/C O R R E C T I O N -- Rideau Hall Foundation/ Français English Français
In the news release, Arctic Inspiration Prize awards over $3.7 million to 12 teams leading change across the North, issued 13-May-2025 by Rideau Hall Foundation over CNW, we are advised by the organization that the quote in paragraph 5 was incorrectly attributed. The complete, corrected release follows:
Arctic Inspiration Prize awards over $3.7 million to 12 teams leading change across the North
OTTAWA, ON, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ - Twelve Northern-led teams were celebrated today as laureates of the 2025 Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP), receiving over $3.7 million in recognition of their bold, community-driven projects. The awards ceremony took place this afternoon at the Rogers Centre (formerly the Shaw Centre) in Ottawa, where laureates were honoured alongside powerful performances by Northern artists under the artistic direction of Sylvia Cloutier.
Her Excellency The Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, opened the celebration, joined by leaders and partners from across Inuit Nunangat, the territories, and the North. Honoured guests included Premier P.J. Akeeagok; Premier Ranj Pillai; Senators Nancy Karetak-Lindell and Margaret Dawn Anderson; Minister Pamela Gross, Natan Obed (President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami), Jeremy Tunraluk (President, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.), Johannes Lampe (President, Nunatsiavut), and Duane Smith (President, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation). Their presence reflected the pan-Northern support and shared commitment to empowering community-led solutions.
"This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Arctic Inspiration Prize — and every year we continue to see the deep and lasting impact these projects have on Northern communities," said Wally Schumann, Chair of the AIP Charitable Trust. "These are not one-off ideas. They are long-term, Northern-led solutions that strengthen language, culture, wellness, and opportunity. They are rooted in self-determination and guided by the people who live and lead in the North."
This year's largest prize — $1 million — was awarded to Bibia Nàtsät Ku: A Movement to Reclaim Yukon First Nations Midwifery and Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, a groundbreaking initiative to establish a culturally rooted birth and reproductive health centre in Whitehorse. The Ku (house) will be led by Yukon First Nations and offer Elder-guided, traditional and Western care for Indigenous families across the region.
"We know our families thrive when they have access to safe, culturally connected care — and that includes bringing birth back to our communities. This prize is not just recognition — it's a turning point. It means we can begin building a house of care that honours our ways of knowing, our languages, and our futures. This will not only transform sexual and reproductive health care delivery in the Yukon, but will also influence systemic change across the Arctic — helping to shape safer, more culturally appropriate care for Indigenous communities throughout the North." - Executive Director Shadelle Chambers from Council of Yukon First Nations.
The 2025 celebration featured a three-part performance reflecting seasonal cycles and traditional knowledge. Highlights included the story of a Dene hunter witnessing an animal transformation on the land, told through circus and music; a powerful operatic interpretation of Nuliajuk, the Inuit guardian of sea animals, performed by Deantha Edmunds and emerging Nunavut singer Princess Autut; and a spring finale with Kathy Snowball of Nunavik performing L'amour, honouring light, renewal, and the environment.
A full list of the 2025 laureates and project details follows below.
About the Arctic Inspiration Prize
The Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) is Canada's largest annual prize, celebrating and enabling Northern-led achievements across the fields of education; health and wellbeing; culture, arts and language; science and traditional knowledge; climate change; food security; and the economy. Each year, the AIP awards: one $1 million prize, up to four prizes of up to $500,000 each, and up to seven youth prizes of up to $100,000 each. The AIP is owned and governed by the northern-led AIP Charitable Trust and is supported by a broad network of partners from the North and South.
The Rideau Hall Foundation is proud to serve as the southern operational support partner of the Arctic Inspiration Prize.
2025 Arctic Inspiration Prize Laureates
$1 Million Category
Bibia Nàtsät Ku: A Movement to Reclaim Yukon First Nations Midwifery and Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (Yukon)
Amount: $1,000,000
Led by Yukon First Nations, this initiative will establish a Ku (house) in Whitehorse offering Indigenous-led midwifery and Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (SRHC) services. Grounded in Elder knowledge and workforce development, it will reshape care delivery in the Yukon and beyond.
