Maria Canton
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Sep 13/99) - The French president had no shortage of praise for Nunavut when he paid a three-day visit that began in Iqaluit last week.

Jacques Chirac spent two nights in Iqaluit while on tour with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Chirac spoke in the legislature, opened a virtual Inuit art museum, honoured the "father of Nunavut" John Amagoalik and repeatedly congratulated the Inuit people.

"You know how interested I am in your culture," he said speaking at the legislature last Monday.

"And you know I support the fight of the aboriginal peoples to promote understanding of their heritage and recognition of their rights."

Chirac, the first international leader to visit Nunavut, inducted Amagoalik, into France's Legion of Honour.

"(You) are the embodiment of Inuit values -- a sense of consensus and unity, respect for elders and for nature and the virtues of sharing and patience," he told Amagoalik.

Amagoalik, who left for Ottawa the following day, had recently visited Chirac in Paris.

Afterwards, Chirac stopped at the Association Des Francophones du Nunavut, where he met and spoke with local francophones and inaugurated a virtual Inuit art museum.

"It was quite an honour to have him here," said Jacques Fortier, president of the association.

"It is the first time a foreign leader has come to visit our association and the first time one has been in Nunavut. We were very proud to have him here."

The town was very busy during the official visit of the leaders and many residents were involved in the endless preparations.

Iqaluit resident Travis Mark helped with the presidential preparations over the weekend by setting up and taking down displays and cleaning and preparing areas that were visited by the leaders.

"I was with them all weekend, but really I only saw them from a distance," said Mark.

"It would have been nice if more of the events were open to the public."

Iqaluit resident Elise Bohemier also spent time with the men and their parties when she served a multi-course meal to the leaders and six others.

"The menu was very long, caribou was the main course and there was smoked arctic char," she said.

"I didn't get a chance to speak to them, but they seemed very happy."

Bohemier said following the meal the party went outside to view the northern lights.

Chirac and Chretien also toured Cape Dorset and Pangnirtung while here -- Chirac is said to fancy Inuit art.

"Tomorrow millions of men and women will be able to discover Inuit art on their computer screens," he said.

We must encourage and promote our creations, fight to impose our languages, our cultures and our traditions."