June 27, 2025 - Iqaluit, Nunavut
Ullaakut, and welcome to Iqaluit.
It is an honour to host you for the second day of the inaugural Nunavut Arctic Sovereignty and Security Summit - Our Arctic, Our Strength
Nunavut Ukiuqtaqtuq, Sannginivut.
Many thanks to all our guests who have traveled from across Nunavut, the Inuit Nunangat, the territories, provinces, and beyond.
To our friends and partners from the Canadian Armed Forces, the federal government, Indigenous organizations, and the private sector – thank you for being here. Your presence shows your commitment not just to the Arctic, but to our people.
This summit is taking place at a pivotal moment in our history.
The world is watching the Arctic.
As geopolitical tensions rise, climate change reshapes our landscape, and global demand for resources grows, the North is no longer a frontier—it is a strategic focal point. And Nunavut is at the centre of it all.
But let me be clear: we are not just the backdrop to a sovereignty story.
We are the authors of it.
While others may look at the Arctic and see untapped potential or geopolitical leverage, we see something else: Home.
So when we speak of sovereignty and security, we do not speak only of defense or diplomacy.
From Symbol to Strategy: A New Arctic Partnership
For far too long, Inuit communities were treated as symbolic occupants—placed to plant flags, not to lead. Our families were relocated, our lives disrupted, all in service of a sovereignty strategy that never included us.
But we have turned that page.
Today, we are not passive witnesses to Arctic policy—we are architects of it.
Earlier this year, alongside Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, we committed to crafting a Made-in-Nunavut Arctic Sovereignty and Security Strategy. This Summit is a cornerstone of that work and a turning point.
Together, we are reframing sovereignty—not as a military posture, but as an investment in people, infrastructure, and resilience.
Because we know: real sovereignty is local.
It means connected communities with reliable power.
It means year-round access to transportation and high-speed internet.
It means healthy homes, thriving economies, and strong local governance.
In Nunavut, sovereignty is not asserted with force, it’s lived.
It is sustained through Pijitsirniq — our deep commitment to serving and caring for our communities.
Honouring this approach means prioritizing Nunavummiut at the decision-making table—not just to be consulted, but to lead.
Inuit-led Nation-Building: The Pillars of Northern Sovereignty
We are working toward a made-in Nunavut strategy that unifies and amplifies our voice within our territory, across Canada, throughout the circumpolar world, and on the globe stage.
Nunavut’s Arctic Strategy is built on five interwoven pillars that reflect our values, realities, and ambitions as a territory.
Firstly, at the core is the strength of our communities—resilient, culturally grounded, and central to our vision of security.
Next is environmental stewardship. For generations, Inuit have safeguarded these lands and waters. Stewardship is sovereignty, and protecting our environment is inseparable from protecting our future.
We also recognize Nunavut as an active player in the circumpolar world, with a voice and leadership essential to shaping the future of the North.
Another pillar is economic empowerment. Unlocking Nunavut’s economic potential means Inuit benefit first and foremost. It is not just about development—it’s about ensuring Inuit prosperity, ownership, and opportunity.
And finally, our strategy confronts the climate crisis head-on, with a commitment to adaptation rooted in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and environmental responsibility.
Together, these pillars form the foundation of a strategy that is Inuit-led, future-focused, and grounded in our rightful place in the world.
Four Projects, One Vision
Together with NTI and our Regional Inuit Associations, we are championing four nation-building infrastructure projects that strengthen Canadian sovereignty, while addressing urgent community needs.
These initiatives are not simply investments—they are manifestations of sovereignty.
- The Qikiqtarjuaq Deep-Water Port enhances Canada’s Arctic marine logistics and national security,, strengthens fisheries, supports critical search and rescue, and builds Nunavut’s self-reliance.
- The Iqaluit Hydroelectric Project – is a clean energy transition from diesel power and bold step toward self-sufficiency and climate leadership, while supplying firm power to support Canada’s Northern Operational Hub.
- The Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link – Connects Nunavut to the southern grid and to faster communications, empowering our communities with the tools to grow, adapt, and innovate—Qanuqtuurniq/innovation in action.
- The Gray’s Bay Road and Port / Arctic Security Corridor – is the only all-season road to a deepwater port on the Northwest Passage. Linking Nunavut to the Northwest Territories and unlocking access to critical minerals.
Together, these projects are the backbone of a stronger, more resilient Arctic—rooted in Inuit values and built in partnership with Canada.
These are not just infrastructure projects.
They are the arteries of a more secure, prosperous, and connected Arctic.
They create opportunity.
They reduce risk.
And they reinforce Canada’s claim to its North—not with presence alone, but with purpose.
Critical Minerals and Economic Sovereignty
The world is entering a new era of resource diplomacy.
As supply chains shift and tensions rise, securing critical minerals is no longer just an economic priority—it is a matter of national security.
Nunavut holds 23 of Canada’s 34 listed critical minerals. We are home to green iron ore, copper, zinc, and lithium. These are not just rocks in the ground—they are the building blocks of a clean energy future.
Investing in Nunavut’s exploration and infrastructure strengthens Canada’s role as a trusted global supplier—especially as nations seek alternatives to unstable or authoritarian regimes.
Nunavut’s minerals can support electric vehicles, solar panels, and national defense technologies. But more importantly, they can create jobs, opportunities, and revenue for Nunavummiut. They build housing, and help close the infrastructure gap.
Our economic potential is national in scope, but local in impact.
Our Shared Responsibilities
Let me say this clearly: Canada cannot be an Arctic nation without the North.
And the North cannot thrive without investment from Ottawa.
This is strategic partnership.
Every investment in Nunavut strengthens Canada.
Every road built, every megawatt generated, every port developed — is a building block of sovereignty and a safeguard for our shared future.
That’s why we are calling on Canada to treat Arctic infrastructure as nation-building, not regional spending.
To bring the same ambition to the North that once drove railways across the Prairies and highways through the Rockies.
We are ready. We are united. And we are asking for a true partnership grounded in respect, equity, and action.
A New Era for the Arctic
2025 marks one year since we signed the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement—a landmark step toward self-determination.
Devolution is more than a jurisdictional change. It is a promise. A promise that we are ready to govern, to lead, and to shape our own future.
In the spirit of Aajiiqatigiinniq—decision-making through discussion and consensus—this agreement reflects a shared commitment to self-determination.
Once implemented, Nunavummiut will manage the land and resources of our homeland. That is sovereignty in action.
But devolution is not the end. It is the beginning.
The beginning of a new chapter where northern leadership and Canadian sovereignty are not in tension—but intertwined.
This is what it means to be an Arctic partner, not just an Arctic presence.
A Message to Young Nunavummiut
To the young people of Nunavut—I want to speak directly to you.
This strategy, this summit, the devolution agreement and the Nunavut Implementation Plan—they are for you.
They are being built so that you can grow up in communities that are safe, sustainable, and full of opportunity.
So that you can learn, thrive, contribute, and lead—guided by the same values our ancestors carried.
You are not just the future of Nunavut.
You are the future of Canada’s North.
And you are not alone. We are building this path with you.
In Closing
Let me close with this:
Sovereignty is not a slogan. It is lived every day by the people who call the Arctic home.
And real security does not come from fences or fleets.
It comes from strong communities, clear vision, and shared purpose.
So let us move forward together—with courage, with care, and with commitment.
Let us build a Nunavut that is not only secure, but sovereign on its own terms.
And when we do—when we listen, partner, and build together—we will not only secure this vast northern expanse.
We will secure a stronger, more united Canada.
Qujannamiik.