Ottawa, Ontario — Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The main campus of Inuit Nunangat University will be based in Arviat, Nunavut. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) made the announcement today alongside Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and the Hamlet of Arviat, marking a milestone in the creation of the first Inuit-led university in Canada.
NTI committed $50 million towards construction of the main campus, in addition to $2 million pledged in 2025. The university will also be one of the institutions benefiting from a base figure of $50 million for student housing and $35 million for programming provided through the Nunavut Agreement Implementation Contract.
The ITK Board of Directors unanimously and enthusiastically decided the main campus location in late January. The decision was informed by a rigorous, independent site selection process conducted throughout 2025 to evaluate communities on criteria including Inuit-owned land availability, infrastructure capacity, transportation access, partnerships, Inuktut fluency, and overall community readiness.
Arviat is located on the western shore of Hudson Bay in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. With a population of 3,000, it is the territory’s third-largest community and has one of the highest youth populations in the country.
From an initial review of 51 communities and 19 expressions of interest, eight communities were shortlisted, and six (including Inuvik, Cambridge Bay, Kuujjuaq, Puvirnituq and Iqaluit) submitted detailed proposals. ITK will now begin a process to select sites to host regional knowledge centres, or satellite campuses. These centres will be located across Inuit Nunangat to ensure the university remains accessible to Inuit across Canada.
NTI’s contribution is in addition to support from a number of other partners. In 2024 the Mastercard Foundation contributed $50 million to the University — the largest philanthropic donation to an Indigenous initiative in Canada. In 2025, Makivvik, the organization representing Inuit in Nunavik pledged $2 million. The Rideau Hall Foundation and The McConnell Foundation have committed $1 million each. Budget 2025 announced a federal investment through the Build Communities Strong Fund in response to ITK’s pre-budget submission.
When it opens in 2030, the main campus will serve approximately 100 students and 80 faculty and staff, with on-site housing for up to 75 percent of students and staff. Over time, the university will offer degrees across two provinces and two territories through a multi-jurisdictional delivery model.
Quotes
“Today’s announcement of Arviat as the location of the main campus of Inuit Nunangat University is the beginning of a long-term partnership to build an institution rooted in Inuit self-determination, culture and knowledge. On behalf of the ITK Board of Directors, I would like to express our gratitude to the community and Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. for the care and commitment they demonstrated throughout this process. I would also like to celebrate NTI’s support for the university and its historic commitment towards our goal of welcoming students in 2030,” said ITK President Natan Obed.”
“NTI is designing an ambitious plan to train Nunavut Inuit for the jobs in our communities, in partnership with Governments of Canada and Nunavut. Inuit Nunangat University is a pillar of this plan,” said NTI President Paul Irngaut. “It is truly an honor and privilege to nurture this institution of higher learning. The decision to establish Inuit Nunangat University in Arviat affirms that Inuit education belongs in Inuit communities. It will be a place of academic and Inuit excellence.
“For generations, Arviat has traditionally passed on our language, culture, experience of harvesting, survival and sewing to survive the harsh climate we live in, which is training and learning in itself. We are proud to share and showcase that, and so much more, by being the home of Inuit Nunangat University,” said Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr.
“Inuit Nunangat University is a transformative initiative that will strengthen Inuit-led education and community wellbeing, and contribute to long term economic and social development across Inuit Nunangat. Learning and working at home means that more Inuit will have the opportunity to grow in the North. Our government is proud to support this important milestone and is committed to providing up to $50 million in funding through Budget 2025’s Building Communities Strong Fund,” said the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
About Inuit Nunangat University
Inuit Nunangat University is an Inuit-led initiative to establish the first university in Canada that is created, governed and operated by Inuit. The University will advance Inuit self-determination in education, strengthen Inuktut, and support Inuit knowledge systems at the highest levels of study and research.
About Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is the national representational organization for Inuit in Canada, the majority of whom live in Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland, encompassing 51 communities across the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Northwest Territories) Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Quebec) and Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador
See a background on Inuit Nunangat University here.
