Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 15/99) - It's been six weeks since the lives of nine Kangiqsualujjuaq residents were claimed by an avalanche on New Year's Day and the mayor of the hamlet says her community is slowly returning to normal.

"It was like we didn't even see the month of January, but positive things are starting to come out. We're trying to leave behind the tragedy, but you have to go through a process," said Maggie Emudluk.

Tragedy befell the Ungava Bay community when an avalanche crashed through the Satuumavik school gymnasium wall, burying many of the people attending New Year's festivities. Emudluk said while her fellow community members would never be able to forget the avalanche and the wreckage it brought, it was the Inuit way to move forward in life.

"It's in Inuit culture and tradition to try and leave tragedy behind as much as possible. People are talking about it slowly, where they were when it happened, what they were actually doing at that time."

And as the 600 residents continue to gradually resume their daily activities, the generous donations of food, clothing and money contribute to the healing process by assisting the community members in replacing some of what was lost.

All but two or three of the 34 snowmobiles destroyed by the avalanche have been replaced by the provincial government and much of the winter clothing that was lost under the snow has been restored. Emudluk said she has actually had to ask people from other communities to hold off on sending regular indoor clothing.

"We're asking them not to send it. If they want to send winter clothing, it's very welcome, but we're asking people to send regular clothing to other communities that are in need."

The mayor also noted that as of last Wednesday, the amount of money that people had donated was overwhelming.

"Just this morning I had a rough number of about $100,000 that's been donated by so many different people and communities all over the North."

Until Emudluk gets the opportunity to consult people on how that money would best be spent, it will continue to sit in a Kuujjuaq bank account. But she noted that the community would make that decision as a whole.

Because of the continued threat of avalanches, several buildings have had to be evacuated and others that were crushed by snow are still waiting to be rebuilt. The temporary school has almost been completed and children will likely start attending regular classes by the beginning of March.

Emudluk said one of her main concerns now is to get supplies for a permanent school ordered in time for the sealift.

"We're already in February and we don't want to miss the boat for permanent infrastructure. We're trying to look at the priorities that can come up on the ship."

The coroner's inquest into the matter has been tentatively set for the middle of March -- the temporary church has to be built first -- and a report from the avalanche expert should be completed by the end of the month. Emudluk explained that the amount of money the Quebec government will give to rebuild the hamlet will depend on the findings in that report.

She added that her hamlet took advantage of the presence of avalanche experts while they were in Nunavik.

"We had them sensitize people about avalanche risks. They gave a week of training to the local people to recognize that kind of snow."