Iqaluit, Nunavut – November 9, 2020 – The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is rolling out a second round of emergency grocery vouchers for Elders to assist Qikiqtani Inuit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need to continue to protect the most vulnerable in our communities in the face of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says QIA President P.J. Akeeagok, “our team wants to ensure that our Elders have the food, basic necessities, and cleaning supplies they need to live in dignity.”

Working in partnership with Arctic Co-operatives Limited, QIA is allocating an additional $1.8 million to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on Qikiqtani Inuit Elders. The funds will be distributed as $250 vouchers every other week for a total of six vouchers per Elder or $1,500/Elder.

In Clyde River, QIA is delivering this program through Ilisaqsivik and Arctic Co-ops Limited as grocery hampers delivered to Elders.

Urban Inuit, originally from Qikiqtani communities, registered with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., will receive a one-time payment of $750 via cheque.

These vouchers will be for Qikiqtani Inuit Elders who are 60 years and above as of January 31, 2021.

The first round of this initiative ran from April 14 to August 18 and distributed $3 million in benefits to Qikiqtani Elders.

Elders are at higher risk of respiratory infections such as COVID-19. This emergency financial support will help them access healthy food, necessary cleaning supplies, and other household essentials. The vouchers will be distributed on November 10, 24, December 8, 22, January 5 and 19.

The funds for QIA’s COVID-19 response plan come from the Indigenous Community Support Fund (ICSF) announced by the Federal Government. QIA’s share of that fund is $4,311,793.

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