Kativik Regional Government

The Kativik Regional Government (in French, Administration régionale Kativik) encompasses most of the Nunavik region of Quebec. Nunavik is the northern half of the Nord-du-Québec administrative region and includes all the territory north of the 55th parallel. The administrative capital is Kuujjuaq, on the Koksoak River, about 50 kilometers inland from the southern end of the Ungava Bay.

Created in 1978 in accordance with the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the Kativik Regional Government is elected by all the inhabitants of the Nunavik region, both Inuit and non-Inuit. The Regional Government is financed by the Government of Québec (50%) and the Government of Canada (25%).

The Cree village Whapmagoostui, near the northern village of Kuujjuarapik, on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay, is an enclave in the Nunavik region and its inhabitants do not participate in the Kativik Regional Government. Whapmagoostui (village and reserved lands: 316 km²) is part of the Cree Regional Authority and the Grand Council of the Cree (Eeyou Istchee).

The Kativik Regional Government includes 14 northern villages, 14 Inuit reserved lands and one Naskapi village municipality. Each Inuit reserved land is near a northern village; the Naskapi village municipality of Kawawachikamach (north of the 55th parallel) is near the Naskapi reserved land that is also called Kawawachikamach, south of the 55th parallel in the Côte-Nord region of Québec. The Kativik Regional Government covers a territory of about 500,000 km² and includes a population of just over 10,000 persons, of which about 90% are Inuit.

The Inuit of Nunvavik are also represented by the Makivik Corporation in their relations with the governments of Quebec and Canada on issues specifically pertaining to their indigenous rights (hunting and land use). The Makivik corporation favors greater autonomy for the Nunavik region and is headquartered in Kuujjuaq.