Inuvik Works working
Employment training program receives funding

Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Jan 14/00) - Inuvik Works is up and running.

An interagency employment program set up late last year in an attempt to qualify for federal funds, the Inuvik Works steering committee learned late last week that funding had been approved.

The approval means that $297,000 will come into Inuvik this year through the federal Human Resources Development Canada's Urban Aboriginal Initiatives program. Subject to continued approval, another estimated $300,000 will also be received annually in the following four years. That makes for a total of $1.5 million over the life of the proposed five-year project.

The territorial government through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has also contributed $14,000 in start-up money to set Inuvik Works in motion and will continue to act as partner.

"It feels really good and really challenging, especially starting this project from scratch," said Camellia Gray, who was hired as project co-ordinator last Tuesday, just days before the funding approval came through.

Gray will not be alone in starting the project. Committee members include representatives from the town, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Ingamo Hall and the Youth Centre. She said her first point of business will be setting up shop at No. 2 Berger Street, across from the Perry Building -- facilities contributed by the town -- and hosting an open house there tomorrow between noon and 2 p.m.

Next, Gray said she'll be hiring some staff and then begin the business of Inuvik Works; providing all aspects of job training designed to get Inuvik's unemployed and individuals receiving income support back into the labour force as well as providing labour for community projects around town.

"We'll do anything work related but not compete with private business," she said. "There's about a 10 per cent unemployment rate around town, and, you know, we can make it lower."

Gray said she's been meeting regularly with Inuvik Works partners and the committee has already received a number of project proposals.

She says Inuvik Works envisions being able to accept applications from individuals four times a year, taking in 12 individuals at a time. But that the project will evolve over time and will doubtless undergo changes as it branches out to affect both aboriginal and non-aboriginal members of the community.