Nunavik Elders to participate in Seniors Parliament 2007

PRESS RELEASE

Kuujjuaq, Québec – September 5th 2007 – On September 10 and 11 2007, four of Nunavik’s elders will participate in the Seniors Parliament, which will be held in Quebec City’s National Assembly. Mr. Bobby Snowball, president of the Nunavik Elders association, Mr. Johnny Watt, Mrs. Elashuk Pauyungie and Mr. Daniellie Qinauuak, all member of the Elders Committee, will have a chance to address their concerns in Inuktitut.”The participation of some members of the Nunavik Elders’ Committee to the Seniors Parliament 2007, held at the National Assembly is a historic event. It demonstrates that Nunavik Inuit are full participants in the Québec society. I may add that Nunavimmiut, true to their strong Inuit traditions of respect to Elders are, for the first time ever, sending the Elders to the Quebec National Assembly in the hopes that Nunavik’s request for its own riding and its own Member of the National Assembly will be fulfilled soon” declared Mrs. Maggie Emudluk, Chair of the Kativik Regional Government.

Among the topics of discussion for Nunavik will be the Elders rights to adequate housing and the need for indexation of pensions to Nunavik’s cost-of-living. Since the elders will be speaking Inuktitut and don’t understand the French or English languages very well, they will be accompanied by Annie Baron who will provide a simultaneous interpretation throughout.

In co-operation with the National Assembly, the Association québécoise de defense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées (Québec association for the rights of retirees, AQDR) created the Seniors’ Parliament in 2000. This activity brings together current and imminent retirees from around Québec to highlight the concerns, thoughts and hopes of citizens aged 55 and over. It also allows participants to better understand the stages of the legislative process and the many duties of their MNAs (Members of National Assembly) and the administrative personnel of the National Assembly.”

The Kativik Regional Government (KRG) is a non-ethnic public organization created in 1978, under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, whose jurisdiction covers nearly the entire territory of Quebec north of the 55th parallel. The KRG administers the affairs of Nunavik in the areas of municipal affairs, transportation, environment, police, employment, manpower training, income security, childcare services, renewable resources, land-use management, civil security and economic development.

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For More Information:
Julie Grenier – Communications Coordinator
Kativik Regional Government
1-819-964-2961 ext. 2317