Nunavut’s government is promising changes to keep more children and youth in territory when they come into the care of the Department of Family Services, after internal figures showed roughly one in four young people in care were placed outside Nunavut.
Numbers underline shortfall in local placements
Department data provided to the public show that on June 30 there were 251 children and youth under the department’s care. Of those, 61 were placed outside the territory. The department uses a range of placement options when children are removed from families, including foster homes, treatment facilities and staff-supervised group homes.
Across Nunavut’s three group homes at that time, officials reported there were seven vacant placements out of 31 available beds.
| Metric | Number (as of June 30) |
|---|---|
| Total children and youth in care | 251 |
| Placed outside Nunavut | 61 |
| Group home beds available | 7 of 31 |
Community voices: the cultural cost of removal
Local Inuit organisations and families say the practice of moving children out of territory can sever cultural ties and language continuity. Tara Qunngaataq Tootoo Fotheringham, president of Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women’s Association, described the deep-held concern in many Inuit communities.
“I do not understand how in the year 2026, 27 years into Nunavut [as its own territory], that we cannot find alternatives for children that are apprehended to stay within their communities or at least stay within their culture.”
Fotheringham said many Inuit have stories of relatives being taken away to unfamiliar homes, sometimes with non-Inuit caregivers, even when extended family were willing and able to care for the child. “Inuit need to stay with Inuit,” she said.
Why children are sent away
The department’s available placement types are meant to be used according to each child’s needs, but the practical reality in Nunavut is constrained by housing availability, staffing and specialised treatment services that often do not exist in smaller communities. When a local option cannot be found, the department has placed children in foster homes or facilities in other provinces.
The figures show vacancies exist within the territory’s group homes, but that does not equate to a fit for every child’s cultural, clinical or safety needs. The department says it will examine policies and supports to reduce out-of-territory placements.
What the government is promising
The territorial government has pledged changes aimed at ensuring fewer children are sent outside Nunavut. Officials have not released a detailed public plan with timelines in the materials provided; however, the commitment reflects a response to long-standing calls from Indigenous organisations and families for investment in community-based services and support for kinship placements.
- Increase supports for kinship and community-based care
- Assess and expand culturally appropriate placement options inside Nunavut
- Review availability and use of existing group-home capacity
Local impact and what to watch for next
Keeping children in their home communities is widely seen as essential to maintaining language, cultural practices and family continuity. The government’s next steps will be closely watched by Inuit organisations, families who have experienced out-of-territory placements, and advocacy groups calling for reconciliation in child welfare practices.
Key indicators to follow will include any published timelines for policy changes, additional funding for community-based services, and data showing reductions in out-of-territory placements. Changes to intake and kinship assessment processes could also affect how quickly children can remain close to family.
For many Nunavummiut, the numbers are not just statistics: they represent children who may be losing daily contact with their language, stories and extended families. The government’s pledge is a step toward addressing those harms, but community leaders say meaningful change will require sustained resources and partnerships with Inuit organisations.
Local advocates continue to press for transparent reporting and measurable targets so families and communities can see whether the promised changes translate into fewer children being sent away.
This article will be updated as the Department of Family Services provides further details on its plans and timelines.
