Media Centre

Aboriginal Peoples Survey Underway in Nunavut

NR 06-26 SUR ENG Statistics Survey.doc

(November 28, 2006 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., in conjunction with Statistics Canada, is now conducting the Aboriginal Peoples Survey and Aboriginal Children’s Survey in all 25 Nunavut communities.

From October to January, surveyors will ask 3,500 Inuit across the territory a series of important questions about social and economic realities, housing, daycare, the essential practice of harvesting country, the strength of Inuktitut, and the health of Inuit children and Elders.

The information will be used in many important ways. For example, it will show the government how daycare services for Inuit children can be improved, it will provide more information about the health of Inuit children, and it will provide further evidence to the Government of Canada about Nunavut’s critical housing shortage.

The Aboriginal Peoples Survey and Aboriginal Children’s Survey was developed in partnership with other Inuit organizations, Laval University and Statistics Canada. By participating in the survey, NTI has ensured the questions that are asked are important and culturally relevant to Inuit and communities.

All the information that is collected will be kept private and confidential.

NTI encourages Inuit who are approached to meet with the surveyors and answer their questions to ensure the data collected provides a clear and accurate picture of the situation of Inuit in Nunavut.

Interviews are being conducted in both Inuktitut and English. The survey is scheduled to conclude in January, 2007. Survey data will be available in the fall of 2008.

For further information: