RANKIN INLET - There were plenty of reasons but few solutions identified as a group of community representatives met to discuss youth vandalism in Rankin Inlet this past week.

A lack of proper parenting skills was the top reason identified for the substantial damage being caused by a relatively small group of youth in Rankin.

Rankin Inlet Royal Bank branch manager Troy Nixon addresses the group as Rev. Paul Williams of the Anglican church takes notes and friendship centre executive director George Dunkerley listens intently, from front to back, during a meeting to discuss youth vandalism in Rankin this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Represented at the meeting were the church, Royal Bank of Canada, private business sector, Health and Social Services, friendship centre, the hamlet and MLA Levinia Brown.

The Rankin detachment of the RCMP was short staffed at the time of the meeting and could not attend.

Both Inuit and non-Inuit representatives at the meeting agreed the parents of the youthful vandals were the ones who had to be reached if the destruction is to ebb.

Rev. Paul Williams said in many cases, the parents of the children involved never had good parenting themselves.

He said add on the fact many of the parents are so young, and it's easy to see why there's such a lack of respect in some areas of the community.

"There's no doubt a big part of the problem is the lack of responsibility the parents feel towards the actions of their kids," said Williams.

"Maybe it's time for the parents to be fined for the damage their children cause.

"Even if they can't pay for the damage, at least it will make them aware of what their children are up to and eliminate the I-didn't-know excuse from the equation."

Rankin deputy mayor Hamish Tatty was less forgiving with his remarks.

While he agreed parents are part of the problem, he said other agencies have to take a share of the blame, too.

Tatty said the kids involved in vandalism aren't being taught any respect because their parents don't have respect for anything.

He said today's social assistance helps the lazy, not the needy.

"They have everything else paid for, and then they're given a new Ski-Doo or ATV by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. for sitting home doing nothing," said Tatty.

"It's easier for them to get everything for free than to go out and work for it.

"How are you going to have respect for anything when you're getting everything for free? There's enough jobs out there for everybody, but there's too many here who don't want to work."

The group has vowed to continue meeting until some solutions can be found to address the problem.

Their next step is to obtain RCMP statistics so they have a better understanding of the demographics they're dealing with.

Williams said no matter how many material items youth may have, they will still tell their parents that they're bored.

"My experience has shown me they're bored because their parents aren't a part of their lives. If their parents are too busy to spend time with them, why should they care about or respect anyone else?

"These are areas we need to look at more thoroughly as a group."