Inuvialuit Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement - Annual Report of the Implementation Committee April 1, 2004 - March 31, 2005

Cooperation Plan

The Cooperation Plan for the Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulatory Review of a Northern Gas Pipeline Project through the Northwest Territories represents the agreement by government and co-management boards on potential methods of cooperation in assessing a northern gas pipeline project. The Plan clearly defines regulatory roles and responsibilities for applications relating to a northern gas pipeline project and strives to avoid duplication where possible. The Cooperation Plan in no way pre-judges or pre-approves any potential project that may be proposed, nor does the approach pre-judge the decisions to be made by any authority or bind any authority to a certain course of action.

Agreements

Three agreements give effect to the Cooperation Plan. Together, they add specific details for an MGP review, which harmonizes environmental assessment processes and avoids duplication.

• An Agreement for the Environmental Impact Review of the Mackenzie Gas Project was negotiated between the Inuvialuit (as represented by the IGC), the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (representing the Minister of the Environment) that provides for the establishment of a single joint review panel process under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the lnuvialuit Final Agreement and Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act for a gas development project. This Agreement was signed in August 2004. During the same period, Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Statement for the Mackenzie Gas Project were also signed and the seven panel members announced. These signings followed a public consultation period on the draft agreement and environmental impact statement (EIS) terms of reference and joint finalization of the documents by all three pa rt ies.
• A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Minister of the Environment and the Inuvialuit, and provides that the review process under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act encompasses ce rt ain unique measures contained in the IFA.
• The Agreement for the Coordination of the Regulatory Review of the Mackenzie Gas Project (Regulators' Agreement) was signed on April 22, 2004. It includes the regulators for the review, principally, the National Energy Board (NEB), the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, the Northwest Territories Water Board, Environment Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the ILA.

Review Activities

In January 2004, the EISC referred the MGP to the joint review process, after deciding that the development could have a significant negative environmental impact on wildlife or Inuvialuit harvesting. The federal Minister of the Environment accepted the EISC recommendation that the project undergo further assessment through an environmental review panel. The EISC referral was followed on May 21, 2004 by a scoping report from the MVEIRB that similarly recommended to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development that the project be referred to the Joint Review Panel.

In October 2004, the MGP filed the project's EIRB for review by the Joint Review Panel. Project proponents also filed the major regulatory applications for all parts of the project with the NEB. Filing these applications initiated the formal environmental assessment and regulatory review of the project.

The Joint Review Panel consists of seven members selected by the IGC, MVEIRB and federal Minister of the Environment. The environmental impact assessment will consider the potential effect of the project on the environment and on the social, cultural and economic well-being of the residents and communities affected.

Many workshops were held in Inuvialuit communities in preparation for the environmental impact assessment and regulatory review.

Meetings

In addition to three IGC directors' meetings, IGC members or appointed representatives attended 47 meetings, conferences, symposiums, workshops and gatherings during 2003-2004.

Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Aklavik HTC and the Aklavik Community Corporation continued their amalgamation during 2004-2005, and will meet to consider the feasibility of having a joint office.

The Aklavik HTC:

• held twice monthly board meetings and numerous community consultations related to oil and gas development;
• hired local people to conduct a Yukon government harvest study, to monitor beluga whales at Shingle Point and West Whitefish, and conduct net fishing;
• distributed Community Harvesters Assistance Program (CHAP) funding to members (the Aklavik HTC feels that due to the increase in prices in the community, its CHAP funding should be increased);
• held a community caribou hunt and distribution of meat to elders in the community; and
• convened a wildlife monitor training course.

Olokhaktomiut (Holman) Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Olokhaktomiut HTC:

• assisted in Environment Canada's hiring of a wildlife monitor for the duck tagging program at Kagloryuak River;
• selected three youth to work on the seal monitoring project;
• convened a joint public meeting with Great Northern Mining Exploration to discuss proposed diamond exploration on Victoria Island;
• hired three local residents to work on the Tributary One Charr Assessment Project;
• hired a wildlife monitor to work with Diamonds No rt h Resources Ltd. in its diamond exploration program near Prince Albe rt Sound;
• held 11 spo rt s hunts;
• hired two wildlife monitors to work in the Minto Inlet area for the Great Northern Mining and Exploration Project; and
• convened a public meeting with Diamonds No rt h Resources Ltd. on past work and planned work for 2005.

Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Inuvik HTC:

• reviewed all research applications related to the MGP and other projects drilling in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region;
• met with the regulators for the oil spill at Oniak Channel and effluent spill at Lucas Point;
• O attended a nuclear waste workshop in lnuvik to communicate the HTC's position against nuclear waste dumping in the North;
• distributed meat to elders from the caribou harvest;
• convened an open house for members;
• took part in a rig tour and follow-up with ILC on issues related to the use of equipment without sufficient snow cover;
• convened a trappers training program;
• met with Shell on its bathymetry project;
• attended a workshop on Mackenzie Delta drilling waste management; and
• took pa rt in a nuclear waste workshop in Ottawa and the environmental sector round table. At the round table, the impo rt ance of traditional knowledge in search and rescue operations was raised by the HTC representative.

Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Paulatuk HTC:

• convened the Alternate Fishing Sites Program despite a decrease in the amount of the contract;
• received donations from other organizations to help with the elders fishing program, which distributed 212 charr to the elders;
• continued year-round operation of the harvest data collection;
• worked closely with RWED on the collection of wolverine carcasses, and polar bear and grizzly bear samples; and
• distributed CHAP funding between the beluga whale hunting season and the caribou hunting season. Allocations of gas to individual harvesters were decreased this year to allow the HTC to assist more harvesters.

Sachs Harbour Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Sachs Harbour HTC:

• requested that RWED and WMAC NWT lift the caribou quota for Sachs Harbour;
• approved a Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) permit from the British Broadcasting Corporation to film
  muskox around Sachs Harbour for the Discovery Channel;
• completed a seal study;
• approved all CHAP applicants through the use of money from the administration fee account;
• selected two persons to participate in the Land Skills Program in lnuvik; and
• submitted a successful application to the lnuvialuit Summer Student Program.

Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee

The Tuktoyaktuk HTC:

• convened community workshops with Shell and Conoco, and a public meeting with Chevron/BP/Burlington;
• hired two whale monitors;
• successfully completed the whale monitoring program, even though funding was received late in the season;
• attended a meeting with the ILA and Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation to address the Husky Lakes Management Plan;
• reduced the number of hunting tags allowed in the polar bear season from two to one;
• received and reviewed numerous developmentapplications, an activity for which no funding had been budgeted;
• took pa rt in various meetings with the oil and gas industry;
• completed a successful caribou harvest study by the
  Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation (funding provided by the Tuktoyaktuk HTC);
• attended meetings with the Pingo Working Committee, BSIMPI, Kavik-AXYS Inc. and DFO; and
• completed the wolverine sampling project.

