Business conference axed over NunatuKavut Community Council’s involvement
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For 16 years, the Northern Lights Business and Cultural Showcase has brought together artists and businesses from across Inuit Nunangat to network and develop partnerships.
But it’s now being cancelled because of friction between recognized Inuit organizations, and the NunatuKavut Community Council.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, as the national Inuit body, does not recognize NunatuKavut as an Inuit organization. It also disputes NunatuKavut’s claims of Inuit identity.
It wrote a letter to the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) and Labrador North Chamber of Commerce (LNCC), who are behind the event, with concerns about NunatuKavut’s participation going forward.
“With this letter, it has been suggested to us to not allow certain organizations to register,” Julianne Griffin, LNCC’s chief executive officer said.
Chris West, executive director of the BRCC based in Iqaluit, said other Inuit organizations in Nunavut also echoed ITK’s concerns.
“We depend on them to pull off these events and without their financial support, which could have been jeopardized here, it will be difficult to host an event of that size,” he said.
“While the event is never meant to be political, I think we get to a point sometimes where people make it political, and that’s where we are today.”
Issue of who can and cannot participate
NunatuKavut represents roughly 6,000 self-identifying Inuit in south and central Labrador. The group identified itself as Métis until 2010.
West still remembers the tensions at last year’s conference, at a luncheon sponsored by NunatuKavut.
“It was obvious that ITK and other Inuit groups were not at that lunch. There were empty tables in the room that were represented by ITK,” he said.
He said the chamber wouldn’t have been able to exclude NunatuKavut from the conference for legal reasons, but also because it goes against the event’s ethos.
“We’ve never refused anybody from being involved in the event. The event’s always been about bringing people together, building relationships and partnerships for the betterment of the North,” he said.
That’s a stance that Griffin also shares.
“We would partner with any group, as we would with any business or corporation. We remain who we are as a business association,” she said.
Both NunatuKavut and ITK declined CBC’s interview requests.
However, in a written statement, NunatuKavut president Todd Russell said he’s disappointed at the cancellation of the event, which he views as a result of a “threatened boycott” by ITK.
“Senseless boycotts and other exclusionary practices harm us all. It is only through communication and a willingness to solve problems, real or imaginary, will we be able to move forward,” he said.
Discussions going forward
Pulling the pin on the conference wasn’t easy for West, having been involved since day one.
“We’ve seen some accomplishments from many artists who’ve become world renowned because of their involvement with Northern Lights. So yeah, it’s a tough one to take,” he said.
Last year’s event in Ottawa drew 1,700 people, from across the country and beyond.
While this is the end of the conference bringing people across Inuit Nunangat together, West said there are discussions about a smaller scale event which is focused on Nunavut.
“We will create something that’s meaningful and reflects the needs of the territory,” he said.
Griffin said the LNCC will also be regrouping about future events.
It has partnerships with organizations in its region like NunatuKavut, as well as those who dispute NunatuKavut’s Inuit claims, like the Nunatsiavut government.
“I think discussions need to take place between the right people at the right tables, so that it does not get to the point where it negatively impacts economic development for communities or the future of on-the-ground organizations like the LNCC and other chambers,” she said.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: NunatuKavut community council in Canada accused of not being an Inuit organization, as identity tensions escalate, CBC News
Finland: Sami NGO demands removal of “Far Northern Attire” from Square Enix’s Final Fantasy, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Certification marks help both Sami artisans and consumers, says council, Eye on the Arctic
