Money troubles impede Nunavut disabilities council

Naiomie Hanson-Akavak, left, works as support staff at the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society along with Annie Quirke, the society’s director. The organization is looking for more money to continue the work it does advocating for Nunavummiut living with disabilities. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Nunavut’s only advocacy group for Nunavummiut with disabilities is asking for help.

Annie Quirke, executive director of the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society, has made a public appeal for support to keep the small organization afloat.

Makinnasuaqtiit receives $100,000 as core funding from the Government of Nunavut, which pays for the office rental and the salary of one staff member.

But since Makinnasuaqtiit was created in 2005, that annual amount hasn’t increased, Quirke said.

In a recent letter sent to the GN and other local organizations, Quirke said more support is needed “to ensure that Nunavummiut living with disabilities are provided with the services and programs that will allow them to achieve full independence in their daily lives.”

Makinnasuaqtiit is mainly looking for more money, although it also relies on volunteers and donated office supplies to function.

The society has managed to collect money from other regional and federal organizations to fund special projects and two support staff positions, including an administrative post which Naiomie Hanson-Akavak has held since February.

First Air gives money which helps pay for basic operations, such as supplies, telephone, accounting and office equipment.

A $27,000 grant from Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada recently helped the society send four hearing-impaired Nunavummiut to attend Inuit sign language training workshops in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit.

Another grant from the Kakivak Association is paying for a part-time staffer to document the sign language of Nunavut.

“But that money is year to year,” Quirke said. “We never know if funding will come through.”

“If we had the staff, we could do stuff like place cards to designate parking spaces for handicapped people.”

While some Iqaluit businesses already designate those parking spots, Quirke said there is no municipal bylaw to enforce it.

Quirke said she would also like to work towards expanding respite care to communities outside of Iqaluit, so families who need help caring for a family member with special needs can get temporary relief care at home.

Without respite care, Quirke said that parents or caregivers must depend on relatives or send loved ones away from home, “which can be stressful.”

But, to receive specialized services, disabled people in most Nunavut communities must leave the territory, Quirke said.

With more funding, Quirke said Makinnasuaqtiit could also work with the GN to build an inventory of services and programs for disabled Nunavummiut, and provide more detailed statistics on people living with disabilities throughout the territory.

Statistics from the 2006 census show that just over 3,000 Nunavummiut live with disabilities:

• 962 Nunavummiut live with mobility impairments;

• 810 live with hearing impairments;

• 320 with visual impairments;

• 260 with a learning disability; and,

• 710 seniors require special care.

Makinnasuaqtiit was created in 2005 with the support of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., which provided office space and in-kind contributions until the society became independent in 2009.