Celebrating International Inuit Day!
Written by Ella Hamill | October 30th, 2025
November 7th marks International Inuit Day, which is a day to honour and celebrate Inuit people and their culture. This day was declared in 2006, when the General Assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) selected November 7th to celebrate Inuit culture. This date was chosen after the birth date of their founder, Eben Hopson, who dedicated his life to advocating for Inuit rights and self-determination.
Today, many Inuit people are located in Arctic regions of Canada, Russia, Greenland and the United States. In Canada, this territory is called Inuit Nunangat, meaning “the place where Inuit live”, which comprises Inuvialuit, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and Nunavut. On this day, we are celebrating the languages, cultures and identities of the 160,000 Inuit people across all Arctic regions, of which 65,000 of these Inuit people are living in Canada.
International Inuit Day invites us to take time to reflect and celebrate Inuit culture. It is a day to explore Inuit art, listen to Inuit stories, and strengthen understanding of Inuit histories and lived expeirences to honour Inuit peoples and the richness of their culture.
Resources
Highlighting Inuit Work
Kihiani: A Memoir of Healing: Written by Inuk author Susan Aglukark with Andrea Warner, this memoir recounts Aglukark’s journey of healing and finding her Inuk identity.
Reawakening Our Ancestors’ Lines Revitalizing Inuit Traditional Tattooing: Written by Inuk author Hovak Johnston, this book tells the story of the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project which is making an effort to revive traditional tattooing of Inuit people.
Kenojuak Ashevak: Kenojuak Ashevak was a famous Inuk artist who was known for her graphic works. She made many acheivements in her lifetime, including being the first Inuit artist to have their work on a stamp.
David Ruben Piqtoukun: David is an Inuk sculptor and printmaker who works mainly with stone and metal. His carving style is inspired by tradition and reflects his own personal history.
Wellness Resources
Engaging with Indian Residential School histories and legacies can lead to emotional reactions and (unexpectedly) difficult thoughts and feelings. Sometimes these can surface hours, days, or weeks later. This is perfectly normal. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, it is important to respect your needs and to be kind to yourself.
Indian Residential School Survivors Society Toll-Free Line 1 (800) 721-0066
24-Hour National Crisis Line 1 (866) 925-4419
KUU-US Crisis Line 1 (800) 588-8717
Tsow-Tun-Le Lum 1 (866) 925-4419
Indigenous Wellness Program (604) 675-2551 or 1 (866) 884-0888
Canadian Mental Health Association1 (800) 555-8222
HeretoHelp 1 (800) 661-2121
First Nations Health Authority – Mental Health Benefit
Métis Nation BC – Mental Health Services
Kids Help Phone1 (800) 668-6868
Crisis Services Canada 1 (833) 456-4566 or text 45645
First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line 1 (855) 242-3310
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