Nunavummiut on healing foundation

IQALUIT — Two Nunavut residents have been appointed to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a not-for-profit aborginal body set up to administer a $350-million healing fund created by the federal government in 1998.

The new appointees are:

• Helen Navalik Tologanak of Cambridge Bay, a member of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association’s Board, and an activist with numerous other Inuit organizations, such as Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada and Pauktuutit.

• Elizabeth Hourie Palfrey, a Métis and a longstanding resident of Rankin Inlet. Palfrey is the CEO of the Evaz Group, a firm that provides advice and support to seven private Inuit-owned development corporations in Nunavut.

Another new appointee is Phil Fontaine, the former Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Since its creation, the aboriginal healing foundation has provided more than $120 million to about 600 projects aimed at helping aboriginal people recover from the legacy of physical and sexual abuse that took place in many residential schools.