Kitikmeot Heritage Society awarded $100,000 for Inuinnaqtun programs
Community-nominated grant comes from Annauma Community Foundation
Eva Ayalik, right, and Tammy Omilgoetok, left, conduct Inuinnaqtun interviews with George Angohiatok for the Kitikmeot Heritage Society’s language podcast at the new Kuugalaaq Knowledge Centre in Cambridge Bay. The society was awarded $100,000 by the Annauma Community Foundation’s Community Nominated Award on Dec. 3. (Photo courtesy of Kitikmeot Heritage Society)
The Kitikmeot Heritage Society, based in Cambridge Bay, is the recipient of a $100,000 Community Nominated Award from the Annauma Community Foundation.
The winner was announced Dec. 3 in a news release.
The grant recognizes community-driven work across Nunavut.
The funding will support Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq / Kitikmeot Heritage Society as it continues expanding Inuinnaqtun programming, strengthening staff capacity, and growing its Kuugalaaq campus in Cambridge Bay, which opened last September.
“I would say we feel humbled for this grant that we were nominated for through this community foundation,” said executive director Emily Angulalik in an interview. “It’s the dedication of our elders, the staff, the organization, the board members who have worked for this goal.”
Angulalik said the funding will play a key role in updating internal policies and supporting the organization’s growing team.
Kitikmeot Heritage Society employs cultural and language workers, archival staff, apprentices and three elders-in-residence, with more positions now being added, such as a financial assistant.
The Community Nominated Award is chosen by the foundation. Community members make nominations to bring forth organizations to Annauma’s board, said board member Udlu Hanson.
The nomination for the Kitikmeot Heritage Society stood out for its work in revitalizing Inuinnaqtun, Hanson said.
“The fact that they were using different means, like mentoring, digital tools and recording immersion, to try and reverse the loss of Inuinnaqtun was very fascinating to us,” she said.
Hanson said that Annauma receives its funding from a mix of private and charitable foundations, corporations, and government programs, including the Community Foundations of Canada, the Mastercard Foundation, and the Rideau Hall Foundation.
Annauma received 18 nominations this year. It was an “increase in nominations from last year, which shows a lot of pride in communities for their initiatives,” Hanson said.
Angulalik said the Kitikmeot Heritage Society plans to expand cultural programming in early 2026.
“It will be busy, but an amazing busy,” she said.
Koana to read this article and congratulations to Kitikmeot Heritage Society on the award! Happy too that Pitkohinitkok ilihaotinik will continue to support inuinakton programs. Sorry but not sorry for how I spell as an elder, the past elders had taught me to write how the words sound.