2023 Upinnaqtuq Awards – Call for Nominations

The Nunavut Law Foundation for its 11th year will be awarding students and youths in each region across Nunavut in honor of Justice Beverly Browne, who was the first senior judge in the Nunavut Court of Justice. She demonstrated great leadership in the community and had a strong commitment and passion for working with youths. Learn more about past recipients.  

Call for Nominations – ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ; français

Who can nominate? 

As a member of your community (including principals, teachers, student support assistants, organizations, and any member of the public that is not directly related to the student or youth), the Foundation is asking you to nominate an individual who embodies peace, leadership, conflict resolution, or who made strong efforts to change his/her attitude and behavior to become a role model.

What are the eligibility criteria?

Nominations are open for Students in grades 6 to 12 or Youth between the ages of 10 to 20. 

 What is the deadline? 

Please send a letter or email explaining why this individual deserves the scholarship to Nalini Vaddapalli at by Monday, June 12, 2023.

When will the awards be announced?

Once the Foundation has received all letters from the schools, organizations, and the general public, the Board members will review each nomination for selection. The chairperson will then inform the selected recipients of the scholarship by Friday, June 30, 2023.

What are the awards?

Monetary scholarships will be given to students and youths 14 years and older; and students and youths 13 years and under will receive a gift of their choice, up to a maximum amount to be determined by the Board once all applications have been received.

Questions?  Contact Nalini Vaddapalli:

The Nunavut Law Foundation is a non-profit organization that receives funding from the Law Society of Nunavut (which represents all the lawyers practicing in the territory). 

 

 

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Call for Lay Member

The Nunavut Law Foundation is looking for a lay member of the public to fill a vacant position on its Board

Detailed Call English; Inuktitut

  • The public member will contribute to the work of the Law Foundation by expressing community concerns, sharing their knowledge and insight, and ensuring that decisions reflect the views of the general public, including Inuit societal values.
  • Anyone who is concerned about public legal education, access to justice or the administration of justice in the community is encouraged to apply.
  • To learn more about the projects and initiatives of the Nunavut Law Foundation, please visit: www.nunavutlawfoundation.ca

If you’re interested in the position, please send a cover letter and resume with the subject line “NLF Public Representative” to  by December 5, 2022, or by mail or fax at:

Nunavut Law Foundation

c/o Law Society of Nunavut

P.O. Box 149 Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0

Tel: (867) 979 – 2330; Fax: (867) 9797-2333

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Notice – Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts

June 7, 2022

To: Law Society of Nunavut Membership

TAKE NOTICE THAT the Nunavut Law Foundation is asking that all members who maintain trust accounts outside of the territory come into compliance with subsection 57(2) of the Legal Profession Act before membership renewals are due to the Law Society for the 2024/2025 membership year. This request is in response to broad non-compliance with this section and resulting deficiency in funds available to the Law Foundation to fulfill its mandate.

Read the full Notice in English; Inuktitut; 

 

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Upinnaqtuq Awards 2021-22 Call for Nominations

In memory of Justice Beverly Browne

Learn more about her extraordinary journey

  • Nominations are open for Students enrolled in grade 6 to 12 or Youths between the ages of 10 to 20 years old. Please send a letter explaining why this individual deserves the scholarship to my attention by Thursday June 30, 2022.
  • Click here to learn more in:   Inuktitut, French and English.
  • Once the Foundation receives all letters from the schools, organizations and general public, the Board members will review each nomination for selection. The Chairperson will then inform the selected recipients of the scholarship by Monday July 11, 2022.
  • Monetary scholarships will be given to students and youths 14 years and older; students and youths 13 years and under will receive a gift of their choice up to a maximum amount to be determined by the Board once all applications have been received.

ᓇᓖᓂ ᕚᓐᑕᐸᓕ
Nalini Vaddapalli, Administrator
(867) 979-2330 * 
P.O. Box 69, Iqaluit NU, X0A 0H0

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2022 General Grant – Bridging the Gap Initiative for Indian Day School Claims

The Nunavut Law Foundation is pleased to support

the Bridging the Gap Initiative

 

Background

In March 2019, the Government of Canada announced a nationwide class action settlement agreement to compensate an estimated 140,000 people who attended federally run Indian Day Schools (IDS) from the late 1800s to the year 2000, where many experienced physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. In some cases, the abuse was severe. These abuses were in addition to the mocking, denigration and humiliation of students by reason of their culture and language. Through McLean v Canada, the Plaintiffs have sought the recognition of and justice for the harms inflicted on former students of Day Schools and their family members.

The Court has appointed Roger Augustine and Claudette Commanda as Representative Plaintiffs for the Survivor Class and Mariette Buckshot as Representative Plaintiff for the Family Class. Former students have until July 2022 to apply for compensation, and they must fill out a complex 15-page claim form with a detailed description of the harms they experienced. After community feedback expressed the need for greater support and access to the process, the Court appointed Argyle to providing claimants with culturally appropriate, trauma-informed assistance.

Claims Assistance in Nunavut

The Tukisigiarvik Society is supporting Argyle for this process in Nunavut. However, since Argyle’s mandate does not include support for the Family Class Members who need help with Wills & Estates or Power of Attorney, the Law Society of Nunavut has taken steps to bridge the gap. Many victims of the IDS passed away and their family also suffer the consequences of the abuses. Providing direct support to the families who need assistance to navigate the complex legal world regarding wills and estates is facilitating access to justice for the Family Class Member’s claims.

MARCH 31, 2022 PRESS RELEASE English Inuktitut 

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Call for Lay Member

The Nunavut Law Foundation is looking for a lay member of the public to fill a vacant position on its Board.

The public member will contribute to the work of the Law Foundation by expressing community concerns, sharing their knowledge and insight, and ensuring that decisions reflect the views of the general public, including Inuit societal values.

Anyone who is concerned about public legal education, access to justice or the administration of justice in the community is encouraged to apply.

If you’re interested in the position, please send a cover letter and resume with the subject line “NLF Public Representative” to by December 8, 2021, or by mail or fax at:

NUNAVUT LAW FOUNDATION

P.O. Box 69
Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0
Tel: (867) 979 – 2330
Fax: (867) 979 – 2333

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Sarah Arngna’naaq – New Chair

Interview with Sarah Arngna’naaq – Chair of the Nunavut Law Foundation

It could be argued that Sarah Arngna’naaq’s journey to Chair of the Nunavut Law Foundation may have started in Ghana, West Africa – a long way from the Canadian Arctic. “It was a great experience, but while there I realized there are many parallels between developing countries and the ex-colonial history and indigenous people in Canada.”

Read more about Sarah’s journey.
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