What is the Nunavik Marine Region?
The Nunavik Marine Region includes saltwater and offshore islands in James Bay, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, and Ungava Bay.
Visit Our History to learn more about the history behind the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement.
While the Nunavik Marine Region is the offshore portion of Nunavik and wraps around northern Quebec, all the lands within the Nunavik Marine Region and all the saltwater north of the 60th parallel are under the jurisdiction of Nunavut. The saltwater in the Nunavik Marine Region south of the 60th parallel is outside of Nunavut and is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada.
In addition, the Nunavik Marine Region contains Areas of Equal Use and Occupancy with the Inuit of Nunavut, Overlapping Interest Areas with the Cree of Eeyou Itschee, and Nunavik Inuit/Labrador Inuit Overlap Areas.
Areas of Equal Use and Occupancy
The Nunavik Inuit and Nunavut Inuit jointly own lands within Areas of Equal Use and Occupancy. While Nunavik Inuit have equal rights in these areas, planning decisions for these areas are currently made by the Nunavut Planning Commission.
Offshore Overlapping Interests Area
The Nunavik Inuit and the Crees of Eeyou Itschee jointly and separately own lands within the Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlapping Interests Area. To promote cooperation and good relations, the “Consolidated Agreement Relating to the Cree/Inuit Offshore Overlapping Interests Area Between the Crees of Eeyou Istchee and the Nunavik Inuit” was signed in 2003. The agreement is included as a section within the Nunavik Inuit Lands Claims Agreement (NILCA).
The agreement establishes the Overlapping Interests Area, which is fully in the Nunavik Marine Region and the Eeyou Marine Region, and creates three zones within it:
- Joint Inuit/Cree Zone: Within this zone, the Nunavik Inuit and Cree share joint and equal ownership of lands. The NMRPC and Eeyou Marine Region Planning Commission (EMRPC) are both responsible for marine planning here.
- Cree Zone: Within this zone, Cree own the lands except for several islands owned by the Nunavik Inuit. The EMRPC is responsible for marine planning here. It keeps the NMRPC updated on its activities and gives the NMRPC opportunities to provide feedback.
- Inuit Zone: Within this zone, lands are owned by the Nunavik Inuit and the NMRPC is responsible for marine planning. The NMRPC keeps the EMRPC updated on its activities and gives the EMRPC opportunities to provide feedback.
Overlap Area
The Nunavik Marine Region hosts a portion of the Nunavik Inuit/Labrador Inuit Overlap Area. Here, Labrador Inuit may harvest within the Nunavik Marine Region. The remainder of the Nunavik Inuit/Labrador Inuit Overlap Area is located within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, beside the Nunavik Marine Region. Here, Nunavik Inuit may harvest in the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area.
Together, the Nunavik Marine Region and the Nunavik Inuit/Labrador Inuit Overlap Area make up the Nunavik Inuit Settlement Area (NISA). The NMRPC is responsible for marine planning in the portion of the Nunavik Inuit/Labrador Inuit Overlap Area within the Nunavik Marine Region.
