IQALUIT - The Vancouver 2010 Olympic mascots were in Iqaluit Wednesday, putting a happy face on three figures of recent controversy in the territory.

Taleb Noormohamed, left, Minister Peter Taptuna, centre, and Premier Eva Aariak made a special announcement regarding Nunavut and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games alongside the three Olympic mascots, from left, Sumi, Miga and Quatchi. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

Sumi, Quatchi and Miga were officially in town to accompany an announcement that Nunavut has joined the Contributing Province/Territory Program run by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

Among many things, this means Nunavut will have a chance to promote itself as a tourist spot and showcase its artists at the Olympics.

It also gives Nunavut a chance to take a global platform to educate people on its culture, said Minister Peter Taptuna.

Taptuna did not address the recent hot topics of eating seal meat or the People for Ethical Treatment of Animal's (PETA) campaign against the seal hunt, which uses bloody parodies of both the Olympic mascots and the inuksuk.

But he came close, saying the VANOC partnership will allow Nunavummiut to "educate others on our lifestyle and the importance of our food source and our attachment to the land."

The government of Nunavut invested $168,000 into the partnership.

Half of the investment will go towards the Own the Podium 2010 program to support Canadian athletes in the preparation for the games.

The other half allows the territory to participate in certain aspects of the partnership, like having access to promotional materials, participating in the torch relay and participating in the Cultural Olympiad, which includes opportunities for the territory's artists.

"Each province and territory in Canada has a story and we are honoured to be part of this event," said Premier Eva Aariak.

"The traditions here (will be) shared with the whole world," added Taleb Noormohamed, director of corporate strategy and partner relations for VANOC.

The Olympics, he added, "brings the world to your doorstep."

Nunavut will also be part of the Olympic Torch relay, which will involve 90 torchbearers, three communities and 6,630 km of travel by land and water.