Access to Food and Clean Drinking Water

It may go without saying, but food and water are necessities in more ways than one – they are vital to NunatuKavut Inuit health, culture, and survival. Yet too many of our communities face daily challenges in accessing affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods, as well as safe, clean drinking water. 

Colonial systems and past policies disrupted our ability to live sustainably from the land, ice, and waters that nourished our ancestors. Seasonal harvests of fish, seal, caribou, and berries remain central to our way of life, but are increasingly threatened by rising costs, shifting climates, and outside control over our resources. Meanwhile, boil-water advisories and inadequate infrastructure in several communities undermine health and erode trust in public systems. 

True reconciliation demands more than short-term fixes. It requires long-term, sustainable solutions rooted in Inuit knowledge and values. This means supporting local food security initiatives, strengthening infrastructure for clean drinking water, and protecting the lands and waters that provide for us. It also means ensuring government policies recognize the importance of culturally appropriate foods, and not just what is cheapest or most convenient. 

Our call is clear: the federal and provincial governments must work with NCC to build sustainable food and water systems that respect Inuit harvesting rights, protect ecosystems, and ensure every household has access to healthy, culturally meaningful food and safe drinking water.