Iqaluit (Aug 14/06) - If the blow of finding out that his stepdaughter was killed in an accident wasn't enough to bear, Newk Sagiaktuk's burden grew last week when he felt forced to ask for donations to get her body back.

Newk Sagiaktuk solicits donations to bring his step daughter's remains back to Iqaluit from Toronto, where she was struck and killed by a car on Aug. 2. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

He stood across from the Northmart with a solemn expression, a hand-written sign and a tin can on the morning of Aug. 4. He and his common-law wife learned a couple of days earlier that her 32-year-old daughter, Leeta, had been fatally hit by a vehicle in Toronto.

It will cost thousands of dollars to have her body flown to Iqaluit. Sagiaktuk said he turned to Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and other government departments for assistance.

While they have funding programs for the living, there appeared to be no help available for someone in his circumstances, he said.

Community members, on the other hand, were responsive to his plea. People stopped their vehicles and handed him $10 and $20 bills through their windows. Others on foot approached him, offered condolences, hugged him and dropped coins and bills into his large Tim Horton's coffee can.

"With people's good hearts, it shouldn't take too long," Sagiaktuk said, trying to sound optimistic.

Then a man working for one of the regional airlines pulled up in a van, took Sagiaktuk aside and chatted with him for a few minutes.

"Thank you. Thank you," Sagiaktuk exclaimed as his lip quivered and tears rolled down his cheeks.

Apparently there was a chance that someone could make arrangements to help the despairing man out.

On Aug. 8, four days later, Sagiaktuk still didn't have confirmation, but he remained hopeful.

"Everything's still in progress as we speak. Things are moving," he said.

Help from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) still isn't necessarily out of the question either, according to James Eetoolook, first vice-president of the land claims organization.

Although NTI has a few programs designated for bereavement and compassionate travel, none of them include assistance for transporting the body of a deceased relative from southern Canada.

Eetoolook acknowledged that a substantial number of land-claim beneficiaries live in the south and that the travel programs may be due for revisions if enough beneficiaries demand it at the next annual general meeting.

In the meantime, Eetoolook said he knows of others in similar situations who have received financial aid.

"I've seen it happen in the past when others have put in a request," he said.

Sagiaktuk is definitely in favour of having the program updated.

"I think that should be one of the main items (in order) to be elected," he said.

"I would say, at this point, that would be a very positive change."