University in Val d’Or promises opportunities for Inuit

STEVE BONSPIEL

Special to Nunatsiaq News

VAL D’OR – Northern Quebec aboriginal people received good news recently as the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue announced the construction of a First Nations Pavilion after four years of fighting to raise the necessary $10 million budget.

The announcement on Feb. 16 in Val d’Or before 160 people marked the next step before the university is ready to accept students in 19 months.

“We are pleased to announce our support for this historic achievement,” said Quebec Indian Affairs Minister Geoff Kelley. “It is something all First Nations can be proud of.”

The pavilion is still in the early stages, and the look and feel have not been finalized, but the theme will most definitely be inclusion and reflect northern Quebec, said the chairperson of the UQAT board of directors, Edith Cloutier.

“We were hoping that this pavilion would address the needs of all First Nations and become an attraction for eastern Canada because of our strength in teaching in two languages,” she said.

The university will also be looking to enrol more Inuit students by addressing their specific needs.

“It is a big part of our goal to attract other First Nations, including Inuit students to our programs here,” said Cloutier.

UQAT currently offers a pre-school and primary school certificate in Puvirnituq and Inujivik.

To date, 21 Inuit have received their degrees through these programs. They hope that with the arrival of the pavilion and bachelor programs in pre-school, elementary school, social work and administration, more Inuit will venture down to the Val d’Or campus.

Cloutier said the uphill battle has been tough, but the end result is worth the effort.

“It’s been difficult getting the funding, but I think people knew sooner or later that our goal would be achieved,” she said. “The new challenge is we need $1.2 million a year to operate the pavilion. That’s our new goal.”

Quebec has agreed to supply an additional $340,000 to help with operating costs, but that means that UQAT will have to secure close to $900,000 annually.

Former Cree Grand Chief Ted Moses along with Val d’Or Mayor Fernand Trahan raised $1.5 million for the project by soliciting local businesses.

The crowd at the opening got a kick out of Oscar Kistabish, the cultural agent for the Native Friendship Centre Val d’Or, who is Algonquin. He opened the luncheon with a prayer. He also told a story of a journalist who said to him ”welcome to Val d’Or.’ To which he replied with a smile; “we’ve been here for over 6,000 years, I should be the one welcoming you.’

Two architects are currently working on designs for the pavilion which will be brought to the committee for their approval late in the new year. Once a design is chosen, developers are aiming to break ground in the fall. Construction should be completed a year later.

UQAT is the first university in Quebec to take the step of building a First Nations pavilion to promote aboriginal culture.

Pierre Corbeil, Quebec’s minister of natural resources and wildlife, who is also the MNA for the Abitibi region, was on hand to say a few words.

“This is more than just a building, it represents a place of acceptance and coexistence,” Corbeil said. “It’s a place to learn about each other and appreciate our differences.”