Minister Anandasangaree appoints Aluki Kotierk to lead external review of Nutrition North Canada

From: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

News release

February 25, 2025 — Ottawa, Ontario — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Government of Canada is working with Northern Indigenous partners to strengthen food security and ensure Nutrition North Canada (NNC) better meets their needs.

Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for CanNor, announced the appointment of Aluki Kotierk as the Minister’s Special Representative (MSR) to conduct an external review of NNC. While welcoming Ms. Kotierk, Minister Anandasangaree announced that up to $20 million has been set aside to meet the increasing food security challenges facing children and families under the Nutrition North Canada (NNC) program.

Aluki Kotierk, an Inuk leader from Iqaluit, Nunavut has dedicated her career to integrating Inuit culture and language into public programs and services - ensuring they resonate with and benefit Inuit communities. Originally from Igloolik, Ms. Kotierk has held several senior positions within the Government of Nunavut and was most recently the former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. She is also a standing member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

As the Minister’s Special Representative, Ms. Kotierk is independent of the public service and will report directly to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. The MSR’s mandate is to meet with national and regional Indigenous organizations, retailers, transportation providers and stakeholders, including relevant federal government organizations to evaluate NNC’s effectiveness, and to make recommendations on how to improve the program. A final report is expected to be delivered in 2026.

As a result of considerable program uptake, the funding that has been set aside is key to help maintain current subsidy rates which lower the price of food in the North. This funding will assist in continuing to deliver the program in supporting northern food security, sustaining constructive relationships with Indigenous partners, and advancing self-determined, community-focused food security initiatives.  

Quotes

“We are delivering on our commitment to improving access to healthy and affordable food for all Northerners. I welcome Ms. Kotierk as our Minister’s Special Representative and look forward to her recommendations on how the Nutrition North Canada program should and can evolve to meet the needs of northern communities. We are always looking for ways to improve our program delivery, support community-led initiatives and partnerships to offer the best possible results for Northerners,”

The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

“Northerners have the knowledge and experience to determine what works best for their communities. This review is an opportunity to ensure their voices drive real, lasting improvements to Nutrition North Canada. I look forward to working directly with Indigenous partners, local leaders, and Northerners to make actionable recommendations to strengthen food security across the North,”

Aluki Kotierk
Ministerial Special Representative

Quick facts

  • There are currently 124 isolated northern communities benefiting from the Nutrition North Canada program. These communities are located in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. One hundred and twelve of those 124 communities are also eligible for the Harvesters Support Grant.

  • Nutrition North Canada programming is informed by its Advisory Board to the Minister of Northern Affairs, the Indigenous Working Group, and the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group. The program also benefits from strong relationships with NNC communities and recipient Indigenous Organizations. These partnerships are key to the program's continued evolution.

  • In addition to the external review of the NNC program, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is currently conducting an evaluation of the NNC program. The evaluation is being conducted through collaboration and participation with Indigenous partners, communities, and other federal government organizations and it includes engagement at the community level. A final evaluation report is anticipated for Summer 2025 and will be shared with the public once available.

  • Supporting Indigenous leadership and co-developing solutions on food security in northern communities for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis is central to advancing the reconciliation journey and self-determination.

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Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Gregory Frame
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
gregory.frame@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
819-934-2302
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@sac-isc.gc.ca

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