Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

BAKER LAKE (Jun 08/98) - Baker Lake residents have never been so proud.

Most of the community's 1,500 residents turned out last Wednesday to welcome Gov. Gen. Romeo LeBlanc for the grand opening of the Baker Lake Inuit Heritage Centre.

Hundreds of people, many of whom were dressed in traditional clothing, lined the streets in front of the new museum and waved Canadian flags, proud to show off the completion of Itsamitakarvik.

"I'm very impressed -- the whole town is out, which means they are interested," said LeBlanc, after the ceremony. "I don't think I've ever felt as welcome."

LeBlanc said that the opening of the museum will enable visitors, as well as people within the community, to learn about the Inuit who settled the North and the hardships they endured to survive.

"It's really a school room," he said of the new facility.

For many in Baker Lake who worked on the project, Wednesday's opening was particularly meaningful, said David Webster, who oversaw the development of the museum.

"This is wonderful," he said, as he watched the ceremony. "We have been working on this up to 16 hours a day for the last few weeks to make sure it was finished on time."

The museum, which displays artifacts and local artwork, also includes a small gallery of local artwork, an addition that will provide the community with a place to showcase the famous work of the Baker Lake printmakers.

Others in attendance for the ceremony included Senator Willie Adams, NWT Commissioner Helen Maksagak, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jose Kusugak, and Nunavut's deputy minister of culture, elders and youth, Peter Ernerk.