No help for brilliant Inuk student in the south

Regarding the Aug. 6 letter from Simona Arnatsiaq, “No rights or benefits for urban Inuit,” I can relate to most of the problems that she encountered with FANS.

I had spent close to 20 years in the North, my wife still lives in Pond Inlet. My son went to school in the North. Suffice it to say that he effectively meets all of the criteria for funding except for one, and guess which one that is – “Does not presently live in Nunavut.”

I had to leave a good job and a place that I loved and retire. I could not afford to live on a disability pension so for medical and economic reasons we moved south.

My son finished high school and was presented with an aboriginal achievement award at a graduation ceremony sponsored by the Kamloops Indian band. This was in addition to his regular graduation ceremonies at the high school in the town where we live.

An Indian band invited an Inuk to their ceremony because they wanted to celebrate the educational achievement of all aboriginal youth in high schools in and around the Kamloops area. There is a point there somewhere.

He went on to complete course work at the University College of the Caribou in Kamloops B.C. He applied and was accepted into the motion picture and video production program at Capilano College in North Vancouver, from which he graduated this spring.

The college chose 25 students out of approximately 160 applicants for a second, or an extended year of the course. My son was one of the 25. We are not sure of funding yet – maybe I’ll have to refinance the house again. Hey, but we’ll survive – we come from good lineage.

Thanks FANS. Maybe what is needed is to form a group of urban Inuit. Written and submitted on behalf of my son, Andrew Kyak Percy.

Richard Percy
British Columbia