OTTAWA
Urban Inuk teens in Ottawa, the largest population of Inuit outside of the North, now have a new place to do homework, learn a traditional craft or just relax.
Cape Dorset artist Tim Pitsiulak, left, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Terry Audla, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Ottawa Inuit Children's Centre president Maatalii Okalik-Syed and TD Canada Trust's Teri Currie place the last stones on an Inuksuk to commemorate the opening of the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre's new building last Wednesday, April 3. -
photo courtesy of Nicole White |
The last stones were laid on an Inuksuk as an elder lit the qulliq to commemorate the opening of the Ottawa Inuit Children's Centre's (OICC) newest building, 76 Queen Mary Street - a stone's throw from the centre's other two facilities.
As the Inuit population has grown in the city, the centre has grown with it. One facility is for children, one is for pre-teens and the newest one is for teenagers.
"We're really pleased because we understand the growth of the Inuit community in Ottawa," said OICC president Maatalii Okalik-Syed.
The new facility opened last Wednesday thanks to a $350,000 donation from TD Canada Trust.
The donation was used to acquire the new building, which Okalik-Syed said will house a variety of youth programs from a homework club to recreational and cultural activities.
"We have a variety of programs that we run," she said. "Entrenched in our mentality is the promotion of culture and heritage and that age group (13-plus) is definitely one we want to ensure isn't missed."
The OICC's other two buildings are side-by-side and now house other programs for younger Inuit. In all, the centre operates 10 programs on a daily basis from Inuit kindergarten to preteen after-school programs.
Okalik-Syed, originally from Pangnirtung, has worked with Inuit youth for more than six years and as president of OICC, says she is "always around." She calls the centre's buildings, which see about 100 youth every day, "extremely full." She recently finished a double major in human rights and political science at Carleton University.
"It's very important for the children who use (the centre) to be able to exercise their culture and express that where they're a minority versus back in their homeland," she said.
Mikka Komaksiutiksak moved from Nunavut 12 years ago and has had an evolving role at the centre. Now she helps run after-school programs for children ages eight to 14.
They do homework. Elders teach them how to do wall hangings. They learn about healthy living. They speak Inuktitut. They keep their culture alive in the city.
"I know how hard it is to adjust to some of the things in society in Ottawa," she said. "It's hard to make friends and speak Inuktitut and keep that alive."
Several TD Canada Trust representatives were on hand at the opening ceremony, which took place in the cold - many commented how it was warmer in Iqaluit with mild temperatures last week.
"We are proud to support the Ottawa Inuit Children's Centre as it preserves and promotes the Inuit heritage amongst Ottawa's community, for the benefit of generations to come," said Teri Currie, a member of TD Canada Trust's senior executive team, on behalf of the bank in a release.
"The growing needs of the centre demonstrate its importance in the community."
