Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Nov 17/99) - Baker Lake's Barnabas Piryuaq was one of three elders to receive an Inuit Heritage Trust Award for their contributions to archaeology in Nunavut.

Each of the three Nunavut regions were represented, with Frank Analok of Cambridge Bay and Cornelius Nutarak Sr. of Pond Inlet also being selected.

Piryuaq was nominated for the award by the Baker Lake Heritage Centre.

The centre's administrator, David Webster, said each winner was presented with a plaque and two cash awards. The winners were selected in Iqaluit and the awards were mailed to them.

The elders receive a $3,000 cash award and an additional $3,000 to be used in support of a community-based Inuit heritage project.

"The Inuit Heritage Centre nominated Barnabas as an elder who shared his extensive knowledge and skills with professional archaeologists by acting as a research advisor and assisting with archaeological projects," said Webster.

In 1993-94, Piryuaq became a member of the Elder's Advisory Committee to work with Parks Canada to establish a national historic site on the Kazan River.

He also helped archaeologists conduct research at Piqqiq, Itimnik and Qamanaajuk on the Kazan River.

"Piryuaq thought of the idea of establishing our Inuit Heritage Centre in Baker Lake to display artifacts and exhibits," said Webster.

"He wanted a place for youth to learn about their culture. He assisted in planning the exhibits and is presently used as a teacher-instructor at the centre with the school students and cultural orientation programs."

Born in 1924, Piryuaq has written a number of articles on Inuit heritage and culture.

He has been interviewed for such feature publications as Life As It Was, Inuit Nunamiut: Inland Inuit, Oral Histories of Baker Lake, Harvaqtuuq 1997 on names and oral traditions of the lower Kazan River, and Harvaqturmiut Heritage, on the heritage of the people on the lower Kazan River.

Piryuaq said he will need some time to consider which project(s) to spend the $3,000 on.

"I feel good about being chosen for the award," said Piryuaq.

"I'm going to keep on going and doing things until I'm no longer able to.

"I mean that not only in doing archaeological work, but in helping people, too."