Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (2016) Youth Perspectives on Housing in Inuit Nunangat, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Ottawa

Keywords: children and youth, health, mental health, sustainability

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is the national representational organization for Canada’s Inuit. ITK advocates for policies, programs and services to address the social, cultural, political, and environmental issues facing Inuit. This paper highlights youth perspectives on housing communities in Inuit Nunangat (the four Inuit regions of Canada: Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region).

Through a series of interviews and a review of key literature, the paper outlines Inuit youth perspectives on the main housing challenges and opportunities, needs, and expectations. Themes of the paper are: context for youth and housing; accessibility; the relationship between housing and mental and physical health; building design/preference; affordability; and sustainability.

The Inuit youth leaders interviewed detailed and emphasized the negative effects the housing crisis is having on their lives. ITK illustrates that while housing issues affect many Inuit, the impacts are disproportionately felt by Inuit youth.