scale than elsewhere in the country.
Carney acknowledged the challenges of scaling investments and ensuring that all benefit from them. "We need to be conscious of the challenges that the scale of this type of investment can bring in terms of drawing on civilian resources, capacity for logistics, and make sure that we are scaling in a way that all benefit," he said.
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