Coast Guard officer wins ITK award for Inuit excellence

NEWS  SEP 23, 2026 – 3:30 PM EDT Coast Guard officer wins ITK award for Inuit excellence Ciera Avinga Lee-Kooneeliusie is a search and rescue leader who also provides first-aid training Ciera Avinga Lee-Kooneeliusie is the recipient of this year’s Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Inuit Excellence award. (Photo courtesy of ITK) By Lilli Akpaleeapik Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is celebrating an Inuk leader with the Canadian Coast Guard by giving them its Award for Inuit Excellence. ITK President Natan Obed presented the award to Ciera Avinga Lee-Kooneeliusie during the national Inuit organization’s annual general meeting Sept. 10 in Kuujjuaq. She will receive a $2,500 cash prize as well as tickets to attend ITK’s annual Tapiriit gala next year in Ottawa. Lee-Kooneeliusie serves as a senior search and rescue program officer with the Coast Guard. She also holds a position as one of the Arctic Region’s lead first aid instructors, ensuring first aid training includes Inuit knowledge. Raised in Pangnirtung, Lee-Kooneeliusie is the first Inuk woman to hold a leadership position within the Coast Guard’s Inshore Rescue Boat Program in Nunavut, said a Sept. 10 news release from ITK about the award. She is known for supporting opportunities for Inuit within the Canadian Coast Guards programming that highlight recruitment, mentorship and training, the release said. The ITK Awards have been presented annually for more than 20 years. This year’s Award for Inuit Excellence received 41 nominations. Last year’s recipient was Diana Neill-Anawak, for providing culturally responsive speech-language therapy. SHARE THIS STORY Facebook Twitter Instagram (0) Comments Join the Conversation Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name* Email* Location Comment