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Adapting the Pivallianiq program to the realities of COVID-19

Pivallianiq overview

The Pivallianiq program aims to develop sound home maintenance habits and inspire a movement for the beautification and preservation of living quarters in the 14 communities of Nunavik in Northern Quebec. The program was launched in 2012, and has been managed since then by Yvan Loubier, Vice-president of Major projects and the NATIONAL team in Quebec City.

The program is based on three components:

  1. The Makeover Team, comprised of 12 Inuit agents who visit Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau tenants and provide maintenance advice based on an ecological maintenance guide produced by NATIONAL

  2. The permanent vandalism awareness campaign for teenagers carried out by four community workers through music, sport and creative activities in the most challenging communities

  3. The Nanuk workshops which target Grade 5 elementary students and raise their awareness, through artistic activities, of the importance of maintaining a safe and orderly home while protecting resources and the environment

In addition to these three components, fire prevention and youth suicide prevention campaigns are also sponsored and supervised by our colleague. All communications produced under this program are trilingual: Inuktitut, French and English.

However, the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 forced the suspension of regular activities. The NATIONAL team in Quebec City decided to adapt and redefine the Pivallianiq program in just a few days to enable its mission to continue in virtual mode.

Community workers were called upon to produce an impressive range of videos designed for youth and posted on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. The Nanuk host was invited to continue the workshops on digital platforms to keep reaching Nunavimmiut youth in all three languages.

The Pivalliniaq agents also continued their educational mission by producing information videos on home maintenance. Finally, artists from Nunavik joined the program to enrich the activities and comfort the Nunavik children, teenagers and families during these difficult times.

The calls to young people were heard: they continued to participate in the Pivallianiq movement and contributed to the virtual animations.