The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation co-chair of the Nagwichoonjik Water Summit, hosted by the Dene Nation/Assembly of First Nations Office (NWT).
IRC Chair and CEO Duane Ningaqsiq Smith co-chaired the Nagwichoonjik Water Summit held in Inuvik March 14-17, 2023. Also representing Inuvialuit was a delegation of youth, elder, and community corporation representatives.
The summit focused on community and regionally directed research, emphasizing the importance of understanding the perspectives and knowledge of Inuvialuit and other Indigenous peoples. This approach recognizes that local communities have important knowledge about the land, water, and wildlife that can help inform scientific research and decision-making.
Presentations on natural and industrial contaminants, climate change, health, and risks to fish and fish habitats were provided to leadership that further explained how they are all critical issues that must be addressed to protect the health and wellbeing of local communities and ensure the sustainable use of resources.
“Overall, the summit demonstrated the importance of collaboration and community-driven approaches to research, decision-making, and resource management. By working together, leadership, communities, traditional knowledge holders, and scientists can better understand the complex environmental and social issues facing our regions and develop effective solutions to address them”, Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, Chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC).
For media inquiries, please contact Alexandrea Gordon, Manager of Communications, at communications@inuvialuit.com or 867-678-5490.
About the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
Established in 1984 to manage the settlement outlined in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA), Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) represents the collective interests of Inuvialuit in and beyond the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). The IRC works to continually improve the economic, social, and cultural well-being of the Inuvialuit through the implementation of the IFA and by all other available means.