PUVIRNITUQ ENROLMENT COMMITTEE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES (JANUARY 4, 2011) Page 1 Enrolment of Nunavik Inuit Beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement - Puvirnituq Affiliation - PPOOLLIICCIIEESS AAnndd GGuuiiddeelliinneess January 4, 2011 Date of Adoption by the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee Date of modification made by the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee PUVIRNITUQ ENROLMENT COMMITTEE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES (JANUARY 4, 2011) Page 2 SECTION I OVERVIEW PUVIRNITUQ ENROLMENT COMMITTEE 1.1 Background Following the signing on January 27 2005 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) Complementary Agreement No. 18 on Inuit Eligibility (hereafter CA. 18), the list of all Nunavik beneficiaries is managed out of the Nunavik Enrolment Office located in Kuujjuaq at the Makivik Head Office. The Nunavik Enrolment Office has among other duties to verse the lists provided by each community into the Nunavik Inuit Beneficiaries Register. Pursuant to the coming into force of the CA. 18, being on May 1st 2006, the rules of the Inuit Eligibility Regime were modified completely. The communities have now the responsibility to update their own community beneficiaries list via the work of their Community Enrolment Committee composed in Puvirnituq of one Elder and of the Directors of the local Landholding Corporation. The Puvirnituq Community Enrolment Committee applies its discretion in implementing the criteria listed at the C.A. 18, in order to take a decision on the application presented by an individual, or his/her legal representative for minors, under the guidance of the following principles: Nunavik Inuit are best able to define who is an Inuk and who is therefore entitled to be enrolled under the JBNQA, and; Nunavik Inuit are to be recognized according to their own understanding of themselves, of their culture and traditions; and; The determination and decision process of who is an Inuk for the purposes of the JBNQA is to be just and equitable. 1.2 Creation of the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee Section 3A.6.1 of the JBNQA establishes an Enrolment Committee in all Inuit communities, as defined in section 3A.2: Kangiqsualujjuaq, Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq, Aupaluk, Kangirsuk, Quaqtaq, Kangiqsujuaq, Salluit, Ivujivik, Akulivik, Puvirnituq, Inukjuak, Umiujaq, Kuujjuaraapik, Chisasibi and Killiniq. There are consequently sixteen (16) Community Enrolment Committees, inclusive of the committee for the community of Puvirnituq. PUVIRNITUQ ENROLMENT COMMITTEE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES (JANUARY 4, 2011) Page 3 1.3 Functions of the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee The functions of the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committees are to: a) decide whether a person applying for enrolment as a beneficiary under the Agreement meets each of the eligibility requirements listed at the agreement and is associated with Puvirnituq. Hence, a person will be entitled to be enrolled as a beneficiary under the Agreement if she or he meets the enrolment criteria as follows: i) is alive, ii) is a Canadian citizen, iii) is an Inuk, as determined in accordance with Inuit customs and traditions, iv) identifies himself or herself as an Inuk, and v) is associated with the community of Puvirnituq through family, residential, historical, cultural or social connections with the community of Puvirnituq. b) decide, upon its own motion, whether the name of a beneficiary affiliated with Puvirnituq should be removed from the Inuit beneficiaries register, as a consequence of that person is no longer alive or is no longer a Canadian citizen; c) decide, upon its own motion or upon the request of a beneficiary, whether a person affiliated with Puvirnituq by virtue on marriage under the old regime still meet the eligibility requirements of the agreement; d) decide, upon the request of a beneficiary affiliated to another Inuit community, whether the beneficiary may become affiliated to the community of Puvirnituq; e) decide, upon its own motion, whether a beneficiary affiliated with Puvirnituq has established his or her residence outside the Territory during ten (10) or more continuous years for purposes other than those relating to education, health, employment with an organization dedicated to Inuit welfare; f) decide, upon the request of a beneficiary affiliated to Puvirnituq, whether the beneficiary has re- established his or her residence in the Territory; g) notify the Enrolment Office of its decisions without delay. 