Our Featured Celebration

          

Well, we could get all cute and pretend that this month we're celebrating Lipstick Week (December 20-27), or World Whiner's Day (December 26th), or National Wear-A-Plunger-On-Your-Head Day (Dec. 18th). But who would we be kidding? Certainly not the erudite and sophisticated followers of THIS newsletter (that would be you, Constant Reader). So let us put all coyness aside and wish our readership, our clients and our friends (largely the same folks) a wonderful Christmas and holiday season, and our sincere best wishes for the upcoming year.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CONSILIUM, AARLUK and ARDOS... In this corner of our site we'll be posting notes on new people, new projects, and new online materials you may find interesting. Enjoy, and come back often.

NEW PROJECTS

 

Work began in November on a GN Department of Economic Development and Transportation initiative designed to address "Barriers to Business". Terry Forth, Helen Klengenberg and James Arreak will be helping to facilitate a series of roundtable discussions supported by Terry Rudden and Fred Weihs and Ryan Lotan. The initial "internal" roundtable took place in early November and included representatives from many GN departments and agencies. Subsequent roundtables will be held with business representatives in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit in the new year. The initiative was introduced by the Minister of ED&T in May and is designed to determine ways that government administrative procedures can be streamlined to help make it easier for businesses to operate in Nunavut. A survey was conducted this fall and data gathered is now being "crunched" by Ryan Lotan.

Aarluk will be working with the Economic Development Committee in Rankin Inlet to develop a Comprehensive Community Economic Development Plan to provide assistance and direction in steering future economic development, and strengthening Rankin Inlet's economy. Ron Ryan, Fred Weihs, Chris Grosset, David Boult and Ryan Lotan will be working with Aarluk associate Marla Limousin on the plan.  Pictured left:  Meliadine Lake near Rankin Inlet.

Greg Smith, Terry Rudden, Terry Forth, Fred Weihs and Helen Klengenberg are members of an Aarluk team providing ongoing advice and assistance to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on the Independent Review of the Implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Aarluk associate James Arreak is also working on the review, which is being conducted by PWC for the Nunavut Implementation Panel (NIP). This will provide government and Inuit with an assessment of the degree to which the obligations in the NLCA have been met and recommendations for improving achievement of the objectives. Findings will be used by all parties to identify implementation issues and jointly work toward more effective approaches. Methodologies will include an extensive review of literature and documents, interviews and focus groups held across Nunavut and the rest of Canada.

 

ONGOING PROJECTS

Achieving Objectives: A New Approach to Land Claims Agreements in Canada: June 27-30, 2006, Hilton Lac Leamy, Gatineau. Planning continues on what is promising to be an event of huge significance for the stakeholders of Canada's land claims agreements. Built around the highly-anticipated new Federal land claims implementation policy, the conference will address the central question of whether the new policy will meet the spirit and intent of Canada's land claims agreements. Check out the conference website at www.consilium.ca/alcc2006 for more details. The early registration deadline (offering savings of $195 per delegate) for this event is December 23, 2005. Reserve your delegate pass now and plan to attend this landmark event. Questions? Contact Patti Black, conference coordinator at black@consilium.ca

Ian Kenney and David Boult, under the guidance of Fred Weihs, are wrapping up their work with the six communities of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the Northwest Territories, as they prepare to make submissions to public hearings on the Mackenzie Gas Project. Ian visited Inuvik in October and, in November, travelled to Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik NWT. David is doing the same work for the communities of Holman, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour. These trips involving spending several days with residents in each community, identifying their concerns about the project, the impacts it is likely to have, and how best to prepare. The result of this work will be a document that each community can use to present its own views to the hearings, in addition to the regional position currently being developed by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, further strengthening the voice of the Inuvialuit.  Pictured left is Ian in Tuktoyaktuk and to the right is beautiful Tuktoyaktuk.

Greg Smith is continuing work on a Strategic Plan for the Nishnawbe-Aski Development Fund. He and Ron Ryan provided a draft plan resulting from a two day planning session with NADF management, staff and Board members on the Ft. William Reserve in Thunder Bay in November. They will finalize the plan once the review of the draft by NADF has been completed and feedback received.

The harvesting of wildlife is the economic foundation of traditional Inuit life, and remains the heart of Inuit culture. The harvesting lifestyle, however, have been under increasing pressure in recent years, as the cost of oil and gas, ammunition, skidoos, fishing boats and motors have risen steadily over the past decade. To help identify and address the evolving needs and expectations of Nunavut harvesters, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. commissioned a review and analysis of the existing harvester support programs in Nunavut. Under the direction of Fred Weihs, a team including David Boult, Terry Rudden, and James Arreak carried out research and completed a report setting out more than thirty recommendations to help coordinate and strengthen programs for Nunavut harvesters.

HAPPY ENDINGS

 

James Arreak and Terry Forth facilitated a three day workshop in Iqaluit for the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board reviewing proposed new Wildlife Act Regulations. The focus on the new regulations was on the Total Allowable Harvest (TAHs) and Non-quota Limitations (NQLs) for various animal species common in Nunavut. Over forty participants included representatives from almost all of the Hunters and Trappers Associations from across Nunavut together with the Regionaal Wildlife Organizations. NTI and GN officials acted as resources to assist the discussions. NWMB Chair Joe Tigullarak and legal counsel Michael d'Eça introduced each of the discussion topics and provided helpful background information.

Terry Rudden, working with Lorraine Thomas and David Smith, co-facilitated the presentation of the Nunavut Broadband Training Strategy to a group of stakeholders in Iqaluit in early November. The presentation went extremely well, and the strategy is shaping up as a comprehensive and innovative approach to helping various Nunavut organizations to use broadband technology effectively to meet their sectoral training needs. But the biggest pleasure for Terry was getting to meet some of the readers of this newsletter in person for the first time. Cindy, Murray, Chuck, Hugh and Beverly...this edition is respectfully dedicated to the Iqaluit Consilium Newsletter Appreciation League.

Greg Smith and Fern Assinewe facilitated a successful stakeholders workshop on the Victor Diamond Mine Project in Attawapiskat last month. The client, De Beers Canada Inc., will begin construction of the Victor Project this winter. It is near the Attawapiskat First Nation which is on the Ontario James Bay Coast. The focus of the meeting was on follow-up programs identified in the Environmental Assessment Comprehensive Study Report. It was attended by representatives of Attawapiskat and other First Nations in the region, De Beers Canada, and a variety of federal and provincial government departments and ministries. As a result of the workshop, the participants agreed on a series of steps towards the development of a follow-up agreement.  Pictured left: Small groups discuss structure and process for a follow-up program for the Victor Project, Attawapiskat, November 2005.

 

GOSSIP

 

The best laid plans of mice...well, actually, the best laid plans of mice usually involve cheese. Unlike Terry's vacation plans, which involved Cozumel - at least until Mexico's tourist coast was hit by Hurricane Wilma. With a bit of last minute scrambling, the annual November scuba adventure was moved to the Cayman Islands, where Terry, George and crew shot material for www.underwatermotion.com DVD number three. Amazing dive sightings included stingrays, sharks, a sunken Russian destroyer, and an authentic mermaid.

 

 

 

 

 

She Who Must Be Obeyed Because She Signs the Cheques, Consilium's bookkeeper Debbie Chabot, celebrates her birthday on December 27th. 

 

 

 

 

   CHECK BACK EVERY MONTH FOR MORE CONSILIUM NEWS, TOOLS, AND GOSSIP.