Anthyme Kadjuk, mayor of the hamlet, said that it's time the people of the community are involved in the healing process that has been largely focused on the former students and not on the community where the abuse occurred.

"The people of Chesterfield Inlet felt the pain because they were all affected," he said. "The people of Chester have been forgotten in this process."

"No community in the Keewatin was affected like Chesterfield Inlet, as the location of the region's residential school," he added.

Kadjuk remembers the apology that Catholic Bishop Rouleau made during a reunion in Igloolik on Feb. 27, 1996, an apology that he said should have been made in Chesterfield Inlet.

"It would have helped because the people of Chester would have heard the apology too and would have felt better," he said.

Another reunion that would be held in their community would also help, he said.

Deputy mayor Victor Sammurtok agreed that there has to be more done for the people who lived in the community where the abuse took place.

"I would like to see another reunion (here) that would include Chester in the healing process and help us work towards healing the pain," he said.

Kadjuk said the time is right now with the announcement of the healing fund to deal with the pain residents are feeling because of the abuse at the former residential school.

"The resolution of pain and suffering has to include the people of Chesterfield Inlet and not just the students," he said.

He's hoping the community can get a share of the $350 million to enable them to do just that.