OTTAWA, ON, November 23, 2023 – NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) President Todd Russell issued the following statement today:
“NCC is pleased to support Bill S-14, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act, the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, the Rouge National Urban Park Act and the National Parks of Canada Fishing Regulations.
The legislation finalizes the establishment of the Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, which is situated within the traditional homeland of NunatuKavut Inuit. Our people’s continued connection to these lands for centuries was affirmed in a Shared Understanding Agreement (SUA) with Parks Canada. This Park is of immense cultural, historical and spiritual significance to many NunatuKavut Inuit today, which includes areas like the Wonderstrands. Our people continue to live on and use the land and waters for traditional activities like hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering plants.
The SUA is a significant agreement, which the Government of Canada has upheld as a strong reflection of our relationship and our mutual obligations to ensuring the protection of the lands, ice and waters in the Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve. NCC has been involved in discussions around the Park from the beginning and the SUA was reached after years of engagement and dialogue with Parks Canada. While Bill S-14 could potentially be strengthened, we feel it is inclusive of Indigenous rights holders and all “traditional users.” It also aligns with the spirit and intent of our SUA and is respectful of our cooperative management process through the NunatuKavut Consensus Board.
NCC will continue to monitor the legislative process and look for opportunities to be engaged on Bill S-14 as appropriate.”
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Bill S-14 is currently under study by the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources. To learn more about this Bill, please visit https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/s-14
To learn more about NCC and NunatuKavut Inuit, please visit our website at www.nunatukavut.ca. We invite you to explore our Story Map page by clicking on “Our Story” at the top of our website. Please also join in the conversation at facebook.com/nunatuKavut and X/Twitter @nunatuKavut.
NCC Media Contact:
Kelly Broomfield, Chief Communications Officer
T. 709-280-5965 E. communications@nunatukavut.ca