Nunavik hosts grand conference

Kuujjuaq is the centre of the circumpolar world for one week in August, during the ninth general assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference. The event takes place in the community’s new $9-million convention centre and brings together delegates from Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia.

The Kativik Regional Government spent nearly two years organizing the event, which cost $1.2 million in total. “We don’t really have the infrastructure for a meeting of this size,” said Eric Pearson, manager of the Northern Store, “but I guess everything has worked out.”

The conference coincides with the annual Aqpik Jam music festival, bringing harmony to the intense political discussions.

At the close of the conference, Sheila Watt-Cloutier is named the new president of ICC, replacing Aqqaluq Lynge.