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KIVALLIQ - Staff at the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre are taking quiet satisfaction in the publication of the book, Inuit Dolls of the Kivalliq.

Pulaarvik has quietly backed the doll project since its beginning three years ago.

The centre supplied funding for youth to attend the doll exhibit's grand opening at the Burnaby Art Gallery in British Columbia, as well as administrative and co-ordination support.

Executive director George Dunkerley said the centre believes in the project because it deals with Inuit traditions and culture.

He said Pulaarvik also likes the fact the artists are all Inuit women and there's always been youth involved with the project.

"Although the project hasn't gone as far as we'd like yet, we are pleased with the progress it's made to this point," said Dunkerley.

"We'd like to see it be a true economic-development program, selling dolls to a worldwide market. That market does exist and hopefully we'll eventually reach it."

The 47-page book is being published by the Burnaby Art Gallery.

It contains numerous full-colour photos of the dolls, and provides insight into the background of the project and the Tarralikitaaq Arts Society.

It also gives a brief description of each Kivalliq community and its history.

Dunkerley said the project owes a great deal of its success to the determination of Tarralikitaaq Arts Society director Helen AbenReynen, who just wouldn't give up on the concept.

He said the focus of the project is now firmly on promoting and creating a market for the dolls.

"We've been working with the Burnaby Art Gallery to address some issues on the Inuktitut translations being in a Baffin, rather than a Kivalliq, dialect in the book.

"Once they're addressed, we're expecting to have a print run of about 400 copies to be sold here at the friendship centre and also used for promotional purposes.

"We're also excited about the display of Inuit Dolls of the Kivalliq set to open at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on June 6, and at the Inuit Art Museum in Toronto this October.

"We're still working on having the doll exhibition in the Vancouver Art Gallery in time for the Olympics, but nothing's been confirmed yet."