IRA Committees

Each of the committees below are those that the IRA sits on to represent Inuvialuit interests at the table in regional, territorial and national levels in terms of Inuit perspectives on research and training.

NWT Regional Contaminants Committee

The NWT Regional Contaminants Committee develops and coordinates a comprehensive regional contaminants research program and establishes priorities for the NWT. In 1989, the GNWT formed an environmental contaminants committee, essentially focused on health issues, to communicate results from the Broughton Island study. With the creation of the NCP, this committee expanded its role, particularly with the inclusion of more technical members, to encompass NCP work. In 1997, reorganization resulted in the formation of a second committee, the NWT ECC, whose current primary focus is the NCP. The NWT ECC reports to the NCP Management Committee on NCP-related matters. The committee presents an NWT position for consideration by the NCP Management Committee. It consists of members representing INAC, EC, DFO, HC; Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) - Departments of Health and Social Services and Environment and Natural Resources; Dene Nation; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Aurora Research Institute, Inuvialuit Game Council, Gwich'in Tribal Council, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, Dehcho First Nations, North Slave Métis Alliance, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Dogrib Treaty 11 Council and Akaitcho Territorial Tribal Council. It develops strategies and priorities for collaborative study, and provides information to the public about the presence and possible effects of contaminants. In association with the Government of the NWT - Department of Health, information is also provided to the public on the risks and benefits of consuming traditional foods. The NWT-ECC includes an extensive membership of regional NWT Aboriginal organizations, and federal and territorial government departments and has linkages to communities, Regional Health Boards, Community Health Representatives.

Inuit Nipingit Committee (Inuit Voices)

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and Inuit Tuttarvingat (formerly known as the Ajunnginiq Centre) of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) are committed to facilitate participation in a collaborative process to provide input to health and environment research in the Canadian Arctic, to identify emerging research priorities and to improve and enhance networking and facilitate knowledge translation. The INUIT NIPINGIT - National Inuit Committee on Ethics and Research plays an active role in helping provide Inuit involvement and positions on research and research ethics at the community, regional, national and international levels. In recognition of Inuit interests in improving and maintaining appropriate research conduct and processes, the INUIT NIPINGIT will develop effective responses to identified Canadian policy statements and guidelines and prepare Inuit positions as necessary.

The INUIT NIPINGIT is an advisory working group formed for the purpose of carrying out tasks as they are outlined in the work plan (Appendix 1) which will be approved periodically to update progress made.

The INUIT NIPINGIT may make recommendations on

• Raising awareness of research ethics.
• Enhancing an understanding of research on Inuit lands, in Inuit communities and research involving Inuit.

The members of the committee will

• Act in an advisory capacity.
• Report back to their respective organizations.
• Attend meetings as deemed necessary by the working group members.
• Share expertise with the Committee.
• Share regional and community news and initiatives with the Committee.
• Make recommendations to ITK and Inuit Tuttarvingat of NAHO to bring to their Governing Committees and Boards of Directors for final approval and adoption at the national level.

Participation in the research process is a topic that has been widely discussed among researchers and others since the 1980s. Much of this discussion was about what it means to be a participant or partner in a research project and how to best respect each others’ knowledge. These discussions helped to shape different types of research, such as participatory action research, and also resulted in the development of research guidelines.

Today, researchers follow guidelines to make sure their work is honorable and respectful (ethical).Guidelines and rules for researchers are part of the solution. Understanding research, researchers and the rights of research participants is a very good way to make sure research works for individuals and the community.

Institute of Circumpolar Health Research (formerly Arctic Health Research Network)

The Institute for Circumpolar Health Research grew out of the Arctic Health Research Network, founded in 2005 by Northern community members, doctors, academics, and scientists who believed that advancing the health and wellness of Northern people and communities as an important area of scientific inquiry and public policy. ICHR focuses on specifically on bringing people, facilities, and resources to bear on health-related research in the Northwest Territories, as well as on raising health and wellness issues throughout the region’s communities and the broader circumpolar world.

Inuit Advisory Committee (ArcticNet)

1. Mandate
The ArcticNet Inuit Advisory Committee (IAC) provides technical guidance and recommendations related to Inuit needs and priorities, policy development, and research to the Research Management Committee (RMC) of ArcticNet.

2. Membership and meetings
The IAC will be composed of the:

• Inuit ArcticNet Coordinator (ex-officio)
• Four Regional Research Advisors (ex-officio)
• Inuit Organization members of the RMC (ex-officio)
• ArcticNet Executive Director (ex-officio, non-voting)

Ex-officio members of the IAC serve on the IAC while they hold their appointment. The IAC reports to the Research Management Committee through the Inuit Organization members of the RMC. A face-to-face meeting of IAC will be held once a year in conjunction with the ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting, with additional teleconference meetings as required. The IAC meetings shall be organized and facilitated by the Inuit ArcticNet Coordinator. A majority of IAC members in office, from time to time, shall constitute a quorum for meetings of the IAC. IAC members may not send a substitute to IAC meetings. However IAC members unable to attend the meeting may send a non-voting observer subject to written approval from the Chair. The IAC may invite observers from organizations and agencies with a vested interest in Inuit related issues.

3. Responsibilities
The IAC’s responsibilities include:

• Making recommendations to the Research Management Committee (RMC);
• Identifying issues and priorities related to the research of the four ArcticNet themes that affect Inuit;
• Providing guidance and advice on policy issues, environmental change, and research priorities of Inuit;
• Providing a forum that supports the process of consultation, informing, and advocating for Inuit in ArcticNet;
• Providing a mechanism for Inuit regions, their organizations and community members to share information on the ArcticNet project, including providing relevant regional, circumpolar and international updates as required;
• Facilitating community involvement, participation, training and education in the research program;
• Providing guidance and advice related to strategic planning, research needs/gaps, community question and input of traditional knowledge.
• Promoting measures to ensure that initiatives generated by ArcticNet are accessible and relevant to the needs of Inuit.

Inuvik Interagency Committee

Our Mission

The Inuvik Interagency Committee is a non-profit network of community representatives collaborating to implement community-driven social change.

Community-driven issues are those based on the expressed needs of the community.

To accomplish this mission, we:

• Facilitate communication between existing programs and services,
• Engage our community in consultations, needs assessments and issue- identification processes,
• Identify and resolve gaps in social programming,
• Act as a resource for service access, and
• Foster the development of new social programs and services.

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