27 March 2024– Ottawa, Canada – The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) is proud to announce the launch of the ICC Canada Archive, a first-of-its-kind digital database that aims to preserve and promote Inuit knowledge, participation, advocacy, and leadership on matters of global importance. The archive is accessible in both English and both Inuktitut syllabics and Qaliujaaqpait.
The digital database is live and can be explored at https://iccc-archives.andornot.com/, offering a rich collection of records, that include archives, art, and artefacts, that document Inuit contributions to various global issues. This initiative aligns with one of the project’s core values – to make information and artefacts held by ICC Canada accessible to Inuit communities across Inuit Nunaat.
Key Features of the ICC Canada Archive:
1. Web Portal with Searchable Database: The ICC Canada Archive web portal features a user-friendly interface with a searchable database of holdings, providing an efficient way for users to explore and discover valuable information. For more information on how to use the archive, there is a short tutorial available here.
2. Multilingual Accessibility: The database is accessible and searchable in English, Inuktitut (syllabics, South Baffin), and Qaliujaaqpait (roman orthography Inuit writing system), ensuring Inuit have access to their records in their preferred language.
3. Preservation of Inuit Knowledge and Contributions: The ICC Canada Archive was established with the primary goal of preserving and promoting records, including photographs and videos. Access to the materials will hopefully contribute to a better understanding and recognition of Inuit achievements globally in areas such as environmental protection, human health, maritime regulations, sovereignty and security, biodiversity, food security, and human rights and Indigenous Peoples rights.
4. Sharing Stories: As more resources are added to the portal, ICC staff will be working to create digital stories to further share ICC and Inuit history. The first digital story “The Inuit Express” is available here.
5. In-Person Access: Inuit can visit and consult the archives in person in Ottawa and view records that are not available online.
The launch of the ICC Canada Archive reflects the organization’s commitment to ensuring that the rich tapestry of Inuit contributions to global issues is not only preserved but also made accessible to current and future generations of Inuit.
The ICC Canada Archives web portal was made possible in part by a Documentary Heritage Communities Program grant from Library and Archives Canada, 2023-2024.
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CONTACT
Cassandra Elliott
ICC (Canada)
613-407-2642
celliott@inuitcircumpolar.com