A few months ago, I wrote a note about the abysmal state and location of Nunavik House, I drafted the petition that was then signed by over 200 Nunavimmiut demanding they find a new location.
The area of Notre-Dame-de-Grace that Nunavik House is at present, is one of the most dangerous places in the city of Montreal. The area is crawling with criminal activity; drugs, gangs, cheap motels and seedy bars are everywhere. That place, a place where you can’t walk alone at night, where you can’t escape the pushers and dealers, was the very place we sent our most vulnerable people to live and stay. No wonder there was an uprising, a revolution.. the people, our people, talked among themselves, sharing horror stories and concerns. It started with acceptance, what more could we ask for? We’re being treated by medical professionals in the south with all the newest technology. That quiet acceptance simmered into deep frustration. Why are we being put here? Into these circumstances? That frustration then boiled into anger and genuine fear. This is unacceptable; we have the right to security of person, especially during times of physical fragility.
The Inuit of Nunavik have never suffered for long in silence. We always find our voice at some point and we fight for our rights as Inuit, as Canadians and as human beings. The process is inevitable, we’re nobody’s doormat.
When we received news that Nunavik House will be moved to a safer part of the city, we celebrated. Another battle won, another step in the direction of a healthy society. Now we are being told we’re not welcome? Residents of Rosemont and Villeray launched a vicious, abusive, racist, ignorant campaign against the Nunavik House Project in their community. Their ill informed website (that i personally have not seen) alleged that the coming of Nunavik House would inevitably result in increased crime, drugs, prostitution, and urine smell among other things. Yes, urine smell. I’m no stranger to negative media about Inuit. Believe me, I’ve written post after post about it. But to say that an Inuit residence would bring the smell of urine into your community is, by far the most disgusting, insulting thing I’ve ever heard.
Why is it that the people of Rosemont and Villeray think Inuit would bring these things into their community? We have been begging to leave the very place where those things are abundant. Of course, the only information they hear about the Inuit is how much it sucks to be us. With the suicide rates, high infant mortality, smoking and alcoholism on the front page of every Inuit region, no wonder outsiders assume we’ll bring death and destruction.
When i read the article about Rosemont and Villeray i wanted to be angry. I wanted to become defensive. I wanted to launch a counter-attack on the hurtful message. But the more i think about it, the easier it is to see through their eyes. They don’t know the real story about Inuit –the full story. Inuit have the most gentle hearts, we understand true kindness; we have a beautiful language, we have beautiful art and amazing food. We have so much to offer the world, if they only knew, they would be excited to welcome a new demographic. Inuit could add a whole new cultural dimension to the community. The people of Rosemont and Villeray would no doubt be exposed to some of the most talented artists, to throat singers and elders and big cheeked babies. They could learn the art of the kunik, an Eskimo kiss –the simple joy in the smell of a newborn. They could try nikkuk and the brave ones could try misirak. They would learn so much about fellow Canadians. About people that seem so far removed, but are really, very accessible. The potential for creating peace between Canadian Inuit and their southern counterparts is immense.
Inuit really do have so much to offer, they’ve just been living in fear and uncertainty in NDG. We don’t have the opportunity to spread the beauty in our culture when we’re surrounded by the ugliest parts of urban culture. To the people of Rosemont and Villeray I encourage you to learn more about Inuit, from Inuit. Together, we can create a beautiful mosaic of Canadian culture in the little borough you call home.
what the hell they wait for, this asian man hoy is selling to everyone from nunavik and even patients at hampton. it just goes on and on and nobody do anything about. even all the staff at module they know. somone was busted at hampton yesterday, undercover cop was follow her when she left that place on grand boulavard, when she got to hampton she was arrest. why dont the --ckin police go after the real criminal. these dealers are just goin to follow us wherever they put the new place. even wonder who sends all that green stuff in the mail, no look further. Pov is a mess cause that guy. many go chill at his place and when they become friend, they work for him. police dont care, only for small time dealer, this is jus so werd. it makes me sick to see how incompendant our police are. Now we have to worry about the racist people too.
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