Nunavut’s Kamatsiaqtut celebrates help line’s 23 years

Terrie Kusugak sings at the March 23 fundraiser for the Iqaluit-based Kamatsiaqtut help line. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

The Kamatsiaqtut help line left its sold-out March 23 gala fundraiser in Iqaluit with thousands of dollars which will keep the cash-strapped help line running.

But the event also provided a way for the volunteer-run organization to thank and celebrate the 400-plus volunteers who have helped callers deal with depression, anger, loneliness and suicidal thoughts since 1990.

“There are some people who’ve been working here for the full 23 years,” Kamatsiaqtut executive director Sheila Levy told the crowd of about 130 people who attended the $80-a-plate banquet at Iqaluit’s Frobisher Inn.

“It’s amazing that we work on a volunteer basis,” Levy said.

Kamatsiaqutut volunteers are now into their second generation, with Naya Maurice, the daughter of long-time volunteers John Maurice and Rhoda Ungalaq, now serving as secretary of the Kamatsiaqtut board.

“My introduction to Kamatsiaqtut started when I was six years old,” Naya Maurice, now 30, said to those at the event, who included Iqaluit West MLA Monica Ell, Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson, Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. vice-president Jack Anawak, Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq and Nunavut senator Dennis Patterson.

The March 23 fundraiser brought back her memories of the volunteer appreciation events attended with her parents, both volunteers with Kamatsiaqtut for 23 years, Maurice said.

“Growing up around the spirit of community inspired me to become a volunteer myself,” said Maurice who started volunteering with the help line while she was still in high school.

There, Maurice said she became “very familiar with suicides as many Nunavummiut are,” losing several classmates to suicide.

But help-line volunteers are important because they’re “ready with a listening ear for someone to talk to,” she said.

That’s what Kamatsiaqtut taught Maurice — how to be a better listener.

At first, Maurice said she was “naturally intimidated” about taking calls because callers often describe their isolation and fears.

“Would I have the right things to say?” Maurice said, but “Kamatsiaqtut has eased my fear to take a call,” she said.

The fundraiser, which saw a portion of the ticket sales going to the organization, included entertainment: the youth hip hop dancers, Terrie Kusugak, Road-to-Nowhere Band and the Jerry Cans.

“Kamatsiaqtut is dear to our hearts,” said Andrew Morrison, lead singer and guitarist of the Jerry Cans.

At the fundraiser Kamatsiaqtut, which runs on a shoestring budget of about $100,000, received a $1,500 dollar cheque from the Iqaluit Rotary Club.

Many at the event also put in bids to buy donated items in a silent auction. They also bought tickets for draws to win prizes, including round-trip airline tickets from Iqaluit to Ottawa, hotel stays in Ottawa and many other items and services donated by local companies.

About 85 volunteers operate the help line from 7 p.m. to midnight every day.

Depending on who is working the phone line, callers can speak to someone in English, Inuktitut or French.

Before answering any calls, volunteers must go through training sessions on how to handle different types of calls.

Maurice encouraged people to call the help line if they ever need to talk.

And, for those interested in becoming a volunteer, a training session is scheduled to take place in May.

The Kamatsiaqtut help line can be reached in Iqaluit at (867) 979-3333 or toll-free at 1(800) 265-3333.