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 Committee held a special meeting with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and senior DFO staff on several issues, including marine protected areas in the Western Arctic, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Whaling Commission, funding for northern science, hydrocarbon exploration in the Settlement Region and FJMC funding.

The Committee held four regular meetings and four teleconferences, as well as public meetings in Inuvik and Sachs Harbour in June and Aklavik in November, to discuss with hunters and fishers issues of concern related to fish, marine mammals and research priorities for the region. One regular meeting was held in Winnipeg at DFO's Freshwater Institute to facilitate the exchange of information and project planning with DFO's scientific and management staff. The process by which the FJMC sets its research priorities and develops a work plan is unique among Inuvialuit joint implementing bodies. Community meetings in November, discussions with scientific staff at the Freshwater Institute in January and Committee planning sessions in March, all comprise the essential elements in the Committee's annual work plan and budgeting cycle for the next fiscal year.

Research and Monitoring 

The FJMC was active in numerous research, monitoring and management programs in 2004-2005. Twenty-seven projects were conducted through joint efforts between the FJMC and DFO.

Support continued for charr monitoring projects that provide information for existing community-based charr fishing plans for the Hornaday and Kuujua rivers near Paulatuk and Holman respectively. Also in support of the Hornaday plan, the Committee continued to contribute to a baseline water quality and quantity monitoring project for that river system.

The FJMC continued to support the West Side Working Group in its efforts to develop a community-driven integrated fishing plan for the Yukon North Slope and West Side rivers from the Big Fish River west to Fish Creek near the Alaskan border. The Working Group continued to assemble critical scientific and traditional knowledge information on North Slope fisheries that will form the foundation of the developing management plan. Preliminary planning of a community based monitoring program of the Big Fish River was begun, with elders and youth from the community of Aklavik, and DFO and FJMC staff. The West Side Working Group also set research priorities to monitor charr harvests from Shingle Point and tag Dolly Varden charr at Shingle Point and along the Yukon North Slope.

The multi-year program to assess the ecology and fisheries resources of Husky and Sitidgi lakes was completed by DFO researchers. 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 Committee contributed to an ongoing project designed to monitor the reproductive status and condition of ringed seals in Amundsen Gulf. In 2004-2005, the project was expanded to include monitoring in Sachs Harbour.

The quality of country foods continued to be a significant concern for the communities in the Settlement Region. Therefore, the allocation of funds for research involving the collection of samples from harvested marine mammals (including ringed seals and beluga whales) for contaminant and disease analysis was continued. In addition to annual research project funding, the Committee supported long term harvest monitoring programs that provide essential harvest data required by the Committee and DFO biologists as a basis for making sound management decisions:

• In co-operation with the HTCs, the FJMC delivered the Beluga Harvest Monitoring Program. Local lnuvialuit whale monitors employed by HTCs are stationed in each of the active whaling camps within the Settlement Region. They collect biological information from each harvested whale. Committee staff members provide training, program and logistic support, co-ordination of special sample collections and data collation. Monitors also keep track of aircraft traffic over whale camps and submit detailed incident repo rt s in cases where aircraft may have harassed or disturbed whales and harvesters. At season's end, these harassment incident repo rts . were turned over to DFO Conservation and Protection for follow-up with air cha rt er companies as required.
• Following the cancellation of the lnuvialuit Harvest Study, the Committee continued its suppo rt of the collection of lnuvialuit subsistence fisheries harvest data by DFO.

In accordance with subsection 14(64) of the IFA, the Committee continued with its Private Lands Sport Fishing Registry. The promotional campaign initiated in 2001-2002 to better educate the fishing public was continued with the renewal of large wall displays at major air and road travel gateways into the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the provision of private lands wall maps for all fishing licence vendors and HTCs in the region, reprinting and distributing information brochures to vendors and HTCs, and placing advertisements in the NWT Explorers' Guide / Guide to Hunting and Fishing in the Northwest Territories and the Beaufort Delta Attractions Guide.

To facilitate the distribution of information related to research within the lnuvialuit Settlement Region, the reactivated FJMC Technical Report was continued. These reports are published, distributed and posted on the Committee's web site. Several reports in production will be released in 2005-2006.

Researchers who received funding from the Committee participated in the annual Co-Management IFA Research Workshop, initiated by the IGC and held on December 8, 2004 in Inuvik. This workshop gave beneficiaries the opportunity to see the results of co-management funded research conducted within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region during the year.

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 Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The Committee and staff have been regular participants in pre-submission community and agency consultations by industry. Before every EISC screening meeting, the Committee reviews all proposals that have the potential to impact on fish, marine mammals and aquatic habitat in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, including those related to oil and gas.

Committee members and staff attended numerous public meetings and workshops relating to the MGP and Devon Canada's proposed Beaufort Sea exploration program and the comprehensive study report which were subsequently approved by the EISC with operations beginning in the winter of 2005-2006.

The Committee was also a registered intervener in the review of the proposed MGP, for both the Joint Review Panel and the NEB review processes. All correspondence relating to the review was forwarded to the FJMC and scanned by staff; then relevant information was brought to the Committee. The FJMC commissioned a review of the environmental impact statement for the MGP, and the report will be used to guide the FJMC's involvement in the review of the proposed project.

Beluga Management and Pilot MArine Protected Areas

The FJMC continued its support of the BSIMPI in cooperation with DFO. This multi-stakeholder initiative is facilitated through a working group that includes representatives from the FJMC, DFO, the IGC, IRC, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. The working group conducted community consultations through 2004-2005 to determine support for the marine protected area under the Oceans Act. The draft Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area Management Plan and regulatory intent were completed, and pending approval by the BSIMPI Senior Management Committee and working group, will be sent to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for approval. Once the marine-protected area is established, the FJMC will take over the day to day management responsibility and operations of the area, with support from DFO and the BSIMPI Secretariat.

Emerging Commercial Fisheries

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

Two southern fishing companies applied for and received licences for exploratory fishing operations. The application was submitted in partnership with the IGC to ensure full Inuvialuit participation in any future commercial fishing ventures. One company conducted an abbreviated operation within Beaufort Sea waters, with plans to return in 2005-2006.

Species at Risk Legislation

With the Species at Risk Act given royal assent on December 12, 2002, the FJMC has taken a more active role in ensuring Inuvialuit involvement in the protection of endangered fish and marine mammal species. The FJMC will continue to work with the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) to better define the FJMC's role in the federal assessment process for endangered species under the FJMC's jurisdiction. The FJMC participated in the preliminary stages of re-assessment of several species in 2004-2005.

