The Nunatsiavut Government is sending an official delegation to the 2026 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) in Whitehorse, Yukon. While there have been previous individual attempts from Labrador Inuit to engage with the Games, this marks the first initiative formally led and supported by the Nunatsiavut Government.

The Nunatsiavut Government’s participation as a ”special guest” is a strategic step toward a long‑term goal of bringing a full contingent of Labrador Inuit athletes and cultural performers to the AWG in 2029.

The AWG is a major circumpolar sporting and cultural event that brings together youth from across the Arctic to compete, collaborate, and celebrate their shared Northern heritage. Despite the strong presence of Inuit regions such as Nunavut and Nunavik, Nunatsiavut has never before been represented at the Games.

“Attending the Arctic Winter Games will allow us to understand what is required to successfully bring a Nunatsiavut team in the future,” said David Dicker Jr., Acting Minister of Language, Culture and Tourism. “Our youth have expressed a clear desire to participate, and this is an important step toward ensuring they have that opportunity.”

In addition to government representatives and partners, the Labrador Inuit delegation will include two youth cultural performers who have been invited to participate in the AWG International Cultural Showcase. Their performances will highlight Labrador Inuit culture through traditional and contemporary expressions, including Inuit drum dancing, throat singing, and movement-based storytelling inspired by regional traditions. These youth will also take part in collaborative workshops with performers from across the circumpolar world, culminating in a collective piece presented during the Games.

The delegation will meet with organizers, observe sporting and cultural events, and learn from other northern contingents about athlete development, cultural programming, logistics, and governance. This work builds on growing interest from Nunatsiavut youth and the collaborative efforts of the Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Nunatsiavut Government

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