"The North Wants In": Mary Simon Launches 2010 Year of the Inuit with Release of The North Poll

Wednesday November 25, 2009 - Ottawa, ON - National Inuit Leader Mary Simon today called for greater awareness of the challenges facing Inuit, as her organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) kicked off their “2010: Year of the Inuit” initiative with the release of polling data on Canadian Arctic awareness.

 

“While we are pleased that the Inuksuk, an Inuit symbol, is being used at the upcoming Olympics,” said Mary Simon, “we also have to ensure that our country sees us in more than just symbolic terms. The North wants in.”

 

In a press conference Wednesday Mary Simon outlined some of the health and socio-economic challenges facing Inuit, such as a life expectancy 15 years lower than the average Canadian, with the cost of living in the Arctic three to four times higher than in Southern Canada and an average Inuit income half of that of non-aboriginal Canadians.

 

ITK also commissioned an Ipsos Reid poll to gauge the Canadian public’s understanding of the Inuit and the Arctic. In report card terms one in three (31%) Canadians scored a ‘D’ in answering true or false questions about the Arctic.

 

Simon noted a disappointing statistic in the poll: only 25% of Canadians were aware that Inuit pay all taxes, including income tax, GST and PST. “Looking at that statistic, as full tax-paying citizens, facing economic and health challenges not faced by the average Canadian, why wouldn’t we want ‘in’? The Inuit cannot only be remembered during times of sovereignty issues.”

 

On climate change – the issue of our times – Canadians were supportive of the plight of the Inuit in the Arctic, acknowledging that the ravages of climate change are hitting the Arctic the hardest.

 

In order to focus the attention of Canadians on Inuit culture, contributions and challenges president Simon announced a new ITK initiative, “2010 Year of the Inuit.”

 

“In the next year we will work to focus the attention of Canadians on Inuit culture, contributions and challenges,” said Simon. “Inuit are prepared to do our part, whether at the Olympics, during the G7 conference in Iqaluit or at our own events, to educate, inform, advise and listen.”

 

Simon also noted that ITK will launch the kickoff event for 2010 Year of the Inuit with a fundraiser for the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation called “A Taste of the Arctic –
a Celebration of Inuit Culture” on January 14^th at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

 

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For further information:

Stephen Hendrie, ITK Director of Communications (613) 277-3178 hendrie@itk.ca

Greg MacEachern, Summa Strategies (613) 293-2800 gmaceachern@summa.ca

Sean Simpson, Ipsos Reid sean.simpson@ipsos.com

Complete poll results are available at www.itk.ca