Nunavut Food Security Symposium Starts Tonight

Iqaluit, Nunavut (January 21, 2013) – Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) President Cathy Towtongie will welcome delegates to the inaugural Nunavut Food Security Symposium tonight. The Nunavut Food Security Coalition, led by the Government of Nunavut and NTI, is hosting the symposium that begins tonight in Iqaluit and runs until Thursday.

“The time is right for a Nunavut Food Security Symposium,” said Premier Eva Aariak. “This past year we have seen great enthusiasm and a willingness to work together on this issue from the many organizations currently addressing food security, from the public, advocacy groups, the private sector, our hunters, and the political leadership. This week’s symposium will provide an opportunity for all of these voices to come to the table to help address this vital social issue.”

“A collaborative approach with all partners on food security is essential. Access to food is a fundamental challenge and need. NTI looks forward to working together at this Symposium to create made-in Nunavut solutions to this very challenging issue.” said President Cathy Towtongie.

The symposium will allow for meaningful discussion on 6 themes that have been identified as potential areas for action on food insecurity in Nunavut.

Theme 1: Country Food Access
Theme 2: Market Food Access
Theme 3: Policy and Legislation
Theme 4: Life Skills and Financial Literacy
Theme 5: Local Food Production
Theme 6: Programs and Community Initiative

The symposium will build on ideas that were identified during public engagement for poverty reduction and during the food security thematic discussions led by the coalition this past fall.

Delegates at the symposium include organizations from across Nunavut whose mandates, programs or services affect food security. Hunters and Trappers representatives, Feeding my Family, the North West Company, and Arctic Cooperatives are just some of the symposium presenters.

The Nunavut Food Security Coalition is made up of representatives of 7 Government of Nunavut departments, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and each of the 3 Regional Inuit Associations. The coalition is co-chaired by the GN and NTI.

The establishment of the Nunavut Food Security Coalition and the preparation of a territorial action plan on food security is a principal goal of The Makimaniq Plan: A Shared Approach to Poverty Reduction.

The goal of the symposium is to confirm key partnerships and collaborative actions that can be included in the action plan, to be released this spring.

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For more information contact:

Pam Coulter
Director of Communications
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs
Government of Nunavut
867-975-6049
pcoulter2@gov.nu.ca

PJ Akeeagok
Assistant Director of Communications
Department of Corporate Services
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Tel: 867-975-4939 Cell: 867-222-1821
Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
www.tunngavik.com

Attached: Backgrounder

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