NHSP Community Hunt Program

Nunavut Harvesters Support Programs (NHSP) are intended to relieve poverty among Inuit in Nunavut and to preserve and advance Inuit harvesting culture, heritage and traditional ways of life by providing Inuit in need with funding assistance to purchase harvesting equipment.

The Community Hunt Program provides funding and assistance to organizations or groups of five interested in participating in community hunts. Eligible organizations include incorporated entities such as hamlets, Hunters and Trappers Organizations (HTOs), Regional Wildlife Organizations (RWOs) or not-for-profit organizations. Unincorporated and informal groups of hunters are also eligible. Businesses will not be eligible to receive funding under this program. Funding amounts are based on community size, nature of the proposed hunt, and number of harvesters involved.

To be eligible for funding assistance an incorporated entity must:

• Be in good legal standing to operate in Nunavut;
• Provide a letter of commitment (or alternatively an organizational resolution) signed by a director or an executive officer indicating the organization supports the proposed hunt and indicating that the applicant understands that all or a substantial portion of the harvest (at least 50 per cent) from the proposed hunt will be distributed to the community;
• Be able to obtain a harvesting permit, tag or appropriate allocation, if required, for the proposed species to be harvested.

To be eligible for funding assistance an unincorporated group must:

• Be made up of at least five individuals (“Organizers”) who are
  1. 16 years of age or older
  2. enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement, and
  3. will be participating in the proposed hunt;
• Provide a letter of commitment signed by all Organizers (additional participants donot have to sign the letter) and indicating that the applicant understands that all or a substantial portion of the harvest (at least 50 per cent) from the proposed hunt will be distributed to the community;
• Be able to obtain a harvesting permit, tag or appropriate allocation, if required, for the proposed species to be harvested.

The Community Hunt Program will provide funding for the following expenses to a maximum of $5,000 per application:

1. Fuel for snowmobiles, ATVs/UTVs (Side-by-sides) or boats used by the Applicant for the community hunt at the following rates:
   • Snowmobiles: $100 per day to a maximum amount of $500 per snowmobile per application/trip
   • ATVs or UTVs: $50 per day to a maximum amount of $250 per ATV/UTV per application/trip
   • Boats: $200 per day for a maximum amount of $1,000 per boat per application/trip
2. Food for harvesters involved in the community hunt at a rate of $50 per harvester per day to a maximum amount of $250 per harvester per application/trip (only harvesters ten years of age or older can receive funding for food).
3. Approved Annual HTO Community Hunts. The annual HTO community hunt budgets will be approved by NHSP on an annual basis. Part or all of the community hunt budget may be used for gas subsidy for hunters in need on a first-come, first-serve basis, subject to the following limits:
   • One application per household per year
   • Maximum amount per application: $250 for gasoline and $100 for oil/naptha.

Funds must not be used to pay harvesters for their time during a community hunt or for use of their equipment.

The Applicant shall provide the following information to the program administrator: names of families with whom the catch has been shared (or confirmation that appropriate contribution from the catch has been made to the community freezers (where available); species and quantities caught. The information will be used for the program administration only and not for any other purposes.

NHSP will send you a confirmation after your application is received. We will review your application for accuracy, and verify you meet the eligibility requirements. If your application is incomplete, we will return it to you with a request for more information.

NHSP will work with your Community Liaison Officer (CLO) and/or local HTO to determine whether or not your application will be approved for funding, and will notify you of the decision within 30 days after all information on your application is completed.

Funding support may be provided to an applicant, who is either representing an incorporated entity or a group of five or more harvesters enroled under the Nunavut Agreement.