National Inuit leader sees potential in Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs split

As long as splitting the federal departmentof Indigenous and NorthernAffairs Canadahelps improve Inuit lives on the ground, NatanObed, president of InuitTapiriitKanatami, an organization that represents Inuit across Canada, says he'll be happy.

"But I'm not saying that just by them creating a new department, that there will be success," Obed said.

"We don't have any evidence yet, so I'm leaving the door open."

Following on a commitment made in August, thegovernment on Monday saidthe department ofIndigenous and Northern Affairs Canada wouldbe no more. Two new departmentswill replace it: the Department ofIndigenous Services, led by Minister Jane Philpott; and the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, led by Minister Carolyn Bennett.

Philpott's department will overseegovernment programs for mainly status First Nations, but will also inherit infrastructure, housing and health files.Bennett's department is tasked with advancing land claims and Indigenous self-governance.

For decades, Inuit have "fallen through the cracks" in the realm of federal funding decisions for Indigenous people, because Inuit don't live on or off a reserve and they don't fall under the Indian Act, saidObed.

"In the past, it isn't that the federal government was trying to exclude Inuit it just didn't know how to do its own job," said Obed.

"This new department is, in many ways, making up for that."

Obedhopes the new Department ofIndigenous Services will help createInuit-specific services and programs for his people.

Obed said it's an opportunity forPhilpott to seekInuit-specific dollars for housing, and a strategy to eliminate tuberculosis among Inuit, in the upcoming 2018 budget.

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He added that Inuit Tapiriit Kanatamihasa good working relationship withboth Philpott and Bennett. He said he received word from both ministersthe split won't interrupt programs and relationships already in place.

When askedwhat difference the departmental split makes for Inuit, Philpott referred to the existing Inuit-to-Crown partnership signed earlier this year, and said she'll continue to work directly with Inuit leaders to discuss priorities.

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