Jordan’s Principle funding could come to Naujaat after all
Food voucher project to support children in community
Jordan’s Principle funding for Naujaat is back on the table after council expressed renewed interest in signing a contribution agreement with the federal government. (File photo)
Naujaat’s hamlet council is again working to receive Jordan’s Principle funding for people in the community after declining to sign a contribution agreement in February.
The hamlet contacted Indigenous Services Canada on July 16 to revive a food voucher project for Inuit children in the community, Carolane Gratton, a spokesperson for the federal department, confirmed in an email.
The voucher program gives children up to age 18 access to essential items like food, baby formula and diapers. It’s delivered through Jordan’s Principle, a federally administered program that helps give First Nations and Inuit families access to various support, such as education and medical supplies, food and baby products.
The Indigenous Kids Network of Canada, a non-profit that helps northern communities navigate Jordan’s Principle, submitted an application to support 710 children in Naujaat on behalf of the hamlet in November. Indigenous Services approved $6.8 million for the community in December.
Nunatsiaq News reported on June 20 that the hamlet declined in February to sign a contribution agreement that would allow this money to flow.
Naujaat Mayor Kevin Tegumiar said council denied the contribution agreement that was presented originally and has been in communication with Indigenous Kids Network of Canada to see if a new, hamlet-led proposal could be accepted by Jordan’s Principle.
Gratton said the federal government is working with the hamlet to establish a new contribution agreement as well.
“This project is anticipated to start Sept. 1, 2024, and run until March 31, 2025,” she said.
Hopefully Peoples or Hamlets won’t have to pay back sometime later.
Inuit are not covered under “Jordan’s Principle”, Jordan’s Principle funding is for First Nations, it came out of a Human Rights Tribunal (2020 CHRT 20) and is now a permanent federal funded program.
Though Inuit are not covered by Jordan’s Principle, the Federal gov’t set up an initiative called, Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI) which will run-out/with the possibility to be renegotiated past March 31st, 2025.
In-short, Jordan’s Principle and Inuit-CFI is not the same: Jordan’s Principle is a permanent federally funded program; whereas Inuit-CFI is a federal initiative with no clear understanding if it will continue past March 31/2025.
The Indigenous Kids Network of Canada helps other groups navigate the system for applications to both Jordan’s Principle and ICFI.
Also there was an interesting letter to the editor of Nunatsiaq News on Inuit Child-First Initiative, titled, “The myth of the Inuit Child-First Initiative” (Feb. 21/2020) on the complexities of parents applying to ICFI…
I guess you know nothing do you? Although Jordan’s Principle was a Human’s Rights Decision is was upheld by the Federal Court and the Federal Court extended the Jordan’s Principles to all Indigenous Groups including Inuit and that is why ICFI is created and those principles are upheld. Perhaps you should update your information before spouting it.
Imagine if people put as much effort into a real job than they put into trying to get hand-outs? Oh, the horror!
It will sky rocker the prices in the store, it has happened in my hometown.
Would love to see the evidence to show that 1) prices increased, and 2) increases were specifically due to this program. Standing by…
Lets take Cambridge Bay NU, Local Co-ops prices have gone up 20-30% on products in the last two weeks since JP money has been rolling.
The off brand name yoghurt 4.40 now 5.99. Brand name 5.99 now 7.99. Protein one 7.99 now 9.99.
This is two weeks, but most of the healthy section since that’s where JP money is eligible has absolutely increased in the CB Co-op. Cant speak for Northern since I don’t shop much there. Milk, cheese, yoghurt, fruits veg, absolutely.
I cant post images here of receipts unfortunately, but everyone and their dog here knows its driven prices.
What happens when no change in supply hits a massive surge in demand? Prices go up, that’s just econ 101, the supplier has all the control in the world in that scenario and the shelves are empty, the co-op has not adjusted ordering so supply is short which means they can drive prices.
I like how you spell yogurt.
It has three spelling variations, and I always default to the UK for whatever reason.
UK, AUS, NZ, etc. All Yoghurt. USA Yogurt and Canada is actually yogourt, most people just use the American though which is Yogurt and that’s where the bulk of our products come from so makes sense I guess.
The Coop in Rankin Inlet has been wiped out of vegetables and many of its yogurts for weeks now, it is very discouraging. I wish someone could order more goods, I miss having fresh greens.
Unless you rush the store on the day the plane lands for re-stocking there’s nothing left. There’s so much extra money going around and limited amounts, so rather than ordering more and going for volume of sales they have just increased the prices dramatically and its just competition of who can get there first and spend the money.
While its good that kids are hopefully getting good food, its very very short sighted of the gov’t as per usual on letting the stores just have full control while all this additional money floods in. Anyone could see this was going to happen, so if you don’t have kids to get the JP money, be it they’re over 18 or you just dont have them, you’re toast, your food bill just went up another 20-40% after its nearly doubled in the past few years.
Its quite the double edged sword and its a prime example of how injecting “Free money” aka working tax payer dollars as a handout for the purchase of goods drives inflation. You’re seeing it in real time here, same thing happened when all the COVID money went out in the rest of Canada.
Inuit finally eating unaffordable fruits and vegetable, dairy products. No wonder Population of Caribous are in the thousands more.
why not go to the stores and see for yourself??
Poor kids missed a few good support 🙁
Couples making 200k a year get JP money and what a shame elders on fixed incomes of 20k get nothing. OH CANADA,