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About the FJMC
Established in 1986 under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, to help Canada and the Inuvialuit look after the fisheries of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
Photo: Stephan Sprinz, CC BY 4.0, credits
Our mission
To ensure that the renewable marine, anadromous and freshwater resources of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region are managed and conserved for the wise use and benefit of present and future generations.
The FJMC was established in 1986, pursuant to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (1984), to assist Canada and the Inuvialuit in the administration of rights and obligations related to the responsible management of fisheries in the ISR. It works with the Inuvialuit and Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the co-management of fish and marine mammals, and their habitat.
The Inuvialuit Final Agreement, 1984
The Inuvialuit Final Agreement is now part of the Canadian Constitution. It sets out the terms agreed between the Committee for Original Peoples' Entitlement, representing the Inuvialuit of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and the Government of Canada, representing all citizens of Canada.
The main goals the Inuvialuit expressed in the IFA are:
- To preserve Inuvialuit cultural identity and values within a changing northern society.
- To enable Inuvialuit to be equal and meaningful participants in the northern and national economy and society.
- To protect and preserve the Arctic wildlife, environment and biological productivity.
Under the Agreement, the FJMC gives advice to the Inuvialuit and to Fisheries and Oceans Canada on fishery management in the ISR. It works with government agencies, resource user groups, the councils and committees established under the Agreement, and other land claim groups.
Read the Inuvialuit Final Agreement PDF Consolidated version, 2005, Government of Canada publications.
The committee
Four members and one Chair, so that Inuvialuit and Canada stand on equal footing:
- Two Inuvialuit members
- Appointed by the Inuvialuit Game Council
- Two Canada members
- Appointed by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
- The Chair
- Appointed by the four members
The FJMC is one part of the co-management system set up under the IFA. See how the partners work together.
Chair, members and staff
Chair
Herb Nakimayak
Chair since 2021. Paulatuk, NT. Raised in Paulatuk with a traditional lifestyle of hunting, fishing and trapping. Former Vice President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nunakput.
Members
Gerald Inglangasuk
Inuvialuit Member. Inuvik, NT. 2013 to 2019, and since 2021.
Stan Ruben
Inuvialuit Member. Inuvik, NT. Since 2022.
Burton Ayles
Canada Member. Winnipeg, MB. Since 1997. Fisheries research scientist with DFO from 1972, involved in Arctic programs since 1979.
Lois Harwood
Canada Member. Yellowknife, NT. Since 2021. Aquatic biologist with DFO for 28 years, working closely with Indigenous knowledge holders on beluga, ringed seal and Arctic char.
Alternates
Eileen Jacobson
Inuvialuit Alternate Member. Tuktoyaktuk, NT. Since 2023.
Tyrone Raddi
Inuvialuit Alternate Member. Tuktoyaktuk, NT. Since 2023.
Staff, Inuvik
Shannon O'Hara
Resource Coordinator and Community Liaison, since 2023. Born and raised in the ISR. Email Shannon
Lauren Aarts
Resource Biologist, since 2024. Email Lauren
Full biographies, and past Chairs, members and staff since 1986, are on fjmc.ca and the previous members page.
Vision
That all marine, anadromous and freshwater fish and marine mammal stocks of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region will be managed and conserved for the wise use and benefit of present and future generations. Stocks and habitats stay healthy in contaminants, population size and ecosystem structure, and harvests are sustainable and managed together with the harvesters.
The ways the FJMC works toward it:
- Effective management programs for fish and marine mammal stocks and their ecosystems, including support for programs run by ISR communities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Inuvialuit Game Council.
- Sound scientific and Indigenous Knowledge of the freshwater and marine resources of the ISR.
- Co-management with the Inuvialuit Game Council and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in cooperation with the Hunters and Trappers Committees.
- Support for Inuvialuit culture, beliefs and practices about fish and marine mammals, and greater participation of Inuvialuit in managing them.
- Cooperation with others, since long-term stewardship can reach into national and international issues.
Fundamental principles
- Take the precautionary principle and the precautionary approach. When in doubt, err on the side of conservation. This principle comes first if principles conflict.
- Support the goals of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.
- Support adaptive co-management, learning from the past to improve future actions.
- Support the traditions, beliefs and activities of the Inuvialuit, and respect the traditions and beliefs of all people.
- Make sure fish and marine mammals are treated with respect in harvesting, scientific studies and any other use.
FJMC Co-operator Awards
Started in 1999 to recognize people and agencies who have made a significant contribution to the co-operative management of Arctic fisheries, especially in the ISR. There are three: the Instantaneous Award, the Certificate of Commendation, and the Annual FJMC Co-operative Management Award, the highest recognition the FJMC gives.
Annual Co-operative Management Award
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Lisa Loseto |
| 2023 | Darrell Nasogaluak |
| 2022 | Richard Binder |
| 2021 | Norm Snow |
| 2020 | Vic Gillman |
| 2019 | Gerald Inglangasuk |
| 2018 | John and Emma Alikamik |
| 2017 | Organizers of the Beluga Summit |
| 2016 | Steve Baryluk |
| 2015 | Frank Pokiak |
| 2014 | Fishers of Aklavik |
| 2013 | Amanda Joynt |
| 2012 | Trevor Lucas |
| 2011 | Redmond Clarke, Billy Archie, Robert Charlie |
| 2010 | Robert K. Bell |
| 2009 | Lawrence Amos |
| 2008 | Bruce Hanna |
| 2007 | 2006 Husky Lakes beluga harvest team, THTC and DFO Inuvik |
| 2006 | Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre |
| 2005 | Billy Day |
| 2004 | Jack Orr |
| 2003 | Paulatuk Char Working Group |
| 2002 | Brian Wong |
| 2001 | John and Emma Alikamik |
| 2000 | Lois Harwood |
| 1999 | Jacob Archie |
Annual reports
A glimpse of an FJMC year. For reports not listed here, contact FJMC staff in Inuvik.