About the NLHCA
LHCs WORKING GROUP
The path that led to the creation of the Nunavik Landholding Corporations Association
Landholding Corporations Working Group has been created by resolution of the Board of Directors of Makivik (resolution no. 1996-M-5).
The original mandate of the LHCs’ Working Group was to assess the situation of Landholding Corporations in order to find solutions to their recurrent financial problems and to find concrete measures that will help to improve their mandate and responsibilities granted under the JBNQA and various Quebec Acts.
Were appointed to the LHCs Working Group:
Putulik Papigatuk President/Qaqqalik, Salluit
Daniel Epoo LHCs Coordinator
Robert Deer Manager/Tuvaaluk, Quaqtaq
The year 2001 was a very active year for the Nunavik Landholding Corporations Working Group.
The LHCs Presidents had the opportunity to meet all together in November 2001 for the first time since many years. It was a long awaited meeting. It gave opportunity to LHCs presidents to meet with representatives from regional organizations as well as representatives from various ministries of the government of Québec.
One of the issues addressed during that November meeting was the creation of a Nunavik Landholding Corporations Association. A resolution was specifically adopted to that effect. LHCs Presidents felt that the creation of a formal regional association of Landholding Corporations would help give to the LHCs a greater visibility across Nunavik.
Following on that resolution, the Nunavik Landholding Corporations Associated was officially created on May 17, 2002.
The final steps for the formal organization of the Association were completed during the next LHCs Presidents meeting scheduled to take place during winter 2003.
In the meantime, the Landholding Corporations Working Group continued its work. It met on several occasions during the year to work most particularly on the preparation of a proposed formula and criteria for the distribution, among all LHCs, of the money allocated by Makivik to LHCs under the Sanarrutik Agreement.
NUNAVIK LANDHOLDING CORPORATIONS ASSOCATION
The Nunavik Landholding Corporations Association has been created on May 17, 2002 as non-profit corporation incorporated under part III of the Quebec Company Act, representing all Inuit Landholding Corporations from Nunavik
The mandate of the Association is, among others, to regroup all Nunavik Landholding Corporations in order to duly promote and represent their interests with other various organizations on questions related to their important responsibilities and duties, invested through the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement, the Act Respecting the Land Regime in the James Bay and New Québec Territories (R.S.Q., Chapter R-13.1) and other various Acts, namely:
– playing a leading role in the administration, promotion and protection of the uses and occupations of their respective Category I and II lands by the various land users, the whole in accordance with the rights and responsibilities granted by the Act respecting the land Regime in the James Bay and New Quebec Territories (Q.R.S., ch. R-13.1;
– playing a leading role in the administration, promotion and protection of the uses and occupations over Categories I and II Lands for hunting, fishing & trapping activities; mining explorations activities; environmental, social and economic development projects and/or activities, the whole in accordance with the rights and responsibilities granted by the Act respecting hunting, fishing and trapping in the James Bay New Quebec Territories (Q.R.S. D-13.1);
– playing a leading role as acting as their local JBNQA Registrar Committee and in the administration and updating of their local JBNQA Registrar, the whole in accordance with the rights and responsibilities granted by the Act respecting Cree, Inuit and Naskapi native persons (Q.R.S. Ch. A-33.1).
The Nunavik Landholding Corporations Association provides logistic and administrative supports to the Landholding Corporations for the realization of various projects, to help empower local communities and provide them with tools to better manage their land and development. Pursuant to Nunavik specific identity and location, the Landholding Corporations participate within the economic development of the Nunavik communities, all for the benefits of the Nunavimmiut, the very same members of every Landholding Corporation.
First Annual Meeting: Nunavik Landholding Corporations Association
The first Annual General Meeting of the Nunavik Landholding Corporations Association took place in Kuujjuaq, from February 17 to the 21, 2003. Resolutions were passed on corporate issues and administration.
The main Items discussed during the first BOD Meeting were the election of the Executives of the NLHCA, standardizing the rules and procedures for construction, the extraction of natural gravel and sand, and joint ventures with FCNQ.
Three Executives Officers were elected on the first meeting:
Mr. Putulik Papigatuk, President
Mr. Noah Inukpuk, Vice President
Mr. David Annanak, Secretary-Treasurer
Daniel Epoo was hired as the General Manager and left the NLHCA in 2010.