To advance reconciliation, strengthen the Inuit-Crown partnership, and promote the prosperity of the Inuit Nunangat through constructive cooperation, the Government of Canada and Inuit leaders have been working closely since the signing of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (CPIC). together that Declaration of the Inuit Nunangat in 2017.

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed, along with members of the federal cabinet and elected Inuit leaders from Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivik and the Nunatsiavut government approved one unprecedented new policy towards Inuit Nunangat at a CPIC meeting. This is the first time that the Canadian government has jointly developed a state-wide policy of this type.

The Inuit Nunangat Policy recognizes that Inuit Nunangat – the homeland of the Inuit – is a distinct geographic, cultural and political region encompassing the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut. The policy also targets urban areas where Inuit live. It will direct the design, development, and implementation of all new or amended federal policies, programs, initiatives, and services operated in or benefiting Inuit Nunangat.

In order to promote and promote the individual and collective well-being of the Inuit Nunangat, the Canadian government commits to providing a total of US$25 million over five years to implement the Inuit Nunangat policy. Of that amount, $20 million is earmarked for projects aimed at accelerating policy implementation in line with Inuit priorities. The Government of Canada and the Inuit will continue to work together to implement the policy through a strategic and coordinated whole-of-government approach.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister, President Obed and Committee members also discussed the investments proposed in the 2022 budget and the links that should be made with the CPIC priorities. In particular, they spoke of a new investment of US$845 million over seven years to support housing construction across Inuit Nunangat. Inuit leaders and ministers also approved several new priority areas of work, including Inuit priorities at the international level, surveillance, assessment and learning, and sovereignty, defense and security.

The approval of the Inuit Nunangat Policy announced today was an important step in supporting Inuit self-determination and finding meaningful Inuit-designed solutions to the diverse problems they face. The Canadian government, through CPIC, will continue to work with Inuit leaders to renew the Inuit-Crown relationship and advance reconciliation by basing these goals on the affirmation of rights, respect and partnership.

quotes

“Inuit have unique rights, interests and circumstances. The approval of the Inuit Nunangat policy announced today is the result of years of collaboration. She will help ensure that Inuit priorities and self-determination issues are mainstreamed into government programs, policies and initiatives in the future. This is an important step on the long road to reconciliation and we will continue to work together to find lasting and effective solutions to the problems facing Inuit Nunangat communities. »

“The Inuit Nunangat Policy is central to the work of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee and we are pleased that it is bearing fruit. This policy is conducting the structural change needed for the federal government to respond effectively to the needs of the Inuit. This is an important step towards Inuit self-determination. »

highlights

• The Inuit Nunangat Policy represents an approach to the design and renewal of federal policies, programs, initiatives and services that are implemented in or benefit Inuit Nunangat. This approach will improve coordination in Inuit Nunangat and encourage discussion with Inuit in these processes.
• One of the guiding principles of the Inuit Nunangat Policy is the recognition that government investment in support of the Inuit and the Inuit nunangat is an important aspect of the Inuit’s right to self-determination and self-reliance. The policy requires federal government organizations to consider the unique rights, interests and circumstances of Inuit people in their approach to direct funding of Inuit land claim organizations.
• Since March 2020, the Inuit Crown Partnership Committee has made it a priority to jointly develop and implement Inuit Nunangat policy.
• The current priorities of the Committee are:
  • Implementation of Inuit land claims;
  • revitalizing, preserving, protecting and promoting inuctut;
  • strategic space for Inuit Nunangat;
  • reconciliation efforts and efforts to end the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls;
  • education, early learning and training;
  • health and well-being;
  • environment and climate change;
  • Accomodation;
  • infrastructure;
  • economic development and procurement;
  • legislative priorities;
  • international Inuit priorities;
  • monitoring, assessment and learning;
  • sovereignty, defense and security.
• Today’s announcement follows a commitment in the December 2021 letter of mandate from Minister for Crown Indigenous Relations Marc Miller to work with the Inuit to jointly develop and expedite the implementation of Inuit nunangat policy.
• The Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee is based on the principle that an equal partnership between Inuit and the Crown is essential to the reconciliation process. The committee meets three times a year. Once a year it is led jointly by the Premier and the President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
• The committee brings together the Presidents of the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Canada, the National Inuit Youth Council and the Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada as permanent participants.
• Inuit Nunangat is the homeland of the Inuit people of Canada. It encompasses the water, ice and land of the Inuit land claims: the settled region of Inuvialuit in the Northwest Territories and Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik in northern Quebec and Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador.

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Press release also published in Inuktitut and Inuktut qaliujaaqpait.