Yellowknife (July 12/04) - Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated's (NTI) Nunatuqaminut, or homecoming program, is out of money and won't get any sort of infusion of funds until the new budget is approved next year.

It's all gone

"$150,000 has been spent," said NTI vice-president Raymond Ningeocheak in an interview. "The money ran out."

The program provided one-time only assistance to a maximum of $500 per individual or a maximum of $5,000 per group to visit their traditional land in Nunavut.

From April 1, 2003 to January NTI had provided almost $150,000 to 47 families/groups. Thus far this year, 53 groups and about 350 beneficiaries used the program, costing NTI $150,000 -- the full annual budget.

Ningeocheak explained the program served an important role for Inuit, whose families are spread all over the vast territory.

Travel being notoriously expensive in Nunavut, NTI's program was the only hope many had to make such a pilgrimage.

He said he hopes the program gets approved in NTI's next budget during the general meeting in November.