Communications

The FJMC continued to develop its existing web site Fisheries Joint Management Committee to better inform the public, government and industry about the FJMC and fisheries co-management in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. A variety of FJMC reports and other materials are available on the site for downloading by interested parties. The FJMC reaches Inuvialuit beneficiaries within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region through its annual community tour and through regular contributions to the Joint Secretariat-Inuvialuit Renewable Resource Council newsletter, the Common Ground. The newsletter is distributed to every registered Inuvialuit beneficiary each summer and winter.

Student Mentoring Program and  Inuvialuit Youth

The Student Mentoring Program of the FJMC returned for its eighth successful season. In partnership with DFO, the Program is designed to encourage Inuvialuit youth to finish high school and continue with their studies in the sciences so they can become the Inuvialuit Settlement Region's future resource managers and biologists. The largest-ever group of students participated in 2004-2005. The FJMC was particularly pleased with the high level of commitment shown by all students. This was the first year that "out of town" (non-Inuvik) students were able to stay through the summer.

Activities included:

• hosting six students (four from Inuvik and two from Tuktoyaktuk);
• new work placement partnerships (including DFO, Parks Canada, the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study, ConocoPhillips Canada, RWED, Shell Canada/ Inuvialuit Environmental and Geotechnical Inc., Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board and Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development);
• continued funding relationships with the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment, IRC and Enbridge Inc.; and
• new funding from the Nasiwik Centre for Inuit Health and Changing Environments.

The FJMC also participated in a regional career fair, Career Quest 2005, with a trade show display. Staff from the FJMC and mentoring students answered questions about the mentoring program from junior and senior high school students from around the Beaufort-Delta Region. 

Community Conservation Plans

The WMAC-NWT, pursuant to its responsibility for conservation and management plans under article 14(60)(b) of the IFA, takes the lead in the development and revision of community conservation plans. There were no revisions in 2004-2005. The Council is undertaking discussions on the timing of the next revisions, given the oil and gas exploration activity, the MGP environmental review and the limited capacity of communities to undertake a major revision at the same time.

Species Management Plans

While a number of species management plans were in draft form at year-end, management action on these species was not affected. The Council discussed simplifying the format of the plans. Management plans or recovery strategies for species identified under the federal Species at Risk Act process were prioritized. The draft Technical Options for a Recovery Strategy for Peary Caribou and draft Technical Options for a Recovery Strategy for Boreal Woodland Caribou from RWED were received and reviewed.

By-Law Development

The Council continued to work with the Government of the Northwest Territories on streamlining the process for amending the NWT wildlife season, zone or quota regulations with several amendments being completed. Council recommendations included the following.

• An increase of three in grizzly bear quotas was recommended in each of the three eastern grizzly bear management areas 0/GB/03, 1/GB/0 and 1/GB/06). This was accepted by the Minister of RWED, and the regulation amendments to the lnuvik, Tuktoyaktuk and Paulatuk by-laws (for lnuvialuit and general hunting licence owners) and to the Big Game Hunting Regulations (for non-Aboriginal hunters) were completed.
• An increase of one in the grizzly bear quota was recommended in the western Settlement Region management area (I/GB/01). This was accepted by the Minister of RWED. Amendments to the Aklavik HTC Regulations and to the Big Game Hunting Regulations were completed.
• The establishment of a 40-kilometre harvesting zone on either side of the intersection of the northern and southern Beaufort sea management areas (l/PB/0I and l/PB/03 respectively) was recommended for all harvester categories acquiring quota tags from the community of Paulatuk. This would allow tags from either of the two areas to be used within this zone. The community of Paulatuk traditionally harvested polar bears along a polynia (open water area) near the boundary, and ongoing research on these two polar bear populations shows that mixing occurs in these ranges. The recommendation was not completed, and therefore, not in effect by the end of the fiscal year.
• A recommendation was made to extend the Dolphin-Union caribou season to all year in caribou management area l/BC/04 for Inuvialuit and general hunting licence holders. This was accepted by the Minister of RWED, and the amendment to the Holman HTC Regulations was completed.

Legislation Affecting Wildlife Management

The Council supported the addition of polar bears, grizzly bears and the western population of wolverines to the legal list under the federal Species at Risk Act as species of "special concern." Discussions were ongoing as to whether Peary caribou should be added to the list as "endangered." The Council also provided comments on the draft status report on the ivory gull from COSEWIC.

Discussions between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the four settled land claim organizations on the draft NWT species at risk legislation and the process to amend legislation, including the NWT Wildlife Act, were ongoing.

Research

Wildlife research is essential to enable WMAC-NWT to make decisions and recommendations on conservation and hunting quotas. Wildlife research in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region is supported primarily by IFA implementation funds, as well as regular RWED and CWS expenditures and in-kind support. Both RWED and CWS propose research programs and priorities for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region based on continuing consultation with the HTCs. After considering these proposals, WMAC-NWT 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 2004-2005, the Council again 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 assists in wildlife research in several ways. The consultation process between RWED, CWS and the HTCs assists in setting priorities regarding what research needs to be done and how best to do it. The 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.

The WMAC-NWT approved 21 IFA-funded wildlife research projects in 2004-2005.

RWED Projects

Total implementation funds allocated from RWED were $853,649 (including a 2003-2004 carry over) for 16 projects. The Council also endorsed 11 projects funded from other sources.

Caribou

• Barren-ground (Bluenose-West and Cape Bathurst herds): Calving and survival rates, fall body condition, population estimates, recruitment (i.e., total number of caribou that survive as yearlings), satel lite tracking of movements and harvest monitoring.
• Peary: Calf production and survival rates, seasonal ranges and migration routes.
• Boreal Woodland: Habitat use, ranges, calving and survival rates.

Bears

• Grizzly: Seasonal movements and distribution in the Mackenzie Delta petroleum exploration and development area and potential impacts of development, harvest monitoring, phase 1 east of the Delta mainland population study and problem bear response (i.e., response to incidents of human/bear conflict).
• Polar: Southern and northern Beaufort Sea population estimates and distribution, and harvest monitoring.

Furbearers

• Muskrat: Population trend monitoring.
• Wolf: Arctic Island harvest monitoring and genetic drift.
• Wolverine: Body condition and harvest monitoring.

CWS Projects

Implementation funds allocated from the CWS totalled $144,000 for seven projects. The Council also endorsed four projects funded from other sources.

• King and common eiders, long-tailed ducks: Victoria Island breeding pair survey, spring migration counts, satellite tracking to locate moulting, migration and wintering areas.
• Waterfowl: Habitat of declining snow geese and Brant geese at Anderson River, surveys of white-fronted geese (yellowlegs) and other waterfowl on the mainland, Victoria Island Canada goose survey and Banks Island snow goose banding.

