Inuvialuit Final Agreement, 1984

The Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA), which is now part of the Canadian Constitution, sets out the terms of the contract between the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement, representing the Inuvialuit of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and the Government of Canada, representing all citizens of Canada.

The main goals expressed by the Inuvialuit in the IFA are:

• To preserve Inuvialuit cultural identity and values within a changing northern society;
• To enable Inuvialuit to be equal and meaningful participants in the northern and national economy and society; and
• To protect and preserve the Arctic wildlife, environment and biological productivity.

As outlined in that Agreement, the Fisheries Joint Management Committee was established to provide advice to the Inuvialuit and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on fishery management and related issues within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The Fisheries Joint Management Committee works closely with government agencies, renewable resource user groups, and resource councils and committees established under the Agreement, as well as with other land claim groups on a variety of activities and programs.