Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 02/00) - Nunavut day cares tackled inadequate funding and training issues head-on at a three-day child care forum in Iqaluit last week.

"Every single community in Nunavut has come together to provide direction for the future of child care in the territory," said Carol Rowan, a consultant hired to manage the event.

"What I see happening here is an opportunity to create something great."

The territory's three regional Inuit organizations planned, hosted and directed the event that brought members from all Nunavut's communities, except Gjoa Haven, which was weather bound.

Gerrie Barros, aboriginal programs officer from the Kitikmeot Economic Development Corporation, said: "Lack of training, stable funding and benefits and low-wages" are the main problems facing day cares in Nunavut.

The feedback from 75 community day care workers and board members who formed the conference working groups cannot be ignored, Barros said.

Kathryn Massan, day care manager of the soon-to-open Ajajaa Pairivik in Rankin Inlet, said blood, sweat and tears were involved in getting the community's second centre operational.

"Everything that has been brought up here I've learned from, despite the fact that I just went through everything to open a centre -- I'd say I only knew about 50 per cent of what they've said here," said Massan.

Attention focused on Inuit-specific child care and making workers more aware of available funding sources and training opportunities.

For many centres, funding comes through a proposal-driven system that originates with the Inuit organization in their region.

The regional organizations support a number of spaces available for Inuit child care.

Kivalliq Partners and Development supports 129 spaces, the Kitikmeot Economic Development Corp. supports 71 with a long-term forecast of 110 and the Baffin's Kakivak Association supports 210 spaces.

Participants returned to their communities with a better understanding of how the day care system works in Nunavut and of the resources available to them.