RANKIN INLET - A gala grand opening was held in Rankin Inlet this past week to officially open Nunavut Arctic College's (NAC) Sanatuliqsarvik Nunavut Trades Training Centre.

Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley displays a harpoon head during the official opening of the Sanatuliqsarvik Nunavut Trades Training Centre in Rankin this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

A large number of dignitaries and traditional performers were on hand to help mark the event, including Premier Eva Aariak.

Rankin North MLA Tagak Curley reminded everyone the training centre isn't just for Kivalliqmiut.

He said Rankin is also pleased to welcome students from the Kitikmeot and Baffin to the new facility.

"I want the elders to know they should make a special effort to counsel the students occasionally, because we all need that," said Curley. "You're never too old to receive a bit of advice and counselling."

Curley said he was happy elder Tutalik Tudlik began the ceremony with the lighting of the qulliq.

He said the qulliq always reminds him of what it did to help bring Inuit from a stone-age generation to the opportunities of today.

"It's only been 60 years since we had the first schools built in Nunavut and, sometimes, the nation compares the system we have with its almost 300 years of experience. I don't think it's all that fair, and I believe we're doing pretty good with just 60 years of experience.

"The qulliq is important to me because it reminds me of my history."

Curley ended his speech by presenting campus director Mike Shouldice with a harpoon head. He said Shouldice knows he collects harpoon heads for a very special reason.

"I don't care if they're cute, ugly or whatever because they're very special. They're part of the technology that brought Inuit to this generation. I want it to always remind him that we've moved from Stone-Age technology to this generation in rapid time."

Director of trades and technology David Ittinuar was presented with a gift for his dedication to having the centre become a reality.

Ittinuar said it was a pleasure to be part of a great team involved in the process. He said that opportunity was a significant factor in his decision to take on the challenge.

"To see the building come to fruition was a moment of major significance for me," said Ittinuar. "For the past three years I've been involved with the details to get this building to its current state, and I'm pleased there's been so much support for the project. "That support has come from all levels of government and from other jurisdictions as well. We've received support from across the entire country because this facility has national standards."

Ittinuar said the centre will be instrumental in building up the capacity of tradespeople within Nunavut.

He said that capacity is critical for governments, the private sector and the good health of the communities.

"We have three pre-apprenticeship programs in oil-burner mechanic, plumbing and electrician. We also have a trades access program to help people bridge the gap from where they're at, academically, to passing the trades entrance exam and gaining entry into pre-apprenticeship programs. And we have four actual apprenticeship programs with two levels each. Our capacity is 88 students within the eight programs."

The pre-apprenticeship and trades-access programs began this past September at the new facility.

The apprenticeship programs will begin this coming January.

Ittinuar said after NAC commissioned the Nunavut Development Corp. for a narwhal tusk display, it hired Paul Maliki of Repulse Bay to carve it.

He said the plaque unveiled at the opening goes with the narwhal tusk carving.

"When Paul carved the tusk, its storyboard was based on his interview of me, in terms of what significance and role the tusk was to have within the building. He gave us the storyboard on paper, and we had it transcribed onto the bronze plaque and translated into English.

"The speeches we heard touched on the note of passing traditional knowledge from elders to youth. Paul captured that in his storyboard, in terms of its transition and relevance to today's economy, where you have a journeyman passing on those types of skills and knowledge to an apprentice." Shouldice said he can't say enough about the effort put in by staff members.

He said they worked numerous weekends preparing the facility and didn't take any holidays this past summer.

"They have all worked, worked and worked some more to have everything ready on time," said Shouldice. "We are proud to have such a state-of-the-art facility in Nunavut. Everyone involved with this project, at every level, has done an outstanding job."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.