Subject: FW: NWMB-KIA email exchanges between April 15th and May 9th 2016 From: Paul Emingak [mailto:execdir@kitia.ca] Sent: Monday, May 9, 2016 5:34 PM To: Jason Akearok Cc: Stanley Anablak ; Premier.Taptuna@gov.nu.ca; EPicco@GOV.NU.CA; THughes@GOV.NU.CA; KPeterson@GOV.NU.CA; James Eetoolook ; Cathy Towtongie ; James T. Arreak ; Attima Hadlari ; David Nivingalok ; Charlie Lyall Subject: KIA letter to NWMB Hi Jason, Please find attached a KIA Letter to NWMB with a separate signature page 6, This submission to NWMB and was circulated to the HTOs and NTI this AM, as well I am coping Premier MLA for Kuglultuk Peter Taptuna, Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson, NTI President and Vice President, NTI CEO and my 3 vice presidents of KitIA for their information. Best regards. Paul Emingak Executive Director Kitikmeot Inuit Association P.O. Box 18 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0 Canada Telephone: 1 867 983 2458 Fax: 1 867 983 2701 Cell Phone: 1 867 446 2712 E-mail: execdir@kitia.ca “Celebrating 40 Years of representing Inuit of the Kitikmeot” From: Jason Akearok Sent: Monday, May 2, 2016 8:47 PM To: sqingnaqtuq@gmail.com; bgreenley@gov.nu.ca; larryadjun@yahoo.com Cc: wkkrwb@niws.ca; bdean@tunngavik.com; exdir@niws.ca; bellis@niws.ca; krwb@niws.ca Subject: June NWMB in-person public hearing on Bluenose East Caribou Good evening KRWB Executives and Chairs of the Kugluktuk Angonaitit Association and Burnside Hunters & Trappers Association, Thank you very much for your recent request (conveyed by Eva Ayalik – see email directly below) that the NWMB hold its June 2016 Bluenose East caribou TAH hearing in Kugluktuk, instead of in Cambridge Bay. As you may be aware, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA) also recently raised with the NWMB the issue of where to hold this and the Bathurst caribou TAH hearing. From the NWMB’s perspective, the main issue has to do with whether or not there is sufficient commercial rental accommodation available in Kugluktuk in June. Directly related to that is a second issue: How many out-of-town parties will be attending the hearings, and how many delegates will each party bring? The NWMB carefully considered both of these issues, and came to the conclusion that there is a significant risk that Kugluktuk will not have the necessary commercial rental accommodation available. A complicating factor is that it is simply not possible to determine well ahead of time the exact number of parties and their delegates who will be attending. In fact, it will be at least two more weeks before the NWMB knows the number of parties who will be at the hearings (May 13th is the deadline for requesting party status). I can report to you that, as of today, besides all the hearing parties invited by the NWMB in its April 1st correspondence, the Board has so far received two further requests for hearing party status for the Bluenose East hearing. The Board may well receive additional requests. Accordingly, the NWMB trusts that you will appreciate that considerable care must be taken to ensure that the hearing location has sufficient accommodation to house a reasonable number of parties and their delegates. In the circumstances of these two hearings - and after careful consideration - the NWMB has come to the conclusion that Cambridge Bay is the prudent choice. Nevertheless, I do wish to point out that the NWMB has taken extraordinary steps to try to ensure that Kugluktuk is reasonably well represented at the hearings. Therefore, it recently decided to make an exception to its long-standing practice to pay travel and accommodation costs for two delegates from each affected out-of-town Nunavut community. Instead, the NWMB is paying for five Kugluktuk delegates to attend the hearings in Cambridge Bay. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Qujannamiik, Jason Akearok NWMB Executive Director Direct Line: 867-975-7308 From: Blaine Ellis [bellis@niws.ca] Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 11:43 AM To: Jason Akearok Cc: Eva Ayalik; Bert Dean; Annie Tattuinee; Simon Qingnaqtuq Subject: Email re: Public Hearings Hi Jason: I had received the following from Eva (West Kitikmeot Regional Coordinator) on the weekend and am forwarding to you. I have spoken to Bert briefly about this as he was not on the original email or cc list. He is currently in transit. However, you may be able to contact him this afternoon. Eva is new also and was not sure the process in these matters.. Normally I would suggest Eva contact you (or the person responsible at NWMB), however, due to the timing and sensitivity, it has been suggested I forward the email to you. Also (just in case you are not aware): Simon, Peter and Bobby are the Executive of KRWB (Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary Treasurer). Larry is the Chair of Kugluktuk Angonaitit