Above & Beyond | Canada's Arctic Journal Nov-Dec 2011

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Canada’s Arctic Journal

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Scott Bateman / y√5 Xw5m8 President & C.E.O., First Air xzJ6√6 x7m xsM5tp7mE, {5 wsf8k5 Le président et directeur général, First Air

Pita Aatami / „b ≈bu President, Makivik Corporation & Chairman, First Air xzJ6√6, mrF4 fxS‰nzk5 x7m w4y?sb6, {5 wsf8k5 Président, Corporation Makivik et président du conseil, First Air

As the year draws to a close ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐊᓂᒍᕐᓂᐅᓴᓕᕐᒥᑎᓪᓗᒍ

Comme l’année tire à sa fin

Together, with Qikiqtani First Aviation and Sakku First Aviation, we look back on the positive contributions made, partnerships forged, and opportunities provided as the year 2011 draws to a close.

ᐊᑕᖏᕐᓗᑕ, ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᒃᑯ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅ, ᐊᕐᕌᒎᓚᐅᖅᑑᑉ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᒪᓚᐅᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑲᐅᓈᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓗᑕ, ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐊᕌᒍ 2011 ᐊᓂᒍᕐᓂᐅᓴᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

Comme l’année 2011 tire à sa fin, nous examinons nos contributions positives, nos partenariats établis et les possibilités que nous avons fournies, de concert avec Qikiqtani First Aviation et Sakku First Aviation.

We were proud to be the primary sponsors in many sporting, educational and cultural events this year, and will continue to demonstrate our support with sponsorship initiatives. This annual commitment to events culminates with the largest events taking place at the start of the holiday season with the Qikiqtani First Aviation Charity Gala in Iqaluit on November 26th and the Sakku First Aviation Charity Gala in Rankin Inlet on December 10th. These events will generate tens of thousands of dollars for charitable organizations and grass-roots programs in the Kivalliq and Baffin regions.

ᐅᐱᒍᓱᑉᐳᒍᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᕋᑦᑕ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᖅᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᕌᒍᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᔪᓯᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᒍᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕆᕙᑦᑕᑎᓐᓂ. ᐊᕌᒍᑕᒫᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᖃᑦᑕᕋᑦᑕ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᐸᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᒪᐅᓇ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅ ᓄᐊᓴᐃᓯᓐᓈᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂ ᓅᕙᐃᕝᕙ 26ᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᒃᑯ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅ ᓄᐊᓴᐃᓯᓐᓈᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓐᓇᖅ ᑲᖏᖦᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑏᓰᕙ 10ᖑᓕᖅᐸᑦ. ᑖᑯᐊᓗ ᓄᐊᓴᐃᒻᒪᕆᓲᖑᒪᑕ ᑕᐅᓴᓐᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᐸᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐅᕙᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒻᒥ.

Nous sommes fiers d’avoir été les principaux commanditaires de nombreuses activités sportives, éducationnelles et culturelles cette année, et nous continuerons de faire preuve de notre soutien par des initiatives de commandite. Cet engagement annuel dans le cadre d’activités culmine par les plus importantes activités qui auront lieu au début de la saison des Fêtes avec le gala de charité de Qikiqtani First Aviation à Iqaluit, le 26 novembre, et celui de Sakku First Aviation à Rankin Inlet, le 10 décembre. Ces activités visent à générer des dizaines de milliers de dollars pour les organismes caritatifs et les programmes de base dans les régions de Kivalliq et de Baffin.

The predecessor event, First Air President’s Charity Ball which began in 2000, has raised over $500,000 for charities focused on protecting and enhancing quality of life for people in the North such as the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line (suicide prevention). Throughout my travels across the North I have been impressed by the dedication of many community groups who are addressing the important social issue of suicide.

The Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line provides group and individual training, counseling and workshops with volunteers and limited resources. Our ability to raise funding and awareness for suicide prevention is key to sustaining this much needed service and to getting young people the help they need to live a healthy life.

First Air is committed to helping northern youth. We have created jobs, provided training and educational support under our Sivurariaqnik Program. In 2012 First Air, in collaboration with our partners, will continue to provide the resources and focus to assist more northern youth develop the skills and awareness for aviation career opportunities. Our Sivurariaqnik Program will bring additional training programs and opportunities in the communities we serve.

We remain focused on continuous improvement and delivering value. Together with our partners, we will continue to raise the standard in Northern aviation and remain committed to meeting the needs of our customers and the communities we serve. Thank you for your support.

ᑭᖑᓕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᕐᓕ, First Air ᐊᖏᔪᖅᑳᖓᑕ ᓄᐊᓴᐃᓯᓐᓈᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᑯ 2000ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᐊᓴᐃᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᑯᓪᓕ $500,000ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᕗᒧᐊᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᓂ ᐆᑦᑑᑎᒋᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑲᒪᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᕕᐅᔪᖅ (ᐃᒻᒥᓃᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ). ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᑦᑐᖓ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᖓ ᔪᓂᒃ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑲᒪᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᕕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑕᖏᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᕙᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᒐᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓲᓗᐊᕋᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖏᑦ. ᐅᔾᔨᕆᕙᕗᑦ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓ ᓄᐊᓴᐃᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᐃᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᒍᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᖓ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᕕᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᓱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖃᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

First Air ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓯᕗᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᓂᖓ ᐃᓅᓱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ. ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᑦᓴᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᐅᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒪᐅᓇ ᓯᕗᕋᕆᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓᑎᒍᑦ. 2012ᖑᓕᖅᐸᓪᓗ First Air, ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᑲᔪᓯᓂᐊᖅᑯᒍᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕆᕙᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᕌᖅᓂᕗᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓂᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐱᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᐃᓯᓐᓈᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖑᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᓯᕗᕋᕆᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕙᑦᑕᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ. ᐊᑦᓱᕉᑎᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᒐᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᓂᒋᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᐊᑕᐅᑦᓯᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᖁᕝᕙᐃᒋᐊᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᖓᑕᕕᒋᔨᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓯᒍᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐱᒍᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᖅᐸᑦᑕᑎᓐᓂᒃ. ᓇᑯᕐᒦᒍᒪᕙᕗᑦ ᓇᖏᖅᓯᖃᑕᐅᕙᒃᑲᑦᓯ.

L’activité précédente, le gala de charité du président de First Air qui a été inauguré en 2000, a recueilli plus de 500 000 $ pour les organismes caritatifs visant à protéger et améliorer la qualité de vie des habitants du Nord, comme la Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line (prévention du suicide). Au cours de mes voyages d’un bout à l’autre du Nord, j’ai été très impressionné par le dévouement des nombreux groupes communautaires qui abordent la question sociale importante relative au suicide. La Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line fournit de la formation en groupe et individuelle, ainsi que des conseils et des ateliers par l’entremise de bénévoles, malgré des ressources limitées.

