Whereas Inuit are an Indigenous rights-holding people under the Constitution. It is on the basis of this special relationship that Inuit are entering into a bilateral partnership with the Government of Canada to take action on shared priorities;

Whereas the Government of Canada has committed to renewing the Inuit-Crown relationship based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership as part of its broader goal of achieving reconciliation between the federal government and Indigenous peoples. The creation of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, and the development of its joint terms of reference, is an important step in this direction;

Whereas the Government of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut Government, and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated are partners in the creation of prosperity for Inuit which benefits all Canadians;

Recognizing full and fair implementation of the obligations and objectives of Inuit land claims agreements as foundational for creating prosperity among Inuit which benefits all Canadians;

Recognizing also the disproportionate socio-economic and cultural inequity facing Inuit compared to most other Canadians, and committing to working in partnership to create socio-economic and cultural equity between Inuit and other Canadians . This commitment includes energetically and creatively pursuing the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental conditions of success through the full implementation of land claims agreements as well as reconciliation;

Now, therefore, the Government of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut Government, and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated have, in this Declaration, achieved consensus regarding the creation of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee to collaboratively identify and take action on shared priorities and monitor progress going forward.


Signed at Iqaluit, Nunavut on the 9^th day of February, 2017.