Association Sam is with Burnside Hunters & Trappers Association Thanks Blaine Email from Eva: Good afternoon, The Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association would like the Blue Nose East Caribou TAH meetings by NWMB inh June, 2016 to be held in Kulguktuk: The following did meet and all are in agreement of this request: Simon Quingnaqtuq Larry Adjun Bobby Greenley Peter Kapolak Sam Kapiolak Please respond and advise, Quana, Eva E. Ayalik Regional Coordinator- Kitikmeot West Kitikmeot Region Wildlife Board P.O. Box 1172 Cambridge Bay NU X0B 0C0 (P) 867-983-3767 (867) 983- 3768 E-mail: wkkrwb@niws.ca _______________________________________________________ From: Paul Emingak [mailto:execdir@kitia.ca] Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 7:25 PM To: Jason Akearok Cc: Stanley Anablak ; Geoff Clark ; John Donihee ; Luigi Torretti Subject: KIA Request for Party Status in Public Hearings to Consider Total Allowable Harvest for Bathurst Caribou and Bluenose East Caribou Good evening Jason, Please find attached pdf copy of the letter KIA Request for Party Status in Public Hearings to Consider Total Allowable Harvest for Bathurst Caribou and Bluenose East Caribou for your board’s consideration. I have copied my President, staff and legal counsel for their information and copy. Hi Luigi, can you forward copies to the Kitikmeot HTOs and KRWO for their information and copy. Regards, Paul Emingak Executive Director Kitikmeot Inuit Association P.O. Box 18 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0 Canada Telephone: 1 867 983 2458 Fax: 1 867 983 2701 Cell Phone: 1 867 446 2712 E-mail: execdir@kitia.ca “Celebrating 40 Years of representing Inuit of the Kitikmeot” From: Paul Emingak [execdir@kitia.ca] Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 11:44 AM To: Jason Akearok; pemingak@qiniq.com Subject: Re: NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearing Letters Thank you Jason, received the e-mail. Paul From: Jason Akearok Date: Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 9:42 AM To: Paul Emingak Subject: NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearing Letters Good morning Paul, We are still having our emails bouncing back to your @kitia.ca email address. Thanks very much for reiterating KIA’s position, and for your generous offer to help find alternate accommodations for the HTO, KIA and NTI representatives expected to attend the upcoming Bathurst and Bluenose East caribou TAH hearings. While the NWMB appreciates – and has carefully considered – KIA’s perspective and offer of assistance, the Board has decided to continue with its plan to hold the hearings in Cambridge Bay, for the following reasons: 1. Because of the urgent conservation concern, time is of the essence and the hearings must proceed on June 14th to 17th 2016; 2. There is a significant risk that Kugluktuk will not have the necessary commercial rental accommodation available at that time; 3. While KIA’s offer of assistance in securing additional accommodation is very welcome, there is no guarantee that sufficient alternate accommodations will be secured in time, nor can the NWMB direct specific parties to (i) refrain from booking commercial accommodations, and (ii) only rely upon KIA- organized private accommodation arrangements; 4. At least two other Kitikmeot HTOs – Bathurst Inlet and Bay Chimo - are directly affected by the GN’s Proposals, particularly concerning the Bathurst caribou herd; in fact, as far as the NWMB is aware, the Bathurst Inlet and Bay Chimo HTOs are based in Cambridge Bay; 5. As set out in the hearings records: GN-led consultations were conducted in Kugluktuk on September 9th (HTO board), September 22nd (community) and October 31st 2014 (HTO board), and on February 11th 2015 (HTO board); from March 2nd to 6th 2015, the Kugluktuk HTO hosted a caribou education week - which included presentations by the GN - to educate the community about the decline of the Bluenose East caribou herd; and, a further GN-led consultation with all affected HTOs, KRWB and NTI was held on January 14th and 15th 2016 in Cambridge Bay, attended by five representatives from Kugluktuk; and 6. With only seven weeks remaining before the hearings commence, the parties need to be certain where those hearings will take place, and to be able to finalize their travel and accommodation arrangements. Finally – in recognition of the high level of harvesting of these herds by Kugluktuk hunters - the NWMB has also decided to increase the number of Kugluktuk delegates for whom it will pay travel and accommodation costs (airfare, accommodation, honoraria, per diem) for hearing attendance: at least two Elders/Qaujimaniliit, and up to three Kugluktuk HTO representatives - five delegates in total. Qujannamiik. Jason From: Paul Emingak [mailto:execdir@kitia.ca] Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2016 