Polygon Created with Sketch. Home | Research

Sustainable Northern Livelihoods: A Primer

Economic growth in Canada’s North has outpaced the rest of the country. This primer discusses the challenges still faced by Indigenous people in the North, who continue to experience socio-economic disparities.

Closing the gaps in labour market participation and outcomes for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada could add $11.2 billion to the Canadian economy annually. Labour market exclusion issues are most pronounced for Inuit in Inuit Nunangat, and closing the gaps could add $371.6 million to the economy in Inuit Nunangat annually.

The traditional economy is an important component of the mixed economy in Inuit Nunangat and Inuit visions of livelihoods. How can we better understand the traditional economy and its relationships to the wage economy in Inuit Nunangat? 

What are the Inuit visions of livelihoods and what motivates and enables people to pursue these different visions? 

Sustainable Northern Livelihoods: A Primer discusses the systemic barriers to employment faced by Indigenous people in Canada’s North, focusing on Inuit in Inuit Nunangat. Indigenous workers are more likely to occupy low-paid, low-skilled jobs, and are more vulnerable during economic downturns.

Related Content

A woman smiles brightly in this waist-up shot taken in a sunny setting.
Research

Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority Spotlightexternal link icon

Through the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority’s (SLFNHA) Community Health Worker Diabetes Program, Indigenous community health workers (CHWs) across remote communities in Northwestern Ontario are benefitting from training and interventions that address occupational challenges.
Young person smiling while using a tablet outdoors with a backpack over one shoulder.
Research

Pathways to Careers: Advancing Neuroinclusive Work‑Integrated Learning in Higher Educationexternal link icon

Signal49 Research, in partnership with the Future Skills Centre, is exploring how post-secondary WIL providers and workplace hosts can design more inclusive programs that set neurodivergent students up for success.
Teacher helping students in class
Research

Advancing Career Services: Supporting Post-Secondary Career Professionals in a Changing Job Market

To understand how CDPs are navigating this evolving landscape, we conducted interviews with 40 practitioners working in colleges, universities, and polytechnics across Canada.
View all Research