Projects

Explore the different projects NIIA leads and how to access funding for community activities available throughout the year.

Community Activity Funding

  • Prevention means different things to different people, but at NIIA, when we review requests for funds, we think of prevention as anything that helps reduce the use, risk, and or impact of substance use in Nunavik.

    There are not always as many dollars as there are requests, so we look for projects that affect the most significant numbers of people “at risk” or developing and having a problem of substance abuse. Our population is very young and growing fast.

    What kind of projects does NIIA support?
    • Projects where adults are actively involved with youth e.g. community gatherings, “dance” groups, on the land projects, sports, etc.
    • Sports and recreation opportunities for youth
    • Alternative activities for youth who might otherwise be getting involved with alcohol and drugs.
    • Projects which increase capacity in the area of addictions and prevention.

    Here are some examples of projects supported in the past:


    2021
    Kangirsuk    , M.A.D.D. Walk — Working with local police they had a bike rally, giving away about 63 bicycles, and had a BBQ with information about MADD awareness.

    Inukjuak, NHS Comics Book for Suicide Prevention — In collaboration with an illustrator and two young adults from Ivujivik are working on a comic book series touching on different social issues (suicide prevention, alcohol and drug abuse, social media, relationships, etc.)

    Inukjuak, Sober Challenge #2 — 55 participated in the challenge of staying sober where activities were offered to keep them busy and refocus their time.

    Kangiqsualujjuaq, Elder's and Youth Camping Trip — Organized a camping trip for elders and youth to help with mental wellness.

    Kuujjuaq, Single Mothers Mussel Picking & Seal Hunting for 50+ yr Men — Single mothers went mussel picking for one day and men over 50 yrs went seal hunting who had not gone for a while.

    Kangiqsujuaq, Mental Health Awareness — Bring awareness to the community around mental health with various daily activities.

    2022
    Kangirsuk, Girls Club (8-14 yrs) — Weekly learning activities for girls.

    Quaqtaq, Hunting for Boys — Small group of boys went out hunting: two got their first polar bear, one observed their other men seal hunting for the first time.

    Salluit, Fish Net Making —Four nets were completed, including a 50 foot long and 10-15 high net.

    Akulivik, Family Hunting/Fishing Days — Three trips to a lake for fishing, ptarmigan and geese hunting.

    Akulivik, Family Hunting/Fishing Days — Three trips to a lake for fishing, ptarmigan and geese hunting.

    Inukjuak, Culture Week at Uruutaq School — Hired several elders and community members to do various cultural activites with students and staff which ended with a community feast.

  • Click to download:

    — Cover Letter for Funding Application (Inuktitut and English)
    — Application Form (Inuktitut and English)
    — Project Activity Report Form (Inuktitut and English)

    — Conference Sponsorship application form (Inuktitut and English)

Nunavik Wellness Day

  • Nunavik Wellness Day is dedicated to Mina Kingalik who was committed to wellness in Inukjuak and Nunavik. Every year on the first Tuesday of March, NIIA promotes wellness. The next Nunavik Wellness Day will be on March 5, 2024.

    Mina Kingalik was one of a kind. Mina’s involvement with NIIA began in the early days of the organization. She told us to stay realisitic and to take personal responsibility to keep wellness in our own lives. Mina’s personal journey included acceptance, support, encouragement and humility. She would never put down an organization, group of individuals preferring to say “Let’s do what we have to do to make the journey of wellness with no shame or blaming.”

  • Click to download:

    — Wellness day Quotes (Inuktitut and English)

Tatigiilluta

Tukiliartut

  • The choice to be sober is not an easy one but possible. NIIA organized the first Tukiliartut in Kangiqsujuaq in March 2018 for Nunavimmiut an opportunity to explore and exchange on living a life without alcohol. The next one is being planned for Kuujjuaraapik in August 2023. Stay tuned!

  • Tukiliartut Conference 2023 summary

Qanaq Confrence

  • For Youth-By-Youth, the Qanaq Conference aims to promote Inuit youth in society through informative workshops, training, empowerment, self-esteem and more.

    Qanaq Conference is a Conference for Inuit Youth of Nunavik. The conference was formed when a group of youth at the Nunalituqait Ikajuqatigiittut Inuit Association 2009 annual general meeting voiced their concerns that there were not enough programs aimed directly for young people. Youth are a group that suffers the most from many of our social problems as Inuit and as youth, we decided to take action; through that action, Qanaq Conference was born.

    One of our goals is to empower the youth of Nunavik to be more proactive in creating real change. In a region with a majority youth population and the beginning of self-government, we need to start making sure our future is secure.

NIIA is a Nunavik Inuit organization sharing knowledge about substance use and abuse.