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Iqaluit to Host Inuit Circumpolar Councilโ€™s 2026 General Assembly

๐—ข๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐Ÿญ, ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ – The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) are pleased to announce that NTI has graciously accepted to host ICCโ€™s 15th General Assembly next summer from July 22-25, 2026, in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada.

โ€œWe are excited to return to Iqaluit for ICCโ€™s 15th General Assembly at such a pivotal time for Inuit,โ€ said ๐™Ž๐™–๐™ง๐™– ๐™Š๐™ก๐™จ๐™ซ๐™ž๐™œ, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council. โ€œThis General Assembly will not only mark the transition of ICC leadership from Greenland to Canada but also serve as a moment of reflection and a renewal of our shared goals as we approach ICCโ€™s 50th anniversary.โ€

ICCโ€™s 3rd General Assembly was also held in Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay) in 1983. As ICC approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, returning to Iqaluit symbolizes a meaningful renewal of our mission to serve as the united voice on issues of common concern, towards protecting and promoting our people, identity and ways of life.

ICC holds a General Assembly every four years, bringing together the 66 Inuit delegates from Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), Chukotka, Alaska, and Canada, and hundreds of participants and observers, to share experiences from across Inuit Nunaat and discuss strategies to address issues impacting all Inuit. Assemblies also provide the opportunity to celebrate our vibrant traditions, arts, and culture.

โ€œToday, more than ever, it is vital for Inuit to unite in celebrating our shared heritage and culture, and to shape a collective vision for our future, as the Arctic and our Inuit homeland continue to play a central role in global discussionsโ€, says ICC Chair ๐™Ž๐™–๐™ง๐™– ๐™Š๐™ก๐™จ๐™ซ๐™ž๐™œ.

โ€œNTI is excited for the opportunity to host the ICC General Assembly in Iqaluit, as the ICC elects a new chair from Canada,โ€ said NTI President ๐™…๐™š๐™ง๐™š๐™ข๐™ฎ ๐™๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™ง๐™–๐™ก๐™ช๐™ . โ€œInuit culture and Inuit rights are not restricted by national or international borders. Nunavut Inuit need to be defining the future for our land and people, and the same goes for all Inuit around the circumpolar world. ICC is an important venue to share our knowledge and methods, and to work together to improve the lives of all Inuit around the world.โ€

At the General Assembly a new declaration will be approved by delegates to guide the next four years of work for ICC. The chairship will also rotate from Kalaallit Nunaat to Canada, with the election of a new chair. Inuit from across Inuit Nunaat next year.

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) is an Indigenous Peoplesโ€™ Organization (IPO), founded in 1977 to promote and celebrate the unity of 180,000 Inuit from Alaska (USA), Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia). ICC works to promote Inuit rights, safeguard the Arctic environment, and protect and promote the Inuit way of life. In regard to climate change, we believe that it is crucial for world leaders and governments to recognize, respect and fully implement the human rights of Inuit and all other Indigenous peoples across the globe.