Blog

Foundation Supports Nunavut’s First Community Foundation

In keeping with the Foundation’s priority of Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, we are pleased to announce a grant of $25,000 to the Annauma Community Foundation, the first community foundation in Nunavut. 

When Nunavut was created in 1999 the dream was for a unique territory where Inuit could thrive. Despite many advancements over the past few decades, today families in Nunavut still need support to meet the basics including housing and food, as well as to uphold the cultural identity and language that defines core self-worth and dignity.Inuit communities know the best solutions to the issues they experience. Annauma connects caring philanthropists, corporate partners, funders, and governments with opportunities to invest in inspired community-based action.

Annauma is short for Annaumakkaijiit, an Inuktitut (Inuit language) word meaning “helping people to stay ahead”. The organization was created to help Inuit continue to realize their dream for Nunavut.  They also have a very unique model of governance and decision-making that reflects Inuit culture.

Supporting a bright, strong and prosperous future for Inuit communities

This grant is part of Annauma’s current Caring North Campaign. They list priority areas of work as:

• Inuit Children and Youth
• Community Health and Well-being
• Education and Learning
• Arts and Culture
• Community-Identified Opportunities

Annauma uses a community-led granting model, inviting organizations with capacity that fit each of the priorities to make granting decisions. Each decision-making group determines what consensus looks like for them and how they will know when they have reached a decision. Each group also decides how they will assess success.

Annauma plans to split the grant three ways to ensure the funds are used most effectively. Firstly, some will be used for immediate granting. A portion will also to long-term investments, and the remainder will support sector development and capacity building.

A New Relationship

Support for Nunavut’s first community foundation, Annauma Foundation can be directly linked to our priority of Reconciliation. United Church of Canada presence in the north is indeed quite limited, and Annauma’s goals align with the Foundation’s priorities related to the preservation and rejuvenation of Indigenous culture, support of Indigenous ways of being and knowing, and healing from the damage inflicted by colonialism.  We are excited for this new relationship and will offer updates as they become available. We wish blessings to Annauma as they carry out this important work.