Notre capacité de prélever des fonds et de sensibiliser les personnes en vue de prévenir le suicide est essentielle au soutien de ce service indispensable et à fournir aux jeunes l’aide dont ils ont besoin pour vivre sainement.

First Air s’est engagé à aider les jeunes du Nord. Nous avons créé des emplois, fourni de la formation et de l’encadrement pédagogique dans le cadre de notre programme Sivurariaqnik. En 2012, First Air, en collaboration avec ses partenaires, continuera de fournir les ressources et l’attention nécessaires pour aider les jeunes du Nord à perfectionner leurs compétences et à les sensibiliser aux possibilités de carrières en aéronautique.

Sivurariaqnik présentera des programmes de formation et des possibilités supplémentaires dans les collectivités que nous desservons.

Nous demeurons continuellement axés sur l’amélioration et la prestation de services valables. De concert avec nos partenaires, nous continuerons de hausser les normes de l’aviation dans le Nord et nous restons engagés à répondre aux besoins de nos clients et des collectivités que nous desservons. Nous vous remercions de votre soutien.

ᐱᒻᒪᕿᐅᑎᑦᑕᕗᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓯ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᕘᔅᑦ ᐃᐅᒃᑯᑦ, ᖃᖓᑕᔫᖁᑎᖓᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᑕᖅᑐᒥᑦ.

We value your support and thank you for making First Air, THE AIRLINE OF THE NORTH. Nous apprécions votre soutien et vous remercions de votre appui à First Air, LA LIGNE AÉRIENNE DU NORD.

Summer Opportunities

ᐆ ᐊᖅᐱᒃ / Oo Aqpik ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎ, ᑐᓴᕋᖅᓴᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᖏᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖅ Intern, Marketing Special Projects

ᑖᓂᐅ ᐊᓇᐅᑕᒃ / Daniel Anautak ᖃᖓᑕᓲᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑎᖑᐊᑦ / Air Cadet

First Air Focus ᕗᔅ ᑎᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑕᑯᒋᐊᕐᓂᖅ

Two young people joined the First Air team this summer to share their skills while learning more about careers in aviation. aniel joined the First Air maintenance team in Iqaluit in March job shadowing two nights a month. Daniel’s keen interest and mechanic skills were quickly noticed and he began to gain more hours and experience, securing a part-time position for the summer.

D

During his apprenticeship, Daniel participated in the performance of various maintenance tasks on both the ATR42 and B737 aircraft. He assisted with a propeller blade replacement and main landing gear installation on the ATR42, both challenging tasks. Daniel also assisted the maintenance crew perform a Jet engine run-up to confirm the engine is performing properly, and helped service an oleo, the shock absorbing portion of the landing gear.

Daniel returned to school this fall and is back with the Cadet’s while still working with First Air when his busy schedule permits. His sights are set on joining the Canadian Air Force as an Aircraft Technician when he completes school next spring.

Daniel’s positive experience and valued contribution has paved the way for other Cadets interested in learning the fundamentals of aviation maintenance. We are looking forward to conducting a tour for the Local Air Cadet Squadron in Iqaluit sometime this year, and to welcoming another Cadet with job shadowing opportunities next summer. o’s experience in communications and broadcasting made her a natural fit to join the First Air Marketing and Sales Team in Kanata this summer. A native of Kimmirut, Oo has been living in Ottawa the last four years holding various positions in communications and doing free-lance work. From July to October this year, Oo assisted with First Air’s community outreach initiatives, coordinated new recordings for inflight announcements and translated much of First Air’s communication in Inuktitut.

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Oo proved to be a valued addition to the team, and we were thrilled when she decided to join First Air as Hospitality Agent at the Ottawa Airport. Oo’s outgoing personality, knowledge of the North and communication skills will surely add to the strength of our Ottawa Airport team, while providing an increased level of personal service for our customers. “Joining First Air feels like becoming part of the family and being a Hospitality Agent at the Ottawa Airport is exciting for me.

Northerners know one another and it will be good to see familiar faces and assist in their travels with the Airline of the North”.

We value training, personal development and encourage career advancement within First Air. If you share our commitment to safety and service, we encourage you to join our team. To learn more about employment opportunities or summer internships within First Air, visit firstair.ca/employment or sivurariaqnik.ca.

ᒪᕐᕉᒃ

ᒪᒃᑯᑦᑑᒃ

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ

First Air ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ

ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ

ᐃᓕᓯᒪᔭᒥᓐᓂᒃ

ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᖅᓱᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓯᓐᓈᓚᐅᖅᒥᔫᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖑᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

∫

ᓂᐅ

ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ

First Air

ᐊᐅᓚᐅᓯᕆᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ

ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂ

ᒫᑦᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᒪᓕᖃᑦᑕᖅᓱᓂ ᐅᓐᓄᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᕐᕈᐊᖅᑎ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᔪᒥ. ᑖᓂᐅ ᖃᐅᔨᒍᒪᓂᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ

ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖓ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᓯᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᔭᐅᑦᓴᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᖏᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᕐᖑᑦᓴᐅᑎᒋᓂᑯᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᒃᑲ-ᓐᓂᕐᓂᖓᓂᓗ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᓕᖅᓱᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓂᖓᒍᑦ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ, ᑖᓂᐅ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᐊᖅᑎ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᓯᕆᔪᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᒪᒃᑮᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓐᓂᒃ ATR42ᐊᒻᒪᓗ B737. ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᕐᓗ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᑉ ᐊᖂᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᒍᑎᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓕᓯᖃᑕᐅᔪᒥᓂᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖑᔪᒥᒃ ATR42, ᐊᑦᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑑᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᑖᓂᐅ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑕᐅᓂᑰᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᓯᕆᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓱᐴᔫᑉ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᑎᖏᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒥᒐᓱᐊᕈᑎᖏᑦᑕᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑕᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᑖᓂᐅ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑯᕐᓕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒻᒧᑦ ᐊᔭᐅᑉ ᓄᖑᐊᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑎᖑᐊᓄᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᓱᓂ First Airᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᐃᒪᓇᖏᓂᖅᓴᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓅᓯᖓ. ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᒍᒪᓂᖃᖅᑯᕐᓗ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᓯᕆᔨᐅᒍᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕇᖅᑲᑦ ᐅᐱᕐᖓᑦᓵᖑᓂᐅᓴᔪᒥ. ᑖᓂᐅ ᐃᓕᒍᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓪᓗ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑎᖑᐊᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᒍᒪᓂᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᓯᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖑᔪᓄᑦ. ᓂᕆᐅᓂᕆᔭᕗᓪᓗ ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᑎᕐᓯᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑎᖑᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᖓᓱᑦᑎᓐᓂᐊᕆᕙᕗᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑎᖑᐊᖅ ᒪᓕᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᒍᒫᖅᑐᒥ.

