Stephan Burnett
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Mar 15/04) - Allen Ahegona is a part-time videographer looking for funding to help him do what he has become known best for in Kugluktuk.

Allen Ahegona wants to be able to continue filming to have a cultural and historical record of activities. - photo courtesy of Alex Buchan

Ahegona says he has been videotaping community events on and off since 1999, but he's having trouble getting funding from Nunavut to assist him in his endeavour.

He's tried the Alberta Heritage Fund, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and the Nunavut government's Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.

It all started in 1999 when Ahegona was asked to do some recording at the annual Nattiq Frolics, held every spring in his community.

Along with the annual frolics, Ahegona has been recording weddings and other activities in the community.

People have come to expect Ahegona to be recording important events for the community's historical record.

"It came to a point where different people in Kugluktuk would ask me, 'Where's you camera Allen?'"

But it wasn't his camera, it was the Hamlet of Kugluktuk's camera.

Even with all this experience and community awareness, Ahegona continues to be turned down for funding.

Penny Rumbolt, manager of communications for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY), said she can understand Ahegona's frustration.

"I understand Allen's very frustrated, I know I would be, but we only have so much money to go around," said Rumbolt.

It wasn't a matter of favouritism, said Rumbolt.

"We have spoken to Allen a couple of times to respond to why his application was turned down. A working group comes together and the applications are all scored. We only have so many dollars, and we start looking at applications with the highest score until we run out money, and unfortunately for Allen, the couple of times he did send in an application there were others that scored higher," she said.

CLEY's next deadline is March 31. Rumbolt encouraged Ahegona to submit another application and follow the recommendations and this should help his chances.

One of the recommendations that would assist Ahegona in receiving funding is if he would agree to provide a training component to his service for youth. Another provision that would increase Ahegona's chances is if he registered as a non-profit organization, said Rumbolt.

"We have to make sure the projects clearly demonstrate they strive to promote, preserve and protect Nunavut culture, language and heritage," she said.