Unaaq teaches tool-making and land skills to youth

Donations and volunteer efforts are helping a group of men in Inukjuak teach youth in their community how to make igloos, a qamutiit or qajaqs, and survive on the land.

Earlier this month, youth and elders worked on making a large igloo. Last month, they took a dog team trip down the Hudson Bay coast to Umiujaq.

Throughout the year, participants also make and repair tools and equipment for hunters.

It's all about sharing knowledge and closing the gap between the generations.

The Unaaq Men's Association of Inukjuak began in 2001 when a group of men met to discuss youth issues and what they could do to promote Inuit heritage within the community.

On July 31, 2006, the group officially became the Unaaq Men's Assoc. of Inukjuak and elected a board of directors: president Charlie Nowkawalk a community wellness coordinator and municipal councilor, vice-president Joseph Nalukturuk, a retired carver and hunter, secretary Simeonie Ohaituk, a retired municipal truck driver, treasurer Tommy Palliser, a business services advisor with the Kativik Regional Government, and directors Danielli Inukpuk, Simeonie Elijassiapik, Noah Echalook, all three retired carvers and hunters.

Once Unaaq had its papers, the group applied for money from various regional organizations, receiving $22,800 in start-up from the Ungaluk Safer Communities program, which hands out $10 million a year to crime-fighting programs in Nunavik.

Unaaq received another $250,000 last October from Ungaluk to help cover their annual expenses.

A large building, donated by the municipality of Inukjuak and then renovated by teachers and students from Pigiursavik vocational and technical school's adult education program, houses Unaaq's activities.

Makivik Corp. provided Unaaq with wood-working equipment, while the KRG furnished wood supplies and other tools so Unaaq's members could continue their qajaq-making project.

For more information on Unaaq, take a visit to its trilingual web site at http://www.unaaq.org