The forgotten citizens of Nunavut

I would like to take this opportunity to commend Susan Gardener for standing up for long time residents of Nunavut when she commented on the issue of non-beneficiaries staying at Larga Baffin.

I would like to thank you Susan, because you have shown me that there are indeed people still out there that I can relate to.

Susan brought up some very good points about educational benefits and I can’t stand back any longer.

I happen to be one of the Forgotten Citizens of Nunavut: Iqaluit has been my home my entire life, but I simply don’t get any recognition for it.

I am currently a student pursuing higher education so that one day I can have a career in Nunavut working in a field that I am passionate about.

I have gratefully accepted FANS funding for my university studies but I am still very disappointed with the treatment I get when I am looking for funding.

This is what I need to get off my chest:

Every summer, when I go to apply for a summer job, I have to leave the box that asks if I am a NLCA beneficiary empty. Beside that box it says: “priority hiring will go to Inuit.” I accept and move on.

When I apply for scholarships from Nunavut, the forms have that same little check box: NLCA Beneficiary, YES OR NO. Again: “priority will go to NLCA students.”

I assure myself that maybe my application will get a decent look. I accept and move on.
Then there are even the larger scholarships that I can’t even apply for: NLCA Beneficiaries only. Ok I accept and move on.

Now for the worst part, when I talk to my Inuit friends about the funding they receive from FANS, they get pretty excited because their agreement is stress free.

They receive the grant and loan that I get, but they also receive a huge living allowance of 900$ per month for the 8 months of the school year in addition to 400$ per year for books. That totals $7,600 more than what I receive per year.

Now let me ask you this: Why is it that I am skipped over for jobs, I am skipped over for scholarships but then the people who have received priority for high paying jobs and scholarships also get 7600$ extra? This whole system makes so little sense.

I am upset with the policies that give an extreme advantage for beneficiaries. I am very supportive of having Inuit in all levels of Government and industry sectors and I also appreciate the investment that Nunavut is putting into higher education, however what is someone like me to do?

I have come to a point that I just can’t accept and move on anymore. When I hear about issues implicating non-beneficiaries, I feel so betrayed and unwelcome.

My family has given so much to Nunavut in the past 22 years. We are active in the community, we volunteer and Iqaluit is more than just a place to make money. We love living here because of the extraordinary opportunities available and for the way of life that we are able to live.

There are people that come to Nunavut just to make money. Every day they complain about their jobs, how they hate their life and how they cant wait to get the hell out.

For some reason, I am bunched in with people like this when I am looking for a job or school funding and that just isn’t right.
Will Nunavut do something to address the fact that some of us have lived here our entire lives and plan to stay here because we are passionate about this territory?

(Name withheld by request)
Iqaluit

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