The Manitoba Urban Inuit Association (MUIA) is helping Inuit students make a smooth transition to urban life. The Winnipeg-based volunteer organization recently released a website and welcome guide for Inuit newcomers.

The project - a collaborative effort of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and MUIA - came from a lack of resources specifically for Inuit people.

Jennifer Sheetoga, a first-year student at Red River College, arrived in Winnipeg in September from Whale Cove, Nunavut. She said the guide helped her find affordable housing.

“I didn’t know the city,” she said.

Jeff Booth, aboriginal student support officer at the University of Winnipeg, said finding housing is one of the major struggles for Inuit and other aboriginal post-secondary students coming to Winnipeg for the first time.

In addition to providing resources on how to find housing, the guide offers advice about medical services, transportation and provides phone numbers and addresses of various other resources.

MUIA president Nichola Batzel said Inuit students face several challenges in the transition to city life.

“It is a huge culture shock,” said Batzel. “You are coming to a city where it is sort of fend for yourselves,” she said, adding that unlike cities, Inuit communities are closely knit.

Sheetoga comes from a community of 350 people. She found Winnipeg’s environment difficult to get used to.

“When I first was in the city my head was just kind of spinning,” she said.

While other aboriginal organizations and centres provide similar resources for newcomers, Batzel stressed the MUIA is trying to create a community just for Inuit within Winnipeg.

“Other Aboriginal organizations are great,” Batzel said. “But we need someplace where Inuit can identify as Inuit.”

Although the organization, formed in 2008, is relatively new, Batzel hopes to eventually have a dormitory for students, as well as a cultural centre where the Inuit community can hold events.

The organization may also help attract more Inuit students to Winnipeg in pursuit of education. Currently there are only four Inuit students enrolled at the U of W.

Booth is optimistic that resources provided by the MUIA will help improve chances of success for Inuit students.

“They need to know what other centres are accessible outside of universities,” he said. “And I think this is one of the things that will benefit them in the long run.”

Visit http://www.manitobainuit.ca to see the guide for Inuit newcomers.

Published in Volume 64, Number 9 of The Uniter (October 29, 2009)