“It’s been kind of a whirlwind,” says Dennis Patterson, who last week celebrated both his 75th birthday and retirement as Nunavut’s senator.
“I’II make a confession: I’ve loved politics all my life. To be able to do what you love doing while working with others in common cause, with guidance and support from respected Elders… I have loved every day at my great job.”
There is much to reflect on for the senator, who began his political career in 1979 when he was elected for the first of his four terms as the MLA for Frobisher Bay in the Northwest Territories.
“The reward, for me” Patterson stated on Facebook, “was knowing that once in a while I was able to make a difference: working (for two decades) for the creation of Nunavut and miraculously seeing it happen, making changes in education and health — taking over health from the federal government, creating health and school (divisional) boards, the Arctic College, shutting down all residential schools by putting Grade Xll in every community, seeing marine infrastructure finally being funded by the federal government… and getting federal commitments to build a Nunavut Recovery Centre.”
These are just some highlights from a lengthy political career, one where Patterson was instrumental in what he describes as the “passionate dream” for the creation of Nunavut by plebiscite in April 1982.
“Nunavut was a long sought-after dream from the early ’70s — to [create] an Inuit homeland [apart from] the Northwest Territories that would recognize and protect the language and culture in the new territory. A population different from the Dene and the Northwest Territories, defined by a marine ecosystem as opposed to a river one, and with the desire to protect a minority population,” he told Nunavut News.
“The architects of Nunavut,” whom Patterson also calls “the founding fathers” of the historic Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, “made it clear it would be a government for all, the aspects of it being a public verses ethnic government.” This is made clear in Article IV.
“There was a fervour to it. We were enthusiastic,” he recalled.
“True,” he added in his Facebook statement, “being your Senator provided a lot of freedom but also a lot of responsibility. I felt I had a duty to take advantage of my platform and speak out on the many issues of concern to Nunavut — exploitative monopolies, the housing and TB and suicide issues, to name a few.
“Much more remains to be done, though government can’t do it all. That is why, since I was appointed to the Senate in 2009, I’ve been thrilled to see to no less than three significant mining operations (Agnico Eagle, Baffinland and now B2Gold) expressing their confidence in each of Nunavut’s three regions of Nunavut and its Inuit [through] controlled and extremely rigorous regulatory process,” he continued.
Devolution, Decolonization and Development
Aside from the creation and evolution of Nunavut, to which Patterson has devoted much of his life, he remains committed to the devolution of the last vestiges of colonial control and true independence for the GN and the Inuit from the federal government.
“Nunavut is the last jurisdiction in the country that does not have its own authority to manage its own lands and resources,” he said. “Negotiations have been intensely underway for the past 15 years. The transfer of authority and management of land resources is expected for 2024. That’s my guess as a negotiator. That’s what they’re working towards at least.
“This is huge. It gives Nunavut the last, or one of the last, principles of authority that it was lacking. The GN will now have a share of the royalties… To give an example, Baffinland’s first mineral [iron ore] deposit royalty share, according to company aspirations, would exceed $2 billion. That alone could solve the housing crisis in Baffin [Island], if nothing else.
“Right now, it’s a remote colonial government who decides [what to do with money and resources]. Devolution is decolonization. It will be the last step in decolonizing the North. It’s the right thing to do, because the Inuit here are impacted as residents in the territory where these changes are occurring. They should have a say in what and how these changes might be, not a remote, unaccountable government in Ottawa.”
When he looks to the future, the “next chapter” of his career and the book he will write about Nunavut, Patterson views these developments and changes as “mostly positive through a share of royalties to support a growing population. It’s the duly-elected government in those communities who should have the say.
“Right now, the GN is a bystander in these decisions and negotiations. It’s an active bystander, but the action is with Northern Affairs — that’s colonialism. That’s a distant, remote, unaccountable government in Ottawa, when it should be run by Nunavut. There’s a concept when all is said and done that there will be a net benefit that should go towards social services.
“When we talk about politics and constitutional development,” Patterson expanded, “this is moving towards provinces by right of name. [Nunavut] is getting province-like authority… I’m really looking forward to seeing that change.
“I was the champion of that as a senator, but also as an MLA and as [the] premier.”
Looking forward
Patterson intends to write a book about this history he witnessed firsthand.
“My dream was always to write. Frankly, there’s a new generation of leaders who have forgotten about how we have gotten to where we are today. Their forefathers agreed to establish a public government outlined in Article IV [of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement], and we have a chance to reinforce the vision… of the architects of Nunavut.
“There were 20 years of negotiations. There were leaders of the day who made compromises… that were condemned by other First Nations. Self-determination may well be appropriate on a reserve, which I can respect, but it was not appropriate for the isolated and largely scattered population [of Nunavut]. This principal needs to be remembered by Inuit leaders of today.”
Patterson declares that he is “an unabashed supporter of [utilizing Nunavut’s] natural resources. The government can’t do it all. There are massive issues that [are] preventing that work on a daily basis. The most rigorous environmental processes in the world, in my opinion, are in place, and controlled by the Inuit communities, who have the final say. There are ways of mitigating [environmental] impact. Less than one per cent of land use is for resource extraction. We have the tools within Nunavut to find win-win ways to move forward with demonstrable benefits to the population.
“Nunavut always goes cap in hand to Ottawa begging for money. We have the resources to pay our own way…and the potential not to rely on the goodwill of the taxpayers of Canada and the federal government,” said the outgoing senator.
“I must say I am concerned as I leave public life that there are too many anti-mining and development voices being funded by southern organizations. I saw three mining companies [set up operations, who] are seeking every able-bodied Inuit worker with good jobs and pay. This is an exciting and promising development that I hope the next senator and leaders will understand as we tackle the substantial barriers to development, such as the [Nunavut] Land Use Plan.
As for his successor, Patterson comments, “I’ve encouraged lots of people to apply, I’ve talked to a lot of people and told them it’s a privilege and a lot of work, and it’s important you be active… in Nunavut. it’s critical that [my] position be filled.”
As for Patterson individually, “I’m looking forward to having a little more personal freedom, and looking forward to my continued career [in writing], so looking forward to the new chapter.”