General Information

Funding for the Department’s activities in the areas of parks, environment, wildlife protection and land use planning is received from the Québec government through the Agreement concerning Block Funding for the Kativik Regional Government (Sivunirmut Agreement). Funding for the Inuit Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Support Program, marine wildlife conservation, abandoned mineral exploration site clean-up and other environmental activities is received through specific agreements with the Ministère des Fôrets, de la Faune et des Parcs (forests, wildlife and parks), the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (energy and natural resources), Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Restor-Action NunavikFunding for specific projects is also received from other sources.

Director (Interim)

Véronique Gilbert

Assistant Director, Renewable Resources

Steven Kleist

Assistant Director, Lands and Environment

Véronique Gilbert

Assistant Director, Parks (Interim)

Lucy Abraham

The Inuit Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Support Program is administered pursuant to the Act respecting the Support Program for Inuit Beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement for their Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Activities, based on the provisions of Section 29 of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. The basic objectives of the Support Program are to favour Inuit harvesting activities as a way of life and ensure a supply of country food for the region’s Inuit communities. Complete information on the Support Program is compiled in an annual report published by the Department in Inuktitut, French and English.

The Uumajuit Program for wildlife protection is implemented further to the wildlife protection assistant mandate provided under the Agreement concerning Block Funding for the Kativik Regional Government (Sivunirmut Agreement) and a management agreement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (FOC) under its Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management Program.

The multi-disciplinary Uumajuit approach combines marine mammal conservation objectives (federal jurisdiction) with terrestrial and freshwater wildlife protection objectives (provincial jurisdiction). The responsibilities of Uumajuit wardens are set out in detail in the wildlife protection plan for Nunavik. The wardens maintain daily contact with harvesters and other community members, monitor sport fishing and hunting by non-beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement, make weekly reports on wildlife and harvesting activities, and hold regular telephone conference calls with Ministère des Fôrets, de la Faune et des Parcs (forests, wildlife and parks) wildlife protection officers and FOC fisheries officers.

The Department is promoting the creation of a long-term training program for Uumajuit wardens that includes mentoring as well as alternating training and work periods.