If the federal government is serious about heeding the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, then improving educational outcomes for Indigenous, Métis and Inuit Peoples cannot be treated as a side project — it must be a fully funded national priority.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a non-profit organization that represents Inuit across Canada, is expected to open the Arctic’s first Inuit-led university by 2030, serving 100 students and employing 80 staff members in Arviat, Nvt.
Mostly private funding was sought for this venture: $52 million from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the non-profit and legal representative of Inuit, $50 million from MasterCard, $2 million from Makivvik, an Indigenous political organization representing the Inuit of Nunavik, $1 million from the Rideau Hall Foundation and $1 million from the McConnell Foundation.
The federal government confirmed only last week that it will contribute the same amount as MasterCard, just $50 million, which is a mere 25 per cent of the estimated total needed to get the university up and running.
Currently, aspiring Inuit students must leave their home communities and travel considerable
distances to pursue post-secondary education, as there is none available in Nunavut. The distance from their home and the prohibitive cost are barriers that would discourage many from pursuing higher education, even though it could lead to improved employment prospects and increased earning power that their communities need.
The federal government should be the major contributor to this venture. Private donations are corporate gestures of goodwill. These should be used to fund scholarships and bursaries. The federal government is morally responsible for ensuring access to post-secondary education, and it clearly has not done this in Nunavut.
In addition to the physical barriers, it is important to note that the federal government has consistently underfunded Indigenous students, which has put them at a clear disadvantage. Currently, the funding being provided has been reported by Indspire as insufficient to complete a degree.
The 2021 Census shows that only a shocking 6.2 per cent of Inuit attained bachelor’s degrees or higher compared to 33.8 per cent of non-Indigenous people.
Regardless of the size of their population and where they live, Inuit have a right to post-secondary education in their own language. They deserve to have access to a bright and prosperous future, while having the support and proximity of their community.
Building a university is a huge step in the right direction. This university will instill a sense of hope and pride in Inuit youth, in their culture, in their language and in their potential. Inuit youth will have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to become future leaders, and they will be able to do this in their own language and with their support systems nearby. There is no doubt that the success rate will be high due to these factors.
Having leaders who have studied locally and who are grounded in their language, community knowledge and Inuit ways of being benefits everyone.
This will help strengthen Inuit sovereignty and self-determination and will certainly benefit Inuit for generations to come.
The federal government must be morally compelled to fully fund Indigenous and Inuit education.
The intergenerational trauma being experienced in Inuit communities today is a direct result of highly detrimental federal government policies towards Inuit in the past. These include the 1950s High Arctic relocation, the Dundas Harbour relocations, the Nunavik dog slaughter and residential schools.
Intergenerational trauma is reflected in various social problems, such as family breakdown, physical abuse, unemployment, alcoholism, drug abuse and levels of youth suicide that are among the highest in the country.
The federal government has issued apologies for the disastrous policies mentioned above. But apologies are meaningless if they aren’t backed up by action. More must be done to reconcile with Inuit peoples and the egregious wrongdoings perpetrated against their people.
Supporting their future by investing in the education of their youth must be seen as an absolute priority.
True reconciliation requires real investment, nothing less.
