Paul Quassa is President of the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut __ (TFN).

Paul Quassa: I would like first of all to thank CARC for organizing the conference here; as Ron mentioned earlier, TFN and CARC have been able to work together in the past with good results. This conference is a constructive example of how the North and the South, the Inuit and non-Inuit, can work together successfully. And, as we all know, 1990 has been a difficult year for Canadians, with many stresses and strains in their life as a nation; for example, the Meech Lake constitutional crisis in the spring, and the disturbances at Kahnawake and Kahnasatake. I think we are all in need of positive and practical ways in which we can move forward in our country's development. Nunavut provides such an example.

The theme of this conference is "Nunavut: Nation Building in Canada's North". This theme is an entirely appropriate one for two reasons. Nunavut is of genuine national interest affecting all Canadians: the creation of a new territory in Canada's Arctic with a solid Inuit majority and political rights for all its residents will be a powerful signal to the world that Canadians have the will and the ways to reconcile aboriginal self-determination with parliamentary democracy. Number two, with Nunavut we are truly building¾ as you know, the foundation of Nunavut rests in the ancestral settling of Nunavut by its first Inuit inhabitants. Further work has been done by political leaders and, more recently, by newcomers who have worked for the creation of a new territory tirelessly since the mid-1970s and whose efforts were so eloquently endorsed by the people in the plebiscite of 1982. Now, through the combined determination of the Government of the Northwest Territories and TFN representatives, we can see more than just the shape of our new political home. We have struck a moving date and are planning the move.

Of course, there is much work to be done before the sitting of the Nunavut legislative assembly. I am confident, however, that with the continued demonstration of goodwill by territorial and federal government leaders, and with the encouragement and understanding of fellow Canadians, the people of Nunavut will have much to celebrate in the decade before us. The deliberations of conferences such as these will play no small part in dealing with all the practical issues that will require our attention as we move forward. While I shall be carefully listening to your comments throughout the day and shall have the opportunity to speak with you prior to the closing, I would like to thank you all in advance for your contributions to making Nunavut a reality. There are many friends of Nunavut here today. I would like to particularly acknowledge the presence of Gordon Robertson. Mr. Robertson, as you may know, has been a most articulate supporter of Nunavut for a good number of years. Thank you very much again for participating in this very important workshop.

 Ron Doering is Chairman of the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (CARC).

Ron Doering: In many ways, as we come together this morning, we're at the end of one process and the beginning of another. We're now moving from the general to the specific, from philosophy to practice. We're moving from high principle to questions of implementation. That is not, however, to suggest that these are easier or less important matters. Indeed, in many respects, they are even more important. You must at the same time keep your eyes on the high vision, as well as on the deep, difficult detail. Clearly, we owe no less to those who brought us this far, and certainly no less to those who come after, to pay real attention to the complicated issues of today.

For its part, CARC has been involved in this claim and these matters since the very beginning. In June of 1983 in Yellowknife, I chaired a CARC meeting which discussed the whole question of claims and Nunavut. I remember saying at that time that it was the first time all the players-TFN, the territorial government, and Canada-had been brought together publicly. And I remember the statements of Clovis Demers, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Claims, at that time, about how he was confident that the claim could be settled within a year or two. As well, CARC hosted the joint workshop with the Inuit Committee on National Issues in 1987 at Ottawa.

CARC has had a consistent interest in this. We don't approach the problem from a neutral position-we're in favour of a TFN claim in Nunavut. And we're happy today to bring people together again to carry on these conversations. I think, if I can speak for the other CARC members, much of the motivation behind our support for this comes from the feeling that, in the case of the TFN claim and in the case of Nunavut, we have the chance in our time to do it right. We've heard so much criticism of the numbered treaties, so much criticism of the relationship between Canada's native people and its government. In the case of Nunavut, nowhere do we have an easier, better, or more historical opportunity to do it right in our time. So, I will use an Inuktitut expression, tama, meaning "It's time". In the historical evolution of Nunavut and in the proceedings for today, I say to you, ladies and gentlemen, tama.