Arviat, a small Nunavut community located along the western shore of Hudson Bay, will be the home of the first Inuit-led university in Canada’s Arctic. It is the southernmost community on Nunavut’s mainland and is home to the territory’s third-largest youth population. The doors are expected to open by 2030, serving 100 students.
The location of the main campus was formally announced in Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon during an event hosted by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national organization representing Inuit.
ITK President Natan Obed said the creation of the first university in Inuit Nunangat—the homeland of Inuit in Canada—is an important step in asserting jurisdiction in the Canadian Arctic.
“Inuit underpin Canada’s sovereignty,” Obed said.
“One of the driving forces of the strength of our society is our knowledge and our education. So having a university in Inuit Nunangat is going to be another step that we need to secure our country.”
Arviat, which has a population of about 3,000, was chosen by ITK’s board of directors following a review of 51 communities. Eight were shortlisted and six submitted detailed pitches.
The five other communities will now be considered to host regional knowledge centers or satellite campuses. They include: Inuvik (Northwest Territories), Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay (Nunavut), and Kuujjuaq and Puvirnituq (Quebec).
Arviat ranked highest in overall readiness, site capacity and alignment with the university’s vision for an immersive, culturally rich learning environment, according to ITK.
Most people who live in the hamlet speak Inuktitut, which will be taught at the university. They also continue to practice their traditions, which Arviat Mayor Savikataaq Jr. said the community is eager to share.
The new university is expected to open by 2030. It will serve approximately 100 students and have 80 staff members.
Housing in Arviat is in short supply, but Savikataaq Jr. said new housing will be built to ensure enough accommodations for the university, which he hopes will bring economic benefits and new businesses to the community.
The hamlet has the third-largest youth population in Nunavut, which Obed hopes will take advantage of having higher education available close by.
“We want to give young people, young Inuit, the ability to dream about going to university within their society and within their extended community,” Obed said.
Along with the name of the location, Wednesday’s announcement included a new $50 million pledge by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) for the construction of the main campus, in addition to $2 million it had already contributed.
NTI is also donating another $50 million for student housing and $35 million for programming.
But ITK is waiting for the federal government to announce its share. “The federal government is a linchpin in all of this. We need their support and I look forward to hearing them articulate it more clearly in the coming weeks,” Obed said.
A federal government source told CBC News a contribution of up to $50 million will be confirmed once the university’s funding proposal is complete.
Source: CBC