Iqaluit (Oct 02/06) - Not many organizations can say they are an integral part of almost 60 companies, but now in its 30th year Nunasi Corp. is just that.

The company has four wholly-owned subsidiaries: the Northern Learning Institute, SecureCheck, Arctic Spirit Promotions, and Nunasi Helicopters.

The corporation is also involved in more than 55 business partnerships, joint-ventures and shared-ownership operations throughout Nunavut, the NWT and a number of provinces.

Some of the larger firms in this category include Nuna Logistics, NorTerra Inc., Kitnuna Corporation, NCC Investment Group and Uqsuq Corp.

More than 185 Inuit are employed with Nunasi Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiaries and partnership firms, said Cathy Munro vice-president of finance and operations with Nunasi.

The total number of workers employed through Nunasi's 59 companies and partnerships totals 1,700 across Canada, said Munro.

Besides providing employment for Inuit, Nunasi also strives to provide social and cultural well-being for Inuit beneficiaries through financial dividends, said Munro.

In September, Nunasi paid $733,000 to the Nunasi Trust. The money will be distributed through the three regional Inuit associations.

This money came from 2005 net income which totalled more than $8.6 million - a significant increase from less than $5.3 million in 2004.

"When Nunasi does well, the shareholder beneficiaries do well," she said.

Nunasi's president and chief executive officer, Fred Hunt, has been with the company since 1988.

He said the corporation has grown in leaps and bounds over the years.

"The changes have been enormous," he said.

Developing business links and expanding in the North have helped the company evolve, he said.

"We want to continue to form joint-ventures," he said.

By creating more businesses, the company is building more economic and employment opportunities for its Inuit beneficiaries, said Hunt.

"That's what were all about," he said.

Nunasi's 25.5 per cent stake in Nuna Logistics - which does logistics, contract mining and construction work - helps employ 250 in the North, said Nuna president and chief executive officer Mervyn Hempenstall.

"Our relationship with Nunasi has been positive since Day 1," he said.

The company has recently been involved in bulk sample work at Tahera Diamond's Jericho mine in the Kitikmeot. It will also be involved in road construction between Baker Lake and Cumberland Resources's Meadowbank gold mine.

But Nunasi isn't ready to rest on its accomplishments just yet.

"We'll continue to strive for the future and another 30 years of good things for Inuit," said Nunasi chairman Peter Tatty.