The Inuit Sled Dog International (ISDI) is a consortium of enthusiasts whose goal the preservation of this ancient arctic breed in its purest form as a working dog. The ISDI's efforts are concentrated on restoring the pure Inuit Dog to its native habitat. The ISDI's coordinators welcome to your comments and questions.

ISDI Coordinator Canada
Geneviève Montcombroux, Box 206, Inwood, MB R0C 1P0; toadhall@mts.net

ISDI Coordinator USA
Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Road, Harwinton, CT 06791, qimmiq@snet.net

Editor-in-Chief: Sue Hamilton
Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
Print Version Publisher: Geneviève Montcombroux for Whippoorwill Press

The Fan Hitch, journal of the Inuit Sled Dog International, is published four times a year. It is available free online at: http://homepage.mac.com/puggiq. Print subscriptions as follows: in Canada $18.00 Cdn, in USA $16.00 US, elsewhere $22.00 Cdn per year, postage included.  Send requests, with checks payable to "ISDI", to Whippoorwill Press, Geneviève Montcombroux, P.O.Box 206, Inwood, Manitoba, R0C 1P0, Canada or info@whippoorwillpress.com. Single copy issues and back issues (if not sold out) are available. Contact Whippoorwill Press for details.

The Fan Hitch welcomes your letters, stories, comments and suggestions. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions used for publication.

Contents of The Fan Hitch are protected by international copyright laws. No photo, drawing or text may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Webmasters please note: written consent is necessary before linking this site to yours! Please forward requests to Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Rd., Harwinton, Connecticut  06791, USA or qimmiq@snet.net

The following organizations are listed by alphabetical order. The "about" and mission statement descriptions are taken right from their web pages. Please take time to explore these sites, there is a wealth of information available that is often not readily apparent based on the organizations' descriptions. 

Avataq Cultural Institute: The Inuit Culture of Nunavik
Avataq Cultural Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the indigenous language and culture of Nunavik Inuit.

Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (Nunavut)
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will achieve its mission through: providing leadership within the government on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit approaches to work; promoting the use of Inuit languages in the workplace and within the territory; assisting non-profit, community based individuals and organizations in cultural, language and heritage activities; and encouraging ongoing dialogue between elders and youth and the government.

Inuit Circumpolar Conference
The principal goals of ICC are:
  • strengthen unity among Inuit of the circumpolar region;
  • promote Inuit rights and interests on an international level;
  • develop and encourage long-term policies that safeguard the Arctic environment; and
  • seek full and active partnership in the political, economic, and social development of circumpolar regions.

Inuit Heritage Trust
The Inuit Heritage Trust is an Inuit organization established by and for the Inuit of Nunavut. The Trust is dedicated to the preservation, enrichment and protection of Inuit cultural heritage and identity embodied in Nunavut's archaeological sites, ethnographic resources and traditional place names. The Trust's activities are based on the principle of respect for the traditional knowledge and wisdom of our Elders.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is the national Inuit organization in Canada, representing four Inuit regions - Nunatsiavut (Labrador), Nunavik (northern Quebec), Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit region in the Northwest Territories.
  • To represent the interests of the Inuit of Canada through their settlement claim organizations on matters of a national nature;
  • To preserve and promote the unity of Inuit as a single people within Canada, and to ensure that Inuit of their settlement claim organizations are capable of speaking collectively on matters of a national nature;
  • To cooperate with the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (Canada) in putting forth the positions of Canadian Inuit on international matters;
  • To represent, where appropriate, the interests of Canadian Inuit living outside the Inuit settlement areas;
  • To promote and facilitate coordination and cooperation among the Inuit settlement claim organizations on matters of a national nature;
  • To facilitate coordination and cooperation on matters of a regional nature involving two or more Inuit settlement claim organizations at the request of the concerned organizations;
  • To take measures to further enable Inuit to fully exercise their rights within Canadian Society in general, including their right of self-government;
  • To assist the Inuit settlement claim organizations to protect the rights of Inuit in the Canadian Constitution with necessary amendments;
  • To help protect the environment and renewable resources so that present and future generations of Inuit can fully enjoy their relationship with the land and sea;
  • To take measures at the national level, along with other national Inuit organizations, to protect and promote Inuit culture, language, values, health, education, justice and any other matter that impacts upon the ability of Inuit to shape the future of their society within Canada;
  • To take measures at the national level, along with other national Inuit organizations, to help foster economic development and trade among the Inuit and within Canada in their economic and business endeavors;
  • To work with other national Inuit organizations, where appropriate, to further our aims and objectives.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
The mandate of Inuvialuit Regional Corporation is to continually improve the economic, social and cultural well-being of the Inuvialuit through the implementation of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and by all other available means.

Ivakkak
Celebrating the Inuit culture - Promoting the traditional way of dogsledding and the return of pure bred Inuit Husky dogs in Nunavik

Kitikmeot Heritage Society
The Kitikmeot Heritage Society preserves, promotes and celebrates the history, culture, language and diversity of the people of the Kitikmeot region. 

Kitikmeot Inuit Association
The objectives of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA), under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) is to defend, preserve and promote social, cultural and economic benefits to Inuit of the Kitikmeot Region.

Labrador Inuit Association
LIA is responsible for advancing the aboriginal, constitutional, democratic, social and human rights of Labrador Inuit. It promotes Labrador Inuit language and culture. It works to advance the health and well-being of our people.

Makivik Corporation
  • To receive, administer, use and invest the compensation money intended for the Inuit, as provided for in the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement.
  • To relieve poverty and to promote the welfare, advancement, and education of the Inuit.
  • To foster, promote, protect and assist in preserving the Inuit way of life, values and traditions.
  • To initiate, expand and develop opportunities for the Inuit to participate in the economic development of their society.
  • To exercise the functions vested in it by other Acts or the Agreement.
  • To develop and improve the Inuit communities and to improve their means of actions.
  • To assist in the creation, financing or developing of businesses, resources, properties and industries of the Inuit.

Nunavut Government
Embracing both traditional knowledge and values and the new opportunities presented by technologies like the Internet, the Government of Nunavut now provides a wide range of services tailored to the unique needs of approximately 29,500 residents.

Nunavut Tungavik Incorporated
NTI is responsible for advancing and protecting Inuit interests in the creation of the Nunavut Territory in 1999 by assuring that the terms of the Nunavut Political Accord are lived up to.

NTI's ten member Board meets regularly in different Nunavut communities to debate issues and make decisions on implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, safeguarding the environment, advancing and protecting Inuit interests and rights, as well as business development and numerous other matters in the Nunavut settlement area including a pension plan for our Elders, and a Support Program for Inuit hunters.

Qikiqtani Inuit Association
Protecting and Promoting Inuit Rights and Values

There are very likely other fine resources of Inuit origin that are not included in this list. Readers are welcome to send others to The Fan Hitch, c/o Sue Hamilton, qimmiq@snet.net.