This project aims to create a culturally connected, Elder-guided care environment, rooted in traditional knowledge and Indigenous values, which will serve as a model for other regions across the North.
Learn more
Up to $500,000 Category (AIP)
Ajunngittutit (Nunavut)
Amount: $500,000
An Inuit-led alternative education program for neurodiverse and marginalized youth by Pirurqatigiit Resource Centre. It combines Inuktut revitalization, land-based learning, and hands-on skills to create inclusive environments that support neurodiverse youth in achieving their full potential.
Learn more
Baker Lake Community Diabetes Prevention and Nutrition Program (Nunavut)
Amount: $223,000
A community-based initiative to combat rising Type 2 diabetes through traditional Inuit practices, health education, and local empowerment. This project emphasizes the importance of community-driven solutions and culturally relevant approaches to addressing chronic health challenges.
Learn more
Kitikmeot Community Elder Training Program (Nunavut)
Amount: $500,000
Supports the next generation of Elders in Inuinnait communities through mentorship, cultural education, and leadership rooted in traditional values. This program aims to build leadership skills in younger generations, preserving Inuit knowledge and traditions.
Learn more
Reviving Inuit Cultural and Traditional Values (Nunavik)
Amount: $425,000
Led by the Qimutjuit Men's Association, this project brings youth and Elders together through harvesting camps to address food insecurity and strengthen cultural practices. The program focuses on reviving traditional skills, promoting food sovereignty, and fostering intergenerational relationships.
Learn more
Cheko – Youth Empowerment Project (Northwest Territories)
Amount: $500,000
Based in Yellowknife, Cheko provides Indigenous youth with land-based learning, mentorship, and entrepreneurship skills to build careers and self-determined futures. The project's goal is to empower young people with the tools they need to thrive in both their cultural and professional lives.
Learn more
Youth Category (up to $100,000 each)
Traditional Sewing and Beading Program (Nunavut)
Amount: $90,000
Youth-led workshops guided by Elders to teach traditional skills and pass on ancestral knowledge while building connection and creativity. These workshops promote cultural pride and provide youth with important life skills while nurturing artistic expression.
Learn more
Uniaraqtuq: A Youth Dog Sledding Club in the Beaufort Delta (Inuvialuit Settlement Region)
Amount: $100,000
Combines Inuvialuktun and Gwich'in language learning, wellness, and culture through dog sledding. A documentary will follow the club's journey, providing an opportunity to share the rich cultural history and language of the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in communities with broader audiences.
Learn more
Dehcho Youth Energy Action Council (DYEAC) – Empowering Future Leaders in Clean Energy (Northwest Territories)
Amount: $100,000
Trains youth in clean energy leadership by integrating Dene knowledge and technical skills to advance culturally aligned climate solutions. The project focuses on creating sustainable energy solutions while empowering youth to lead the way in addressing climate change.
Learn more
Empowering Northern Voices: A Youth Gathering for Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut (Pan-Northern)
Amount: $100,000
A pan-territorial youth gathering focused on advocacy, leadership, and community-based solutions on mental health, education, and the environment. This gathering aims to amplify youth voices across the North and equip them with the tools they need to advocate for their communities.
Learn more
The Northern Laughter Movement (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Amount: $100,000
A wellness and leadership program that uses humour and storytelling to build confidence, connection, and healing among Northern youth. This initiative harnesses the power of laughter and community to promote mental health and resilience.
Learn more
Wisdom from the Watershed (Inuvialuit Settlement Region)
Amount: $100,000
A documentary project following young Gwich'in hunters in the Peel Watershed to document climate change through intergenerational learning and land-based stories. The project seeks to capture the ongoing impact of climate change on traditional hunting practices while preserving cultural heritage.