ß

ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖓ ᑐᓴᕋᑦᓴᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᕋᑦᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓂᖃᑦᓯᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ First Air ᑐᓴᕋᖅᓴ-

ᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ Kanataᒥ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᑭᒻᒥᕈᒻᒥᐅᑦᓴᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᐆ ᐋᑐᕚᒥᐅᑕᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂᒃ

ᓯᑕᒪᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᖏᑦᑐᓂᓪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑐᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᑦᑎᑑᓕᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ. ᔪᓚᐃᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐋᒃᑐᕙ ᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᔪᒥ, ᐆ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᑯᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᑦᓴᓂᒃ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᕐᓗ ᓂᐱᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᒍᒫᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᑦᑎᑑᓕᖅᑎᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓱᓂ ᑐᓴᕋᑦᓴᐅᔪᓂᒃ First Airᑯᓐᓃᖔᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᐆ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑯᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓯᐊᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓛᓕᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ First Air ᑐᖓᓱᑦᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓗᓂ Ottawa ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᕕᖓᓐᓂᑦ. ᐆ ᐱᖃᓐᓂᕐᓂᖓ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖓᓗ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓴᕋᑦᓴᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᓚᖓᕗᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑎᓐᓄᑦ Ottawa ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᕕᖓᓐᓂ, ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓᓗ ᐱᒍᔾᔨᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᐊᓕᕐᓗᑕ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖁᑎᑦᑎᒎᔨᐊᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ. “ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᕕᒋᓕᕐᓗᒍ First Air ᐃᑉᐱᒋᔭᕋᓪᓕ ᖃᑕᖑᑎᒌᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓕᖅᑐᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᖓᓱᑦᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓚᖓᓗᓂ Ottawa ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᕕᖓᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᓪᓗᒍ. ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᕐᑐᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᐅᑎᓲᖑᓂᖏᑦ ᑕᑰᑎᖃᑦᑕᓚᖓᒋᐊᕐᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖁᑎᖓᒍᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᑑᑉ.” ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᑉᐸᕗᑦ ᐱᒋᐅᖅᓴᕐᓂᖅ,ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕐᓂᕐᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᕗᒍᑦ ᓯᕗᒧᐊᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᑦᓴᐅᔪᓂᒃ

First Airᑯᓐᓂᒃ. ᐱᖃᑕᐃᒍᕕᑦ ᑲᔪᖏᒃᓱᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕆᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ. ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᒍᓐᓇᖅᑯᑎᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᑦᓴᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂᓪᓗ ᐱᒋᐅᖅᓴᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ First Airᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᑦ firstair.ca/employment ᐅ ᕝᕙᓗ sivurariaqnik.ca

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

above&beyond Publisher & Editor Tom Koelbel Advertising Doris Ohlmann (Ottawa) 613-257-4999 Circulation Patt Hunter Design Robert Hoselton, Beat Studios Inuktitut translation Innirvik Support Services Ltd. Read online: www.arcticjournal.ca email: info@arcticjournal.ca Toll Free: 877-2ARCTIC (227-2842) PO Box 683, Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0 Volume 23, No. 6

November/December 2011

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Tunngasugitti Elders Welcome Celebratory Feast Among the various expressions of welcome to feasts, games and gatherings, tunngasugitti (pl) is not only an expression of welcome, it is also an expression of praise and respect. It is a fitting welcome to those who come from faraway to join in a celebration. Just such a gathering of over 150 Elders took place in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) during the week of August 15, 2011. — Norman Hallendy

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A Canadian Inuit Migration to Greenland Pond Inlet Inuit Rejuvenate Polar Inuit Society — Gerard Kenney

39 DRUMMERS SALADIE SNOWBALL AND ANDREA BRAZEAU HAIL FROM KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ, NUNAVIK. © LEE NARRAWAY

Greenland An Arctic Neighbour at the Crossroad?

My journey to Greenland was an occasion to discuss many issues: culture, autonomy, economy, politics and environment. — Yvan Pouliot

Cover Price $5.95 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Within Canada 6 issues $27.00 12 issues $52.00

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arcticjournal.ca Celebrating 23 years as the popular in-flight magazine for First Air, The Airline of the North.

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Special Students On Ice Outdoor Classroom

by Lee Narraway

15 About the North

45 Arts, Culture & Education Fossils at Risk

by Lee Narraway 49 Environment Climate Adaptation Planning

by Kelsey Rideout

55 Northern Bookshelf 58 Inuit Forum 40 Years of Inuit History

by Mary Simon

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November/December 2011

above & beyond

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Real-Life

OUTDOOR Classroom Builds a Force for Global Good Text and photos by Lee Narraway

Strips of char are hung to cure at SOI’s Torngat Mountains National Park base-camp.

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“These are the future stewards of the planet and there is no better place to accelerate their understanding of what is happening in nature than at the poles.” — Geoff Green (SOI Director) Above: As the ship nears Greenland, students crowd the bow of the ship to experience the beauty of ice off Greenland.

Below: Annie Petaulassie (Iqaluit) teaches students to embroider Inuit wall hangings.

he water is toasty, the setting idyllic. Surreal.

Before me icebergs drift slowly down the fjord, colours bright and pristine against the dark mountain backdrop. Geothermal hot springs are rare in Greenland so it is possible that long ago the Vikings used this small pool here on Unartoq Island. Perhaps they stopped here for their annual bath after their victorious returns from far-off raids.

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Teenagers amble along the shore. Occasionally, stopping to examine a bleached bone or witnessing (in awe) as another huge chunk of ice collapses from a melting berg.

The Students on Ice (SOI) program brings international youth on ship-based expeditions to Earth’s Polar Regions to witness its fragile beauty and heart-rending vulnerability firsthand. Geoff Green, the director of Students on Ice, is an educator and environmentalist. His belief in the power of the outdoor classroom is firm.

This year due to the generous support of sponsoring companies and individuals, 80 percent of the students travelled on a fully or partially paid scholarship,” he says, “and 30 of the students were Inuit and aboriginal Canadians.”

Our voyage begins in Iceland, that land of living volcanoes, steamy hot springs, stunning mystery and magic. As expedition photographer, I again joined a group of 70 students from fifteen different countries plus a team of educators, scientists, artists, communicators and explorers on an expedition to retrace the Vikings’ journey from Iceland to Greenland to Labrador.

At Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park, (a UNESCO World Heritage site) we sit on a cliff overlooking Parliament Plains. In the past, from approximately 930 AD to 1798, Icelanders made an annual pilgrimage to this spot. For two weeks, they would camp here to listen to their leaders recite the laws of the land and settle disputes. Words were bellowed at the opposite cliff and due to exceptional acoustics, they echoed back to the waiting crowd with the resonance of a modern amphitheatre.

In the rift valley of Thingvellir, the Eurasian and North American plates are separating and Iceland is being slowly torn apart by the tectonic forces which created this island 20 million years ago.

Iceland is famous for volcanic activity and geysers. We climb the Grabrok Crater and hike around its rim, gazing down at the cone that erupted over 3,000 years ago, then watch, wait and cheer as the Strokkur Geyser blows a tower of steaming water more than a hundred feet into the sky.

Any trip to Iceland would be incomplete without dropping in to visit the President.

He invites our team to tea at his summer residence. One hundred and thirty people cram

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into a chandeliered salon and listen as Iceland’s President, Olafur Ragnar Grimmson, speaks passionately about the Arctic. He talks about political and environmental issues that Arctic nations will face in the near future. He believes the North will be of enormous global importance as climate change accelerates three times faster there and what happens in the Polar Regions will impact the world.

“The fate of the Arctic is the fate of the world,” he says.

Grimmson encourages the students to believe in themselves and their ability to make a difference in the world… and to never give up. He uses his own country as an example. Iceland has moved from an almost total dependence on fossil fuels as an energy source to now using 80 percent clean energy by utilizing their geothermal resources. A country considered in 1970 to be one of the poorest in the world has accomplished this in less than one generation. They never gave up.

For some, the crossing of the Denmark Strait to Greenland passes in a blur of seasickness. But when the announcement came of a Blue whale and her calf portside, everyone appears on deck, camera in hand. For an hour, we watch and listen as the largest mammals on the planet, 30 metres long and weighing more than 200 tons, swim alongside our ship. It is a rare and precious gift.

Nanortalik (place of polar bears) is Greenland’s southern-most settlement. SOI hosts the townspeople to a performance at their own open-air museum and most of the community turns out for the party. We sit on a grassy hillside overlooking the sea and our talented Inuit students entertain the crowd with traditional drum dancing and throat singing.

The Greenlanders respond with a display of outstanding qajaq skills and a women’s crew, dressed in sealskins, rows a replica of an ancient umiaq (large sealskin-covered rowboat). Curious students investigate the small stone buildings and sod–roofed remains of an early Norse settlement and then explore the town, accompanied by an ever-expanding crowd of children. Hand signals and laughter erase any language

Students in an outdoor classroom at the base of a shrinking glacier with Inga May, permafrost researcher (Germany) and Eric Mattson, professor and glaciologist (Ontario).

barrier and result in a spontaneous game of soccer with the locals before we say goodbye to our new friends and board the ship again.

Next day, workshops are held amid the stunning scenery of Prins Christian Sound. Groups gather on the mountain to learn wilderness survival, drum dancing, song writing, art, interview skills and how to identify plants, bones and birds. They climb to a shrinking glacier and fill their drinking bottles with pristine water from a glacial stream and listen

Despite diverse cultures and differing lifestyles, SOI participants are encouraged to come together as a team and use their enthusiasm, optimism and innovative thought processes to benefit the planet.

First Nations student Kendall White (Ontario) teaches Bo Yeon Jang (Korea) a traditional native woman’s song in the Ojibwa language.

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Right: Qayaqjuaq Qamanirq from Iglulik, Nunavut, meets an Icelandic horse.

Below right: Becky Okatsiak of Iqaluit with the Nunavut flag.

Students cook and eat Inuit “country food” on an isolated beach in Saglek Fiord, Labrador.

“We are a force of nature, five billion strong, yet only a small portion of these five billion young people even understand what greenhouse gas is, or why fossil fuels are not a long-term option. I think my biggest goal is to change the definition of the word progress. I can see that it is not only about building and growing but about innovation and sustainability.” — Michael Gardiner (SOI student) as glaciologists explain the effects of a warming climate. A Zodiac cruise takes them further down the fjord to the wall of a massive glacier and there they watch in safety as the glacier calves new bergy bits into the sea.

When Joey Loi returns to the ship, he says, “Climate change is evident in this part of the world as glaciers are shrinking in size and melting earlier in the year. The science tells us why we need to protect it; the beauty convinces us.”

Seas are calm as we sail from Greenland to Labrador, where the Clipper Adventurer moves slowly into the narrow

fjords of the Torngat Mountains National Park. Tourngats means “the place where the spirit lives.” This area has been home to the Inuit and their predecessors for more than seven thousand years. On board is a group of Inuit elders who had arrived by motorboat early that morning from the national park’s base camp. We sit in the sunshine on the back deck while they tell us funny stories and spooky legends and answer questions about their experiences growing up here.

Our destination is a remote sandy beach at the end of the north arm of Saglek Fjord. We climb up sand dunes and hike back to a waterfall that fills multiple turquoise pools as it tumbles down a rocky mountainside. A still lake reflects the surrounding mountains and provides an icy swimming spot for many intrepid souls.

Back on the beach, students are given poles and a fishing lesson and a once-in-alifetime opportunity to fish for Arctic char. Most have never fished before and the catch is impressive. Others help elders gather rocks along the beach, build small fire pits and collect driftwood to keep them fuelled. They learn to clean and cook the fish they have caught. The air is filled with the delicious smell of onions, char, shrimp, caribou, mussels and bannock cooked on top of a flat rock. Many also try, and enjoy, the Inuit way of eating raw char and caribou.

Yashvi Shah, a participant on the 2011 Students on Ice expedition, explains our journey best. “It took a surreal set of experiences with an extraordinary group of people to help me discover myself, my values and my goals. This is what Students on Ice has given to me.”

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arcticjournal.ca

November/December 2011

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᑕ ᓴᐳᒻᒥᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᖢᒍ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 2011, ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕈᓐᓇᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᓚᖓ 12(1) ᐊᒡᓚᒡᕕᒋᓕᖅᑕᑦᑕ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ

LOI SUR LA PROTECTION DE LA LANGUE INUIT Depuis septembre 2011, les employés du gouvernement du Nunavut ont le droit d’utiliser la langue inuit au travail. Art.12(1) Nouvelles coordonées

ᖁᓕᕇᑦ ᐱᖓᔪᖓᓐᓂ ᖃᒧᑏᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖁᑎᒥ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ Édifice Qamutiik, 3éme étage, Iqaluit, NU

info@langcom.nu.ca 867-979-7960 867-979-7969

ᐊᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ/ Sans-frais : 1-877-836-2280

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November/December 2011

About the North

A Time For Ideas The Conference Board of Canada, the Centre for the North (CFN) was established in 2009 to research the challenges and opportunities faced on the road to creating a strong, safe, healthy and prosperous North. Toward achieving that goal, the CFN has focused on assembling Aboriginal leaders, community representatives, businesses, governments and academics to approach the questions of how challenges can be met and opportunities seized while respecting the priorities of From October 11-13 the CFN did just that with their forward thinking forum, Canada’s North Beyond 2011. The goal? To provide a platform for all Northern stakeholders ‘to meet and work toward a shared vision of sustainable prosperity for the North’.

