The CEN would like to congratulate the Youth Committee of the Kangiqsualujjuaq community and the IMALIRIJIIT team for the $466K Arctic Inspiration Award 2018 they won and which will enable youth from all Nunavik Inuit communities to participate in land-based resource and science camps in rapidly changing northern environments. The winning projects were announced at the ceremony, which was held for the first time in the North in Whitehorse on February 12th. CEN students, employees and research staff are part of this innovative team, including the two managers of the CEN station in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Eleonora Townley and Jeannie Annanack, as well as Xavier Dallaire, José Gérin-Lajoie and Gwyneth MacMillan. The CEN will continue to support the camps and initiatives from this extraordinary group of people. Well done, we are proud to work with you!
NUNAMI SUKUIJAINIQ (Science on the Land) arises from the community’s desire to start a new and different land-based Science Education Program. This program will be based on broader Arctic Ecology, including marine edible resources, lake ecology, Arctic char ecology, and archeology. These topics emerged during interactive consultations with the community focused on their research interests and needs. The field work on the land will be complemented by activties that will be held at the new SUKUIJARVIK CEN Station in Kangiqsualujjuaq.
NUNAMI SUKUIJAINIQ is a land-based and hands-on Science Education Program designed for Nunavik Youth. In this new program, youth from all Inuit communities in Nunavik will have the opportunity to participate in the Arctic Ecology land camps. NUNAMI SUKUIJAINIQ will also provide mentoring opportunities for Inuit youth already engaged in post-secondary Science programs across Inuit Nunangat (e.g. Environmental Technology Program at Arctic College, Iqaluit, Nunavut). Finally, short documentary films will be produced from this initiative to inspire other indigenous communities and regions.
The objectives of NUNAMI SUKUIJAINIQ are to stimulate and nurture the Nunavik Inuit Youth’s interest in natural sciences and science related careers. In this perspective, we will build an exciting Activity Program offering a good balance among Science, Tradition and Outdoor Adventure, with the participation of Elders and Natural Science researchers. Briefly, we want to make science attractive for Nunavik youth and help them develop valuable competencies for their future. Furthermore, we want to build a sustainable model-based on local entrepreneurship, growing northern expertise, and job creation. We will look for long-term funding with big foundations and northern institutions.