If you build it, they will come

A purely informative, educational piece today (that's probably lost me at least half my audience):

Yesterday saw the official opening of the new building for the Unaaq Men's Association (UMA) here in Inukjuak. The UMA is a group that is dedicated to teaching traditional and/or practical skills to the youth of the town, and this new building provides them with the facilities to do just that.

The construction of the building was undertaken by students from my school, Nunavimmi Pigiursavik, who worked under the supervision of their teachers and gained excellent experience in their chosen trades. There was an existing skeleton of a run down shack, and the students installed dry walls, plumbing and an electricity supply as well as setting up the equipment that would be used by the UMA.

Despite temperatures that dipped below -40 with windchill, a sizeable crowd gathered outside the building for the official opening ceremony, and the ceremonial rope (no ribbons here!) was cut by Adamie Niviaxie, the 'oldest elder' of Inukjuak. It is very heartening to see the skills learned by the students being put to positive use, and one would hope that the pride that has been generated here will spur them on in their studies and their future careers.