Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 14, 2008

KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER - Clyde River residents recently celebrated a symbolic step forward on the long-awaited Piqqusilirivvik cultural school.

Hamlet council members and elders participated in an official groundbreaking at the preferred site, along with Premier Paul Okalik, Uqqummiut MLA James Arreak and Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY) Louis Tapardjuk.

"We're very happy that it is in Clyde River, and I want to welcome everybody who will be in that historic building," said Clyde River Mayor Andrew Iqalukjuak.

The ceremony was held June 13, using a traditional shovel made by Iqaluit resident William Flaherty.

This was the first time a meeting like this had been held in the community since it was selected in the fall of 2006, according to Tapardjuk.

"It was important for us to launch the cultural centre now, as a sure sign the government has taken this project seriously," he said. "It was a celebration. For the community it's definitely going to create jobs. Clyde River is one of the have-not communities, I suppose you could say that, and it's important for this government to help those communities who were affected by a lack of de-centralization."

The preferred site is located about a half a kilometre outside of the hamlet, along the road to the airport on an elevated area of land.

"There's a little bit of separation from the town, but it's only about an eight-minute walk there," said Hugh Lloyd, project co-ordinator for Piqqusilirivvik at CLEY.

However, the site is not yet official, pending geotechnical surveys to be completed this summer.

"We've had comments from several elders in town that the ground over there is too muddy," Iqalukjuak said.

The delegation was accompanied by a team of architects who will be working on the plans. It made several presentations to the community regarding the look and scope of the building, and enjoyed a feast with the community afterward.

The design should be complete this year, in time to order materials for the 2009 sealift, according to Lloyd.

Clyde River was one of nine communities that vied for the multi-million dollar facility, which will provide employment to 14 people.

The school should be completed by mid-2011, and will be supported by two satellite campuses in Baker Lake and Iglulik.

"This is another initiative we want to take on to have Inuit delivering their own affairs," Tapardjuk said. "We're trying to find ways to bring back the very important cultural values to the Inuit, and this is one area we can start to reclaim some of these things."