Quyanainni, Quyanaqpak, Koana to Inuit leadership for a successful week of meetings in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation IRC was proud to host and welcome Inuit leadership – Directors and Delegates this week in Inuvik for both Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami ITK and Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada ICC. Each Board of Directors is made of the elected leaders of each Inuit Region and thus IRC is a voting member with Chair and CEO Duane Smith. Inuvialuk Herb Nakimayak is also an ICC Canada Executive as Vice-President International Affairs. Ryan Yakeleya TCC Chair and Melinda Gillis ICC Chair and IRC Board Members attended as Delegates for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Inuvialuk Paige Kimiksana Kreps was also able to sit in as a non-voting member representing Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada.

The discussion and intense deliberations all week were successful in moving forward Inuvialuit and Inuit rights, new funding allocations were approved on priority issues such as country food, self-determined research advancing to understand freshwater and generally protect Inuvialuit (Inuit) lands and waters, and an emphasis was made throughout the week on Inuvialuktun and all Inuktut language (including all dialects) as well as completion of financial business with Annual General Meetings. 

Many watched the meetings by livestream, which was available to all Beneficiaries and to the public.

A community feast was offered on Wednesday evening so that the community and guests could visit with a meal and drum dancing, which was enjoyed by all!  ICC President, Directors and Delegates gave a special thank you to the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers as well as visiting drummers and dancers from other communities at the next day’s meeting, and to Inuvialuit for the hospitality and opportunity to participate.  

A visit to Reindeer Station and a tour of the country foods processing plant allowed visitors to see more of the land in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and view examples of projects now ongoing for Inuvialuit.

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