The event boasted 35 speakers, including Phil Fontaine (Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations) and Charles A.

© RYAN JACKSON, CANADA NEWS WIRE

Northerners.

Former Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Paul Martin, with Conference Co-Chair David Stewart Patterson and fellow presenter, Mary Simon, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, during the ‘Working With Youth for a Prosperous North’ session.

Emmerson (Geopolitical Specialist and Senior

governance, resource development, community

(President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) and The

Research fellow at Chatham House, United

security, infrastructure and human capital.

Right Honourable Paul Martin (Former Prime

Kingdom). In addition to the impressive

With the Northern youth population sky-

Minister of Canada and Founder of the

collection of speakers and panelists, input

rocketing, it was impossible to ignore their

Martin Aboriginal Initiative). More on some

from attendees was given significant priority

overwhelming significance in creating a vision

of the significant ideas that were discussed

as most presentations incorporated group

for the future. As such, youth entrepreneur-

will be presented in future editions of

discussions and brainstorming sessions to tap

ship and education were insightfully addressed

above&beyond in 2012.

into their opinions, priorities and ideas on

in keynote presentations from Mary Simon

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“Moving Forward”

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above & beyond

15

About the North

Inuktitut Online to our very survival. On the flipside thousands of them might be categorized as nearly or entirely useless with few redeeming qualities other than that they exist or might be free under the guise of expanding the capabilities of our communications devices.

Thanks in fair measure to the efforts of tech visionary, the late Steve Jobs of Apple Inc., his company’s devices and the supporting software it and independent software developers and producers are making available for Apple

Over the last decade and a half or so the

digital gizmos will tell the ever-dwindling

visual reproduction of the written syllabic

number of high technology contrarians that

form of the Inuktitut language has overcome

still might remain, “oh, that’s so yesterday,

many challenges while delivering more than

man.”

a few “hits and misses” in its necessary

And so it is today with the advent of the

transition to achieve cross-platform versatility

“APP age” a fairly recent phenomenon in terms

and typographical perfection in our advancing

of years. For the last few years there’s virtually

digital age, the online revolution and the age

an application available for anything and every-

of social media and instantaneous mass

thing that has been, or is being, developed.

communication.

Hundreds of them definitely useful, expanding

But as young northerners — many of

the efficacy of all the devices we’ve become

whom are today pointedly tech savvy and

dependent upon in our daily lives to the point

well equipped with the latest in gadgets and

that our devices are being seen as necessary

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November/December 2011

arcticjournal.ca

© GAVIN NESBITT, PIRUVIK CENTRE, IQALUIT, NUNAVUT

and Android device platforms they lead the

pack (sorry RIM) with new applications that would appeal and be useful to youth.

Coming soon and following on the heals of the successful online language learning website tusaalanga.ca and specifically for the i-Touch, i-Phone and i-Pad, is an integrated and fully interactive Inuktitut language learning application, Tusaalanga iPod APP developed in the North by the Pirurvik Centre in Iqaluit, Nunavut. With the prevalence of Apple devices, especially amongst northern youth, a new door to continue learning and maintaining their language will be open to them and of course, simultaneously, to the rest of the

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Also, a recent announcement by the Canada Council for the Arts, bodes well for those Inuit artists wishing to access grants to continue their work in their own language.

The Canada Council

application for Apple devices and it will contain for the first time ever, a grant form in Inuktitut so that unilingual northern artists might apply for grants or assistance

Š GAVIN NESBITT, PIRUVIK CENTRE, IQALUIT, NUNAVUT

recently made available its new software

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in their own language.

November/December 2011

above & beyond

17

About the North

Š PIERRE DUNNIGAN

Special Preview

Frequent contributor to this magazine, Quebec-

What made this shoot particularly exciting

based photographer, Pierre Dunnigan, spent

was that the group’s cinematographers were

film feature starring a young polar bear in search of food over a long hot summer.

40 challenging but glorious days in the Kivalliq

working with the latest equipment and

More about the upcoming film, the

(Wager Bay, Coral Harbour and Naujat regions)

techniques in 3D filming below the surface of

production process and its important climate

providing camp support to a joint National

the Arctic waters and above ground using a

change message will be presented in a 2012

Geographic and Arctic Bear Productions film

camera equipped remote helicopter. All to be

issue of above&beyond.

crew.

able to capture the images for an upcoming

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arcticjournal.ca

November/December 2011

© PIERRE DUNNIGAN

Nunavik Housing Initiative The lack of availability of adequate housing in

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the North has long been a major social issue and a source of frustration for territorial governments and especially to those families in need of affordable housing but more often relegated to long waiting lists.

Increasing the supply of new housing units in sufficient enough numbers to help address the pressing need in Arctic communities — though necessary — is always costly and the timeline to get houses planned, built and move-in ready can be a long one.

In October, the government of Quebec announced a new program under its Plan Nord initiative to provide some 300 affordable low-rent housing units to Nunavik communities by 2016.

Joining with the provincial government under its Plan Nord program are Makivik Corporation (as construction contractor) and the Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau (as construction manager).

The first recipients of new units will be the communities of Kuujjuaq and Puvirnituq.

Materials for the 74 new units planned for them are coming by sealift and the new homes should be ready by the end of 2012.

The anticipated economic spin-offs and benefits to the region in terms of jobs training and employment for Inuit are additional and very welcome advances to improving the overall living conditions in the region.

November/December 2011

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About the North

© ROBERT HOSELTON (4)

A Promise Fulfilled Lacrosse returns to Iqaluit

Instructors Noah Hoselton and JP Kealey work with a group of older boys.

The 2011 Iqaluit lacrosse campers.

An early morning run before a day of lacrosse.

At the close of Iqaluit’s inaugural lacrosse

Frobisher Inn and Iqaluit’s Royal Canadian

camp in 2010, 25 of Iqaluit’s youth begged

Legion Branch 168, Noah with his team of

Noah Hoselton, the 16-year-old creator of the

instructors was able to fulfill his promise.

program, to promise to return for another

Inspired by an ESPN video of teacher Russ

year. Noah replied that he would do his best.

Sheppard’s introduction of lacrosse to the

With the help of First Air, the Nepean Knights,

teens of Kugluktuk to stem a series of suicides,

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November/December 2011

Instructors John Conley, JP Kealey and Noah Hoselton pose with Joseph Melanson at the camp end award ceremonies.

Noah decided that, if lacrosse was able to save the teens of Kugluktuk, he would introduce the sport to Iqaluit.

This year’s camp was attended by 28 of Iqaluit’s youth ranging in age from four to 16 years old. Noah was accompanied by Junior lacrosse teammates JP Kealey and John Conley.

