Article 23 of the 2018 Utqiaġvik Declaration directed ICC to host a Circumpolar Inuit Summit on Health and Wellness focusing on efforts and initiatives to reduce and eradicate health disparities harming our families and prioritizing mental wellness, addictions, and suicide prevention.

The Virtual Inuit Health Summit was held from September 20 – October 26, 2021, with participants from Chukotka, Alaska, Canada and Greenland. The focus was on youth and how a strong connection to our culture is a protective factor against suicide, and essential to improved mental well-being.

Just over 50 Inuit – mostly youth – were split into three groups.  Each group met once a week for five weeks. The Summit ended with a finale on October 26 which brought all groups together to share knowledge gained throughout the five weeks.

Cultural performances were shared from Chukotka and Greenland.  The ICC Chair, Dalee Sambo Dorough; Greenland’s National Spokesperson for Children, Aviâja Egede Lynge; Inuit Health Steering Committee Chair, Minnie Grey all gave remarks.  ICC was also very pleased to welcome Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Her Excellency, Mary Simon to give closing remarks to the summit participants.

The overall feedback was that the summit was a resounding success and much gratitude and thanks are needed to the organizers, facilitators and funders.  The summit also brought to light the need to bring more of a focus on men’s mental wellbeing specifically and to continue to highlight culture and pride in being Inuk as a protective factor.

Graphic recordings of the sessions can be downloaded here: