Doctor Evalik!

Congratulations to Charlie Evalik, President of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA), on his nomination by the University of Alberta Faculty of Science for an honorary degree of Doctorate of Laws. This is a well-deserved honour for his dedicated service over many years on behalf of the people of Kitikmeot and Nunavut, and indeed all of Canada. The Honorary Doctorate will be conferred at the university’s convocation ceremonies in June 2011.

Charlie was recently re-elected President of KIA. Previously, between 1996 and 2011, he served a total of 12 years as President of the Regional Inuit Organization. His current term as President will run until 2014. Throughout these years, a key focus for his work has been to promote the economic development of the Kitikmeot region – through negotiation of mining Inuit and Impact Benefit Agreements, Cooperation Agreements between Inuit and the Department of National Defence for clean-up of the DND DEW Line sites in Nunavut, and most recently the establishment of the Nunavut Resources Corporation (NRC).

The Nunavut Resources Corporation provides a vehicle for Inuit of Nunavut to pursue direct equity participation in major resource development in the territory. Earlier this year NRC signed two memoranda of understanding, with Sabina Gold and Silver Corporation and Shear Minerals, for cooperation between Inuit and the companies in the development of mining infrastructure.

Previously Charlie served both as a member of the Nunavut Implementation Panel and as a Chief Negotiator for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in negotiations on devolution with the Government of Canada.