Between 1955 and the mid‐1960's, the Inuit of Canada underwent one of the fastest cultural transitions of any population in recorded history. Taken from their lands where life was lived in hunting camps using dog teams for transportation, they were forcibly relocated by the government into wood framed "settlements". Now required to pay rent, use snowmobiles to reach distant hunting lands their lives required the adoption of southern practices.
Piita Irniq will share his personal journey addressing change as well as the policies and practices needed he sees are needed to heal the damage resulting from this colonial experience.
Piita Irniq is an Inuk politician, elder and mentor. Currently living in Ottawa, his early years in residential school helped to inform him throughout his career. He helped to establish the territory of Nunavut and served as its second Commissioner.Today he visits with Inuit who are serving time in prison to help them connect to their traditional ways. He also undertakes speaking engagements about the impact of colonization on the people of the north.
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