Inuvik (June 27/03) - It was a somber celebration for students and staff of the Native Artisan program last week.

While they celebrated the achievement of course completion, the program has been cut due to a lack of funding.

It was jointly-funded through Education, Culture and Employment, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Gwich'in Tribal Council and some in-kind contributions from Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

"There is only so much money available within those departments and they need to set priorities and they need to chose where they are going to put the funding," said program co-ordinator Marja Van Nieuwenhuyzen. "The artisan program was not chosen as a priority."

"Everyone identifies aboriginal culture, language as important issues and as priorities and yet when it comes to putting dollars towards these kinds of programs, it always seems to be left behind."

While disappointed at the loss of the program, Van Nieuwenhuyzen said she feels great satisfaction for what this year's class did accomplish.

"I feel really, really sad," Van Nieuwenhuyzen said. "I think it was a wonderful program and it was the first time it was ever offered in the NWT."

Instructor Margaret Nazon tailored the program to specific areas of interest to the NWT. The curriculum, the tools and equipment will be mothballed in hopes that the program will be resumed at a later date. Seven students completed the 1,160-hour course that taught an array of skills from moosehair tufting to stone carving.

"The course load was more than double most certificate programs," she said. "It was certainly not an easy ride for the students."

As one of the last projects of the year, each student contributed squares of artwork to a wall hanging, adorned with porcupine quill work, tufting and beadwork.

Van Nieuwenhuyzen said the hanging represents the wide variety of art here as well as the talent of the people.

"There is a lot of talent in this region, it would be nice if this campus would specialize in this area," she said.