What the Economic Measures Review means for Inuvialuit beneficiaries

Read the 2024 Inuvialuit Final Agreement Economic Measures Review

Why this review matters

Section 16 of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA) is meant to support full Inuvialuit participation in the northern Canadian economy and help Inuvialuit develop economic self-reliance and a solid economic base, reflecting the vision advanced by the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement (COPE) during the negotiation of the IFA.

The review is required every five years while Section 16 obligations remain in effect, but this is the first substantial review since 2001. It looks at the overall economic health of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), what Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) and governments have invested in and ultimately whether the objectives are being achieved.

The bottom line

The report concludes that the economic measures objectives hadn’t been met as of 2023. 

There has been progress, but it hasn’t reached everyone equally. IRC has increased its capacity and delivered important programs. Some beneficiaries and businesses have developed a strong economic base. Others continue to face barriers involving jobs, income, housing, health, education, language and culture. People interviewed for the review described this as a “two-tiered” system. 

Signs of progress

  • Education levels improved in every ISR community between 2001 and 2021. 
  • High school graduation rates improved from about 50% in 2001 to about 62% in 2021, with the report highlighting IRC Education and Training, ISET and other funding streams as important supports.
  • After adjusting for inflation, the typical income for individuals in the ISR has gone up since 2001. 
  • More ISR businesses are ready to compete for contracts. 
  • Tourism and construction are expected to offer opportunities. 
  • Arts and crafts are also growing in the ISR. The report notes that this supports income while helping Inuvialuit artists share culture, history and stories with future generations.
  • From 2009 to 2021, 2,537 federal contracts, worth approximately $146.8 million, went to 12 ISR businesses. 
  • Beneficiary-owned businesses received 47.7% of those contracts, but only 31.6% of their total value. 

Challenges that remain

The report found:

  • Little or no significant improvement in several priority areas, including culture, health and housing;
  • Hunting, fishing and Indigenous-language use have declined;
  • Poverty remains high and communities are concerned about substance use, housing shortages, affordability and homes needing major repairs;
  • Young people may also leave their communities for education and employment opportunities; and 
  • Climate change, COVID-19 and boom-and-bust economic cycles have also affected people, employment and communities.

A 2021 snapshot of Inuvialuit in the ISR

In 2021, 3,130 Inuvialuit living in private dwellings lived in the ISR. 

  • 47% were employed 
  • 16% were unemployed 
  • 54.1% of Inuvialuit workers worked full time throughout the year 
  • Median individual income was $33,200, compared with $84,000 for non-Indigenous residents
  • 14% were categorized as having low income after tax 
  • 10.7% reported an Inuit language as their mother tongue 
  • 18.2% of Inuit households lived in unsuitable housing
  • 30.7% of Inuit households lived in homes needing major repairs 

These numbers don’t tell every person’s story, but they provide a starting point for measuring future change.

What needs to happen next

The report says that all IFA parties—IRC, Canada, the Northwest Territories and Yukon—need to keep working together. It calls for:

  • sustained, flexible and long-term investment
  • better coordination of programs and services
  • stronger relationships
  • continued attention to procurement, employment, education, housing, health, language and culture

IRC will continue to hold the Inuvialuit Corporate Group and government partners accountable to the IFA so implementation benefits the ISR and Inuvialuit.

The report also calls for better data. Better information will help beneficiaries and leaders see what’s working, what isn’t and where action is needed.

What this means for beneficiaries

The review provides evidence that the objectives of section 16 haven’t yet been achieved and that the work must continue. However, it provides context regarding the areas that need further improvement to support economic growth in the ISR, which can improve everyday life across ISR communities.

This summary is based on the December 2024 IFA Economic Measures Review. It doesn’t replace the full report or the IFA and is not legal advice.

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