Fund supports mining communities
Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Baffinland to invest in projects that support workers and families
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 21, 2014
NORTH BAFFIN
Communities near Baffinland's Mary River project will be able to access a new fund designed to help preserve the well-being of workers and their loved ones at home, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association announced July 9.
As one of her final duties as president of the the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Okalik Eegeesiak announced on July 9 that QIA and Baffinland are establishing a new fund to support Mary River workers, their workers and neighbours. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo |
"The focus of the fund is for community resiliency, job readiness and to strengthen families in the communities," association president Okalik Eegeesiak said of the Ilagiiktunut Nunalinnullu Pivalliajutisait Fund (Ilagiiktunut Fund for short).
Individuals, community groups and hamlets in Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Hall Beach, Iglulik and Pond Inlet are eligible to apply if the project has community backing.
QIA and Baffinland are each contributing $375,000 annually for at least six years to fund community-driven projects focused on strengthening families, mitigating the social and cultural effects of the project, training Inuit so they can benefit from the project, and meeting community goals.
"It's a significant amount of money," Eegeesiak said.
"Any mining operation, there's at least a two-week in, two-week out period where staff work at the mine site, leaving families behind. So we want to make sure the families and the communities are supported."
The company also recognizes the impact rotating shifts has on families.
"It's a very important part of the (Mary River) project being successful and people working successfully at the site," said Baffinland vice-president Greg Missal.
"Back in 2012, Baffinland started a work-ready program, which many in the North Baffin communities are familiar with and the objective of that was to get people ready for work, get their families ready for a
rotational work schedule, and think about whether working at a mine site was for them or not. It's not a job that works for everyone, but for some people it does and works very well."
Community liaison officers have been informed of the fund, Eegeesiak said, and will be able to help communities apply for funding. There is no minimum or maximum funding request amount.
"The communities will decide what the priorities will be," Eegeesiak said. "But we don't want it to go into what the government should be investing in, like infrastructure or programs the government should be paying for. We'll keep an eye out for how this will benefit the community."
There will be two calls for applications annually. The first opened July 9, and will close Aug. 31. Applicants can request up to two years of funding for their projects. Recipients will find out if they are successful in October. A second call will open in the spring. The Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Kakivak Association will choose which projects to fund.
