Inuit

Inuit are the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. The word Inuit means "the people" in the Inuit language of Inuktitut. The singular of Inuit is Inuk.

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Inuit population and language

Three-quarters of Inuit in Canada live in 53 communities across the northern regions of Canada in Inuit Nunangat, which means "the place where Inuit live." Inuit Nunangat is comprised of four regions: Inuvialuit (NWT and Yukon), Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Quebec) and Nunatsiavut (Labrador).

Approximately 43,455 Inuit live in these regions. 

  • In Inuvialuit, there are 3,310 Inuit
  • In Nunavut, 27,070
  • In Nunavik, 10,750
  • In Nunatsiavut, 2,325.

In total, approximately 155,000 Inuit live in Canada, Greenland, Alaska and Russia.

Growth of urban Inuit

Urban Inuit are the fastest growing and youngest urban Aboriginal group. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, about 15,985 live outside of Inuit Nunangat, with 7,095 residing in Canada's cities.

As of 2011, the urban centres with the largest Inuit populations are Edmonton (1,115), Montreal (900), Ottawa (735), Yellowknife (735) and St. John's (680).

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Inuktitut

Throughout Inuit Nunangat, Inuktitut is spoken; however, each region has its own dialect(s). There are two written styles of Inuktitut: syllabics and roman orthography.

Syllabics use symbols to represent sounds rather than letters. Roman orthography uses the English alphabet to sound out the words in Inuktitut.

"Thank you" can be written and pronounced in a variety of ways, dependent on the dialect.

How to say "thank you" in four Inuktitut dialects
Dialect (region)Roman orthographySyllabics
Uqqurmiut (southern Baffin Island) Nakurmiik! ᓇᒃᑯᖕᒦᒃ
Aggurmiut (northern Baffin Island) Qujannamiik! ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ
Inuvialuktun (Western Arctic) Quyanainni! ᖁᔭᓇᐃᓐᓂ
Inuttitut (Nunatsiavut Region) Nakummek! ᓇᒃᑯᒥᒃ

Building Inuit economic success, including art

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the Inuit population is young, with a median age of 23. The Government of Canada has several programs and initiatives to help young Inuit fully participate in the Canadian economy.

The First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy supports initiatives that provide Inuit and First Nations youth with work experience, information about career options and opportunities to develop skills that help them gain employment and develop careers.

The Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development was launched in 2009 to guide federal actions towards increasing the participation of Inuit, First Nations and Métis in the Canadian economy. This was followed by the Strategic Partnerships Initiative, in 2010, which helps to increase Aboriginal participation in complex economic opportunities.

As well, Inuit in Nunavut are currently participating in the construction of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station. More than 65% of the construction packages have been awarded so far to Inuit-owned or Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. registered firms.

Inuit art

The arts are a vital element of Inuit culture and traditions. Cape Dorset in Nunavut is known as the "Capital of Inuit Art" and one out of five workers here are employed in the arts.

For decades, Inuit art has played an integral role in the Northern economy and contributed millions of dollars to the regional economy.

INAC provides financial assistance to the Inuit Art Foundation. The foundation supports Inuit artists and the development and appreciation of Inuit art. It is the only national organization that promotes Inuit artists from all four northern regions (Inuvialuit, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut) in Canada and internationally.

INAC is developing a comprehensive analysis of the Inuit arts economy (i.e. fine arts, music, film, theatre and other forms). The study is intended to include a full economic analysis of the Inuit arts economy in each of the four Inuit regions, as well as southern Canada.

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Devolution and land claims agreements in Inuit Nunangat

Northern governance and placing more control into the hands of Northerners have been a major part of Canada's Northern Strategy.

Inuit land claims agreements have been signed in all four Inuit regions:

Under their respective land claims agreements, Inuit were granted title to certain blocks of land. The four land claims regions cover about 40 per cent of Canada's land mass.

  • Under the Western Arctic (Inuvialuit) Claims Settlement Act, Inuvialuit of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region [pdf], have title to approximately 91,000 square kilometres of land.
  • Under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, Inuit in Nunavut have title to 352,191 square kilometres of land.
  • Inuit of Nunavik have title to 8,152 square kilometres of land and exercise some rights over 992,307.58 square kilometres of land. They also have title to approximately 5,100 square kilometres of land on the islands in the Nunavik marine region.
  • Under the Land Claims Agreement between the Inuit of Labrador and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Newfoundland and Labrador and Her Majesty the Queen in Right Canada, Inuit of Nunatsiavut have title to approximately 15,800 square kilometres of land within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area and rights over 72,520 square kilometres of land in northern Labrador.

Government of Canada's apology for the Inuit High Arctic relocation

In August 2010, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development apologized to Inuit families who were relocated in the 1950s to the High Arctic. During these relocations, Inuit families from Port Harrison (Inukjuak) in Northern Québec and Pond Inlet in Nunavut were moved to the High Arctic communities of Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord (Craig Harbour) in Nunavut.

Inuit who were relocated had to adapt to colder climates and longer periods of total light or darkness. Inuit were separated from home communities and extended family were not provided with adequate shelter and supplies and were not properly informed of where they would be located or for how long.

The 2010 apology helped Inuit affected by the relocation continue to move towards healing and reconciliation.

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Nanilavut: Let's find them

Tuberculosis in Canada was at epidemic proportions in the early twentieth century and peaked between the 1940s and 1960s. A significant number of Inuit were affected and sent away from their communities to undergo treatment.

Many patients were treated and returned home. Others succumbed to the illness and were buried in cemeteries near the treatment facilities.

It is unclear how many Inuit passed away at that time and information about their burial was not always effectively communicated back to the patients' communities and families. To this day, some families do not know what became of their loved ones who were sent away for medical treatment.

Since 2008, INAC has been working with key stakeholders and in 2010, established a multi-stakeholder working group, called Nanilavut (‘Let's find them' in Inuktitut). Nanilavut assists in the search for family members who passed away while undergoing medical treatment. The goal is to help bring closure and begin the healing process for Inuit families and communities.

Success stories

Learn more about community driven efforts that improve the lives of Inuit individuals, families and communities.

INAC's role

INAC negotiates and implements Acts, agreements, treaties and land claims on behalf of the Government of Canada. The department is also responsible for fulfilling obligations in historic treaties. Strong partnerships among Indigenous peoples, governments and the private sector continue to emerge as we address outstanding land claims and treaty issues and work toward self-government.

INAC works with Inuit organizations, and territorial and provincial governments to build social well-being, economic prosperity and healthy communities for the Inuit of Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. This includes support for the Nunavik Housing Policy and coordinating the Nunatsiavut Housing Needs Assessment (issues that are outside of negotiated land claims agreements and are not covered through on-reserve housing policies and programs).

INAC promotes circumpolar cooperation and plays a role in the Arctic Council. 

Inuit organizations

INAC partners with many Inuit organizations, including:

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