Relocation's a "bad decision": Irwin

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Canada isn't quite apologizing to the High Arctic exiles -- at least not yet. But Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin has given the clearest indication so far that the federal government is sorry about the forcible relocation of 18 Inuit families to the Far North, and is ready to compensate them.

"He thinks it was a bad decision," said Cate McCready, Irwin's communications assistant. "He's sorry people were so badly displaced. That's his personal view," she said.

"He was concerned that people had gone through such a traumatic experience."

Irwin made a carefully worded statement that avoided making an official apology to the High Arctic exiles at Makivik Corporation's annual general meeting in Kangiqsujuaq, Que. in late March.

"One issue of deep concern to the Makivik executive, as well as to all of you here, is that there be some fair resolution to the long-standing grievances of those relocated from Inukjuak to the High Arctic communities of Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay," Irwin was quoted saying in Nunatsiaq News, an Iqualuit-based weekly.

For the first time, Irwin also recognized that the move of Inuit families more than 1,000 km from their homes in Inukjuak and Pond Inlet played a vital role in maintaining Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. The relocations, which took place between 1953 and 1955, occurred at a time of mounting Canadian concern about the growing U.S. military presence in the region.

But McCready stressed Canada hasn't officially said it's sorry. "No, we've made no formal apology,' she said, adding that a compensation package first has to be approved by cabinet before it can be announced. She would not say when that might be, and refused to provide details about the compensation package that is expected to be offered soon to 200 descendants of the original relocatees.

In recent years, a House of Commons committee and the Canadian Human Rights Commission have called on Canada to make amends. Discussions on a compensation package finally got going last fall after the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples issued a report calling for an apology, compensation and recognition of the exiles' contribution to Canadian sovereignty.

The commission called the move "illegal" and "paternalistic" and accused Canada of lying to the Inuit people. The Inuit were never told the real reasons for the move, including Canada's desire to save money on income support programs for Inuit fur harvesters. They endured hunger and cold, and were not warned about the long months of darkness. They were also not provided with warm clothing. The royal Commission said the move was illegal because it was financed with money intended for Inuit economic development. Also, the commission said Canada never gave the Inuit a choice in whether to move or stay. After the commission's report was released, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada said Ottawa had one year to come up with a deal or it would take the government to court.

Involved in the discussion on a compensation package were Liberal MP Jack Anawak (Nunatsiaq) the Inuit Taprisat and Makivik Corp., representing the Inuit of northern Quebec. Last December, the three parties proposed a package that included an apology and compensation of $28 to $30 million.