Spring

By Stephen Hendrie

Makivvik’s second annual Human Resources (HR) Conference was a different beast than the first in so many ways. It went North for one thing, braving the November snow (and rain) in Kuujjuaq, giving participants an authentic contemporary Arctic experience. Hello global warming! It was warmer in Kuujjuaq than Montreal during the week of November 18-21, 2025.

“New logo, new theme, and new venue,” said Makivvik Treasurer George Berthe. “Our logo features a three-person Inukshuk. Our theme is ‘Empowering Inuit Culture and Integration in the Workplace,’ and we’re so pleased to be here in Kuujjuaq at the Katittavik Town Hall Theatre.”

The shift north was one of the first critical decisions made in holding Makivvik’s second HR Conference. Lead by the Director of Human Resources and Payroll, Michael Iorio, the organizing committee composed of Makivvik staff north and south took an organic Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach to creating a follow-up conference that decidedly pushed the envelope on an issue critical for Nunavik’s future – one with self-determination on the horizon.

While over 100 people registered for the three-day event, mother nature kyboshed the travel plans of over a dozen participants, so that about 80 were in attendance as the conference began at 9:30am on Tuesday November 18.

Emcees for the day Lydia Etok – from Makivvik’s Construction Division, and Taqralik Partridge, welcomed participants, officially, to Kuujjuaq, and noted weather delays prevented the first speaker – Anthony Ittoshat, Chief Negotiator of the Makivvik Self-Determination Process from attending.

Elder Martha Greig provided a solid, supportive, spiritual, and humourous presence throughout the conference. She gave the opening prayer. This was followed by a glorious qulliq light-ing ceremony by 10-year old Arianna Aitchison, assisted by her grandmother Mary Aitchison. “The lighting of the qulliq is done to honour and preserve the Inuit way of life,” Mary said.

As he did during the first HR Conference, Makivvik President Pita Aatami spoke virtually. This time he appeared from a Makivvik executive meeting in St. Laurent, with fellow executives sitting beside him. “Inuit in Nunavik have been controlled by outsiders for too long. I want this to be recognized,” said Pita. “Colonization has taken place. There are two different realities in Nunavik – Inuit and Qallunaat workers. Frequently the benefits are not the same for both. I hope this conference will help change that.”

George Berthe then provided welcoming remarks. He commended all participants for attending, saying there would be difficult discussions at times. “You are heroes in my book for being here,” he said.

George also commented on the issue of telework, with Nunavik employees working from all continents. He noted we shouldn’t have workers 10,000 kilometers away working for us. He included statistics, stating the unemployment rate for Inuit is only 3 per cent in Greenland, while it is many times higher in Nunavik.

The first open discussion, asking the question, “What do organizations do to integrate culture in the workplace?” helped to set the tone for the rest of the week. “Geese and caribou don’t follow a work schedule. When they come, our workers leave for a day or two,” said Sarah Beaulne, Director of the Inuulitsivik Health Centre.

At the Qarjuit Youth Council, Vice-President Susie Ann Kudluk said, “We include Elders in our meetings. We have beautiful silapaks made for us. Inuit employees have additional benefits to go hunting.”

Corrine Guala from Air Inuit spoke about an employee outing at the Pingualuit crater. “It’s offered to Inuit and Non-Inuit at Air Inuit. Fishing, Inuit games, bannock. It was a great way to learn about Inuit culture.”

Two participants from the Northern Village (NV) of Puvirnituq (POV) were in attendance to provide valuable insight from a different perspective. Town Manager Peter Napartuk started by saying “We’re 100 per cent Inuit at the NV. We support the non-Inuit. POV takes culture and tradition very seriously. We keep it alive.” His brother Paulossie Napartuk, the Assistant Town Manager added, “We try to have annual cultural days for our employees. That connects us to each other. We keep on supporting our youth.”

George Kakayuk, Salluit Deputy Mayor and President of Taqramiut Nipingat Incorporated (TNI) spoke about what it’s like to work at the NV recruiting workers, retaining staff, and losing employees. He spoke about Inuit being very capable workers, and fast learners. “My father never saw a ski-doo assembled, but he was able to fix a ski-doo track with a rope!”

Later that day, to echo Pita Aatami’s opening comments, Inuit activist, lawyer, musician, and seamstress Aaju Peter presented the documentary “Twice Colonized,” a graphic portrayal of what Aaju has lived through in the context of Greenland/Denmark, and Iqaluit/Canada colonialism. The trauma resulting from this manifested itself in various forms – such as suicide and spousal abuse.

