Nunavik school board demands province apologize for scathing report
Kativik Ilisarniliriniq says it’s making progress on the report’s recommendations despite a lack of communication with the government
Kativik Ilisarniliriniq director general Harriet Keleutak spoke out against the Quebec Ministry of Education report on the school board’s finances. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)
Two years after the provincial government did made an administrative inquiry into the Nunavik school board’s deficit, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq is demanding an apology from the Quebec government.
At Nunavik’s all-organizations meeting, held in Montreal in mid-April, the school board’s director general Harriet Keleutak expressed frustration with the report and demanded an apology for its critical language and insensitivity to the North’s “unique” situation.
“We were being accused of mismanaging our funds. They had an expert, who … became an expert after being [up North] for three months. I’ve been living in the south for many years now. I think I’ve become an expert, too,” Keleutak said in Inuktitut.
The Ministry of Education’s internal affairs directorate, which conducts administrative investigations into school boards, mandated the investigation.
That report, published in July 2024, said the board’s senior administration “failed to be vigilant” with “the significant financial resources made available to them” and that the commissioner’s council “seems to be more focused on political issues than on financial ones.”
It also noted that KI’s employee turnover rate is high. Some 47 per cent of its staff are replaced annually.
However, the report acknowledged that a lot of the issues went beyond “the scope of a single school board.”
The school board’s council says it has addressed some of the investigation’s recommendations. It has implemented Sivumuattiit, a one-year planning process to “to support Nunavik students on their path to success,” according to Kativik Ilisarniliriniq’s website.
KI spokesperson Jade Bernier says the Ministry of Education has not been in contact with the school board despite the board’s progress.
“Despite multiple followups, we have unfortunately no concrete update as to where the approval process is at regarding Kativik Ilisarniliriniq’s response to the findings of the investigation, action plan, support proposal, funding agreement and apology letter,” Bernier said.
“This reinforces the importance of clearly framed, proportionate processes that support student success while respecting the organization’s mandate and reputation,” KI president Sarah Aloupa said.
Nunatsiaq News asked the Ministry of Education for comment, but it did not reply before publication.
Childish response from KI. Do better with your funds. Be accountable to the tax payers.
My KI/ Qc ministry high school diploma is toilet paper. Useless.
The arrogance knows no bounds.
It’s hard to support the call for an apology from Kativik Ilisarniliriniq when the findings of the report point to serious concerns that directly affect Nunavimmiut—especially children and their right to a stable, quality education.
Rather than asking for an apology, KI should be taking full accountability and offering one to Nunavimmiut. The report clearly highlights issues around financial oversight and leadership focus. When significant public funds are involved, there is a responsibility to manage them carefully and transparently. A lack of vigilance in this area is not a small issue—it has real impacts on classrooms, resources, staffing, and ultimately on students’ futures.
The high staff turnover alone—nearly half the workforce changing each year—speaks to deeper systemic problems. This level of instability affects continuity in education, student support, and community trust. These are not just administrative challenges; they are issues that impact children every single day.
While it’s true that Nunavik faces unique challenges, that reality should strengthen accountability—not weaken it. The context of the North should be used to advocate for better support and stronger systems, not to deflect criticism.
Nunavimmiut deserve transparency, responsibility, and leadership that puts students first. An apology from KI acknowledging past shortcomings, along with clear, measurable actions for improvement, would go much further in rebuilding trust than asking for one from the government.
Accountability? How dare you
Did they ask for compensation too?
Nunavimmiut demand an apology from KI and the Quebec education minister/ ministry for their craptacular services and products.
No wonder Inuit kids are in trouble with arrogant and inadequate leadership like that.
This whole situation never stops being a concern. Both the KI side and government officials are forever spewing in a dispute of the unknown. Unfortunately kids are losing out.
So many years have passed and here we are with same old beefs and disagreements and disappointments.
Im forever trying to figure out how KI has developed into this narrative id rejected attitudes towards main stream education, can’t figure that one out except to see a group of uneducated persons , many from the same philosophy and religion of a small community from Nunavik representing our vulnerable children and education. And it continues to this 2026 year. Why would not the government want the best fir our Nunavik children? I believe the education system of quebec wants the best for our children. The same incentives called upon and giving to all provincial students. I think the problem is within the rotting culture of KI, and mist are fearful or narrow minded in believing some how that the learning curve among inuit kids are different. They’re not different. Its just a unique unnecessary rejection of mainstream education from KI, not able to know any better because of the internal ignorance.
Just wondering if anyone spoke up in a challenging way about this in that great meeting? Maybe as seen in many meetings. Its one way street, one idea takes all without any objection or challenge. That point right there, is our nunavik story of non progressive growth. No one wants to stand up for justice and unacceptable situations. Fear of being outcasted runs deep in our political culture in Nunavik. Guts is missing, and consequently no forward movement to making of good character to get ahead. The
@ Did anyone speak up about this in the meeting?
Clearly you misunderstand the purpose of “the meeting”.
It is merely a smokescreen to justify Nunavik entities such as KI and Makivvik to have their main office/operations functioning from the South , while claiming to represent Northerners. Same with the FCNQ as well.
This of course followed by the free housing and per diems Executives who once railed against such perks, now bask in them, themselves.
Yes , indeed smokescreen a good label for so much waste in the meetings. But, theres lots of opportunity for anyone to stand up and rock the boat, which never happens. Thats the crutch of the problem. Not one person among the group to take the lead. The character is missing. Compliance as to not be left out of group popularity. Its one of the weakness of narrowed minded politics. No soldiers, just following the pack into nothingness. And Nunavik talks self government in dreams only.
@ Smokescreen or not, yes it is
Ah yes…..
The missing reason why our GREAT leaders choose to have THEIR meetings outside of Nunavik is to ensure they do not come face to face with members that would ask the tough question!
The FM stations can be used more to gather our thoughts as it had been in the past.
A divide between the region and the province on how to do education well could be better managed perhaps with a designated liaison office to keep one another on the same page. Another thing to note is the importance one places on schooling, some peoples as the Japanese have a high value for education. There is blame to go around in this regard when we take education as an automatically produced service. Other factors, students excessive screen time (a biggy) discipline, motivation, etc can be dealt with. Pointing at one another’s faults does not bridge differences and bring about improvements and necessary changes. One thing I think we can all agree on is that it is not getting any easier as distractions are many and increasing in this technological driven day and age.