Inuit are an Indigenous people of the Arctic with distinct histories, languages, cultures, and homelands. Inuit are not a subgroup of First Nations or Métis peoples. Although these Indigenous peoples share some experiences of colonization in Canada, their identities, rights, governments, and communities are different.
This page is an introduction to Inuit in Canada, their homeland of Inuit Nunangat, Inuit communities, languages, culture, history, and current issues. For information created and maintained by Inuit, visit Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national organization representing Inuit in Canada.
Who Are Inuit?
The word Inuit means “the people” in Inuktut. The singular form is Inuk. Inuit have lived in the Arctic since time immemorial and remain deeply connected to their lands, waters, sea ice, languages, families, and communities.
Inuit are a living, contemporary people. Inuit work in every part of society, including the arts, education, health care, business, science, government, media, and land stewardship. Inuit culture is not one fixed or identical set of practices. It reflects the knowledge, experiences, and traditions of different regions and communities.
Inuit Nunangat: The Inuit Homeland in Canada
Inuit Nunangat is the Inuit homeland in Canada. The term includes land, water, and ice, all of which are central to Inuit life, culture, travel, food systems, and governance.
Inuit Nunangat includes four regions:
- Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the Northwest Territories
- Nunavut
- Nunavik in northern Quebec
- Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador
These regions have their own communities, organizations, land claim agreements, governance arrangements, and local priorities. Inuit also live in cities and communities outside Inuit Nunangat, including in southern Canada.
Inuit Languages
Inuktut is a collective term used for Inuit languages in Canada. Language varieties differ by region and community and include Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, Inuvialuktun, and Inuttitut, among others.
Inuit language knowledge carries place names, family knowledge, skills for travel and harvesting, oral history, humour, storytelling, and ways of understanding relationships among people, animals, land, water, and ice. Inuit-led language revitalization work is important to communities across Inuit Nunangat.
Culture, Knowledge, and Community Life
Inuit knowledge is often described through the term Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, a phrase commonly used in Nunavut to refer to Inuit societal values and knowledge. Meanings and terminology can vary by region, so it is important not to assume that one community’s words or teachings apply everywhere.
Inuit arts, including carving, printmaking, drawing, textile work, music, film, and storytelling, are internationally recognized. They are also part of living community life—not simply souvenirs or decorations. Artists and communities should be named accurately, and authentic work should be purchased from Inuit artists, galleries, or reputable Inuit-owned and Inuit-supported sources whenever possible.
Some cultural knowledge, ceremonies, stories, and designs may be private, restricted, or shared only in particular settings. Respectful learning means accepting those boundaries rather than treating all Indigenous knowledge as public material.
Inuit History and Self-Determination
Inuit history includes long-standing systems of family, trade, travel, seasonal knowledge, and community decision-making. It also includes the profound effects of colonial policies, forced relocations, residential schools, medical evacuation, settlement programs, and other government actions that disrupted Inuit families and communities.
Inuit leaders and organizations continue to advance self-determination through land claims agreements, regional governance, language work, education, housing initiatives, cultural programs, environmental stewardship, and advocacy. These are current matters—not only historical subjects.
Explore Inuit Topics
Use the following sections to continue learning:
- Inuit Communities — profiles and articles about Inuit regions and communities.
- Inuit Languages — Inuktut, regional language varieties, and language revitalization.
- Inuit Culture and Traditions — arts, knowledge, family life, foodways, and respectful learning.
- Inuit History — historical events, colonial policies, and Inuit resilience.
- Inuit Current Issues — housing, food security, climate, language, health, and community-led priorities.
- Inuit Resources — Inuit-led organizations, educational materials, and research resources.
Learning Respectfully About Inuit
When researching Inuit history or culture, use Inuit-created and Inuit-led sources whenever possible. Avoid treating Inuit as a single culture, using stereotypes about the Arctic, or assuming that information about one community applies to all Inuit communities.
This site is building its Inuit section over time. The goal is to provide clear introductory information while directing readers toward Inuit-led organizations and community sources for deeper and more current information.