“Care closer to home” gets little help in Clyde River

Last week in the legislature, the usually calm James Arreak, MLA for Uqqummiut, sounded frustrated and angry over explanations offered by Leona Aglukkaq, the minister of health and social services, as to why Clyde River’s Ilisaqsivik Society still receives no core funding from the Government of Nunavut.

Aglukkaq said her department only supports health and social services clinics in the communities, but she promised to help Ilisaqsivik work with other departments to obtain the money they need.

“I am not satisfied with the replies she just gave me,” Arreak said.

Ilisaqsivik provides health and wellness programs for mothers and children, literacy programs, access to computers and counseling, while supporting a men’s healing group, women’s sewing circle, an elders’ group, youth council and Sukkakut, a group for women. Among the many programs run by Ilisaqsivik is an aboriginal diabetes initiative, which pays to keep the school gym open six nights a week in winter.

Aglukkaq said the health department gives Ilisaqsivik $227,000 a year, of which a small percentage goes towards paying administrative expenses for the projects.

But the project money isn’t enough. With no core funding, Ilisaqsivik scrambles to offer a certain number of projects simply to keep its lights on, heat its building and pay its small permanent staff. The community — one of Nunavut’s poorest — has reached into its pockets and organized sales of crafts and baked goods to support the centre.

These operational costs amount to about $250,000, and the lack of core funding means Ilisaqsivik has nothing left to invest in improving the quality of programs and training. Despite its financial constraints, Ilisaqsivik is also one of the largest employers in Clyde River, providing part-time work for over 50 people.