RANKIN INLET - Kivalliq program directors received some good financial news this past month.

Noel Kaludjak of Coral Harbour, Thomas Ootook of Pond Inlet and Kidlapik Nakoolak of Coral listen as David Nuluk of Repulse Bay, from left, makes a point during the Angutiit Makigiarninga program in Coral this past summer delivered through the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre in Rankin Inlet. - photo courtesy of the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre

The Department of Canadian Heritage announced funding to the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres initiative was extended until 2016 under the new name of Cultural Connections.

The department will spend $150 million on the initiative during that span.

Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) social development co-ordinator Pujjuut Kusugak said the announcement was great news.

He said things were looking pretty dark for the KIA's successful programs before the announcement.

"We were totally out of the loop on what was happening with this program," said Kusugak.

"For whatever reasons, we weren't given any updates and we were trying to find out what was going on from Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

"We were already thinking about what we could do to save, pretty much, most of our programs if we didn't have that money.

"It was a pretty scary and uncomfortable position to be in for awhile."

The KIA still has to submit proposals for programs such as Somebody's Daughter and its summer and winter youth camps.

Kusugak said those programs have proven to be highly successful and he's hopeful funding will be approved so they may continue.

"I got an e-mail early this past week advising us of the extension and that started my week off on the right foot.

"The length of the extension was a nice surprise, as was the decision to expand the age of youth eligible to be funded through the program to 10 to 24.

"It had previously been 15 to 24, so this allows us to include even more Kivalliq youth in our programming."

Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre executive director George Dunkerley said while the announcement does nothing to improve core funding for friendship centres, it did come as very good news.

He said the centre will now be able to submit a proposal to keep its youth co-ordinator and continue on with its youth programming.

"The extension is fantastic news for the centre and our youth program, in particular," said Dunkerley.

"I understand there will be some changes to the program, but I'm not sure what they'll be yet.

"We've been told the funding levels will remain the same as previous programs, so we do have something concrete to build on for April 1, 2010."

Dunkerley said the funding is split between Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Metis Federation and the National Association of Friendship Centres.

He said friendship centres in Nunavut, the NWT and the Yukon report to a regional desk in White Horse.

"Every year we do a proposal for those funds and send it to White Horse, where a review committee takes a look at everything.

"It's a group of youth who come from all over the North to grade the proposals and decide which ones get funded and for how much.

"Then they're sent to our national association and Canadian Heritage for final approval.

"As soon as the call for proposals is issued by Canadian Heritage, we'll fill out the new forms and send them off for next year's youth program."