New Kajusivik Residence Opens to Empower Inuit Students in Kuujjuaq

The new Kajusivik residence opened on March 12, 2024, in Kuujjuaq, designed to support adult students from across the Nunavik region. This state-of-the-art facility can accommodate up to 84 people, a significant increase compared to the previous residence, which housed only approximately 10 individuals. Located in the community’s heart, the building includes various amenities such as communal study spaces, a cafeteria, a gym, daycare facilities, and modular lodgings that can serve both single occupants and families.

The project, which cost $55 million, received funding from the federal government and Quebec’s Ministry of Education. The goal of the residence is to reduce the educational barriers faced by Inuit students, who often have to leave their communities to pursue post-secondary education. “It will open new roads for Inuit to take college programs or even finish their high school,” said Harriet Keleutak, the director general of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the region’s school board. She emphasized that this development marks a significant step forward for Nunavik.

Enhanced Educational Opportunities

The opening of the Kajusivik residence aligns with the region’s broader push to enhance educational opportunities for Inuit students. In 2023, an adult education and vocational training center for up to 50 students was established in Kuujjuaq. While officials have described this center as temporary, plans are underway to construct a new facility by 2030, which will double its current capacity.

Starting in September 2023, the center will introduce several new programs. These include accounting courses, a college-level program in early childhood education, and a university certificate in First Nations and Inuit education, developed in collaboration with McGill University. Additional future offerings will address the regional demand for skilled labor, such as heavy equipment operation courses.

Keleutak emphasized the importance of the residence in retaining Inuit students within their region. “This will allow us to offer more programs and courses that we couldn’t do full-time before,” she stated, highlighting the commitment to improving access to education and vocational training for all Nunavik residents.

As students prepare to utilize the new residence and programs, the Kajusivik facility stands as a beacon of hope, aiming to foster educational success and community development in Nunavik. The convergence of funding, community support, and educational infrastructure represents a transformative opportunity for adult learners in the region.