Canadian minister brings C$45M compensation to northern Quebec Inuit community
Federal government takes responsibility for historic sled dog killings in Nunavik region that happened around 60 years ago. Compensation package and formal apology aim to address long-lasting effects on Inuit communities
In a long-awaited step Gary Anandasangaree traveled to Kangiqsujuaq this weekend to address a dark chapter in Canadian history. The Crown-Indigenous Relations minister brought both an apology and a 45-million dollar compensation package for the mass-killing of sled dogs that took place in northern Quebec
The devastating events from mid-1900s left deep scars in Nunavik communities when Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other officials shot thousands of qimmiit (sled dogs). These actions broke the communities connection to their traditional way of life – the dogs were essential for hunting seals caribou and traveling across the frozen north
Pita Aatami who leads Makivvik‚ the Quebec Inuit organization says its been a quarter-century struggle to get recognition. The RCMPʼs own look into the matter back in 06 found no wrong-doing claiming public safety concerns; however Inuit leaders point to a different story: the killings were meant to force nomadic peoples into fixed settlements
Today‚ the Government of Canada accepted responsibility for its role in a terrible historic injustice
This federal action follows other steps to address past wrongs:
- Quebec governments apology about 13 years ago
- Federal apology to Qikiqtani region roughly 5 years back
- New compensation package worth 32.19M USD
The mass-killing of qimmiit didnt just affect hunting and transport – it created food shortages changed the economic structure and left emotional wounds that passed through generations. The communities lost their freedom to move across their ancestral lands impacting their entire way of life
