The first Inuit resource centre to open in Western Canada held a grand opening to welcome the public through its doors in Winnipeg on May 4.

The Tunngasugit Inuit Resources Centre is located on Sargeant Avenue and is operated by Tunnasugit Inc.

The organizationSA国际影视传媒檚 original executive board is comprised of board members Steve and Jackie Massey, Gail Wallace, Maxine Angoo and Nikki Komaksiutiksaq.

The centreSA国际影视传媒檚 Inuit outreach co-ordinator Maxine Anguk said Tunngasugit Inc. is committed to enhancing the quality of life for Inuit who live in Winnipeg, as well as the many Inuit who come to the city on medical travel throughout the year.

She said It was amazing to see so many Inuit come to see a space they can call their own and, once inside, be surrounded by Inuit art, Inuit food and fellow Inuit.

SA国际影视传媒�Tunngasugit Inc. is focused on achieving its goals at the resource centre by using culturally-relevant programs and services, working through language barriers, and orienting Inuit to southern culture and a new environment,SA国际影视传媒� said Anguk.

SA国际影视传媒�ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not an easy transition when you move from a small town to a big city.

SA国际影视传媒�WeSA国际影视传媒檙e here to help with cultural access, education and programming, as well as ongoing health-and-social-services assistance, and employment-and-income assistance.

SA国际影视传媒�WeSA国际影视传媒檙e also here to help Inuit moving to Winnipeg navigate housing, as well as helping them with child-and-family services when needed and more.SA国际影视传媒�

Anguk said the biggest hit among those attending the grand opening celebration on May 4 was the quaq (frozen caribou).

She said all the quaq they had on-hand was completely gone within the hour.

SA国际影视传媒�Everyone spoke in Inuktitut to each other, and we were all smiling and laughing, which made us feel like we were home in our own communities, SA国际影视传媒� said Anguk.

SA国际影视传媒�I would like to let people know that weSA国际影视传媒檙e in need of donations of meat such as caribou, beluga, fish, seal, etc., and Calm Air doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 charge if people send us country foods. Please get in touch with us if youSA国际影视传媒檙e willing to donate some to us and we can set something up.

SA国际影视传媒�Also, we will be hosting a free concert at the West End Cultural Centre (586 Ellice Avenue) on May 18, with the show scheduled to get underway 7 p.m.

SA国际影视传媒�We will be presenting talented Inuit female performers Nikki Komaksiutiksaq, Anita Issaluk, Aasiva and Angela Amarualik, with our headlining performer set to be Kelly Fraser.SA国际影视传媒