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Nunavut Harvesters Support Program (NHSP)

The objective of the Nunavut Harvesters Support Program (NHSP) is to relieve poverty among the Inuit of Nunavut and to preserve and advance Inuit harvesting culture, heritage and traditional ways of life, in accordance with the Nunavut Harvesters Support Program Policy (the “NHSP Policy”).

Nunavut Harvesters Support Program Harvesting Equipment Program Policy

New policy updated and approved in August 2021

I. Introduction
The objective of the Nunavut Harvesters Support Program (NHSP) is to relieve poverty among the Inuit of Nunavut and to preserve and advance Inuit harvesting culture, heritage, and traditional ways of life, in accordance with the Nunavut Harvesters Support Program Policy (the “NHSP Policy”).

NHSP Harvesting Equipment Program (the “Program”) is to carry out the above objective by providing Inuit in need with funding assistance to purchase harvesting equipment.

II. Eligible Participants
Subject to any program criteria that may be prescribed by applicable policies and guidelines, all Inuit are eligible to participate in and benefit from the Program.
The Program provides Inuit in Nunavut who are in need with funding assistance to make harvesting equipment and tools more affordable, so that they can participate in traditional harvesting activities. An applicant is considered “in need” if they need financial assistance to purchase harvesting equipment required to support their family and/or community. They are also considered “in need” if they have experienced loss of hunting equipment or sustained substantial damage to their hunting equipment due to an unavoidable hunting accident or disaster.

Funding will be provided in three areas:

  1. Funding assistance for the purchase of small harvesting equipment;
  2. Funding assistance for the purchase of safety equipment; and
  3. Funding assistance for disaster relief.

To be eligible for funding assistance, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

  • An Inuk 16 years of age or older and enrolled in the Nunavut Agreement;
  • A harvester who engages in traditional harvesting activity; and
  • Where applicable, the applicant’s household has not exceeded the annual funding limit in the applicable fiscal year. For the purpose of this section, a household includes the applicant’s legal or common-law spouse and any minor children. An applicant’s parents, children, or other family members or relatives living in the same house who are 16 years of age or older are considered separate households.

III. ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
The Program provides funding assistance for equipment required to carry out hunting, fishing, gathering and/or trapping activities. This includes the following:

  1. Small Equipment: 75% of the equipment costs (including shipping costs) to a maximum of $1,000 per request and $2,000 per household each year for small harvesting equipment/tools regularly used for harvesting purposes. List of eligible small equipment may be prescribed in the Harvesting Equipment Program Guidelines. Only one application can be accepted for each equipment purchase.
  2. Insurance Coverage for Small Equipment: for eligible small equipment regularly used for harvesting purposes, 75% of insurance premium to a maximum of $500 per equipment and $1,500 per household each year. Only one application can be accepted for each insurance policy each year.
  3. Safety Equipment: 75% of the equipment costs (including shipping costs) to a maximum of $1,000 per request and $2,000 per household each year for safety equipment regularly used for harvesting purposes. List of eligible safety equipment may be prescribed in the Harvesting Equipment Program Guidelines. Only one application can be accepted for each equipment purchase.
  4. Insurance Coverage for Safety Equipment: for eligible safety equipment regularly used for harvesting purposes, 75% of insurance premium to a maximum of $500 per equipment and $1,500 per household each year. Only one application can be accepted for each insurance policy each year.
  5. Insurance Coverage for Large Harvesting Equipment: 75% of insurance premium to a maximum of $1,000 per equipment and $2,000 per household each year for Large Harvesting Equipment regularly used for harvesting purposes. “Large Hunting Equipment” refers to snowmobiles, ATVs or UTVs (Side-by-sides), boats, and outboard motors with an initial purchase price of $5,000 or more. List of eligible large harvesting equipment may be prescribed in the Harvesting Equipment Program Guidelines. Only one application can be accepted for each insurance policy each year.
  6. f) Disaster Relief (Total Loss): 75% of the net replacement cost, to a maximum of the following amounts:
    1. Snowmobiles – up to $7,000.00
    2. ATV’s – up to $6,000.00
    3. Boats – up to $10,000.00
    4. Outboard Motors – up to $7,000.00 for any major harvesting equipment lost in a hunting accident or disaster. To qualify for this program, the equipment must be lost or damaged beyond repair. “Net replacement cost” for equipment refers to the purchase price (including shipping costs) of replacement equipment minus any payment from insurance and government program on the same equipment or accident/disaster.

Nunavut Harvesters Support Program Online Application

Nunavut Harvesters Support Program (NHSP): The program objective is to relieve poverty among Inuit and to preserve and advance Inuit harvesting culture, heritage, and traditional ways of life. This program provides funding to Inuit in Nunavut who need assistance to make harvesting equipment and tools more affordable so they can participate in traditional harvesting activities. Funding is provided in five primary areas; in 2023, KIA helped beneficiaries access $641,732.67 in NHSP funds: 

  • Small harvesting equipment: Funding is available for up to 75% of the equipment costs, to a maximum of $1,000 per request and $2,000 per household for small harvesting equipment/tools regularly used for harvesting purposes. In 2023, $416,790.66 was accessed for small harvesting equipment. 
  • Safety equipment: Funding is available for 75% of the equipment costs, to a maximum of $1,000 per request and $2,000 per household for safety equipment regularly used for harvesting purposes. In 2023, $64,601.99 was accessed for safety equipment. 
  • Disaster relief: Funding is available for any major harvesting equipment lost in a hunting accident or disaster and up to 75% of the net replacement costs, to a maximum of the following amounts: snowmobiles, $7,000; ATVs, $6,000; boats, $10,000; and outboard motors, $7,000. In 2023, $148,779.02 was accessed for disaster relief. 
  • Insurance: Funding is available for up to 75% of the insurance premium, depending on equipment size (small equipment, safety equipment, and large harvesting equipment). In 2023, $1,561.00 was accessed for insurance.
  • Community Hunt Program: Provides funding and assistance to organizations or groups interested in participating in community hunts. Eligible organizations include incorporated entities such as hamlets, Hunters and Trappers Organizations, Regional Wildlife Organizations, or not-for-profit organizations. Funding amounts are based on community size, nature of the proposed hunt and number of harvesters involved. In 2023, $10,000.00 was accessed for supporting a community hunt.