QIA adjusts family support grant to assist more families.

by Derek Neary

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is lowering its newly-announced family support grants to $1,000 per household from $1,500 per household to accommodate more families after receiving a record number of applications over the past 24 hours.

More than 2,000 requests were quickly submitted as families seek the financial aid designated for harvesting, sewing and buying groceries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

By offering $1,000 instead of the original $1,500, the QIA will be able to assist 884 more Inuit families, the organization stated in a Thursday news release. A total of 2,660 Qikiqtani families in need of support will benefit from this program, according to the QIA.

“The overwhelming popularity of this initiative shows that our programs are in tune with the needs of Qikiqtani families during the Covid-19 pandemic,” says QIA President P.J. Akeeagok, “I hope that by making this adjustment more Inuit will be able to access money to help with harvesting country food, purchasing groceries and buying supplies for sewing winter clothes.”

The Qikiqtani Family Support Initiative is based on a fund of $2.65 million.

P.J. Akeeagok, president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
photo courtesy of the QIA

Flooded with applications, QIA adjusts family support grant to assist more households