Northern entrepreneurs and changemakers took centre stage on May 7, 2024 at the Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference in Whitehorse, as the 12th annual Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) announced this year’s winners.
Among the recipients was Inotsiavik Centre, winner of the $1 million top prize. The Nunutsiavik-based team, led by Inuit youth, is dedicated to increasing pride in Inuit identity through language and cultural revitalization.
"Winning this award is life-changing, not only for us as a team, but for all Nunatsiavummiut. It has been the endless support of our communities that has gotten us here, and we are beyond thrilled that the Arctic Inspiration Prize has recognized this dream and awarded Inotsiavik the $1 million prize. We thank the Arctic Inspiration Prize team for this tremendous amount of support, and we are honoured to now be able to plan and fund a wide range of language and cultural programming for years to come," said the Inotsiavik team.
Unlike a traditional prize, the AIP offers northern teams seed-money – up to $3.7 million this year – and support to start something new. To apply, you need a community-focused idea, a team, and the support of your community or region.
Big dreams from our newest winners
All of this year’s winners want to make lasting changes to our communities – and that’s what the AIP is all about!
Other winners include:
Thay K’i Anint’i, which is developing a recovery and wellness program for people with substance issues, built around Indigenous culture and Western practices.
Learning, Harvesting, Earning, which will equip Nunavut’s boys and young men with traditional and sustainable char fishing skills for summer and winter settings.
Giving young people access to the thrill of the performing arts is the goal of the three-day Yukon Young People’s Theatre Festival, aiming for early 2025 at the Yukon Arts Centre.
By the North, for the North
Every year since 2012, the AIP community has come together to recognize the finalists and new winners, and to honour the amazing creativity, talent, ingenuity, and resilience of the North. During these 12 years, the AIP has supported 66 winners and provided over $25 million in seed money.
Could you be our next winner?
Our winners come from all across the North. Any new project that helps bring positive change to people in our communities can be considered. Dream big! A project can have one or more focus areas, such as, but not limited to:
- Education
- Health and Wellbeing
- Culture, Arts and Language
- Science and Traditional knowledge
- Climate Change
- Food Security
- The Economy
Feeling inspired? Get your team together!
The 13th annual Arctic Inspiration Prize is now open for nominations. Winning up to $1 million isn’t going to be easy, so start now to give yourself plenty of time to prepare your nomination! Need some more inspiration?
Get to know our new winners better and learn about their game-changing ideas at arcticinspirationprize.ca.