Archived - Inuvialuit Final Agreement Implementation Coordinating Committee - Annual Report 2001 - 2002

• Inuvialuit Corporate Group (ICG) profits from 2000 were shared with beneficiaries through a $2.7 million disbursement in May.
  
  
• The Inuvialuit Land Administration (ILA) made over $2.5 million in revenue from land use permits, gravel royalties, long-term leases and concession agreements.
  
  
• The Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) realized significant profits from its investments in oil and gas services, led through strong performances by Akita-Equtak, Arctic Oil and Gas Services, Inuvialuit Northern Logistics and Aklak Air.
  
  
• Supported by federal, territorial, private sector and in-house funding, over $5 million in community-based health, social and economic programs were delivered by the IRC's Community Development Division.
  
  
• In October, a draft agreement-inprinciple was initialled by the IRC, the Gwich'in Tribal Council (GTC), the Government of Canada and the GNWT as a basis for the completion of a Beaufort-Delta Self-Government Agreement.
  
  
• The Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee produced the Draft Cooperation Plan for Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Review of a Northern Gas Pipeline Project which is scheduled to be signed at a later date. This group co-ordinates various regulatory and environmental assessment requirements in preparation for an application to build a Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline. In addition, an agreement between the Inuvialuit and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) was negotiated and the establishment of another agreement between the IGC, CEAA and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) is ongoing. Both agreements are related to the establishment of a joint environmental assessment process to review such an application.
  
  
• The Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG), which includes the IRC, negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the owners of discovered reserves in the Mackenzie Delta, which will allow the APG to own up to one third of a proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline.
  
  
• The Senior Management Committee of the Beaufort Sea Integrated Management Planning Initiative, comprising representatives from the Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC), the IRC, the IGC and industry (represented by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers [CAPP]), agreed in 2000 to collaborate in the development of integrated management planning for marine and coastal areas in the ISR. In 2001-2002, the bulk of this Committee's work took place. A priority was the evaluation of the three areas classified as Zone 1(a) under the Beaufort Sea Beluga Management Plan for potential marine protected area status under the authority of section 35 of the Oceans Act.
  
  
• The Wildlife Management Advisory Council-Northwest Territories (WMAC-NWT) recommended changes to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) on the martin trapping season; muskox, wolf and wolverine sport hunting season; and muskox zoning.
  
  
• The Environmental Impact Screening Committee (EISC) screened 63 project descriptions including developments associated with research (27), hydrocarbon exploration (26), gravel quarries (2), river navigational sites or aids (2), film production (1), docks (2), inspection of heritage sites (1), an exploratory fishery project (1) and stabilization of a communication tower (1). None of the project descriptions was deemed to have the potential for significant negative impact. Four project descriptions were found to be deficient.
  
  
• A joint project by the EISC and the Environmental Impact Review Board (EIRB) to determine how to best examine cumulative impacts in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) resulted in the development of three guides: Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: Current and Potential Capability, Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: A Guide for Reviewers and Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: A Guide for Proponents (draft).
  
  
• The EIRB completed a draft of criteria, which will establish acceptable environmental standards and evaluate developers' standards of performance in the Husky Lakes Area as required under section 8.1 of the IFA.
  
  
• A $37 million contract for the design and construction of the Inuvik Hospital was negotiated by Public Works and Services (PW&S), of the GNWT with 4801 NWT Ltd., a joint venture company between the Uummarmiut Development Corporation and the Nihtat Gwich'in Development Corporation. An additional $7,082,000 in contracts was awarded to Inuvialuit owned businesses.
  
  
• The YG distributed the draft Herschel Island Park Management Plan for review and comment.
  
  
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) provided additional funding to the Joint Secretariat (JS), the EISC and the EIRB to deal with the increased workload related to natural gas activity in the ISR.
  
  
• The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Premier of the NWT and leaders of the NWT regional Aboriginal organizations (known collectively as the Aboriginal Summit) endorsed an MOU agreeing to work toward establishing a formal process to negotiate the devolution of federal responsibilities over land and water resources in the NWT.
  
  
• A working committee including representatives from Parks Canada, ILA and several community organizations in Tuktoyaktuk signed the Pingo Canadian Landmark Memorandum of Agreement in December.
  
  

The IFA was brought into force and effect by the Western Arctic (Inuvialuit) Claims Settlement Act in 1984.

1.1 Land Ownership

The Agreement provides the Inuvialuit with fee simple absolute title to approximately 91,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles) of land in the Western Arctic of the Northwest Territories. This area includes approximately 13,000 square kilometres (5,000 square miles) on which the Inuvialuit have title to surface and subsurface rights. The ISR includes the North Slope of the Yukon Territory, the eastern half of the Beaufort Sea and the associated mainland, part of the Arctic Ocean, Banks Island, much of the western part of Victoria Island and some of the Parry Islands (see map, Appendix 1).

1.2 Eligibility and Enrolment

An enrolment authority composed of one federal government and two Inuvialuit representatives was initially established to enroll those who were entitled to be registered as beneficiaries of the Agreement. Ongoing enrolment authority is now a responsibility of the IRC.

1.3 Financial Compensation

Under the provisions of the IFA, the Inuvialuit received a total of $152 million over 14 years. The Agreement also provided for one-time payments, made in 1984, of $7.5 million to a fund to assist the Inuvialuit in social development and $10 million to the Economic Enhancement Fund.

1.4 Economic Measures

Section 16 of the IFA addresses economic development in the ISR. Its broad objectives focus on Inuvialuit participation in the northern Canadian economy and the integration of the Inuvialuit into Canadian society through development of an adequate level of economic self-reliance and a solid economic base. Since 1984, the Economic Enhancement Fund and compensation payments have helped the Inuvialuit become more actively involved in the local economy and make long-term investments that will provide a solid base for future development.

1.5 Inuvialuit Corporations

Established under subsection 6(1) of the IFA, the IRC holds the overall responsibility for managing the affairs of its corporate subsidiaries and achieving the goals outlined in the IFA. Its ongoing functions and formal obligations are:

• implement the land claim agreement;
  
  
• fulfil the role of institutional representative of the Inuvialuit; and
  
  
• be the parent corporation to, and monitor of, the ICG.
  
  

The IRC is directly controlled by the six community corporations in the ISR through their elected chairs. The directors of the community corporations elect the chair of the IRC. The chair of the IRC and the chairs of the six community corporations comprise the IRC Board.

The Inuvialuit Land Corporation (ILC) owns and holds responsibility for Inuvialuit lands received under the IFA. The IDC, Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation (IPC) and Inuvialuit Investment Corporation (IIC) are responsible for carrying on business activities and investing settlement funds on behalf of the Inuvialuit.

1.6 Wildlife and Environmental Co-management

Within the ISR, the Inuvialuit have extensive wildlife harvesting rights. They also have a mechanism for settling their claims against developers for actual harvest losses and for providing compensation or remedial measures as required.

The Agreement established structures to ensure Inuvialuit participation in wildlife management, conservation and environmental protection in the ISR. These structures include community-based Inuvialuit Hunters and Trappers Committees (HTCs) and the IGC which has representation from each HTC.

The Agreement also established five joint advisory bodies that have equal government and Inuvialuit representation.

• The EISC determines whether proposed developments require detailed environmental impact assessments.
  
  
• The EIRB carries out public reviews of development proposals deemed necessary by the EISC.
  
  
• The FJMC advises the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on matters relating to fisheries and marine mammals in the ISR.
  
  
• WMAC-NWT advises government and other appropriate bodies on wildlife conservation matters in the NWT portion of the settlement region.
  
  
• The Wildlife Management Advisory Council-North Slope (WMAC-NS) advises government and other appropriate bodies on wildlife conservation matters in the Yukon North Slope.
  
  

The Joint Secretariat (JS) was subsequently created to provide technical and administrative support to four of the five joint advisory bodies. Implementation funding is provided through the YG for WMAC-NS administration and operations.

1.7 Arbitration Board

The Arbitration Board was established under section 18 of the IFA to provide a mechanism to arbitrate disputes between the Inuvialuit and the governments of Canada, the Northwest Territories or Yukon, as well as between the Inuvialuit and industry. The Arbitration Board has three members appointed by the Government of Canada, including nominees of the GNWT and the YG. Industry, represented by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, and the Inuvialuit each appoint three members to the Board. The chair and the vice-chair of the Board are appointed by the Government of Canada with the concurrence of the Inuvialuit and industry.

2.1 Section 16 Economic Measures Review

Section 16(3) of the IFA requires a "full and complete public review of the efficacy of the provisions" in the year 2000 by government and the Inuvialuit. If it is the view of the Government, after the review, that obligations under section 16 have not been adequately met, a like review is to be held every five years thereafter.

The 2000 review was delayed by mutual agreement and completed in early 2002 by representatives of the IRC, the GNWT, the YG and the Government of Canada. The final stage of the review was a public consultation held in the ISR in February 2002.

The review assessed a wide range of issues related to the economic measures of the IFA. It examined the rationale and expected outcomes of the economic measures, implementation activities over the period 1984-1999, the state of the economy in that time frame, and the extent to which section 16 objectives have been met.

The results of the review have not been overly positive. Among other things, the review found that the economy of the ISR lost ground compared to its northern neighbours during the period 1984-1999. There is high unemployment in the ISR, income from employment is low, and use of social assistance remains high. Additionally, the report identified some IFA economic measures that have been implemented, but are generally not effective.

The review found that low levels of academic achievement and capacity across the ISR have been major factors in preventing the Inuvialuit from fully participating in the northern economy. While there has been growth of the economy in some areas, the lack of overall capacity has meant that the Inuvialuit have not been able to take full advantage of the associated opportunities.

2.2 Resource Development in the Mackenzie Valley

The IRC and the co-management boards were involved in preparatory activities for a future pipeline to take natural gas to southern markets, and with exploration and research activities in the ISR. New proposals to build a natural gas pipeline down the Mackenzie Valley would see natural gas moving from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and from the Mackenzie Delta, through the Mackenzie Valley to Alberta or British Columbia. These proposals have increased the level of exploration activity on both Inuvialuit and Crown lands.

Two pipeline development proposals are being considered in the ISR.

• Mackenzie Delta Route Conoco, ExxonMobil, Imperial Oil and Shell are studying a stand-alone Canadian Mackenzie Delta project. The project would have an anticipated throughput rate of 23 million to 340 million cubic metres per day once construction is completed.
  
  
• Over-The-Top-Route The Alaskan Gas Producers Pipeline Team (British Petroleum, ExxonMobil and Phillips Petroleum) is studying a northern route referred to as the overthe- top-route with an anticipated initial throughput rate of 113 million cubic metres per day once construction is complete. This project involves a pipeline from Prudhoe Bay crossing into Canadian waters and buried under the sea floor of the Beaufort Sea.
  
  

A number of activities occurred during 2001-2002 related to the various environmental assessment, regulatory processes and economic opportunities implicated in a natural gas pipeline proposal. These include the following.

Aboriginal Pipeline Group

The APG comprising Aboriginal land claim organizations in the NWT, has a mandate to build a business partnership to maximize ownership and benefits from a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Chaired by the IRC chair and chief executive officer, the APG successfully negotiated an MOU with the owners of the discovered reserves in the Mackenzie Delta. With this MOU, the APG will be able to own up to one third of a pipeline used to transport natural gas from the Delta and Mackenzie Valley to the Alberta pipeline grid. Activities to develop a business plan and identify the necessary financing to advance the APG position in this project were ongoing at year end.

Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee

The Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee comprises the chairs of the EISC, EIRB, ILA, IGC, Sahtu Land and Water Board, Gwich'in Land and Water Board, MVEIRB, Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, NWT Water Board, and representatives of the GNWT, National Energy Board (NEB), Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), and INAC. Its mandate is to co-ordinate the various regulatory and environmental assessment processes in preparation for an application to build a Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline.

The Committee's work culminated in the release in January of the Draft Cooperation Plan for Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Review of a Northern Gas Pipeline Project, which outlines how these different bodies will work together. The plan was put out to public comment for 60 days after which comments were collated, analyzed and incorporated into the final Cooperation Plan forwarded to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in April 2002. This document and the responses to the Draft Cooperation Plan from different organizations, departments

and First Nations groups are posted on the MVEIRB Web site www.mveirb.nt.ca. The Working Group of the Chairs' Committee is developing a set of common information requirements and environmental impact screening assessment terms of reference for a pipeline project application. This work began in January and is carrying on into the new fiscal year.

Joint Review Panel

The Inuvialuit negotiated a draft agreement with the CEAA, as represented by the Minister of the Environment, relating to the possible creation of a panel to review a pipeline application. The IGC negotiated a draft agreement with the CEAA, as represented by the Minister of the Environment and the MVEIRB, which will allow the parties to discharge their respective environmental impact assessment responsibilities effectively.

