Nunavut Parks wants to see more use of Elders Cabin
Acting co-ordinator pushes to make people more aware it's available for community use
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
RANKIN INLET
Nunavut Parks joined the rest of the nation to celebrate Parks Day at Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Territorial Park about eight kilometres outside Rankin Inlet on July 18.
The event, intended to be an annual occurrence, saw about 40 people show up at the Elders Cabin for a barbecue despite cool, wet weather.
David Beamer, a heritage rivers planner with the GN's Department of Environment, is acting park co-ordinator, in the absence of one since last year.
He explains that in 2012, a new Elder's Cabin was opened for community use after the previous one was demolished because it was unsafe.
"One of the new measures for the new Elders Cabin was locked doors so that we could reduce vandalism in the future," said Beamer. "There's been virtually no vandalism since it was built."
However, Beamer says not everyone in the community knows how to get the key.
"We're working on that now. And we're trying to get more activities and event and conversation going about the Elders Cabin this year."
So far this year, the cabin has been the site of choice for a birthday party, a wedding and two other gatherings.
Nunavut Parks also held a fish derby in May, which included presentations on fish research.
"That's probably as many as we had last year, in total, and we're not even halfway through the season."
But Beamer would like to see more people use the cabin.
Rental costs are $200 a day for a corporation or government, half that for a half-day, and for an individual or non-profit organization the cost is $100 for a full-day or $60 for a half-day. For elders and elders groups, the use of the cabin is free.
"I've been putting up posters this year, going on Facebook and speaking with individuals. I hope to do more in order to let people know who to contact to rent the cabin. We'll be putting up information panels on the cabin as well."
Beamer says his office is also planning more activities.
'We haven't really had that many events in the past so we'll be ramping up our own events, at the same time promoting how to use the cabin to the community. So there will be a lot more use of the cabin this year. We're trying to get more and more people to know how people can get in touch with me."
The cabin has a wood stove, equipped for cooking, a heater and electricity.
