Carvers and traditional artisans in Arviat and across the Kivalliq Region will soon have more support for their work after the Kivalliq Inuit Association approved a new Traditional Artisan Policy during a meeting in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, from July 14 to 16, 2026.
The policy was one of several resolutions passed by the board of directors, according to a news release from President Kono Tattuinee. More details on how the policy will provide structured support for carvers, seamstresses, and other craftspeople are expected in the coming months.
Arviat is known for its many talented stone and bone carvers, along with skilled seamstresses and beaders. The community receives $3.36 million this year from the Sapuulutaq Community Initiative Fund, which is funded by mining royalties. An additional $372,676 goes to education, meaning over $3.7 million flows back to Arviat from resource development.
The Kivalliq Inuit Association has received more than $203 million in mining royalties between 2021 and 2025, the largest share among Nunavut’s regional Inuit organizations. The association already runs a Traditional Economy Fund that gives grants up to $1,500 for arts and crafts tools and materials, and the new policy is expected to build on that foundation.
Tattuinee, who is from Arviat, and the board will hold their next meeting in the community from September 1 to 3, 2026, where the policy’s rollout will likely be discussed further.
