From Eskimo to Inuit in 40 Years

 The Inuit of Canada Conference 

 On November 1-3, 2011 ITK held a conference called “From Eskimo to Inuit in 40 Years” to commemorate our 40 years of advancing Inuit issues at the national level in Ottawa. Our capital city is where national discussions take place. It’s where the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada began its work in 1971, and where Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami continues this work today. Our founders attended the conference, as did past ITC Presidents. We honoured our past presidents and leaders who passed away, and held seven remarkable panel discussions over the course of the two and a half days of our conference. The audio files of our sessions are available here for you to listen to.  

Founders Forum

Inuit Tapirisat of Canada’s original members look back on 40 years to discuss the genesis of political organization among Canada’s Inuit and what compelled Inuit to unite.

Introduced by: Mary Simon
Moderator: William Tagoona
Panelists: Tagak Curley, Meeka Kilabuk, Jacob Oweetaluktuk, Tony Anderson

[ Floor feed audio | MP3 | 1:00:09 | 55.0 Mb ]

Inuit Political Reform and Resolve

How did the Constitutional reform process of the 1980s and ’90s change the place of Inuit in Canada? What were the lessons of the land claims era and how can we use these lessons to chart our political future?

Introduced by: The Honourable Eva Aariak
Moderator: Mary Simon
Panelists: The Honourable Charlie Watt, John Amagoalik, Rosemarie Kuptana, Mary Sillett

[ Floor feed audio | MP3 | 1:27:01 | 88.87 Mb ]

Beyond Our Borders

How has the voice of Canadian Inuit abroad grown, especially in relation to key international issues such as climate change, sovereignty, rights, resource development and trade legislation? What global pressures lie ahead?

Introduced by: Isabella Pain
Moderator: Udloriak Hanson
Panelists: Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Shelagh Grant, Bradford Morse, Duane Smith

[ Floor feed audio | MP3 | 1:24:30 | 77.3 Mb ]

Polar Pundits

Our Pundit Panel reflects on how Inuit stories are reflected in the media and how public perceptions have changed in the last 40 years. What are the major challenges to overcome in how the South covers the North and how can Inuit become more involved in telling Inuit stories?

Introduced by: Okalik Eegeesiak
Moderator: Kevin Kablutsiak
Panelists: William Tagoona, Whit Fraser, Joanna Awa, Jeffrey Simpson

[ Floor feed audio | MP3 | 1:35:05 | 87.0 Mb ]

Vision and Voices of Inuit Youth

Meet the game-changers, the firecrackers, the computer whiz kids, the champions of their community – young leaders who will take us into the next 40 years of Inuit social and political development.

Introduced by: The Honourable Dennis Patterson
Moderator:  Pujjuut Kusugak
Panelists: Jennifer Watkins, Rebecca Mearns, James Kuptana, Joseph Flowers

[ Floor feed audio | MP3 | 1:48:45 | 99.5 Mb ]

Use it or lose it: Inuit Language and Education

The future of Inuit political, cultural and social development in Canada rests with the transformation of education systems and growth in the use of the Inuit language in Inuit Nunangat. How do we get there from here?

Introduced by: Mary Simon
Moderator: Kevin Kablutsiak
Panelists: Johanes Lampe, Beverly Amos, Zebedee Nungak, Allen Maghagak

[ Floor feed audio | MPS | 1:31:34 | 83.8 Mb ]

The World We Want

What is the role of ITK in the post-land-claims era and what are the challenges that lie ahead?

Introduced by: Elisapee Sheutiapik
Moderator: Mary Simon
Panelists: Pita Aatami, Nellie Cournoyea, Cathy Towtongie,    Jim Lyall

[ Floor feed audio | MP3 | 1:47:32 | 98.2 Mb ]