New, larger resource centre for Inuit living in Winnipeg 'makes my heart happy,' CEO says

A non-profit offering services for Inuitliving in Winnipeg has now opened the doors of its new location for drop-ins.

Clients of the TunngasugitInuit Resource Centre can now go to its centre at618 Selkirk Ave.to access everything from laundry services tocomputers theycan use to search for housing or jobs.

Tunngasugit moved to the new 18,000-square-footlocation the former home of the Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Branchin the William Whyte neighbourhood after receiving $1 million from the federal government.

CEONikki Komaksiutiksaksaid Thursday the centre'sprevious location onSargent Avenue was considerably smaller: about 1,200 square feet, or roughlythe size of a two-bedroom house.

"I want to cry every single time I see a community member walking in and their jaws are dropping on the floor because they see the [new] space," she said.

"They are just amazed and floored, and they just cannot believe that this space is for them."

The centre is currently open for drop-ins Mondays to Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The plan is to roll outa full slate of community offerings come September, includingworkshops on sewing and other traditional crafts,Inuktitut language programming for children, and supports for people working towardhealing and wellness.

Komaksiutiksaksaid up to 150 people could show up for the centre's drop-in services on a given day.

"It's really important for us to have a common place forInuit to come tofeel like they're being supported," she said.

"It just makes my heart happy to know that my community is finally being taken care of, that they're being supported, that we are being recognized as Inuit people, as Canadians."

Building relationships

Aleatra Sammurtokis helping conduct a survey forTunngasugitto identify systemic barriers to services for Inuit in Manitoba.

On Thursday, she enjoyed muktuk, an Inuit delicacy of whale skin and blubber one of the country foods provided at the centre for that day's drop-in.

The centre "helps with all sorts of resources through getting the community together and helping Inuit families coming from the North," Sammurtok said.

"There's a lot of Inuit that do live here in Winnipeg," and the centre helps them find housing, health-care and transportation, she said.

Kelli Hickes-Makayak said she's been participating in events at the centre for about four years now, having worked forTunngasugit for one summer, helping people write resumes and doing things like mock job interviews.

Hickes-Makayak, who is set to finish Grade 12 come January,said the most important thing the centre does is reconnecting Inuitwith their community.

"In Nunavut, we gather together all the time. And now that we're living in Winnipeg, it's a little bit different. We're very separated,"she said.

"I think the second-biggest thing is definitely that country food. We need that country food."

Winnipeg's Inuit community 'amazed and floored' by new centre

28 days ago

Duration 2:01

Tunngasugit, which supports Inuit living in Winnipeg, has opened the doors to a bigger resource centre, allowing the organization to offer more programs.