“The kids were excited by the increased game play this year and were able to connect better with the younger instructors,” explains Noah. “I’m excited to start planning for next year.”

Sadly, this year, another youth in Iqaluit decided to take their life leaving behind deep pain for their family, friends and community.

“We need to keep going back and reaching deeper into the community,” says Noah. “If lacrosse can help one kid, all our efforts will be worth it.”

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IQALUIT, NUNAVUT above & beyond

21

CLIENT PROFILE

Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) Program ince 1985, the Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) Program has been educating and preparing Inuit youth for career opportunities in their home territory of Nunavut. Students accepted into this innovative program experience a unique curriculum that mixes traditional academics with courses focused on their rich, Inuit culture. Additionally, learning is taken beyond the classroom with students gaining valuable independent living skills during their eight-month program based in Ottawa.

This program has been a huge success with graduates returning to Nunavut, prepared with the necessary skills and experience for successful post-graduation employment.

Unfortunately, despite its success and the high demand for the program, NS has only been able to accept 22 students per year due to space restrictions in their building and a financial inability to rent a larger space.

That all changed this year...

In 2009, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) and the three Regional Inuit Associations across

Nunavut, announced their financial support to assist NS in purchasing a new building and increasing their program capacity. The four partners committed to providing $1 million over the next five years. While this support was generous, it was just a start as NS needed about $3 million to meet the needs of the school.

In May 2010, the Federal Government announced it had funding to support the purchase of a new building for NS; however, the funding couldn’t be guaranteed until January 2011. At this time, the perfect building had just come on the market — the first two floors of a commercial condominium building — and likely wouldn’t be available for long.

With the Federal funds not guaranteed, and banks not able to help out in the meantime, waiting until January for the possible funding to come through would likely see the building sold and this great opportunity missed.

A proud graduate of NS who is employed

by Atuqtuarvik Corporation, heard about the

22

November/December 2011

S

arcticjournal.ca

situation and raised it with her employer to see how they could help. Atuqtuarvik Corporation provides loans and equity investments to Inuit-owned businesses in order to develop and grow the Nunavut economy. Knowing the importance of the NS program, Atuqtuarvik Corporation saw this as an opportunity to invest in building the capacity of Nunavummiut for the long-term benefit of the Territory.

In addition to the standard business and economic development proposals, Atuqtuarvik Corporation welcomes innovative projects, such as NS, which both support Nunavut residents and the economy.

Within one month, NS submitted a business plan and application form to Atuqtuarvik Corporation, and the Board of Directors approved the proposal. The deal was that if the funding from the Federal Government did not come though, Atuqtuarvik Corporation would purchase the building and NS would rent it from them instead of having to own it themselves. This way, NS would have a larger

CLIENT PROFILE

building and be able to expand their programs to more Inuit youth.

In early December 2010, NS moved into their new location at 450 Rideau Street in Ottawa and two days later, classes commenced on the second floor of the building. Earlier this year, the Federal Government confirmed their funding to NS. With this money, NS was able to repay their loan to Atuqtuarvik Corporation and even had some funds left over to renovate the building into an ideal setting for the program. Renovations to the first floor of the building were completed throughout the spring and summer and this September, NS opened its doors to an expanded program.

NS is proud to announce that they now have 30 first-year students and 9 second-year students enrolled in the 2011/12 program — almost double the amount of students they previously had! The Program has four full-time teachers, one full-time administrator and two part-time teachers to provide support and tutoring, as well as casual teachers to provide

specific and specialized disciplines in the 2nd year university integration program. If all goes well in this trial expansion year, the Program will expand to 40 first-year students next year.

November/December 2011

This innovative program needed an innovative solution — it’s nice to see they got one.

For more information on NS, contact Morley Hanson ns@magma.ca or www.nstraining.ca

above & beyond

23

The beautiful butterfly motif is on display everywhere. ᑕᕐᕋᓗᑭᑖᓐᖑᐊᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ.

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November/December 2011

g8zhQ5t ᐃᓐᓇᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᓱᒃᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ

Tunngasugitti E L D E R S

W E L C O M E

C E L E B R A T O R Y

F E A S T

by Norman Hallendy / ttC6g6 kxm8 B≈o8t

mong the various expressions of welcome to feasts, games and gatherings, tunngasugitti (pl) is not only an expression of welcome, it is also an expression of praise and respect. It is a fitting welcome to those who come from faraway to join in a celebration. Somewhere throughout the communities in Canada’s Arctic a celebration may be taking place this very moment.

Festivities range from celebrating the return of the sun in mid January to the winter games played at Christmas.

Feasts are an essential part of most celebrations and continue to be communal efforts of both men and women. Even children play a part in the preparations and are included in the festivities.

The word for a celebration in Inuktitut is Nalliuniqsiurniq.

An ancient celebration would be expressed as Uvatsiarualuk nalliuniqsiurniviniq. Both expressions are in Kinngarmiutitut, the Cape Dorset (South Baffin) dialect. If one were to ask an Elder as to when the tradition of celebrations first began, the answer might well be, tuniqtaqaliqtillugu, the time of the earliest humans, the Tunniit.

There are ancient places throughout the Arctic, which were revered as the sites of important communal activities including games, feasts and celebrations such as Tivajuut, which was a feast and celebration of life. Such festivities played an important role in the social lives of people living in various camps in a particular region. Two such places in the Sikusiilaq (Foxe Peninsula) region are Igaqjuaq and Akitsiraqvik where to this day lush carpets of vegetation are nourished by the remains of feasts that took place decades ago.

Re-established in 1992, recent Elders’ celebrations were like movable feasts. Air travel made it possible for them to gather in places of their choosing throughout Nunavut and

