Daniel T'Seleie
Northern News Services

Sanikiluaq (July 04/05) - With a new board in place, the Najuqsivik Society has plans to develop housing and a new industry in Sanikiluaq.

Eight community members were elected to the board recently.

"We do a whole host of activities," board member John Jamieson said. "That's part of the vocational training we do."

One of the previous year's major projects undertaken by the non-profit group was the construction of a three-bedroom-house by a group of young carpenters - a joint project between the Najuqsivik Society, the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and Nuiyak school.

The society has plans to build another house, this time involving a group of girls as well as boys, once the current house is finished in June and new materials are delivered in July.

The society is also looking into the rather strange business of selling sea urchins to the Japanese food market, said Jamieson.

"It's a real big delicacy," Jamieson said of the spiny ocean dwellers.

This would require researchers from the east coast - whose urchins are already being eaten in Japan - to come to Sanikiluaq and show community members the proper procedure for harvesting.

The society runs a day care, radio and television stations, and is involved in economic development activities, said Jamieson.

Attendance at the day care averages 15 kids a day, Jamieson said.

The same building housing the day care also holds the broadcasting station and a frame shop.

Polar bear rugs, fish skin dolls, jewelry, screen prints and archaeological casts are some of the things made in the society's shop.