Jack Anawak searched for his motherSA国际影视传媒檚 grave for years, mostly trying to track word-of-mouth information offered to him.

Now the has confirmed the location.

Nanilavut officially launched March 8 in Iqaluit when during the tuberculosis epidemic (TB).

Piovaa was taken from Naujaat to the south for medical treatment, at the same time others were heading south for TB treatment, in 1956 when Anawak was six.

SA国际影视传媒淭wo years later, March of 1958, we got word that she had passed away,SA国际影视传媒� Anawak recalled.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey didnSA国际影视传媒檛 tell us where she was buried.SA国际影视传媒�

, he felt he might be getting close to finding her. Most recently, he felt even closer, based on information from a woman AnawakSA国际影视传媒檚 wife Caroline met by chance in Fort QuSA国际影视传媒橝ppelle, Sask.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the resources to really look. So when the Nanilavut program started, I gave them my motherSA国际影视传媒檚 name and disc number. They found her,SA国际影视传媒� said Anawak.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was that place, Oak River Reserve Cemetery. Nanilavut proved it.SA国际影视传媒�

PiovaaSA国际影视传媒檚 grave is NanilavutSA国际影视传媒檚 first success, found within a week of the launch.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd by the way, Trudeau apologized 61 years to the day of my motherSA国际影视传媒檚 death, March 8,SA国际影视传媒� said Anawak.

The date is meaningful to Anawak because his mother has always found ways to communicate with him through encounters with others throughout Nunavut who had known her.

Joanasie Akumalik is Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.SA国际影视传媒檚 Nanilavut project manager. He says at least 15 people have come forward asking for help to find a loved oneSA国际影视传媒檚 grave in the south. The database contains roughly 900 names of Inuit who never returned from TB treatment in the south.

Three graves have officially been matched with searching family members so far, says Akumalik.

He lays out the process.

SA国际影视传媒淯sually, theySA国际影视传媒檒l call me first. Then they start telling the story. It gets emotional,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Akumalik is uniquely suited to do this difficult but rewarding job.  He likens it to detective work. There are multiple spellings of names, and E-numbers can be repeated. Records kept by each cemetery are different.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome of them have good records and some of them donSA国际影视传媒檛. There was a story of an SA国际影视传媒榰nknown EskimoSA国际影视传媒� in Yellowknife. We expected that,SA国际影视传媒� said Akumalik, adding in some cases cremation took place or a location is unknown.

SA国际影视传媒淲e expect that, too,SA国际影视传媒� said Akumalik.

SA国际影视传媒淪o my job is to get that piece of information. I connect the dots to get the proper information. I have to be 100 per cent sure.SA国际影视传媒�

The process can take 10 minutes or a few weeks, depending on many factors, including provincial government response time.

People are relieved when they receive information, and very emotional, Akumalik said. There are mental health supports for those who need it.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the end, it was a feeling of great relief,SA国际影视传媒� said Anawak about PiovaaSA国际影视传媒檚 grave being definitively located.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd almost like euphoria. ISA国际影视传媒檓 still sort of thinking that the real emotional feeling will be when we get to that cemetery.SA国际影视传媒�

Anawak will have help with that, as well, explains Akumalik. Nanilavut funds two airline tickets for family members, accommodations and meals.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome people have asked if NTI can produce a marker if the grave doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a marker. We can do that,SA国际影视传媒� said Akumalik.

Akumalik can also help organize flights, transportation on the ground, hotel reservations, directions to the cemetery, and what to expect once they get to the cemetery.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have plans to go down on June 10th, with my adoptive sister SA国际影视传媒� because she was my adoptive mother SA国际影视传媒� her (PiovaaSA国际影视传媒檚) only daughter,SA国际影视传媒� said Anawak.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just so happy, I want the whole world to know, even though ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure it will be emotional when we get there.SA国际影视传媒