ITK youth conference on hold

The annual national Inuit youth conference held by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has been delayed by lack of funding, the event’s organizer says.

Franco Buscemi, youth intervener for ITK, said the conference lost funding when Prime Minister Paul Martin shuffled government departments earlier this year.

The conference was originally scheduled for February.

Buscemi said the department formerly known as Human Resources Development Canada split into skills development and social development, and severely reduced funding for his work, putting the annual conference at risk.

Buscemi said on Aug. 11 that he will meet with member organizations of ITK to discuss options. He said a new date for the conference will not be chosen until further funding is confirmed.

Youth interested in participating can get in touch with their regional Inuit association.