A

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ᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᖏᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐱᓐᖑᐊᖅᑐᓄᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᑐᓐᖓᓱᒋᑦᑎ ᑐᓐᖓᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᖏᑦᑐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓲᖑᒻᒪᑦ, ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᒻᒥᒻᒪᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᓐᓂᕐᒥᖕᓗ. ᐊᑲᐅᓈᑦᑎᐊᓲᖅ ᓂᐅᕈᐊᑦ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒦᖓᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᓇᒥᓕᒫᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᓕᒫᖓᓂᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᖅᑐᖃᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᒫᓇ. ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᕐᓂᖅᓯᐅᕈᑎᖃᓲᖑᒻᒪᑕ ᓲᕐᓗ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᑎᓗᒍ ᔭᓄᐊᕆᐅ ᕿᑎᖓᓂᑦ ᓯᕿᓂᐅᑉ ᓴᕿᓐᓂᖓ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᕈᑕᐅᓲᖑᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᐱᖕᖑᐊᖅᑐᖃᖃᑦᑕᓲᖑᖕᒪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕝᕕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖅᑐᖃᓲᖅ ᖃᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᖅᑐᖃᓕᑐᐊᕋᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒋᒍᑕᐅᑎᐊᓲᖑᓪᓗᓂ. ᓱᕈᓯᓪᓘᓃᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᑎᑕᐅᖏᓐᓇᓲᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᕐᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅᑕᖓ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᖅᓂᖅ. ᐃᒻᒪᑲᓪᓚᒡᓕ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᕐᓂᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᒐᔭᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᕙᑦᓯᐊᕈᐊᓗᒃ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᖅᓂᖅ. ᑖᑯᐊᒃ ᑭᓐᖓᕐᒥᐅᑎᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᖅᑕᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ (ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᑉ ᓂᒋᖓᓂᑦ). ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᐱᕆᑉᐸᑦ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕆᖕᒥᑦ ᖃᖓ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᖅᓂᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᕐᒪᖔᑦ, ᑭᐅᔭᐅᒐᔭᖅᑐᑎᑦ, ᑐᓂᖅᑕᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᖑᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᓃᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᓂᕐᒪᑕ. ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᑐᖃᕕᓂᕐᓂᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᓕᒫᒥᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᑐᖃᕕᓃᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕕᕕᓃᑦ, ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᕐᕕᕕᓃᓗ ᑐᕙᔫᓂᑦ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᑦ, ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᕈᑕᐅᕙᓚᖁᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᕈᑕᐅᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᑦ. ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᓃᑦ ᐱᕕᔾᔪᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖃᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦᑑᒐᓗᐊᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒌᒍᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᐸᓚᖅᑐᑦ. ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᑎᓗᒋᒃ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᕐᕕᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᕕᓃᒃ ᓯᑯᓰᓚᖅ (ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᑉ ᓂᒋᐊᑕ ᓄᕗᐊᓂᑦ) ᐃᒐᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑭᑦᓯᕋᖅᕕᒃ ᒫᓇᒧ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕋᓂᑦ ᐱᕈᕐᕕᐅᓯᒪᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐊᑦᓯᐊᕈᐊᓗᒃ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᕐᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᕕᓃᑦ.

1992-ᒥᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᒪᕇᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕆᔭᖓᓄᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᕐᓂᖅ. ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒦᖓᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᓄᓇᕕᒻᒥᐅᓗ ᑲᑎᖃᖅᑕᓲᖑᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᑲᑎᕕᒋᔪᒪᔭᒥᓂᒃ.

November/December 2011

above & beyond

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The great Igaqjuaq ceremonial site, Kinngait Island. ᐃᒐᕐᔪᐊᖃᕐᕕᒥᓂᖅ, ᑭᓐᖓᐃᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖓᓂ.

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Nunavik. Just such a gathering of over 150 Elders took place in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) during the week of August 15, 2011.

They came from Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Coral Harbour, Repulse Bay, Puvirnituq, Inukjuak, Kuujjuaq, Kangirsuk, Kinngait, even the quaint little southern village named Carp, (just west of Ottawa). Relatives and friends enthusiastically greeted the arrival of Elders from Nunavut and Nunavik at the little airport in Dorset, giving one the sense of a great family coming together. Everyone was whisked off on anything that had wheels to someone’s home where they lived for the time they were in Dorset. Each day they would gather in the gymnasium of Sam Pudlat School where the indoor events were held for the next five days.

Every day began with the coordinators from the various communities meeting to determine the day’s activities and

arcticjournal. ca

November/December 2011

ᑖᓇ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕆᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᖃ 150 ᐅᖓᑖᓂᑦᑐᓂᑦ ᑲᑎᕝᕕᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᓐᖓᓂᑦ ᐋᒋᓯ 15, 2011-ᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᓄᓇᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᒡᓂᑦ, ᑭᒻᒥᕈᕐᒥᑦᒪ ᓴᓪᓕᓂᑦ, ᓇᐅᔮᓂᑦ, ᐳᕕᕐᓂᑐᕐᒥᑦ, ᐃᓄᒃᔪᐊᒥᑦ, ᑰᔾᔪᐊᒥᑦ, ᑲᖏᖅᓱᒥᑦ, ᑭᓐᖓᓂᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᒪᖏᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂᖔᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᕐᑉᒥᑦ, (ᐋᑐᕚᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂᑦ). ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᐃᓚᓐᓇᕇᓪᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᐅᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᑎᑭᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᓄᓇᕕᒻᒥᐅᓗ ᑭᓐᖓᐃᑦ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᕋᓛᖓᓂᑦ, ᑐᓐᖓᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓯᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᒥᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᓕᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒐᒥᒃ. ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒫᓄᑦ ᐃᑭᑎᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᓐᖓᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖃᐃᓐᓇᒐᓛᒃᑐᑦ. ᖃᐅᑕᒫᑦ ᓴᒻ ᐳᓪᓚᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᑕ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᖅᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᓂᓗ ᖁᐱᐊ)ᐊᓂᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᓄᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓄᑦ. ᖃᐅᑕᒫᑦᓯᐊ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔩᑦ ᓇᑭᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓂᖔᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐸᑉᓇᐃᓯᓗᑎᑦ ᐅᓗᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᔪᓐᓇᖏᑦᑕᕌᖓᑕ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑎᒃ. ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖁᔭᓕᓪᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᓕᒫᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᑦ. ᓂᐅᕈᕕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ:“ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᒫᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖃᖅᐹ?” ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑕᕝᕙᓃᑐᖅ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖃᕈᓂ ᓂᓪᓕᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᒥᓂᑦ. ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᓱᒃᑎᑕᐅᒐᒥᒃ ᖃᓱᔾᔫᒥᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. “ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᐱᕕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᐱᖁᓯᒃᓴᖃᑐᐊᕈᓂ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᒧᑦ” ᐅᑯᐊ ᒪᕐᕈᑯᓘᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᒋᒍᑦᑎᒍ ᑐᕿᖃᓪᓚᑦᑖᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᕕᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑎᐊᖅ ᖃᑦᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖃᕋᓗᐊᕈᓂ ᓂᓪᓕᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᑲᑎᓯᒪᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ. ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ, ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑎᐊᖅ ᖃᑦᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖃᕋᓗᐊᕈᓂ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᓯᒃᓴᖃᕈᓂ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕆᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ. ᐃᓱᒪᒋᐊᕐᓗᓯ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖓ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᓗᐊᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖏᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᓐᓇᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓐᖏᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑖᑯᐊ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑐᒋ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓈᓚᒃᑐᒍ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑐᖅ ᑭᓐᖓᒥᐅᑦ ᒪᐃᔭᖓ ᒑᕆ ᒥᐅᕆᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᕗᕆᑦ ᓯᐊᓪ,ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᓃᖓᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒋᐊᖅᑐᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦᐃᑦ. ᐅᐸᒃᓯᒪᔪᓕᒫᑦ

make adjustments as necessary to the program. The opening ceremony began with a prayer of thanks for the safe arrival of all who were gathered. The host then addressed all of us with a question: “Is there anything that anyone wishes to say to us now?”

