Kakivak aims cash at development
Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Apr 06/01) - Baffin communities are hoping that spending money now on development and promotion will bring more tourism dollars to their region.
Grise Fiord, Arctic Bay and Qikiqtarjuak will each get $100,000 in start-up funding for visitors centres "to promote parks and tourism," said Jerry Ell, president of Kakivak Association.
Based in Iqaluit and accountable to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Kakivak's mandate is to assist with regional Inuit economic development.
When three national parks -- Sirmilik, Auyuittuq and Quttinirpaaq -- were established in 1999, under a Parks Canada, Heritage Canada and QIA agreement, $3 million was set aside for development in the six associated communities. Sirmilik is at the top of Baffin Island, Auyuittuq is east of Qikiqtarjuak and Quttinipaaq is located on Ellesmere Island.
The other three associated communities, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet and Repulse Bay, already have visitors centres.
Money will also be made available to all communities to develop promotional materials, he said. And a regional promotional package is also in the works, said Ell.
Tourism companies, and businesses with tourism interests can also tap into half the $3 million in one-time funding. Business developers for new and existing business can apply for funding as can groups or companies working on promoting the parks, said Ell.
For example, someone in Arctic Bay may want to provide park boat tours or another entrepreneur may look at snowmobile trips out of Pangnirtung. These are among many possibilities, he said.
"Part of what I'm trying to do is create more awareness of the different programs available," Ell said.
Other programs
As well as the parks funding opportunity, Ell said Inuit can apply for assistance under the National Park Scholarship Trust.
The $200,000 fund has been designed to help Inuit who are interested in working in areas related to parks.
Another Kakivak program is media training. Media companies looking to train Inuit on-the-job can apply for funding by submitting a proposal.
The program allows media companies to "match training to the individual's needs," Ell said.
Funding for this program flows through Kakivak from Human Resources Development Canada. Ell said the limit is up to 75 per cent of an individual's salary to a maximum of $18 an hour.
This program, and the funding behind it, is available to company's now, Ell said.
