Our History

Built on a Tradition of Resourcefulness, Resilience and Respect

Archaeologists believe that about 1,000 years ago, in northwestern Alaska, there began a culture they call "Thule". Considered the prehistoric antecedent of modern day Inuit of the High Arctic, the Thule made a rapid migration across the high Arctic to Greenland, Labrador and Newfound land. An innovative culture, the Thule introduced the practice of baleen whale hunting in open water. They fashioned large skin covered boats called umiak to enable the rapid transport of entire camps and provide a platform for whale hunting. When the closure of open water during a "mini" ice age made it difficult to remain in permanent coastal settlements, the Thule adapted. They crafted highly sophisticated dog sleds and inhabited mobile seal hunting camps on the ice. In order to sustain their community, they hunted walrus, caribou, birds and fish. They crafted pottery and stone oil lamps and cooking vessel, and created their tools from bone, antler, slate and flint.

Over the past 700 years, the Inuvialuit have shown the same resilient spirit and tradition of innovation as their ancestors. They have evolved as the Inuit from the Western Arctic, living in the flat tundra and high-reaching mountains, amid the caribou and bears, the whales and waterfowl. Initially, the Inuvialuit were able to meet the needs of their communities through traditional means: hunting, fishing and trading. Since the early 19th century, they have been faced with constantly changing environmental, economic and political conditions that have limited their capacity to provide a sustainable lifestyle to their communities. Armed with a deep understanding and knowledge of the Arctic environment, augmented by resourcefulness and resiliency, the Inuvialuit were determined to secure their place in business and society. After ten years of negotiation with the Government of Canada, the Inuvialuit successfully established the first comprehensive land claim agreement signed north of the 60th parallel, the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. As part of the agreement, the Inuvialuit established the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), which is responsible to receive and manage the benefits resulting from the land claim agreement. To ensure a sustainable legacy for all Inuvialuit, and to invest land claim capital effectively, the IRC created a for-profit business arm, the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC).

One hundred percent Inuvialuit owned, IDC made its first investment of $10 million in 1977. The corporation started small; mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and successes were celebrated. Founded on a legacy of practical innovation, understanding and knowledge of the north, and respect for the environment, the IDC found its niche as a strategic builder - a builder of companies, a builder of partnerships, a builder of futures. IDC has built a diversified group of companies, managed by an experienced team of dedicated professionals. Experience has built expertise, and expertise has built capacity. While methods and priorities have changed since the Thule, the commitment to build a sustainable legacy and safeguard the assets of the Inuvialuit remains IDC's guidepost.