What is the current state of the northern economy, with specific attention to Inuit in Nunavut? This chapter attempts to answer this question.
The first part of this chapter focuses on the nature of the so-called “mixed economy,” where governments support mining and resource development but offer very little space for Inuit-led economic activity, and questions whether the strong bias towards mining is justified when considering socioeconomic outcomes for Nunavut’s population. Government support for mining far outweighs that of other sectors, yet its benefits to the local population are modest.
The second section examines the labour market and the extent to which Inuit are involved and benefit from the existing Northern Economy. It draws a comparison between government support for skills development for the wage economy and support for culture and language, with a particular emphasis on the latter. As demonstrated by the rest of the report, investments in language education could provide the foundation for Inuit-led economic activity, which is grounded in Inuit culture.
This resource is a section from the Special Report, Pinasunniq: Reflections on a Northern Indigenous Economy
