Nunavik takes steps toward its own post-secondary institution
New report finds strong support for a Nunavik Institute blending Inuit knowledge with Western accreditation
Kativik Ilisarniliriniq held consultations in all 14 Nunavik communities to discuss plans for a post-secondary institute that would blend Inuit knowledge with Western education. (File photo by Cedric Gallant)
Sarah Aloupa is president of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, Nunavik’s school board. (Photo courtesy of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq/Jade Duchesneau Bernier)
A plan to open a post-secondary institution in Nunavik is in motion.
Nunavik’s school board, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, ran a series of public consultations in 2023-24 in all 14 communities about offering post-secondary education in the region. The results from a report published Oct. 21 show Nunavimmiut are in support.
Access to post-secondary education in the region has an impact on employment and economic opportunities for Nunavimmiut, said Sarah Aloupa, KI’s president, in an interview.
“One of the reasons to start these programs is to have more graduates at the college/university levels because it’s required to occupy a position in different organizations,” she said.
Only 3.5 per cent of the Nunavik population hold a college degree while 1.2 per cent have a university education, according to KI. There are close to 14,000 people in Nunavik, according to figures from the Quebec government.
A 2023 study commissioned by Quebec’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education recommended two models of institutions suitable for Nunavik.
The public consultation report shows that a Nunavik Institute — one of the recommended models — is the most suitable option to ensure all Nunavimmiut voices are heard.
“[The Nunavik Institute] offers the most flexibility and also has the possibility for CEGEP and university and adult ed courses to be under that umbrella,” said Phebe Bentley, director of post-secondary education services at KI, in an interview Thursday.
Nunavimmiut want an institution that is based on Inuit knowledge and the Inuktitut language, the report found. But they also want the institution to offer programs leading to Western-based technical and professional certifications recognized outside the region.
Having a post-secondary institution in Nunavik also means Nunavimmiut can study at home, Aloupa said.
“Many of our students first time when they go down to attend college or university, there’s culture shock. They cannot stay in the south for too long. So, they come back right away sometimes,” she said.
“If we could have those programs here in our region, it would be easier for our people to continue.”
Inuit of Nunavik have been asking for this since the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975 as shown in multiple public consultation reports between 1992 and 2014.
There are currently no college or university campuses in Nunavik.
KI doesn’t have the jurisdiction to provide post-secondary education in Nunavik, under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
To make the Nunavik Institute possible, officials are working with Makivvik Corp. to explore how the school board’s mandate could be expanded to include higher education.
Phebe Bentley, director of post-secondary education services at Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, Nunavik’s school board. (Photo courtesy of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq/Jade Duchesneau Bernier)
Asked if it will be challenging to amend the JBNQA, Bentley said it will likely not be easy but negotiations will have to be carried out.
“We’re up for the challenge,” she said.
Bentley said this is a long-term project that will probably take 10 years or more to complete.
In the meantime, KI has partnered with John Abbott College in Montreal to bring post-secondary courses to Nunavik.
“There’s gonna be a lot of work that will lay the foundation for the eventual institution,” Bentley said.
Nunavik got little to offer as an educational base for a secondary school. Pretty well depends on the larger society for programs. Nunavik has only a finger or two count og of educated individuals to oversee a program like this. Nunavik has no research base being done by educated professionals from Nunavik. The people involved with KI are not fully educated, some have john abbot certificate, but not a full education degree from university. Until which time that inuit from Nunavik can lead this secondary program with fully inuit staff, it will not be a fully Nunavik base program, with full inuit programs. I want this badly that secondary program but i know its not possible with what we are currently experiencing and not experiencing. Putting the horse before the cart will not wotk, as we already been doing for about 40 years without and results. Same old same old with new day said.