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Everything we do is to make sure that the next generations hold the same knowledge that our ancestors passed on to us. One of our Elders-in-Residence, Annie Atighioyak (left), showing our Nunavut Arctic College co-op students Presley and Clarissa, how to cut a wolf hide. |
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 | |  | Staff playing games to celebrate our last day with Nunavut Arctic College co-op students, Presley Taylor and Clarissa Vandenbrink.
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Collaboration in Calgary
For over two years now, we have been working with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology's (SAIT) Green Building Technologies Lab to develop a culturally-informed, sustainable, and scalable model for building in the Arctic. Since then, we have partnered with Cambridge Bay companies, including Qillaq Innovations, CHOU Consulting & Development, and Aurora Energy Solutions, and Calgary-based ZS2 Technologies, to inform construction and design.
Earlier this month, our group met in Calgary for a week-long workshop filled with presentations, discussions, and lectures. This was a great hands-on opportunity for the Cambridge Bay construction team to train and work with the innovative building materials alongside the manufacturers and SAIT's supportive expertise.
We spent time at the ZS2 Technologies plant, learning about the ZS2 Technologies' TechPanel system—high performance panels that will be used in the walls, floors, and roof of our new building. Compared to traditional structurally insulated panels, they’re: - safer (incredibly fire resistant, mold proof, and bacteria and pest resistant)
- stronger (3x stronger than traditional stick frame construction)
- sustainable (they take up to 50% less energy to heat and cool—important for our cold climate)
- economical (because they’re custom-built and pre-fabricated, we’re only bringing what we need to Cambridge Bay, eliminating unnecessary transportation costs and on site construction waste)
Over several days, we deepened the working relationship between Calgary and Cambridge Bay, and came away with a strong understanding of how to ship, build with, and repair the infrastructure of our new building.
Next steps: The materials for Kuugalak will be shipped via barge to Cambridge Bay, arriving this fall. Construction begins September 2022!
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While in Calgary, we also made time to meet with other cultural institutions important to our work. As we toured the new Calgary Public Library, their staff shared their experience with and strategies for strengthening the role of libraries as sites for greater community engagement, resource creation, and language revival. We also visited the Glenbow Museum, exploring their incredible space and visiting Inuit collections, building a foundation for future digital repatriation work through our Inuinnait Knowledge Bank.
A big thank you to staff from both institutions for sharing their knowledge, collections and time with us.
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Inuinnait String Figures
String figure making is practised by people around the world, including Inuit. Our designs are traditionally made by weaving braided sinew or seal skins into intricate designs around the fingers of one or multiple people. It’s a form of entertainment, but also a way to tell stories and pass on knowledge to younger generations.
With the help of string figure expert Stephan Classen from the Netherlands, we’ve de-constructed a series of string figures for you to learn and try! Head over to www.kitikmeotheritage.ca/stringfigures to watch historical footage, split-screen tutorials, and then try your own hand at making figures.
If you're on Facebook and/or Instagram, tag us in your videos of photos using #2022InuinnaitStringFiguresChallenge. |
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 | We're getting back into the full swing of programming,
with much of the last few months deep into planning.
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Uncovering our History
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, we're excited to get back out with Dr. Max Friesen for an exciting archaeological field season next month! This year, we're staying a bit closer to home, visiting cultural sites at Iqaluktuuq and Freshwater Creek, and surveying Kent Peninsula in search of pre-Dorset places and material. Since 2018, we've been actively monitoring areas of cultural importance and their susceptibility to climate change and erosion. |
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Adapting to a Changing Climate and Addressing Food Insecurity
With support from Indigenous Services Canada, we're starting a multi-year project to reconnect generations and transfer knowledge of fishing within our community. From toolmaking sessions to active outdoor workshops, there are different preparations and strategies for every season that we will be taking participants through. |
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Documenting Inuinnait Knowledge of the Natural World
Supported by funding from the Inuit Nunangat Research Program and Polar Knowledge Canada, we're working with linguists, Elders, and knowledge holders, to document all of the terminology and phrases surrounding the natural world. This work is helping to share the wealth of Inuinnait knowledge around the Arctic, all of the interactions and histories across the land and sea, and our changing climate, so that we may all better understand the complexities we face. |
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So many of the core programs and activities that you've read about above have spanned decades, thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, who fill in the gaps and help us maintain continuity from year to year.
Help us continue to celebrate who we are and where we have come from. Make a gift today that will help us keep building on a 25-year legacy.
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A new InuitTV channel will premiere on Shaw Direct with 10 hours of programming each day.
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Our bannock recipe is featured in Sheila Flaherty's new cookbook, Nirjutit Imaani: Edible Animals of the Sea! Try your hand at Arctic-Char-in-a-Bannock-Blanket, a recipe contributed by Allen Uttuqiaq and Pokkuk Koplomik in Cambridge Bay.
Celebrate National Indigenous History Month with a playlist curated by Inuk singer Susan Aglukark. |
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We're a leader for culture and heritage in Nunavut, guided by an Inuinnaq Executive Director and Inuinnait Board. We address projects of critical importance to the revival of Inuit culture, language and history. We focus on the critical needs of Inuinnait—a distinct regional group of Inuit living in the Central Canadian Arctic.
Our mission is to preserve and renew Inuinnait knowledge, language and culture for the benefit of all Inuit.
Our vision is to concentrate and connect the resources, expertise and technology critical to Inuinnait cultural and linguistic survival.
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