A new wellness center is coming soon to Pannatung, Nunavut

Panniltung’s first wellness center is preparing to open this month after three years of construction.

The group behind this effort found that there was limited space within the village for community gatherings, such as seal-skin making and preschool programs. Their goal was to create a facility that could be used day and night by her 1,600 residents in Panniltung.

“Once we had the idea, it took a lot of time to plan and find a location. And to make it more successful and useful, we hosted two radio shows for the community. , we asked them what kind of programming they wanted. “We’re providing the wellness and programming that the community wants in terms of what the community needs.” said Co-founder of the upcoming Wellness Center. said Mary Etuangat, a member of the community and co-chair of the community’s Suptit Wellness Committee.

“After we had that consultation, we became very strong that the wellness community petitioned the Ministry of Health and the Village Council to start and find a facility.” [and] Start renovation. ”

They chose a former radio station in the heart of the community, inspired by the center of Kikiktarjuaq.

“When we thought we needed a building, we needed a place to do programming, we heard about the wellness center…We thought, ‘Why not do that? Maybe here in Panniltung? But we might be able to do that,’” said Delia Young, a hamlet trustee and co-founder of the proposed wellness center.

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Funded by the Ministry of Health, the Suputiit Wellness Committee has traditionally been tasked with community health, mental health, preschool, antenatal, and food programs. They secured an annual budget of $365,000 over the next five years to support the new center’s efforts.

Hamlet Mayor Eric Lawler said he would like to see more youth programming, which he claims was needed after the local youth center closed several years ago due to lack of funding. He believes it is a much-needed community space and said the hamlet is considering upgrading several other facilities to further increase capacity.

Courtney Cox, executive director of the Siribic Drop-in Center in Panniltung, said the wellness center’s programs complement those she is helping oversee, as well as the Nunavut recovery center being built in Iqaluit. He said it would become a thing. Her Cyrivic Center opened in 2020 and offers everything from Alcoholics Anonymous to prenatal nutrition to women’s sewing. It provides a safe and calming place for families and also hosts movie nights for children.

“I think we’re bridging a gap in the community. There may be nights where someone comes in because their home isn’t safe,” Cox said. “The next night, a guy might come in who doesn’t have a place to stay that night. Every night, we’re able to meet different needs in the community. So it’s like a multi-purpose building. .”

Cox said the center can get very busy, with up to 400 people coming through the doors each month, so the Wellness Center will assist and take over some of the programs, making more time available for other initiatives such as therapeutic camps. He says it will save you a lot of space. outside the community. She hopes the Nunavut Recovery Center will be able to offer counseling and other services when it opens in 2025.

“We can start here and plant seeds and they can work on additional services,” Cox said. “It’s needed in every community.”