SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - For 13-year-old Damian Kayotuk, the opportunity to learn Inuktitut is a worthwhile experience.

"I hope someday I can speak it," Kayotuk said before starting a language class with the Tungasuvvingat Inuit program. "I'm almost good at saying thank you."

Tungasuvvingat Inuit, an Ontario-based program, recently launched a pilot program in Yellowknife to teach about Inuit language and culture. From left, Damian Kayotuk, Tyrone Powder, youth program co-ordinators Christopher Camenzuli and Amber Ferrie, Leah Audlaluk, and Iga Atagootak, program language instructor and community advisor. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Kayotuk is one youth who wants to learn about his Inuit culture. Tungasuvvingat Inuit, or in English, "a place where Inuit are welcome," is an Ontario-based program aiming to empower and enhance the lives of Inuit in Ontario since 1987, while operating as a cultural and resource centre. The program recently launched pilot projects in cities across Canada and Yellowknife was chosen to participate.

"It all happened really quickly at the beginning of August," said Christopher Camenzuli, youth program co-ordinator for the program, a resident of Yellowknife for the last four years.

"Our goal is to show their is a need here within the Inuit community for a cultural centre."

Running weekly Tuesday to Friday, the program offers a wide range of culturally-based programming from language instruction, drawing lessons and traditional sewing to singing, drumming and carving.

"It's a huge benefit to the community," said Amber Ferrie, the other youth program co-ordinator who runs the project. "There is no program here for the Inuit youth. We're really proud to be part of (this program) and proud to be recruiting more kids and hopefully opening this permanently."

The program was originally scheduled to run from August until the end of October, but the project time was extended to the middle of December.

Both Ferrie and Camenzuli have been surprised by the youth interest and community support they've received since opening the doors in August.

"We were really surprised our first week," Camenzuli said. "We put our posters up that day, Tuesday, and we had four or five kids show up."

Camenzuli also said support from Ottawa, home base for the program, helped arrange Inuit elders to teach the various parts of the program.

"We've found a lot of community support from people coming in to help out," he said. "My favourite thing about the group is seeing the youth connecting with their elders and their language, it's like 'yeah, that's why we are here, this is what it's about.'"

Every Tuesday night, Iga Atagootak instructs a class on Inuktitut. Moving to Yellowknife nine years ago from Pond Inlet, Atagootak is pleased to be a part of something she wishes was here when she first arrived.

"I wanted to have something like this since we moved here to Yellowknife," she said. "There has been nothing for the Inuit. It's good to have this program going so we can show a little bit of our culture to the youth."

While the pilot project is focused on youth programming, Camenzuli hopes to expand to include adult programming next year.

"Hopefully we get funding to do it year round and not just for the youth," he said. "We really hope to make a permanent home here in Yellowknife."

Tungasuvvingat Inuit will host a community feast tonight at Northern United Place for people to come learn and experience what the program has to offer.

For Ferrie, what the program offers is seen in the youth who are already enjoying it.

"They really are excited," she said. " I wasn't sure what kind of reaction we'd get and just having a place to hang out makes them happy."