About Us

The Nunavut Mining Symposium Society was created to “conduct the affairs of a mining convention in the Nunavut Territory to promote the responsible development of the mineral, oil and gas sectors of the Nunavut economy while being sensitive to the environment and its people.”

The Nunavut Mining Symposium Society, now in its 25th year was established as a Not-for-Profit Society November 18th, 2001. The Society’s Directors reflect representation from the industry’s stakeholders. Specially, Directors are appointed from Government of Nunavut’s Economic Development and Transportation, the NWT/NU Chamber of Mines, CIRNAC, NTI Lands, Industry, Regional Inuit Association and, where possible and practical, includes individuals from the three regions of Nunavut: the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq and Qikiqtani Regions.

While the Society’s annual work includes the symposium, the Society has also led and hosted topic-specific conversations including the Oil and Gas Summit, the Nunavut Petroleum Workshop and the Diamond Drilling Workshop. As the Society continues to evolve, we look forward to expanding on our mandate to work with other stakeholders to share information, provide education and resources to continue to attract and engage our broad set of stakeholders.

Our History

When over 225 people got together in Rankin Inlet at the first Nunavut Mining Symposium in March of 1996, they had one common agenda. How can we do business for the benefit of all?

Mining and exploration companies put their requirements on the table; we have to ensure a fair return to investors, while working in an area where operations are more expensive, access to people with required skills and the infrastructure is limited, and regulatory regimes are not always straightforward.

Local businesses, Inuit organizations and community representatives responded with their requirements:

• a share of the action in the form of training and jobs for local people, contracts for local businesses,

• equity involvement in projects respecting the people of Nunavut,

• a chance to be partners with the non-renewable resource industry in the development of a stronger economy for Nunavut.

As exploration and mining companies outlined the next stages in their plans, the Nunavut delegates itemized their needs, if they are to participate. Partnership was the key word in all of their discussions. Partnerships that would lead to a new way of doing business in Nunavut.

Partnerships that would see large and small businesses, Inuit organizations, and governments all working together to share knowledge, identify needs, and implement programs that lead to profitable involvement for all parties.

Delegates from Nunavut spelled out what they could bring to a partnership and requested more information on the needs of the mining industry. The people of Nunavut stressed that their territory was “open for business” as long as Nunavummiut were an integral part of the business of exploration and mining.

Education, training, community consultation, business development and financing new development, regulations and permitting as well as infrastructure requirements and community involvement were topics highlighted as some of the needs for a “new way of doing business.”

The 1st Annual Nunavut Mining Symposium started the process for a new way of doing business in Nunavut.

Most importantly was the opportunity to meet one another, face to face, to start the process of partnering for a better economic future.

The delegates to the 1st Annual Nunavut Mining Symposium concluded that partnerships mean sharing knowledge, experience, ideas, and expectations to produce strong companies and a strong economy for the future of Nunavummiut.

Principles

We are committed to: 

Bringing people together to  find common ground – By engaging in constructive  dialogue,  the  sector  will  be  better  equipped  to  identify  creative  solutions  for  resource development challenges.  

Welcoming the mining sector – Our discussions must welcome the mining sector.  To be successful, all voices must be engaged in respectful, thoughtful, opportunity and solutions-focused dialogue. Nunavut must position itself as “open for business”  in order to attract investment in prospecting and resource development.  

Creating forums for resource-sector focused conversations – Our dialogues will  identify  issues  and  opportunities  that  have  direct  and  indirect  impact  on  the  resource sector. This may mean that the Society has a role to play in hosting panels  on environmental or cultural concerns. However, this will be done through the lens  of how these concerns intersect with resource development.   

Showing  leadership – The  Society  has  the  capacity  to  demonstrate leadership.  With  representation  from  all  stakeholder  groups,  the  Society  can  establish  mechanisms for idea sharing, and forums that create dialogue on topics relevant to  the  resource  development  sector.  However,  the  role  of  the  Society  extends  well  beyond dialogue  – our expectation is  that  the  Society  will  develop  the  capacity  to  create dialogues that lead to outcomes, positions and direction for the sector and the  Territory.  

Being inclusive and transparent – The Society will invite all relevant stakeholders  to the table to promote a balanced dialogue. The Society has a role to play in raising collective  knowledge.  To  be  successful,  the  Society  will  seek  to  share the  perspectives that emerge from our forums in an unbiased and unfiltered way. 

Being deliberate  in our  language – As a Society that exists to encourage dialogue  and mutual understanding, we are committed  to  thoughtful use of language. Being  deliberate  with  definitions  and  the  use  of  tone  will  help  to  reduce  confusion  and  create positive spaces for productive dialogue.  

Doing what we say we will do – The Society values integrity – and this means aligning our beliefs with our actions. We commit to pursuing our Vision, fulfilling our Mission, maintaining our Beliefs and Principles, and carrying out our commitments assiduously.