On November 20, 2024, Makivvik and the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) met with several mayors to discuss the current policing situation in Nunavik. This meeting was prompted by the tragedy in Salluit, earlier in the month.
The goal of the meeting was two-fold. First, it was important to identify what could be done, collectively, to improve the relationship between the police and the Inuit community. Second, the mayors, KRG and Makivvik all agreed that this is a critical moment for reflection.
To formalize this point, Makivvik and the KRG have agreed to form a new Nunavik Public Security Committee. This working group aims to recommend improvements to how services are delivered by Nunavik Police Service (NPS). This can rebuild trust between the police and the communities.
The Nunavik Public Security Committee will bring together key stakeholders to analyze the history of policing in the region, continue the co-development of engagement strategies, advance educational awareness, and find solutions tailored to the unique sociocultural legal and territorial context of Nunavik.
Mayors, Makivvik and KRG leadership understand it is necessary to reflect on the state of the region.
The composition of the Nunavik Public Security Committee will be defined at a Joint Executive Meeting of the Kativik Regional Government and Makivvik that will take place in December 2024.
Public security is a necessity, and it needs to be balanced with the feeling of safety throughout the population. Every organization, including the NPS, is committed to that fact. Together, we will find solutions.
Further details about the working group’s membership will be coming out shortly.
