Nunavut has furthered the process of devolution which means strengthened autonomy over services, development of resources, and sovereignty overall for the territory.
On Jan. 18, the Nunavut Government, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Canadian Government signed the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.
Dr. Gary Wilson, UNBC’s Political Science Department Chair, speaks to CFUR about the significance of this process for the territory since Nunavut’s establishment in 1999.
Devolution isn’t widely seen in BC, but the concept of independence or sovereignty has been gaining momentum. A landmark moment within the province came when the Nisga’a treaty became effective in the year 2000, with further advances in asserting sovereignty continuing to present.
Territorial claims relating to Nunavut’s devolution differ to those within BC. Similarly though, Nunavut’s actions to establish a territory of predominantly Inuit population and continually devolve more responsibilities from the federal government, has commonalities to negotiating new treaty and governing agreements on a Nation to Nation level between Indigenous Nations in BC and levels of Canadian government.
