Baker Lake (Aug 20/03) - Youth in Baker Lake need a place they can call their own and Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) is working to make that a reality.

For a number of years the community has been trying to get a drop-in centre operating in the hamlet, but there have been challenges.

Lack of finances and no available space have been major hinderance.

But, there maybe a light at the end of the tunnel.

Hugh Nateela, community liaison officer, and Adrienne Tagoona, summer youth coordinator, said they are making some progress.

"The youth were given an abandoned building by the hamlet," said Tagoona.

Unfortunately, a building inspection proved it to be of poor quality and not fit for use.

But, that is proving to be an opportunity.

"They are going to tear that building down and build a daycare and they are going to give us the old daycare," said Tagoona.

If they do get the day care it will come complete with a kitchen, which Tagoona said would be useful.

That is still a year off, however, in the meantime the KIA is working on building funds to help pay for the endeavour.

Tagoona said she has raised a few hundred dollars this summer to add to a little money that was already put away.

However, Nateela said a majority of the funding will have to come from the hamlet and Kivalliq Development Partners.

KIA has put applications into both organizations for funding assistance.

Once established the facility will be open to all youth in Baker within the hours coinciding with the community curfew.

Nateela said they are looking at the possibility of including computers and a pool table in the centre.

"We have to sit down with the youth committee to see what they want to see. We want to get as much feedback from the youth as possible," he said.

Both Nateela and Tagoona are new to the project and they are still trying to determine where previous coordinators left off.

But, they said, more help is always welcome.