There is cause for celebration in five Nunavut communities after the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) and federal government delivered news of funding for infrastructure, harbours and a training centre.
Between Nov. 13 to Nov. 22, QIA visited Pond Inlet, Clyde River, Arctic Bay, Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord to deliver the news and celebrate with the communities.
Through the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement (IIBA) $54.8 million will be invested in the Inuit stewards program.
Some of the goals are to create jobs within these communities, develop fisheries, protection of tuvaijuittuq (high arctic basin), support the Hunters and Trappers Organizations (HTO) and have funds for Inuit led research and training.
Through federal programs over $190 million will be dedicated to infrastructure.
This includes multi-use facilities and country food processing units in all five communities. Specific examples are community harbour development in Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay, small craft harbour development in Arctic Bay and Clyde River and a regional training centre in Pond Inlet.