All 14 Nunavik villages will soon get a new provincial government services office.
At a press conference Thursday in Kuujjuaq, the Québec government, alongside the Kativik Regional Government, announced the creation of Services Nunavik.
They’ll help with services such as applying for pensions, changes to family allowances, or requesting a birth, marriage or death certificate.
“This is going to make a lot of people’s lives much simpler. What we’ll be able to offer is truly personalized support,” said Kateri Champagne Jourdain, the province’s minister of employment.
The $13 million investment over five years will see local employment officers positioned in each village, with training beginning in the new year. Kuujjuaq, Inukjuak and Salluit will be first up.
Ian Lafrenière, minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit, said the announcement is about allowing Nunavimmiut to deliver the services they deserve, in their preferred language.
“It’s the perfect example of cultural safety, to adapt our services,” he said. “Instead of asking people to adapt themselves to the service, it’ll be the opposite.”
“Who knows more about the realities of the different villages than the people of Nunavik. That’s why we don’t want to impose our view.”
Kativik Regional Government (KRG) chairperson Hilda Snowball said Nunavimmiut are resilient people in the face of change, while maintaining self-identity as Inuit.
But she said changes in technology have prompted them to make a more structured intervention.
“We can make sure we blend the essential employment services of the south, with the measured and targeted approaches of our people,” she said.
She recognizes it’s just one step in providing better access to services for Nunavimmiut. Other work KRG is working on, she said, includes allowing people to take driving exams in Inuktitut.
The investment is part of the Sivunirmut Agreement, which also grants responsibilities to the KRG in workforce training and skill development, youth services and services relating to the Québec Parental Insurance Plan.