Amajurjuk, an illustrated retelling of a traditional story from the Kugaaruk region, has been published in English and the Nattilingmiutut dialect of Inuktut, spoken in some western regions of Nunavut. Projects like this are eligible for grants through the Department of Culture and Heritage. People can apply now. (Image courtesy of Inhabit Media)
Have an idea to preserve Inuit culture? There’s a grant for that
Department of Culture and Heritage inviting people and organizations to apply before Jan. 31 deadline
Nunavut residents and organizations with ideas for how to preserve Inuit culture and languages could be eligible for a grant through the territorial government’s Department of Culture and Heritage.
Each year, funding is given to community-led projects and initiatives in the following areas:
- Preserving and promoting Nunavut’s cultural legacy;
- Support for elders and youth activities;
- Maintaining and sharing Inuit societal values;
- Language promotion, protection and preservation.
The department funded 193 initiatives in Nunavut in the 2021-22 fiscal year in grants and contributions that ranged from $1,800 to $1.1 million in core funding, according to a report from the Department of Finance.
One of those initiatives was one from the Nattilik Heritage Society, which organized activities to support language preservation including translations of books for children as well as other story-telling and cultural events.
Staff members from the department will visit Naujaat on Nov. 30 to speak with community members about the grant and contribution program and answer questions about the program and the application process.
The department is doing in-person presentations in communities where there has been a low number of applications for the funding, said Angela Michielsen, a spokesperson for the department, in an emailed statement to Nunatsiaq News.
Funds are available for all residents and registered organizations in Nunavut, and application guidelines and forms are available online.
The Naujaat presentation will take place in the Tuugaalik High School gymnasium at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and Inuktitut interpretation will be available.
The deadline to apply is Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. ET.
As a teacher for 7 years in Nunavik, 1 year in James Bay, and 17 years in the Northwest Territories, it was a hobby to study local methods of qamutiq construction and build full-size and small-scale replicas. Would a comprehensive study to preserve qamutiq design across Nunavik qualify for the program?
Qamutiq construction across Nunavut, almost certainly. Across Inuit Nunangat, probably. But if you’re aim to study something specific to a Quebec region, then you’re probably looking for Quebec money.
Here is an idea of interest. A radio station http://www.K1037.com airs regularly short language instructional segments. A word is spoken in Mohawk then in the English translation, or is it the other way round, nonetheless the goal is to build and maintain the vocabulary on the reserve. Segments run just a few minutes several times a day and are sloted in between the regular programming.