Search for funding delays Nunavut heritage centre

Heritage officials in Nunavut say funding delays and federal government bureaucracy have hampered their progress in creating acentre to housea collection of artifacts.

The Nunavut government, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., and the Inuit Heritage Trust have been working together to create a territorial heritage centre, but now they are trying to get Ottawa on board as a key partner. However, on a visit to Iqaluit last month, Heritage Minister Bev Oda said she had not received a formal request from any of the groups.

Still, backers of the project say Ottawa is obligated to help them create a heritage centre.

"We have provisions in the claim to have the government commit to those kind of things," said Paul Kaludjak, president of NTI, which is the body responsible for implementing Nunavut's land claim.

Most of Nunavut's historical artifacts continue to be stored in Yellowknife or in southern museums, since theterritory doesn't have an adequate facility to store them itself.

"It's really crucial to get a heritage centre here in the territory, because most of our collections are outside the territory and not accessible to Inuit," said Ericka Chemko, a project manager with the Inuit Heritage Trust.

The Nunavut government has committed $10 million toward the centre, but now the three organizations are looking for the remaining $55 million needed.

David Akeeagok, Nunavut's deputy minister of culture, language, elders and youth, said the government has approached several federal departments, including Canadian Heritage. The departments have asked the group to produce a formal proposal that would outline exactly how its proposed heritage centre would operate.

"Would it be government owned, would it be a Crown corporation or would it be a private sector?" Akeeagok said.

Nunavut says it hopes to create that formal proposal soon, keeping in mind that estimated building costs will continue to rise if delays continue.