Learn more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Calls to action
A trio of books on reconciliation were all released within the span of a few weeks ahead of the summer publishing season. Who are they each for? Readers wanting to learn more about their role in the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), but who are unsure where to start, might find one or more of these titles a valuable resource, depending on their current base of knowledge and what they hope to get out of it. ● ● ● Kathryne Langsford photo Bruce McIvor Kathryne Langsford photo Bruce McIvor Bruce McIvor (Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It) is Red River Métis, an adjunct professor at UBC law school and a founder and senior partner at First Peoples Law. He wrote Indigenous Rights in One Minute which covers, concisely, over 100 different legal concepts, court decisions and pieces of legislation related to Indigenous rights. The central conceit, from which McIvor does not waver, is that each item — from the Doctrine of Discovery to Section 35 to the Haida Decision — is covered in about one minute of reading or less. Indigenous Rights in One Minute Indigenous Rights in One Minute The attorney and author briefly covers the history and current legal relevance of every legal footnote that contributes to the current judicial and legislative understanding of the rights of Indigenous people as well as Indigenous Peoples, each one in a page or two. With a detailed table of contents as well as a glossary, index and list of further reading, the book is certainly set up to act as a handy reference text for non-lawyers who nevertheless may be affected by, or otherwise desiring to be aware of, the relevant case law. It might also be a crucial resource for many working in or with advocacy organizations, or Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments. While it is very possible to jump around in the text, there is a throughline here. Reading the book from front to back builds in the reader a sense of the general shape of Indigenous rights in Canada, its current state, the historical forces that have shaped those rights and the directions it might move towards in the future. McIvor warns at the very beginning that he has a point of view and that he will share it. But even his editorial comments are brief and evidence-based. The one-minute constraint doesn't allow him to add many rhetorical flourishes, and blunt observations, such as that Aboriginal title is intentionally limited 'to ensure it doesn't become an insurmountable obstacle to removing Indigenous people from their lands so those lands can be exploited by non-Indigenous people,' are hard to deny on the facts. The courtroom battles Indigenous individuals and communities have been taking on against the Canadian government mirror the extensive legal work taken on by American Civil Rights activists since the 1960s. For a non-lawyer to make a proper survey of even a small field of law is not easy, and there's so much hard-to-find information packed in here, it's easy to imagine this slim layperson's reference volume will become a permanent resident of any shelves it lands upon. ● ● ● Supplied photo Rose LeMay Supplied photo Rose LeMay For first-time author Rose LeMay, the complete opposite approach made the most sense when writing Ally Is a Verb. LeMay is Tlingit, still operates in her First Nation's homeland in B.C. and has made a career as a speaker and corporate trainer specializing in practical steps allies can take in implementing the TRC's Calls to Action for reconciliation. Her book often reads like it could be spoken aloud in a meeting space — the writing is dynamic, conversational and passionate. If McIvor thought it necessary to note that he is not impartial on the topics he writes about, LeMay's point of view is so immediately clear that any such disclaimer would be unnecessary. In her second chapter, Unpacking the Great Canadian Lie, LeMay muses about whether a bloodier but briefer direct military conflict — such as occurred between Indigenous Peoples and the United States army, especially throughout the 19th century — might actually have been preferable in some ways to what actually occurred in this country. At least then, she reckons, the enemy would have been clearly identifiable. Instead, bearing the pretended benevolence of the Indian Act, LeMay writes that, 'Canada walked in smiling and held out its hand to shake, while the other hand was stealing our children and our land.' Ally is a Verb Ally is a Verb LeMay modelled her book on the change management approach she uses as a trainer: you explain the problem, present a solution and get people on board with being part of that solution. So she spends some of the first few