To overcome the challenges of poverty, we must help individuals, families, communities and our society improve our health and wellbeing. Mental health, self-esteem, and personal and cultural identity affect our relationships, education and development, access to employment, and ability to participate in the community. Our discussions about this theme conclude that to reach our vision of our communities free of poverty we must pursue the following goals and objectives:

A. Support community-driven actions through the creation and ongoing support of community wellness plans
All efforts will be made to facilitate the creation of wellness plans for every community in Nunavut, building on the recent release of the Nunavut Community Wellness Planning pilot project report and the completion of six community wellness plans. Community priorities identified through an inclusive process allow for community-based priorities to be the foundation for mutually beneficial relationships with outside agencies, and also allow for increased collaboration within the community.

B. Further incorporate local resources in addressing mental health and addictions
At present, there is a broad patchwork of community-based initiatives that help people in need. Often, these resources are not known fully by the territorial mental health system or incorporated into a continuum of care for the individuals or families in need. All efforts will be made to further develop and incorporate community-based informal networks and formal community-based care with existing territorial services. This enhanced structure will allow for the appropriate care to be given by the appropriate care givers, and ensure culturally-relevant programs for addictions treatment.

C. The creation of a territorial interagency committee to better integrate and administer wellness-related program funding
Funding for healing and wellness exists, but is scattered across government, non-profit organizations, and Inuit organizations. There is concern that the administrative processes for many funding programs in Nunavut sometimes function as a barrier to access or cause serious sustainability issues for community-driven initiatives. We will work toward the creation of an interagency committee that will serve as a “single window” for communities who wish to access wellness-related funding. The committee also will explore ways to help overcome barriers for communities to access funding.

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Theme 4: Food Security
Food security is linked strongly with the wellbeing of children, adults, families, and communities. During community dialogues, many people spoke about not having enough to eat, or not having access to nutritious, healthy, store-bought food or country food. We want Nunavut to be foodsecure, meaning that all Nunavummiut at all times will have physical and economic access to sufficient, nutritious and culturally-relevant foods. Most importantly, we recognize the connection between food security with the ability to access country foods, which are linked strongly with other benefits including personal and cultural identity, skills development, and sharing networks in our homes and communities.
Our discussions about this theme conclude that to reach our vision of our communities free of poverty we must pursue the following goals and objectives.

A. The establishment of a “Nunavut Food Security Coalition”
There was a call during the public engagement process for those in leadership roles that deal with food security to work together for the benefit of all Nunavummiut. We will establish a Nunavut Food Security Coalition, bringing together stakeholders from government, Inuit organizations, NGOs, business and researchers to develop a long term, ongoing, inclusive, and sustainable approach to food security in Nunavut. The coalition will act as a venue to share best practices and resources, for monitoring and evaluation, and will develop a territorial action plan on food security.

B. Enhancement of healthy breakfast and lunch programs in schools
Too many children arrive at school hungry and do not have access to nutritious meals. Food insecurity affects a child’s whole being, including his or her ability to learn, participate in the social environment of their classroom, and nurture strong relationships. We support the strategic enhancement of breakfast and lunch programs to ensure that all children have access to and participate in the preparation of nutritious food every day. This will support all young Nunavummiut to develop the skills, knowledge, and relationships they need to pursue their goals throughout their lives.

C. Increased support for community-driven food security initiatives
During the community dialogues, participants emphasized the importance of community food sharing networks, which involve a variety of community-driven food security initiatives, such as community harvests, sharing of country foods, community freezers, and food banks. Such initiatives provide nutritious, desirable food and support community cohesion. Sharing of country foods is also linked strongly with other benefits, including personal and cultural identity, skills development, home management, and sharing networks in our homes and communities.
We will work collaboratively to increase support for community-driven food security initiatives.

Theme 6

A. Ensure that community wellness planning is an integral component of economic development
Economic development planning needs to reflect the interests and needs of each community, including the community’s goal as related to overall wellness. Developing a healthy economic base is vital to community wellness.
The expansion of eligibility for economic development programs to include proposals that address one or more of the key poverty reduction themes is one way to connect economic development with overall community wellness.

4. Delivery and Accountability
Participants in the Poverty Summit have agreed that the Nunavut Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, representative of all parties with a role to play in poverty reduction, will provide leadership and oversight for The Makimaniq Plan.
The co-sponsors, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, will establish a transition team to develop terms of reference for the roundtable. These terms of reference will include an accountability framework that will ensure that the participants in the public engagement process to date have the opportunity to review and approve this plan. The work of the roundtable is not intended to replace or duplicate the mandates, programs and efforts currently in place, but rather to create a space for collaboration and innovation. Administrative costs of the roundtable will be borne by the Government of Nunavut.