About the IBC
For more than 40 years, Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has been proudly creating award-winning programs by Inuit, for Inuit, while serving as “A Window to the Arctic.” Our archives hold nearly 9,000 hours of priceless historic film and video—an incredible treasure valued at $60 million. Thanks to support from governments, corporations, and organizations that trust our resourcefulness and dedication, we’re working hard to digitize and catalog this collection. Once complete, it will be accessible to our team, researchers, and audiences worldwide, preserving and sharing the rich stories of the Arctic for generations to come.
IBC History
Learn about the history of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation.
Mandate & Goals
Preserving language, culture, storytelling, and Inuit representation in media.
Board and Staff
Dedicated leaders supporting Inuit voices, culture, and broadcasting.
Employment
Opportunities to empower Inuit storytelling and media careers.
History of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation
The roots of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation extend back to the 1970s as part of a federally sponsored initiative called the Inukshuk Program.
In the beginning...
In the early 70s, basic television production facilities were set up in six northern communities, and teams of Inuit trainees started learning the ropes of TV production—laying the foundation for something ground-breaking.
By 1980, the Inukshuk Project took off, broadcasting from Iqaluit via the Anik B satellite. This was more than just TV; it was a chance for unprecedented connection Inuit across the Northwest Territories. For eight months, people could see one another, discuss important issues, and share information—all in their own language. The Inukshuk Project showed Inuit that they could embrace technology and lead broadcasting projects that reflected their unique culture and needs.
The momentum didn’t stop there...
In 1981, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted a network television license to the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, paving the way for the birth of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).
On January 11, 1982, at the stroke of midnight, IBC officially hit the airwaves with its first program: a 90-minute special introducing the new network to viewers. This was more than just a broadcast—it was the beginning of a movement to preserve and celebrate Inuit stories, language, and culture through the power of television.
From those humble beginnings, IBC has grown into a vital institution for Inuit across the North, sharing stories that matter and connecting communities in meaningful ways.
Mandate and Goals
At IBC, we use the technology of television to make programming that matters to Inuit — programming in our own language of Inuktitut. In so doing, we have achieved much more than producing television programming every week.
Our Objectives
- To provide a forum and vehicle by which Inuit can exercise our rights of freedom of expression
- To train and employ Inuit in media
- To document, strengthen, enrich and serve as a means of communicating the cultural and social fabric of Inuit
- To promote the learning, understanding and day-to-day use of the Inuit language
- To be recognized as a vehicle to educate our children and youth on our social and cultural history and contemporary life in the Inuit language.
We Empower Inuit Expression and Communication
Provide a platform for Inuit to exercise freedom of expression and act as a cultural and communication link for sharing perspectives on local, national, and global issues.
We Preserve and Enrich Inuit Culture and Language
Document, promote, and strengthen Inuit cultural identity, language, mythology, and social heritage while fostering daily use and understanding of the Inuit language.
We Educate and Inspire Future Generations
Serve as a vehicle to educate Inuit children and youth about their social and cultural history, as well as contemporary life, through the Inuit language.
We Support Inuit Participation in Media
Train and employ Inuit in all areas of media production while promoting Inuit culture and showcasing participation on the global stage.
We Strengthen Inuit Identity Through Media
Use media to interpret and communicate Inuit perspectives, enrich the cultural and social fabric, and foster broader understanding and appreciation of Inuit culture.
Board of Directors
Adamee Itorcheak
Member at Large
Qikiqtani Inuit Assoc
Paul Emingak
Kitikmeot Inuit Assoc
Richard Manitok (Rico)
Kivalliq Inuit Assoc.
Oolooci Taukie
Julie Therese Ivalu
Management and Staff
Malakie Kilabuk
Director of Operations
Ex 202
Jimmie Papatsie
Ex 220
Philip Joamie
Ex 215
Manitok Thompson
Executive Director
Ex 225
Anacelia Perez Torres
Director of Finance
Ex 227
Karen Prentice
Ex 222
Ross Sillett
Ex 228
Melanie Davie
Ex 223
Samer Abdullah
Finance Assistant
Ex 227
Janet Evvik
Ex 224
Kate Chappell
Employment Opportunities
Digital Archive Assistant Full-Time, Ottawa
Provide a platform for Inuit to exercise freedom of expression and act as a cultural and communication link for sharing perspectives on local, national, and global issues.
Don’t see anything for you? Send us your resume anyway! We will reach out if a position opens up that we think you might be a good fit for!
Donate
Help preserve Inuit language, culture, and storytelling. Your donation empowers Inuit voices, supports local programming, and strengthens our communities.
IBC News
Stay connected with the latest Inuit stories, news, and insights. Our coverage highlights the voices, traditions, and issues that matter.
Contact Us
Have questions or feedback? Connect with our team. We’re here to listen, support, and share the vision of Inuit broadcasting.
Our Partners
