NationTalk: (Iqaluit, Nunavut) Last week Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) Board of Directors met by videoconference, with important decisions for Nunavut Inuit.

The Board approved the allocation of $1.38 million for Inunnguinirmut Tukimuattittijiit to review options for the transformation of Inuit-led and Inuit-delivered early childhood services. Inunnguinirmut Tukimuattittijiit is a working group made up of representatives from NTI and the three Regional Inuit Associations (RIAs) and will assess options for changes to early learning and childcare in Nunavut, and the use of $16.4 million in funding earmarked for governance of the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care system.

The Board also approved funding for the following projects: $5 million dollars each for renovations to the Long Term Care Facilities in Arviat, Gjoa Haven, and Iglulik; $4 million dollars to Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) for the development of Laboratory and Research Capacity with the Training Centre in Pond Inlet; $1 million dollars to support the development of a comprehensive infrastructure needs assessment; and $15 million dollars to the QIA for the construction of three daycares in the Qikiqtaaluk.

The Board approved three important policies:

• Nunavut Inuit Post-Secondary Education Program Policy, to streamline the Inuit Post-Secondary Education Program delivered by NTI and the RIAs, towards implementing the National Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy. This Policy followed the Makigiaqta decision in January 2024 to contribute $5 million into the Program for this year and next year, and is consistent with the NTI Members’ call at the 2023 Annual General Meeting for the Government of Canada to fully fund the Program.
• Policy on the Administration of Distinctions-Based Funding, to guide NTI’s decision-making process on selecting recipients and making allocations on Distinctions-Based funding.
• Compassionate and Bereavement Travel Program Policy that amends and expands the existing Compassionate and Bereavement Travel Program including, among other things, covering the travel costs of a third member, adding certain hotel costs for travellers on transit, and certain ground transportation costs.

The Board was set to convene in Baker Lake, Nunavut, but weather prevented members from flying into the Kivalliq community. NTI had planned to host a community feast at the Community Hall to wrap up the meeting. NTI donated the country food that had been purchased for the feast to the Hamlet’s planned celebrations.

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Media Contact:

Kevin Kablutsiak
Director of Communication
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
media@tunngavik.com