What was the initiative?

Qaulirmat is an Inuktitut word that translates to “because it’s dawn”. Félix’s Pathy Fellowship project, Qaulirmat: Inuit Youth Collaboraring for a Bright Future is a community-driven initiative intended for Inuit youth aged 13 to 35. Félix’s Fellowship work centred around building the foundation for Qaulirmat’s northern programming, including networking with government officials, solidifying new partnerships, sourcing sustainable funding, building a team, and developing curriculum. During his Fellowship year, and as part of his vision of sustainability, Félix also incorporated a not-for-profit organization called All Arctic; his Fellowship initiative is now housed within this organization. The programming element of Félix’s Pathy initiative was implemented immediately following his graduation from the Fellowship. Qaulirmat hosted summer programming for a group of youth participants from Puvirnituq, Nunavik. The project’s aim was to support youth in reaching their full potential by exploring education, business, employment and community development opportunities. In a series of workshops, group discussions, speaker events, and land-based pedagogies, the participants were provided with the time and space to contribute towards a bright future.

What is your connection to your chosen community?

Félix’s community was the ethno-cultural group of the Inuit, specifically the community of Puvirnituq where he was born. The community is located above the 55th parallel in the Arctic circle. In his own words, Félix explains, “Being Inuk myself, I have been actively representing my community across the various academic institutions I have attended, and keep building a stronger sense of my identity when working with my fellow Inuit, as colleagues, peers, or classmates. Being part of the community I work with is why I believe this will be a success.”

What were some significant achievements?

In the process of making this initiative sustainable, Félix, the resident “networker” of his cohort, fostered and nurtured important relationships with various stakeholders to ensure that his initiative can keep positively impacting people in the Arctic for as long as can be. As Félix explains, “Being Inuk myself and getting to work with my community is a great example of self-determination. I do not think it’s appropriate to label [this initiative] as innovative because this work has to be done due the many harms that colonialism has imposed onto our communities and families. This initiative is one building block in the process of keeping our communities alive and thriving.”

As a result of the initiative, participants enjoyed the “networking effect”, celebrated excellence, encouraged togetherness, fostered a greater sense of community, contributed to the Inuit vision of the future, healed through community, and shared stories of success.

What is Felix doing now?

Felix is working full-time to transition his not-for-profit organization, “All Arctic” into a charitable organization in order to sustain Qaulirmat and many other projects over the course of the next few decades. His organization, All Arctic, is English for ”Ukiurtatulimaarq”. Félix hopes that Qaulirmat will continue to become a network of youth across the Arctic who want to achieve their full potential. By fostering this initiative over time, he hopes that other young Inuit will be able to contribute towards a bright future, within their close relationships, their community, this country and the rest of the world.