September 13, 2023 – The Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) and the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce (YFNCC) are excited to announce a partnership that will see the 12th Annual AIP Awards Ceremony take place during the Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference (AIIC) on May 7, 2024.
“On behalf of the Board and staff at the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce, we are excited to be partnering with the Arctic Inspiration Prize once again! We are looking forward to hosting the AIP Award Ceremony in Whitehorse at the upcoming Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference in May 2024,” says Michelle Kolla, President of YFNCC. “We can’t wait to celebrate with this year’s award winners from the North in the North.”
“The AIP is thrilled to be partnering with the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce to bring our ceremony to Whitehorse and celebrate this year’s finalists and winners, at home in the North,” said Wally Schumann, Chair of the AIP Charitable Trust. “With $3.7 million up for grabs, we can’t wait to see what innovative ideas Northerners put forward this year. There are no ideas too big or too small, and I especially want to challenge youth from across the North, to seize this opportunity to make your dreams come true. Who knows, it could be you we’re celebrating on stage next May in Whitehorse!”
Stay tuned for more about the ceremony, including this year’s line-up of performers. In the meantime, nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 prize. There are two prize categories: $1 Million (1 prize for 1 team) and AIP (up to $500K to 4 teams). There is also a youth-specific prize – the Arctic Inspiration Youth Prize! This is for youth-led teams where up to 7 teams can take home up to $100,000. Find out more at: www.arcticinspirationprize.ca/ and www.arcticinspirationprize.ca/youth
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About the Arctic Inspiration Prize
As the largest annual prize in Canada, the Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) inspires, enables and celebrates the achievements of the people of the North. The AIP recognizes diverse teams and enables their innovative projects in the fields of education, health and wellbeing, culture, arts and language, science and traditional knowledge, climate change and the economy. Each year, the AIP awards up to $3.7 million: one $1 million prize, up to four prizes of up to $500,000 each, and up to seven youth prizes of up to $100,000 each. The AIP is owned and governed by the northern-led AIP Charitable Trust and is a community of Indigenous organizations, governments, industry, philanthropy, and many other partners from the North and South.
About Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce
Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce is the First Nations organization of business in the Yukon. Organized as a representative body of business organizations, it represents the interests of the private sector and is involved in promotion of socio-economic development of Yukon through private sector led economic growth. YFNCC advocates for Yukon First Nation Development Corporations and Indigenous business and aims to create opportunities to build strong and meaningful relationships.
About the Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference
The Annual Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference is the largest multi-sector conference hosted North of 60 on an annual basis. Each year, AIIC provides an incredible opportunity to create new contacts, build relationships, share successes and lessons learned, and gain inspiration from neighbours, colleagues and competitors. This year’s conference theme—Bridging the Gap—is focused on working together and exploring opportunities to improve meaningful outcomes for Indigenous peoples engaged in private sector enterprise. Together, we will once again explore how to build on our foundation as resilient peoples, communities and companies in order to emerge as leaders for economic development across the Arctic region.
