Bag Service #21, lnuvik, NT XOE 0T0 Telephone: (867) 777-7000 0 Fax: (867) 777-7001 Toll-iree: 1-855-777-7011 The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Of?ce of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 January 12, 2017 Dear Prime Minister, Re: Response to US-Canada Joint Arctic Leaders? Statement This letter comes in response to the Joint Arctic Leaders? Statement you delivered with President Barack Obama on Tuesday December 20, 2016 regarding offshore oil and gas activity in the Arctic. i read with particular interest, the decision to designate all Arctic Canadian waters as inde?nitely off limits to future offshore Arctic oil and gas licensing, to be reviewed every 5 years through a climate and marine science-based life-cycle assessment. As you know, Inuvialuit have a signi?cant interest in and constitutionally entrenched rights with respect to decisions that have a bearing on the lnuvialuit Settlement Region including offshore in the Beaufort Sea. 1 remark with concern that INAC noti?ed us about the Joint Statement only a short time prior to its release. We were not given enough time to prepare explanations for our bene?ciaries or responses to media let alone inform your government about our views on the appr0priateness and ef?cacy of the plans and decisions announced. This lack of meaningful communication is startling given your government?s stated commitment to improved Inuit-Crown relationships. The contents of the Joint Statement relate intrinsically and signi?cantly to our settlement region and our rights here. These rights require a balancing of interests, in which lnuvialuit must be involved for it to have meaning. lnuvialuit cannot support such unilateral decision-making. Indeed, it seems to be a step backward. Setting this issue aside for the moment, lnuvialuit are encouraged by Joint Arctic Leaders' stated intention to ensure a strong, sustainable and viable Arctic economy and ecosystem, with low-impact shipping, science-based management of marine resources, which is free of the risks of offshore oil and gas activity. We are also pleased to have received con?rmation from indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada of?cials that the Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment currently underway for the Beaufort?Delta region will provide for the ?climate and marine science-based life-cycle assessment" referenced in the statement. lnuvialuit want to underscore that the RSEA is a truly welcome initiative that will bene?t not only the residents here but others who draw bene?ts from the Beaufort-Delta region. The RSEA will form an essential part of any work to build a ?strong, sustainable and viable Arctic economy and ecosystem?. It is my obligation to point out, however, that the funding that has been made available for this initiative may not be suf?cient to support the achievement of its broad goals or the objectives identi?ed in the Joint Statement In addition to continuing the essential work on the RSEA, we strongly urge the Government of Canada to take advantage of this opportune ?ve-year period to work closely with lnuvialuit to develop an Arctic Policy Framework that achieves goals identi?ed in the Joint Statement along with the constitutionally entrenched objectives of the lnuvialuit Final Agreement. As reminder, these are: to preserve lnuvialuit cultural identity and values, to enable lnuvialuit to be meaningful and equal participants in the northern and national economy and to protect and preserve the Arctic wildlife, environment and biological productivity. As Premier McLeod observed in a recent interview, ?If oil and gas is shut down, then we need to look at diversifying our economies. And we need to have sustainable development in the North.? I note that consultations are to be conducted through and Natural Resources Canada with oil and gas companies during the ?rst year of the ?ve-year period to discuss their interests. The lnuvialuit have been gaining experience with oil and gas activity in the Beaufort since the 1960?s. Acknowledging this, we would request that lnuvialuit be included to a degree commensurate with our rights and interests in the Beaufort Sea in the consultation activities planned for the coming year with license holders. One of the elements of the negotiations required under the NWT Devolution Agreement is the treatment and management of resources in the off-shore. We would also request that Canada con?rm the status in starting these negotiations and the impact of this designation on the negotiations to be conducted pursuant to the Devolution Agreement. Sincerely, Duane Ningaqsiq Smith Chair and CEO cc. The Honourable Bob McLeod, Premier, Northwest Territories The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada The Honourable lim Carr, Minister, Natural Resources Canada