Simon Awa Nunavuts new chief negotiator for devolution

SimonAwa, Nunavuts former deputy minister of Family Services, will serve as chief negotiator for devolution, the premier has announced in a news release.

Awais a long-term public servant who most recently served as deputy minister of Family Services.

I have every confidence in this team and I know that the devolution process will benefit greatly from their expertise, Premier PeterTaptunasaid in a news release.

Western Nunavut businessman AlexBuchanand long-term public servant Robert Carson have been named deputy negotiators.

The appointment of Nunavuts devolution negotiation team means that all parties, theGovernment of Canada, NunavutTunngavikIncorporated and the Government of Nunavut, now have their negotiators in place, the news release says.

The announcement comes after several years of preliminary discussions on devolution, a long-term priority for Nunavut.

The federal government's chief negotiator will be Brian Dominique. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development MinisterBernard Valcourtmade the announcement in Iqaluit today.

Dominique will lead consultations and negotiations on behalf of the Government of Canadato try to reach a devolution agreement with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

The chiefnegotiator for NTI remains the same as in the preliminary talks, Udloriak Hanson.