Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, an organization dedicated to the cultural and political advancement of the Inuit, has named CBC News chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge winner of the first ITK Award for Excellence in Arctic Journalism.

Mansbridge and his production team were chosen for three reports from the 2006-7 CBC series called “Road Stories about the Arctic.”

Mary Simon, national Inuit leader, said the work “demonstrated understanding of the complex issues in the Canadian Arctic, and how the Inuit of Canada are central to the story of the Arctic, both in a historic and contemporary sense.”

The award will be presented at the National Gallery of Canada on Jan.14.