Nunavut’s 2025: Audits, elections and a lot of sovereignty

Nunavut is poised to enter the new year renewed in many different ways.

From left, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, ITK president Natan Obed, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier John Main are the winners of this year’s election spree in Nunavut. (File photos by Jeff Pelletier and Arty Sarkisian)

From new leadership at the helm of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the territorial government to the renewal of Nunavut’s founding document and newly found global interest in the Arctic, the territory has kept itself in national and international headlines.

As 2025 comes to an end, here are some of the year’s biggest happenings.

Year of elections

Starting with the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. presidential election in December 2024, Nunavummiut spent a lot of time at the ballot box: MP Lori Idlout held onto her seat in April’s federal election; Natan Obed was selected for his third term as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president despite previously saying he wouldn’t run; and a majority of Nunavut MLAs, including the premier, didn’t run or were unseated in the Oct. 27 territorial election.

Suicide – a ‘crisis’ once again

The Nunavut government “reaffirmed” suicide as a crisis after a coroner’s inquest, held in Kimmirut in April, looked into the death of George Arlooktoo from self-inflicted wounds following an encounter with the RCMP in 2019.

Arena fire in Igloolik

A blaze broke out on Feb. 12 at Igloolik’s arena, which also hosted the community’s signature Artcirq circus program.

The building was destroyed, Artcirq had to move to the high school gym, and the community created a makeshift outdoor hockey rink to get through the winter.

From ‘sovereignty’ to ‘nation-building’

A lot was said and done in the names of sovereignty and nation-building this year.

Three federal party leaders visited Iqaluit before the April election, including Prime Minister Mark Carney who had just succeeded Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberal party, to pitch themselves as the best defenders of the Arctic.

And four Nunavut infrastructure projects were featured on NTI’s and the Nunavut government’s wishlist for federal support.

Drugs in Cambridge Bay

In July, two Cambridge Bay men ended up in an Edmonton hospital after being reportedly assaulted by what the family described as a group of drug dealers.

Four men were charged in connection with the alleged incident three days later.

That prompted Cambridge Bay officials and RCMP Supt. Kent Pike to host a community meeting to address fears over public safety.

Golden time for gold

B2Gold’s CEO Clive Johnson at the grand opening of the Goose Lake mine on Sept. 4. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)

Kitikmeot became the host of a new gold mine — the territory’s third, after two Agnico Eagle mines in Nunavut’s Kivalliq Region.

B2Gold’s Goose Mine officially opened Sept. 4 at a time of record-breaking gold prices that recently reached nearly $5,894 per ounce.

Audits 

Two federal audits caused a stir in the Nunavut government right before the election.

The audits, into the Department of Family Services and Nunavut Housing Corp., highlighted major issues in the way the government takes care of its vulnerable children and provides housing to Nunavummiut.

Elders in Rankin Inlet

Nunavut elders living in southern care facilities were able to come home this year. At least, some were.

The long-awaited 24-bed elder facility in Rankin Inlet opened its doors in January. It’s the first facility of the kind in Nunavut, and the plan is to build two more facilities in Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit.

Nunavut Agreement renewed

The implementation contract of Nunavut’s founding document was renewed for the first time since it was signed more than 30 years ago.

Signed in March, the renewal of the Nunavut Agreement included $1.5 billion to be paid from the federal government to Inuit over the next decade, plus an immediate, ongoing commitment of $77.6 million annually.

A sealskin ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorates the substantial completion of the 24-bed elder facility in Rankin Inlet on Jan. 15. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)

No more vouchers

The food voucher program that benefited 15,000 kids across Nunavut ended, causing hunger in some communities.

The vouchers were part of the federal Inuit Child First Initiative program aimed to support Inuit, similar to Jordan’s Principle for First Nations. But that program is set to run out of funding as well next spring.

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty indicated the program will be redefined and made permanent, but there is no word on any possible reinstatement of the food vouchers.