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CORAL HARBOUR
Members of Angutiit Makigiangninga (Men Rising Up) in Coral Harbour refuse to let the possibility of no funding dampen their enthusiasm for carrying on with their work.

Sandy Kritaqliluk of Arviat was among the 31 men who travelled to Coral Harbour to attend the Angutiit Makigiangninga men's group gathering this past month. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

Group spokesperson Noel Kaludjak said funding for Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre's Kivalliq Counselling and Support Services (KCSS) ends on March 31, 2013.

He said as long as group members are employed through KCSS, they are able to access funds through Health Canada's residential school issues program, but the ability to access that funding ends with their employment.

"We invited a couple of Nunavut government representatives to our gathering in Coral this past month," said Kaludjak.

"They sat in for a few hours and then met with us in a different room.

"The meeting went well and things look hopeful, but I can't promise anything."

Kaludjak said a number of ideas are being discussed to access funding.

He said one approach is to have the group designated as a mobile healing unit.

"A lot of people still have faith something will come up because they simply can't comprehend our program just stopping after all the good we've been able to do.

"It's a homegrown initiative that comes from the grassroots level of the community and that's the best way to start something.

"People have come North and tried to help with issues such as suicide and family violence, and it had some effect, but our initiative seems to work better because we all know each other and are almost family."

Kaludjak said once people understand what the group does, and that it's not a church-based effort, they really open up to the concept.

He said the program started with a couple of guys in Coral (who understand the people and the issues they face) wanting to help and it's grown incredibly from there.

"We don't tell men to go to church or do this or that.

"We just want them to get healed from their painful issues and have a better life.

"We don't promise a perfect life, but we try to help them raise a family in the way they were intended to.

"Then it's up to the individuals who meet with us to want to do it."

Men Rising Up has been active since 2009.

It's been to every Kivalliq community except Rankin Inlet, which it plans to visit this fall, and hopes to make a trip to Hall Beach in the near future.

The people of Hall Beach asked the group to come and are trying to raise funds to cover the trip.

Kaludjak said the men are confident a way will be found to continue.

He said they have a strong foundation in place and will keep trying to find ways to help Kivalliq families, even if funding is denied.

"If this was a hockey school, and funding ran out, we would try to do something else.

"This is something totally different that deals with families in need of help.

"Our government has been looking for an effective suicide-prevention program for years and we can provide that.

"Our program covers a number of issues in family life and is effective in battling suicide, family violence and the addictions people in our communities battle every day."

Kaludjak said many are wondering how funding can be cut to such an effective program.

He said people constantly thank the group for the improvement they see in their family members.

"We had a young man come to Coral for our most recent meeting who didn't speak much, but he really listened to the elders and other men speak about family issues and what's expected of him.

"His father wrote to say when the young man went home, the first thing he did was ask his father to forgive all the bad things he'd done.

"You just can't put a price tag on that.

"We don't work miracles, but we do help men understand what's expected of them in the family unit and the benefits that await when they choose to live a better life.

"The rest is up to them."

Kaludjak said Angutiit Makigiangninga promises to continue its work, one way or another.

He said that level of determination comes from deep within a person.

"When I told them during our last meeting there was a possibility of no more funding, they didn't even blink.

"We'll keep this going somehow."

Thirty-one men went to Coral for the group's gathering this past month.

They spent time in meetings and enjoying the peace and beauty of the land.

Kaludjak said church services were held in the evening for the men to spend time with the community and hear testimonials, but nobody was forced to go.

"We also like to billet our guests with host families so they're active in the community during their visit.

"We could easily do more, but we don't like to keep them away from their families longer than four or five days."

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