Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Jun 16/99) - The protection of Inuit culture and doing more for youth were two of the top issues to surface during a meeting of the Keewatin Region Elders Council in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Two representatives from each of the seven Keewatin hamlets comprise the council. The Rankin gathering marked the third time the council has met since its inception and council chairperson John Kaunak of Repulse Bay said discussion has become more constructive as the elders grow more comfortable with their role.

"The first meeting, especially, was very difficult because it was the first opportunity for elders to say what they had kept inside of themselves for so long," said Kaunak. "This, being the third meeting, progressed much more smoothly.

"Somehow, the elders have more of a feeling of being empowered by the council."

Kaunak said the main focus of the council has become preserving and maintaining Inuit culture. He said the region's elders will never let go of any part of the traditional ways they can keep.

"We feel confident that there's enough interest shown by our young people in preserving their culture and the elders will never let go of the responsibility of ensuring all our future youth feel the same way."

Jimmy Eetuk of Coral Harbour agreed with Kaunak that the biggest challenge facing Inuit elders in Nunavut is to help preserve and protect traditional culture. He said one of the things the council will strive to do is to ensure the brightest and most positive future possible for the Keewatin and all of Nunavut.

"Inuit life, presently, in these times of today, is very confusing," said Eetuk. "The Inuit are living in two worlds and there's a constant struggle in trying to preserve Inuit culture. There is this clash sometimes between the new way and the old way, which we all must live.

"We, as elders, feel a new sense of purpose since the creation of Nunavut and we're hopeful that the elders' beliefs and values will be respected by the Nunavut government."