what’s working: Crafting Futures: Building Skills, Bridging Communities in Nunavut.

The article focuses on the Qikiqtani Skills and Training for Employment Partnership (Q-STEP), a program launched in 2017 by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) to address employment and skills development challenges faced by Inuit communities in Nunavut’s Qikiqtani Region. Funded by over $30 million from the Government of Canada, Q-STEP provides certified training, job placement, and employment supports tailored to the region’s remote context, including initiatives like the successful “Q-Drive” driver training program and the Inuit Training and Development Program. The program also incorporates cultural and language supports, partnerships with industry and government, and innovative tools such as Tuttarvik, a bilingual digital platform connecting Inuit job seekers with employers. Q-STEP aligns with broader reconciliation goals by promoting Inuit self-reliance, economic development, and capacity building across multiple sectors in the region.