Worldevents in 2001 had a significant impact on the IRC and its subsidiaries. [Note 1] The after-effects of the September 11 disaster brought new challenges to the airline industry and in turn, to Canadian North Airlines (Air NorTerra) which is 50 percent owned by the IDC. The year-long downturn in world equity markets drew heavily on the collective expertise of the board and investment managers of the IIC. The losses in these sectors were largely offset by many solid performances within the IDC group of companies and significant revenues from concession payments and other uses of Inuvialuit lands. In May, profits from the previous year were shared with beneficiaries through a $2.7 million disbursement. An increasing demand for natural gas throughout North America opened up new economic opportunities for the ICG, the Inuvialuit private business sector and individual beneficiaries. The year saw significant growth throughout all sectors of the Inuvialuit community, reflecting, in large part, the success of the IRC's efforts to obtain employment and contracting prefer- ence for beneficiaries on all ISR-based oil and gas-related activities. Internally, this growth included a significant enhancement of staff resources in IRC's Employment and Training Division, the ILA office in Tuktoyaktuk and across the IDC's business subsidiaries.

World events in 2001 had a significant impact on the IRC and its subsidiaries.1 The after-effects of the September 11 disaster brought new challenges to the airline industry and in turn, to Canadian North Airlines (Air NorTerra) which is 50 percent owned by the IDC. The year-long downturn in world equity markets drew heavily on the collective expertise of the board and investment managers of the IIC. The losses in these sectors were largely offset by many solid performances within the IDC group of companies and significant revenues from concession payments and other uses of Inuvialuit lands. In May, profits from the previous year were shared with beneficiaries through a $2.7 million disbursement.

An increasing demand for natural gas throughout North America opened up new economic opportunities for the ICG, the Inuvialuit private business sector and individual beneficiaries. The year saw significant growth throughout all sectors of the Inuvialuit community, reflecting, in large part, the success of the IRC's efforts to obtain employment and contracting prefer ence for beneficiaries on all ISR-based oil and gas-related activities. Internally, this growth included a significant enhancement of staff resources in IRC's Employment and Training Division, the ILA office in Tuktoyaktuk and across the IDC's business subsidiaries.

3.1 Inuvialuit Lands

Considerable activity took place on Inuvialuit lands in 2001 with over $2.5 million in revenue from land use permits, gravel royalties, long-term leases and concession agreements. This resulted in a significant increase in the workload of the ILA and the need to hire additional staff.

Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line clean-up activities continued at Clinton Point east of Paulatuk. In other activities, extensive seismic operations were conducted by Petro-Canada, Devon, Shell, Chevron/BP, Alberta Energy Corporation and Darnley Bay Resources conducted kimberlite exploration in the Paulatuk area, and extensive remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils was carried out north of Aklavik at the old Shell staging site.

Work progressed in the development of a granular resources management plan for the ISR, the review of ILA rules and procedures and the development of a Husky Lakes management plan.

Pre-employment and on-the-job training was provided to 47 beneficiaries in environmental monitoring with 29 of these individuals obtaining employment with the ILA during the winter exploration season. ILA staff and the chief commissioner of the ILA Commission were involved in ongoing discussions and meetings related to the development of a co-operation plan for all the regulatory and environmental assessment agencies that will be involved in a future Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

3.2 Inuvialuit Business Corporations

Inuvialuit Development Corporation

During 2001, the IDC realized significant profits from its investments in oil and gas services. Akita-Equtak led the strong financial contribution from this sector through an investment of over $25 million in the purchase of three drilling rigs and supporting camp facilities. Arctic Oil and Gas Services also had a successful year servicing 17 camps throughout the Delta compared to nine the previous year. Other IDC companies realizing significant profits from oil and gas activities included Inuvialuit Northern Logistics and Aklak Air.

Canadian North Airlines (Air NorTerra) embarked on an extensive program of establishing itself as an independent operator free of the heavy service rates imposed by Air Canada following its takeover of Canadian Airlines late in 2000. Compounded by the extraordinary events facing the aviation industry in general, Air NorTerra fell short of revenue targets and absorbed costs that could not be passed on to its customers. Dowland Contracting experienced significant growing pains as it responded to a rapid demand for its services, largely as a result of the surge in oil and gas-related activity.

As the IDC enters its 25th year it is well positioned to celebrate this milestone along with the recognition it deserves as one of the most successful Aboriginal development corporations in the country.

Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation

The IPC maintained its presence in the oil and gas industry through a one-third ownership in the Inuvik Natural Gas Project bringing natural gas to Inuvik from the Ikhil field 48 kilometers north of the community. Following the sale of its major subsidiary,

Inuvialuit Energy Inc., in the 1999, IPC held a significant investment portfolio that is managed by the IIC. This is being held pending future opportunities to invest in discoveries on Inuvialuit lands.

During the year the IPC realized a small operating profit of $69,000.

Inuvialuit Investment Corporation

The instability of investment markets throughout the world in 2001 contributed to negative growth within the IIC portfolio. Dissatisfaction with the performance of the non-North American investment managers resulted in termination of their services and retention of McLean Budden in their place. This transition took place at the low point of the market and crystallized values that had fallen throughout the year. Although cash investments showed positive returns for the year, these were reduced by the continuous fall in interest rates throughout 2001. Overall, the IIC experienced a loss of $3.5 million or a drop of 2.7 percent for the year, significantly less than the investment losses experienced by many other major Canadian investment funds.

Equity markets rebounded strongly by the end of the year. The IIC was in full compliance with the "Statement of Investment Policies and Goals."

3.3 Community Development

The IRC's Community Development Division continued to expand its range of community based health, social and economic programs. Supported by federal, territorial, private sector and in-house funding, over $5 million in programs were delivered to beneficiaries.

Inuvialuit Human Resources

Inuvialuit Human Resources staff delivered over $1.4 million in training initiatives. Through regional training committee partnerships, a floor hand training program was developed and implemented. This will provide Inuvik with a training opportunity base for future oil and gas training initiatives. Other major training projects supported during 2001 included early childhood training, native artisan, natural resources technology and university/college access.

Due to increased oil and gas activities, two new positions were created as Human Resources staff worked with industry, communities and contractors to maximize beneficiary employment. Staff also provided year-round assistance to beneficiaries in career planning, pre-employment skills, employment referrals and educational information.

Inuvialuit Education Foundation

The Inuvialuit Education Foundation supported Inuvialuit students through five specific program areas: tutoring, postsecondary supplementary funding, scholarships, student incentive trips and summer camps.

Seventy-four students accessed the Post-Secondary Supplementary Grant and Scholarship Programs during the year. The Student Incentive Trip Program provided five high school students in grades 11 and 12 with a tour of colleges and universities in Alberta. Student summer camps combined language, science and technology, and were delivered through the community corporations. Contributions from the members of the oil and gas industry active in the ISR provided considerable support to the entire range of Foundation programs.

Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre

The Inuvialuit cultural resource centre continued its efforts in the revitalization of Inuvialuktun by supporting language camps in all Inuvialuit communities. Among its many accomplishments, the Centre produced language promotion posters and workbooks, created a language awards program in each community and produced 11 different children's books in three dialects. Funding was made to communities for local language programming, and basic language lesson tapes were recorded. Professional development opportunities and workshops were provided to language teachers.

Child Development Centres

Support was provided to child development centres across the ISR through funding from the Inuit Childcare and Aboriginal Head Start initiatives and the Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre. Programs served parents, infants, toddlers and children up to six years old.

Ongoing training was provided to the staff of early childhood centres through formal early childhood development course work, visits to well-established programs to give staff first-hand experience, and related workshops and conferences. A parenting support program was developed with support from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

Community Wellness Programs

Community wellness was supported throughout the year with funding from Brighter Futures, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Urban Multi- Purpose Aboriginal Youth Centres Program. Emphasis was placed on the need for longterm community wellness planning and project evaluation.

The regional youth co-ordinator worked closely with both the Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk youth centres to provide a safe and positive environment for youth, and assisted the smaller communities in developing youth initiatives.

The Division was actively involved in developing Inuit health initiatives at the national level. Through a health liaison position, the IRC maintained a national presence on the Inuit and First Nations Health Renewal Initiative and the Inuit Health Information Initiative.

3.4 Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization

The Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization (CEDO) had a busy year providing support to Inuvialuit businesses involved in oil and gas-related activities through basic safety training programs, bid tendering workshops, financial administration, and other management and financial assistance. CEDO also continued the management support of the Sachs Harbour muskox harvest and Bessie's Boarding Home in Aklavik. Both financial and development support was provided to Kunnek Resource Development Corporation in the acquisition and revitalization of the region's reindeer herd. Discussions began in the development of a new accommodation facility in Holman.

The CEDO office also provided year round training, administrative and financial management support to all community corporations and their development corporations.

Working with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK, formerly the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada), the IRC played a prominent role throughout the year in advancing, at the national level, the many Aboriginal and Inuit specific programs and initiatives now under development or review with Health Canada and other federal government departments. These included the Inuit Health Information Initiative, Inuit Mental Health Framework, Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, fetal alcohol syndrome/fetal alcohol effect, Inuit and First Nations Home and Community Care Program, Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, injury prevention and health information systems.

3.5 Territorial and National Affairs

Working in partnership with the GTC through the Beaufort Delta self-government office, the IRC made major steps to advance Aboriginal self-government within the Beaufort Sea/Mackenzie Delta region. In October, a draft agreement-in-principle was initialled by the IRC, the GTC, Government of Canada and GNWT as a basis for the completion of a final self-government agreement.

New territorial and federal government legislation drew heavily on the time and resources of the IRC. Some of the more prominent of these included the new federal Oceans Act and Species At Risk Act and An Act to establish a process for assessing the environmental and socio-economic effects of certain activities in Yukon.

Outstanding issues received ongoing attention through the IFA ICC. Issues with major implications for Inuit across Canada include the discrepancy between the levels of core organizational funding provided by INAC to First Nations versus that provided to Inuit, the need to obtain federal buy-in on a Canada-wide Inuit identification card and the need to support capacity building at the community level.

3.6 Looking Forward

The IRC was successful in bringing significant economic opportunities to beneficiaries in recent years. Efforts will continue to ensure these opportunities are maintained and enhanced wherever possible. Work will also continue on expanding the capacity of beneficiaries and their communities through the provision of a broad range of economic, social, cultural and health initiatives tailored to the unique requirements of the Inuvialuit and the advancement of the Beaufort-Delta self-government initiative. The IRC will also begin a process of determining why the current education system is failing Inuvialuit children and the steps that can be taken to address this situation.

The Arbitration Board held its annual meeting in March within the ISR at Inuvik. The Board had not met in the ISR for several years. This provided an opportunity to visit the region and its communities, see first hand the benefits of economic growth within the region and meet with the Inuvialuit.

At the meeting board members provided a summary of events and current issues or developments within their respective areas. New board members were introduced to their colleagues. An Inuvialuit representative presented the perspective of the Inuvialuit experience with the implementation of the IFA and lessons from that experience. The Chair submitted to the board members, the annual reports of the IFA ICC for the last two years. The Board was informed of the highlights of the 2000-2001 IFA ICC Annual Report.

The Chair also presented a detailed document identifying the key provisions of the IFA as they relate to the workings of the Arbitration Board, its powers and jurisdiction, and the provisions of the Agreement which would give rise to matters requiring board arbitration. As well, members were provided with information received from the Ethics Commissioner related to conflictof- interest rules. Recent decisions of the courts, as they relate to the conduct of arbitrators, were discussed by the Board.

5.1 Inuvialuit Game Council

The IGC represents the collective Inuvialuit interest in wildlife and derives its mandate from subsection 14(74) of the IFA. The IGC works in parallel with the IRC to implement the IFA. It is responsible for upholding and administering the Inuvialuit harvesting rights recognized under the IFA. The IGC also has the mandate to represent the Inuvialuit in all matters related to renewable resource management in the ISR.

The IGC appoints Inuvialuit representatives to all the joint wildlife and environmental co-management bodies established under the IFA. With the consent of the IGC, the Government of Canada appoints the chairs for the co-management groups. In addition to its responsibilities under the IFA, the IGC acts as the regional representative of Inuvialuit hunters, trappers and fishers.

The IGC is made up of a director and an alternate from each of the six HTCs. A chair is elected by the six IGC directors.

