Crime-prevention 'programs; receive money

Information tabled at the recent Kativik Regional Government council meeting in Kuujjuraapik shows projects continue to receive money from Nunavik's crime-fighting program, Ungaluk, the result of a deal with Quebec to trade the construction of a provincial jail for about $300 million.

Among the most recent batch of projects is the Aaqqitauvik healing centre, a project proposed by Eva and Bobby Deer of Quaqtaq.

The centre will receive $350,000 to develop a healing centre in Quaqtaq, which will be similar to the Singing Waters centre in Orangeville, Ont. Its web site describes the centre as "as a radical, biblical, and spirit-led, discipleship ministry."

Kuujjuaraapik is slated to get $269,623 for a street worker program to assist children in the community.

Other amounts will go towards summer and winter camps, motivational speakers and conferences, visits to inmates in southern jails, sports activities, school programs, class visits and the Kativik Regional Police Force, which will receive about $1.24 million to develop and train Inuit as police officers from Ungaluk.

Ungaluk, which means the first ring of snow blocks at the base of an igloo in Inuttitut, is the new name for the Safer Communities program.

Ungaluk's members include Rhoda Kokiapik and Jennifer Watkins from Makivik Corp., Johnny Adams and Jobie Tukkiapik from the Kativik Regional Government, Jeannie May from Quebec's health department, Melanie Savoie and Hugues Tremblay from Quebec's public security department and Jacques Prégent from Quebec's justice department.