Inuit are an Indigenous people living primarily in Inuit Nunangat.
Canadian Inuit are young with a median age of just 23.
This affects how our population interacts with the policies, programs and services targeting Inuit. Our population is also increasingly urban: more than 3,000 Inuit live in Ottawa alone.
Traditional values such as sharing, respect for elders and cooperation remain central to Inuit community life.
Despite our small population, Inuit communities have produced world renowned musicians and artists and our leaders have helped advance the global struggle for Indigenous self-determination and human rights. Today Inuit occupy a number of professions in the arts, medical field, government and academia.
These are some of the assets that reflect the resilience and potential of our people. However despite these positive characteristics too many Inuit face persisting social and economic hardship. Many families are struggling to meet their basic needs in areas such as safety, housing, and getting enough food to eat.
Statistics and research paint a distressing picture of our society, in which too many people are struggling with violence and trauma. These challenges exist against the historical backdrop of Canada’s colonization of Inuit Nunangat, in which federal government policy directed the institutions and systems that have destabilized our society by undermining our ability to be self-reliant. The social and cultural challenges that exist today can similarly be undone in large part through policies that support and empower Inuit institutions, families and communities.
Our Commitments
We are committed to supporting meaningful change that drives social good, is founded on good governance practices and that is environmentally conscious.
