Five years ago, Canada marked one of its most important political achievements in recent history with the creation of Nunavut. Now, Inuit policy makers and community leaders are preparing to reflect upon and share their perspectives on the first five years of the Nunavut government’s political achievements and challenges.
Nunavut at Five: The Nunavut Policy Symposium, an international event celebrating the 5th anniversary of the creation of the Canada’s newest territory and its government, will be hosted by Acadia University May 5 - 7, 2004 at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens.

With its quiet, rural setting and world-class technological “info-structure,” Acadia University provides both a comfortable environment for the participants and the resources necessary to ensure that the policy dialogue is inclusive and national in its reach. Using video and teleconferencing, the workshop and the policy seminars will be inclusive of Inuit community leaders and Inuit policy officials, selected academics across the country, Inuit youth and elders, Nova Scotia-based cultural communities, and appropriate elected officials.

The symposium is being organized to develop an Inuit-driven policy dialogue and research network. Workshops will identify the Inuit-defined research agenda and will direct four to six policy seminars to be held in the next year, with the policy focus of each determined by the May meetings at Acadia University.

As part of the three day schedule, the Honourable Peter Irniq, Commissioner of Nunavut will build an Inuksuk on the Acadia campus. The Inuksuk will be constructed with Annapolis Valley granite and will be unveiled in a ceremony at noon on May 5th.