• This month sees the publication of Nunavut Implementation Training Committee's first independent Annual Report, marking their tenth anniversary. Written and edited by Terry Rudden and David Boult, the report is available from NITC (nitckut@arctic.ca), and will be published online at the NITC website at www.nitc.ca . Meanwhile NITC's new website, launched in mid June, has already scored an impressive 25,000 hits.

• Terry Rudden facilitated a visioning and planning session for the staff of Tungasuvvingat Inuit in June. TI is the Ontario Inuit centre based in Ottawa: it provides a broad range of cultural, social and counselling services to Inuit across the province.

• Greg Smith and David Boult are beginning Phase 3 of a long-term project to support the reorganization of the Waswanipi Cree First Nation in James Bay, Québec. During this phase they will be interviewing all staff and management to update job descriptions to match the new organizational structure developed by the Chief and Council.

HAPPY ENDINGS

• If you thought you detected a note of petulant envy from the editor in describing Ron Ryan's workshop with Kakivak in the last issue...you were right.

Kakivak Association is the Community Economic Development Organization and small business arm of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. Their mandate is to help Inuit in the Baffin Region to own and develop their businesses: they also provide training contributions and sponsorship to individuals, organizations and businesses.

Earlier this summer Ron delivered a planning workshop on the land, two hours out of Igloolik. Here's Ron and his travellin' flipchart, in the process of winning the coveted "Coolest Gig of the Year" Award.
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• And under somewhat less exotic circumstances, Ron also facilitated a two day session for the staff and Board of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (NBCC), assessing the mandate, needs and achievements of the NBCC and initiating a planning process to provide a strategy for the organization's future.

• Consilium Nunavut Inc. partners Terry Forth and Fred Weihs, along with CNI staff members Bridget Orsetti and Ryan Lotan, recently completed a business and development plan for Quliruaq Inc., the business development corporation of the Amarok Hunters and Trappers Association in Iqaluit. Development planning focussed first on business and financial management training through a series of workshop sessions over the course of a week, then on strategic planning and further capacity building for the organization. Short and long-term business opportunities were identified, and the Board developed a comprehensive business plan for their priority business project - planning and construction of a commercial office building in Iqaluit to house the HTA, Quliruaq, and another major tenant. The development planning process for Quliruaq Inc. was supported with a financial contribution from Kakivak Association under their Governance, Capacity Building and Accountability Program.

GOSSIP
 

• Here's one of the best pieces of news it's been our pleasure to report in this newsletter to date. ARDOS Vice President Jennifer David took a day off from her busy schedule to give birth to Caleb Jerico David on Thursday, July 17th at 10:47am. Caleb weighed 8lbs 10oz: he, mom, and proud dad Jerico are all doing fine.

• Greg Smith recently had a visit from an old friend from Denmark he last saw in 1967 while working in Vejle, Jutland as a mason’s assistant.  Preben Andreasen now works with Scandinavian Airways, and he and his wife Birgit spent a few days with Greg and Marianne before their obligatory trek to Niagara Falls. Greg and Preben both swear that neither has changed a bit in the past 36 years, as confirmed in this photo of the boys in 1967 (trick photography has enabled us to include their wives Birgit and Marianne).

• Fred Weihs successfully dodged having his birthday mentioned in last year's newsletter. You only get away with that once, Freddy-boy. Friends of Fred can express their esteem and affection by sending him an expensive and tasteful gift on August 9 (a birthday which coincides with the creation of Smokey the Bear by the Forest Service and Wartime Advertising Council.)