Polar Pundits: Whit Fraser

Whit Fraser speaking at the "Polar Pundits" panel of the ITK "From Eskimo to Inuit in 40 Years" 40th anniversary conference.

As a reporter with the CBC Northern Service in Frobisher Bay, now Iqaluit, and later Yellowknife and Ottawa, Whit Fraser witnessed the remarkable chapter in Canada's history, from the initial concept of aboriginal claims to the ultimate conclusion of comprehensive agreements in all four Inuit regions. He also covered the range of constitutional negotiations of the 1980s and early '90s that were intertwined with land claim negotiations and Inuit demands for self determination.

He served as Executive Director of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, working with Jose Kusugak to negotiate Inuit-specific positions that were accepted by federal, provincial and territorial governments at the First Ministers' Conference in Kelowna. Fraser also served six years as Founding Chairman of the Canadian Polar Commission, where he was a strong advocate for the expansion of Arctic Research in collaboration with northern aboriginal peoples. He is currently the volunteer Chair of the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation.

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• Whit Fraser
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• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami