The Qikiqtani Region of Nunavut encompasses some of the most biodiverse waters in the Arctic. It supports globally significant populations of narwhals and polar bears, alongside Greenland sharks, ringed seals and other marine wildlife. These ecosystems are also central to the culture, livelihoods and well-being of the region’s 13 Inuit communities.

We are supporting the SINAA Qikiqtani Project Finance for Permanence, an Enduring Earth initiative led by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in partnership with the Government of Canada and philanthropic funders. The initiative aims to establish approximately 217,000 km² of new protected areas and strengthen protection across a further 427,000 km², while expanding Inuit governance and stewardship throughout the region.

The project will support Inuit participation in the governance and management of protected areas and expand the Nauttiqsuqtiit programme of Inuit environmental stewards across all 13 Qikiqtani communities. It will also invest in conservation centres, training and community programmes, creating long-term employment and economic opportunities connected to the stewardship of the region’s lands and waters.

By bringing together long-term public and philanthropic funding, SINAA aims to secure lasting protection for this globally important Arctic region while advancing the Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s vision for an Inuit-led regional conservation economy.