Kivalliq News, Sept. 6, 2023 edition

How much environmental control do we need? Where ideology and pragmatism duel

Do you thrive under a strict boss or an easygoing one?

Are you able to control your temptations through sheer willpower, or do a collection of restraints help keep you in check?

And if you can’t control yourself, should you assume the same is true for the people around you?

For everyone, it’s different, and the circumstances in Rankin Inlet are certainly different than small-town British Columbia or wherever else.

In the Rankin Inlet beer and wine store debate, one side wants the facility shut down completely, saying the social ills and temptations are too great to manage; the opposite side invokes freedom of choice and puts the onus on individuals to make of it what they may.

Putting aside the tangible concerns from the RCMP and other organizations about resource levels, the debate is interesting ideologically and quickly reveals people’s backgrounds and upraising.

Those who come from a libertarian perspec-

tive believe choice should be available and the responsibility is on the individuals and community to manage any consequences. From the nanny-state side, the case is made that there are simply too many people who are unable to make a positive choice that the option shouldn’t exist. In the former, bad apples come with the territory; in the latter, bad apples spoil the bunch.

Conceptually and morally, I side with the libertarian ideals of free choice and personal responsibility; but pragmatically, I find I work best with a whip-cracking boss and am my healthiest when Starbucks, Boston Pizza and the like aren’t in driving distance. Far be it for me, though, to dictate how others should be controlled.

But I come from a background with a very different experience to Rankin Inlet. Many people in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and beyond have explained to me their take on the matter: that

though they may personally support free choice, the collective experiences of trauma and residential school have created an environment in which healthily limiting oneself is simply out of the question for many.

One person here, on a path of sobriety, shared with me that the beer and wine store made their journey much more difficult.

“A lot of people were able to fight it for the first few months but they’ve ended up having relapses or are full-blown back into drinking too much too often,” they told me at the time, going on to explain that many in the North are too “damaged” to be able to control their alcohol intake.

That’s not a situation where someone like me should advocate for what the terms ought to be. All I can say is when I was younger, I supported a freedom-centric approach to let the chips fall where they may, but as I age, I increasingly appreciate environmental re-

straints to keep me in line.

When it comes to Rankin Inlet, there’s a rather clear happy medium emerging between the two sides: investments in treatment facilities.

The town voted for the beer and wine store. There are many people who want to drink socially without climbing through mail-order hoops. At the same time, there is a lot of trauma associated with alcohol, whose negative effects impact more than just the drinkers.

So, let the people who can drink socially do so, while building the facilities and supports for those who can’t.

Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done in a territory that can’t house, can’t hire, can’t keep health centres open, can’t maintain clean water and can only barely hang on as a functioning jurisdiction.

In the meantime, I agree with the calls for the community to manage itself. Those who are passionate about keeping alcohol away from kids, homes and community events need to take social policing into their own hands.

Laws are one way to deal with problems. A softer and healthier way is social regulation.

METHOD

If you’re from the Nunavut and have a great photo that showcases life On-the-Land in your community, we’d love to see it!

Submit your entries by email to photocontests@nnsl.com each week by 4 p.m. Thursday,and we’ll randomly select the weekly winner of $100. Please include “On the Land” in the subject line, along with the location and your name in the email. We will publish the winning photos on our website and in the newspaper the following week!

Photos may be used in NNSL publications. Photos must be of the Nunavut, must be able to accept e-transfer to participate in this contest.

THANK

STEWART BURNETT

Did we get it wrong?

Kivalliq News is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Kivalliq News, call (867) 6453223 and ask to speak to the editor, or email kivalliqnews@nnsl. com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

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Kugaaruk Naujaat

AROUND Kivalliq

with Stewart Burnett

Changes in health department

Kivalliq-Manitoba connection has room to grow

Sanikiluaq

Nunavut

Minister of Health John Main assigned Dr. Jasmine Pawa as acting chief public health officer (CPHO) and Dr. Ekua Agyemang as deputy chief public health officer Aug. 28. Pawa is leading the office during Dr. Sean Wachtel’s extended leave.

The chief public health officer, deputy chief public health officer and medical health officers work with a small team of public health staff, some of whom have been in their roles for more than 10 years. This collaborative approach allows for the best possible public health practice, stated the government in a news release.

“It is with great pleasure and a warm heart that I welcome these individuals to their roles,” stated Main. “Both are well versed in public health services and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Michael Patterson for his acting role as CPHO. Dr. Patterson is returning to full-time work at the Qikiqtani General Hospital. As we continue to resource the Chief Public Health Office of Nunavut, we strengthen our collective commitment to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Nunavummiut.”

Senior management changes

Nunavut

Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced changes to the Government of Nunavut’s senior management team Aug. 28.

Kristie Cronin joins the GN as deputy minister of Human Resources, effective Aug. 28. Cronin comes to her new role with 25 years of experience in the field of human resources, most recently with the County of Essex in Ontario, where she led staff in difficult times of transition.

