CanNor spreads more money around Nunavut

Two Nunavut organizations picked up money from the Canadian Northern Development Agency March 22, for “cultural tourism training” and Inuit business development in the territory.

The Inuit Heritage Trust, which works to preserve Nunavut’s archaeology sites and traditional place names, will receive $38,658 from CanNor to help train Nunavut heritage workers.

As part of the trust’s Nunavut Heritage Training Plan, staff will gain skills to train other Nunavummiut who work in cultural and tourism industries in communities across Nunavut.

Inuit Heritage Trust president Luke Suluk said the project aims to build pride among Inuit as stewards of their own heritage.

A second portion of the money will go toward a specific training program in Gjoa Haven, where planning for a new Netsilik cultural center is underway.

The trust has also received $80,000 from Canadian Heritage and $40,000 from the Government of Nunavut to fund that project.

CanNor also announced $63,000 for Nunavut’s Kakivak Association, which serves provides services and employment program to new or expanding Inuit businesses in the Qikiqtani region.

The money will allow Kakivak to offer business analysis training to staff and to develop a communications and promotion plan.

“Like most organizations, Kakivak Association has to deal with the high cost of doing business in the North and the many challenges of serving isolated communities,” said Larry Audlaluk, Kakivak Association’s chair, in the same news release. “This… funding is helping our organization get the tools to deliver our business support and employment training programs more efficiently and effectively.”

The CanNor money will also allow pay for computer upgrades at Kakivak.