Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Monday, May 14, 2007

IQALUIT - Realizing a healthy Nunavut is like chipping away at a big rock.

It's an analogy that well-known Kimmirut carver Simata Pitsiulak once made, and one that Markus Wilcke recalled while addressing community leaders at the Nunavut Association of Municipality's annual general meeting in Iqaluit last week.

In Pangnirtung, some of the rock's rugged outer layers are being chipped away through the Pujualussait Committee, according to Wilcke, a nurse. Formed in 2002, that committee has spearheaded a number of popular seal-skin clothing projects and sewing classes. Elders are invited to give instruction, but also to offer general advice and guidance to the young participants, so they have an alternative to formal counselling.

The community's youth committee has since been revived as well, Wilcke said.

"What we notice now is almost a snowball effect," he said.

The Pujualussait committee, comprising five to eight members, has received funding through the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Wilcke said. While the hamlet council has been supportive, they have allowed the Pujualussait members to operate independently of political influence, he added.

Jeanne Mike, the committee's project co-ordinator, told Nunavut News/North that Pujualussait is primarily geared to address the cultural disconnect caused by the removal of Inuit children from their family homes during the residential school era. Those who attended residential school and consequently didn't learn how to make and use traditional tools or how to skin animals, for instance, may feel inadequate in their home communities where those skills are valued, Mike said.

"The Western culture or the Inuit culture, once you get grounded in either one then your chance of success in life is far greater than if you're feeling caught between cultures," she said, adding that workshops on dealing with trauma have also been offered in Pangnirtung. "There's so much healing that needs to happen."

Mike added that she feels she's making a real difference as part of the committee.

"I love working there," she said.

Pangnirtung Mayor Manasa Evic attested to the efficacy of the group.

"It's really helping the community," he said.

Ainiak Korgak, manager of health promotion for the GN who was present at last week's AGM, briefly discussed the need for parents to lead by example by eating healthy foods and by not smoking.

"What (children) see is what the parents do, and they tend to follow," Korgak said.

Wilcke acknowledged that there's still a long way to go. However, people who return to Pangnirtung after a fairly lengthy absence have noticed a difference, he said.

"There's still a lot of problems, but people seem to have some hope," he said, adding that it's best not to waste time complaining about the government failing to get things done, but to get together in groups to effect change.

The theme of this year's Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM) AGM was healthy communities. Elisapee Sheutiapik, president of NAM, thanked Wilcke and Korgak for their presentation.

"We have to be positive to move forward, and God knows we need some help," she said.