NUNAVUT - One Resolute elder says the financial troubles of the High Arctic Relocatee Trust could have all been avoided by a simple apology.

Simeonie Amagoalik in his home in Resolute. Amagoalik is one of the High Arctic relocatees. - photo courtesy of Piita Junior Paniloo Fund trustees The HART trust is run by six trustees. Two were appointed by the Makivik Corp. while the other four were appointed by their communities. Sam Silverstone - appointed by Makivik Corp. Cely Cassia - appointed by Makivik Corp. Inukjuaq - Markoosie Patsauq Grise Fiord - Larry Audlaluk Pond Inlet - Isaac Akpaleakpik Resolute Bay - Allie Salluviniq

Simeonie Amagoalik was young when his family was moved from an outpost camp 40 km outside of Inukjuaq, Que., to Resolute Bay in 1953, but he still remembers that first year.

He recalls one of his brothers being sent to Grise Fiord while the rest of his family was sent to Resolute Bay. He says they were told they could return home.

In 1996, the federal government provided the High Arctic Relocatee Trust (HART) with $10 million to be paid out to victims of the High Arctic relocation.

Two million dollars of that money was paid out to beneficiaries in the first two years and the other $8 million was invested.

The investments were bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year during the first few years, Makivik Corp. appointed trustee Sam Silverstone said.

But now it's been years since trust fund investments meant to compensate families have made money, and trustees are requesting changes.

None of that original $8 million has been lost, but the 2009 global economic crisis means investments have not been producing enough income to run the trust, Silverstone says.

The trust can no longer afford to pay its own administrative costs, nor has it been able to distribute money to beneficiaries.

"We can't cover the expenses of the trust and we can't make any annual distribution of income to the beneficiaries," Silverstone said.

Under the HART deed, trustees are not allowed to access capital money in the trust.

Silverstone said trustees are asking a Quebec judge to amend the trust's deed so they will be able to dip into the trust's capital to pay expenses during years when investments don't produce money.

He estimated it costs between $50,000 to $60,000 a year to run the trust, which includes accounting costs, insurance and other expenses.

The trustees are also asking for $3 million for a one-time payout to original relocatees.

"There are a number of elderly beneficiaries who, if they don't get money soon, they won't be around to receive anything," Silverstone said.

Only 34 or 35 of the original 86 relocatees are still alive, he said.

"It's a very exceptional thing we're doing, but we feel we have no choice," he said. "The alternative is to sit on this eight million (dollars) and wait until the economy gets better, but in the meantime we can't make any distributions."

Amagoalik said he received about $1,000 last year, but has not received anything this year.

Titus Arnakallak was born after his parents returned to Pond Inlet from Grise Fiord. They were part of the Pond Inlet group of families sent to Ellesmere Island to help the Inukjuaq Inuit adjust to the new environment.

"They were sent to teach them hunting skills and act as guides for them," he said. "But it was very different from their own environment as well."

Arnakallak said his father related stories to him about the experience.

"They were initially told they were going to be provided for," he said. "But they lived in tents in the wintertime."

Arnakallak is now entitled to his parent's share of the HART trust, now that they are both deceased. He said payments were substantial at the beginning.

"Initially, it started out being large then gradually, maybe due to the stock markets, it dwindled down to sometimes only a few hundred dollars," he said. "I thought that was an insult to my parents who suffered so much."

Arnakallak said he hasn't received a payment since 2008.

He said he believes his parents should have been given a lump sum when the trust was first established.

Arnakallak said he agrees that trustees should try to distribute the $3 million to surviving exiles and continue to invest the rest.

"Some of the older people who actually experienced it are dying," he said.

Silverstone said the remaining $5 million will stay in the trust and continue to be invested.

The trust is expected to exist until 2035, at which point any remaining money will be distributed to the families of beneficiaries.

Regardless of what happens, Amagoalik said relocatees still want an apology.

"The people who were relocated didn't really want the money, they just want an apology from the government," he said through an interpreter.

- with files from Christine Ootova