The eastern, central and Arctic Inuit have held steadfastly to their belief in their right to self government and autonomy of their land. In a very short time, their dream of self determination will become a reality. After such a long struggle, we must allow them the time necessary to establish the methods they will utilize in their governing process; without over criticism, misunderstanding and a belief that a certain progress must be reached within a certain predeterimined time line.

The form of self government the Inuit have begun to establish will be unique to Nunavut. The Inuit, being the majority of the population of the Nunavut area, will have the predominant influence in determining a public government, with participation of all residents of Nunavut (Inuit and non Inuit) through elected officials.

The new government will administer an area that covers approximately 20% of Canada, with powers equivalent to those of existing territorial governments. An elected Legislative Assembly, a Cabinet and a territorial court will be the primary institutions of public government.

The government of Nunavut will be established in evolutionary stages over sixteen years, from 1993 to 2009; with Elders playing a key and primary advisory role in all aspects of this building of a new society and political structure.

The Nunavut Implementation Commission (NIC) was put in place in 1995 to guide, monitor, report and assist in the formation of the new government. The N.I.C. has nine members named by the Government of Canada, six of whom must be residents of Nunavut. The Commission advises all parties on the funding and design of training plans, the timetable for transferring services, and the process for holding the first election for the Government of Nunavut. The initial transition phase will end with the election of the first Government of Nunavut. One of the requirements of the commission was to prepare a comprehensive report. The comission has released this report Footprints in New Snow and a subsequent report about a year and a half later, Footprints 2 was added to the existing blueprint. The recommendations of both reports require federal cabinet approval. An interim commissioner who will lead Nunavut to the world stage was chosen in 1997: former federal Member of Parliament Jack Anawak.

Beginning in 1999, the Government of Nunavut will gradually assume responsibilities now exercised by the Government of the Northwest Territories, with the transfer of administration for programs in areas such as culture, public housing and health care, to be complete by 2009.

The Territory of Nunavut is made up of three distinct regions: Qikiqtaaluk (formerly Baffin Island), Kivalliq, Kitikmeot; and twenty-eight communities. One of the key goals of the new Nunavut Government will be decentralization, with government departments and agencies set up in communities throughout the territory, thereby sharing the economic benefits and responding to the particular needs of each region.

The proposed Capital City will be Iqaluit (pronounced "ee-kal-a-wheat") and the change has begun with this Inuit name replacing the name of Frobisher Bay. Iqaluit is the transportation hub to other Baffin Island communities, as well as to Greenland. In December 1995, it was selected in a Nunavut-wide plebiscite to be the capital of the new central and eastern Arctic territory. The main portion of Iqaluit overlooks Koojesse Inlet. A decentralized government will add jobs to many Nunavut communities with an expected 100 jobs to Iqaluit alone. Private enterprise is changing this village to one reflecting the importance of a capital city. Iqaluit's population is a mix of cultures (only about two-thirds of residents here are Inuit, compared to other communities that are more than 90 per cent Inuit) and languages. Iqaluit, due north of the province of Quebec, is also home to about 400 francophones and a French-language radio station.

In 1942, during the Second World War, the US Air Force, with the blessing of the Canadian government, selected Iqaluit as an ideal site to build an airstrip. It was to be long enough to handle large aircraft transporting war materials from the United States to its European allies. The United States airbase is to the north of town. About eight kilometres to the south lies the small suburb of Niaqunngut. This village was built by the Canadian government as a model community in 1955. Like other Inuit communities throughout the North, Iqaluit couldn't escape westernization of its traditional culture and heritage. The Hudson's Bay Co. trading post moved to Iqaluit in 1950 from Ward Inlet, almost 50 kilometres south on the north coast of Frobisher Bay. In 1955, activity further escalated when supplies and workers arrived in Iqaluit as construction of the eastern section of the DEW Line began. By 1957, Iqaluit had a population of approximately 1,200, of whom 489 were Inuit.

The United States turned over its airbase to the Royal Canadian Air Force after the Second World War. By 1963, the Americans had gone, and Iqaluit was to become the Canadian government administration, communications and transportation centre for the Eastern Arctic. This coincided with Canada's efforts, during these Cold War years, to claim sovereignty in the Canadian North.

This is an historic happening in Canada and we all should be learning as much about this as we can. Personally, I admired the Inuit people and their tenacity in struggling on to reach the kind of environment (both physically and spiritually) that will begin their journey back from a people almost decimated by the modern way of life. This development in the North can only bring health, happiness and properity to a proud people.