NNSL (Jun 01/98) - Baffin Central MLA Tommy Enuaraq says he is happy to have helped a family find their lost relative. But he is far from pleased with the way the federal government buried TB victims in the 1950s and 1960s.

Of the 40 or so graves he saw at Mount Hermon Ceremony in Sillery, Que. -- where Mary Veevee was buried -- only two graves were actually marked with headstones.

"It's just green grass. It's been 40 years since they were buried," said Enuaraq.

"Another thing that surprised me is when the government of Canada was requested to provide graves for the body of such and such a person, every one of them says that the person died of natural causes.

"I have a whole lot of names here, roughly 40 names and according to the government of Canada they all died of natural causes, which is pretty hard to believe."

Three years ago, Enuaraq began the long journey to look for the graves of Inuit that were shipped out for treatment and died. He sought guidance and financial support from the NWT Department of Health, but no help was provided.

He then began a letter campaign within the territorial government and to the federal and Quebec governments. Still, no response, until a few months ago.

"Health and Social Services were more embarrassed and decided to fund the trip," he said. "It was quite expensive but it was worth it -- money well spent," he said.

Enuaraq said it was an emotional for everyone on the trip.

"The old guy, Simo Veevee, he was very emotional. He was getting rid of things that he wanted to get rid of for a very long time. He was crying and telling me exactly how Mary and him departed back in the early 50s.

"He told me that he remembers holding her hand and he remembers everything when the hand let go. That was it. That was forever. They knew they would never see each other again."