The Qikiqtani Inuit Association says it will distribute a new round of emergency grocery vouchers to elders.

The vouchers, each worth $250, will be distributed every other week for a total of six instalments and are available to Qikiqtani Inuit elders who are at least 60 years old as of Jan. 31, 2021.

“We need to continue to protect the most vulnerable in our communities in the face of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said QIA President P.J. Akeeagok in a news release on Monday, Nov. 9.

“Our team wants to ensure that our elders have the food, basic necessities and cleaning supplies they need to live in dignity.”

The second round of distribution began on Nov. 10 and runs until Jan. 19. The QIA will distribute a total of $1.8 million in vouchers, at $1,500 per elder.

An earlier round of the program ran from April 14 to Aug. 18, in which a total of $3 million was distributed in vouchers to elders.

All Qikiqtani elders are automatically on the QIA’s list and can go into co-op stores with a piece of ID to receive their voucher.

For elders in Clyde River, the program will be delivered through Ilisaqsivik and Arctic Co-ops Limited as grocery hampers.

For urban Inuit who are originally from Qikiqtani communities and registered with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the program will be delivered as a one-time cheque of $750.

The announcement follows last week’s launch of the Qikiqtani Family Support Initiative, which offers $1,000 per family for COVID-19 relief.

Qikiqtani Inuit Association offers more emergency grocery vouchers to elders