“The Department of Human Resources is integral to ensuring our government’s Katujjiluta mandate is successful. Ms. Cronin will be tasked with leading our efforts to find and keep the skilled and talented people we need to create a better future for all Nunavummiut,” stated Akeeagok in the news release.

Les Hickey, deputy minister of Human Resources since May 2022, returns to the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Assistant comptroller general Alma Power, who has served as acting deputy minister this summer, will return to the Department of Finance.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Hickey and Ms. Power for their dedicated service to the Department of Human Resources and our government as a whole,” stated Akeeagok.

The Office of the Premier welcomed Michele LeTourneau as press secretary. LeTourneau has more than 25 years of experience in the North in not-for-profit and government sector communications, and as a journalist.

“Through Ms. LeTourneau, my office will ensure Nunavummiut stay informed about the work cabinet is doing to fulfill the Katujjiluta mandate,” stated Akeeagok.

“I’d like to thank Beth Brown for her professional devotion as press secretary over the past year, serving both my office and all Nunavummiut diligently.”

ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᑦ,

Chambers

commerce connect to forge closer relationship

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

The economic connection between Manitoba and the Kivalliq isn’t new, but Chuck Davidson thinks there’s room to grow it.

“It’s one of those things that you need to continue to develop,” said Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.

He and a dozen or so stakeholders from Manitoba businesses, governments and other organizations were touring Rankin Inlet last week to connect with the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce and develop the economic relationship between the two jurisdictions.

“We think we can build on those relationships,” said Davidson. “This is an opportunity to do exactly that.”

Since Covid paused many similar connections, Davidson was glad to be back in Rankin Inlet to breathe some life into this relationship.

“It’s great to say that you’re going to have a relationship, but part of that relationship means you’ve got to go visit sometimes as well,” he said, adding it’s not good enough to just invite people to Winnipeg all the time.

That said, the August visit to Rankin Inlet also served to prepare for a Winnipeg connection scheduled for February, where the Kivalliq chamber will be travelling south for a business conference.

“Before you can start doing business with someone, you need to have a relationship,” said Davidson.

Particularly, he thinks there’s room to rebuild Manitoba as a supply port to the Kivalliq, instead of having so many goods and services coming up from Quebec.

Patrick Tagoona, president of the Kivalliq chamber, said it’s hard to put a number on the economic value of the Kivalliq-Manitoba connection, but it must be in the hundreds of millions.

“This was a good exchange opportunity for us to have some good discussion and some education for them as well as to what’s happening in the Kivalliq,” he said about the meetings in Rankin Inlet.

“Manitoba is the natural corridor for Kivalliq for a long time, so the Manitoba-Kivalliq relationship goes way back.”

He also mentioned discussions around increasing utilization of the Churchill port to send products up to the Kivalliq.

For Davidson, the meetings last week weren’t a one-and-done, but the start of a new connection.

ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᒃᑐᑦ ᒪᓂᑐᐸᒥᐅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᓄᑕᖑᖏᓚᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓇᒃ ᑕᐃᕕᑦᓴᓐ ᐃᓱᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᕈᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ.

‘’ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᑲᔪᓯᖁᓗᒍ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᓂᖅ.’’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐃᕕᑦᓴ, ᐃᓱᒪᑕᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎ ᒪᓂᑐᐸ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓄᑦ. ᐱᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᓂᑐᐸᒥ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᓕᕆᔩᑦ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕿᒃᓯᓇᓱᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐳᓚᕋᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᐊᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕙᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᕝᕕᑦ.

‘’ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᖂᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᕿᓯᓗᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ,’’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐃᕕᑦᓴ. ‘’ᑕᒪᓇ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅ.’’

ᓄᕙᖕᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᓄᖃᖓᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᖏᓐᓂ, ᑕᐃᕕᑦᓴ ᐱᑯᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧ ᐊᕿᒃᓯᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ.

‘’ᐱᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕿᓯᓇᓱᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ

ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᑎᐊᕈᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓚᖃᕆᐊᓕᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᒍᕕ ᐳᓚᕋᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᖅ ᐃᓚᓂᒃᑯᑦ,’’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓚᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᑐᐃᓐᓇᖢᓂ ᓇᒪᖏᒻᒪ ᐅᐃᓂᐱᒃᒧ ᖃᖓᓕᒪ.

ᐱᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒌᓯ ᐳᓚᑕᖓ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᐃᓂᐱᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᕐᒥ ᐊᕿᓯᓗᓂ ᕕᕗᐊᕆᒧᑦ, ᑕᐃᑯᖓ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᖃᖓᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᒧᑦ. ‘’ᐱᒋᐊᒪᐅᖏᓂᕐᓂ ᐃᖃᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ,’’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐃᕕᑦᓴᓐ. ᐱᔪᒪᓪᓗᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᓂᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑐᖃᖅᑕᕐᕕᒃᑕᕆᓗᑎᒍ ᒪᓂᑐᐸ ᐱᖁᑎᕐᔪᐊᑕᕐᕕᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓗᕐᒧ, ᐱᖏᖓᕐᓗᑕ

ᐱᖁᑎᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᑯᐸᐃᑯᓐᓂ.

