Three Nunavik projects among nine to receive funding from Quebec’s “Fonds d’initiatives nordiques”
Three Nunavik-based projects were among nine named Wednesday to receive funding from Quebec’s Fonds d’initiatives nordiques (The Northern Initiative Fund).
The fund was established as part of the province’s 2020–2023 Northern Action Plan.
“Together, the nine innovative projects selected will generate more than $10 million in economic benefits in the Eeyou Istchee Baie–James and Nunavik territories,” Jonatan Julien, Quebec’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said in a news release.
“These are concrete results, as set out in our government’s Northern Action Plan.”
History, science and on-the-land projects
The three Nunavik projects will each receive $100,000. They include:
- the adaptation of scientific course materials about Nunavik for youth in the region. The work will be done by the ArcticNet research network.
- a summer 2021 expedition in Nunavik, followed by a cross-territory expedition in 2022 led by Nurrait | Jeunes Karibus, a Nunavik-based organization that promotes on-the-land activities
- Tukisivallirutitsanut Parnaitiit, a Nunavik organization, will make available a history of the educational system in Nunavik from 1950 to 1990 and have it translated into Inuktitut and English. (It’s already available in French.)
“The great diversity of projects selected by the Fonds d’initiatives nordiques demonstrates the vitality and economic diversity of the Nord–du–Québec region,” Denis Lamothe, the MNA for the provincial Ungava riding and parliamentary assistant to the minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs and the minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks.
“This support will make it possible to concretely promote innovative projects whose spin–offs will benefit the entire region.”
The Société du Plan Nord (the Plan Nord Corporation) is responsible for the Northern Initiative Fund as well as implementing the Northern Action Plan.
The Plan Nord is a provincial economic development strategy focusing on the northern region of the province.
Nunavik is the Inuit region of Arctic Quebec and has a population of approximately 13,000 people.
Write to Eilís at eilis.quinn@cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Nunavut, Canada artists to contribute to upcoming, youth-made climate change documentary, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: International Inuit organization announces youth leadership award winners in honour of Hans-Pavia Rosing, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: Arctic Science Ministerial report stresses importance of int’l cooperation & community observations on climate, Eye on the Arctic
Sweden: Can cross-border cooperation help decolonize Sami-language education, Eye on the Arctic
United States: American cartoonist says his new book on Canadian Indigenous history helped decolonize part of himself, CBC News