Many older pieces of government legislation do not reflect the harvesting rights of the Inuvialuit as established in the IFA. The IGC provided ongoing input to various territorial and federal acts and regulations to ensure consistency with the IFA. This included:

• representation on the Wildlife Act Aboriginal Advisory Group to provide input into the amendments to the NWT Wildlife Act; and
  
  
• representation on the Species At Risk Act Aboriginal Working Group.
  
  

The IGC and HTCs met with oil and gas company representatives and consultants regarding proposed projects and discussed the wildlife and environmental management processes under the IFA. The pace of oil and gas activities increased dramatically during the year and is expected to continue at this rate over the next few years. The IGC has an interest in environmental impact assessment and regulatory matters associated with the proposed northern gas pipeline project. The ISR will be part of field development and gathering systems as the proposed pipeline is built from the Mackenzie Valley to southern Canada.

The increased oil and gas development created concerns in the communities about whether they have the capacity to deal with multiple seismic projects. The HTCs identified the need for assistance to enable them to comment to the EISC on the many project submissions. A three-person technical resource team has been proposed for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. This team will form a community support unit for the six ISR communities: Aklavik, Inuvik, Holman, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk.

One issue discussed by the IGC and the co-management bodies was the process for assessing the cumulative impacts of exploration activity in the Delta and the Beaufort Sea. The IGC has ongoing participation in the Cumulative Environmental Assessment and Management Framework Steering Committee, which is developing a cumulative effects assessment and management framework for the NWT, and on the Mackenzie Valley Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program Working Group. To deal with cumulative effects within the ISR, the IGC and co-management bodies are discussing thresholds and wildlife research gaps, and prioritizing research to address those gaps.

The Sea Ice Variability and Climate Change Workshop was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, March 6-8, 2002. The IGC sent community representatives to present Inuvialuit knowledge and gain scientific knowledge on themes, such as hemispheric versus regional variability, the effects of sea ice on shoreline dynamics and the ecological implications of sea ice variability. The focus was on the Beaufort Sea in identifying research priorities for the ISR.

The IGC chair and JS executive director assisted in the development of a Beaufort Sea seabed mapping program conducted by the Geological Survey of Canada and DFO. The JS executive director also assisted Aurora Research Institute in the development of drilling waste research proposals to assist in policy development.

5.2 Hunters and Trappers Committees

Subsection 14(75) of the Agreement provides for the creation of the HTCs. An HTC has been established in each of the six Inuvialuit communities of Inuvik, Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, Holman, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour. Administrative and operational costs of the HTCs are the responsibility of the GNWT.

Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Aklavik HTC's activities included the following:

• work with co-management groups in the NWT and Yukon, oil and gas exploration companies and Aklavik HTC beneficiaries;
  
  
• participation in the Westside Charr Working Group with DFO and the FJMC;
  
  
• various work including the annual Beluga whale monitoring program, the recording of aircraft flights in the Shingle and West Whitefish areas, and index netting;
  
  
• distribution of caribou meat to community elders;
  
  
• distribution of the Community Harvesters Assistance Program (CHAP) funding;
  
  
• in collaboration with the Aklavik Community Corporation business arm, employment of community members as wildlife monitors, shelter crews and survey assistants; and
  
  
• participation in board development training.
  
  

Olokhaktomiut (Holman) Hunters and Trappers Committee

Olokhaktomiut HTC activities included:

• seal and fish monitoring;
  
  
• a caribou survey;
  
  
• a harvest study on behalf of DFO/ RWED;
  
  
• discussions on the drafting of the revisions to the NWT Wildlife Act and the protection of NWT species at risk;
  
  
• approval of the polar bear contaminants program;
  
  
• participating in a joint Olokhaktomiut HTC/ FJMC public meeting on the Seashell project; and
  
  
• assistance to seven harvesters through the Inuvialuit Harvesters Assistance Program (IHAP).
  
  

Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Inuvik HTC met monthly to deal with ongoing issues and land use applications, and to provide general information and assistance to its members, corporate bodies and oil and gas companies. As with the previous year, the Inuvik HTC dealt with a number of oil and gas-related project proposals and reviewed activity reports for research projects along the proposed pipeline area. Other activities included:

• the delivery of the Trapper Training Land Skills Program (funded through Brighter Futures), which involved three instructors who each brought three students out on the land 10 ten days;
  
  
• submission of a proposal to Brighter Futures for the annual caribou harvest, which involves hunters and youth, and provides food for elders and families in need (Caribou samples from the harvest were sent to RWED);
  
  
• approval of 11 of 33 applications under the IHAP at a total cost of $53,475;
  
  
• distribution of cargo containers from oil companies to hunters for cabin repair;
  
  
• inquiries into possible funding sources for the Inuvik area campsite clean-up; and
  
  
• the hiring of 21 wildlife monitors by Tumitchiat Outfitters.
  
  

Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee

Paulatuk HTC activities included:

• sports hunts for polar bears, caribou, muskox and grizzly bears;
  
  
• community meeting to discuss the GNWT species at risk legislation and the revisions to the NWT Wildlife Act;
  
  
• data collection on caribou and charr;
  
  
• distribution of 24 drums of gas to local harvesters through CHAP;
  
  
• charr and beluga monitoring programs;
  
  
• approval of six applicants for funding under the IHAP; and
  
  
• a recommendation that the muskox sport hunt season be amended to start earlier.
  
  

Sachs Harbour Hunters and Trappers Committee

Sachs Harbour HTC activities included:

• a request to DFO for a seal count/study;
  
  
• Wildlife Service (CWS), which distributed about 500 geese to Inuvik, Holman and Aklavik;
  
  
• a request to the CWS regarding a 2002 harvest of 2,500 geese and eggs;
  
  
• approval of a research permit with RWED to assess the productivity of Peary caribou on Banks Island;
  
  
• approval of a research permit with RWED for a population survey of Banks Island Peary caribou, muskox and Arctic wolf;
  
  
• use of CHAP funding to purchase charr and 40 pails of muktuk, and a hunt to harvest one caribou each for the elders;
  
  
• public meetings to discuss the Peary caribou quota and the species at risk legislation;
  
  
• approval to the guide level training to use six muskox tags;
  
  
• prioritization of proposed Sachs Harbour studies with the FJMC: (1) Banks Island coastal fish and seal sites evaluation, (2) Sachs charr study, (3) Sachs marine cod study, (4) Sachs fish and marine mammal traditional ecological knowledge study, and (5) Banks Island fisheries science study; and
  
  
• the approval of 200 commercial muskox tags to 97120 NT Ltd. for the muskox harvest, for a total of 1,200 approved tags.
  
  

Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Tuktoyaktuk HTC activities included:

• consultation meetings with Petro Canada, AEC West, Andarko and Conoco;
  
  
• participation in the development of the Husky Lakes integrated management plan;
  
  
• a Husky Lakes fish and ecology study and assessment;
  
  
• beluga whale monitoring;
  
  
• an index netting project;
  
  
• inspection of Anderson Resources Ltd. and Petro Canada sites;
  
  
• discussions with the EIRB on the draft criteria for Husky Lakes;
  
  
• review of the draft revisions to the NWT Wildlife Act and species at risk legislation;
  
  
• a wildlife monitor course on snowmobile safety, boat safety, bear awareness and first aid;
  
  
• distribution of the CHAP funding; and
  
  
• discussions on proposed seismic programs in the community and on the Mackenzie River.
  
  

6.1 Fisheries Joint Management Committee

Under subsection 14(61) of the IFA, the FJMC provides advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on all matters affecting fisheries and the management of fish and marine mammals found in the ISR. The FJMC works closely with government agencies, renewable resource user groups in the Inuvialuit communities and other renewable resource boards in Canada and Alaska that oversee common migratory stocks.

Implementation funds to support the Committee's operations, provided through a contribution agreement with DFO totalled $368,325. A second contribution agreement for $35,000 provided support to the Inuvialuit Harvest Study (IHS).

Consultation and Planning

In keeping with the co-management philosophy of the IFA, consultation with local HTCs, the IGC and DFO and other government agencies formed an important part of the Committee's activities. The FJMC held five regular meetings, seven teleconferences and one special joint meeting with a multi-agency working group developing a marine protected area in the Beaufort Sea. Public meetings were held in Paulatuk, Holman and Sachs Harbour to discuss, with local hunters and fishers, issues of concern related to fish and marine mammals, and research priorities for the ISR.

Work continued on the FJMC vision statement. This is a strategic plan that will direct the FJMC's activities for the first decade of the new millennium. It contains a set of guiding fundamental principles, a clear vision of the future of fish and marine mammal management in the ISR and a set of milestones for the next decade.

Research and Monitoring

The Committee was active in numerous monitoring and research activities. A total of 25 projects were conducted through joint efforts of the FJMC and DFO. The charr monitoring projects in Paulatuk and Holman were continued. These provide information for existing community-based charr fishing plans, which have been implemented for the Hornaday and Kuujua rivers near Paulatuk and Holman respectively. In support of the Hornaday River plan, the Committee continued to contribute to a baseline water quality and quantity monitoring project for the river system.

The FJMC allocated operating funds to support the West Side Working Group and its efforts to develop a community-driven integrated fishing plan that will cover numerous fish species and the range of Yukon North Slope/West Side rivers from Big Fish River west to Fish Creek near the Alaskan border. This fiscal year, the Working Group, which includes representatives from the Aklavik HTC and Elders Committee, the FJMC, DFO, and Parks Canada, assembled critical scientific and traditional knowledge information on North Slope fisheries that will form the foundation of the future management plan. A traditional knowledge study was completed that collected observations and stories from Inuvialuit fishers of the North Slope and western Delta waters. The local knowledge gathered spans over 70 years and provides valuable insights on trends in fishing site and species usage, as well as changes in the local environment and habitat.

Support of a multi-year program to assess the ecological and fishery resources of Husky and Sitidgi lakes continues to be a priority of the Committee. These lakes support important local subsistence and recreational fisheries. In coming years, the Committee anticipates growing pressures associated with accelerating hydrocarbon development on surrounding lands and increased public access through seasonal ice roads and a proposed all-weather road to Tuktoyaktuk.

The FJMC continued to allocate funds in support of a satellite telemetry program to monitor the movements of ringed seals. As a follow-up to a two-year tagging program conducted in Holman, seals were tagged in the Cape Parry area near Paulatuk. The Committee also continued to sponsor a long-term project designed to monitor the reproductive status and condition of ringed seals in Amundsen Gulf. The quality of country foods has been an ongoing, significant concern for the communities. In response to this concern, and to monitor animal health, the Committee allocated funds for research involving the collection of samples from harvested marine mammals (including ringed seals and beluga) for contaminant and disease analysis.

In addition to annual research project funding, the Committee supported longterm harvest monitoring programs that provide essential harvest data required by the Committee for making sound management decisions.

• In co-operation with the HTCs, the FJMC delivered the beluga harvest monitoring program.
  
  
• Following the cancellation of the IHS effective 2001, the Committee continued its support of the collection of Inuvialuit subsistence fisheries harvest data by DFO.
  
  

In accordance with section 14(64) of the IFA, the FJMC's Private Lands Sport Fishing Registry was renewed. To support this work, an annual survey of recreational anglers fishing within the ISR was initiated. Results from the FJMC's first annual ISR Spring-Summer Sport Angler Harvest Survey for 2000 were analyzed and communicated back to communities, recreational anglers and government agencies. Data collection for the 2001 edition of the ISR Spring-Summer Sport Angler Survey was completed by the end of 2001-2002 fiscal year. The scope of the 2001 survey was expanded to include both GNWT sport fishing licence holders and visitors to national parks within the ISR who held a Parks Canada fishing permit.

Findings from the 2000 survey helped the FJMC design an effective promotional and education campaign for their ISR Private Lands Sport Fishing Registry. The first stage of an educational campaign directed to fishing licence vendors, HTCs and recreational anglers was completed.

Hydrocarbon Development

The FJMC continued to be well positioned to provide sound advice on issues related to accelerating oil and gas industry activities in the ISR. The Committee and staff have been regular participants in the pre-EISC submission community and regulatory agency consultations by industry. The FJMC maintains tightened screening procedures for the review of all industry proposals before the EISC that have the potential to affect on fish, marine mammals and/or aquatic habitat in the ISR. The Committee continued to review all oil and gas proposals prior to discussions at the EISC meetings. Throughout the fiscal year, the Committee was concerned for, and even critical of, DFO's ability to meet the challenges related to increased hydrocarbon activities in this region. The FJMC actively pressed DFO and other federal agencies for increased government staff and resource capacity in the ISR.

