Rankin Inlet (Mar 21/05) - Funding has been cut to a successful youth program in Rankin Inlet.

The Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre has been running its youth program for the past six years.

Participants reconnect to their culture and heritage by interacting with elders and taking part in initiatives such as traditional hunting and fishing land camps, drum making, whale hunting and various school projects such as iglu building.

The annual $155,000 funding for the Rankin project comes through the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centre (UMAYC), and is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year on March 31.

The UMAYC funding is delivered through the National Association of Friendship Centres, after being approved by the Nunavut/NWT Council of Friendship Centres in Hay River.

The council decided not to renew funding because the Kivalliq Inuit Association receives money from the same program, although the majority of that money is spent in other Kivalliq communities.

Noah Tiktak has co-ordinated the program since June of 2000.

He says it was a shock to see how easily funding could be discontinued for such a proven program.

"I was trying to roll with the news as much as possible, but as March 31 drew closer I kept getting more and more depressed and discouraged," says Tiktak.

"I'm not discouraged because it's my job on the line. I'm discouraged because this is a program the community really needs."

Tiktak says the number of youth who participate in the program has climbed every year.

He says the program has also partnered on projects with school groups and the local cadet movement during the past few years.

"If this program ends, it's the kids who will be hurt the most. I will find another job, but who's going to do activities with them that will teach them about Inuit values, culture and tradition?

"This program is far too important to stop. Money comes and money goes, but once a tradition is lost, it could be lost forever."