Benoit Aquin
By Nancianne Grey
Monday, December 12, 2011 was the official opening of Avataq’s Montreal office. Avataq Cultural Institute’s hosted a morning event at their Westmount location, honouring the Minister, Mme. Christine St-Pierre of the Quebec Government’s, Ministre de la Culture, des communications et de la Condition féminine. Mme. St-Pierre came to the new office to renew a three-year agreement with Avataq’s President Charlie Arngak, which entails a contribution of $395,000 per year. The importance of the agreement signing and the opening of a new Avataq office, was an attestation of the Quebec government’s long term commitment in support for the Inuit of Nunavik.
Influential political and business Inuit leaders, from Nunavik attended the morning opening and enjoyed a traditional lighting of the qullik shown by Minnie Etidloie, an Avataq board member. A ceremonial cutting of a sealskin rope with a traditional ulu was done, followed by a throat song performance to signify the beginning of a new office and a positive future for Avataq Cultural Institute’s mandate to preserve Inuit culture.
All guests toured the new office and it’s departments, and visually entertained by original carvings, paintings, wall hangings and prints made by Nunavimmiut and proudly displayed from Avataq’s museum reserve collections.