Beluga Management and Pilot Marine Protected Areas

The FJMC initiated the Beaufort Sea Integrated Management Planning Initiative in co-operation with DFO. This multistakeholder initiative is facilitated through a Working Group that includes representatives from the FJMC, DFO, IGC, IRC, INAC and CAPP. A priority of this group, known as the Senior Management Committee of the Beaufort Sea Integrated Management Planning Initiative, is to evaluate the three areas classified as Zone 1(a) under the Beaufort Sea Beluga Management Plan for potential marine protected area status under the authority of section 35 of the Oceans Act.

Emerging Commercial Fisheries

In response to increasing interest by business entities from outside the region in developing commercial fisheries in the Beaufort Sea, the Committee worked closely with DFO and the IGC to lay the foundations for a regionally managed, sustainable commercial fisheries in the Beaufort Sea that will benefit the Inuvialuit economically while not adversely affecting traditional subsistence harvesting activities.

Endangered Wildlife

The FJMC worked more closely with the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada over the past year to better define the Committee's role in the federal assessment process for endangered species. The Committee participated in the preliminary stages of re-assessment of bowhead and beluga whales.

Communications

The FJMC continued to develop its Web site www.fjmc.ca as a means to better inform the public, government, and industry about the Committee and fisheries co-management in the ISR. Various FJMC reports and other materials are available on the site for downloading. The FJMC reaches Inuvialuit beneficiaries within the ISR through the annual ISR community tour and regular FJMC news briefs to the JS-Inuvialuit Renewable Resource Committee's newsletter, the JS Bulletin, which is distributed to every registered Inuvialuit beneficiary each spring and fall.

Student Mentoring Program and Inuvialuit Youth

The FJMC's Student Mentoring Program returned for its fifth successful season in 2001-2002. Activities of this program included:

• hosting four students (three from Inuvik and one from Tuktoyaktuk);
  
  
• development of new work placement partnerships (including Parks Canada, Natural Resources Canada, RWED, Aurora Research Institute and two environmental consulting companies, Kavik AXYS, and Inuvialuit Environmental   Geotechnical);
  
  
• expansion of the family of funding agencies (including the GNWT Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the IRC and Enbridge Inc.);
  
  
• the return of the Boot Lake aquatic science training module featuring a new study manual developed by DFO;
  
  
• organization and delivery of a school tour to high schools in Inuvik, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk in May as part of an effort to recruit new students for the 2001 FJMC Student Mentoring Program. This tour involved both DFO staff and FJMC members and is offered in partnership with DFO. It is designed to encourage Inuvialuit youth to finish high school and continue with their studies in the sciences so they can become the ISR's future resource managers and biologists. The tour helped establish relationships with local science teachers who will be key in the annual recruitment of new academically gifted Inuvialuit students into the Program; and
  
  
• participation by FJMC staff and members in a regional career fair, Career Quest 2002, with an FJMC trade show display and classroom presentation to junior and senior high school students from around the Beaufort-Delta region.
  
  

6.2 Wildlife Management Advisory Council - Northwest Territories

Established under subsection 14(45) of the Agreement, WMAC-NWT's mandate is to advise the appropriate ministers on all matters relating to wildlife policy and the management, regulation, research, enforcement and administration of wildlife, habitat and harvesting for the Western Arctic Region. It is the responsibility of the Council to prepare conservation and management plans and to determine and recommend harvestable quotas. The Council also reviews and advises the appropriate governments on existing or proposed wildlife legislation and any proposed Canadian position for international purposes that affects wildlife in the Western Arctic Region. The Council's geographic area of jurisdiction is that part of the ISR contained within the NWT. Comprises three members appointed by the Inuvialuit, two appointed by the GNWT, one appointed by the Government of Canada and a chair who is appointed by the GNWT with the consent of the Inuvialuit and the Government of Canada.

The Council focusses on the conservation of terrestrial wildlife species, including polar bears and birds. It works closely with the IGC, HTCs, the government agencies responsible for wildlife management in the ISR and the other co-management bodies established by the IFA.

Community Conservation Plans

In July, DFO and GeoArctic finalized a browser, which was distributed with the electronic versions of the six previously completed community conservation plans. The browser is available at www.bmmda.nt.ca. It allows users to search the plans under different criteria, for example, sites for a specific community or sites related to caribou.

Quotas for Wildlife Harvesting

In December, WMAC-NWT recommended that there be no change to existing quotas for species under quota in the ISR.

Harvesting of Wildlife

The following season and zone changes were recommended to the Minister of RWED

• Change the beginning of the martin trapping season in the Tuktoyaktuk area from November 1 to October 1.
  
  
• Change the muskox sport hunting season in Zone I/MX/06 from October 1 - April 30 to September 15 - April 30.
  
  
• Establish a sport hunting season for wolves and wolverines in the ISR for residents, non-residents and non-resident foreign visitors.
  
  
• Combine muskox zones I/MX/O3 and I/MX/O34 on Victoria Island into one zone.
  
  

Legislation Affecting Wildlife Management

The WMAC-NWT continued to review and comment on the proposed federal Species at Risk Act. In particular, the Council was involved in efforts to incorporate traditional knowledge into the process of reviewing the status of endangered wildlife.

At the territorial level, consultation on two proposed pieces of wildlife legislation began during the year: the revisions to the NWT Wildlife Act and the Species At Risk Act. The Council submitted comments on both of these draft acts and will continue to be involved as they proceed.

Research

Wildlife research is essential to enable WMAC-NWT to make decisions and recommendations on conservation and quotas. Wildlife research in the ISR is supported primarily by IFA implementation funds, as well as regular RWED and CWS expenditures and in-kind support. RWED and the CWS propose research programs and priorities for the ISR based on continuing consultation with the HTCs. WMAC-NWT considers these proposals, sets priorities for IFA funded research each year, and advises the agencies and the IGC of its decisions. It also reviews and advises on wildlife research proposed by other agencies and supported by other funds. In 2001-2002, the Council reviewed several wildlife and habitat research proposals from the oil and gas industry in support of proposed natural gas gathering systems and pipelines.

Inuvialuit knowledge directs and informs wildlife research in several ways. The consultation process between RWED, the CWS and HTCs assists in setting priorities regarding the research needing to be done and how best to do it. WMAC-NWT requires that such consultation take place before approving any research project and also requires assurance that research is conducted in a manner satisfactory to the HTCs. The Council considers the development, design, conduct and interpretation of research on the basis of both Inuvialuit and scientific knowledge.

WMAC-NWT approved the following IFA funded wildlife research projects in 2001-2002.

Implementation funds allocated from GNWT/ RWED supported

• the IHS;
  
  
• a range assessment and body condition study of Peary caribou and muskox on Banks and Northwest Victoria islands;
  
  
• a population survey of Peary caribou, muskox and wolves on Banks and Northwest Victoria Islands;
  
  
• a study of range use of Peary caribou on the northwest Victoria Islands;
  
  
• a survey of productivity, reproductive status and health of the muskox on Banks Island;
  
  
• satellite tracking and a survey of range use of the Bluenose-West and Cape Bathurst caribou;
  
  
• a recruitment study of Bluenose-West and Cape Bathurst caribou;
  
  
• a population survey of mainland muskox;
  
  
• monitoring of the harvest of, and problem occurrences associated with, grizzly bears in the Mackenzie Delta region;
  
  
• a population assessment of grizzly bears in the Delta, Richards Island and the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula;
  
  
• a local knowledge study of grizzly bear locations and human activities; and
  
  
• habitat surveys in the Mackenzie Delta region.
  
  

Implementation funds allocated from CWS went toward:

• the IHS;
  
  
• locating moulting and wintering areas of King Eider ducks;
  
  
• monitoring the habitat of snow geese on Banks Island; and
  
  
• a study of the impact of harvesting snow geese populations on Banks and Kendall Islands and at Anderson River. WMAC-NWT also supported, in principle, other research proposed by RWED and the CWS, which was not IFA funded.
  
  

Meetings

Oil and gas exploration activity in the ISR increased even more than in the previous year. WMAC-NWT continued to participate in several information sessions held by oil and gas companies, and commented on development applications submitted to the EISC. The focus of most meetings shifted from exploration programs to biophysical studies in anticipation of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline proposal. These field-based studies require more significant input from the Council in its role as wildlife manager, than do exploration programs.

WMAC-NWT members attended 27 meetings, workshops and conferences throughout the year to assist the Council in adequately and knowledgeably fulfilling its mandate. As well, multiple information meetings with exploration companies, natural gas producers and pipeline feasibility assessors were attended which provided an opportunity for industry to update the co-management bodies on activities and proposed exploration in the ISR.

Other

The Council continued to advise the EISC with respect to relevant development submissions, conveying concerns regarding impacts on wildlife and habitat.

The EISC no longer screens nongovernment funded wildlife research as it does not qualify as a "development" activity under the IFA. This has meant that, as advisory bodies, the co-management councils now play a more direct role in assessing the proposals and ensuring community input before permits are issued. Rather than submitting comments to the EISC, they are sent to the permitting agencies. This has highlighted the need for improved communications directly between the councils and these agencies.

In June, a WMAC-NWT staff member participated in IFA funded field research on snow geese and shore birds at Banks Island.

6.3Wildlife Management Advisory Council - North Slope

WMAC-NS is the Yukon counterpart of WMAC-NWT and was established under subsection 12(46) of the Agreement. The Council provides advice to the appropriate federal or territorial ministers, on all matters relating to wildlife policy and the management, regulation and administration of wildlife, habitat and harvesting for the Yukon North Slope. The Council determines and recommends appropriate quotas for Inuvialuit harvesting of game in the North Slope and advises on measures required to protect habitat that are critical for wildlife or harvesting. The Council also provides advice on issues pertaining to the North Slope to the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, Yukon Land Use Planning Commission, the EISC, EIRB and other groups.

The following is a summary of some of the major areas of WMAC-NS activities.

Yukon North Slope Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan

One element of the special conservation regime established by the IFA is the preparation of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan for the Yukon North Slope. The Plan will provide direction to long-term wildlife conservation management consistent with the goals of the IFA. During 2001-2002, the process of reviewing and updating the draft of Volume 2 of the Plan continued. Objectives and actions were assessed to ensure they reflect current and emerging conditions on the Yukon North Slope. In addition, Parks Canada's Ivvavik National Park Ecosystem Management Plan was integrated into the Plan. The final version of Volume 2 is due for publication and distribution in the fall of 2002.

Muskox Management

WMAC-NS hosted a three-day muskox management workshop in Aklavik, in October. The workshop brought together community, co-management boards and government representatives to exchange scientific and traditional knowledge about muskox behaviour, biology, distribution and population size. The workshop also provided an opportunity to review and expand the scope of the Yukon North Slope Muskox Management Plan, prepared through the joint efforts of WMAC-NS, Parks Canada and the YG. This Plan was originally developed to recognize and incorporate the IFA's conservation criteria while addressing the rights of the Inuvialuit. With the expansion of the herd into other jurisdictions, the Plan needed to be modified to include and meet the needs of all interested parties within the Canadian range of the population. Recommendations were made by workshop participants for regional allocations of the determined harvest quota.

Ecosystem Monitoring

WMAC-NS, in conjunction with Environment Canada, co-ordinated the Seventh Annual Gathering of the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-operative, a component of the national Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Network. The Council recommended funding for the sixth year of the Co-op's Community Monitoring Program. The objective of this Program is to record observations, on an annual basis, of changes to the environment using local community experts and interviewers.

IFA-Funded Wildlife Research

WMAC-NS receives proposals for IFAfunded research projects related to wildlife management and ecological monitoring on the Yukon North Slope consistent with the goals of the IFA and the objectives contained in section 12. Once reviewed and discussed, the Council makes its recommendations, as appropriate, to support projects and, if required, will also recommend that projects receive funding support from Parks Canada, the YG and/or the CWS. Recommendations are based on research priorities identified in or by the Yukon North Slope Long-Term Research and Monitoring Plan, Porcupine Caribou Management Plan, ISR Grizzly Bear Management Plan, meetings with the Aklavik HTC, the Aklavik HTC research priority list, community consultation at public meetings in Aklavik and research priorities identified at Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-operative annual gatherings.

The Council monitors the progress of all recommended projects by requesting presentations and final reports from all agencies that receive funding. Projects recommended by WMAC-NS included the Porcupine Caribou 'Adopt-a-Collar' Program, a community-based monitoring program, Muskox ecology studies, a study of the reproductive ecology of Tundra swans in the Mackenzie Delta region, surveys of sheep in Ivvavik National Park, an Ivvavik National Park Vegetation and Terrain survey, Porcupine caribou radio collaring, a Porcupine Caribou photocensus and composition count, Porcupine caribou herd calving surveys, Yukon North Slope harvest information and Herschel Island vegetation studies.

