Reflections & Gratitude on Nunavut Day

July 9 marks Nunavut Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in 1993. That agreement helped make possible the creation of Nunavut six years later: an almost 21-million-km² territory rooted in Inuit self-determination, language, culture and community.

At Spruce, we’re grateful to work with clients and partners across Nunavut and Inuit Nunangat. As a creative agency based in the South, we know the North’s stories are not ours to tell. But we can recognize the people and organizations who have trusted us to support their meaningful work, and we can appreciate what we continue to learn from them.

One teaching I think of often came from an Inuit Elder working with Ilitaqsiniq, an organization advancing culture-based literacy across and essentials skills training throughout Nunavut. When asked to define literacy, the Elder said it was not only about reading and writing. Literacy was “seeing and knowing what you see.”

That’s a definition as close to perfect as I’ve ever heard.

Working with Nunavummiut partners has allowed us to see and know many things. We have seen how language revitalization strengthens identity and belonging. We have learned how Elders’ knowledge continues to guide younger generations. We have learned how Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit shapes health, education, research, infrastructure and community development. And we have seen how Nunavummiut across the territory are building futures that are grounded in Inuit culture, tradition and self-determination.

These learnings have shaped how we approach our collaborative work with organizations we are proud to have supported:

• Ilitaqsiniq, as they empower Nunavummiut through non-formal, culture-based literacy programming rooted in Inuit knowledge, language and culture.
• The Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, as they elevate Nunavummiut voices in health research and educate healthcare and service providers to better serve Inuit.
• Nukik Corporation, as they bring to life the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link: a nation-building project that aims to reduce reliance on diesel, improve connectivity, strengthen Arctic sovereignty and create lasting opportunities for Inuit communities.
• Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, as they continue their long-standing advocacy to improve the lives of Inuit women, girls and gender-diverse Inuit across Canada.

Each of these relationships has reminded us that good creative work starts with listening, and that the most powerful stories are not given but entrusted to us.

On this Nunavut Day, we want to express gratitude to our Nunavummiut clients, collaborators and colleagues. Thank you for the work you do, for the trust you place in us and for the knowledge you continue to share.

We hope you get the chance to celebrate today. Get out on the land, if you can.