INUVIK - The Inuvik cemetery is getting a face lift, but some residents are concerned that they weren't given enough advance notice.

These crosses and grave markers have been set aside during the restoration project at the Inuvik cemetery. The land is being levelled off and grass will be grown in between the graves. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

The restoration of the site means that the ground must be levelled off and a new culvert put in place to divert water from the graves.

Patricia Allen is upset because she doesn't feel that the town office gave enough notice before pulling the crosses from the ground.

"The town office should have done more advertising, they could have held meetings," said Allen.

Mayor Derek Lindsay said that the impending construction was advertised on the rolling channel.

"Not everyone has cable," said Allen. "What about the elders?

How were the elders supposed to know about this?"

Allen said her mother is buried in the cemetery.

"My family worked so hard to make that grave special," she said.

"We painted rocks and had crushed glass on top, now it's going to be moved?"

Allen said she feels that the town office could have done a better job of informing people so they could move their belongings from the graves.

"It made me hurt and angry," she said.

"I've left messages at town office. They know how I feel."

Lindsay said all precautions are being taken to ensure every grave is returned to its proper state.

"We have GPS markers," he said. "We've had surveyors look at the land and have taken numerous photos. We want to do this without disturbing too much."

Lindsay said the restoration began last year.

"In 2006, we allocated some money to expand the cemetery because it was filling up," said Lindsay.

"At the same time, we pushed for money from the community capacity building fund."

Lindsay said that $100,000 was put aside from the fund to go towards restoration of the cemetery.

"That is the money that is being used right now, to bring this cemetery up to what I call something to be proud of," said Lindsay.

"The place was falling apart."

Lindsay said that the installation of the culvert was to fix the drainage issue at the site.

"In the springtime, many graves were full of water," he said. "The graves would sink five feet. There were holes. One woman came here and had to bail water out of her son's grave."

Lindsay said the ground will be levelled off this summer and the water will be drained towards Boot Lake.

"We hope to be finished this summer," he said.

"We're asking people to come and remove anything off the graves," he said. "We'll supply bags. Bring them home and when we're done, put them back."

During a council meeting earlier this week, Counc. Jim McDonald said he would have liked if the working crew would work in smaller patches.

"If they developed in smaller areas at a time, it wouldn't look so devastating," said McDonald.

Coun. Terry Halifax said that the project has been planned for many years and he wants it done the proper way with respect for those people with family members in the cemetery.