QIA to Build up to Eight Additional Nauttiqsuqtiit Centres

Press Release

Iqaluit, Nunavut – March 4, 2026 – The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is preparing to build additional Nauttiqsuqtiit Centres in eight communities in the Qikiqtani region as part of the SINAA implementation.

The SINAA Agreement is an indigenous-led marine conservation initiative and is one of three recently established Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) agreements in Canada by the Government of Canada, QIA, Pew Charitable Trust, and the Aajuraq Conservation Fund Society. Part of the $270 million agreement provides for new community infrastructure, including Nauttiqsuqtiit Centres, and investments in training and equipment.

The Board of Directors meeting today discussed initial plans for delivery pathways for the new Nauttiqsuqtiit Centres to be built in Kimmirut, Kinngait, Igloolik, Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Sanikiluaq, Sanirajak and Iqaluit. “We are proud of the Centres that have already been completed in Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay and are excited for the centres that are underway in Clyde River and Grise Fiord. We will start building in Pond Inlet next. There are a lot of factors to determining where to build next, including practical things like whether Hamlets have lots and gravel availability” said QIA President Olayuk Akesuk.

The Nauttiqsuqtiit Centres are designed to facilitate the delivery of Nauttiqsuqtiit programming, with offices and workshops for program staff, as well as offering rental spaces for community use. The purpose of Nauttiqsuqtiit staff is to work as stewards and use their traditional knowledge of the landscape to monitor sea ice conditions and lend a hand to search and rescue efforts in the community. As harvesters, Nauttiqsuqtiit share their catch with Elders and the community to help Inuit access country food. The Nauttiqsuqtiit Centres are designed to provide space to enable such activities.

The completed and current infrastructure projects have seen the training and employment of 26 Inuit in the construction of the centres.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Karen Flaherty
Director, Strategic Communications
Qikiqtani Inuit Association
(P) 867.975.8398 or toll-free 1.800.667.2742
kflaherty@qia.ca

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