Nunavik Marine Region Marine Planning Forum
February 3-5, 2026
Montreal
The Nunavik Marine Region Planning Commission (NMRPC) hosted its Marine Planning Forum in Montreal February 3-5, 2026. The objectives of the forum were to kick-off the marine planning process in the Nunavik Marine Region, facilitate networking and information sharing, and obtain information and resources to guide the marine planning process.
A range of planning partners attended the event, including community members from Nunavik, Nunavut, and Eeyou Istchee as well as Inuit rights organizations from Nunavik and Nunavut, the Anguvigaq and Anguvigait, institutions of public government under land claims agreements, non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions, businesses and industries with activities or interests in the Nunavik Marine Region, and ethnic, regional, provincial, territorial, and federal governments. Keynote addresses were provided by Johnny Peters (pre-recorded video), Dallas Smith of the Nanwakolas Council, and Siila Watt-Cloutier.
The forum was a success! The NMRPC wishes to thank its Board members for their leadership, Tunu Napartuk for facilitating the event, all of the amazing presenters who shared their insights and experiences, the talented staff who provided logistics and interpretation support, and everyone who took the time to participate in the forum and advance marine planning in the Nunavik Marine Region.
February 3rd – Day 1: Common Ground
Highlight Reel
Day 1 Schedule and Presentations (PDF)
Morning
- Opening prayer and lighting of the qulliq
- Welcome and introductions – 0915_NMRPC_Janelle Kennedy_EN | 0915_NMRPC_Janelle Kennedy_IN
- Forum and agenda overview
- Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement (NILCA) history and purpose
- Keynote: Johnny Peters (pre-recorded video) and Qajaq Robinson – 1005_Qajaq Robinson_EN IN
- Nunavik Marine Region Planning Commission – Introduction – 1030_NMRPC_Janelle Kennedy_EN & NMRPC Welcome video EN
- Icebreaker
- NILCA Signatories
- Makivvik – 1050_Makivvik_Mylène Larivière_EN | 1050_Makivvik_Mylène Larivière_IN
- Government of Nunavut – 1115_Government of Nunavut_EN | 1115_Government of Nunavut_IN
Afternoon
- NILCA Signatories (continued)
- Nunavik organizations
- Nunavik Marine Region Impact Review Board – 1405_NMRIRB_Barrie Ford_EN | 1405_NMRIRB_Barrie Ford_IN
- Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board – 1415_NMRWB_Mark Basterfield_EN IN
- Atanniuvik – 1425_Atanniuvik_Marie-Christine Vanier Barbara Papigatuk_EN | 1425_Atanniuvik_Marie_Christinne Vanier Barbara Papigatuk_IN
- Avataq – 1435_Avataq_Susan Lofthouse_Elsa Cencig_EN_IN
- Anguvigaq – 1445_Anguvigaq_Adam Gardner_EN IN
- Community representatives and special guests
- Nunavik Marine Region Planning Commission
- Marine planning introduction – 1550_NMRPC_Susan Dean_EN & Promo video EN | 1550_NMRPC_Susan Dean_IN
- Marine Planning Strategy and Engagement
- Day 1 wrap-up
Day 1 Graphic Recording
- Click image below to enlarge | download PDF
Day 1 Video Recordings
February 4th – Day 2: Marine Planning
Highlight Reel
Day 2 Schedule and Presentations (PDF)
Morning
- Opening remarks and highlight reel from Day 1
- Marine planning insights
- Keynote: Dallas Smith – Nanwakolas Council – 0915_Nanwakolas Council_Dallas Smith_EN | 0915_Nanwakolas Council_Dallas Smith_IN
- Joanna Smith, Director of Ocean Planning and Mapping – The Nature Conservancy – 0950_The Nature Conservancy_Joanna Smith_EN | 0950_The Nature Conservancy_Joanna Smith_IN
- Julie Reimer, Adjunct Professor – Dalhousie University – 1000_Dalhousie University_Julie Reimer_EN | 1000_Dalhousie University_Julie Reimer_IN
- Nunavut Planning Commission – 1035_Nunavut Planning Commission_Adrian Gerhartz_EN | 1035_Nunavut Planning Commission_Adrian Gerhartz_IN
- Eeyou Marine Region Planning Commission – 1050_EMRPC James Bobbish_EN | 1050_EMRPC James Bobbish_IN
- Nunatsiavut Government
- Marine planning insights Panel Discussion
Afternoon
- Resources for marine planning
- NMRPC Use and Occupancy Study – GeoPraxis – 1335_Geopraxis_Stephen Kilburn_EN IN
- Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness (EMSA) project – Transport Canada – 1345_EMSA_Marie-Michelle Simard Gabe Partington_Part 1_EN | 1345_EMSA_Marie-Michelle Simard Gabe Partington_Part 1_IN | 1345_EMSA_Marie-Michelle Simard Gabe Partington_Part 2_EN
- Seasonal rounds – Dalhousie University – 1355_Dalhousie University_Rachael Cadman_EN | 1355_Dalhousie University_Rachael Cadman_IN
- SIKU – Arctic Eider Society – 1405_SIKU_Alec Niviaxie_EN IN
- Conservation networks and Arctic conservation – WWF-Canada – 1415_WWF_Erin Keenan_EN | 1415_WWF_Erin Keenan_IN
- Coastal Atlas – University of Québec – Rimouski (UQAR) – 1435_Coastal Atlaas_EN IN
- Low impact shipping corridors – University of Ottawa – 1445_University of Ottawa_Jackie Dawson_EN recorded
- Activities in the Nunavik Marine Region
- Nunavik Inuit economic development (Fisheries) – Makivvik
- Alternative energy – Tarquti
- Nunavik Inuit econommic development (Tourism) – Makivvik
- Local tourism – Nunavik Tourism – 1550_Nunavik Tourism_Marc Beaule_EN | 1550_Nunavik Tourism_Marc Beaule_IN
- Cruise ships – Adventure Canada – 1600_Adventure Canada_Sebastian Charge_EN | 1600_Adventure Canada_Sebastian Charge_IN
- Research – Amundsen Science – 1610_Amundsen Science_Alexandre Forest_EN | 1610_Amundsen Science_Alexandre Forest_IN
- Day 2 wrap-up
Day 2 Graphic Recording
- Click image below to enlarge | download PDF
Day 2 Video Recordings
February 5th – Day 3: Looking Forward
Highlight Reel
Day 3 Schedule and Presentations (PDF)
Morning
- Opening remarks and highlight reel from Day 2
- Conscious leadership Keynote: Siila Watt-Cloutier
- Vision for the future
- NMRPC – Wellbeing Workshops – 1030_NMRPC_Janelle Kennedy_EN | 1030_NMRPC_Janelle Kennedy_IN
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services – 1050_Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services_Marie-Claude Lyonnaise EN | 1050_Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services_Marie-Claude Lyonnaise IN
- Makivvik – Makivvik_Nancianne Grey_EN | 1100_Makivvik_Laurie Beaupre_EN | 1100_Makivvik_Laurie Beaupre_IN
- Future scenarios activity – Part 1 – 1120_NMRPC_Susan Dean_EN | 1120_NMRPC_Susan Dean_IN
- Interactive activity involving breakout groups and discussion of varied cultural, social, environmental, and economic outlooks
Afternoon
- Future scenairos activity – Part 2
- NMRPC engagement
- Forum participant roundtable
- Closing remarks and announcements
Day 3 Graphic Recording
- Click image below to enlarge | download PDF
