Overview

Saavittut, meaning “taking off from the shore” in Inuktitut, is an initiative deeply entrenched in Inuit culture and heritage. Supported by Braiding Knowledges Canada and developed in partnership with Northern Youth Leadership, this program aims to empower young Inuit with vital skills and cultural understanding through culturally relevant programming, preparing them to assume leadership roles in their communities.

In late August 2026, a dozen SOI and NYL alumni will join a nine-day land-based expedition outside Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Nunavut. Daily life during the Saavittut Inuit Cultural Land Camp will centre around storytelling, harvesting, hiking, group preparation of meals, and learning practical outdoor skills. Throughout our time together, youth will participate in tool-making and language immersion sessions. Elders and knowledge holders will lead in cultural knowledge sharing, guiding learning and conversations rooted in lived experience.

The program integrates Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit through experiential learning that values both Indigenous and Western approaches, while centring collaboration between Inuit youth and Elders. It also aims to position Inuit wordviews as an essential component of Canada’s broader knowledge ecosystem, alongside scientific research, when considering climate adaptation strategies.

This expedition is intended to give alumni time on the land and away from schedules and screens. The experience is as much about relationships as it is about skills. By the end of the expedition, alumni will leave not only with stronger outdoor knowledge but with a clearer appreciation of place, partnership, and how these lessons can shape the way they move forward in their own communities.