12:08 PM To: Jason Akearok Cc: Stanley Anablak ; Luigi Torretti ; Geoff Clark Subject: Re: NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearings Letter Dear Jason, Thank you for your response. I have reviewed your answers to my questions. When you called me I was just leaving for a NTI Executive meeting and did not have all the facts or time to reflect on your request. The KIA President has already written to the NWMB and expressed his strong opinion regarding where the location of the NWMB Hearing should be. This is in Kugluktuk where the majority of the harvesting takes place related to these two herds. KIA strongly feels that the NWMB and interveners should be able to hear directly from Inuit that are most directly affected by this proposal. I recall on our phone conversation that you said there is not enough hotel space in Kugluktuk. I had my KIA staff checked into this and there are 38 beds at hotels currently available June 12-17, plus a bed and breakfast with 2 rooms. KIA can help NWMB by finding alternate accommodation for all West Kitikmeot HTO, NTI and KIA attendees, leaving you more than enough hotel space. This creates enough beds for more than 50 participants, which you suggested could get into the 40’s. After October, there are about 50 beds available, not including housing that KIA can find for KIA, NTI and West Kitikmeot HTOs. The Government of Nunavut successfully held a working legislative session in Kugluktuk two Februarys ago and the NWB and NIRB have held full hearings in Kugluktuk over the years too. As your co- management partner, KIA believes that the NWMB can do the same. We request that you redouble your efforts to meet our request to hold the Hearing in Kugluktuk as it is the most affected community. Quana. Paul Emingak Executive Director Kitikmeot Inuit Association P.O. Box 18 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0 Canada Telephone: 1 867 983 2458 Fax: 1 867 983 2701 Cell Phone: 1 867 446 2712 E-mail: execdir@kitia.ca “Celebrating 40 Years of representing Inuit of the Kitikmeot” From: Jason Akearok Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 5:58 PM To: 'Paul Emingak' Cc: Luigi Torretti ; 'Geoff Clark' ; 'Stanley Anablak' ; 'John Donihee' Subject: RE: NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearings Letter Good afternoon Paul and Luigi, Thanks you for your questions. 1. Who will be included in the 40 plus delegates that will participate in the hearing? There will be approximately 20 people from the NWMB (Board Members, skeleton staff, legal counsel, necessary interpreters and a court stenographer) and at least 2 delegates each from NTI, GN-DoE, Environment Canada, Parks Canada, the Bathurst Inlet, Bay Chimo and Kugluktuk HTOs, KRWB and the GNWT-DoE, for a total of - at a minimum - 38 individuals. It is also quite possible that the Umingmaktok and Ekaluktutiak HTOs, as well as KIA, will attend. In addition, there are a host of NWT Aboriginal Alliances, Governments, Nations, Councils, and so on that harvest from these particular herds within the NWT. In accordance with its due diligence responsibilities flowing from Section 5.3.4 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) and subsection 156(7)(a) of the Wildlife Act, the NWMB has invited those “neighboring jurisdiction” groups to file written submissions at the hearings. While none of them is currently a party at the in-person hearing, they do have until May 13th 2016 to request party status from the NWMB. Should the Board grant party status to even a couple of those groups, the total number of hearing delegates could reach well into the 40’s, and even as high as 50. 2. How many hunters and elders from Kugluktuk will the NWMB provide travel facilitation for? It is the NWMB’s long-standing practice – over many years and many hearings - to pay travel and accommodation costs (airfare, accommodation, honoraria, per diem) for hearing attendance by one Elder/Qaujimanilik and one HTO representative (two delegates in total) from each of the affected Nunavut communities. 3. As this is the Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH for hunters from Kugluktuk and Bathurst Inlet that harvest the herds, why is it that other aboriginal groups from NWT and GNWT officials are invited to participate in the hearings? This is an extremely important question. First, the NWMB has invited only one NWT group - the GNWT - to be a party at these hearings. The GNWT was intimately involved in the design and conduct of the 2015 surveys that provide essential evidence regarding the current size and health of these herds. In addition, like the GN, the GNWT is presumably familiar with the various harvesting activities and challenges concerning these herds within its own jurisdictional boundaries. It is very important that the NWMB and the Nunavut hearing parties have an opportunity to hear from the GNWT, and to question the GNWT on its evidence, arguments and experience with these herds. As briefly touched on in my answer to question no.1, the NWMB and the Minister are legally required by NLCA S.5.3.4 and by ss. 156(7)(a) of the Wildlife Act [see also the NWMB’s Governance Manual (attached), section 1.3.2.1, paragraph 6, and section 5.3, first paragraph] to take account of harvesting activities outside of Nunavut for populations of wildlife that cross jurisdictional boundaries and are harvested by residents in neighboring jurisdictions. The main reasons for taking such activities into account are: (i) to ensure that the overall cross-jurisdictional harvests of a wildlife population meet the principles of conservation (NLCA S.5.1.5), and (ii) to ensure that the NWMB is able to restrict or limit Nunavut Inuit harvesting only to the extent necessary to effect a valid conservation purpose (NLCA S.5.3.3(a)). In the NWMB’s view, the best way to take into account the harvesting in neighboring jurisdiction(s) is to hear directly from the neighboring jurisdiction(s) - either through written submissions or oral submissions or both. The NWMB has successfully followed this format on a number of occasions (e.g. Davis Strait polar bear, Foxe Basin polar bear, commercial shrimp harvesting). If either of you have any follow-up questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Qujannamiik, Jason Akearok NWMB Executive Director Direct Line: 867-975-7308 ???? ????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Paul Emingak [mailto:execdir@kitia.ca] Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 3:06 PM To: Jason Akearok Cc: Luigi Torretti ; 'Geoff Clark' ; 'Stanley Anablak' ; 'John Donihee' Subject: Re: NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearings Letter Good afternoon Jason, This is a follow up to our telephone conversation Friday afternoon, April 15 in regard to KitIA’s request to change the location of the NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearings to Kugluktuk; My Senior Environment Officer e-mailed you for clarification as to how many hunters and elders from Kugluktuk the NWMB will provide travel facilitation for? As well also clarify who will be included in the 40 plus delegates that will participate in the hearing? As this is the Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH for hunters from Kugluktuk and Bathurst Inlet that harvest the herds, why is it that other aboriginal groups from NWT and GNWT officials invited to participate in the hearings? Please clarify. Quana, Paul Emingak Executive Director Kitikmeot Inuit Association P.O. Box 18 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0 Canada Telephone: 1 867 983 2458 Fax: 1 867 983 2701 Cell Phone: 1 867 446 2712 E-mail: execdir@kitia.ca “Celebrating 40 Years of representing Inuit of the Kitikmeot” From: Luigi Torretti Date: Friday, April 15, 2016 at 4:25 PM To: Paul Emingak , 'Geoff Clark' , 'Stanley Anablak' , 'John Donihee' , 'Jason Akearok' Subject: RE: NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearings Letter Hello Everyone, I have a couple of clarifying questions that may be important for the Kitikmeot Inuit Association: Jason, can you please clarify how many hunters and elders from Kugluktuk the NWMB will provide travel facilitation for? Additionally, can you also clarify who will be included in the 40 plus delegates that will participate in the hearing. Luigi Torretti, M.Sc., B.Comm. Senior Environment Officer Kitikmeot Inuit Association Department of Lands & Environment Ph:(867) 982-3310 (ext.224) Celebrating 40 Years of representing Inuit of the Kitikmeot From: Paul Emingak [mailto:execdir@kitia.ca] Sent: April 15, 2016 4:03 PM To: Luigi Torretti ; 'Geoff Clark' ; 'Stanley Anablak' ; 'John Donihee' ; Jason Akearok Subject: Re: NWMB Bathurst and Bluenose East TAH Hearings Letter Good afternoon, This is to advise you Jason Akearok, the Executive Director for NWMB called me this afternoon to request if they can move the Public Hearing on TAH Hearing be moved to Cambridge Bay instead as they simply cannot accommodate all of the 40 plus delegates in Kugluktuk. I advised Jason Akearok that it would be okay to move the hearings to Cambridge Bay as there are more beds available to accommodate the delegates as KitIA would like NWMB to hold the hearing in Nunavut rather then YK. Jason Akearok advised me that once he has confirmed the accommodations and location for the hearing he will send out a letter to all parties including KitIA to advise of the change of the hearing., Taima. Paul Emingak Executive Director Kitikmeot Inuit Association P.O. Box 18 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0 Canada Telephone: 1 867 983 2458 Fax: 1 867 983 2701 Cell Phone: 1 867 446 2712 E-mail: execdir@kitia.ca “Celebrating 40 Years of representing Inuit of the Kitikmeot”