黑料吃瓜网

Gjoa Haven is planning to celebrate the grand opening of the newly-expanded Nattilik Heritage Centre this June.

As a milestone that marks years of community effort, planning and partnership, the expansion nearly doubles the centre's original size, adding more than 5,000 square feet to better support the preservation and sharing of Inuit culture and history, according to Campbell Cameron from Four Peaks Consulting Corp., who has worked as the project manager of the expansion project.

The idea to expand the heritage centre took off after the discoveries of the Franklin Expedition shipwrecks 鈥� HMS Erebus and HMS Terror 鈥� in 2014 and 2016. These finds, guided by Inuit oral stories, brought worldwide attention to the area and made it clear the community needed a better space for visitors and cultural events, Cameron said.

Planning formally began in 2020, thanks to teamwork between the Nattilik Heritage Society, Parks Canada the Hamlet of Gjoa Haven, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and other partners.

The new facility includes a climate-controlled exhibit area for Franklin artifacts, an oral history room with a translation booth, a multipurpose space for cultural events, and an art training room with sewing equipment. A brand-new entryway is designed to better accommodate the growing number of cruise ship visitors, while public meeting rooms support community gatherings and knowledge-sharing between Elders and youth.

Jennifer Ullulaq, manager of the Nattilik Heritage Society, has been working with Cameron to help guide the work. She acknowledged that the process hasn鈥檛 been without challenges, including frequent staff turnover, Covid-19 restrictions and rising construction costs.

鈥淭hat delayed quite a bit of things, but we鈥檙e doing our best to catch up right now,鈥� said Ullulaq. 

The project moved forward thanks to additional support from partners including the Government of Nunavut and other cultural and development funds. That extra funding made it possible to complete the facility without compromising its function or its creators' vision, according to Cameron.

Parks Canada has also played a supportive role in the project, with over $7 million in support and technical expertise to ensure the building can safely house various artifacts, said Andrew Maher, Parks Canada's area superintendent for Nunavut South.

鈥淧arks Canada is very pleased to have been a partner in this work and to support the Nattilik Heritage Society in completing this expansion project. We鈥檙e really proud to help create something that puts Inuit voices and leadership at the heart of it,鈥� Maher said. 鈥淭his is not just about artifacts. It鈥檚 about cultural learning and supporting local leadership in preserving Inuit heritage.鈥�

In addition, community input also helped shape every part of the design, with the all-Inuit board hosting public meetings to gather ideas and feedback, Ullulaq explained.

The grand opening is set to take place on June 4, with a morning preview for Elders, an afternoon open house and an evening feast. For those who can鈥檛 attend, a second community visit is planned for the following day.

鈥淲e welcome all visitors from across Canada,鈥� Ullulaq said. 鈥淭his place isn鈥檛 just about showing off old things. It will also serve as a place for people to connect with our history, language and traditions, and keep our culture strong.鈥