Nunavut Sivuniksavut: What the Program Is and Who It's For

What Nunavut Sivuniksavut Is

Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) is a college program based in downtown Ottawa built specifically for Nunavut Inuit youth. The name means "our land, our future" in Inuktitut. Instead of dropping students straight into a large mainstream campus, NS runs its own facility at 450 Rideau Street, where NS instructors deliver the program while it stays accredited through Algonquin College. The result functions as a transition year, or two years, between high school in Nunavut and whatever comes next: further postsecondary study, a career, or a role in Nunavut's public government and land claims organizations.

Who NS Is For

The program targets Nunavut Inuit youth, many of whom are moving away from home and out of the territory for the first time. NS was built around that specific transition. Coursework, staff and campus culture assume you are adjusting to a new city, a new pace of academic work and time away from family and community, and the program supports you through that rather than treating it as a side issue.

How the Program Is Structured

NS runs as a two-year program. Year 1, Inuit Studies, focuses on Inuit history, culture, land claims and organizational structures in Nunavut, building foundational academic and study skills. Year 2, Advanced Inuit Studies, goes further into these topics and adds university-level coursework, including Political Science and Northern Public Administration courses taught by Carleton University professors. Both years are accredited through Algonquin College, so successful completion earns you a recognized credential rather than a certificate with no standing outside the program.

Life in Ottawa Through the Program

NS runs from its own facility rather than a large shared campus, which means classmates in your program are all Nunavut Inuit students going through the same adjustment at the same time. Staff build in support around housing, budgeting and settling into a large southern city alongside the academic program itself. The program also brings students together outside the classroom through cultural events, performances and trips that connect the group to the wider Inuit and Ottawa community across the two years.

Why Nunavut Inuit Youth Choose It

Moving from a Nunavut community to a southern city for postsecondary study is a large jump: different climate, different pace, and no family down the street. NS addresses that gap directly by building a program and support system around Inuit students specifically, rather than asking students to find that support inside a much larger institution after arriving. The program also builds direct knowledge of Nunavut's land claims agreement, public government structure and Inuit organizations, which matters if you plan to work in the territory's public service, land claims organizations or Inuit associations after graduating.

Applying and Paying for It

Apply directly through Nunavut Sivuniksavut, since admission runs through the program rather than a general Algonquin College application. Financial assistance for Nunavut students studying outside the territory generally runs through the Government of Nunavut's Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) program, which supports the cost of postsecondary education for eligible Nunavut students. Confirm current eligibility rules and what FANS covers directly with the Government of Nunavut before you budget for the move, since territorial funding programs get reviewed and updated regularly.

Budgeting for the Move

Moving from a Nunavut community to Ottawa involves costs beyond tuition: flights, winter and everyday clothing suited to a different climate, housing, and daily living in a large city. Because the program draws students from across Nunavut's communities, NS staff and past students are a practical resource for what to expect and what to pack, on top of whatever the Government of Nunavut and NS itself provide through financial assistance. Ask about housing options early, since where you live in Ottawa affects both cost and how close you are to the 450 Rideau Street facility.

What Happens After NS

Graduates commonly move on to further postsecondary study at a college or university, since the Year 2 university-level courses give you a taste of that workload before you commit to a full degree. Others move directly into work with Nunavut's government, Inuit organizations or land claims bodies, where the program's focus on Nunavut history and governance carries direct value. Talk to NS staff about outcomes for recent graduates in your area of interest before you apply, since paths vary depending on whether you plan to return to Nunavut or continue studying elsewhere.

Comparing NS to Studying Directly at a Mainstream Campus

A Nunavut Inuit student could, in principle, apply straight to a mainstream Ontario college or university out of high school. NS exists because that direct route skips a step many students want: a program built entirely around Inuit history, governance and identity, delivered by an organization set up specifically for Nunavut youth rather than a general Indigenous student service inside a much larger school. By the time you finish Year 2, you have already handled university-level coursework, adjusted to living in a large southern city, and built a peer group, all before starting a full mainstream diploma or degree program from scratch. Other Indigenous entrance-preparation routes, like the University and College Entrance Preparation program, work on a similar principle for students outside Nunavut.