Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit ( /inuit qaujimajatuqaŋit/,

Inuktitut syllabics Inuktitut syllabics ( iu, ᖃᓂᐅᔮᖅᐸᐃᑦ, qaniujaaqpait, or , ) is an abugida-type writing system used in Canada by the Inuktitut-speaking Inuit of the territory of Nunavut and the Nunavik and Nunatsiavut regions of Quebec and Labrador ...

: ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᑦ; sometimes Inuit Qaujimanituqangit - ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᑐᖃᖏᑦ) is an

Inuktitut Inuktitut (; , syllabics ; from , "person" + , "like", "in the manner of"), also Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, is one of the principal Inuit languages of Canada. It is spoken in all areas north of the tree line, including parts of the provinces o ...

phrase that is often translated as "

Inuit Inuit (; iu, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ 'the people', singular: Inuk, , dual: Inuuk, ) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territorie ...

traditional knowledge Traditional knowledge (TK), indigenous knowledge (IK) and local knowledge generally refer to knowledge systems embedded in the cultural traditions of regional, indigenous, or local communities. According to the World Intellectual Property Or ...

", "Inuit traditional institutions" or even "Inuit traditional technology". It is often abbreviated as "IQ". It comes from the verb root "''qaujima-''" meaning "to know" and could be literally translated as "that which has long been known by Inuit".

Traditional knowledge

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a body of knowledge and unique cultural insights of Inuit into the workings of nature, humans and animals. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, then, has both practical and

epistemological Epistemology (; ), or the theory of knowledge, is the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge. Epistemology is considered a major subfield of philosophy, along with other major subfields such as ethics, logic, and metaphysics. Episte ...

aspects that branch out from a fundamental principle that human beings are learning, rational beings with an infinite potential for problem-solving within the dictates of nature and technology. According to the Government of Nunavut 2013 document entitled ''Incorporating Inuit Societal Values,'' Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit has the following components: * Inuuqatigiitsiarniq (respecting others, relationships and caring for people) * Tunnganarniq (fostering good spirit by being open, welcoming and inclusive) * Pijitsirniq (serving and providing for family or community, or both) * Aajiiqatigiinniq (decision making through discussion and consensus) * Pilimmaksarniq or Pijariuqsarniq (development of skills through practice, effort and action) * Piliriqatigiinniq or Ikajuqtigiinniq (working together for a common cause) * Qanuqtuurniq (being innovative and resourceful) * Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq (respect and care for the land, animals and the environment) The Inuit Language Protection Act of 2008 establishes the rights of parents to receive instruction in Inuktitut. Similarly, Inuit intergenerational (from elder to youth) and experiential (learning through participation) knowledge has also been called "Inuit ecological knowledge" or "IEK"

Studies of traditional knowledge

The Igloolik Research Centre in

Igloolik Igloolik ( Inuktitut syllabics: , ''Iglulik'', ) is an Inuit hamlet in Foxe Basin, Qikiqtaaluk Region in Nunavut, northern Canada. Because its location on Igloolik Island is close to Melville Peninsula, it is often mistakenly thought to be on ...

, Nunavut focuses on documenting Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, as well as climatology and seismic data research.

Politics

During the early 21st century it has become something of a political slogan in

Nunavut Nunavut ( , ; iu, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ , ; ) is the largest and northernmost territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the '' Nunavut Act'' and the '' Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act'' ...

, as the government attempts to integrate the traditional culture of the Inuit more into their modern governance structure in order to combat disempowerment. Its critics , however, tend to view it as little more than window dressing for more conventional politics.

In academia

Qaujimajatuqangit has been incorporated into Canadian academic settings in the 21st century. Marine biologist Enooyaq Sudlovenick uses qaujimajatuqangit to study the health of marine arctic animals including beluga and ringed seals.

References

Footnotes

Citations

* Eyegetok, Sandra, and Natasha Thorpe.
The Hiukitak River Elder-Youth Camp, August 7-14, 1998
'. Nunavut?: s.n, 1998.

External links

Education Framework

Canku Ota, An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America, January 13, 2001 - Issue 27.

Department of Human Resources, Government of Nunavut, 2005
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangita Isumaksaqsiurtingit (IQI) Committee
Nunavut Department of Economic Development & Transportation, 2006
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit Established
Nunavut Department of Culture, Language, Edlers and Youth, September 8, 2003
Qaujimajatuqangit and social problems in modern Inuit society. An elders workshop on angakkuuniq
by Jarich Oosten and Frédéric Laugrand, 2002 Inuit culture Culture of Nunavut Inuktitut words and phrases Canadian political phrases Traditional knowledge