chapters with a primer on the history of Indigenous Peoples' mistreatment at the hands of the Canadian government, from pre-Confederation to the Indian Act to residential schools, of which many in her own family were survivors. But before even this, LeMay spends some time in the opening chapter discussing the idea of reconciliation itself and how it can look, comparing Canada to three other countries that went through this process: Germany took a court-based approach post-Holocaust in the Nuremberg Trials, South Africa formed its own Truth and Reconciliation Commission after apartheid and Rwanda, after the 1994 genocide, landed somewhere in between. LeMay makes some thoughtful observations about the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, noting that our own government-created TRC had the effect of casting Canada itself as an observer and facilitator, neatly sidestepping the role of either perpetrator or defendant. These comparisons comprise some of the strongest insights of the book, and it's a good initial framing to set up subsequent chapters. The book also has some weak spots that probably stem from being adapted from oral content polished over the course of many live workshops and keynotes, and not undergoing all the changes appropriate to a written book-length format. Some chapters are veritably packed with a minutiae of stray observations that would make a real-time discussion more dynamic but make a written argument more muddled. At times quotes that aren't real quotes but rather air-quoted imitations of a hypothetical person or anthropomorphized institution (e.g., the Government of Canada) are written down using actual quotation marks. LeMay's book seems geared towards use in organizations for internal training. The chapters each end with a list of next steps and resources for further reading, making them well-suited as a ready-out-of-the-box corporate training program, wherein a facilitator or team leader might assign a chapter and set a meeting each week to discuss. Though one imagines most organizations would do better to hire LeMay to run the training herself, if they have the budget. ● ● ● Mike Deal / Free Press files David A. Robertson Mike Deal / Free Press files David A. Robertson David. A Robertson (the Misewa Saga; 7 Generations, a Plains Cree Saga) is the most experienced author of the group, having written numerous graphic novels as well as several works of fiction and non-fiction. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation on his father's side but was raised mainly in Winnipeg, where he is still based. The idea of 52 Ways to Reconcile is to take one step towards reconciliation every week, with enough chapters to fill a full year, though that doesn't mean the book can't be read faster than that. Indeed, the engaging style makes it hard to stop after one short chapter. 52 Ways to Reconcile 52 Ways to Reconcile As with McIvor's book, 52 Ways could potentially be read out of order; after all, there's no reason that checking out an Indigenous restaurant (Week #33) can't come before engaging with Indigenous social media (Week #3). But there is a personal narrative threaded throughout 52 Ways, and to pick and choose chapters and not read the whole thing would be a shame. Robertson provides a mix of ways to advance reconciliation, some easier and others more involved. They may include putting either your time or money where your mouth is by supporting Indigenous communities or groups, learning an important lesson on land acknowledgements or unchecked idioms, or supporting and enjoying Indigenous creators in a variety of contexts, from film to music to podcasts to food to tourism to comics. Every chapter includes both a heartfelt case for why a given task is worth doing, another little bit of the author's personal journey in advancing reconciliation and a number of specific examples of where you can get started on any given week's suggestion. Robertson already consumes a lot of Indigenous media, supports a lot of Indigenous organizations and follows a lot of Indigenous sport teams, so he is not short on examples. Want a good podcast that will teach you about missing and murdered Indigenous women; a good Indigenous non-fiction, fiction or comic book writer; country band; jazz band; or electronica band? Robertson has at least one suggestion, but usually offers several. Of the three books covered here, Robertson's 52 Ways to Reconcile is probably the most universally accessible; indeed it should appeal to almost anyone. Of course that doesn't mean that any two, or even all three, of these books aren't worth picking up depending on what the reader wants to get out of each title, and how much reading time they have available. Joel Boyce is a Winnipeg writer and educator.