Grizzly Bear Management

The management of grizzly bears on the Yukon North Slope is of ongoing importance to the Council. WMAC-NS maintained its support for the Council's resolution passed in December 2000 for a total allowable harvest of 10 bears.

The Council recommended the GNWT and YG initiate a project to estimate the grizzly bear population in the Richardson Mountains. Management of these bears is guided by the Co-management Plan for Grizzly Bears in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories. The last population estimate of Richardson Mountains grizzly bears was done in 1992-1993.

Pipeline Preparedness

In order to keep informed regarding the progress of pipeline development in the region, the Council invited representatives of the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team to attend the Council's meetings in June and October. At the first meeting, the Council received briefings on the terrestrial, marine and coastal environmental studies planned for the summer months. A summary of 2001 fieldwork conducted by the team in the ISR was presented to the Council at their fall meeting.

Species at Risk

WMAC-NS continued to monitor the development of the federal Species at Risk Act. In January, WMAC-NS representatives attended a federal government-sponsored workshop in Edmonton, to discuss the proposed act and the role of wildlife management boards. WMAC-NS was also an active participant in the development of a legislated process for addressing species at risk in Yukon.

Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island) Territorial Park

The Council continued to support the review of the Herschel Island Territorial Park Management Plan. The Plan, originally completed in 1991, is being updated by the YG to reflect the increase in visitors and other management issues not addressed in the original version. The Council reviewed the revised draft in December and provided the YG with comments based on the Council's discussions with the Aklavik HTC, the community of Aklavik, Herschel Island Park rangers and other interested parties.

At its meeting in October, the Council received a presentation from the senior park ranger summarizing the activities related to Herschel Island over the previous year. Council members had an opportunity to provide comments on the Park's mission statement and its goals and objectives. Members also commented on the draft bear strategy plan and the initiative to re-establish the Elder Program and Junior Rangers for Herschel Island.

The Council recommended funding for vegetation studies on Herschel Island, which continued during the summer.

Parks Canada and Ivvavik National Park

WMAC-NS continued to work in partnership with Parks Canada on issues related to wildlife research, management and ecological monitoring in Ivvavik National Park. The Council recommended funding for a sheep survey in the Park, as well as a vegetation and terrain survey. It worked with Parks Canada in the review of the Ivvavik National Park Management Plan and on the integration of the Ivvavik National Park Ecosystem Management Plan into the Yukon North Slope Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan.

Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee

WMAC-NS worked closely with the Aklavik HTC to ensure the needs and concerns of the Aklavik Inuvialuit were addressed in the Council's decisions and actions. Through public meetings and meetings with the HTC's Board of Directors, WMAC-NS provided information and exchanged ideas on the management of wildlife on the Yukon North Slope.

Communications

WMAC-NS maintained its Web site at www.taigi.net/wmac. The site includes information on the Council and its activities as well as Volume 1 of the Yukon North Slope Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan, the Council's term reports and links to related sites. Information on North Slope muskox was added to the site. WMAC-NS continued to produce a newsletter, Wildlife Watch to inform user communities of the Council's activities and provide updates on issues of community interest.

A muskox communications strategy was prepared as a means to direct the development and distribution of information about North Slope muskox. The strategy will see the development and production of educational materials and communication products including fact sheets.

6.4 Environmental Impact Screening Committee

Section 11 of the IFA requires the screening of any proposed development of consequence to the ISR that is likely to cause a negative environmental impact. Subsection 11(3) of the Agreement established the EISC to conduct this process. The Committee screens all proposed developments of consequence on Crown lands within the ISR, and also on Inuvialuit lands on request from the Inuvialuit. If the EISC decides the proposed development could have a significant negative impact on the environment or on present or future wildlife harvesting, it is referred by the Committee to the EIRB or other appropriate review bodies for an environmental impact review.

The EISC consists of seven members of which three are appointed by the IGC, and three by the Government of Canada from candidates designated by each of the Government of Canada, the YG and GNWT. The Chair is appointed by the Government of Canada with the consent of the IGC.

The frequency of EISC meetings has increased significantly over the last few years in response to increased development activity in the ISR. The Committee held 13 meetings in 2001-2002 compared to six in 1998-1999.

Environmental Screenings

The gas exploration industry continued to fuel the EISC with a record number of submissions during 2001-2002. Sixty-seven project descriptions were submitted - 33 percent more than during the previous fiscal year. Approximately 40 of these submissions were related to hydrocarbon exploration, proposed development or research associated with the hydrocarbon industry.

The EISC screened 63 project descriptions including developments associated with research (27), hydrocarbon exploration (26), gravel quarries (2), river navigational sites or aids (2), film production (1), docks (2), inspection of heritage sites (1), an exploratory fishery project (1) and stabilization of a communication tower (1).

The EISC can make one of three decisions in the screening process: that the development will have no significant negative impact; the development could have a significant negative impact; or the development proposal has deficiencies of a nature that warrant termination of its consideration. Of the screened projects, the Committee determined that 59 of the developments would have no significant negative impact. None of the project descriptions was deemed to have the potential for significant negative impact. Four project descriptions were found to be deficient.

In most circumstances, the decision of the EISC is upheld by the regulatory agency that issues the authorization; however, there was one exception during the year. The EISC screened Petro Canada's Nuna Seismic Program located on Inuvialuit private lands following a request for screening by the ILA. The EISC had a finding of no significant negative environmental impact following Petro Canada's withdrawal of proposed activity from the Zed Lake area, which is close to the sensitive Husky Lakes area. Following the screening, and contrary to the EISC's findings, Petro Canada requested and received an amendment to its land use permit from the ILA to conduct development activities, albeit reduced, in the Zed Lake area.

The screening process for most submissions (83%) required less than 60 days to complete. Thirty-eight percent of the submissions were screened in less than the required 30 days of receipt, requiring a resolution by the EISC to waive the standard requirement. Eleven submissions took more than 60 days to go through the screening process. In most of these cases, screening was deferred to obtain further information from the proponent or comments from an HTC.

Cumulative Effects Assessment Initiatives

Together with the EIRB, the EISC continued its investigation of ways in which cumulative effects might be best examined within the ISR. They contracted Kavik-Axys Inc. to review the present capability of the EISC and EIRB to address cumulative effects, and to develop cumulative assessment guidelines. As part of the project, the Review of Cumulative Effects by the EISC and EIRB Workshop was held August 22-24, 2002 for members and invited guests. Three guides were produced: Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: Current and Potential Capability, Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: A Guide for Reviewers and Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: A Guide for Proponents (draft).

Operating Guidelines and Procedures

The EISC operating guidelines and procedures were revised in May, to add a requirement for geo-referenced data, clarify the type of projects that are exempt from the screening process (such as non-government or non-government funded research projects) and elaborate on the information required in project descriptions submitted to the EISC. The draft document was sent to the IGC and other co-management groups in February for comment.

Other Activities

The EISC and the EIRB hosted a drilling workshop in Inuvik for members and invited JS resource staff. The group heard presentations from NEB about onshore drilling and its environmental components, and from United Oilfield Technology Services and Symco Drilling Fluids about products and techniques for drilling and dealing with oil muds.

An EISC report on mineral activities in the ISR was prepared in response to INAC's mineral report for the period 1997-1998 to 1999-2000. The report noted that many of the issues highlighted in the first 1996 report still remain, particularly INAC's inability to deal with activities below the threshold requiring a permit.

The EISC was represented on the Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee. As well, the EISC reviewed or provided input into the following initiatives:

• the EIRB draft Criteria for Establishing Acceptable Environmental Standards for Developments Proposed for the Husky Lakes Area;
  
  
• INAC's Information Package on Environmental Assessment in the Territories, which included a section about the IFA environmental screening and review process;
  
  
• a Beaufort Sea oil and gas offshore guide;
  
  
• An Act to establish a process for assessing the environmental and socio-economic effects of certain activities in Yukon draft legislation (the EISC was particularly concerned about the possibility of developers on the North Slope requiring two environmental screenings.); and
  
  
• ILA's outline for its rules and procedures manual.
  
  

6.5 Environmental Impact Review Board

Established under subsection 11(18) of the Agreement, the EIRB is responsible for carrying out the environmental impact assessment and public review of development projects referred to it by the EISC pursuant to the IFA. The Board recommends whether development projects should proceed and under what terms and conditions, including those regarding measures to minimize the negative impact of projects on wildlife harvesting. If wildlife compensation is an issue, it recommends limits of liability for the developer.

As the environmental impact assessment and review body for any development referred to it pursuant to the IFA, the EIRB is structured so government and the Inuvialuit are represented equally. Three members are appointed by the Government of Canada, three by the IGC and a seventh member, the Chair, is selected by the Government of Canada with the consent of the IGC. Of the three members appointed by the Government of Canada, one is designated by the YG, one by the GNWT and one by the Government of Canada.

IFA goals directly relevant to the Board's operations are to protect and preserve the Arctic wildlife, environment and biological productivity.

The Board held two regular meetings, one caucus and one teleconference during the year. It also sponsored the two-day Northern Impact Assessment Seminar in Yellowknife, which attracted some 120 delegates.

The Board was represented on the Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee.

Environmental Standards in the Husky Lakes Area

Throughout the year, the EIRB worked on Criteria for Establishing Environmental Standards and Criteria for Evaluating a Developer's Standard of Performance in the Husky Lakes Area (Area Number 2, Annex D, IFA) as required by IFA section 8 (1). A draft of the criteria was circulated in June. Members of the EIRB met with the IRC, ILA and the Tuktoyaktuk HTC to discuss the draft.

Cumulative Assessment Guidebooks

To assist proponents, reviewers and others in the ISR in identifying cumulative impacts, the EIRB and EISC commissioned three guidebooks: Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: A Guide for Proponents; Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: A Guide for Reviewers and Cumulative Effects Assessments in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: Current and Potential Capability (draft). Copies of these guides are available from the JS.

In addition to conducting public reviews, the EIRB took part in other activities as necessary, to advance the environmental review process and to follow the basic goals of the IFA. This involved participation in over 30 meetings, workshops and conferences throughout the year.

6.6 Joint Secretariat

The JS was incorporated as a society in 1986. Although it was not provided for under the IFA, the parties saw fit to establish a secretariat to provide funding, administrative and technical support services to the IGC and the wildlife and environmental committees, councils and boards. The JS establishes and maintains working liaisons with Inuvialuit organizations, government, industry, the academic sector and other relevant agencies or organizations. It also performs library and data archival duties in lieu of the Research Advisory Council.

The chairs of the five renewable resource committees (IGC, WMAC-NWT, FJMC, EIRB and EISC) constitute the Secretariat's members and directors.

The Board of Directors held one regular and an annual general meeting during 2001-2002. The June annual general meeting and Board of Directors meeting was held in Edmonton, Alberta.

The JS had a busy year carrying out its primary functions, and responding to the high level of industrial activity within the ISR. The increased workload was somewhat offset by the provision of new funding committed by INAC which resulted in the hiring of one technical resource person and a recruitment search for two more. When fully staffed, this resource unit will address the issue of building community and board capacity. Workload increases were also experienced in the administration unit. It had a larger number of financial transactions and logistical requirements, as well as a request for more detailed financial reporting. Comprehensive financial data were reported in a timely manner, facilitating the operations of the IGC and the co-management bodies, as well as the government funding agencies.

The Secretariat continued to provide opportunities for Inuvialuit training and education. The FJMC Student Mentoring Program was maintained, and during the IFA community tour, presentations were made in the schools of each community. Secretariat staff co-ordinated, arranged and participated in this tour. The same level of involvement was provided for the IFA roles and responsibilities workshop held in Inuvik in April.

Liaison activities continued with the ITK mainly in the areas of new legislation, climate change and contaminants.

There was increased liaison with the IRC in various areas, notably the development of the Draft Cooperation Plan by the Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee, the development of a gravel management plan, the IFA Section 16 Economic Measures Review and new legislation, such as species at risk.

The increased level of industrial activity within the region involved staff in various meetings, workshops and seminars dealing with project proposals, biophysical studies, drilling techniques, regulatory road maps, oil spill co-op development, assistance to communities for project reviews and a communication strategy.

JS staff were involved in various cumulative effect assessment activities, including the establishment of a regional group to evaluate the potential of the Alberta Landscape Cumulative Effects Simulator model for use in the ISR, and to develop a regional integrated database. The group also included representatives of the GNWT, GTC, DFO, Parks Canada and the ILA.

Secretariat staff were involved in activities related to the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline, for example, in the preparation of draft common information requirements and environmental impact statement screening terms of reference.

The Secretariat's Executive Director and the WMAC-NWT Chair were members of an organizing committee which convened a conference on the impact of climate change on sea ice in Winnipeg in March. This gathering brought together western and community scientists, and was sponsored by the Northern Ecosystem Initiative and DFO.

Under the terms of the IFA, the GNWT is responsible for appointing the Chair and GNWT members as well as providing a secretariat for WMAC-NWT; providing the administrative and operational costs of the IGC and the six community HTCs; designating a member to each of the EISC, EIRB, Arbitration Board and the Research Advisory Council (RAC); and providing the budget for the operation and maintenance of RAC. An agreement was struck whereby RAC funding is provided to the JS for library services. The GNWT is also responsible for providing operational funding to the JS which provides technical and administrative support to the various IFA boards.

7.1 Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs

Ministry officials worked closely with GNWT program departments and the JS to promote effective administration of GNWT implementation funding by co-ordinating the annual funding agreement process, monitoring departmental implementation budgets, recommending funding reallocations between approved implementation tasks and ensuring the timely carry-over of implementation dollars to future years. The Ministry was also responsible for preparing the GNWT component of this annual report.

Significant efforts were made by the Ministry in an attempt to resolve the long standing issue of municipal requirements for Inuvialuit lands. GNWT occupancy and use of Inuvialuit lands for municipal infrastructure purposes has been an issue since the signing of the IFA. During the land selection process and in the absence of legal land surveys, the Inuvialuit selected lands that included government infrastructure, such as garbage dumps, sewage lagoons, water intake sites and related access roads. This created the problem of municipal infrastructure being situated on private Inuvialuit lands.

The GNWT has consistently advocated a land exchange to resolve this issue. The GNWT provided the Inuvialuit with land quantum requirements, and community maps identifying the municipal infrastructure sites. The ILA is working with the communities to review the information and identify lands for exchange.

As a result of the land selection process, certain airport lands also became Inuvialuit lands. The 1991 Airport Transfer Agreement between the Government of Canada and the GNWT commits Transport Canada to acquiring the title to the additional lands necessary for airport purposes in Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk and Holman. The Government of Canada and the Inuvialuit are discussing a land exchange to resolve this issue. Ministry officials worked very closely with the GNWT Department of Transportation to ensure that GNWT airport interests are protected.

The Ministry participated in two meetings with Inuvialuit, the YG and federal government officials to discuss outstanding implementation issues. The IFA ICC has provided a positive forum for addressing and resolving, in some cases, long outstanding implementation issues.

7.2 Resources,Wildlife and Economic Development

RWED worked closely with the RC and the Inuvialuit communities promoting Inuvialuit employment opportunities and economic self-sufficiency. RWED provided business advice, counselling and support, and assisted Inuvialuit businesses and individuals to access financial support from various sources.

RWED, in co-operation with the IGC and JS, provided support for a board member training program in all the communities. A pilot program for the new guide training program was initiated very successfully in Sachs Harbour with plans for delivery in the other communities.

RWED was also an active participant in evaluating the economic measures provisions under section 16(3) of the IFA.

RWED continued to work very closely with the appropriate Inuvialuit organizations in drafting the revisions to the NWT Wildlife Act that incorporates the IFA and species at risk legislation. RWED also worked with the Inuvialuit to develop draft regulations for harvesting Porcupine caribou along the Dempster Highway and drafted legislation for harvesting wolves and wolverines in the ISR.

The Department worked closely and co-operatively with the IGC, WMACNWT and local HTCs on all matters regarding wildlife management in the ISR. Wildlife studies were a significant part of RWED's operations with progress achieved in the following areas.

Collection of Harvest Data

The IHS was terminated in late winter 2001. RWED and DFO initiated studies with the Sachs Harbour, Holman and Paulatuk HTCs to document the number of caribou and selected fish species harvested in these communities. This program will be expanded to include the communities of Aklavik, Inuvik, and Tuktoyaktuk

Banks Island Caribou and Muskox

Composition surveys were completed in July to obtain calf/cow and yearling/cow ratios for caribou and muskox on Banks Island. Samples were collected from hunterharvested caribou to determine age, diet and body condition of adult male caribou on Banks Island. A survey was conducted in early July to estimate the number of caribou, muskox and wolves on Banks Island. Results of the survey indicate the caribou population is recovering from the low numbers observed in the 1990s, muskox recovered to levels documented in 1994, and the wolf population appears to be stable.

Work continued on a habitat classification map for Banks Island. Maps showing the movements of satellite-collared female caribou were provided to the Sachs Harbour HTC, WMAC-NWT and the IGC on a regular basis.

RWED continued to work collaboratively with the universities of Saskatchewan and Fairbanks to obtain baseline data on abomasal parasites and assess their impact on reproductive physiology of muskox. RWED collected monthly caribou and muskox fecal samples to determine the seasonal prevalence and intensity of egg output by various gastrointestinal parasites.

RWED and the Agriculture Canada Research Centre completed a mini harvest of muskox to obtain baseline data on the effectiveness of the application of pre-mortem nutritional therapies and ageing techniques in improving the quality of meat produced at large scale commercial harvests. Blood chemistry and meat tenderness and colour were evaluated. The Department also attended the large-scale commercial harvest that took place in late March. RWED staff worked in co-operation with researchers from the Agriculture Canada Research Centre to document the health, condition and reproductive status of harvested animals.

Northwest Victoria Island

A survey was conducted by RWED in mid-July to estimate the number of caribou, muskox and wolves on northwest Victoria Island. Results of the survey indicated that the caribou population is recovering from the low numbers observed in the 1990s, muskox remained at levels documented in 1998, and the wolf population appears to be increasing.

Barrenground, Arctic Island and Peary Caribou Genetic Study

Additional work was completed to verify the genetic relationships between Porcupine, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose- East, Bathurst, Dolphin and Union, Minto Inlet, Banks Island and Melville Island caribou. The results of this work were incorporated into a paper that is being reviewed prior to submission for publication.

Cape Bathurst and Bluenose-West Caribou

The sixth year of the satellite tracking program was completed. Maps showing the location and movements of the satellite-collared caribou were provided to the 12 user communities and wildlife co-management bodies. An additional 14 satellite collars were deployed on Cape Bathurst caribou and six on Bluenose- West caribou. Seismic companies working in the Richards Island and lower Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula area provided partial funding for this project.

Working co-operatively with Parks Canada, a productivity survey was conducted to estimate the number of calves. Caribou counts from photographs taken during the 2000 photo census were completed, and preliminary population estimates were derived.

Grizzly Bears and Seismic Exploration

RWED deployed global positioning system collars on female grizzly bears on Richards Island and the lower Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula. These collars were equipped with activity and temperature sensors to determine if the normal activity patterns of bears are interrupted by seismic activity during denning. An artificial den was constructed in the fall of 2001. Motion and noise sensors were placed inside the den, and outside the den near its entrance, to measure vibration and noise levels generated by seismic activity.

Richardson Mountains Grizzly Bear

RWED continued to analyze data collected during the 10-year productivity study. Modelling of these data will be completed during 2002.

Grizzly Bear Harvest

The grizzly bear harvest and problem bear occurrence/kill databases for the Inuvik Region were maintained. Quotas and harvest information for each community hunting area were reviewed. Results of the review were presented in the annual Summary of Harvest Data for Species Under Quota in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region report prepared for WMAC-NWT and WMAC-NS.

Polar Bear Harvest

RWED monitored the movements of 20 female polar bears that were satellite collared in April 2000. Maps showing the movements of these bears were distributed to the HTCs, the IGC and WMAC-NWT on a monthly basis.

The polar bear harvest and problem bear occurrence/kill databases were maintained for the Inuvik Region. Quotas and harvest information for each community were reviewed. Results of the review were presented in the annual Summary of Harvest Data for Species Under Quota in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region report prepared for WMAC-NWT. RWED also prepared the annual report submitted to the Canadian Polar Bear Technical Committee and the Inuvialuit-Inupiat Polar Bear Commissioners.

Arctic Wolf

Skulls and carcasses purchased from hunters and trappers on Banks and northwest Victoria islands were analyzed to determine age, sex, incidence of disease, diet and general body condition. Tissue samples were also collected for future DNA or fatty acid signature analysis. Results of a study assessing the genetic relationships of wolves on Banks and northwest Victoria islands, mainland NWT north and west of Great Bear Lake, northeastern Yukon, Kluane and Fort St. John were published.

Dall's Sheep

Work continued on the assessment of the prevalence of parasites in Dall's sheep in the Richardson Mountains. A survey was conducted in late June to determine population numbers, productivity and recruitment for this population. The results of the survey indicate the population has declined since 1998.

Management Plans

Work continued on:

• the draft Co-management Plan for Caribou, Muskox, Arctic Wolves, Snow Geese and Small Herbivores on Banks Island, ISR, NWT.
  
  
• the draft Co-management Plan for Caribou, Muskox, Arctic Wolves, Eiders and Small Herbivores on Northwest Victoria Island, ISR, NWT;
  
  
• the draft Co-management Plan for the Fur Industry in the Inuvik Region, NWT; and
  
  
• the draft Co-management Plan for the Cape Bathhurst, Bluenose-West, and Bluenose-East Barrenground Caribou Herds.
  
  

7.3 Justice

The Legal Division continued to contribute to the ongoing implementation of the IFA by providing legal assistance in a variety of areas, particularly land usage and access. The Land Titles Office provided ongoing advice with respect to the removal of Annex R reservations as an encumbrance against the title of Inuvialuit lands.

7.4 Public Works and Services

In support of the economic measures provisions in section 16 of the IFA, and consistent with the GNWT preferential contracting policies and procedures intended to maximize local, regional and northern employment and business opportunities, a $37 million negotiated contract was awarded to 4801 NWT Ltd., a joint venture company between the Uummarmiut Development Corporation and the Nihtat Gwich'in Development Corporation, for the design and construction of the Inuvik hospital. PW&S awarded a $112,000 sole-source contract to D E Contracting for the Aklavik Health Centre.

The following contracts were awarded by PW&S to Inuvialuit-owned businesses:

• $3,700,000 to Dowland Contracting Ltd. for an addition to the Helen Kalvak School in Holman;
  
  
• $2,769,000 to Dowland Contracting Ltd. for the construction of the new health centre at Aklavik;
  
  
• $160,000 one-year contract to Kunninaan Ltd. for fuel sales and delivery services in Paulatuk;
  
  
• $106,000 to K D Contracting for gravel supplies in Aklavik;
  
  
• $105,000 one-year contract to Ihakuk Coop for fuel sales and delivery services in Sachs Harbour; and
  
  
• $76,000 to Dowland Contracting Ltd. to install a water storage tank in Aklavik.
  
  

An additional 62 contracts totalling $7,367,000 were awarded in the ISR. PW&S continued to maintain the following leases:

• a five-year, $75,000 per annum lease with the IDC for office space in Inuvik;
  
  
• a 10-year, $71,000 lease with the IDC for office space in Aklavik; and
  
  
• a seven-year, $96,000 per annum lease with the IDC for office space in Tuktoyaktuk.
  
  

The Yukon Secretariat is responsible for overseeing YG's implementation obligations under the IFA by addressing the legislative, policy or procedural requirements to implement the IFA. The YG is also responsible for preparing the YG component of this annual report. Other Secretariat responsibilities include the administrative requirements related to the appointment of the chairperson and a YG member to WMAC-NS, and the designation of a member to each of the EIRB, EISC and Arbitration Board. Implementation funds are managed by the Secretariat for participation on the abovementioned boards and committees, and for ongoing wildlife research on the YG North Slope, and in Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island) Territorial Park.

The YG participated in the Section 16 Economic Measures Review and at year end was awaiting the IRC's response to the public review and the recommendations to government that apply to the YG's area of responsibility.

8.1 Brochure: Hunting Along the Dempster Highway - Inuvialuit Edition

The Department of Environment produced a series of information sheets explaining the rights and responsibilities of Aboriginal hunters on the YG part of the Dempster Highway. The Department worked co-operatively with the IGC to produce an information sheet, specific to Inuvialuit hunters, which was distributed in November.

8.2 Amendments to the YG Wildlife Regulations

The Department of Renewable Resources forwarded a preliminary scoping document to the IGC in December 2000. There was no further work on this project in 2001; however, the future of this project was discussed at the March 2002 IGC meeting in Inuvik. The YG proposed that since all parties seemed to be stretched very thin in terms of time and resources, that to make any progress, the project be scaled back to a more manageable piece of the regulations. In 2002-2003, the focus will be on the trapping regulations.

In the meantime, the IGC was encouraged to bring specific operational issues that are of concern to the Department's attention so they may be discussed in a YG-IGC working group and taken into consideration during the Department's annual regulation review.

