Series - Inuit Cultural Institute

The Inuit Cultural Institute (ICI) was concerned with the healthy survival of Inuit culture and identity. The ICI was formed in 1974 following a meeting of the Inuit Tapirisat (IT) Council in 1973 at which the need for an organisation to promote the preservation of Inuit culture and traditions was discussed. The first meeting of the ICI took place in May 1974 and the ICI was incorporated in October 1974. A decision made to establish offices in what was then known as Eskimo Point -(now Arviat) where suitable existing buildings and adequate transportation and communication links co-existed with a style of life in keeping with Inuit tradition. Early objectives were to “create, provide and increase opportunities for the Inuit of Canada to retain and strengthen their culture and involve themselves in learning processes consistent with Inuit culture” and “to assist the Inuit to participate more effectively in the Canadian society”. The ICI initiated workshops to reinforce cultural awareness among the Inuit and advocated for Inuit control of studies of Inuit culture and traditions. The ICI began important projects to preserve cultural memory of the Inuit including the oral history project ‘Inuit Traditions’ as well as ‘Hunting and Trapping Assistance’ programs. The ICI also a developed standardised orthography for writing Inuktitut that is still in use, produced monthly newsletters, AYURNARMAT and occasional publications, and facilitated educational conferences. George Swinton served as a consultant to ICI between 1974 and 1978. Executive Directors for the period during which Swinton was most closely involved with ICI included Jacob Partridge, Sept 1974 to January 1975 followed by Mark Kulluak and Tagak Curley, ca.1976 to 1978.