Youth drinking at sports events troubles Nunavik officials

Sports are popular among Nunavik youth, but Kativik Regional Government regional councillors say they are concerned about young athletes drinking at publicly-funded sporting events. “When we hand out money, is it promoting healthy lifestyles?” said Joseph Annahatak, vice-chair of the KRG regional council. (FILE PHOTO)

Kativik Regional Government councillors say publicly-funded sporting events must enforce stricter rules about the use of alcohol among young athletes.

Several councillors have reported seeing or hearing about excessive drinking among young athletes involved in tournaments and other sporting activities – most of them paid for through the KRG and other regional partners.

“We put a lot of money into having healthier communities,” said Joseph Annahatak, vice-chair of the KRG’s regional councillor at last week’s meetings in Kuujjuaq. “We need to find ways….to show that we believe that alcohol does not need to be involved in these activities.”

Because of Nunavik’s geography, tournaments hosted in and out of the region must fly and board athletes in the communities they are visiting, often at the expense of public dollars.

Some councillors say that social housing and local arenas have been damaged by late-night partying.

About $1.2 million a year is set aside from block funding for projects under the KRG’s recreation department.

If the KRG and other regional organizations continue to invest in recreational activities for youth, Annahatak says those organizations must draft guidelines and policies.

“When we were young, we used to scrounge for money to play hockey and we’d even pay our own fares to fly to hockey tournaments,” Annahatak told the meeting of regional councillors. “But it doesn’t work like that today. So when we hand out money, is it promoting healthy lifestyles?”

The Eastern Arctic Summer Games, hosted this past summer in Kuujjuaraapik, saw its share of nighttime drinking, said local councillor Allan Brown, and some of the Games’ young participants were sent home during the event.

“Some of this activity is abusive, some illegal and it does make people question what [the funding] is being used for,” Brown said. “We can’t stop people from the choices they make, but we can make recommendations and suggestions about how an event is structured so it will reduce the chance for people to make mistakes.”

Brown suggested focusing events mainly on youth 17-years and under, a group he says is easier to “keep on track.”

“I’m not suggesting eliminating adults and young adults from the picture – but they could take on very important rules as coaches and community organizers for these events,” Brown said.

But councillors also agreed that many Nunavimmiut youth have benefitted from a healthier lifestyle through recreational programs.

“I’m glad it was mentioned because it was a problem that need to be worked on,” said Tuna Napartuk, head of the KRG’s recreation department. “We can find ways for prevention. Because recreation can be very beneficial for a community.”