The Kivalliq Inuit Association

Nunavut, which means ‘our land’ in Inuktitut, covers 1.9 million km² of land and 157,000 km² of water, representing 21% of Canada’s total area. It includes mainland Canada, most of the Arctic Archipelago, and all islands in Hudson Bay and James Bay.

The Kivalliq Region sits in the centre of Nunavut. The land is part of the Canadian Shield. These rocks are some of the oldest in the world. They hold minerals such as gold and uranium. Many rivers, lakes, and coastal areas support caribou, beluga, fish, birds, and other wildlife.

This land has sustained Inuit for thousands of years. Its rivers, sea ice, caribou grounds, and coastal waters continue to provide food, cultural renewal, and identity. The region’s wildlife remains central to community life and Inuit stewardship.

The Kivalliq Region is home to over 11,000 people; the vast majority are Inuit. Across Nunavut, Inuit make up 85% of the population, and this proportion is similar or higher in most Kivalliq communities.

Inuit have lived in the Kivalliq for thousands of years, maintaining strong ties to the land, sea, and seasonal cycles. Inuktitut remains widely spoken, and traditional knowledge guides harvesting, navigation, and community decision-making. Country foods—caribou, fish, beluga, seal, berries—remain central to family and community life.

Inuit stewardship of land, water, and wildlife remains foundational. Despite the impacts of colonial policies, Kivalliq Inuit continue to strengthen language, culture, and community governance. Regional organizations, including KIA, work to empower families, protect Inuit rights, and support cultural revitalization.

The Kivalliq Inuit Association is committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the Inuit population in the Kivalliq through the implementation of various training and economic development programs; and through hiring practices supported by the objective of Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement.