From 2007 to 2010, the qikiqtani truth commission qtc gathered testimony about events that took place between 1950 and 1975 from inuit who had lived through this difficult period. Ad astra comix is not affiliated with the qtc and this work has been undertaken without their permission. Our dogs were like your workhorses, says peter irniq, an inuit politician and activist, during november testimony before the qikiqtani truth commission, a. Thematic reports and special studies represent the inuit experience during this colonial period, as told by inuit.
Her second work, dogs was a comic version of the findings of the qikiqtani truth commission, an initiative of the inuit of qikiqtaluit to document the slaughter of their sled dogs at the hands of the rcmp in the 1950s and 60s. This book is dedicated to the inuit of the qikiqtani region. Stay tuned for a new list of speakers for this years 2017 atlanta radical book fair. Government officials were also concerned that the economic downturn in fur prices might drive traders, especially the hbc out of the arctic leaving the government with sole responsibility for ensuring that inuit received emergency relief qikiqtani truth commission 20, 21. Qikiqtani industry qil is a 100% inuitowned company of qikiqtaaluk corporation and provides inuit owned industrial capacity to project developers and companies operating in the canadian arctic. Inuit still waiting for recognition of settlementera trauma, dog. Alex spalding aivilik adventure is a source listed on the qikiqtani truth commission qtc bibliography.
He is the author of books and papers dealing with inuit social history, canadian social policy and environmental issues. He is the former legal counsel for the qikiqtani inuit association and its predecessor, the baffin regional inuit association. The commission struck to investigate the truth of the dog slaughter did far more than just report that there was no conspiracy. Both inquiries, but the qikiqtani truth commission qtcs in particular, studied the written historical record as well as testimony from those whose lives were most affected. Goldring for contentworks and the qikiqtani truth commission may 2010 executive summary from 1950 to 1975, canadian officials saw the qikiqtani region formerly the baffin region as. The following is a draft bibliography of sources consulted by the qikiqtani truth commission. Free inuktut books for inuit families qikiqtani inuit association. It is also a rare example of a comprehensive social justice inquiry led by an aboriginal organization. Community histories 19501975 and qikiqtani truth commission. This article will focus on one of these regional inquiries, the qikiqtani truth commission of 2007 to 2010. Qikiqtani inuit association nunavut tunngavik incorporated makivik. Dissatisfied with the results of the exculpatory rcmp investigation, the inuit launched their own inquiry. Historical changes and events affecting them, 1955 1970. Below is a full list of speakers from the 2016 fair.
Community histories 19501975, explores the history of the qikiqtaalungmiut people of resolute bay, including the relocations. I am your community directorcommunity liaison officer for the qikiqtani inuit association. Feb 10, 2009 our dogs were like your workhorses, says peter irniq, an inuit politician and activist, during november testimony before the qikiqtani truth commission, a body established to help tell the inuit. Protecting and promoting inuit rights and values in the qikiqtani baffin region. The qikigtani truth commissionwhich was commissioned, conducted, and paid for by an aboriginal organization, the qikiqtani inuit association and took place from 2007 to 2010brought together historians and inuit to revisit the.
The qikigtani truth commissionwhich was commissioned, conducted, and paid for by an aboriginal organization, the qikiqtani inuit association and took place from 2007 to 2010brought together historians and inuit to revisit the history of the qikigtaaluk region. She served as executive director of the qikiqtani truth commission from 2007 to 2010, a highly regarded examination of the relationship between government and inuit in the period from 19501980. Social changes in inuit communities have resulted in significant transformations to economic, political and cultural aspects of inuit society. Dec 22, 2015 both inquiries, but the qikiqtani truth commission qtcs in particular, studied the written historical record as well as testimony from those whose lives were most affected. Our organization is assisting kigjugalik webster on her book on inuit special constables in nunavut by assisting her research in the qikiqtani region. Peace with past opponents the final video report of the qikiqtani truth commission part 1 explains the qtcits history, mandate, approach and process. Theyre available for download to enjoy at home with your family. Many of you have heard the great news that nunavut has no c. Qikiqtani industry limited qikiqtaaluk corporation. He is a former chair of the family courtyouth justice committee, city of vancouver, a former board member of cuso and the georgia strait alliance and was a research advisor to the qikiqtani truth commission 20082010.
The qikiqtani truth commission implementation plan was developed in 2011, and lays out 25 recommendations which are grouped into four categories. This collection includes short stories, poems, essays, and art created by first nations, inuit, and metis authors and artists on the topics of truth and reconciliation as they relate to. Government authorities and the qikiqtani region, 1950 to 1975 official mind 5. We hope this comic can be a starting point to help settlers find more substantial lines of inquiry and in doing so, reach a broader audience than the qikiqtani truth commission has yet done. The qikiqtani truth commission is the only inuit aboriginal factfinsing truth commission ever undertaken in canada.
Hand book to the parliamentary and departmental buildings, canada microform. He also worked for the qikiqtani truth commission, the nunavut social development council and served as legal counsel for nobel prize nominee sheila wattcloutier. Holding an llb from the university of victoria, she was the first inuk to work as a clerk at the supreme court of canada. Investigation into sled dog slaughter also an amazing historical. Jul 28, 2019 the qikiqtani truth commission is the only inuit aboriginal factfinsing truth commission ever undertaken in canada.
National inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous. These books were produced in partnership with inhabit media. Moving toward saimaqatigiingniq the qikiqtani truth. The qikiqtani truth commission looked into the widespread deaths of inuit sled dogs, or qimmiit, during the settlement era and found it went on too long to be a secret plan or conspiracy from.
Sled dog slaughter by the rcmp and forced community relocations. National inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women. It interviewed noninuit who worked in the region during this period, such as. The main focus of qil is the industrial sectors and more precisely, but not limited to mining, and oil and gas developments. A view from inside the truth and reconciliation commission, in d. The main focus of qil is the industrial sectors and more precisely, but. Having prioritized recommendations, qia is using the implementation.
Black resistance and armed selfdefense in the american south saturday, 15 october 2016, 12. The qikiqtani truth commission is the first inuitsponsored and inuitled initiative of its kind. May 01, 2016 by contrast, in their indepth investigation into the qimmiit killings, which involved interviewing hundreds of inuit and qallunaat 91 nunavut residents, the qikiqtani truth commission qtc concluded that the qimmiit killings occurred because qallunaat were scared of dogs. Canadas sled dog apology plumbs new depths of absurdity. Makivik and the qikiqtani truth commission updates on the dog slaughter investgation. The qikiqtani inuit association says its making slow progress on implementing 20 recommendations from the qikiqtani truth commission, which investigated how the regions inuit were affected by. Qikiqtani truth commission process the qikiqtani truth. Action on the qikiqtani truth commission in the spirit of reconciliation, the qikiqtani inuit association qia wants canada to acknowledge modernday colonial practices in. Indigenous studies resource bank smore newsletters. The qikiqtani truth commissions final report, published in 2010, paints clear, stark and uncomfortable images of what life in nunavut was like in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Thematic reports and special studies 19501975 qtc final.
Redfern is a businessperson, consultant and social advocate in iqaluit, and was most recently the executive director of the qikiqtani truth commission, looking into the legacy of historical effects of federal government policies on eastern arctic inuit during the period from the 1950s through the 1980s. By contrast, in their indepth investigation into the qimmiit killings, which involved interviewing hundreds of inuit and qallunaat 91 nunavut residents, the qikiqtani truth commission qtc concluded that the qimmiit killings occurred because qallunaat were scared of dogs. Board of directors vancouver association for restorative. The two qtc books, which include the complete set of reports and the 2010 final report.
How the truth and reconciliation commission challenges the. Thematic reports and special studies represent the inuit. Jul 25, 2018 qikiqtani truth commission the qikiqtani inuit associations report, the qikiqtani truth commission. Qikiqtani truth commission saimaqatigiingniq working group. Indeed, the idea of the right to be cold is less relatable than the right to water for many people.
Federal government apologizes to baffin inuit for sled dog. Action on the qikiqtani truth commission in the spirit of reconciliation, the qikiqtani inuit association qia wants canada to acknowledge modernday colonial practices in the arctic to allow inuit to forgive and heal. Inuit want to be able to forgive, says the qikiqtani truth commissions implementation coordinator. Reconciliation happens as past adversaries come together. Qikiqtani inuit association how is qikiqtani inuit. Red man laughing indigenous comic books roundtable red. Julie harris, principal consultant, contentworks inc. She is the author, coauthor and general editor of 22 histories written to support the work of the qikiqtani truth commission and is currently working on a book on the history and heritage of the alaska highway.
For inuit, the family unit has always played a central role in life and in survival. Qikiqtani truth commissionlibrary and archives canada. The commission looked at many issues affecting the inuit, including the 1953. Inuit high arctic relocations in canada the canadian. This isnt meant to denigrate the people on the human rights commission and in the warmer countries, but rather to point out that the global connections we need to make in order to consider the world and its people as a whole are. Rather than intervene, it was proposed to relocate a number of. Federal government apologizes to baffin inuit for sled. Supporters the work of the qikiqtani truth commission would not have been possible without the financial support of the following organizations.
This research was supported by the social sciences and humanities research council. Its report was released in 2010 and is an intriguing piece of work. The saimaqatigiingniq working group which works on addressing the recommendations of the qikiqtani truth commission qtc is coordinated and chaired by qia. Qikiqtani truth commission community histories 19501975, published in 20, isbn. The forced assimilation of the inuit of baffin island from 1950 1975.
To saimaq is to come to a place of peace within oneself. This is not an exhaustive bibliography, rather a listing of sources relevant to the qtcs research and the history of the canadian arctic. Uncomfortable because, as a conscious human being and a canadian, i dont want to believe the stories hundreds of inuit who lived those years told the commission. It recognizes and supports much of the mounties own report. Frank tester school of social work the university of. It produced thematic reports on everything from health care to the official mind of canadian colonialism, and it changed the way nunavummiut look at the recent past. Qikiqtani truth commission community histories 19501975 documents tho. Qikiqtani truth commission, iqaluit, nunavut territory. Inuit sled dog controversy brings troubled past to light. It interviewed noninuit who worked in the region during this period, such as retired rcmp officers, government officials and academics. May our history never be forgotten and our voices be forever strong. The qikiqtani truth commission looked into the widespread deaths of inuit sled dogs, or qimmiit, during the settlement era and found it went on too long to be a secret plan or conspiracy from the government.