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Baker, Arviat in running for centre

Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Kivalliq (July 12/06) - Two Kivalliq communities, Baker Lake and Arviat, remain in the running for a multi-million dollar Inuit cultural school, the territorial government announced last week.

The hamlets joined two Baffin-area communities as finalists for the centre, which officials hope will bring jobs and resources to their areas.

"It is good news. We'll keep pushing," said Arviat Mayor Elizabeth Copland after finding out her hamlet made the list.

While the school's price tag has not been finalized, the government committed $10 million to the endeavour. According to the Department of Culture, Languages, Elders and Youth, the centre will be designed to re-enforce traditional Inuit activities and Inuktitut.

Students, who could enrol from across Nunavut, would take courses in everything from iglu building and navigation to conflict resolution and hunting.

"The government of Nunavut is committed to making sure Inuit culture, language and heritage remain strong in our communities,"said minister Louis Tapardjuk in a media release.

Baker Lake and Arviat will face-off against Iglulik and Clyde River.

The government plans to announce a winner in the fall.

Jobs, cultural resources and a certain amount of prestige will come with the school, said Copland, who plans to continue lobbying territorial officials.

Arviat, she said, was home to a cultural institute in the 1970s.

"We know we can handle it."

Two other Kivalliq communities, Rankin Inlet and Coral Harbour, however, did not make the preliminary cut.

Rankin Mayor Lorne Kusugak was disappointed but said he understood the need to decentralize government services.

"We can't get everything," Kusugak said last week. "There are a lot of other communities out there. I'm sure whichever one gets (the cultural centre) it will be the right choice."

A call to Baker Lake mayor David Aksawnee was not returned before press time.