ITK Awards

Raymond Ningeocheak accepts the ITK Advancement of International Issues Award from Mary Simon

Each year ITK honours outstanding Inuit who have made contributions to the advancement of us as a people. There are five awards, in the areas of Health Care, Regional, International, Women, and Youth issues. This year the recipient are from Nunavut.

ITK Advancement of International Issues Award: Raymond Ningeocheak

Raymond Ningeocheak has held the position of Vice-President with NTI since its inception. He is revered by Nunavummiut for his commitment to conservation of wildlife, Inuit culture and harvesting rights. Recently, in 2009, his political leadership in opposing a proposed ban on trade of polar bear at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species was critical in defeating the proposed ban. He received his award while attending the ICC General Assembly in Nuuk, Greenland on July 1, 2010.

ITK Health Care Worker Award:Regilee and Thomasie Ootook

Regilee and Thomasie Ootook together provide counselling to individuals and couples combining traditional teaching and modern counselling techniques. Together as husband and wife they receive several requests and invitations from communities across Nunavut to hold counselling and teaching sessions. Their contribution to Nunavut by sharing their wisdom and teachings is invaluable.

ITK Advancement of Regional Issues Award: Charlie Evalik

Charlie Evalik is from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut and has been a leader of the Kitikmeot region and Nunavut for many years. He has led the Kitikmeot region into the new territory of Nunavut and into new areas such as mining and exploration. Always a forward thinker, Charlie recently led the development of the Nunavut Resources Corporation effectively laying down the foundation for Inuit to have an opportunity to reach the highest potential economic benefits in all areas of the mineral development in Nunavut.

ITK Advancement of Women Award: Kanayuk Salamonie

Kanayuk Salamonie embodies the qualities it takes to strive in the Arctic. Her perseverance and nurturing nature has allowed her to address serious matters such as abuse and have gained her respect both in her community of Cape Dorset and in boardrooms across Nunavut.

ITK Advancement of Youth Award: Abraham Kublu

Abraham Kublu proved himself at a young age as the Deputy Mayor of Pond Inlet at 24 and later as Mayor at age 28. He was involved in the youth committee and assisted with the creation of the Baffin Regional Youth Council.

Arnait Nipingit Leadership Summit

Arnait Nipingit Leadership Summit
Collecting, Connecting and Creating Women’s Voices in Nunavut

Iqaluit, Nunavut – September 13-17, 2010

During the week of September 13th-17th, 2010, the Arnait Nipingit (“Women’s Voices”) Leadership Summit will be held in Iqaluit, Nunavut. This exciting event will be co-hosted by the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council , the Government of Nunavut, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, with support from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Nunavut Arctic College, YWCA Nunavut, Canadian Heritage, First Air, and others.

What are the Goals of the Summit?

The goal of the Summit is to support and empower women’s leadership initiatives in Nunavut. This will be achieved by providing skill-building opportunities and mentoring, by showcasing best practices in all levels of leadership and by providing a platform for growth, sharing and networking opportunities for women in
our Territory.

Who Would Be Interested in Attending Arnait Nipingit?

We are expecting approximately 75 to 100 Inuit women of all ages from across Nunavut to attend this Summit. These women will have an interest in sharing best practices and learning new skills that will help to further their leadership endeavors. We are interested in having representation from a variety of fields that require strong leadership, including areas in government, business, health and social services, finance, activism, trades, community development, and student initiatives.

What is the Concept of Arnait Nipingit?

The Arnait Nipingit Summit has been developed around public consultation with women across Nunavut. The Summit content reflects and is guided by Inuit Societal Values. Special care has been taken to ensure each component of the Summit is culturally relevant and addresses the needs and concerns of women in Nunavut. All topics are reflective of and relevant to local experiences through unique partnerships in content delivery between national and territorial organizations and local facilitators, guest speakers and elders. The Summit is also intended to ensure women in Nunavut learn from other women in Nunavut, with a clear goal of inspiring, providing mentorship opportunities and creating connections.
The Summit will provide an inclusive space where all women can have their voices heard: from youth, elders, politicians, community leaders, mothers, and business owners to artists, performers, and crafts makers, encouraging and supporting expressing these voices wherever possible throughout the Summit. Connections between these groups and highlighting the intergenerational perspective are also key themes of the Summit.

What Is to Be Expected During Arnait Nipingit?

The main events of Arnait Nipingit will be held during three days and will consist of keynote speakers, plenary sessions, break-out sessions and workshops. The Summit will also feature evening entertainment including a traditional community feast, opening and closing ceremonies, and side events that encompass and demonstrate the breadth of women’s formal, informal, and traditional leadership in the North. These will include a Women’s Work Arts & Crafts show, a Film Festival featuring the award-winning Arnait Video Collective and documentaries by up-and-coming filmmakers, a special arts exhibition focusing on women artists at the Nunatta Museum, and a presentation of variety of talented Nunavummiut performers.

What is the Main Focus of Arnait Nipingit?

Professional women’s organizations have been invited to co-lead workshops that will focus on one of six leadership topics. These topics include: Women in Business, Women’s Voices in Politics, Women’s Human Rights, Traditional Leadership, Women’s Personal growth & Development, and Community Development. Women will have the opportunity to select and participate in these workshops throughout the Summit. Based on feedback and evaluation, these workshops will be developed further as specific community workshops as a specific long term output of the event.

Where Can I Find More Information?

More information will shortly be made available on the Qulliit Status of Women Council website (www.qnsw.ca). Your local hamlet office will also have information on the event. Media features and a call-out for participants to the Summit are forthcoming.

For more information, you can contact each of the organizations that are involved in the planning of this event, as listed below. For specific questions, please contact Meaghan Marien Project Coordinator, at (867) 975 6051 or at (867) 979 6690 / mmarien@qnsw.ca.

Qikiqtani Inuit Association
P.O. Box 1340
Iqaluit, NU
X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975-8413
Fax: (867) 979 3238

Qulliit Status of Women Council
P.O. Box 388
Iqaluit, NU
X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 979 6690
Fax: (867) 979 1277

Women’s Secretariat, Government of Nunavut
Box 1000, Station 200
Iqaluit, NU
X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975 6018
Fax: (867) 975 6091

NTI Encourages Government to Keep Mandatory Long Form

(July 23, 2010 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook today asked Industry Minister Hon. Tony Clement to reconsider the decision to eliminate Census Canada’s mandatory long form. Clement announced the decision to replace the Census Canada long form with a form to be completed on a voluntary basis for [...]

Kakiniit Grants Recipients Announced

(July 9, 2010 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak and Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak today announced the names of the recipients of the Kakiniit Grants program.
• Siku Allooloo – Yellowknife
• Zachary Cousins – Iqaluit
• Mason Greenley – Cambridge Bay
• Caroline Ipeepie-Qiatsuk – Cape Dorset
• Mary Anne Issakiark – Iqaluit
• Teevi Mackay – Ottawa
• Romani [...]