Speaking to a crowd of just a few hundred spectators, Commissioner Amanda Nurr’araaluk officially opened the Nuiqsut Peace Center. Designed to promote cultural understanding and peace worldwide, the center was built at a total cost of $12.5 billion NKK (11.5 Sanctarian).
The Nuiqsut Peace Center is just the latest action in the sparsely populated state in Southern Neria related to peace and culture. Within Angakkuq, the traditional religion of Nuiqust the preservation of memory is held in high honor as it’s believed artifacts and depiction’s of past events allows one to connect with one’s ancestors. As a result, government policy has favored historical preservation since the 1990s. In addition, the idea of Qaujimajgit is extremely influential. Qaujimajgit favor’s conflict resolution through conservation and shared experiences such as food or simply sharing tea.
The Nuiqust Peace Center which had already included the offices of Qaujimajgit House, a government body designed to promote cooperation, opened in 2023. The Center now includes an indoor event space, conference rooms, and a small hotel. In addition a modern library was built with texts from the National Museum as well as preserved cultural artifacts from Nuiqsut stored in a climate-controlled space. Residents and non-residents alike may request a digital copy of a work or with special permission review a physical copy. The NPC as a organization has already launched several programs such as famine prevention in Mallacaland, public health in rural Nuiqsut and taught cultural awareness class in Slokais Islands. All of these developments and the NPC Organization where created to promote tourism and encourage investment.
The NPC has not been without controversy, as money from Nuiqsut’s Public Investment Fund (NPIF) was used. The NPIF is funded by state-owned Nuiqsut Natural Gas and Petrol (NNGP)’s profits. With money typically being used in the field’s of healthcare, research and in the case of the NPC, new economic driver’s. Founded in 2007, the NPIF has led to considerable growth in standards of living. However the NPC has been characterized as a waste by members of both the Nuiqsut Confederation Party and the Liberal Party. Partially of social grounds and as a taking money away from important services. Regardless, the NPC’s construction was approved by a vote of citizen’s present at 2021 meeting of the Port Nuiqsut Attiuk Council. Several petitions have been requested to halt construction although like most remain in a 2-4 year wait for it to be brought upon the Executive Council. Assemblywoman Cynthia Belaquiak of Port Nuiqust described the NPC as a “waste of valuable NPIF dollars”. Belaquiak is running against Nagallak in the NCP (Nuiqsut Confederation Party) Primary for Commissioner of the Confederation.
Regardless, the Center is now open to the public 8:00 to 18:30 with the NPC declaring itself open to act as a venue for future negations of any kind. Ironically though, the NPC’s first hosted event will be the NCP Party Convention on June 28th.
