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Covering the costs of culture

Principal challenges government and Inuit organizations

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Panniqtuuq (Apr 01/02) - A key organizer behind what may well be Nunavut's most successful spring camp continues to be disappointed in the Nunavut government and Inuit associations.

Donald Mearns, the principal of Attagoyuk school in Panniqtuuq, said last week he has yet to receive replies to several funding proposals sent out for its annual spring camp. The camp usually runs from the end of April to the middle of May. Some 460 students from both Panniqtuuq schools attend, focusing their attention on Inuktitut skills while working with elders on traditional, scientific Inuit activities.

Mearns wrote proposals to the territorial government and to two Baffin Inuit organizations -- the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation -- but all three have failed to answer his requests to date.

"What benefit is there to being a beneficiary if the organizations are not supporting something that is tried and true?" asked Mearns.

"We need to see Inuit organizations and the government put their money where their mouth is. I'm throwing this out as a challenge for them to do that," he said.

Mearns said he had hoped the Baffin's Kakivak Association come through with the $68,500 required for the camp, but funding cutbacks at that organization allowed it to commit just $17,000.

An additional $7,500 has been raised, but unless the more money comes through, the camp will be shortened by a week and enhanced program plans will be axed.