Canada Apologizes for Nunavik Sled Dog Slaughter, Announces $45M Compensation

The federal government acknowledges its role in the 1950s and 1960s killings that devastated Inuit communities and pledges funding for healing and cultural revitalization.

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Gary Anandasangaree delivered a formal apology in Kangiqsujuaq, Quebec, for the mass killing of over 1,000 sled dogs in Nunavik during the 1950s and 1960s.
The federal government is providing $45 million in compensation, with funds allocated for cultural revitalization, dog team ownership programs, and direct payments to affected families.
The killings, carried out by police and other authorities, deprived Inuit communities of essential transportation, hunting, and survival tools, causing lasting economic and emotional harm.
A 2010 report by retired Quebec judge Jean-Jacques Croteau found the killings were linked to forced settlement policies and the establishment of residential schools, with the federal government failing to intervene.
This apology follows years of advocacy by the Makivvik Corporation and Inuit leaders, who emphasize the need for further reconciliation efforts, including mental health support and infrastructure investments.