| The establishment of the Labrador Inuit Constitution is a requirement of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (see Chapter 17) and forms part of the self-government arrangements of that Agreement. The Agreement requires the establishment of an Inuit Constitution which is to operate as ‘the fundamental law of Inuit to the extent that it is consistent with the Agreement’. The Constitution is to provide for the establishment of two levels of government – the Nunatsiavut Government and five Community Governments. The Constitution also provides for the creation of Community Corporations to represent the interests of Inuit residing outside the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area. The Constitution recognises the distinctiveness of Labrador Inuit and the need to protect Inuit lands, culture and social structure. The Constitution is based on democratic principles and recognises the equality of all people under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It guarantees the rights of Inuit to participate in self-government and requires that the government be accountable to the electorate. The Constitution was ratified by over 66 percent of Labrador Inuit who voted in the referendum, and was adopted on 15 April 2002. |
