Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ)

Inuktitut Words

IQ Insights

Departmental IQ Events

Economic Development &Transportation (ED&T) is committed to the implementation of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) in the workplace. This commitment is reflected through the establishment of an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangita Isumaksaqsiurtingit (IQI) Committee. IQI is an internal body providing advisory resource for all divisions and branches to consult on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) initiatives.

The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangita Isumaksaqsiurtingit (IQI) provides advice and recommendations to the department on IQ related issues. One of the specific roles of IQI is to review and provide input into policy and programs development to ensure that the principles of IQ are reflected in departmental programs, services, legislation and regulations.

IQI will develop overall IQ initiatives and is responsible through the Deputy Minister for addressing advice or recommendations with specific applications to the department. IQI will base its advice or recommendations to meet the departmental IQ goals and Pinasuartavut. The IQI does not limit the department in pursuing additional IQ consultations, as required.

With a foundation based on Inuit knowledge, cultural values, and recognition of the needs and desires of the community and consultation, the Department strives to provide programs and services that best meet the needs of Nunavummiut.

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Priorities:

• IQ Coordinator will continue to provide initial review and recommendations for all policies developed by ED&T
• IQI reviews and makes recommendations on all document in the department
• IQI provides advice and recommendations on any proposed communication and consultations advanced by ED&T
• Terminology workshop
• Inuit employees are involved in recruitment of all positions in the department
• Staff information sessions with elders on ED&T related topic
   

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit:

• When we are producing or amending legislation or policy it has to be IQ compliant. Which means, our work has to include the principles of IQ in order to better serve all Nunavummiut.
• There have been many occasions where government operations/policies have not been IQ compliant and the end result has been disastrous.
• For example, when construction crews and engineers came into the communities with their supplies to build houses they did not ask the community or the elders for advice on which direction the houses should face once they were built.

Yet, in the case of these newly built houses, the door was put directly facing the head wind which created problems because the snow comes into the house every time the wind blows.

When Inuit build igloos they always put their door downwind so that the snow will not get in into the igloo.

• There are two kinds of strong winds: the north wind and the south wind (east and west wind come too but not as strong as the south and north wind). North wind is more windy and cold and it creates harder snow.
• South wind blows snow and it creates piles of snow but the wind is not that strong and it creates more soft snow. If you know these factors, and take them into account when building a house, you may want to build your house facing in a different direction.

Scientists study things and conduct experiments and sometimes their results are given to the school system as part of their curriculum. IQ is similar in this regard as Inuit are always studying changes in the land, sea and air.

• Every morning parents would tell their children to go out and see the weather, to see how the clouds look. As a result, the young person would be studying the weather (and the clouds) everyday. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit does not come from assumptions; it is the result of continuous study.
• Not all Qallunaat are scientists but their results have been given to all Qallunaat to use. Simply not all Inuit study weather but the knowledge has been given to all Inuit.
• Scientist study only one subject and gain knowledge, they become specialists. It’s the same for Inuit. Some Inuit men know more about polar bears with less knowledge of a caribou and some Inuit women know more about sealskins and less about caribou skin.
• What I am saying here is that a respected and knowledgeable elder might not know about everything just as one scientist does not always know everything.
• One respected elder has said that not all Qalunaa science information’s is good and not all Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is good either.

If we want to work better for Nunavummiut let's put our heads together, work together, respect each other, share information and trust the information.