Nunavik Moves Forward with Plans for Post-Secondary Institution

A significant initiative is underway to establish a post-secondary institution in Nunavik, a remote region of northern Quebec. The Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (KI) school board has engaged in extensive public consultations across all 14 communities in 2023 and 2024 to assess the demand for post-secondary education. The findings of the consultations, revealed in a report published on October 21, 2023, indicate robust support from the Nunavimmiut community for such an institution.

According to Sarah Aloupa, the president of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, access to post-secondary education could significantly enhance employment and economic opportunities for residents. “One of the reasons to start these programs is to have more graduates at the college/university levels because it’s required to occupy a position in different organizations,” Aloupa stated in a recent interview. The statistics highlight the need for change: only 3.5 percent of the Nunavik population holds a college degree, while a mere 1.2 percent have attained a university education, based on data from KI.

The total population of Nunavik is close to 14,000, according to Quebec government figures. A study commissioned by the Quebec Ministry of Education and Higher Education in 2023 proposed two viable models for a post-secondary institution in the region. The public consultation report concluded that the creation of a Nunavik Institute would best serve the community’s needs, ensuring that the voices of all Nunavimmiut are included in its development.

Phebe Bentley, the director of post-secondary education services at KI, emphasized the flexibility of the proposed Nunavik Institute. “It offers the most flexibility and also has the possibility for CEGEP and university and adult education courses to be under that umbrella,” Bentley explained. Community feedback indicates a strong desire for an institution grounded in Inuit knowledge and the Inuktitut language while also providing programs that lead to Western-based technical and professional certifications recognized beyond the region.

A local post-secondary institution would address cultural challenges faced by students who travel south for education. Aloupa noted, “Many of our students, the first time they go down to attend college or university, there’s culture shock. They cannot stay in the south for too long. So, they come back right away sometimes.” Establishing educational opportunities in Nunavik would ease this transition, allowing students to remain connected to their culture while pursuing their studies.

Calls for a post-secondary institution in Nunavik date back to the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975, with various public consultation reports highlighting this need between 1992 and 2014. Currently, no college or university campuses exist in Nunavik, and KI lacks the authority to provide post-secondary education as stipulated in the agreement.

To facilitate the development of the Nunavik Institute, KI is collaborating with Makivvik Corp. to explore how its mandate might be expanded to include higher education. Bentley acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that amending the JBNQA will not be straightforward. “We’re up for the challenge,” she asserted.

Bentley also indicated that this project is a long-term endeavour, likely requiring over 10 years to fully realize. In the interim, KI has partnered with John Abbott College in Montreal to offer post-secondary courses in Nunavik. “There’s going to be a lot of work that will lay the foundation for the eventual institution,” Bentley remarked.

As Nunavik progresses towards establishing its own post-secondary institution, the community remains hopeful that this long-awaited initiative will provide valuable educational opportunities, fostering growth and development within the region.