With Qikiqtani Inuit Association celebrating a milestone of 50 years in 2025, we profile some past and existing Board Members and Presidents on our website and social media pages.
We appreciate the people that have freely given their time and information as to how QIA began and how much it has grown from the early years.
Enjoy reading!
Paul Amagoalik became involved with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in the 1980s, when it was still known as the Baffin Regional Inuit Association (BRIA). He remembers this as a time when Inuit were beginning to organize themselves politically, just as discussions about the creation of Nunavut were taking shape.
For Paul, the organization gave Inuit a stronger voice and the ability to express their vision for the future, at a time when their lives were largely directed by government decisions. “It was an exciting time, a fun time, and a great opportunity to be involved,” he recalls. “It showed that Inuit are capable of doing anything to help each other. It was a time for a movement.”
Paul emphasizes that Inuit are not only a cultural society, but an established one—adapted to and resilient in the cold, dark, and often difficult environment of the Arctic. Life was never easy, but Inuit found ways to determine how they wanted to live, where they wanted to go, and what kind of future they wanted. The association, he says, became a way for Inuit to take greater control over their lives and direction.
Looking to the next generation, Paul urges youth to be involved in all aspects of life—from sports to politics—because decisions on serious issues will shape Inuit futures. He also points out the unique challenges faced in the High Arctic, where international interest is growing and more vessels are sailing into the region. For Inuit, this makes involvement and leadership even more important to safeguard their communities and their homeland.
