KRG eyes big recreation plan for Nunavik youth

Recreational co-ordinators may brought in from the South to each Nunavik community, where they would help organize activities for youth and families in the region, if a plan from Kativik Regional Government moves ahead.

At the recent KRG meeting in Akulivik, KRG chairperson Maggie Emudluk asked regional councillors what they thought about this proposal, whose goal is to fight social problems.

The level of drug and alcohol use and crime in Nunavik is up, Emudluk said — “is this because people lack activities? Maybe if people had more activities they would be more concerned about wellness.”

Hockey is often the only organized recreational activity in communities, she said.

NHL hockey star Joé Juneau worked with the KRG for three years to promote his youth hockey development program — which is now managed by Makivik Corp.

But in many smaller communities, such as Akulivik, this program hasn’t had as much success as in Kuujjuaq.

“If there were more activities, people would stay away from drug and alcohol,” agreed Mary Pirlutuut, the KRG’s recently-appointed executive member and speaker from Kangiqsujuaq.

Kangiqsujuaq brings in a student from the south during the summer to help organize activities for local children, Pirlutuut said.

Communities need to show more leadership in recreation, but first they need a foundation to build on— and an outside person could be useful in this respect, said Joseph Annahatak, the KRG’s vice-chairperson.

Other regional councillors also spoke out in favour of the proposal, with Charlie Pangingajak, the councillor from Ivujivik, saying some youth in his community resort to vandalism because they are bored.

But Emudluk said the plan to hire recreational co-ordinators from the Southwon’t go ahead unless the KRG can line up money to build new housing for the new hires.

In the meantime, the KRG’s recreation director Tunu Napartuk said communities should offer more support to local recreational organizers.

“I am finding that local volunteers are very scarce,” Napartuk told the council.

Focusing on basic recreational activities is a good first step, he advised.

At least, now that Quebec has sunk more than $20 million into arena renovations, most communities have good sports facilities.

But if these are now damaged through vandalism or misuse, Quebec isn’t likely to pay more, the KRG leaders warned.