The film was shown to illustrate the point that Inuit employ-ees live with trauma on a day to day basis. Despite this, Aaju mentioned in her closing comments, “Just because you’re going through a hard time you can still laugh.” This wasn’t to minimize anything, but more as a coping mechanism.

There was much to be positive about in the remainder of the conference. McGill University has carved out an Indigenous program called “Public Administration and Governance” that had 11 graduates from Makivvik earn degrees in the spring of 2025, with 22 more on the way. Antoine Gagnon and Veldon Coburn included a photo of the 11 graduates – all women – during their presentation, greatly appreciated by attendees.

Glencore is hard core when it comes to increasing Inuit in the workforce at the nickel mine. They’ve created an Inuit HR Department called Tamatumani. They included their own all-women photo in response to McGill. Also, in the middle of the presentation, Samwillie Grey-Scott announced he is the first Inuk to be promoted to the Glencore Management team as Director of Community Engagement. There was huge applause to that achievement.

The dynamic youth duo – Elena Mesher and Anthony Kauki – presented the Nunami initiative as a means of addressing mental wellness. In the context of an HR conference, the benefits to employers of having a land-based outing covered by the program was received with enthusiasm.

Elsewhere, there was good news on the legal front with Makivvik’s program Pisuqatigiittut, which means “walking together,” blossoming in Inukjuak. Notary Eva Langlois described how their small and growing office is tackling issues such as estate settlement, wills, and name changes, having treated over 2,050 cases since 2018.

“Inuk & Me” is a project to create cultural training for Nunavik workers. It was presented by Karina Kesserwan and Laura Beth Beeston. They want a deliverable by 2027. During the comments, Sarah Beaulne said, “’Qallunaat & Me’ should be created as well. We need something to learn how to work with our Qallunaat co-workers.”

Multitasking Taqralik Partridge gave an inspired talk on the importance of art in the workplace. As a throat singer, poet, and museum curator, Taqralik used PowerPoint as her canvas to show historic and contemporary works of Inuit art – and their value – to literally answer the question on how to integrate culture in the workplace.

Speaking of canvasses, artist and throat singer Hannah Tooktoo was back to coax and cajole participants into picking up a paint-brush and adding a personal touch to this year’s collective conference art on a unique round canvas. She told us all, “don’t be shy, I’ll hold your hand if you want!” Emcee Lydia Etok never failed to remind attendees to “go and paint!”

William Tagoona, President of the Avataq Cultural Institute, provided an expansive oral history of modern Nunavik. As an ex-CBC Radio announcer, and documentary filmmaker, his summary of the last chunk of 50 years in Nunavik political, social, and economic development prompted Antoine from McGill to comment, “I learned more in 30 minutes from William than several hours of online courses.”

William also spoke about Avataq, noting how Nunavik’s cultural institute is shifting into high gear on language protection, archival preservation, archaeological digging, and “it’s our soul,” he stated. On the final day, Lydia gamely told us, again, that Anthony’s plane could not make it to Kuujjuaq, and he’s returned to Kuujjuaraapik, along with Elder Louisa Cookie-Brown. It meant that Tunu Napartuk would present the Self-Determination file, and Martha Greig would present solo.

Tunu is the Deputy Chair of Nunavik Self-Determination. He spoke uniquely in Inuktitut, providing an update on the work he and Anthony are doing, with the support of Makivvik. He said, “So, working on this self-government, and ensuring we keep our cultural identity we deem this to be very important. The HR professionals in this room – you are part of the self-government process.”

Elder Martha Greig had one slide. It was a yellowed newspaper article with the antiquated headline “’Lucky’ Eskimo Gets Canada’s Crumbs.” It harkened back to a time of settling in fixed communities in the 1950s and 60s, when jobs for Inuit were scarce, pay was less than minimal, and the head on collision between Southern ways and traditional Inuit existence was playing itself out.

Martha read the entire article, highlighting with appropriate derision some of the jobs, such as “clerk” Inuit might aspire to. Her commentary brought some much needed levity to a sometimes difficult topic. Because in other parts of her presentation, she didn’t hold back on the ravages the colonial experience brought to her – such as her sexual abuse at residential schools resulting in an unwanted pregnancy.

George Berthe had the last word. “Thank you to everyone who attended this week. Thank you to our sponsors. We’ll set up a working group, and share action items. We look forward to holding the third HR Conference next year,” he said. “You are stewards of career building. Be positive, you are extremely valuable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart from Makivvik. Nakurmiik and Bon Voyage!”