In Nunavut...

85 youth experienced another community, language or culture in 2003/04 through our Youth Exchanges Canada program.

Information on eight Nunavut museums, including virtual exhibits, is available online at www.virtualmuseum.ca.

With assistance from Canadian Heritage, the Inuit Heritage Trust is developing a strategy to strengthen the territory's heritage sector to ensure that Inuit cultural and heritage treasures are preserved.

The Canada Council for the Arts granted $311,095 to three arts organizations and 30 artists in 2003/04.

To increase participation in quality sport activities at all levels in the territories, the Government of Canada is contributing $420,000 over three years to support programs offered under the Pan- Territorial Sport Strategy: Nunavut Program.

Nunavut

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The Canadian Heritage family, which includes the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, the CBC and our other major national cultural institutions, plays a key role in the cultural and civic life of Canadians.

We work together to promote culture, arts, heritage, official languages, citizenship and participation, multiculturalism, Aboriginal, youth, and sport initiatives. Canadian Heritage fosters creativity, innovation, linguistic duality and cultural diversity with a view to connecting Canadians to each other and the world.

Highlights

Nunavut Celebrates Canada Day
As the country's youngest territory, Nunavut continues to enrich Canada's cultural fabric. From Iqaluit to Cambridge Bay, Canada Day celebrations draw residents from across the territory with activities ranging from traditional Inuit games, throat singing and drum dancing to community parades and family carnivals. Canadian Heritage is pleased to contribute to these celebrations!

Nunavut Arts Festival
Over the past five years, the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association has enabled artists to hone their artistic abilities while improving access to a diversity of performances and art forms. With Canadian Heritage support, the 2004 arts festival–– held in Rankin Inlet––brought together more than 50 artists from across Nunavut and other parts of Canada, sharing their knowledge through workshops, traditionalskills demonstrations and exhibitions.

Inuit Culture Online
In 2004, two Nunavut organizations created and launched Web sites showcasing northern Inuit culture. The Pulaarvik Web site (www.pulaarvik.ca), in English, French and Inuktitut, portrays the community of Rankin Inlet, its land and its people. The Najuqsivik Web site (www.najuqsivik.com) in English and Inuktitut, offers a look at life in Sanikiluaq and allows visitors to share in the community's Inuit cultural activities. Canadian Heritage is a proud partner in these online initiatives.

Learning Tools
To support families learning French, Les Petits Nanooks Daycare in Iqaluit created a take-home toolkit for families that provides guidance and support to help children and their parents improve their French skills outside the daycare. Canadian Heritage helped make this vital project possible.

Preserving Inuit Heritage
Canadian Heritage supports the Kitikmeot Heritage Society and the Najuqsivik Society in their efforts to preserve and share the history and culture of Inuit people. Through videoconferencing, exhibitions, publications and archives, museum professionals who specialize in Inuit heritage help capture the experience of community Elders to ensure that their knowledge and cultural traditions are passed on to future generations.