In 2010, the Qikiqtani Truth Commission (QTC) published a list of 25 recommendations aimed at mitigating the impacts of colonialism and racism on the Inuit of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Qikiqtani region.
Some 13 years later, efforts are still underway to meet those recommendations.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e always going to advocate for all of [the items on the list],SA国际影视传媒� said Inukshuk Aksalnik, manager of Qikiqtani Truth Commission Implementation and Programs at the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA). SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not going to be a simple checkmark, youSA国际影视传媒檙e done kind of thing. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 something that weSA国际影视传媒檒l always work towards implementing.SA国际影视传媒�
The QTC was created by the Inuit-led QIA in 2007, with the aim of gathering evidence on the treatment of Qikiqtani Inuit between 1950 and 1975, when residential schools were still in use and racism was rampant.
The commission published its 25 recommendations after three years of intensive research, which included thorough interviews of roughly 350 Inuit witnesses at 16 public hearings held across the region. Those recommendations were ultimately broken into four categories: acknowledging and healing past wrongs, strengthening Inuit governance, strengthening Inuit culture, and creating healthy communities.
One of the biggest breakthroughs with respect to meeting the QTCSA国际影视传媒檚 recommendations came in 2019 when, after years of lobbying, former minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett visited Iqaluit to apologize for the treatment of the regionSA国际影视传媒檚 Inuit.
That apology on behalf of the federal government included upwards of $20 million in funding aimed at helping affected Inuit heal from the traumas of colonialism. A second instalment of more than $25 million was then issued in 2022.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen Carolyn Bennett came to deliver her remarks, along with the acknowledgement and apology came some programming dollars,SA国际影视传媒� said Aksalnik. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of the funding that Canada has provided to QIA, weSA国际影视传媒檙e solely in charge of implementing these recommendations through the programs.
SA国际影视传媒淔rom there, QIA went into program design and development.SA国际影视传媒�
The QIA developed three program areas to address the QTCSA国际影视传媒檚 recommendations: a travel and healing program, a history and governance program, and the Qimmiit Revitalization Program SA国际影视传媒� the latter aims to help bring dog teams back to Nunavut.
SA国际影视传媒淓ach of those program areas have their link to the recommendations,SA国际影视传媒� Aksalnik said.
For example, QIASA国际影视传媒檚 travel and healing program is currently tackling items No. 2, 4 and 5, while the associationSA国际影视传媒檚 history and governance program is addressing items 9, 15, 16, 17, and 19. The Qimmit Revitalization Program, meanwhile, addresses item No. 24, as does much of QIASA国际影视传媒檚 ongoing land-based programming.
When asked about the most significant headway QIA has made with respect to the QTCSA国际影视传媒檚 recommendations, Aksalnik pointed to the 2021 unveiling of a monument outside the detachment in Iqaluit, which memorializes the contributions of Inuit special constables and their dogs.
It was an important moment, as item No. 3 on the QTCSA国际影视传媒檚 list of recommendations sets out that SA国际影视传媒淨IA and the should formally recognize the contributions of Inuit special constables and their families to the work of the in the region.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge carving with an Inuk special constable harnessing a dog,SA国际影视传媒� Aksalnik said. SA国际影视传媒淲e were able to do that while working with and also being provided funding from the government of Nunavut.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was such a proud of day for all of us,SA国际影视传媒� she added.
Many Qikiqtani Inuit will be reflecting on the impacts of colonialism and racism during the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day, which falls on Sept. 30 each year. It recognizes the grim legacy of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 residential school system.
Aksalnik is no exception.
SA国际影视传媒淲hat it means to me personally is itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to recognize this era of Canadian history and recognize what happened or what continues to happen to Indigenous folks in this country,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
