Strong literacy skills not only improve a person’s ability to read and write, but they also help build confidence and self-sufficiency, as well as community capacity and development.

Agnico Eagle is proud to support Ilitaqsiniq (Nunavut Literacy Council) in their efforts to help Nunavut grow its literacy rates and work towards securing a better future for all Nunavummiut. To this end, we were pleased to be able to provide Ilitaqsiniq with a $250,000 contribution to help them expand their staffing, outreach activities and programming.

Ilitaqsiniq used the funding from Agnico Eagle to help purchase a building in Rankin Inlet, which now serves as its permanent headquarters in the Kivalliq region. With this home base, Ilitaqsiniq is now able to regularly offer literacy training programs for adults and youth.

Agnico Eagle’s contribution toward the Ilitaqsiniq building purchase was one of three community legacy projects that were funded to celebrate the opening of our Meliadine mine in June of 2019.  We also contributed $250,000 toward the construction of the new Rankin Inlet Fire Department’s Regional Fire Training Centre, which allows fire fighters to train for fire and rescue situations in a safe, real-time environment; and $500,000 toward Ilitaqsiniq’s efforts to promote and advance adult and youth literacy skills across the territory.

Adriana Kusugak, Ilitaqsiniq’s Executive Director says, “By having a home base to call our own we have been able to expand our Kivalliq-region programming and our staffing complement. It has been a huge benefit, allowing our Kivalliq-based team to expand from two to five employees, and enabling us to expand both our outreach efforts and our programs. The pride we feel when opening our doors and inviting people into our working space has given us the confidence to do more.”

Despite the pandemic, Ilitaqsiniq was able to complete over 60 projects over the past year, and reached five new communities across Nunavut.  The organization plans to continue to develop and deliver literacy programs built on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit – Inuit Traditional Knowledge – and the teaching of Inuit cultural practices.