Other

The three polar bear populations in the Northwest Territories all range within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, in the Northern Beaufort Sea, Southern Beaufort Sea and Viscount Melville Sound. All three populations are shared, either internationally with Alaska or interjurisdictionally within Canada in Nunavut. The Council reviews information on these populations to ensure that the polar bear harvest is sustainable, and makes research and management recommendations to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. The management regime for polar bears in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region is based on the population level. One component of this regime is a community management agreement or MOU for each population, which contain objectives and regulations.

• Two agreements exist for the Southern Beaufort Sea population: the Inuvialuit Inupiat Polar Bear Management Agreement for the Southern Beaufort Sea, signed by the regional Alaskan lnupiat and Canadian Inuvialuit user groups, and an MOU signed by the four Inuvialuit user communities. The international agreement states broad goals for thispolar bear population (including the overall population quota) and the community MOU contains more specific NVVT regulations (such as what bear samples harvesters are encouraged to collect).
• Two community agreements cover the Northern Beaufort Sea and Viscount Melville Sound populations: one agreement for each polar bear population, signed by the Inuvialuit user communities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and Nunavut (previously NVVT) Inuit user communities.

The regulations contained in the three community-based agreements have changed since originally created and signed in the early 1990s. In addition, Nunavut was created, necessitating some form of inter-jurisdictional agreement between the two territories. At a workshop in 2002, the users agreed to pursue an inter-jurisdictional agreement for the Viscount Melville Sound and Northern Beaufort Sea polar bear populations before revising the community-level MOUs for these populations.

The Council's efforts to update the Canadian polar bear management agreements have spanned several years, including hosting three community workshops to bring the users together (including Nunavut representatives) to discuss research and management issues and proposed revisions, drafting and circulating several revised versions of the ISR and inter-jurisdictional MOUs/ agreements, and participating in meetings and teleconferences to discuss these drafts.

This year, the Council, along with RWED and IGC representatives, undertook a community tour to consult with the four ISR user communities on the revisions to the Southern Beaufort Sea MOU. Since there is already an Inuvialuit—Inupiat agreement for the Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear population, which was updated in 2000, only the ISR user communities are involved in the MOU revisions. The objective of the workshops and tour was to ensure community support for the MOUS/agreements. One challenge before finalizing the updated Southern Beaufort Sea MOU is obtaining consensus on the revisions from all four user communities. The discussions with Nunavut on the inter-jurisdictional agreement were ongoing, with the Council involved, and the IGC taking the lead on this Inuvialuit—Inuit document. In the interim, management actions for these polar bear populations continued, including population research and monitoring the harvest. The latter has remained at sustainable levels.

One Council role is to advise the EISC with respect to relevant development submissions, conveying concerns regarding impacts on wildlife and habitat. It also assesses non government funded wildlife research proposals and proposed development activities, and submits comments to the permitting agencies before issuing permits. Development applications of note during 2004-2005 were three diamond exploration projects on Victoria Island, and a proposal to store oil and gas drilling equipment over the summer on an ice pad. As well, the Council is a registered intervener in the MGP environmental assessment under both the Joint Review Panel and NEB processes. Assessment hearings are expected to begin in 2005-2006.

The Council was a participant in the environmental assessment by the Nunavut Environmental Impact Board of the proposed Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project.

The Council provides comments on draft management plans, legislation and policy from government and other organizations. During the year, these included a draft status report from COSEWIC on the ivory gull, the CWS draft Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary Management Agreement, and the EIRB draft criteria for the Husky Lakes area.

The WMAC-NWT portion of the Joint Secretariat web site contains information about the Council's activities and mandate, and downloadable versions of many Council documents (e.g., Inuvialuit community conservation plans and annual reports).

The direct link to the WMAC-NWT portion is www.jointsecretariat.ca/WMACNWT/aboutus.htm.

Meetings

Members of WMAC-NWT attended 29 meetings, workshops and conferences throughout the year to assist the Council in adequately and knowledgeably fulfilling its mandate. The Council held three regular meetings and one teleconference.

Subsequent to the December meeting at Inuvik, the WMAC-NWT hosted the fifth annual joint meeting with the WMAC-NS to discuss issues of mutual concern. The WMAC-NWT, WMAC-NS and FJMC co-hosted the Co-management Research Workshop on December 8, 2004 in Inuvik to update the members of the co-management committees and IGC on current wildlife research funded under the IFA. Before the Workshop, a report with summaries of each project was distributed to participants and each HTC office. At the workshop about 40 participants viewed the posters and written reports, and listened to the 10 presentations given by researchers.

The WMAC-NWT also held public meetings with the HTC boards in four Inuvialuit Settlement Region communities: February 1, 2005 in Aklavik; February 2, 2005 in Inuvik; February 15, 2005 in Paulatuk; and March 3, 2005 in Tuktoyaktuk. The meetings were called to discuss proposed revisions to the MOU for polar bears in the Southern Beaufort Sea population. As well as WMAC-NWT, representatives from the IGC and RWED participated in these meetings. Consultations on the MOU with the communities will continue in 2005-2006.

IFA Funded Wildlife Research

The WMAC-NS reviews proposals for IFA funded research projects related to wildlife management and ecological monitoring on the Yukon North Slope, consistent with the goals of the IFA and the objectives of section 12 of the Agreement. Once reviewed and discussed, the Council makes its recommendations, as appropriate, to support projects and, if required, will also recommend that projects receive IFA implementation funding support from Parks Canada, the Yukon government and the CWS. Recommendations are based on research priorities identified in or by the Yukon North Slope Long term Research Plan, Porcupine Caribou Management Plan, the ISR Grizzly Bear Management Plan, Yukon North Slope Wildlife and Conservation and Management Plan, draft Canadian North Slope Muskox 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 the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Cooperative 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 and conducted in 2004-2005 included:

• muskox ecology studies (population count, survey and satellite collar program);
• the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Cooperative Community based Monitoring Program;
• Porcupine caribou satellite collaring programs;
• Yukon North Slope grizzly bear research; and
• Aklavik harvest data collection.

The WMAC-NS, WMAC-NWT and FJMC co-hosted a one day workshop in Inuvik in December. The objective was to provide an opportunity for agencies and researchers receiving IFA funding for wildlife projects, including fish, to report on the progress and results of their study to each other and to members of the Inuvialuit renewable resource boards and councils.

Species Management

The Council continued its work to develop a management plan for the Canadian North Slope muskox population. Representatives from WMAC NS, Aklavik HTC, Parks Canada and the IGC met with United States federal, Alaskan state and Inupiat representatives in Anchorage, in November 2004, to discuss common muskox management issues and concerns. The discussions provided useful information that will assist WMAC-NS in finalizing the plan. Once the plan is complete, WMAC-NS will be able to recommend a sustainable harvest quota for Inuvialuit residents of Aklavik.

