BAKER LAKE - The Coral Harbour men's group made its second road trip when a number of its members visited Baker Lake from April 29 to May 2.

Angutiit Makigiangninga (Men Rising Up) had previously visited Arviat this past February.

Martin Kreelak, 58, of Baker Lake said working with the Coral group has made a big difference in his life.

He attended a large workshop in Coral this past year and was glad to hear the group was coming to Baker.

"Working with the Coral men has really helped me a lot," said Kreelak.

"Men getting together to share their burdens with each other has worked for me.

"I've taken counselling in the past and I found it very hard to speak to some counsellor.

"It's been very difficult dealing with some of the things that happened to me when I was a student at residential school."

Kreelak said for many years he didn't know where the deep hurt inside of him was coming from.

He said it always kept coming back and was affecting his life very badly.

"As a man, it was hard for me to talk to people I was close to, like my wife or a good friend, even though I trusted them.

"Meeting with men who have similar problems; that opened me up to be able to share my burdens with them and listen as they talked about burdens they've been holding for many years.

"The sharing of each other's burdens really lifted my spirits, and I have let go of some of the problems I held for many years."

Kreelak said old wounds can be very difficult to heal and let go of.

He said he feels much better about everything since he's been able to let go of some of the wounds he's carried for many, many years.

"I hope funding continues to be available for this group, because they've helped people since starting in Coral about two years ago through prayer and sharing.

"I've accomplished a few things in my life, but I know if I'd healed and not had problems with me every day for many years I would have accomplished more.

"Carrying these burdens disables a person from achieving the things they want to do.

"There's men in other communities who could lessen their burdens by working with this group."