Iqaluit, Nunavut – December 16, 2020 – The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is distributing $80,000 in food hampers and $72,000 in food vouchers to households in Sanikiluaq before Christmas. This is an early benefit from round three of QIA’s COVID-19 initiatives.

“Sanikiluaq had a difficult November, they faced active COVID-19 cases in their community and came together to prevent the spread of the virus, and fight their way back to zero cases,” says QIA President P.J. Akeeagok, “these food hampers and grocery vouchers, delivered to every household before Christmas, are one way that we can remind the community that we appreciate their strength and endurance.”

QIA is delivering this holiday benefit to Sanikiluaq in partnership with Arctic Co-operatives Limited, who is helping with food distribution and providing a top-up to expand the initiative to non-Inuit households.

This support for Sanikiluaq is part of the third round of QIA’s COVID-19 initiatives, QIA has allocated $663,665 for Sanikiluaq as a community impacted. The third round of QIA’s COVID-19 initiatives also includes:

• $731,250 for the Qikiqtani COVID-19 Emergency Grocery Vouchers for families on Income Support.
• $311,970 for the Qikiqtani COVID-19 school food program initiative
• $301,215 for contingency and administrative fees

Further details on these COVID-19 initiatives will be made available in January.

The funds for QIA’s COVID-19 response plan come from the phase three of the Indigenous Community Support Fund (ICSF) announced by the Federal Government. QIA’s share of that fund is $2,008,101.

For more information, please contact:

Sima Sahar Zerehi, Director of Communications,

Qikiqtani Inuit Association

szerehi@qia.ca

867.975.8413 or

1.800.667.2742