Fundraiser in Iqaluit for grieving family members

Iqalummiut crowded St. Jude’s parish hall June 11 for a fundraiser to help send family members attend funerals for Sula Enuaraq and her two
daughters in Pond Inlet. Enuraraq, 29, and her daughters Alexandra, 7, and Ailyah, 2, were found dead in their Tundra Valley home June 7. Police are
calling the case a homicide. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

(updated June 13, 4:00 p.m.)

Iqalummiut helped raise more than $7,000 on June 11 to help family members attend funerals for Sula Enuaraq and her two daughters in Pond Inlet.

Enuraraq, 29, and her daughters Alexandra, 7, and Ailyah, 2, were found dead in their Tundra Valley home June 7, shortly after Enuaraq’s husband Syvlain
Degrasse was found dead in the Iqaluit cemetery. Police are calling the case a homicide.

Only Enuaraq’s most immediate relatives qualify for bereavement funding on Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s bereavement program, but family friend Looee Arreak said she wanted to make sure other family members from across the territory can be there too.

That’s why Arreak invited people to come to St. Jude’s parish hall Saturday, to participate in a loonie-toonie sale or buy baked goods and other rummage
items.

Community members donated handmade crafts, household items and baked goods.

Hundreds came out to participate and helped to raise $7,000, Arreak said.

“People have been very generous,” she said. “And we’re really grateful for that.”

The $7,000 does not include donations made to a bank account to collect cash donations for Enuaraq’s extended family.

Arreak said the account received several anonymous donations over the weekend.

Those who wish to help can go to any Royal Bank branch and make a donation to account number 09851-5105598.

“As soon as people learned we were raising funds, they started donating cash,” said Arreak, also a relative of the victims. “Our priority is getting the immediate family there.”

There is no date yet set for funeral services for Enuaraq and her two girls; that will be determined after autopsies are conducted on the victims next
week.