By Raymond Viger
We may think that Canada, and Quebec, are places where democracy is practiced correctly and in its purest form. True, we are probably better off than many nations that are absolute dictatorships.
Nonetheless, the Inuits show us a different face of our democracy.
The Inuits have a history that is unlike than the other Native Peoples of Canada. The Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador), the Nunavik (northern Quebec), the Nunavut (northern Canada) and the region of the Inuvialuit (Northwest Territories) are the traditional lands of the Inuit people. Together the land is called Inuit Nunangat. It represents about one-third of Canada’s land area and about half its coastline.
Most Inuit lived in small, very united communities. They used the resources in the sea and on the land to fulfil their needs. Their values were founded on cooperation and respect.
Decisions were and are usually taken by general agreement, or a majority. Ever since the legislative assemblies of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut were recognized by Canada in 1950, their elected members have government by consensus. Representatives aren’t elected according to political stripe. They work in close collaboration to adopt the laws that govern their territories.
When Canada was founded in 1867, the Inuit lands were not part of the country. No treaty was ever negotiated. The Inuits aren’t mentioned in the Indian Act. When Canada’s borders were extended into Inuit lands, relations between the Inuit and the government were unclear in several regards. Notably, did the Inuit have the right to vote in federal elections?
Their interactions with the federal government were limited. No electoral service was offered. The Inuit continued to live and to govern themselves in their traditional fashion.
In 1934 federal electoral laws were amended to prevent the Inuit from voting. They became a federal responsibility, like the First Nations. Since First Nations members didn’t have the right to vote, the Inuit didn’t get that right, nor the right to be recognized as an autonomous people.
Because of natural resources and Arctic sovereignty, after the Second World War the federal government began to change its vision of the north. It became interested in the Inuit. To offer better services to the Inuit, the feds created a network of service centres and installed the Inuit close by. A nomadic people were now obliged to become sedentary.
In1950 Parliament decided that the Inuit formed a people distinct from the First Nations. They won the right to vote in federal elections. A parliamentary committee declared that the Inuit had the “privilege of voting” because, unlike the First Nations, they weren’t exempt from paying income taxes. The Inuit won the right to vote over a decade before the First Nations did. It wasn’t until 1962 that all communities had access to voting. Some may have been able to exercise their right to vote, but a great number had no such access, no ability to exercise this basic right of citizenship!
Nunavut and the Northwest Territories function without political parties. All of its elected members are independents. These officials decide who will assume certain tasks and functions. That happens during a Leadership Forum. It is similar to how a community organization works!
Instead of sitting across from each other like they’re at war, they sit in a circle. When a subject requires a vote, they vote according to their conscience. There is no official opposition. The members are free to express themselves while keeping in mind the interests of the people that they represent.
What if we followed the example of Inuit democracy?
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