Iqaluit (June 30/03) - Outpost camps for inmates have existed in Nunavut for a long time. They've existed since before Nunavut became it's own territory and traditionally, they have always been in the Baffin Region.

Ron McCormick, Nunavut's director of corrections and community justice, said the justice department wants that to change. They want camps in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.

"We've put a request for proposals out. There's different lifestyles in the different regions and we want to establish camps so they are closer to the offenders' homes," said McCormick.

So far, the communities of Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk and Baker Lake have shown an interest.

Ernie Bernhardt, the community development consultant for Health and Social Services in Kugluktuk, is working to get an outpost camp mainly for young offenders up and going.

"It would be better for our youth who come in conflict with the law if they had some kind of alternative, like an outpost camp out on the land, where they can be taught traditional skills like hunting, trapping and dressing of their food," he explained.

Plenty of interest

Bernhardt said he'd like to have the outpost camps operating by the fall. Candidates have already come forward to run them.

"The elders always told me they'd like to have an outpost camp out on the land operated by our own people.

"Before we became Nunavut, our young offenders used to go to Inuvik to a camp there.

"It was a positive experience for them," he explained.

Right now, the five outpost camps operating in Nunavut are all in the Baffin region. There is one camp in Kimmirut, two in Panniqtuuq, one in Pond Inlet and another in Hall Beach.

During an offender's time at an outpost camp, they are expected to learn traditional skills such as hunting.

"It's basically to assist the offender develop an identity. A lot of them are losing languages and traditional skills. If they're able to acquire these skills, they feel better about themselves," said McCormick.

The corrections and community justice departments provide training for anyone who agrees to take in an offender, just to make sure they are equipped with the skills to manage the inmates.

"We provide things like CPR, First Aid and we work with them on how to handle difficult offenders. We teach communications skills and counselling skills," said McCormick.

People who take offenders out to outpost camps are responsible for teaching traditional values, but also for alerting authorities if something goes wrong.

To apply for a spot at an outpost camp, an offender at the Baffin Correctional Centre simply has to inform Corrections and Community Justice of their interest.

If they meet the minimum security requirements, they will be considered for the program.

Usually each camp receives between one or two offenders at a time. The average stay is a couple of months.