ITK seeks $10M from Ottawa for national Inuit identity card

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is asking the federal government for $10 million over three years to develop a nationally recognized Inuit identity card.

As an equivalent to the Indian Status Card, it would help Inuit access federal programs and services, support mobility rights and reduce the misuse of programs by those who are not Inuit, ITK said in its submission to the government.

Nunatsiaq News asked ITK for an interview about the recommendation, but the organization said no one was available to speak on it.

Norma Dunning, an Inuk author and assistant professor of Indigenous health studies at First Nations University of Canada, said she believes a card like this could be useful.

“I think a card does connect to Inuit identity in a practical way but a card does not represent the essence of being an Inuk,” Dunning said. “[It] would be great in terms of having one card, especially in terms of travel and using a national card overall.”

Dunning said she has encountered confusion when using her Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. beneficiary card, particularly within health-care systems.

She said this has led to situations where staff attempt to process her benefits as though she is a First Nations person with status, resulting in her having to explain that Inuit benefits work differently.

The lack of photo identification on Inuit beneficiary cards has also created challenges, Dunning said. 

“As a student, when I applied for scholarships or funding, I would have to submit the front and back of my beneficiary card from Nunavut because Inuit beneficiary cards are without photo ID [and] my ranking as Inuit would fall into question,” she said.

A national card, she said, could also help address concerns about people falsely claiming Inuit identity. 

She pointed to the recent case of Ontario twins Nadya and Amira Gill, and their mother Karima Manji, who falsely claimed Inuit identity to obtain beneficiary status and access grants and scholarships.

In its submission, ITK said the $10 million it’s asking for would help support any legislative or regulatory changes needed for federal recognition of the card, as well as its production and distribution.

The card would be tied to membership in the four Inuit treaty organizations: the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Makivvik and the Nunatsiavut Government.

The funding request is one of eight recommendations the organization put forth in June for the 2026 federal budget, which is scheduled to be released this fall.

ITK is also calling for an Inuit-specific section in the budget, legislation to establish Inuit Nunangat University “as a degree-granting institution” by the time it opens in 2030, a permanent replacement for the Inuit Child First Initiative with a $120-million annual budget, and a $7,500 refundable tax credit for low-income residents of Inuit Nunangat, among other requests.