Ayalik Expeditions
Ayalik Expeditions is a program of Northern Youth Abroad, which is based in Ottawa and works throughout Canada's North. Ayalik is a charitable initiative which since 2015 has provided more than 200 Inuit youths from Nunavut with life-changing outdoor experiences. Ayalik's programs have included canoe and kayak adventures, tall-ship sail-training, outdoor employment training, and other summer camp programs. These expeditions build self-confidence, and have the potential to make positive change in the lives of young Inuit and their families. Ayalik's community-based recruiting targets youth who otherwise lack opportunities and are in need of this boost. To date, most of Ayalik's activity has been made possible through private donations from 800+ generous Canadians, as well as federal government and Inuit organization support. The philosophy underlying the Ayalik initiative is a reflection of Inuit cultural values, based in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. Ayalik believes in the power of the land to nurture; in Inuit tradition, sila – often translated as the “outdoors” – is more deeply thought of as a life-force and an individual’s inner connection to the environment.