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Nunavut Arctic College (NAC), through the Government of Nunavut (GN), has awarded the design and delivery of a new law degree program to the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).

The objective of the law degree program is to increase the number of practicing lawyers in Nunavut, while also meeting Sivumut Abluqta's education priority to deliver relevant programming to meet the needs of Nunavummiut. With the addition of the law program, NAC will soon offer three degree-granting programs in partnership with universities, allowing students to stay in the territory to study.

"The Government of Nunavut has made education a priority in our current mandate. The delivery of a law degree program through the University of Saskatchewan will give Nunavummiut the best opportunity to learn about and engage actively in the legal profession," says Minister of Education and Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) Paul Quassa.

"We are pleased to partner with the University of Saskatchewan to deliver a made in Nunavut law degree program for Nunavummiut," said Minister of Justice Keith Peterson.

"Ensuring Inuit students have the opportunity to study law in Nunavut is a natural extension of our commitment to Indigenous initiatives and to Canada's Truth and Reconciliation calls to action. We are delighted that the University of Saskatchewan's College of Law has been selected to partner with Nunavut Arctic College to provide this important program," says U of S President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff.

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The College of Law at the U of S is particularly well-suited to support the design, development and delivery of a law degree program for NAC. One critical element of this is the U of S's investment in and commitment to Indigenous advancement and education.

"The College of Law, including through the work of its Native Law Centre, has a long and proud tradition of commitment to the provision of legal education‎ to Canada's indigenous peoples," said Martin Phillipson, dean of the U of S College of Law. "Our partnership with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Arctic College represents the latest evidence of this commitment. We are delighted to be a key partner in the provision of a high quality law degree program in Nunavut."

Classes are expected to begin in September 2017 in Iqaluit. There will be 25 seats available for students from across Nunavut. The law program will be delivered over a four-year period.