CORAL HARBOUR - Hope is running high within the Angutiit Makigiangninga (Men Rising Up) men's group of Coral Harbour that its community will soon be home to a territorial healing centre.

Group spokesperson Noel Kaludjak said a meeting was held in the community this past summer to discuss the healing centre.

He said the meeting went very well and he's optimistic the centre will become a reality.

"We expressed our desire for the government to build a healing centre in Coral because we've started something here that's working really well," said Kaludjak.

"We've helped many people start to recover from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions and we want to take our work to the next level.

"We want to continue to help those who are struggling to take responsibility for their lives and families.

"We've responded to the women's pleas for help and our approach is working."

Kaludjak said he senses the government is serious about the centre.

He said he has full confidence in Health Minister Tagak Curley making the facility a reality in Coral.

"We're always sending people to the south to get help for their problems and that approach hasn't worked.

"They're sent to Churchill, Winnipeg, Thompson or Selkirk and we don't have confidence in that approach.

"In Churchill, for example, they stay at the Inuit boarding house and go back and forth for their counselling.

"But we don't know what they're doing in the evenings, and we doubt they're getting the help they really need in a situation like that."

Kaludjak said the Coral healing centre would be for all Nunavummiut.

He said a follow-up meeting was held in Coral this past month, and it seemed the project took a positive step forward during that session.

"Nothing is official, but we hope to see the centre operational in Coral within three or four years.

"Southampton Island is a central area, and it's a good place to have a healing centre because of its warm people and welcoming land.

"I truly believe a healing centre in Coral would be the solution to many of our social problems in Nunavut.

"Everything goes back to the family because if our families aren't functional, Nunavut isn't going to be functional and that's the truth of the matter."

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