To offset the cost of living this past winter, Makivvik supplied all Nunavik beneficiary homes with food boxes, both in Nunavik and the Montreal area
Based on numbers provided by KMHB, 4,500 beneficiary households in Nunavik received food boxes in January, purchased from Nunavik Food Service with the transportation cost paid in partnership between Nutrition North Canada and Nunavik Food Service. Air Inuit shipped the boxes, and local firefighters distributed them in each community. Each box contained vacuum sealed meat, which included: 2.8 kg of pork chops, 1.7 kg of ground beef, 1 kg each of roast beef and roast pork, six chicken legs and drumsticks, and two whole chickens. Local firefighters and first responders distributed the boxes in the communities, and Makivvik donated $10,000 to be used for any equipment seen fit for the recognition of sustained Volunteer Fire Fighter efforts.
According to Makivvik’s VP of Economic Development Andy Moorhouse, the country food bought in late December for southern distribution included nine full caribou, more than 750 ptarmigan, and 1,000 lbs of Arctic char. The caribou were harvested by Andy Manuk, Pauloosie Kasudluak, Allie Kasudluak, Aisa Mina, Davidee Naluktuk, Nick Watt, Simeonie Inukpuk, Max Moorhoouse, and Bobby Echalook, all from Inukjuak. The char came from Jaaji Etok from Aupaluk, and the ptarmigan were harvested by Buckley Flemming and Jonah Flemming of Kuujjuaraapik, and Adamie Cain of Kuujjuaq.
Once in Montreal, the huge job of dividing the meat took two days and was executed by Kitty Gordon, Laina Grey, Annie Baron, Betsy Itidloie and Lizzie Crow. Brian Pomerleau and Chris Murovic delivered the meat over about five days to Saturviit Women’s Association and had a pickup location for distribution to surrounding beneficiary families in Vaudreuil.
Meat was also dropped off for Inuit staff at FCNQ Baie D’Urfe, TNI, Student Services at KI, and SQIA. The Inuit staff at Makivvik and KI were invited to pick up their share in the Makivvik parking lot and any Inuit living in the Montreal area could also collect meat at the Makivvik St-Laurent office. The food was also given to Tasiutigiit, Ulluriaq Boys and Girls, and to shelters that serve homeless Inuit, including Projets Autochtones du Quebec, Resilience, Chez Doris, Open Door, and the Native Friendship Centre.
