Nutaat Inuit: New People

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation establisheda Regional Youth Advisory Group (RYAG) in late 2017 to advise and advocate on behalf of Inuvialuit youth concerns and wellbeing to the IRC board and other relevant boards and committees. RYAG is made up of two Inuvialuit youth from each of the six Inuvialuit communities. Themes that the Regional Youth Advisory Group has noted and advocates for include: mental health, suicide prevention, education, housing, sport, hunting, culture and language, politics, climate change, arts and culture—just to name a few.

Youth bring forward the traits taught to them into their adulthood. They learn from skills, traditions, and lifestyles choices that they witness throughout their first stages of life. As Indigenous people—and more specifically, Inuvialuit—resilience has always been passed down from our ancestors. We as young Inuvialuit come from a strong group of Inuvialuit who lived and survived in one of the coldest habitats on earth and are still here today. Though, our society is always changing and progressing in every aspect including the environment, ways of making a living, and society as a whole. Children and youth are a very important aspect in the progression of society. We believe this because children and youth generally bring out honesty towards those in authority through curiosity of how decisions are being made, or have been made in the past.

From the evidence of history, young Inuvialuit have always been advocating for the betterment of their overall wellbeing. In 1970, the Committee of Original People’s Entitlement (COPE) was established to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples of Canada’s Western Arctic. COPE was established by a group of youth in partnership and with direction from Inuvialuit Elders. In 1976, COPE’s main mandate was to negotiate what is now known as the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA).

As stated above, our society is constantly changing, and our way of life is now different from what our ancestors grew up doing. I was told once that, “If a culture does not adapt with society, then the culture will be lost. In order to survive, we have to adapt—yet keep our traditions and beliefs in today’s world.” We as Inuvialuit youth are still being taught and still exercising our Inuvialuit culture and traditions—but in a much modern style that fits our needs or desires today. Through beading, sewing, carving, printmaking and photography— we celebrate the ups and downs we as Inuvialuit have. Today, we are still thriving with our culture, our traditions, arts and crafts and most importantly—as Inuvialuit. Today, we are still practicing our cultural activities with what we have. Today, we are still advocating for our future, our kids’ and grandkids’ future.

In the North, we generally consider youth to be 0-30 years old, but in this issue, you will find stories about youth from Inuvialuit of all ages, from those in their early years to Elders who reminisce about their early years. Through these pages, we attempt to answer what it means to be a young Inuvialuk in the past, present, and future. We hear about the kinds of experiences that have made an imprint on the early lives and formative years of many Inuvialuit inside and outside of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Through this issue, we have worked to bring forth the voices, ideas, thoughts, wishes, dreams, and expressions of Inuvialuit youth to truly shine in this issue.

It is with no doubt that youth are an important pillar to our society and communities, and that their voices should not simply be heard—but pondered deeply, broadcasted, and integrated into larger social initiatives. We hope this issue will be a reminder of that.

Please enjoy this issue! We hope you stay young forever at heart, and keep believing in the infinite possibilities our world has to offer—never be afraid to ask questions and strive for better.

Quyanainni, Quyanaq, Koana, Thank You, Merci,

RYAG CHAIR