Arviat chosen as main campus site for Inuit Nunangat University

Arviat will be the main campus for Inuit Nunangat University and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. announced $50 million toward construction.

Arviat has been named as the site of the future Inuit Nunangat University main campus, Inuit leaders announced on Feb. 11 in Ottawa. Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) announced $50 million toward building the institution, adding to earlier pledges. Locations for satellite campuses, called knowledge centres, are planned for every Inuit region. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) has campaigned for the university since 2011 and has received major philanthropic and pledged public support in recent years. Known details: - The announcement was made in Ottawa by ITK President Natan Obed and NTI acting president Paul Irngaut. - NTI announced a $50 million contribution, in addition to a previous $2 million pledge. - ITK received $50 million from the Mastercard Foundation in November 2024 and is seeking a total of $160 million to make the university accessible by 2030. - The federal government pledged to match the Mastercard Foundation funding in its November 2025 budget and still must pass legislation to permit the university to operate; ITK is reported to be in talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney about that permitting process. - There are currently no universities in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories; the planned Inuit Nunangat University is described as having three faculties: Inuktut, Silatusarniq, and Inuit sovereignty. Summary: The decision names Arviat as the main campus site and brings a major funding pledge from NTI alongside earlier commitments. Additional fundraising, the establishment of governance, recruitment of specialised educators, and federal legislation to permit the university remain. Discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney over the permitting process are ongoing.