Preamble

AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN:

The Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area as represented by the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut

AND:

Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada.

WHEREAS the Inuit represented by the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut assert an aboriginal title to the Nunavut Settlement Area, more particularly described in Article 3, based on their traditional and current use and occupation of the lands, waters and land-fast ice therein in accordance with their own customs and usages;

AND WHEREAS the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada, and treaty rights includes rights that may be acquired by way of land claims agreements;

AND WHEREAS the Parties agree on the desirability of negotiating a land claims agreement through which Inuit shall receive defined rights and benefits in exchange for surrender of any claims, rights, title and interests based on their assertion of an aboriginal title;

AND WHEREAS the Parties have negotiated this land claims Agreement based on and reflecting the following objectives:

• to provide for certainty and clarity of rights to ownership and use of lands and resources, and of rights for Inuit to participate in decision-making concerning the use, management and conservation of land, water and resources, including the offshore;

• to provide Inuit with wildlife harvesting rights and rights to participate in decision making concerning wildlife harvesting;

• to provide Inuit with financial compensation and means of participating in economic opportunities;

• to encourage self-reliance and the cultural and social well-being of Inuit;

AND WHEREAS the Inuit, in a vote held on November 3 to 6, 1992, approved the Agreement and authorized it to be signed by the duly appointed officers of the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut;

AND WHEREAS following the Inuit ratification vote the Parties completed the text of Article 40 and certain other parts of the Agreement and finalized the text for purposes of clarity, all pursuant to their authority under the Agreement as approved by the Inuit ratification vote;

AND WHEREAS Cabinet authorized the Minister to sign the Agreement;

AND IN RECOGNITION of the contributions of Inuit to Canada’s history, identity and sovereignty in the Arctic;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS: