Aupaluk youth brings Inuit message to world leaders

Janice Grey, 20, 0f Aupaluk leaves for Copenhagen Dec. 2, where, as a member of the Canadian youth delegation, she will lobby world leaders for action on climate change. (PHOTO COURTESY OF JANICE GREY)

When Janice Grey of Aupaluk heads to Copenhagen early next month, she’ll be on a mission: to make sure world leaders take climate change seriously and find ways to slow it down and help those who are affected by it

When Grey takes off for Copenhagen Dec. 2, she’ll be one of 30 Canadian youth to attend the United Nations climate change conference to be held there between Dec. 7 and Dec. 18.

Grey, a 20-year old liberal arts student at John Abbott College in the Montreal suburb of Ste Anne de Bellevue, will attend the gathering as part a youth delegation organized by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.

A youth summit on climate change is expected to draw at least 1,000 young people from around the world.

As for why she wants to go to Copenhagen, Grey said in an interview from Montreal that she felt it was her duty to go to Copenhagen.

World leaders “can’t delay” action any longer — and stepping up pressure on them to make progress will be important, she said.

During her stay, Grey will also help staff the World Wildlife Federation’s Arctic tent in downtown Copenhagen.

On WWF’s youth day, Dec. 7, Grey, along with other Canadian youth delegates, will speak with northern leaders about climate change via computer video connections.

This tent will also feature Arctic films, photo exhibitions, talks by Arctic activists like Sheila Watt-Cloutier and performances by Nunavut’s ArtCirq circus company.

Grey hopes to bring drawings about climate change by Nunavik students with her to the Arctic tent to mount a a special display.

While she wants to use her time in Copenhagen to express the Arctic’s concerns about climate change, Grey also wants to get people in Nunavik more interested in the issue.

As a child, Grey remembers having to get bundled up to go trick-or-treating in the snow for Hallowe’en.

This year, Hallowe’en in Aupaluk featured rain.

The other impacts of warmer temperatures that she’s seen include bumpy roads, sinking foundations, later freeze-ups and disappearing ponds.

To date, Grey has received $1,000 from Makivik Corp. and $500 from the Fédération des cooperatives du Nouveau-Québec to help cover the $3,500 she needs to cover the trip to Copenhagen.

Grey also plans to hold an Inuit-themed silent auction and music show on Nov. 23 in Ste. Anne de Bellevue to raise money for her trip.

“Please come out and enjoy an evening of music and art by some of Canada’s most talented contemporary Inuit artists,” reads an invitation sent out on Facebook.

The evening features performances by Nunavik’s Charlie Keelan and Beatrice Deer, while Grey will throat sing with her frequent throat-singing partner Leah May.

Along with “great music and great art,” there will also be great food at her fundraising event, Grey says, including Arctic char sushi, goose and caribou along with bannock and labrador tea.

Advance tickets are $7 or $10 at the door. Email janice17grey@hotmail.com to purchase tickets. The fun starts at 6:30 pm on Nov. 23 at 19 Maple Street in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.