CBC North reported Sept. 21 that NTI is examining whether it could become an Indigenous governing body for child and family services under the federal law commonly known as Bill C-92. The law provides a process for Indigenous groups to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. CBC’s report describes an exploration, not a decision to take over Nunavut’s existing system. Source↗

NTI’s 2025–29 strategy says the organization plans to assess a housing-first approach to child welfare and seek C-92 funding for self-governance. It also identifies training Inuit support workers and keeping children in care within Nunavut as objectives. Source↗

A change of this scale could affect who sets child-welfare rules, how prevention and family supports are designed, where children in care live and how services are funded and overseen. It would not happen automatically. Under the federal framework, an Indigenous governing body may give notice of its intent to exercise jurisdiction and can seek a coordination agreement with Canada and the relevant territorial government. Source↗

The issue comes as Nunavut’s child and youth services remain under close public scrutiny. NTI’s strategy says children are too often placed outside Nunavut and calls for more children’s homes and Inuit capacity in child and family services. Those are NTI’s stated concerns and goals, not findings that a new system is ready to operate. Source↗

Key unanswered questions include whether NTI will formally notify Canada and Nunavut that it intends to exercise jurisdiction; whether it will propose a new Inuit law or service model; what services would transfer; how children and families would be consulted; how the work would be funded; and what transition, staffing and accountability arrangements would be needed. No timeline or negotiation table has been publicly announced in the material reviewed.

The federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families came into force on Jan. 1, 2020. It sets national principles for services to Indigenous children and provides a route for Indigenous groups to exercise jurisdiction. A coordination agreement can set out transition and collaboration arrangements, but the federal government says a group may also proceed after giving notice and making reasonable efforts to reach an agreement. Source↗

This is separate from the Government of Nunavut’s existing work with NTI on aspects of child and family services. In a July 2025 response to the Legislative Assembly, the Department of Family Services said it was working with NTI on options related to educational resources within a planned sexual-abuse action plan. That document does not announce a transfer of child-welfare authority. Source↗