Press release
Montreal, October 4, 2012 – Jobie Tukkiapik, President of Makivvik and Joey Saganash, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Projets Autochtones Québec (PAQ) signed today a partnership agreement to support Inuit men and women who are in a vulnerable situation or homeless in Montreal.
The purpose of the agreement is to establish formal collaboration between Makivvik, an organization that represents the 10,000 Inuit of Nunavik, northern Quebec, and Projets Autochtones Québec, a shelter for Aboriginals in Montreal. Funding for this agreement has been secured by Makivvik with the support of the Kativik Regional Agreement.
The signing of this partnership agreement will enable PAQ, amongst other things, to hire an Inuit Street Case Worker who will provide support to the Inuit men and women in their difficulties and in their efforts to transition away from life on the streets.
A for the Chairman of PAQ, Joey Saganash: “The signing of this partnership agreement with Makivvik greatly enhances PAQ’s objectives. PAQ has been at the heart of Aboriginal needs for over 8 years. Things happen for a reason, the hard part is realizing what that reason is. So let’s keep moving forward, always believing in ourselves and in the men and women we serve”.
As for the President of Makivvik, Jobie Tukkiapik: “The causes of Inuit homelessness are rooted in northern regions, including Nunavik. Nunavik Inuit have experienced drastic changes in the last 60 years which had and are having major impacts on our people: nomadic life to permanent communities; high level of suicide, high school dropout, major violence and poverty. Inuit are dealing with an historical trauma, the cumulative effect of massive social change forced on the Inuit over a very short period of time”.
In the continuation of the development of its strategy and action plan on Inuit homelessness, Makivvik will continue its discussions and work closely with other Inuit organizations, institutions and groups providing social services to the homeless in Montreal, the City of Montreal, the governments of Quebec and Canada, and the private sector.
For Makivvik, preventing Inuit homelessness is the most important objective to be achieved, and that means to try to meet the basic needs of these Inuit by providing adequate housing for Inuit men, women and children, adequate income and integration efforts, and provision of adequate support services, including the establishment of social and cultural networks, promotion of healthy lifestyles, assist Inuit in adjusting to life in an urban environment, availability of country food, services for the children.
-30-
For additional information:
Kitty Gordon
Communications Officer
Makivvik
514-745-8880
kgordon@makivik.org
Adrienne Campbell
Director
Projets Autochtones Québec
514-386-8366
Paq.direction@gmail.com