The management of grizzly bears on the Yukon North Slope is of ongoing importance to the Council. In May 2004, the Yukon government's Department of Environment, in partnership with Parks Canada and the Aklavik HTC, began a six year grizzly bear research project on the Yukon North Slope. The research project is designed to learn about grizzly bear population size, birth rate, death rate, where bears can be found at different times of the year, and how much they move around. It will also include a review of hunter harvest activity. The WMAC-NS recommended funding for the grizzly bear research project and has been active in involving the Aklavik HTC and other members of the community in the design and implementation of research activities. The Council's community participation strategy has provided the framework for local involvement in the project's many components. The Council has also developed a communication strategy to ensure that all parties involved in the research project including the researchers, regional agencies and residents of local communities will provide and be provided with continuous and relevant information related to the project.

Species at Risk

The Council's chair was an active participant in discussions between COSEWIC and wildlife management boards across Canada that addressed the boards' involvement in the COSEWIC assessment process for species at risk. These discussions led to revisions to the COSEWIC operating procedures that outline the involvement of the boards in species assessments within their jurisdictions. The Council also reviewed and provided comments to COSWEIC on species being assessed within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

Council Projects

The Council undertook three special projects this year. A review and update of the Council's Guide for Researchers ensured that information provided is accurate and reflects recent changes in research permitting requirements for the region. The Guide is a component of the Yukon North Slope Long term Research Plan. The second project was to consolidate current information about climate and climate change as it pertains to the North Slope, and adjacent areas in the Northwest Territories and Alaska, to provide interested parties with a better understanding of the nature and results of regional research initiatives and possible effects of any determined change. The third project assessed and determined environmental change on the North Slope, using information obtained and compiled through the programs of the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Cooperative, from 1996 to 2005. The Council plans to publish the results of the latter two projects in 2005.

Ecosystem Monitoring

The Council maintained its support for the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Cooperative. The Council recommended funding for the ninth year of the Co-op's Community Monitoring Program. The objective is to record observations, on an annual basis, of changes in the environment using local community experts and interviewers. The Council also contributed funds directly to support the Co-op's overall programming.

Qikiotaruk (Herschel Island) Territorial Park

The Council continued to support the review of the Qikiqtaruk Herschel Island Territorial Park Management Plan. The Plan, originally completed in 1991, is being updated by the Yukon government to reflect the increase in visitor numbers and other management issues not addressed in the original version.

Parks Canada and Ivvavik National Park

The WMAC-NS continued to work in partnership with Parks Canada on issues related to wildlife research and management, and ecological monitoring in Iwavik National Park.

Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee

The WMAC-NS worked closely with the Aklavik HTC to ensure that the harvesting needs and concerns of the Aklavik Inuvialuit are addressed in the Council's decisions and actions. Through public meetings and meetings with the Aklavik HTC's Board, the WMAC-NS provided information and exchanged ideas on the management of wildlife on the North Slope. The Council met with the Aklavik HTC Board twice during the year. Additional meetings were held on the grizzly bear research project. The Council supported the participation of a representative of the Aklavik HTC at the Canada Alaska North Slope Muskox Working Group meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

Communications

The WMAC-NS maintained its web site. The site includes information on the Council and its activities, including term reports, newsletters, fact sheets, species status reports and links to related sites. The 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. The Council also contributed to the Joint Secretariat newsletter, Common Ground. A number of communication activities were undertaken as part of the grizzly bear research project.

Meetings

The Council held three regular meetings in 2004-2005, two in Whitehorse and one in Aklavik, and a fourth meeting by teleconference. A strategic planning meeting at Lake Laberge helped to identify the Council's priorities for the next three years. The Council also hosted a community meeting in Aklavik.

The WMAC-NS held a joint meeting with WMAC-NWT in Inuvik and two joint meetings with the Aklavik HTC in Aklavik. Other meetings included the Joint Secretariat Board in Inuvik, and the IGC in Inuvik, Yellowknife and Tuktoyaktuk.

The Council's chair, secretariat and members attended a number of workshops and conferences during the year, as both presenters and participants. These included the Access and Benefits Sharing Workshop (Whitehorse) hosted by the Biodiversity Convention office based in Ottawa, a workshop on the Yukon Environmental and Socio economic Assessment Act (Whitehorse), the Alaska Forum (Anchorage), a workshop on research funded through the IFA (Inuvik), EMAN North meeting (Yellowknife) and a meeting of the Canada Alaska North Slope Muskox Working Group (Anchorage). The chair also attended a meeting of the Porcupine Caribou Management Board in Whitehorse to brief members on the Yukon North Slope Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan.

Environmental Screening

Screening decisions are made by a panel of five individuals, consisting of the chair, two Inuvialuit members, the Canada member and the territorial member nominated from the territory within which the project is to occur. Decisions are made on a majority vote basis, with the chair voting in the case of a tie.

The EISC screened 39 project descriptions in 2004-2005 up slightly from the 37 submissions the previous year. The submissions included industry projects (17), mining projects (3), government research projects (12), university research projects (2), tourism projects (4) and a filming project (1). The Committee decided that 15 of the proposed developments would have no significant negative impact, and 21 developments would have no significant negative impact with recommended terms and conditions. One development was deficient and returned to the proponent, two were deferred with one being withdrawn by the proponent (EnCana Corporation Umiak 2005 Summer Ice Pad Project). No developments were referred for further environmental assessment by public review. The EISC decided that a proposed development was in conflict with the community conservation plans and the Beaufort Sea Beluga Management Plan, and a portion of the project will not be screened until the EISC receives the revisions to the Management Plan.

The screening process for the majority of submissions (n=20, 51%) required less than 60 days to complete. Forty six percent (n=18) of the submissions were screened in less than 30 days from the date of receipt, requiring a resolution by the EISC to waive the standard requirement. One submission took more than 60 days to process after the EISC deferred screening to obtain further information from the proponent or await documentation from other groups.

In addition to developments that are screened, the EISC asks to be informed of other projects proposed for the ISR, but for various reasons are exempt from the screening process. This task is undertaken so the EISC has a broad picture of activities being carried out within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region for cumulative impact assessment. The EISC greatly appreciated the efforts of the co-management groups, government regulatory authorities, the Aurora Research Institute and the IFA during the year to keep the EISC apprised of such activities.

The majority of exempted projects in 2004-2005 were research projects that had gone through the IFA co-management process, non government sponsored or funded research, or developments occurring on Inuvialuit private lands.

