Nunavut leader threatens Inuit boycott of residential schools commission

The reformed truth and reconciliation commission into Indian residential schools is running into controversy even before it starts.

One longtime northern leader and politician says he has significant support for an Inuit boycott of the commission unless an Inuit commissioner is appointed.

Former Nunavut commissioner Peter Irniq says it's essential that one of the commissioners be able to speak the Inuit language and understand the unique experience of Inuit people and their history with residential schools.

The names of the three commissioners are expected to be officially announced in the coming days, but according to a list obtained by The Canadian Press, none is Inuit.

Two residential schools existed in the Western Arctic and Irniq estimates there are up to 1,000 Inuit still alive who attended them.