Iqaluit (Aug 21/06) - Leeta is finally home.

Newk Sagiaktuk, who stood on the side of the road asking for donations to cover the cost of flying his daughter's body home from Toronto, was able to lay her to rest in Iqaluit last week.

His 32-year-old daughter died earlier this month in Toronto after being hit by a car.

Newk Sagiaktuk: Grateful for community, airline help in bringing daughter's body home for burial in Iqaluit.

Canadian North manager Mosha Cote stepped in to arrange transportation of the body back from Ontario at no charge to the family.

"We were happy, very happy," to have Leeta's body flown home, Sagiaktuk said.

Leeta's body was flown back to Iqaluit Aug. 13 for a funeral the next day.

Sagiaktuk said donations came in from as far away as Kimmirut, and some of the money will go to Cote, who paid out of his own pocket for some of the expenses involved.

Sagiaktuk said the family is grateful to everyone who gave money and "those who prayed for us."

"It made things seem to be easier," he said.

Sagiaktuk was forced to ask for donations in the street after learning that no government or organization in Nunavut had a program to help fly the dead home for burial.

Mark Wood, a Canadian North manager from Ottawa who also helped to arrange Leeta's final flight home, said the airline doesn't have such a program either, but was happy to help.

"Overall it was the right thing to do," he said. "It was unfortunate that the father had to be so visual."