Cultural Heritage Collections from Nunavut
Nunavut has a rich and vibrant cultural heritage, including Inuit cultural belongings (artifacts) that form part of museum collections around the world. These belongings embody Inuit values, histories, and traditions, carrying important stories of resilience, adaptability, and creativity.
The Nunavut Collection
The Nunavut Agreement establishes Inuit Heritage Trust (IHT) and the Government of Nunavut (GN) as co-owners of the archaeological collections currently stored at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) in Gatineau, Quebec.
The Nunavut Collection refers to collections legally owned by Nunavut and includes the co-owned archaeological materials as well as the ethnography, art, palaeontology, botany, zoology, and archival materials owned by the GN. Together, these collections represent a vital link to Inuit history and identity.
Inuit Rights and Responsibilities
Inuit rights extend beyond property ownership and the Nunavut Collection. They apply to all materials created by or about Inuit, as defined in the United Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Article 31.
This means Nunavut Inuit have the authority to control, maintain, and access all cultural heritage collections originating from Nunavut.
In line with IHT’s mandate and to implement UNDRIP, IHT’s Board of Trustees reviews requests to work with Inuit cultural belongings and collections from Nunavut.
Collection Requests
Requests to access, research, or loan collections from Nunavut are presented to IHT’s Board of Trustees for review and approval.
Or, complete this PDF and submit it by email to collections@ihti.ca.
Collections Research
Please provide copies of research results, publications, and reports to IHT.
Or, submit it by email to collections@ihti.ca.