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|  Following difficult and stressful negotiations, the JBNQA was signed in a ceremony on Nov. 11th 1975 in Quebec City. The initial reaction to the Agreement was mixed. NQIA representatives felt that it was the best agreement that they could have achieved given the immense obstacles facing them, the extremely short time frame they were allowed to negotiate an agreement, and the lack of resources they were able to access to support their efforts. Reaction from other aboriginal groups was critical, reflecting the impression that the NQIA gave up much for a relatively small exchange. The extinguishment of aboriginal title for 3,250 miles of Category I lands, 35,000 square miles of Category II lands and $90 million in compensation payments did not appear to be a fair deal. Within Nunavik there were dissenting opinions, with Puvirnituq, Salluit and Ivujivik continuing to withhold their approval of the Agreement. The NQIA had its hands full trying to convince the dissenting Inuit communities and the general aboriginal population that they had the best deal they could get. As well, the NQIA had to transform itself from being an organization with the purpose of negotiating a land claim, to an organization that would implement the Agreement. But first, the Agreement had to be ratified by the Inuit in Nunavik and beneficiaries would have to be identified and registered. In many ways, the work had just begun for the young organization. | ||
