IQ in action

Here are the 13 “guiding principles and concepts of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit,” as they’re listed in the Nunavut government’s proposed wildlife law:

• Pijitsirniq means that a person with the power to make decisions must exercise that power to serve the people to whom he or she is responsible.

• Papattiniq refers to the obligation of guardianship or stewardship that a person may owe in relation to something that does not belong to that person.

• Aajiiqatigiingniq means that people who wish to resolve important matters or any differences of interest must treat each other with respect and discuss them in a meaningful way, keeping in mind that just because a person is silent does not necessarily mean he or she agrees.

• Pilimmaksarniq means that skills must be improved and maintained through experience and practice.

• Piliriqatigiingniq means that people must work together in harmony to achieve a common purpose.

• Avatimik Kamattiarniq means that people are stewards of the environment and must treat all of nature holistically and with respect, because humans, wildlife and habitat are inter-connected and each person’s actions and intentions toward everything else has consequences, for good or ill.

• Qanuqtuurunnarniq means the ability to be creative and flexible and to improvise with whatever is at hand to achieve a purpose or solve a problem.

• Qaujimanilik refers to a person who is recognized by the community as having in-depth knowledge of a subject.

• Surattittailimaniq, also called Iksinnaittailimaniq, means that hunters should hunt only what is necessary for their needs and not waste the wildlife they hunt.

• Iliijaaqaqtailiniq means that, even though wild animals are harvested for food and other purposes, malice toward them is prohibited.

• Sirliqsaaqtittittailiniq, means that hunters should avoid causing wild animals unnecessary suffering when harvesting them.

• Akiraqtuutijariaqanginniq Nirjutiit Pijjutigillugit means that wildlife and habitat are not possessions and so hunters should avoid disputes over the wildlife they harvest or the areas in which they harvest them.

• Ikpigusuttiarniq Nirjutilimaanik means that all wildlife should be treated respectfully.