ᐸᑐᓕᒃ ᑕᕈᓇ, ᐃᓱᒪᑕᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦᒪ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᓕᖅᓯᓂᖅ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ

ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕ-ᒪᓂᑐᐸ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᑭᑐᔪᖁᖅᑐᖅ ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑕᓚᒐᓴᖕᓄᑦ. ‘’ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐅᖅᓯᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᑎᓵᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᑦᑎᐊᕙᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᕐᕕᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᑕᐃᑯᓄᖓᑕᐅᖅ

ᖃᓄᐃᐸᓕᐊᔪᓪᓗ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ,’’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ‘’ᒪᓂᑐᐸ ᐊᖁᓵᕐᕕᒃᑎᐊᕙᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ, ᐱᓪᓗᒋ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᓂᑐᐸ-ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅ

ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑦᑎᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ.’’

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᑐᕈᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᑐᑎᐅ ᑐᖅᑲᖅᑕᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔨᓗᑎ ᐱᖁᑎᕐᔪᐊᓂ ᑭᕙᓕᕐᒧ. ᑕᐃᕕᑦᓴᓐᒧ, ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᐱᑐᐃᓇᐅᓚᐅᖏᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᒡᓗᓂᓗ, ᐱᒋᐊᑦᑎᐊᑲᓂᕋᓱᖕᓂᖅ.

Business leaders, education professionals and an array of stakeholders from Manitoba gather with Kivalliq representatives in the Kivalliq Regional Visitor’s Centre during their tour of the community Wednesday, Aug. 30. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Crowd comes out for lacrosse ᐃᓂᒋᐊᑦ ᖃᐃᕗᑦ ᐱᖑᐊᕆᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓚᑯᐊᔅ

ᐱᖑᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᐳᑦ

Players face off in a scrimmage game. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Grizzly camp proves popular

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

Jon Tagoona had never played lacrosse outside of a few times in gym class.

“It’s a pretty fun sport though,” he remarked as the three-day workshops, which he was instructing, were wrapping up in Rankin Inlet Thursday, Aug. 31.

“I wish we had it as a kid here, but it’s good that these kids get it now.”

The Grizzly lacrosse camp taught skills and drills and included game sessions for different age groups, from U7 to U18.

“It’s about introducing a new sport that’s not really common here and getting kids involved in more sports,” said Tagoona.

He said the youth enjoyed the camp.

“They were telling me how fun it is. The kids come up and say, ‘Oh this is so much fun. I’ve never really played this before.’ It’s nice to introduce them to something new.”

The camp has been running annually for several years.

ᔭᓐ ᑕᒍᓇ ᐱᖑᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᖅ ᓚᑯᐊᔅᒥ ᓯᓚᒥ. ‘’ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐱᖑᐊᖅᖢᒍ,’’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ

ᐱᖓᓱᓄᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕿᑎᓪᓗᒋ, ᑲᒪᒋᔭᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ, ᐱᐊᓂᓕᖅᑐᒍ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᕿᑎᖁ ᐊᒋᓯ

‘’ᐱᑕᖃᓚᐅᕈᓂᓕ ᓄᑕᕋᐅᑎᓪᓗᑕ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᖏᑦᑐᖅ ᒪᓇ ᓄᕼᕋ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ.’’

ᑯᕆᔅᓕ ᓚᑯᐊᔅ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᓕᖏᓐᓂᓪᓗ , ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᖑᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᑭᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄ, U7 ᐊᒪᓗ U18. ‘’ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐱᖑᐊᕈᓯᖅ ᐊᑐᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᖅ ᓄᑕᖃᓄᑦ ᑭᑯᓕᒪᓄᑦ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᖑᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᑕᓂᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑕᖃᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ.

‘’ᐅᖃᑲᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑎᒋᓂᖓᓂ.

ᓄᑕᖃ ᖃᐃᕙᒃᖢᑎ ᐅᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᑐ

ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᓂᑦ. ᐱᖑᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᖏᑕᕋ, ᐊᓕᐊᓇᑦᑐᖅ ᐱᖑᐊᕆᐅᖅᖢᓂ.

ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕋᒍᒐᓴᖕᓄᑦ.

Jon Tagoona, camp instructor, hurls the ball down the field for players to chase after.

Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Siksik pushes past the defender to look

Matoo Tartak shoots on a breakaway. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL

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Festival by the Lake

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Many residents gathered for Baker Lake’s Festival by the Lake, held over the Labour Day weekend. The event featured performances, games, guest talent and much more.

Spectators take their seats for the festivities in Baker Lake. Daniel Tapatai photo

Daniel Kingunkotok competes in the arm pull. Daniel Tapatai photo Rick Aningaat throatsings with Elisha Kamimmalik during the talent show held by the youth council. Daniel Tapatai photo

Sleepy the Clown performs a set. Daniel Tapatai photo

Ricky Putumiraqtuq reaches on an Alaskan High Kick. Daniel Tapatai photo