Gazing at the land and water surrounding Apex Beach, Iqaluit’s Manu Kunuk reflects on how his home in the Arctic has become a focal point for geopolitical tensions.
There’s a lot of uncertainty around the world right now, but if there’s one thing he’s sure about, that’s the need for Inuit — and especially youth — to be at the heart of Arctic policy.
“We’re the future of the land — we’re going to be the next leaders,” he said.
Like many Nunavummiut, Kunuk is still trying to learn about the true meaning of Arctic sovereignty, but he believes it starts with protecting the land and the people living on it.
From a colonial perspective, sovereignty in Canada’s North is often tied to military exercises, major infrastructure projects and defence spending — actions the government takes to show its control of the vast region.
Less commonly explored is how Nunavut’s communities and the people who live there are already at the heart of Arctic sovereignty.
Nolan Qamanirq, from Arctic Bay, doesn’t believe there is a word in Inuktitut that truly describes sovereignty, and it’s hard to talk about land ownership because his ancestors didn’t believe in that.
“The way the term is used today, especially in Ottawa and in places in Iqaluit, it really feels hollow. It’s about military presence, mining approvals, transportation corridors. It’s really not about what Inuit and communities prioritize,” he said.
