Montreal Inuit association still in its infancy

I am writing to respond to a report in your paper two weeks ago concerning an “Association of Montreal Inuit.”

First, I would like to congratulate your paper in showing interest in this story. However, I would like to clarify one point and that is at this time an “Association of Montreal Inuit” has yet to become a reality. This is little more than an idea that a few volunteers and myself have got behind.

In order to claim to represent and speak on behalf of Inuit living in the Montreal area, I prefer that they give their consent for this. I have set into motion a plan that will gauge the interest of Inuit living in Montreal in this idea. For now, we volunteers are holding monthly Inuit-style community country food feasts. The next two feasts are scheduled for Feb. 26 and March 25.

At each of these gatherings, there are events that will hopefully lead to the creation of such an Association of Montreal Inuit. In February, it is hoped that Inuit will sign on to become members of such an association by signing up with a registration form. Also at the February 26 feast, it is further hoped that the individuals would put forth names of six people who could dedicate their time to the creation of an association.

If more than six names are brought forward, an election could take place. The six would form a board of directors and take whatever steps necessary to legitimize the organization. Once that is carried out then the real task of dealing with some of the concerns of Montreal Inuit could begin.

Support for this process seems to indicate that some time in early April the association could become a reality. Until that time, I am just one guy with an ad hoc group of volunteers trying our best to improve the situation for as many Montreal Inuit as possible.

As of this writing, I do not have two nickels to rub together, however this will not deter the volunteers or myself. It costs approximately $500 a month to put on these feasts. To date we have put on three consecutive monthly feasts.

For this I owe a heart-felt thanks to all the Nunavik communities who have contributed traditional Inuit foodstuffs for these affairs. I also owe a humble thank you to the two airlines of Nunavik, Air Inuit and First Air, for their contribution of non-revenue cargo. I would furthermore like to thank Pita Aatami of Makivik Corporation and Markoosie Qinuajuak of the Kativik School Board for their organizations’ past financial contributions. Last but not least, I would like to thank Rev. Barry Clarke of the St. Paul’s Anglican Church for their use of the meeting hall.

One last group that requires a mention is the Inuit Tungasuvingat organization in Ottawa. They invited two volunteers and myself to observe and participate in their most recent board of directors meeting. By doing this, they have provided moral support and showed us what is possible if we in Montreal can get ourselves organized.

While we Inuit living in the Montreal area are very grateful to the people of Nunavik who have helped make the monthly feast a reality with their food contributions, I would just state that if at all possible, Inuit in Montreal must return the favour. One such example of this was that the group of volunteers were able to send about 60 pre-wrapped Christmas gifts to the children of Aupaluk and Umiujaq.

I this regard, I have secured a shipping container that will be used in the spring or summer to send other donations to the communities. We were also able to distribute some of the Inuit country food to Chez Doris and other centres that Inuit are involved with. We were able to distribute some food to the elderly and less well-off Inuit in the Montreal area.

I would like to call upon leaders of Nunavut to engage themselves in the discussions and find ways to assist in the project. There are an estimated 800 Inuit living in the Montreal area, with approximately 200 of them coming from areas outside Nunavik. The vast majority of the 200 non-Nunavik Inuit in Montreal are from the territory of Nunavut.

Like the leaders of Nunavik, the leaders of Nunavut must come to recognize the existence of Inuit living in the South and furthermore realize that the majority of them aren’t exactly having a picnic. They need help.

Again, I appreciate your newspaper’s interest in the story and look forward to providing future updates so that all Inuit will be informed of this project.

From Victor and the Volunteers

P.S. Thank you to all the volunteers involved with this project, and if you happen to be in Montreal on one of the two dates mentioned above, feel free to come on in and enjoy the feast.

Victor Mesher
Montreal