Naujaat hamlet council's decision to turn down $6.8 million allotted to the community by Jordan's Principle – a program aimed at ensuring all First Nations and Inuit children in Canada have access to the health and educational supports they need – is viewed as a huge mistake in some corners.
Tagak Curley, a former Nunavut MLA and a founding father of Nunavut, said he thinks it's terrible that Naujaat has still not signed on for the Jordan's Principle initiative, which provides children up to the age of 18 with food, baby formula, diapers and other essential items.
A food voucher proposal to support 710 children in Naujaat had been approved last December before Naujaat hamlet council decided it could no longer take on the program.
Curley said Naujaat is the most-costly community in the Kivalliq to live in.
He said there are a lot of people in need in Naujaat, especially when it comes to good, nutritious food for their children.
“That's insane, as far as I'm concerned, because people do need that support,” he said. “The hamlet has done a fine job in Rankin Inlet and we're very grateful to them for that.
“I see no reason they can't do the same in Naujaat.”
Curley said he can only guess at Naujaat hamlet council's reason for not accepting the money to this point, and that's because they see administering Jordan's Principle as a cumbersome program.
He said, in his view, to use that excuse is not acceptable.
“$6.8 million dollars is a lot of money that worked out to about $500 per month a child in Rankin Inlet, according to a family that we know. And it helped them a lot.
“So, I think the administration of it is just an excuse and being looked upon as too much of a burden on the bureaucrats. I hope the Government of Nunavut (GN) will intervene and make sure the people of Naujaat receive this money.
“I'm out of politics now and have not spoken publicly about it except to make a statement on Facebook acknowledging Jordan's Principle and how much help it provides for people in need.
“I can only guess that the GN is following up on this. If the hamlet is unwilling to administer the funding, maybe a charitable organization of some sort could be appointed to do it. There should be some options.”
Curley said he was deeply disappointed to read of the hamlet's decision.
He said he often sees families on social media trying to sell items to raise money to keep up with the cost of their food supplies or any other services that they may need in Naujaat and here's the hamlet turning down $6.8 million.
“I think Jordan's Principle is a very important service and no other community that I know of has even thought of turning it down with the cost of living having skyrocketed so rapidly during the past 10 months, or so.
“It's really unbelievable. I hope they have a change of heart shortly.”
Naujaat Mayor Kevin Tegumiar did not respond to numerous requests for an interview by Kivalliq News.
Former Nunavut MP Jack Anawak, who was born in Naujaat, said it's his understanding that Naujaat hamlet council didn't actually turn the funding down, but, rather, are working on the terms of the agreement.
He said he didn't actually speak with Naujaat Mayor Kevin Tegumiar, but saw a correction he had posted on Facebook.
“What I saw said they didn't turn it down,” said Anawak. “They just didn't agree with the wording of the agreement, so they didn't actually turn it down.
“I don't see how it would be too much of a burden when most of the hamlets have agreed to it. The hamlet, if it agrees with it, should just tell their administrator to deal with this.
“I'm going to Naujaat myself, probably next week anyway, and I will probably talk to them.
“All I can say, at this point, again, is that it is my understanding that they didn't turn it down. They just had a problem with the wording.”
When asked by Kivalliq News how he would respond if Naujaat hamlet council asked him if he thought they should accept the funding, Anawak gave a one-word reply, “Yes.”
