Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is the representative organization of the approximately 65,000 Inuit who live in the Inuit Nunangat, both in Northern and urban communities. As a national political representative organization, they hold a direct lobbying status, advocacy interest and strategic policy role and works on various policies through "tables/Committees" to inform the Federal government on issues affecting Inuit.  

Given that Inuit do not fall under The Indian Act, and Inuit have negotiated direct right-based agreements such as the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (now termed as the Nunavut Agreement), as well as those for Nunatsiavut (Labrador), etc., Inuit leaders such as Natan Obed have worked hard to communicate effectively the separate culture, identity, homeland and issues facing Inuit, to extract them from the broader "indigenous" label that governments have often lumped Inuit into for funding, policy design and administration of the North.

Alongside national policy engagement, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (or ITK as it is also referred to) also holds a seat on the Inuit Circumpolar Council for Canada, to help bring forward consistent messaging, issues and priorities to the international stage.  

National Inuit Climate Change Strategy - June 2019

In June 2019, in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, ITK Five priority areas have been identified within the strategy. These include:

• Knowledge and capacity. Inuit knowledge must be used in decision making.
• Health, well-being and the Environment. Ensure that Inuit health and wellness is included when climate related policies are created.
• Food systems. Ensure that Inuit food systems are strengthened and food security is included.
• Infrastructure – there are vulnerabilities in our infrastructure due to the changing of the climate and vulnerabilities of the landscape. We need to ensure that our infrastructure is stable and long lasting.
• Energy – Inuit need to have access to sustainable and affordable energy systems.

At the release of the strategy a $1M commitment for Inuit led initiatives was announced by the Honourable Minister of Environment and Climate Change for the Government of Canada, Catherine McKenna.

To view the full strategy in English, click here / in Inuktitut click here.