8.3 Wildlife Programs

YG North Slope Harvest Management

The IHS was terminated as of 2001. Harvest reporting for some big game species continued using other means such as fur-bearer seals and mandatory reporting for quotas. However, data on the harvest of the three important big game species (moose, caribou and sheep) are no longer collected for the North Slope.

To replace the IHS, the YG is now working directly with the Aklavik HTC to collect harvest data for moose, sheep and caribou. A community worker was contracted in 2001-2002 to interview hunters listed by the HTC. It is hoped this data collection will continue via semi-annual surveying.

IHS - Twelve Year Summary

The YG developed a database summarizing 12 years of data collected by the IHS for the Yukon North Slope. The database includes data from 1987 to 1998 and 2000. Kill location data were mapped using Yukon game management sub-zones as a location baseline, as opposed to the point location and Universal Transverse Mercator grid lines used by the IHS.

Muskox Ecology Survey

Aerial surveys were conducted in 2001 during March and July. The March survey recorded 128 muskox in the study area between the Alaska border and Shingle Point. There were a good number of yearlings in March (12% were yearlings, the same as 2000). The July count showed the fewest calves recorded during summer counts. The late spring season in 2000 and 2001 likely lowered calf survival those years. In both the March and July surveys, a large number of bulls were counted.

Between March and July, an unknown number of muskox moved from Alaska into the North Slope study area. Three collars put on muskox in Alaska, but not heard in Alaska in March, were heard in the North Slope study area. Because about 50 more muskox were counted in March 2001 than in March 2000, there may have been as many as 50 Alaskan muskox move into the Yukon. This further demonstrates how muskox movements can influence the population size. Monitoring of these Alaskan collars will continue.

Due to the absence of caribou, there were no opportunities again this year to look at muskox and caribou interactions.

The satellite location program for Yukon North Slope muskox will continue for the next three years. The muskox tend to move more in the summer than winter, and they are making larger seasonal movements than expected. The satellite locations from 1999 to 2001 will be used in a project to determine habitat characteristics (vegetation, slope and aspect) of areas used by the collared muskox.

Herschel Island Ecological Monitoring

Work continued with Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island) Territorial Park rangers to monitor vegetation and soil changes on the island. The soil and permafrost temperature is monitored near the surface to a depth of 15 metres. Parks Canada also worked with the Yukon vegetation specialist to investigate whether the changes occurring on Herschel Island also are happening on the mainland. Further work will be done to ensure the rangers can identify vegetation communities in order to record the vegetation observed during their ongoing wildlife sightings. Another permafrost probe will be undertaken to compare Herschel Island results with other permafrost studies in the Mackenzie Delta. The permanent vegetation plots are scheduled to be remeasured in July 2003.

Porcupine Caribou Conventional Collaring

The Porcupine Caribou Management Program directs co-operating agencies to maintain between 60 and 100 conventional (radio) collars on selected animals in the herd. These radio-collared animals are used to locate the herd during the annual calving, post-calving and late winter composition counts. The radio-collared cows are used to establish the calf birth rate and survival to one month of age. In March 2002, Yukon and Alaskan agencies deployed 20 conventional collars and two satellite collars, bringing the total number of active collars in the herd to 84.

Other Projects

The YG was also involved in and/or contributed implementation funds to a number of projects that were administered by other agencies including:

• the Muskox Management Workshop and Plan consultations (WMAC-NS);
  
  
• a survey North of Richardson Mountain Sheep (GNWT, RWED);
  
  
• the Ivvavik Vegetation Survey (Parks Canada); and
  
  
• ecological monitoring at Aklavik (CWS).
  
  

8.4 Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island) Territorial Park

There were 502 visitors to the Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island) Territorial Park during the 2001 season, down from the average of between 600 and 700 visitors annually. Ten park use permits were issued in 2001.

A visitor survey questionnaire for the Park was implemented during the summer season. The main purpose was to gather accurate information on the number of park visitors to allow managers to make informed decisions regarding visitor management and their impacts on the cultural, historical and natural resources of the Park. Visitors were asked to record their arrival mode, length of stay, number of individuals in party, country of origin, day use or overnight, perception of park and satisfaction level, along with suggestions for park improvements. Information from the surveys was collected and entered into the YG data system for further analysis. These surveys will be ongoing and will help ensure the number of visitors is monitored and recorded accurately. In addition, the survey information will be helpful in managing the resources and developing future information programs based on visitor needs.

A temporary clerk was hired for the Inuvik office. This enabled the office to remain open to the public during the summer when all the rangers were on Herschel Island.

The senior park ranger worked on various operational projects including a search and rescue plan, tourism-cruise ship guidelines, the MOU for sharing the use of the hunters and travellers' cabin, a ranger training plan and operation plan.

The Department of Renewable Resources worked with Parks Canada to conduct wildlife and bird surveys on Herschel Island and the surrounding area. Muskox and raptor surveys were conducted during the early part of July and included the participation of park rangers present on the Island. Park rangers continued recording wildlife and bird sightings, along with conducting vegetation surveys during the operating season.

Bear Strategy Plan

The Parks Branch is working on a bear strategy plan for Herschel Island with input from the Aklavik HTC and the IGC. This will be a resource manual that rangers will use when dealing with any bear problem during the operating season. It is hoped this plan will be implemented in 2002.

Wildlife Observations and Harvest Herschel Island

Eight grizzly bears were observed on the Island, which was more than in previous seasons. During the season, one young male grizzly had to be destroyed due to safety concerns.

It is estimated that 300 charr were harvested this past year from Herschel Island. A total of five caribou harvests were recorded.

Herschel Island Management Plan Review

The Herschel Island Park Management Plan has undergone a formal review which was initiated June 2000. With the Inuvialuit as the primary users of the Park, consultation with the IGC, Aklavik HTC and WMAC-NS continued throughout the review phase. Additional public community meetings were held in Inuvik, Aklavik, Dawson and Whitehorse during April to give the public and other stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the review process. Following the consultation phase ending in May, a draft plan was prepared and completed in December. It incorporated the comments received through all aspects of the consultation process and addressed a much broader number of management issues than the first plan. This first draft was then distributed to the IGC, Aklavik HTC and WMAC-NS in December for review and comment.

Comments from the second consultation process were received. They will be incorporated into a final draft which is targeted for completion and distribution in July 2002. Following any additional amendments resulting from the summer review, the Plan will then proceed through the approval process as outlined in the IFA with possible final approval as early as the fall of 2002.

Herschel Island Heritage Resources

The Heritage Resources Unit continued to carry out routine maintenance work on the historic buildings at Pauline Cove. This included work to address the serious structural damage sustained to one building due to the elements (waves, wind and ice) and erosion of the adjacent beach. The settlement area is located on a spit of land close to sea level. Shoreline erosion will be monitored closely in the coming years.

Several meetings, including one on the island in early July, were held with representatives of Inuvialuit agencies to resolve concerns surrounding the state of the graveyards and individual graves on Herschel Island. Experts in permafrost conditions, archaeology and public health provided background information regarding the physical problems of the grave sites and to suggest possible solutions or procedures to counteract the inevitable forces of nature. Most of the problems are related to seasonal run-off and effects of slumping and heaving of frozen ground.

9.1 Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Implementation Branch

Implementation Branch (IB) serves as a liaison on IFA implementation issues for the Inuvialuit, territorial governments and other federal government departments. Its activities include:

• negotiating and monitoring funding arrangements with various implementing bodies having obligations under the IFA and monitoring federal implementation activities to ensure compliance with the land claim agreement;
  
  
• processing the Government of Canada, GNWT and YG appointments to the Arbitration Board, EIRB and EISC;
  
  
• processing amendments to the IFA; and
  
  
• publishing the annual implementation report of the IFA ICC..
  
  

The Director General of the IB serves as the Government of Canada member to the IFA ICC, and the Director of the Implementation Management Directorate is the alternate. In December, Terry Henderson, the Government of Canada member, retired.

He was replaced through the appointment of Dr. Keith Chang in January. The Branch participated in two meetings of the IFA ICC in June and November.

During the year, activities of the IB included:

• processing appointments of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Yukon member to the Arbitration Board, the Government of Canada member to the EISC, GNWT member to the EISC, and the Chair, the Government of Canada, GNWT and YG members to the EIRB;
  
  
• in conjunction with the NWT regional office, providing funding to the JS, EISC and EIRB for the increased workloads related to oil and gas activity in the ISR, as well as resources to participate in the Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee/ Working Group;
  
  
• participating in the conclusion of the Section 16 Economic Measures Review, including the public review in February; and
  
  
• successfully resolving legal proceedings regarding Canadian Reindeer Limited and Kunnek Resource Development Corporation.
  
  

Northern Affairs Program

The Northern Affairs Program (NAP) administers legislation concerning the disposition and use of Crown lands, inland waters, the offshore, non-renewable resources and overall environmental protection within the NWT, Nunavut and Yukon.

 NAP responsibilities continued with respect to administering a funding agreement that supports the activities of the JS, EISC and EIRB. NAP monitored the activities of these bodies to ensure implementation. Additional funding was provided by INAC so these boards could respond to the increase in oil and gas exploration and development proposals, and complete timely and effective reviews. Funding was also provided so representatives could participate with other NWT resource management boards, to develop a co-operation plan for a co-ordinated environmental assessment and regulatory review process for an NWT natural gas pipeline.

Granular Inventories

NAP administers implementation funding provided for conducting granular (sand and gravel) inventories. With the recent increase in oil and gas exploration activities and development proposals, there was renewed concern about the overall potential of the region to meet both short and long-term public, community and industrial requirements for granular resources. During 2001-2002, work continued toward establishing a joint (Canada - Inuvialuit) regional granular resources management plan that will integrate granular resource potential, inventories of granular supplies and future granular demands with other land-related information for the ISR. Toward this end, a study was initiated to investigate the feasibility and requirements of developing an Internet-based information mapping and exchange system that would be used for information sharing and consultation regarding the development of the regional granular resources management plan. Support was also provided for the development, with the Inuvialuit, industry and other government groups, of common regional base mapping for the Mackenzie Delta portions of the ISR. It is anticipated that the granular management plan will be completed over the next two fiscal years, as hydrocarbon and infrastructure development plans evolve for the ISR.

Northern Oil and Gas Directorate

The Northern Oil and Gas Directorate routinely engages in environmental consultations with the IGC, representing the HTCs, before offering onshore and offshore lands to the oil and gas industry. Environmental information obtained from the IGC greatly assists INAC in identifying and confirming environmental sensitivities within the ISR. This information is carefully considered by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development before offering Crown lands to industry.

As part of the consultation process, a meeting was held with the IGC on October 4, 2001 in Yellowknife to review the results of the previous year's ISR Crown lands.

Oil and gas exploration activities continued on the exploration licences issued by the Department in 1999 and 2000 for Crown lands in the Mackenzie Delta. These activities were undertaken in accordance with benefit plans approved under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act and resulted in a wide range of employment, training and business supply and service contracts for Inuvialuit and other northerners.

Receipt of royalty filings and the assessment of royalties on the basis of laws and regulations in force on December 31, 1983 was underway.

Additional information concerning oil and gas activities in the north can be found at the Northern Oil and Gas Directorate's Web site www.inac.gc.ca/oil.

NWT Region

Land Administration

Land Administration is responsible for the administration of Crown lands, including subsurface, within the ISR. No progress was made pursuant to subsection 7(72) of the IFA in the identification of lands for exchange for the Pingo Canadian landmark site. Discussions continued regarding section 7(106) of the IFA. Reservations on Inuvialuit lands that are no longer being used by government for their original purpose are to be removed as an encumbrance against the Inuvialuit title. Progress was made towards reaching an agreement on the process to remove reservations from Annex R.

Waste Program

The annual monitoring of a landfill site at Horton River was completed to ensure there was no change in the environmental stability of the site.

Northern Contaminants Program

The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) provided $40,000 to staff the position of Inuvialuit regional contaminants co-ordinator to attend to general contaminant issues within the ISR. The IRC received $7,500 to investigate contaminants from the Tuktoyaktuk landfill. The Inuvialuit have representation on the NWT Contaminants Committee, which supports the attendance of the representative at meetings and national workshops.

Economic Activity Funding

The following programs provided funding relating to, and supporting, the objectives of the economic measures chapter:

• CEDO: $420,684 for communitydriven, economic development support;
  
  
• Resources Partnership Program: $40,000 to the IDC for the completion of an oil and gas feasibility study, and $136,000 to the IDC for the Aboriginal Pipeline Group to investigate an ownership position in the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline;
  
  
• Resources Opportunity Program: $22,000 to the IDC to access an oil and gas business investment opportunity;
  
  
• Resource Access Negotiations: $22,000 to the IDC to negotiate and expedite a business opportunity; and
  
  
• Development of Governance Tools Program: $165,000 to the IDC for the advancement of the governance capacity of Inuvialuit community corporations and associated community-level claim organizations.
  
