Nunavut tent fire survivor still seeks help

The Kautaq family of Pond Inlet poses in a photo taken before the Aug. 16 fire which claimed the lives of Ikie Kautaq and three of the children. (FILE PHOTO)

A family devastated by a tent fire in August still needs help.

The Aug. 16 tent fire near Pond Inlet claimed four victims: Ikie Kautuq, father of four, and three of his children.

After the fire, members of the injured family were medevaced to hospitals 3,000 kilometres to the south, in Winnipeg and Ottawa, for treatment.

But only the mother, Nina Kautuq, and one son survived.

That’s why Ocean Umphrey, a cousin of Nina Kautuq who lives in northern British Columbia, has gone back online, asking for help on a Facebook page, called “Tragedy in the Arctic: Family caught in Tent Fire in Pond Inlet,” and GoFundMe online fundraising page.

“There has been a number of inquiries to how people can still help.” Umphrey said Nov. 21 in a Facebook posting. “We would like to give these people a chance to help. Our cause to help the Kautuq family has reached the other side of the globe.”

To date, the GoFundMe page has raised $5,535 of its $10,000 goal, and several thousand dollars were also raised through the Facebook page, donations, community events and a carver’s donation of his work.

“Nina and son are still traveling back and forth from Pond Inlet to Ottawa for physiotherapy,” Umphrey said. “It’s been a hard and painful healing process for Nina and son. Support and donations will go to Nina to help relieve the financial and spiritual burden this fire has caused.”

Umphrey has posted photos on the Facebook page, as well as this poignant posting, remembering the victims of the fire.

Umphrey said she wanted to help because she spent many years in Pond Inlet as a child.

“I care a great deal about family and I find this is the only way I can directly help the Kautuq family, my cousin,” she said in August.

A total of 35 Nunavut residents and groups in need are seeking financial help online through the gofundme.com website.

These include a Igloolik Christmas hamper fundraising drive posted Nov. 11, which raised $1,805 in its first 10 days.