Coral Harbour puts a positive spin on life

SARA MINOGUE

Invite someone to a “suicide prevention walk” and they will probably come out for the benefit of the community.

Invite several people from around Nunavut to a “Youth Celebration Camp” and there’s a good chance they’ll want to come and tell others, and soon you’ll have lots of people calling you asking what, where and when.

That’s what Sara Matoo has seen since rebranding the Coral Harbour Youth Suicide Prevention Committee as the Youth Celebration Committee, and then planning the Youth Celebration Camp, to be held August 25 to 28.

“We’ve really seen the difference in how much interest there is after veering away from the negative,” says Matoo, who has been involved with suicide prevention work for the past 10 years.

Previously, the group has organized an annual suicide prevention walk, traversing inland to the mountains and then camping out as a group. This year’s camp will head in the other direction, walking along the coast from Rocky Brooke Bridge to 16 Mile Brooke, also known as Kuuk.

There are six cabins at Kuuk, and a tent has already been set up as a kitchen. Last week, Matoo was organizing a 24-hour bear watch with the Rangers, as there are likely to be bears by the river. She’s also been talking to community members about borrowing tents, stoves and other camping gear.

The hike will probably take place on Friday, Aug. 25, to be followed by group activities including a tug of war, obstacle races, soccer, a fear factor competition, shooting and fishing. At the end of the evening, there will be a bonfire where group scores are announced.

When the group returns to town on Sunday or Monday, a dance and feast will be held in the community hall. The theme of the weekend?

“We wanted to acknowledge the struggles and achievements of the youth throughout the year,” Matoo says.

While youth are the focus, there is no age limit for participants and everyone is welcome. Invitations have been sent to organizers in at least six other communities.

Nunavut’s Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit, or Embrace Life Council, has donated $2,000 to the event, and the youth committee is searching for more donations or in-kind offers, starting with a penny sale and dance last Friday.

As a mother of five children, four of whom are in their teens, Matoo says she has a personal stake in the success of this project, and others like it.

“Everything that we do, it stands for every community. Everything we come up with is to show the youth that we love them and that they’re worth more than they think. We wanted to show them that everything that the community does is because their lives are so important.”

Weather has been wet and foggy on Southampton Island, but Matoo is optimistic the sun will shine later in the month.