Makivik Corporation

The Makivik Corporation (Inuktitut: Makivvik Kuapuriisat - ᒪᑭᕝᕕᒃ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᑦ) is the legal representative of Quebec's Inuit people, established in 1978 under the terms of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the agreement that established the institutions of Nunavik. As such, it is the heir of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association (Inuktitut: Kupaik Tarrangani Inuit Katujjiqatigiingit - ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᑕᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ) which signed the agreement with the governments of Quebec and Canada.

Its principal responsibility is the administration of Inuit lands and the over CAN$120 million in compensation funds it has received under the terms of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement of 1975 and the more recent offshore Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement that came into effect in 2008. It has a mandate to use those funds to promote the economic and social development of Inuit society in Nunavik. The Makivik Corporation is also empowered to negotiate new agreements with governments on behalf of the Quebec Inuit and to represent them on bodies like the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Inuit Circumpolar Council.

The corporation is run by a five member executive committee including a president, and an 16 member board of directors. Members of both bodies are elected by the Inuit of Nunavik. The executive committee and board of directors together appoint a board of governors to act as an elder's council. Makivik's current president is Pita Aatami. It is headquartered in Kuujjuaq, Quebec, and has offices in Inukjuak, Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa. It has roughly 100 employees.

Makivik has donated some CAN$60 million to non-profit and cultural institutions in Nunavik, including funding the construction of recreation facilities in each of Nunavik's communities. However, the bulk of its financial activities have been in the form of investments, both in Canadian and international markets and in economic activities directly relevant to Nunavik. It has a number of wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures active in Nunavik:

Subsidiaries

• Air Inuit - A regional airline serving Nunavik.
• First Air - A Canadian domestic airline serving the arctic.
• Nunavik Arctic Foods - A firm that harvests and markets caribou meat.
• Halutik Enterprises - A fuel and heavy equipment firm operating out of Kuujjuaq.

Joint ventures

Makivik's joint ventures are primarily firms co-owned with other Inuit development funds.

• Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics - PAIL operates and services military and air traffic radars in Arctic Canada.
• Unaaq Fisheries - A shrimp trawling firm. Unaaq is the Inuktitut word for harpoon.
• Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping - A sea shipping firm servicing Arctic Canada.
• Natsiq Investment Corporation - An investment fund to harvest seals and to develop international markets for seal products. Natsiq is the Inuktitut word for seal.

Further reading

• Janda, R. 2006. "Why Does Form Matter? The Hybrid Governance Structure of Makivik Corporation". Vermont Law Review. 30, no. 3: 785-822.
• Kwan, Michael K. H. Establishment of the Trace Metal Analytical Facilities in Makivik Research Centre A Progress Report. Kuujjuaq, Que: Makivik Research Centre, Renewable Resources Development Dept., Makivik Corp, 1997.

External links

• Makivik Corporation - official website
• Nunavik Creations - website owned by a subsidiary of Makivik, marketing Nunavik-made clothes over the Internet.