Through my work with Inspire Nunavut and Small Economy Works, I’ve seen the ability of Inuit youth to become the driving force of economic development in our communities (urban, rural and territorial). The resilience of young Inuit and fierce sense of pride they have about sharing and celebrating everything it means to be Inuk is breathtaking. Our cultural reclamation as Inuit away from the territories has been amazing to witness. Things that were once taboo and we were shamed for, like Inuit tattoo (both Kakiniit and Tunnit) and throat-singing, are now being championed by the next generation: but they need our help and support to keep up this work.

Through my experience with the Toronto Inuit Association, I witnessed how important cultural programs and services are to Inuit in city centres and rural areas away from our traditional territories. I saw how impactful it is for Inuit to stay connected, feast and enjoy our traditions together. Under my leadership, we helped the Torontomiut community make it through the COVID-19 pandemic by providing food hampers, rental assistance, educational materials, Kaapittiaq coffee, Northern Delights Inuit tea, colouring sheets, virtual physical fitness programming and Inuit-made books in both Qallunaatitut (English) and Inuktut from InhabitMedia. We also created extensive cultural programming delivered virtually via Zoom, engaging Inuit from coast to coast to coast and providing generous honoraria for our presenters.

Through my own difficulties with problematic substance use and impulse control, I’ve learned the importance of exploring our intergenerational traumas and how to deal with grief through cultural reclamation. This journey led me to seek out culturally-informed Inuit mental health programming to help me and others on self-destructive paths. Finding none, I helped secure funding for and initiate the development of an Inuit Mental Health Model that was successfully piloted virtually in 2021 and is expanding into a non-profit organization and expanded services in other Urban Inuit Organizations in 2022.

Through my work at the Inuit Art Foundation, I saw the incredible abilities of so many uncelebrated Inuit artists who were struggling to make ends meet. Our own cultural tradition of modesty is constantly on display when I ask, “Are you an artist?” and people reply, “No. I wouldn’t call myself an artist. I mean…I sew and make my own parkas, pualuuk, kamet and amauti but I definitely wouldn’t say I’m an ARTIST.” We need to remind our incredible artisans that they deserve to be recognized and paid for their significant contributions to our culture.

Through my work with Nasittuq Corporation, I began my career in the trades working all over Nunatsiavut and Nunavut. I started as a labourer and completed my time on the North Warning System nine years later as an Electronic Maintenance Technician. I am so grateful for the opportunity to develop my skills and gain experience through traveling all over Inuit Nunangat, especially Our Beautiful Land, by plane, helicopter and on the ground. This work let me witness the innovation and creativity utilized by Nunatsiavummiut to manage remote radar sites to provide national defense in Inuit Nunangat.