Meetings

The EISC received 19 presentations from various government departments, agencies, co-management boards and industry during the year, and EISC members attended 11 conferences, workshops and meetings. These included a visit by EISC members and NEB representatives to three Inuvialuit communities to explain the environmental screening and regulatory processes of the two bodies. Another meeting featured a tour of drilling waste sumps in the Delta to gain a first hand understanding of this feature of exploration drilling. The highlight of the year was the presentation of an award to Billy Day, a long-time member of the EISC, by the International Association of Impact Assessment for his significant contribution "to a better understanding of the need for, and implementation of, environmental impact assessment in the Canadian North."

6.5 Environmental Impact Review Board

Established under IFA subsection 11(22), the EIRB is responsible for carrying out environmental impact assessments and public reviews 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 EIA 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 appointed 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 each of the governments of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Canada.

The IFA goals directly relevant to the Board's operations are to:

• preserve Inuvialuit cultural identity and values within a changing northern society;
• enable the lnuvialuit to be equal and meaningful participants in the northern and national economies and society; and
• protect and preserve the Arctic wildlife, environment and biological productivity.

The Board'held one meeting by teleconference during the year.

Review Activities

There were no reviews referred to the Board during the year. The chair assumed responsibilities of the Joint Review Panel for the MGP. His departure, the expiration of three other member appointments and the delay in appointments to the vacant positions limited regular operational activities.

Other Activities

The EIRB continued work on developing criteria for establishing acceptable environmental standards and evaluating a developer's standard of performance for the Husky Lakes Area as required by section 8(1) of the IFA. A third draft of the criteria was circulated during the summer of 2004.

Discussions continued throughout the year on ways to avoid duplication of process should a pipeline be built through the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and Mackenzie Valley, or offshore drilling be recommended in the Beaufort Sea.

Meetings

Members of the EIRB attended the International Association for Impact Assessment Conference in April 2004 in Vancouver, and participated in the NWT environmental audit meeting in February 2005 in Inuvik.

Trade and Investment

During the year, RWED continued to provide:

• business assistance programs within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (of the $327,000 of program funding in the Inuvik region, 44 percent was spent to assist beneficiaries);
• economic development officer services who provide business advice and counseling services to local individuals and businesses within the Settlement Region; and
• small business services in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and the Beaufort/Delta region via Western Arctic Business Development Services. This organization also provides business counselling and training services and conducted two business seminars and three counselling sessions over the year within the Settlement Region.

The Department worked diligently with other partners on the realization of a new hotel facility in the community of Holman.

Minerals, Oil and Gas

Through the MGP office, RWED provided a $90,000 contribution to IRC from the Building Aboriginal Capacity Program to support efforts to ensure maximum Inuvialuit participation and benefit from ongoing petroleum exploration and development activities in the Beaufort Delta.

Specific activities completed by the IRC under the Building Aboriginal Capacity Program included:

• wage support of the oil and gas employment officer;
• pre-employment transportation assistance for recruitment of beneficiaries for petroleum exploration activity;
• production of the "ISR Oil & Gas Bulletin" to provide information to all beneficiaries on activities and events occurring in the Beaufort Delta relating to the oil and gas industry; and
• support for the compilation and monitoring of statistical information related to employment and business benefits pursuant to the requirements of the Comprehensive Cooperation and Benefits Agreements.

Tourism and Parks

Six Inuvialuit-owned and operated tourism establishments and 19 Inuvialuit tourism operators in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region were licensed by RWED during the year. The Department continued to promote the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and its products through marketing initiatives.

Employment and Training

Through the Private Sector Partnership Fund of the Maximizing Northern Employment Program RWED provided IRC with a $20,000 contribution as a wage subsidy for on the job training for a human resource intern position, and to support the specialized training of an administrative employee in records management systems and procedures.

Porcupine Caribou Herd Satellite  Location Program

The Porcupine Caribou Herd Satellite Location Program maintains eight to ten caribou with satellite collars in the Porcupine caribou herd to document annual migration routes and winter range use of female caribou. This program is an ongoing cooperative effort with many agencies contributing to the costs, such as system feeds, data recovery and collar purchases.

Locations are logged on an ongoing basis. Maps are produced and distributed, and a web site and fax distribution list of caribou locations are maintained.

Muskox Studies

As part of a three-year program (2002-2005), there were three muskox projects on the Yukon North Slope during 2004-2005:

• maintenance of satellite collars on three to eight animals;
• completion of an aerial survey and composition count in April 2004; and
• participation in a productivity survey done by Parks Canada Agency in July 2004.

Aklavik Harvest Data Collection

This data collection project documented the harvest of moose, caribou, sheep and furbearers in the Yukon and Northwest Territories by Inuvialuit hunters in Aklavik. Interviews to document wildlife harvest were carried out in May, June and December 2004.

Grizzly Bear Population and Movement on the  Yukon North Slope

Planning began for a six-year grizzly bear study on the Yukon North Slope. In 2003-2004, the Yukon government purchased and moved fuel into the field at Komakuk and Shingle Point. Field work began in 2004 with the initial capture and collaring of 10 bears. More bears will be added to the program during the 2005 season.

8.3 Herschel Island - Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park

Frschel Island - Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park Management plan Review

The Herschel Island — Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park Management Plan review continued in 2004-2005 with revisions to incorporate WMAC-NS interests and input received through community consultations. A final plan will be recommended for approval in 2005.

Herschel Island —Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park

The Herschel Island — Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park was open from April 15 to August 31, 2004. There were 530 visitors (compared to 414 in the previous year), including 101 from the Russian cruise ship Kapitan Khlebnikov, which entered Canadian water via the U.S.—Canada border with its first stop at Herschel Island. It then continued to Resolute Bay, Nunavut.

Wildlife Observations and Harvest

A polar bear survey was carried out from April 5-12, 2004. A few polar bears were sighted at or near the Island this season. The Yukon government intends to continue to support this work. Aside from the polar bear sightings, no other bears were seen; however, tracks were spotted throughout the Island.

The harvest in 2004 included 11 caribou (six bulls and five cows), 160 charr and 202 herring (harvested by gill net). The 2004 charr run was recorded on June 21, 2004, which is earlier than the previously recorded runs which typically begins mid-July to early August.

Rare sightings recorded included a rusty black bird, marten and an unidentified crustacean.

Training

Consistent with section 12(42) of the IFA, the Yukon government provided training to the rangers to assist in their current duties and in future employment opportunities: wilderness first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a review of law enforcement, the Territorial Park Act and NWT Wildlife Act, global positioning system (GPS) training and a gun safety course, training in workplace hazardous materials information system and transportation of dangerous goods, and introductory computer skills.

