In 1999, under the direction of Makivvik President Pita Aatami, the executive field trip was developed so that the voices of Nunavimmiut could be heard directly, and regularly. Prior to 1999, executive field trips took place only if a major issue arose that required executive presence in the communities. After 1999, the trip was conducted annually, and eventually biannually, as it remains today.

Over the years, the field trips have been essential for main-taining connection between the Makivvik executives and the constituents they serve. It is an opportunity for Nunavimmiut to express their thoughts, opinions, needs, and to ensure that they are heard. It is also an opportunity for the executives to pro-vide direct updates on the work that Makivvik is conducting and receive feedback on newly proposed initiatives.

In March and April 2025, the Makivvik executives embarked on their most recent field trip to each of the communities in Nunavik. Throughout the trip, they appeared on local radio stations, visited with secondary students, and held official openings for the new Makivvik satellite offices.

A primary focus of this year’s trip was to discuss elec-tions issues. Andy Moorhouse, Vice- President (Economic Development), observed that low voter turnout is a pressing issue with various compounding factors, potentially including high voting requirements in region. The question of implementing incentives to increase voter turnout was put forward for consideration during the trip; Alicia Aragutak, Corporate Secretary, was happy to hear from beneficiaries that not everyone was in favour of this idea, as the value of elections is understood.

When Alicia was campaigning for her second term earlier this year, she stated that she would consult beneficiaries on the pros-pect of extending the term of a Makivvik executive from three years to four. The proposed term extension would reduce the number of elections and allow the executives time to fulfill their mandate. When this idea was put to the public throughout the field trip, nothing but support was apparent.

When reflecting on the secondary student visits, Andy expressed that each of the executives has been in the shoes of those students at one time, and that they want them to succeed. Andy further stated that education is one of the most important tools to ensure a strong future, as it enables students to have choices and reach their personal goals as adults.

For Alicia, the importance of meeting with students is reflected in her own personal experience. When she was a teenager in 2006, the Makivvik executives came to visit her school in Umiujaq. She reflected that this was the first time she began to understand what Makivvik was. Her experience emphasized that even if students do not ask questions or provide feedback, the presence of the executives in schools is important. The school visits instill the idea that one day students could be on the other side of the field trip like Alicia now is.

During the visit to Nuvviti school in Ivujivik, the executives had the opportunity to meet two students, Ulluria Mangiok and Elisapie Ainalik, who had been learning to analyze election campaign platforms for the then upcoming federal election. In the wake of discussions on elections in Nunavik, these students stood out as an example of the next generation of voters becoming informed on the importance of elections.

Considering the trip as a whole, Alicia and Andy both con-veyed that listening to Inuit express their feedback and present their communities’ needs directly was the most impactful part. Alicia and Andy also observed that the specific mandates of the different Nunavik organizations are not clear to the communities, which can cause confusion. Alicia related that in the future there should be a tool to inform the population on different mandates and provide information on the added benefits of being a beneficiary of the JBNQA.

Overall, the 2025 executive field trip involved many moving parts and challenges but was, as always, instrumental for the continued connectedness of Makivvik and the communities.

Thank you to the local office administrators for their hard work during the office openings; to the school administrators and students for accommodating us; to Air Inuit, the pilots, and staff; to the locals who rented us their vehicles or catered meals for us; to the Board Members; and finally, to anyone who engaged with the executives during the trip.