Students living across Canada’s four Inuit regions are inching closer to the dream of attending university at home through the announcement of the Inuit Nunangat University project, backed by significant funding from the Mastercard Foundation.
On November 27, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) unveiled plans for the proposed university, which is set to become the first Inuit-owned and governed institution of its kind situated on traditional Inuit lands. The Mastercard Foundation has pledged $50 million to support the initial stages of development, which ITK President Natan Obed emphasized is not just about education—it’s about grounding students in their culture.
Obed explained, "It’s to create opportunity for students who want to live and study in Inuit Nunangat, along with building an institution rooted in Inuit values and governance." He mentioned, too, the importance of the university for language retention and cultural revitalization.
Currently, no location has been confirmed for the university, but plans include smaller campuses built across each of the four Inuit regions—Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories—offering courses uniquely related to local cultures.
Expressing her excitement at the new opportunities, Tracy Denniston, who hails from Nain, Labrador, remarked how difficult it has been for her to live away from her community to pursue higher education, wishing she could have studied at such an institution during her time. “It’s difficult leaving our home community,” she shared as she discussed the challenges her adult children may face if they have to move away for schooling.
Addressing the financial aspects of the initiative, ITK has set its eyes on gathering $160 million through federal funding and private donations to complete the project. Obed has stated they plan to petition for $50 million from the federal government’s next budget. He believes this university will help break down the barriers many Inuit face when trying to access post-secondary education.
Obed articulated the pressing need for such institutions, noting, "We're the only developed country without a university located within the Arctic for years." The educational offerings aim to align closely with Inuit values and include various degree programs tied to the resourcefulness and sustainability, governance, leadership, and traditions of the Inuit culture.
The vision for Inuit Nunangat University includes six faculties, each focusing on what Obed described as the desired outcomes for the community. For example, programs will encompass degrees from economics to hunting to more modern subjects like environmental engineering.
One of the key challenges highlighted during this phase has been securing adequate funding and legislative backing necessary for the university's establishment to operate across the nuanced realities of provincial and territorial regulations. Despite these hurdles, Obed expressed optimism for the future, stating, “We hope to have discussions across the board within current academic institutions about what this new model will look like and how we can integrate it with existing frameworks.”
Lastly, the timeline for the university has been pushed back, with plans now set to have the first students welcomed by 2030, as opposed to the more ambitious 2023 goal initially proposed. While the timeline may have changed, the commitment to building this educational facility remains firm, reflecting the traditions and societal needs of the Inuit people.
With continued cooperation and support from organizations like the Mastercard Foundation, there is optimism within the Inuit communities for the opening of Inuit Nunangat University, which aims not only to deliver education but also to serve as a beacon of cultural preservation and empowerment for generations to come.
