Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (July 31/02) - Nine years ago, Johnny Ittinuar was driving up the ice road to Whale Cove when he broke his back in a rollover accident.

Ittinuar was flown to Winnipeg for medical attention, but after a month and a half, the prognosis was not pleasant: he would have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Then Ittinuar was given a choice. He could either return to Rankin, his home town, or stay in Winnipeg, where he would be guaranteed better and more accessible care. He chose to come back North.

Now, almost a decade later, a group has formed in Rankin to help people who, like Ittinuar, have disabilities: the Pamiqsaiji Association for Community Living.

"The goal of our association is to help people in Rankin Inlet to make positive changes regarding people with disabilities, and that is physical and intellectual disabilities," said Lesia Lucan, the acting executive director.

Formed this spring with an 11-member board of directors, the group made its public debut on July 8 when it hosted a community radio show asking for input from people with disabilities.

With plans to apply for between $20,000 and $50,000 from Human Resources Development Canada, the group wanted to know what would be the best way to spend it.

That's when Ittinuar called in, his voice cracking with emotion. His suggestions mingled with others who asked for better transportation -- a handicapped-accessible van -- money to widen their washrooms and hallways, and handicapped parking at the airport, Northern store and banks. Wheelchair ramps need to be shovelled in winter.

Some people in public housing complained about difficulties in getting washrooms and showers with handles. Some had ramps, but had difficulties navigating around their own homes.

The acting president of the Nunavut Housing Corp. disputes that.

David Akoak said the housing corporation has given a "positive response" to people who requested barrier-free housing units. He said requests are handled on a case-by-case basis, and one wheelchair ramp was installed in Rankin Inlet last year. However, he did not have any figures on how many housing corporation units were handicapped accessible.