Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 25/05) - Since Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell announced she would support gay marriage legislation, Bill C-38, Nunavummiut have had mixed reactions to the news.

"I know my dad is very disappointed, my mom is very disappointed. Quite a few elders are," said Leonie Duffy in Coral Harbour.

Same-sex couples will be able to marry if Bill C-38 is approved by the House of Commons. Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell's support for the legislation has sparked some debate across the territory, with one church, the Glad Tidings Church in Coral Harbour, gathering names on a petition sent to the MP expressing their discontent with her stand. - Kathleen Lippa/photo illustration

The Glad Tidings Church drafted a petition against same-sex marriage for anyone in the community to sign. In one week they collected 247 names which they faxed to Karetak-Lindell's office in protest.

"Supporters just opened their eyes wide. They put her in that position. There is nothing personal against her," said Duffy. "But they don't agree with it.

"One elder mentioned to me ever since that announcement she just felt like something was hanging in her chest, something very heavy, like a burden," Duffy said.

"She told me, 'I want my grandchildren to get married before I die, I don't want them to get into (same sex relationships). I want to live through it," she said.

Duffy explained that people in Coral Harbour oppose the "unnatural" aspect of a same-sex couple.

On Thursday, Nancy Karetak-Lindell said more positive than negative feedback was burning up her e-mail lines one week after her announcement.

"But I haven't heard all the radio call-in shows on CBC," she said.

All the negative reactions have been based on religious beliefs, she added.

"And I totally expected that," she said.

In Arviat, Karetak-Lindell's hometown, the response was more on the positive side.

"I am sure she listened to both sides of the issue and she made the vote she believed was best for people as a whole," said Lynn Rollin.

Rollin spoke on the record as a resident of Arviat, though, not as a member of the Catholic mission where she works, although she said she didn't mind speaking openly about the issue either way.

"She says she stands by the Charter of Rights, and I am very proud that she is doing that," said Rollin. "The whole issue of same sex marriage is very delicate. But we cannot impose our views on other people."

Nanulik MLA Patterk Netser of Coral Harbour said Karetak-Lindell was simply following the party line when she lent her support to Bill C-38.

He said as far as he's concerned, the government has no business getting involved with what goes on in the nation's bedrooms.

"This is not a racist or a discriminatory issue," said Netser. "I have no hatred or resentment towards gay people and I don't force my religious beliefs on anyone.

"But our MP knows where the majority of the people of Nunavut stand on this issue. Same-sex marriage goes against Inuit beliefs, and the only way to get more people to accept that type of lifestyle is through deceit."

In Kugluktuk, residents say they have bigger issues they must deal with before same-sex marriage.

The Catholic Church burned down last year and parishioners are so concerned about fundraising to get a new church built they haven't been talking about same-sex marriage at all.

"It came up at a meeting. The bishop wanted us to deal with that and we said we can't. We have our church to worry about," said Mary Ann Westwood.