Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 04/02) - Iqaluit wants to help identify graves in its cemetery.

Last summer, two students compiled information, including records from churches and death certificates. At a Feb. 26 city council meeting, Coun. Glenn Williams said there are 645 graves in the cemetery, 157 graves of them unmarked.

The city also has a list of 21 people in Iqaluit who don't know where their relatives are buried.

"This is a minimum," said Williams. "We're still getting people calling, putting people's names on the list."

Years ago, the bodies of many who died in the Iqaluit hospital were never sent to their home communities for burial. Instead, they were buried in Iqaluit and families were never told which plots contained their loved ones.

Williams said it's unlikely the graves will be exhumed. But people who locate their relatives' graves may choose to repatriate them.

He added that people are buried in sequence, which could make the sites traceable. "This has to have happened in other jurisdictions," he said. "There is expertise out there. It's a matter of contacting these people and making a plan."

Coun. Simon Nattaq said cemetery grounds may have some information.

"Ideally, by the end of this, we want to have a list outside the cemetery with names and corresponding plot numbers," said Williams. "For a lot of people, this will bring closure."

Williams said he doesn't know what the project will cost.

"Does anyone ask how much a murder investigation costs?" he said. "Does anyone ask how much suicide prevention costs? This is a service we should be providing."

Council approved a motion to send a letter to Premier and Justice Minister Paul Okalik asking for his assistance. The cemetery is in his riding.

Abraham Kunnuk often walks by the cemetery looking for the grave of his father, Patrick Kunuk, who died when Abraham was seven or eight.

Kunuk was sent to the hospital from Iglulik almost 30 years ago and never came back.

His son did not attend the funeral.

"I'm just hoping they will find out," said Kunnuk. "If I knew, I would put a new cross on it, put a flower on it."