October 11, 2025

To: Board of Directors of Manitoba Inuit Association and Ikayuqtiit Inc. 

Re: Upholding Inuit Women’s Safety and Accountability in Leadership

We are writing as concerned members of the Inuit and broader community regarding the deeply troubling allegations of sexual assault, harassment and intimidation involving your CEO, Nastania Mullin.  These allegations have caused pain and re-traumatization among Inuit women and gender-diverse people, and they raise serious questions about safety and accountability within Inuit leadership structures.

Over the past couple of days, both Amautiit Inuit Women’s Association and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) have issued public statements emphasizing the importance of breaking the cycle of abuse and holding perpetrators accountable. Their messages affirm that Inuit women must be believed, supported and protected when they come forward.

The 2021 National Inuit Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People clearly calls on all Inuit organizations to act decisively in cases like his.  Action 13.9 specifically states that:

“Inuit land claims organizations must implement policies that discourage abusers from holding leadership positions, including by explicitly defining unacceptable behaviour and conduct in job descriptions and election eligibility criteria.”

This is an actionable standard of governance that reflects the duty of care owed by Inuit organizations and their boards. 

As a board, you carry a fiduciary responsibility to protect the integrity, safety, and trust of the organization and the Inuit you serve.  Failing to address these allegations with transparency and fairness risks further harm to survivors and undermine public confidence in MIA’s leadership.  Upholding Inuit women’s safety is a moral and institutional obligation.

We are also deeply concerned about reports that Mr. Mullin has used the legal system, including cease and desist letters, to silence those speaking out his conduct.  Such tactics create fear, suppress truth and perpetuate harm.

We call on the Manitoba Inuit Association to ensure that no retaliation, legal or otherwise, is directed toward survivors, advocated or community members who speak out or seek accountability.  A truly trauma-informed and survivor-centered process must protect people from further intimidation and legal harassment.

 

Our Calls to Action

We urge the Manitoba Inuit Association to take the following immediate steps:

1. Suspend Mr. Mullin pending the results on an independent, trauma-informed investigation conducted by a qualified third party.
2. Publicly acknowledge the allegations and the harm caused, centering the voices and safety of Inuit women and gender-diverse people.
3. Implement strong anti-harassment and leaderships accountability policies.
4. Consult Inuit women’s organization such as Amautiit Inuit Women’s Association in designing safety and governance reforms.
5. Ensure non-retaliation, including the prohibiting the use of legal intimidation, to protect survivors, whistleblowers, and advocates. 
6. Communicate transparently with the Inuit community about the measures being taken to restore trust, uphold justice and keep Inuit women and gender-diverse people safe. 
 

We stand with Inuit women and genders-diverse people who have spoken out – and those who are not yet ready to.  As ITK stated “It takes strength to come forward. We believe you”. Now it is time for MIA to demonstrate that belief through decisive, accountable, and compassionate leadership.

signed,

#InuitMeToo