Heritage Site Management

Three heritage resources unit staff from the Department of Tourism and Culture spent two weeks on Herschel Island July 12-26, 2004 moving the Northern Whaling & Trading Co. store, the customs warehouse, and the hunters and travellers' cabin. The store suffered damage from sea ice and erosion of the shoreline in recent years. To move the store away from the shore, the two other buildings were moved out of the way. While lifting and moving the three buildings, deteriorated beams below the customs warehouse were also replaced.

A series of minor maintenance issues were dealt with throughout the historic settlement area and all structures were inspected to determine future maintenance priorities. The head park ranger and regional biologist were consulted regarding options for re roofing the Mission House, presently used as a nesting site by the black Guillimot bird colony.

The heritage building was also re-photographed as part of a continuing monitoring program, and GPS location readings were taken to update and standardize records.

Implementation Branch

The Implementation Branch serves as a liaison on IFA implementation issues for co-management boards, the Inuvialuit, territorial governments and other federal government departments. The Branch:

• administers and monitors funding arrangements with various implementing bodies having obligations under the IFA;
• monitors federal implementation activities to ensure compliance with the land claim agreement;
• processes the appointments to the Arbitration Board, E1RB and EISC by the governments of Canada, the Northwest Territories and Yukon;
• processes amendments to the IFA; and
• publishes the annual report of the IFA ICC.

The director general of the Implementation Branch serves as the Government of Canada member to the ICC, and the director of the Implementation Management Directorate is the alternate.

The Branch participated in a meeting of the IFA ICC, in Edmonton in October 2004.

During the year, the Implementation Branch:

• processed appointments to various boards under the IFA;
• took the necessary measures to transfer the responsibility of funding from DFO to 1NAC to provide the FJMC with a flexible transfer payment funding agreement similar to other boards under the IFA;
• obtained Treasury Board approval to delegate appointment authority to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development from the Governor in Council for the purpose of making appointments on behalf of the Government of Canada to the EISC and EIRB;
• provided a printed consolidated version of the IFA to the parties while taking the necessary steps to obtain Treasury Board approval to amend section 18(7); and
• held a workshop on results-based reporting in Yellowknife in February 2005 attended by federal, territorial and Aboriginal representatives to address the concerns raised by the Auditor General in the November 2004 report.

In addition, the Branch organized the first Economic Planning and Business Development Working Group meeting in June 2004 to address the recommendations provided to IRC following the release of the section 16 review. Participants from federal government departments and IRC attended.

Northern Affairs Program

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

NWT Region

Land Administration. Land Administration is responsible for the administration of those surface and subsurface rights owned by the Crown in the Inuvialuit
Settlement Region.

The Department is identified as the holder of five reserves on Inuvialuit land under Annex R of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. A number of these reserves are no longer needed, have been cleaned up, and need to be terminated and removed as an encumbrance against the title of the Inuvialuit lands.

Northern Contaminants Program. The Northern Contaminants Program provided $90,000 to IRC to participate in a long-term Inuit education and communication strategy, through gathering, disseminating, developing and delivering appropriate education and communication information for the Settlement Region. The Inuvialuit have representation on the NWT Environmental Contaminants Committee through the IGC.

Contaminated Sites Program. Kittigazuit Bay/Yellow Beetle: Kittigazuit is located on the shore of the Beaufort Sea, about 50 km west of Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. The site was used as a long-range aid to navigation from 1947 1950 by the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force. In 1976, the site was designated as a waste metal depot by INAC. The area is of significant interest to Inuvialuit both historically and spiritually and was selected as part of the IFA.

A large portion of the remediation was completed in the late summer/fall of 2002 through a contribution agreement with Inuvialuit Projects Inc. (IPI), a subsidiary of the IDC. This involved demolition of remaining structures, consolidation of waste, and delineation and excavation of metal contaminated soil. During this investigation, some hydrocarbon contaminated soil was detected, which was delineated in 2003-2004. This led to further work in 2004-2005, which included the excavation, containerization and shipment of this hydrocarbon contaminated soil off site. Again, this work was completed through a contribution agreement with IPI of about $719,000. Unfortunately, due to low water levels in the fall of 2004, the material had to be stored in Inuvik and wait for barge shipment to a disposal facility in Hay River in the spring of 2005. Once this is done, remediation of this site is complete and the encumbrance against the title of the land can be removed.

Horton River: Once a DEW Line Intermediate Site, Horton River is also referred to as BAR E or Malloch Hills, near Horton River Delta on Cape Bathurst within the Amundsen Gulf on a peninsula between Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk. It was remediated in 1994 under the terms of a cooperation agreement between the ILA and INAC. The clean up involved the construction of a landfill on top of an existing dump on the site near the airstrip, which INAC committed to monitor. In 2002-2003, due to limited funding, the INAC district inspector monitored the site and found no major issues. Funding was available in 2003-2004, and Inuvialuit Environmental and Geotechnical, through Inuvialuit Projects Inc., was contracted through the contribution agreement to conduct more formal monitoring of the site. The company completed this monitoring again in 2004-2005 to ensure the remediation objectives for this site have been met. Overall indications are that the landfill is stable and not leaching.

Atkinson Point: Otherwise known as BAR-D, Atkinson Point was an Intermediate Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line site located about 80 kilometres northeast of Tuktoyaktuk by McKinley Bay. This military radar site was constructed in 1957 and operated until 1963.

The site includes several sources of contaminants, including poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals and potential hydrocarbons in the soil. Several landfills, barrels and fuel tanks, as well as buildings contaminated with PCB-amended paint and asbestos remain on site.

Some initial work was completed in 1993, in which most of the visible debris at Atkinson Point was consolidated and stockpiled. However, further detailed assessment, consultation and remediation planning is required before a complete remediation plan is developed for the site.

No funds were available in 2004-2005 due to the ranking of higher-risk sites for funding. However, funding for this site has been approved for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Work next year will likely include

further environmental site assessment to determine the presence and extent of hydrocarbon contamination on site and confirm metal and PCB contamination in the soil. From this information, a remediation plan for the site will be developed in consultation with the Inuvialuit.

Johnson Point: On the East coast of Banks Island, Johnson Point was used as a staging area for oil and gas exploration in the area in the early 1970s. Based on concerns from the Sachs Harbour HTC, a proposal was submitted in 2004 to provide funds for a site assessment to be completed in 2005-2006.

Fish

• Brock Lake (Paulatuk) fish survey ($16,000);
• Holman Fish Lake monitoring ($14,000);
• Hornaday River (Paulatuk) charr monitoring ($20,000);
• Hornaday Fishing Plan implementation ($15,000);
• harvest studies involving three communities ($22,000);
• Tuktoyaktuk Arctic cisco monitoring ($6,000);
• Red Belly Lake (Holman) charr assessment ($14,600);
• Husky Lakes trout assessment ($30,000); and
• Husky Lakes trout monitoring ($17,000).