  
• Le Programme de camps en sciences et en technologie : 16 416 $ pour la promotion des carrières en sciences et en technologie grâce à des camps permettant aux jeunes inuits qui vivent au sein d'une collectivité reconnue d'acquérir une expérience directe dans diverses disciplines scientifiques et technologiques;
  
  

Other funding provided to IRC included:

• Summer Student Career Placement: $53,120 to support opportunities for career-related work experience and training during the summer months to in-school Inuit youth living in recognized communities;
  
  
• Youth Work Experience Program: $44,200 to support/promote supervised work experience for out-of-school unemployed Inuit youth in community services, community businesses or other work experience that will contribute to their employability in an enriching and fulfilling way;
  
  
• Consultation and Policy Development Program: $100,000 to provide administrative support to Inuvialuit community and development corporations;
  
  
• Conservation and Protection of Natural Resources Program: $42,000; and
• Advancement of Northern Interests in Political, Social, Economic and Cultural Development in the North: $50,000.
  
  

Other

The NWT regional office sent a representative to each IFA ICC meeting held during the year.

Board Relations Secretariat

In November, INAC hosted a workshop for northern environmental assessment and regulatory boards to develop terms of reference for a Board Relations Secretariat. This unit would operate within INAC to resolve the administrative and budgeting issues northern boards face in their dealings with INAC in both the region and at headquarters, and be a one-window point of contact between the boards and INAC.

Devolution

On May 22, 2001, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Premier of the NWT and leaders of the NWT regional Aboriginal organizations (known collectively as the Aboriginal Summit) endorsed an MOU agreeing to work toward establishing a formal process to negotiate the devolution of federal responsibilities over land and water resources in the NWT. All parties committed to seeking instruction by March 31, 2002 to engage in a formal devolution process. Funding for the participation of the Aboriginal Summit members in this process will be provided by INAC and the GNWT. It is expected that a framework agreement on devolution will be developed in 18 to 24 months, beginning in September 2002.

9.2 Department of Fisheries and Oceans

DFO is responsible for making policy and regulatory changes to accommodate Inuvialuit rights concerning the harvest, trade, transport and co-management of fish and marine mammal resources in the ISR, and for support to the FJMC.

DFO promotes the principle of co-operative management of the fisheries resources in the ISR, with full co-operation from the Inuvialuit. During the year, 25 projects were conducted through joint efforts between DFO and the FJMC. The FJMC met with senior managers and scientists of DFO's Central and Arctic Region to review progress and plan projects.

Au cours de l'année, on a établi et entretenu une relation de travail pratique et directe avec des organismes de réglementation environnementale américains.

Achievements during the year involved the initiation and development of a practical hands-on working relationship with American environmental regulators.

Twenty-three projects were conducted by DFO scientists/biologists in consultation with the HTCs on a variety of topics

including coregonids, marine mammals, charr, and community harvest monitoring.

During the year, DFO contributed $890,800 in implementation funding, divided between contribution agreement funds ($458,300) and project and support funds ($432,500).

The Canadian Coast Guard provided marine communications and traffic services on Great Slave Lake, the Mackenzie River and in the Western Arctic waters from May 15 to about October 31, 2001. The mandate of these services in the Arctic is to promote the safety of life at sea, the protection of the environment, and the safe and expeditious movement of marine transportation, by providing a maritime mobile safety radio communications service that covers Canada's Arctic waters and the Mackenzie - Athabasca waterway.

With respect to land administration activities of the Coast Guard, there are three sites which fall within the land set aside by Orderin- Council P.C. 1979-1154 for a reindeer grazing reserve. These sites have no hazardous materials and pose no threat to the reindeer.

9.3 Environment Canada

Environment Canada through the CWS, is represented on the wildlife management advisory councils which deal with all significant wildlife issues in the ISR. In co-operation with the Inuvialuit, the CWS continued to carry out a number of studies of migratory birds in the ISR. These studies will help guarantee that populations are not over-harvested and that the habitat on which the birds depend receives adequate protection. During the past year, studies of migratory birds focussed on the populations and habitat of snow geese, the most heavily harvested species of migratory birds in the ISR. Long-term data were analyzed and summarized for wildlife conservation purposes. Considerable time and effort was made by CWS in procuring additional funding from outside IFA-related sources to help address the conservation issues arising in the Western Arctic.

With the tremendous increase in oil and gas exploration in the ISR, Environment Canada invested a significant amount of effort in reviewing and screening development proposals and in planning for potential environmental impacts. Several new studies have been initiated, which will help deal with the impacts of gas and oil development on wildlife in the ISR.

As well as serving the fundamental purpose of protecting the environment and wildlife conservation, Environment Canada programs benefit the Inuvialuit in other tangible ways. About half of the IFA-related funding and other funds obtained by Environment Canada is spent on contracts with, or payments to, Inuvialuit-owned companies, organizations or individuals.

9.4 Canadian Heritage

Parks Canada is responsible for the protection of natural and cultural resources, including the wildlife populations and habitat of the three national parks in the ISR: Ivvavik National Park in the western portion of the North Slope; Aulavik National Park on Banks Island and Tuktut Nogait National Park near Paulatuk.

Pingo

The Pingo (Canadian Landmark) National Historic Site (NHS) is located six kilometres south-southwest of Tuktoyaktuk. Included within its boundaries is the largest pingo in Canada and a number of others at different stages of evolution. Created over a number of years, a pingo is an ice-cored mound produced when ice grows in or below permafrost as a result of water pressure. The agreement to create the Pingo NHS is contained in subsection 7(70) of the IFA. Legislation passed in 1996 led to the creation of the Pingo NHS. A working committee including representatives from Parks Canada and several community organizations in Tuktoyaktuk, was established to guide the development and preservation of the site. This working committee signed the Pingo Canadian Landmark Memorandum of Agreement in December. Priorities for implementation were identified and undertaken by all represented groups. INAC and the ILA continued to work on transferring lands of equal value to the Inuvialuit for the NHS.

National Park Regulations

Consultations were ongoing with the IGC on a public consultation process to discuss required amendments to the National Park Regulations to ensure they conform to the IFA. One area of focus was an amendment to permit quota hunts recommended by wildlife co-management boards and approved by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Inuvialuit Employment Strategy and Economic Opportunities

The majority of employees in Ivvavik National Park are not Inuvialuit beneficiaries. A mentoring program was in place in the field unit which placed experienced park wardens with patrol people for training purposes. An Inuvialuit employment strategy continued to be developed by Parks Canada, and will be incorporated into the field unit human resources plan. Two Inuvialuit employees participated in an Aboriginal leadership development program.

Parks Canada continued to use Inuvialuit businesses on a preferred basis in the management and operation of Ivvavik National Park and other heritage resources in the ISR.

Porcupine Caribou Management Board

The Western Arctic field unit allocated funds to the Porcupine Caribou Management Board for various projects.

Komakuk Beach

The BAR-1 DEW Line site clean-up at Komakuk Beach was completed successfully in 2001. Monitoring will be undertaken by the Department of National Defence in co-operation with the Inuvialuit and Parks Canada.

National Park Management Plan Review

The final draft of the national park management plan review was worked on during the year. It should be ready for the Minister of Canadian Heritage by late June 2002.

Research Projects

Research completed in 2001 included:

• data collection on the vegetation and terrain of the coastal plain;
  
  
• a Dall's sheep survey to determine the age, size, sex composition, health, distribution and density of the population;
  
  
• a survey of the number of peregrine falcons and other species of raptors breeding in Aulavik, Ivvavik and Tuktut Nogait national parks;
  
  
• a survey of moose abundance, population characteristics and distribution along the Babbage River;
  
  
• a survey to monitor the size, age, sex composition, movement and behaviour of muskox in the Yukon North Slope;
  
  
• timing of plant growth and the extent of snow cover in Aulavik, Ivvavik and Tuktut Nogait national parks;
  
  
• campsite monitoring to identify and track human-caused impacts to campsites, wildlife threats and sensitive plant species along the Firth River;
  
  
• documentation of the extent and nature of human use of Aulavik, Ivvavik and Tuktut Nogait national parks (number of visitors);
  
  
• monitoring of weather, permafrost temperature and active layer temperature in Aulavik, Ivvavik and Tuktut Nogait national parks; and
  
  
• measuring changes in water levels and temperature during storms and an examination of how storms affect permafrost and ice.
  
  

Total Parks Canada spending on Inuvialuit goods and services was $661,001 in 2001-2002 ($138,676 goods; $522,325 services).

9.5 Public Works and Government Services Canada

Pursuant to subsection 16(18) of the IFA, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) continued to provide Inuvialuit firms with the opportunity to bid on government contracts by advertising the procurement opportunities on the government electronic tendering system and by notifying all claimant groups of procurement of goods, services and construction destined for the ISR. The contracting policy with respect to the IFA requires that whenever PWGSC has a procurement opportunity which affects one or more of the comprehensive land claim agreements, notification is forwarded to all the claimant groups.

Assistance and information on the procurement process was provided as requested by the Inuvialuit, as well as information on contracts. Whenever practical and consistent with sound procurement management, evaluation criteria were included in bid solicitations to maximize socio-economic opportunities for the Inuvialuit.

An interdepartmental committee on contracting obligations related to the implementation of comprehensive land claim agreements was created in 2001-2002. PWGSC is a member of this committee, which will be meeting on a quarterly basis to discuss implementation issues.

9.6 Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

The Agency participated with federal, provincial and territorial agencies, northern boards and Aboriginal groups to develop frameworks for environmental assessments and regulatory processes for potential pipelines in the NWT, including participation on the Northern Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Chairs' Committee which produced a draft co-operation plan. The Agency and Inuvialuit (as represented by the IGC) negotiated two draft agreements to give effect to the plan. The first enables the EISC to refer a gas development project to a review process under the CEAA and the second details the joint environmental assessment process for a northern gas development project in the Mackenzie Valley. The second agreement also includes the MVEIRB as a signatory.

9.7 Human Resources Development Canada

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) has an obligation to support the IFA and Inuvialuit self-government aspirations through its existing programs and Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement (AHRDA), and to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the IRC with respect

to its operations or activities under the AHRDA. HRDC officials in the NWT communicate with IRC officials frequently to discuss operational issues, clarify and define various clauses of the AHRDA and provide advice on implementing provisions of the agreement. A Human Resources Centre of Canada is located in Inuvik which provides employers and job seekers with information on available programs and services provided by HRDC and the Human Resources Centre.

The IRC is a signatory to the AHRDA. This five-year contribution agreement, signed in April 1999 and extending to 2004, provides funding for labour market training for Aboriginal residents of the ISR. The agreement also provides funding for childcare initiatives to increase the supply of quality child-care services for children with working or training parents who reside in the ISR.

The AHRDA enables the Inuvialuit to design and deliver a full service menu of options by integrating several Aboriginal programs including labour market programming and services, capacity building, an urban Aboriginal component, youth programming, child-care programs and programs for persons with disabilities. Funding in 2001-2002 was $1,995,638.

Map of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region

 

Annex N of the IFA outlines the capital transfer payments made to the Inuvialuit on the last business day prior to December 31 of each of the following years and in the following amounts.

* These funds represent moneys allocated for implementation purposes, as actual expenditure figures are not available.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Board

Inuvialuit Land Administration Commission

Inuvialuit Development Corporation Board

Inuvialuit Investment Corporation Board

Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation Board

Arbitration Board*

Inuvialuit Final Agreement Implementation Coordinating Committee

Inuvialuit Game Council

Alternates

Billy Day
Charles Gruben
Margaret Kanayok
Darren Nasogaluak
Ruben Ruben
Larry Semmler

Fisheries Joint Management Committee

Alternates

Wildlife Management Advisory Council-NWT

Alternates

Tim Devine
Ron Graf
Donald Inuktalik
Kevin McCormick
Floyd Sydney

Wildlife Management Advisory Council-North Slope

Alternates

Dorothy Cooley
Danny Gordon
Vicki Sahanatien

Environmental Impact Screening Committee*

* one vacancy (GNWT appointment)

Environmental Impact Review Board

Joint Secretariat, Inuvialuit Renewable Resource Committees*

* JS provides secretariat services to the IGC,
FJMC, WMAC (NWT), EISC, EIRB. The
secretariat for WMAC-NS is located in
Whitehorse.

1. The information on the IRC and ICG in section 3 is based on the calendar year 2001. (return to source paragraph)