1.4 Functions of the Puvirnituq Enrolment Secretary Unless the Northern Village of Puvirnituq decides to assume such human and financial responsibility, the Registrar of the Nunavik Enrolment Office shall act as the “Enrolment Secretary” to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee. The Puvirnituq Enrolment Secretary shall be responsible to take the minutes of the meetings of the Committee, and to complete and transmit the various Application Forms and Decisions to the Applicants and to the Nunavik Enrolment Office. PUVIRNITUQ ENROLMENT COMMITTEE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES (JANUARY 4, 2011) Page 4 SECTION II Policies and Guidelines 2.1 Composition and Voting for the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee In the community of Puvirnituq where there is no LHC, the members of the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee are elected for a renewable two-year term by the Inuit of Puvirnituq. The Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee consists of not less than three (3) and not more than eight (8) members, all Puvirnituq beneficiaries residents associated with the community of Puvirnituq. The Nunavik Enrolment Office is responsible to conduct elections for designating the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee members. The election of at least one (1) Elder to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee is recommended to ensure the application of the principles guiding the new regime: Nunavik Inuit are best able to define who is an Inuk and who is therefore entitled to be enrolled under the JBNQA, and; Nunavik Inuit are to be recognized according to their own understanding of themselves, of their culture and traditions; and; The determination and decision process of who is an Inuk for the purposes of the JBNQA is to be just and equitable. Following the conduct of the elections, a Letter of Confirmation to the elected members of the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee shall be sent by the Nunavik Enrolment Office to the elected members. 2.2 Appointment of the Enrolment Secretary to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee a) The appointment of the Enrolment Secretary to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee shall be made via resolution duly adopted by the Northern Village of Puvirnituq. In the event the Northern Village of Puvirnituq decides not to assume such human and financial responsibility, the Registrar of the Nunavik Enrolment Office shall act as the “Enrolment Secretary” to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee. PUVIRNITUQ ENROLMENT COMMITTEE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES (JANUARY 4, 2011) Page 5 b) The Secretary-Treasurer of the Northern Village of Puvirnituq or any other individual can be appointed as the Enrolment Secretary, to be responsible to take the minutes of the meetings of the Committee and to complete and transmit the various Forms and documents to the beneficiaries and to the Nunavik Enrolment Office. c) A copy of the resolution appointing and/or modifying the appointment of the Enrolment Secretary to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee shall always be sent to the Nunavik Enrolment Office. d) A record of the name and term period of the elected Members and the Enrolment Secretary to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee shall be kept by the Enrolment Secretary. e) The Enrolment Secretary shall not be eligible to officially assume any position on the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee other than the position of the Enrolment Secretary. 2.3 Elections of the Members to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee i) Date of Elections An election to elect the eight (8) Members to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee shall be held every two (2) years, commencing in the year 2010. ii) Notice of Elections In the year of election and at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of election, the Registrar of the Nunavik Enrolment Office shall, by public notice, publish: a) the number of positions opened for election; b) the date and hour of the close of candidates nominations; c) the eligibility criteria to run for election; d) the date of the election. iii) Eligibility to run as a Member To qualify as a Member of the Puvirnituq Enrolment Community, a person must be: a) enrolled on the Nunavik Inuit Beneficiaries List; and b) 18 years of age and older; and c) a resident affiliated to the community of Puvirnituq; and d) be fluent in Inuktitut. iv) Eligibility to vote at Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee Elections The following persons are entitled to vote in an election: a) any person enrolled on the Nunavik Inuit Beneficiaries List; and b) any person who is of the age of majority; and b) any person who is affiliated with the community of Puvirnituq; PUVIRNITUQ ENROLMENT COMMITTEE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES (JANUARY 4, 2011) Page 6 v) Election Proceedings Elections shall take place as follows: At least fifteen (15) days before the date fixed for the General Election, a nominee seeking to run for election to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee shall present to the Registrar of the Nunavik Enrolment Office a written notice of intention to run upon which shall also appear the name and signature of one (1) nominator who must be a beneficiary of the age of majority, affiliated with the community of Puvirnituq and ordinary resident therein. In the event that the number of nominees is between the minimal (3) and maximal (8) number of open positions to the Puvirnituq Enrolment Committee, by the date of the close of nominations, such nominees shall be elected by acclamation as the Members of the Committee on the date of election. In the event that the number of nominees is less than the minimal number of positions (3) on the Committee, such nominees shall be elected by acclamation and there shall be a second opening of nominations for the number of positions still vacant to reach the maximal number of members to the Committee (8).