Toronto Star
6 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Democratic states double down on laws resisting Trump's immigration crackdown
As President Donald Trump's administration targets states and local governments for not cooperating with federal immigration authorities, lawmakers in some Democratic-led states are intensifying their resistance by strengthening state laws restricting such cooperation. In California alone, more than a dozen pro-immigrant bills passed either the Assembly or Senate this week, including one prohibiting schools from allowing federal immigration officials into nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Democratic states double down on laws resisting Trump's immigration crackdown
As President Donald Trump's administration targets states and local governments for not cooperating with federal immigration authorities, lawmakers in some Democratic-led states are intensifying their resistance by strengthening state laws restricting such cooperation. In California alone, more than a dozen pro-immigrant bills passed either the Assembly or Senate this week, including one prohibiting schools from allowing federal immigration officials into nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant. Other state measures have sought to protect immigrants in housing, employment and police encounters, even as Trump's administration has ramped up arrests as part of his plan for mass deportations. In Connecticut, legislation pending before Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont would expand a law that already limits when law enforcement officers can cooperate with federal requests to detain immigrants. Among other things, it would let 'any aggrieved person' sue municipalities for alleged violations of the state's Trust Act. Two days after lawmakers gave final approval to the measure, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security included Connecticut on a list of hundreds of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The list later was removed from the department's website after criticism that it errantly included some local governments that support Trump's immigration policies. States split on whether to aid or resist Trump Since taking office in January, Trump has enlisted hundreds of state and local law enforcement agencies to help identify immigrants in the U.S. illegally and detain them for potential deportation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement now lists 640 such cooperative agreements, a nearly fivefold increase under Trump. Trump also has lifted longtime rules restricting immigration enforcement near schools, churches and hospitals, and ordered federal prosecutors to investigate state or local officials believed to be interfering with his crackdown on illegal immigration. The Department of Justice sued Colorado, Illinois and New York, as well as several cities in those states and New Jersey, alleging their policies violate the U.S. Constitution or federal immigration laws. Just three weeks after Colorado was sued, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a wide-ranging law expanding the state's protections for immigrants. Among other things, it bars jails from delaying the release of inmates for immigration enforcement and allows penalties of up to $50,000 for public schools, colleges, libraries, child care centers and health care facilities that collect information about people's immigration status, with some exceptions. Polis rejected the administration's description of Colorado as a 'sanctuary state,' asserting that law officers remain 'deeply committed' to working with federal authorities on criminal investigations. 'But to be clear, state and local law enforcement cannot be commandeered to enforce federal civil immigration laws,' Polis said in a bill-signing statement. Illinois also has continued to press pro-immigrant legislation. A bill recently given final approval says no child can be denied a free public education because of immigration status — something already guaranteed nationwide under a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision. Supporters say the state legislation provides a backstop in case court precedent is overturned. The bill also requires schools to develop policies on handling requests from federal immigration officials and allows lawsuits for alleged violations of the measure. Legislation supporting immigrants takes a variety of forms Democratic-led states are pursuing a wide range of means to protect immigrants. A new Oregon law bars landlords from inquiring about the immigration status of tenants or applicants. New laws in Washington declare it unprofessional conduct for bail bond agents to enforce civil immigration warrants, prohibit employers from using immigration status to threaten workers and let employees use paid sick leave to attend immigration proceedings for themselves or family members. Vermont last month repealed a state law that let law enforcement agencies enter into immigration enforcement agreements with federal authorities during state or national emergencies. They now need special permission from the governor to do so. As passed by the House, Maryland legislation also would have barred local governments from reaching immigration enforcement agreements with the federal government. That provision was removed in the Senate following pushback from some of the seven Maryland counties that currently have agreements. The final version, which took effect as law at the start of June, forbids public schools and libraries from granting federal immigration authorities access to nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant or 'exigent circumstances.' Maryland Del. Nicole Williams said residents' concerns about Trump's immigration policies prompted her to sponsor the legislation. 'We believe that diversity is our strength, and our role as elected officials is to make sure that all of the residents within our community — regardless of their background — feel safe and comfortable,' Williams said. Many new measures reinforce existing policies Though legislation advancing in Democratic states may shield against Trump's policies, 'I would say it's more so to send a message to immigrant communities to let them know that they are welcome,' said Juan Avilez, a policy associate at the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit advocacy group. In California, a law that took effect in 2018 already requires public schools to adopt policies 'limiting assistance with immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible.' Some schools have readily applied the law. When DHS officers attempted a welfare check on migrant children at two Los Angeles elementary schools in April, they were denied access by both principals. Legislation passed by the state Senate would reinforce such policies by specifically requiring a judicial warrant for public schools to let immigration authorities into nonpublic areas, allow students to be questioned or disclose information about students and their families. 'Having ICE in our schools means that you'll have parents who will not want to send their kids to school at all,' Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener said in support of the bill. But some Republicans said the measure was 'injecting partisan immigration policies' into schools. 'We have yet to see a case in California where we have scary people in masks entering schools and ripping children away,' said state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil. 'Let's stop these fear tactics that do us an injustice.' ___ Associated Press writers Susan Haigh, Trân Nguyễn, Jesse Bedayn, John O'Connor and Brian Witte contributed to this report.
