Mandate and Goals

Objectives

•  To provide a forum and vehicle by which Inuit can exercise our rights of freedom of expression.
• To provide a cultural and communication link to and from Inuit.
• To interpret local, national and international issues and events to and from Inuit from our own perspective.
• To document, strengthen and enrich the cultural and social fabric of Inuit.
• To train and employ Inuit in all aspects of the media industry.
• To promote the learning, understanding and day-to-day use of the Inuit language.
• To popularize and, thereby, strengthen the Inuit cultural identity, language, mythology, social patterns and features which define being Inuit.
• To promote the understanding of Inuit culture through the media industry.
• To be a symbol that demonstrates Inuit participation in the world.
• 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.

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.

We are educators. We may not have teachers’ certificates from a Southern University, but we educate our people about our culture and tradition. IBC programming teaches young people our ways; gives a voice for our elders; and it provides a link between our leaders and all Inuit to discuss and reflect on our past and our future.

We are producers. We produce award-winning programs that are entertaining, informative, and preserve and promote our culture and development as a unique people.

IBC is a primary employer in the North. We create jobs in communities where unemployment rates are four to six times the national average. We currently employ 34 Inuit in 5 communities in Nunavut. (IBC also employs 2 Inuit in Ottawa, and 3 non-Inuit.) IBC also employs many Inuit on a contract basis to work on special projects or for our subsidiary company Inuit Communications Systems Limited (ICSL). The dedication of IBC’s staff is impressive – many people have stayed with the organization for a long time.

IBC promotes career aspirations. IBC promotes images of career Inuit, having done countless profiles on people who succeed in both traditional employment activities, and modern employment.

IBC is a training institution. We have provided training to Inuit for 25 years in broadcasting, giving transferable communication skills to every Inuk, who works for IBC. We must train all staff who work for us, as there are no college courses available in media and communication in the North. We provide upgrading in basic communication skills, management, television production skills, writing, researching, journalism, interviewing, and public relations. All of these skills are essential for television production, and transferable to a myriad of jobs required in Nunavut. Graduates of IBC training maintain their jobs in IBC, and are sought after by many other Northern organizations, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Inuit political organizations. Recently, in partnership with National Film Board of Canada, we have provided training in basic computer animation to 45 people. This and further extensive training for 4 people at the Banff New Media Institute.

IBC is an active member of Ajjiit, Nunavut’s New Media, Film and Television industry association. As an Ajjiit member, IBC participates in international trade missions, is involved in the provision of raining opportunities and advocates for policies and programs to benefit the Nunavut industry as a whole.

IBC is a private sector developer. We have a private sector company (Inuit Communications Systems Limited) that employs full time Northerners in Iqaluit and hires approximately 20- Inuit in Iqaluit to work on productions for government and corporate clients every year. Profits are turned back into IBC for continued development.

IBC promotes development of communication in the North. IBC held the first ever electronic Symposium, Connecting the North, November 23 – 25, 1994 linking people from every sector and every region across the North to develop a strategy for communication infrastructure development that will stimulate the economy, link Northern products to Southern markets, increase the efficiency of social service and health delivery, and education.

IBC is an Ambassador for Nunavut and Canada, participating in several international co-productions and conferences.

IBC promotes youth. We produce award winning children’s programming that instills a sense of identity in children and youth in Nunavut, promotes and preserves Inuktitut language, assists young people to maintain their pride in being Inuit, and connects Inuit youth across Nunavut.

IBC is affordable. Our budget fluctuates between $2.5 – $3.5 million per year. We are efficient in our staffing, facilities, and program production, which allows us to produce programming at rates that other producers cannot match.