Members of the National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC) and youth delegates from across Inuit Nunangat wrapped up the 10th National Inuit Youth Summit in Iqaluit this week.
They made a commitment to strengthen ties between NIYC and Inuit youth organizations across the circumpolar world.
They began that work by welcoming three representatives from Sorlak, an Inuit youth organization in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland).
The two youth groups will continue to improve communication on issues of joint interest and importance.
Okalik and council members also committed to explore the expansion of NIYC’s mandate to include representation of Canadian Inuit youth living outside Inuit Nunangat.
They committed to support existing work to examine the probability of an Inuit university in Canada as well.
And to draft an Inuit Youth Declaration setting out goals for the next two years.
Over 70 Inuit youth gathered at Iqaluit’s Inuksuk High School from August 20-24.
They discussed issues related to language and culture, suicide prevention and health, education and employment, on the land programming, and youth political involvement.
The next National Inuit Youth Summit will be held in 2017.