A new photo project, Qanuinngitsiarutiksait, explores health and wellness among young Inuit in Winnipeg, revealing their struggles and the need for greater support. Fifteen Inuit youth, aged 16 to 25, participated by documenting their lives through photography and artwork. The project, led by Jeevan Toor, a PhD student, aimed to shed light on the challenges young Inuit face in the city, including mental health issues, intergenerational trauma, and difficulties adapting to urban life.
Participants, like 16-year-old Luke Amittu, shared deeply personal stories, such as walking along the Red River, which reminded him of missing and murdered Indigenous women. His experience highlighted the emotional impact of the project and the importance of family. Keith Cook, 17, captured red dresses at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to honor the lives lost to the MMIWG crisis.
The project also coincides with the loss of funding for the Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre, which provides crucial support for youth. Caramello Swan, youth manager at the centre, emphasized that the project offers an important outlet for pain, revealing how much young Inuit are struggling. Toor, who collaborated with the University of Manitoba and Tunngasugit, stresses that young Inuit need more attention and support from both policy makers and the government.
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