Iqaluit (July 05/04) - At the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association's annual general meeting in Rankin Inlet, the organization elected new board members and artists voiced the pressing needs of their communities.

Beth Beattie, NACA's executive director, accepted a carving from board member Paul Malliki of Repulse Bay at the annual general meeting. It was given to her in recognition of her continued efforts on behalf of the organization. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photo

But it was the discussion on NACA's new business plan two days later that revealed how the organization may change in the upcoming year.

New board member Ame Papatsie of Panniqtuuq said NACA is in the middle of a learning process.

"We are only five years old," he said. "We're like a baby learning to crawl, to walk and to run."

Once NACA accepts the business plan, it will help identify priorities. Then the organization will have to approach the many different government departments to get funding for its future endeavours.

"All these people are a dog team," Papatsie said, indicating the list of government departments, both territorial and federal, listed on the blackboard.

"NACA is the sled. We need to tell them where we are going."

Inuk director a priority

NACA's top priority this year will be to hire an executive director fluent in Inuktitut.

Theresie Tungilik of the Nunavut Department of Economic Development and Transportation said the position of an Inuktitut-speaking executive director for NACA has been funded for the past three years, but the job has not been filled.

Beth Beattie, NACA's current executive director, speaks only English. She is adamant that an Inuktitut-speaking staff member is necessary at NACA's Iqaluit headquarters to improve communication with artists.

Beattie would also like NACA's funding levels to reflect the importance of art to Nunavut's economy.

"The Government of Nunavut gives the tourism association $2.4 million," she said. "They have 150 members. NACA gets $200,000 and we have 400 members."

Hiring outside

The possibility of hiring outside people to organize special events like the Nunavut Arts Festival was also raised. That would free up the executive director to concentrate on lobbying and dealing with the concerns of the arts community.

The business plan was the result of a survey of government departments, MLAs, co-ops, galleries, artists, tourists, international indigenous arts organizations and the NACA board.

Sales down

One of the report's findings was that sales of Inuit art levelled off after the explosion of interest in the 60s and 70s. Tourists visiting southern Canada are one of the largest buyers of Inuit art, and decreased tourism has hurt sales.

Another concern was training the next generation of artists and the lack of art instruction in Nunavut schools.

NACA member Salomonie Pootoogook said when he visits schools in his community to demonstrate art, he gets one hour of the students' time.

"Our culture takes longer to teach because it's so different from what kids learn today," he said.

NACA spent $524,000 in total funding last year and has raised about $2 million over the past five years for special projects.