For CLEY, size doesn’t matter

I must take issue with your assertion that “with an annual budget of about $9 million, CLEY is considered to be the least prestigious portfolio” (Feb. 14). Budget allocation is not and should not be considered the only gauge of respectability.

The issues that the department of culture, language, elders and youth deals with are the very reason Inuit and Nunavummiut sought the establishment of their own territory. They clearly expressed the desire to have a government that respects and reflects the population it serves. It is its mission to preserve and protect Inuit culture and language that should make CLEY the flagship department in Nunavut.

Over the past few months, staff at CLEY have worked hard to develop the tools the department needs to fulfill its mandate. Although small, the department now has a dedicated group of people working hard to accomplish goals that will make Nunavut different. CLEY’s contribution to Nunavut is the upholding of Inuit values and the protection of Inuit culture, heritage and language. The pursuit of these goals is what will make Nunavut unique in Canada and a symbol of this country’s respect for diversity.

Prestige is not measured in dollars, but in the goals the department seeks to attain and in the dedication of its employees. By this standard, the department of culture, language, elders and youth is both unique and extremely important to the future of Nunavut.

Anthony Saez
Assistant Deputy Minister
Department of Culture, Language,
Elders and Youth