(born 24 March 1954 near Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada) is a Canadian Inuvialuk politician, Inuit rights activist, broadcaster and journalist.
The family was living a traditional, nomadic lifestyle and it wasn't until 1958 that they permanently relocated to Sachs Harbour on Banks Island.
[4] Growing up in Sachs, Kuptana only spoke Inuvialuktun until at the age of seven or eight, she was forcibly taken by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to the residential school in Inuvik about 525 km (326 mi) to the southwest.
After 10 years in the school system, she lost the ability to speak Inuvialuktun, making communication with elders in her home community difficult, although she later relearned the language.
[3][4][5][6] In the last 10 years, Ms. Kuptana worked on the Inuit Residential School experience and ensured that Inuvialuit received compensation.