Signed and passed into law in 1984, the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA) was the first comprehensive land claims settlement negotiated on Crown or Canada lands. Considered "an existing Aboriginal right" in accordance with section 35(1) of the Canadian constitution, the IFA prevails over all other federal and territorial legislation.
The basic goals expressed by the Inuvialuit and recognized by Canada in the IFA are:
To preserve Inuvialuit cultural identity and values within a changing northern society;
To enable the Inuvialuit to be equal and meaningful participants in the northern and national economy and society; and
To protect and preserve the Arctic wildlife environment and biological productivity.
Land, harvesting rights, and financial compensation are the three fundamental areas essential for achieving these goals and ensuring future Inuvialuit success, self-reliance, and pride. The IFA includes:
- 35,000 square miles of land ownership including 5,100 square miles of ownership of sub-surface resources;
- Inuvialuit preferential and exclusive harvesting rights;
- Establishment of joint wildlife management bodies and special conservation areas;
- Creation of joint environmental impact assessment and review processes;
- Scheduled payments of financial compensation of $159 million;
- A $7.5 million Social Development Fund;
- A $10 million Economic Enhancement Fund;
Provision of economic measures to promote Inuvialuit economic development.
Various organizations and corporations were created through the IFA. These were assigned specific responsibilities to manage and control Inuvialuit lands and financial compensation, and to protect Inuvialuit harvesting and other rights.
The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) is composed of six community corporations from the Inuvialuit communities of Inuvik, Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour, Holman and Paulatuk. The IRC receives the lands and financial compensation for transfer to its wholly owned subsidiaries.
Title to private Inuvialuit lands is held by the Inuvialuit Land Corporation and professionally managed by the Inuvialuit Land Administration, an administrative division of IRC.
Three subsidiary corporations have been designed for the management of the financial compensation. The Inuvialuit Investment Corporation (IIC) has the responsibility to manage the majority of the land claim capital through safe, secure investments. The Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) and the Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation (IPC) have been provided with the remainder of the financial compensation for active business development. IPC's primary investment is the Inuvik Ikhil gas project.
The Inuvialuit Game Council (IGC) is composed of Hunters and Trappers Committees from each Inuvialuit community and represents the collective Inuvialuit interest in wildlife. The IGC helps set harvesting quotas and seasons, participates in the joint wildlife management bodies and is responsible for environmental impact assessment, including the determination of wildlife harvesting loss and compensation.
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