Governance in Nunavut: Capacity vs. Culture?

• Published in: Journal of Canadian Studies
• Main Author: White, Graham
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress) 2009
• Subjects: History; Cultural Studies; inuit; Northwest Territories; Nunavut; Nunavut Land Claims Agreement; Yellowknife
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jcs.43.2.57; https://utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/jcs.43.2.57

A key objective of Inuit political leaders in pushing for the creation of a Nunavut Territory was the establishment of a governance regime that would not only be numerically controlled by Inuit, but would also in a real sense be an Inuit government. Among other things, this would entail developing institutions and processes congruent with Inuit culture and values, and ensuring that the new regime did not “duplicate Yellowknife”—that is, simply replicate the structures, processes, and attitudes that characterized the Government of the Northwest Territories prior to division. This essay assesses the governance regime in Nunavut against these objectives. Specific attention will be devoted to the basic structure and operation of the Government of Nunavut, including its decentralization initiative and its efforts to achieve high rates of Inuit participation in the public service; the political-governmental role of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Inuit land-claim organization; the activities of the co-management and regulatory boards established under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement; and municipal government.