Nunatsiaq News, Nunavut

December 3, 2004

Inuit hunters wonder what to do about gun regulations http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/legislative.html#what

The federal gun registry is still causing problems for Inuk hunters, and Arviat MLA David Alagalak wants to know what the government is doing about it. "There is not going to be a resolution if we fall silent on the issue," he told Premier Paul Okalik last Friday.

Okalik's update on the issue was "we are waiting for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc." and "there is not much we can do."  Alagalak then informed Okalik that many hunters are using other peoples' registration cards to buy ammunition and rifles. 

Later that day, Hudson Bay MLA Peter Kattuk asked Okalik what Inuit should do if there are asked to produce licenses. This time, Okalik explained that there was no way around it at the co-op and Northern store where employees have to abide by current legislation.  "But as an Inuk, if I want to borrow a rifle, I can borrow anybody's," Okalik added. "So, this doesn't apply to us, where we don't have to produce a license if we want to borrow a rifle from our fellow Inuit."

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November 9, 2004: The application of the firearms registration requirements to Nunavut Inuit have been temporarily suspended by the courts since December 10, 2002.

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/Article462.htm