High charter costs mean fewer students attending Inuvik Pride

Some students across the Beaufort Delta won’t be able to attend Pride activities in Inuvik this year due to a delay in funding and the expense of charter flights.

During an interview Monday, Jacqui Currie, a health and wellness consultant with the Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Council, told Cabin Radio organizers had not yet received confirmation on some third-party funding. An annual grant from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs organizers were waiting on was approved later the same day.

According to Currie, the timing of funding decisions and the need to confirm travel arrangements well in advance has limited the number of visiting students East Three Secondary School is able to bring to Inuvik this year.

In previous years, Pride events in Inuvik have hosted between 15 and 25 students from outside communities. This year, Currie said, the school expects that number to drop to around six to eight visiting students.

“I think the event is still going to be really big and we’ll still have hundreds out for the Pride parade as we usually do. It’s just a lower number of students coming in from the communities,” she said.

Ulukhaktok is expected to be one of the communities most affected by the reduced travel.

Currie said the cost of charter flights has risen to the point where they are no longer a practical option. She added that increased fuel and overall transportation costs have made it financially not feasible to continue using charters in the same way as in past years.

Currie said students will be preparing care packages to send across the region, allowing youth to take part in Pride celebrations in their own communities. The packages are expected to include rainbow-themed fidget items, patches, flags and custom Pride hoodies designed by students.

“I think for the community it’s going to look really similar,” she said.

“It’s just going to be a few less community kids, but I think it’s still going to be a great celebration. We’re doing a lot of fun things. It’s just a really great time to highlight the importance of celebrating and making sure that vulnerable sector really feels supported and connected to community.”

Marissa Gilmour, president of the Inuvik Pride Society, said they are exploring options to address funding issues that are preventing students in other communities from participating.

“This experience for the students at the school is different than for the students from those communities because they historically have come to Inuvik for Pride and are not getting that opportunity this year,” said Gilmour.

Festivities are set to begin in Inuvik on May 31 with a volunteer sign-making session for the Pride parade. The drop-in event, which is open to everyone, will run from 1-3pm and supplies will be provided.

During Pride week, a screening of the animated film Nimona is set take place June 8 at the community centre. Gilmour said the movie follows two queer main characters who are separated after one is falsely accused of a crime and must fight evil to reunite.

The Inuvik Pride parade, organized by the Queer Straight Alliance at East Three Secondary School, will take place June 10 at 5:30pm starting from Ingamo Hall, followed by a community barbecue and a community art project.

Gilmour also said this year’s Pride festivities received support from the Northern Mosaic Network, Videa, Town of Inuvik, Inuvik Community Greenhouse and Inuvik Youth Centre.

Celebrations will continue June 13 with an event at the greenhouse featuring a barbecue, scavenger hunt, trivia, art activities, face painting and a quiet reading area for younger children.

According to Gilmour, this year’s events reflect a stronger focus on programming for families and children.

“We haven’t had a family-oriented event so that’s our focus for this year. I’m excited to have an event where we get to see all the kids running around as well,” said Gilmour.