Adamie Veevee (right) testifying before Commissioner Igloliorte (centre) at the Pangnirtung Hearing, May 2008. Qikiqtani Truth Commission Photo

In 2007, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association independently established and financed the Qikiqtani Truth Commission (QTC) to create a more accurate history of the decisions and events that affected Inuit living in the Baffin Region from 1950-1975, and to document their impact on Inuit life. This Inuit-sponsored and Inuit-led initiative is the first of its kind: the Commission has recorded Inuit oral histories of these years while simultaneously gathering and interpreting the written historical records produced during that transformational era.

Ultimately, this truth and reconciliation process seeks to promote healing and forgiveness among those who suffered from historic wrongs, and to repair relations between Inuit and governments.

In Inuktitut terms, Qikiqtani Inuit are seeking saimaqtigiiniq: peace with past opponents.

• Listen to the words of Inuit witnesses as they testify to the Commission about the many hardships they and their families faced in the Baffin Region from 1950 to 1975.

• The Qikiqtani Truth Commission Final Report: Achieving Saimaqtigiiniq is a summary of our key findings and recommendations, based on hundreds of witness interviews conducted during public hearings and an authoritative collection of historical documentation. It is available in both print and video formats.

• For quick, straightforward answers to your questions about the Qikiqtani Truth Commission process, browse through our FAQs.

• For more information and photos, and to chat online with other Inuit and Qallunaat about the issues raised on the QTC web site, visit the QTC Facebook pages.