Seminar: “Grand Theft Anglo: Canada's attempt to recolonize Nunavut, and Inuit resistance”, by Derek Rasmussen

Title: “Grand Theft Anglo: Canada's attempt to recolonize Nunavut, and Inuit resistance”



Speaker: Derek Rasmussen



Date: Thursday, November 8th 

Time: 12.00h

Venue: Room Z/023  ICTA-UAB



The region of Nunavut, which is the northern 1/5 of Canada, is 85% Inuit, yet none of the schools, hospitals, police force or justice system operate in their language, Inuktut. As a result, their language, which is the heart of Inuit culture, is rapidly disappearing. This rich culture, and Inuit relationships with the environment, are embodied in their language in ways that are difficult for non-Inuit to understand. I will outline a few of the injustices of the Canadian Government towards Inuit, and highlight Inuit resistance realized in the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement (1993), which is the largest in the world. The Inuit civilization is the true treasure of the Arctic, and recent Inuit legal victories are cause for cautious optimism.

Bio

Derek Rasmussen lived in Iqaluit for 12 years, working as Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Social Cultural Dept for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI). NTI is the Inuit rights representative group that negotiated the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement. Rasmussen was principle researcher for NTI's legal action which resulted in Canada making the largest out of court settlement in history to an Indigenous group: $255m in May 2015.