Marine Mammals

• Holman seal monitoring ($26,000);
• Sachs Harbour seal monitoring ($30, 000);
• seal spring ice survey ($10,000);
• Beaufort Sea beluga reproduction ($27, 000);
• marine mammal disease sampling ($20,000);
• beluga seasonal range ($10,000, limited beneficiary employment); and
• diseased marine mammal sampling ($37, 000).

Other

In the following projects, there was no local employment except where noted:

• Hornaday water gauge ($10,000, limited beneficiary employment);
• acoustic monitoring, seismic ($5,000);
• Holman Arctic charr meeting ($10,000); and
• plotting of Dolly Darden range ($4,000).

In addition to the above, DFO contributed $40,000 in support funds to the FJMC and $73,400 to support the participation of Government of Canada members on the FJMC.

Total DFO implementation expenditures in 2004-2005 were $915,200, comprising $458,200 in contribution agreements and $457,000 in projects and support.

The Canadian Coast Guard, Central and Arctic Region, is responsible for the provision of the Marine Aids to Navigation Program, marine communications and traffic services, environmental response and, through the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, marine search and rescue activities on Great Slave Lake, the Mackenzie River, Mackenzie-Athabasca Waterway system and in Western Arctic waters.

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

Pingo

The Pingo Canadian Landmark National Historic Site is located adjacent to 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 Canadian Landmark is contained in subsection 7(70) of the IFA. Legislation passed in 1996 led to the creation of the Pingo National Historic Site. 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 MOU in December 2001. Priorities for implementation have been identified and undertaken by all represented groups. The committee also drafted terms of reference and a vision statement.

Lands of equal value have not yet been transferred to the Inuvialuit for the Pingo Canadian Landmark. The ILA applied to INAC to begin discussions on the land swap.

Parks Canada conducted a field assessment at the Landmark in September 2003 to consider the best option for the development of an interpretive trail. The assessment report recommended the development of a boat-accessible walking trail of 415 metres, which would end at a viewing platform overlooking a scenic view of the Landmark and the community of Tuktoyaktut. The working committee endorsed the recommendation and public consultations were completed. Parks Canada worked with the hamlet to finalize the project and will complete the environmental assessment and project design in 2005-2006.

National Park Regulations

Discussions were ongoing with the IGC on a public consultation process to discuss required amendments to the National Park Regulations to ensure that they conform to the IFA. During the year, the Parks Canada Agency worked with the IGC and other partners to develop wildlife regulations that will allow superintendents to permit quota hunts recommended by wildlife co-management boards and approved by the federal Minister of the Environment. Meetings will be held with the IGC, WMAC-NS, WMAC-NWT, Tuktut Nogait National Park Management Board and the Aulavik Advisory Committee.

Inuvialuit Employment Strategy and Economic Opportunities

The majority of field employees in Ivvavik National Park are Inuvialuit beneficiaries. Two wardens, one patrol person and one full-time clerk who are beneficiaries were employed during the 2004 field season. Five Inuvialuit from Aklavik were contracted for a number of days to assist with the downsizing of the Sheep Creek station, and cooks were contracted from Aklavik for field camps in lwavik on two occasions.

Park Canada continued to use Inuvialuit businesses on a preferred basis in the management and operation of lvvavik National Park and other heritage resources in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Inuvialuit Environmental and Geotechnical won the contract to assess the Sheep Creek fuel spill for the extent of the spill and requirements for clean-up, and to assess and clean up a fuel spill in the Parks Canada Inuvik storage compound.

Parks Canada collaborated with Arctic Nature Tours, a subsidiary of Inuvialuit owned Aklak Air, to develop and pilot a guided day trip tourism opportunity in lvvavik National Park. The proponents are working with the Aklavik Community Corporation to contract with local residents to help guide the project, and host and guide the trips.

An MOU on the First River rafting operation continued to be revised. It includes opportunities in the First River valley for Inuvialuit as operators, cultural interpreters and raft guides. Operational guidelines will be removed from the MOU and attached as a separate document.

Arts and crafts items have been purchased from artists and crafts people from Sachs Harbour and Paulatuk for display in the park visitor centres under construction in those communities. Other contracts related to exhibit construction and installation were awarded including the sewing of traditional clothing, oral history and photo selections for exhibits. More contracts will be offered in the communities in 2005 in relation to the visitor centres.

Other Parks Canada activities related to economic opportunities included:

• participation by two Inuvialuit employees in an Aboriginal leadership development program;
• incorporation of an Inuvialuit employment strategy into the field unit human resource plan;
• allocation of funds to the Porcupine Caribou Management Board for various projects by the Western Arctic Field Unit; and
• hiring an Inuvialuit site manager trainee for Aulavik National Park in 2004.

Research and Monitoring

Parks Canada participated in the Northern Bioregional Working Group to ensure that ecological monitoring activities provide effective indicators of the state of national park environments. It works with cooperative management partners to ensure that the needs of local partners are included in this initiative.

The Yukon Environmental and Socio economic Assessment Act will soon take effect in Yukon, replacing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Parks Canada delivered a two day course to prepare staff to comply with the new act in lvvavik operations. The staff of Aklavik HTC, WMAC NS, DFO and INAC were invited to attend.

Research and monitoring activities completed in 2004 by Parks Canada Agency and partners in the Settlement Region included:

Aboriginal Human Resources  Development Agreement

The Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement (AHRDA) between the IRC and Government of Canada was extended by one year for 2004-2005. The Agreement provides the AHRDA holder with financial resources from the Government of Canada's Central Revenue Fund and Employment Insurance Fund to manage labour market development activities within its area of jurisdiction and in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and subject to relevant federal legislation. The Inuvialuit have supported numerous clients through active employment benefits and support measures geared to increasing Aboriginal participation in the labour market.

As the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy was extended for five years, it is expected that the AHRDAs will be renewed for a further four years. These agreements represent a strong commitment by Canada to have Aboriginal governments control and manage labour market initiatives related to Aboriginal people.

Aboriginal Skills and Employment  Partnership Program

The IRC was one partner that developed a multi-year strategy for industrial skills development related to opportunities anticipated out of oil and gas industrial development. A proposal from this partnership was successful in being funded pursuant to the ASEP Program.

This multi-year funding program will assist the Inuvialuit to identify and support clients through interventions that will lead to permanent and meaningful jobs in the oil and gas industry. The IRC share of funding provided to Aboriginal Futures (the training partnership) was $4,499,880 for 2004 through to March 31, 2008.

The ASEP Program was approved late in the fiscal year. Therefore, projects approved through this initiative were in their early stages at year-end. An important characteristic of initiatives supported under the ASEP Program is that all training undertaken will lead to long-term sustainable jobs.