Child Custody Mediation in Nunavut: Free Program and What to Expect

Nunavut operates a territorial Family Mediation Program — called Inuusirmut Aqqusiuqtiit — that is entirely free for all residents regardless of income. The program is run by the Department of Justice and accessible across all 25 communities via telephone, video link, or in-person at the Allavik Building in Iqaluit.

Is Mediation Mandatory in Nunavut?

No. Unlike several southern provinces that require mandatory parent education or compulsory mediation before you can file for divorce or schedule a court hearing, Nunavut keeps participation entirely voluntary. You can proceed directly to the Nunavut Court of Justice without attempting mediation first.

That said, the court strongly encourages it. A mediated parenting agreement can be filed directly with the Court of Justice as a binding consent order — avoiding the delays, expense, and stress of a contested hearing.

How the Program Works

The mediation follows a structured process designed to protect both parents:

Safety screening comes first. The mediator conducts separate, private intake interviews with each parent to assess for power imbalances, coercive control, and any history of family violence. If severe safety concerns are identified, joint mediation may be ruled out. In those cases, the mediator may offer "shuttle mediation" — communicating proposals between parents without face-to-face contact.

Sessions incorporate Inuit societal values. The mediation model integrates Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) principles, emphasizing Tunnganarniq (fostering an open, welcoming environment) and Aajiiqatigiinniq (decision-making through consensus and respectful discussion).

The mediator drafts your parenting plan. Once parents reach agreement on parenting time schedules, decision-making responsibility, holiday rotations, and child support calculations, the mediator helps formalize the terms into a comprehensive parenting plan.

What Mediation Does Not Do

A mediator is a neutral facilitator, not a lawyer or arbitrator. They cannot give legal advice, tell you what arrangement is "fair," or force the other parent to accept specific terms. They also cannot draft binding court orders on their own — the completed agreement still needs to be filed with the Nunavut Court of Justice to become enforceable.

How to Prepare

Parents who arrive at mediation with organized proposals get better outcomes and finish faster. Before your intake session:

• Map out your preferred weekly parenting schedule, including specific days and transition times
• Draft your holiday rotation preferences for Christmas, Easter, summer, Nunavut Day, and National Indigenous Peoples Day
• List the major decisions you want sole or joint responsibility over (health, education, language, religious upbringing)
• Calculate the approximate 40% parenting-time threshold (146 days per year) to understand how your proposed schedule affects child support
• Prepare a communication plan — which platform, what frequency, what boundaries

When Mediation Is Not Appropriate

If there is active family violence, a restraining order, or an Emergency Protection Order under the Family Abuse Intervention Act, standard joint mediation is not appropriate. The safety screening process should catch this, but if you have safety concerns, raise them immediately with the mediator. Shuttle mediation or direct court proceedings may be better options.

For worksheets to organize your mediation preparation — including the parenting time calculator, decision-making allocation form, and holiday rotation planner — see the Nunavut Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide.

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