Pelly Bay (May 31/04) - In Kugaaruk, a community gripped by a severe housing shortage, people cram into houses and there is often no place for young people to do their homework.

"I know one house where there are 11 people," said Jesse Apsaktaun, a member of Kugaaruk council, as well as a youth volunteer. "Kids don't have a desk. They have so many brothers and sisters. Kids are sleeping on couches. It's not the right way to live," said Apsaktaun.

Kugaaruk used to have a youth centre. It was a place where youth got their homework done after school. It was also a lot of fun, a friendly hang out, a place to play games and forget your troubles.

Last year, the youth centre was turned into housing to address the shortage. Youth were left with just the hamlet gym to go to.

Braving the bitter cold of February when it was -40C, Apsaktaun and his friends decided to take action. They hit the streets with a petition to get a youth and elders centre for the community. They knocked on doors and got 97 people to sign on.

People wrote things like: "It would be nice." Others said they would spend $10 to $30 a day at the arcade if there was one.

'They could tell stories'

Elders said it would be nice if they had somewhere to go, too, said Apsaktaun.

"They could tell stories. The youth could listen to them and learn about the old ways."

But it is going to take money, about $200,000, said Vince Ningark, a hamlet worker.

Both Ningark and Apsaktaun believe strongly that Kugaaruk needs a youth and elders centre. They have drafted a business plan and have hired a consultant based in Ottawa to seek more funding for them. Now they must keep planning and waiting.

Last week, mayor Canute Krejuark had no comment about the proposed centre or what he thought of the petition.

But Frankie Jr. Immingark, a Grade 10 student, said he thought his community needed a youth and elders centre.

"It will keep the young people out of trouble," he said. "We can play games."

Cassien Immingark, Grade 10, Frankie Jr.'s cousin, agreed.

"Sometimes kids get bored and they get into trouble," said Cassien.

The youth centre as Apsaktaun envisions it would be open three times a week -- a place to do homework, use a computer and get a dose of culture with visits from elders.

"We want the elders to maybe do some storytelling," said Apsaktaun.

Cassien enjoys board games, Inuit games, video games and watching movies.

But he thinks having elders around would be great, too. "Elders can talk about the way things used to be," Cassien said, "so we don't lose our culture."

Apsaktaun and Ningark would like to see the youth and elders centre up and running by March 2005.