Anyone there, should they so choose, had the opportunity to stand before all those gathered there to state whatever was on their mind. Then the granting of permission followed.

“Anyone now has the permission to ask any person here, any question they have on their mind. ” These two simple acts are very meaningful. First it allowed any individual, regardless of age or social standing, to have their say in the presence of the gathering. Second, it allowed every individual regardless of age to ask any Elder a question. Keep in mind that there was a time when it was improper to question an Elder without his or her permission.

Having observed these traditions and listened to the words of Dorset’s Mayor Cary Merritt and MLA Fred Schell, the various community groups were then summoned to present themselves. The crowd loudly cheered as each group stood up. Added to this enthusiastic recognition was a group of youngsters who were delighted by the attention given them. Individuals from Kinngait, particularly those who worked hard to organize this gathering of over 150 Elders from eight different communities, were asked to stand and be congratulated by all. They included: Annie Manning Lampron, Qupirrrualuk Palluq, Arnasuk Qaqjuraaqjuk, Eqalluq Qatsiya, Simigak Suvega, and Zeke Ejetsiaq.

An outsider might think that a gathering of a huge group of Elders in the latter years of their life, some assisted with walkers, canes or wheelchairs, might be a little quiet, somewhat laid back, if not entirely languid. I’ve got news. It was a great happening of performances, story telling, games, craft fair, fashion show, and, of course, feasting.

A craft sale was held where beautifully crafted jewellery, headgear, ulus, boots and gloves as well as seal and wolf pelts were on display. So were food delights such as mouthwatering cloudberries and delicious bannock. The tables were laden not with trinkets from the south but with a wide assortment of handicrafts of quality and style made in the homes of the Elders.

Another important event was the cause of joy and laughter. Comedy and fun at celebrations are as old as any Elder can remember. The tradition of comedy was referred to as Ijuqsaartuq. There were the duelling songs as well as short plays with silly themes usually poking good-natured fun at some event or person. The performances were often the creation of an imaginative person with an extravagant sense of humour. There was no serious ridicule, just an abundance of fun causing people to laugh and shout remarks to the performers. Five Elders dressed in “The World’s Smallest Clothing” delivered the most hilarious performance at the celebration. They paraded in front of over a hundred Elders often gasping for their breath between bouts of uncontrollable laughter.

There was of course throat singing by two Elders, followed by two young girls who delighted everyone.

Included in the performances was the appearance of an

ᐅᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. ᐃᓚᒋᓕᐅᑎᓗᒍ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖃᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑭᓐᖓᕐᒥᐅᑕᐃ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᑕᐃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑏᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᔪᐃᑦᑐᐃᑦ 150 ᐅᖓᑖᓂᑦᑐᓂᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᒻᒪᕆᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑏᑦ 8ᖑᔪᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓂᖔᖅᑐᑦ, ᐅᐱᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓇᖏᖅᓯᖁᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. ᐅᑯᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ: ᐊᓂ ᒫᓂᖕ ᓚᒻᐳᕋᓐ, ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐊᓗᒃ ᐸᓪᓗᖅ, ᐊᕐᓇᓱᒃ ᖃᕐᔪᕌᖅᔪᒃ, ᐃᖃᓗᒃ ᖃᓯᔮ, ᓯᒥᒐᖅ ᓱᕕᒐᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᔩᒃ ᐃᔨᑦᓯᐊᖅ. ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒋᓐᖏᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᒐᔭᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᐃᑦ ᑖᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖃᑯᑖᒃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᑦ,ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐱᓲᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ,ᐊᔭᐅᐱᐊᓖᓪᓗ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓂᑦ ᐊᒃᓴᑳᔪᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᓖᑦ, ᓂᐱᑭᔾᔫᒥᒐᔭᓐᖑᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓂᑦ ᕿᑲᖓᒐᔭᓐᖑᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᐱᒡᒐᕋᔭᓐᖑᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᑐᓴᕈᒥᓇᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᖅᓴᖃᖅᑐᖓ, ᑕᑯᒥᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᑯᕋᓐᓵᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᑦ, ᐱᓐᖑᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᓴᓇᐅᒐᕐᓂᑦ ᓂᕕᐊᒃᓴᓖᑦ, ᓴᓇᐅᒐᕐᓂᓪᓗ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖅᑐᑦ. ᓴᓇᐅᒐᐃᑦ ᓃᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᐅᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕇᑦ, ᓇᓴᐃᑦ, ᐅᓗᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᒦᑦ ᐊᒡᒑᓪᓗ ᓴᑦᓯᕋᔭᐃᑦ ᐊᒪᕈᕋᔭᐃᓪᓗ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ. ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᐃᓗ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐸᐅᕐᖓᐃᑦ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᐊᓗᐃᓗ ᐸᓚᐅᒑᑦ ᐆᓯᒪᔪᑦ. ᓵᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᖏᑦᑐᓂᑦ ᐃᓐᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᓂᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᕐᒥᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᓯᔪᑦ. ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᖃᑕᐅᒻᒥᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᖁᕕᐊ)ᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓚᕋᓚᒃᑐᐃᑦ. ᒥᑕᓗᒃᑐᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᐊᔪᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᕐᒥᓂᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᕐᓂᓴᕐᓂᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᑐᖃᕐᒥᓂᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᖃᖅᑐᑎᒃ. ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᐅᒻᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᔪᑦᓵᖅᑐᑦ. ᐃᖏᖅᑐᐃᓪᓗ

November/December 2011

Naudla Osuitok’s foot tapping Inuit songs sets the tone. ᓇᐅᓪᓚ ᐅᓱᐃᑦᑑᑉ ᐃᓯᒐᖓ ᑐᓴᕋᓐᓈᕈᓱᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓐᖏᐅᓯᖓᓂᒃ.

The ball game is a popular event. ᐊᓇᐅᓐᖑᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ.

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The infamous witch appears to the delight of the Elders. ᐊᓐᓇᖁᐊᑦᓵᑯᑦᓲᑉ ᓴᖅᑭᓐᓂᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ.

old witch. Her antics caused outbursts of laughter from the Elders and sheer terror from some of the children.

One of the most impressive cultural displays was when mostly the women paraded before us in their stunningly beautiful amautiit women’s parkas. At the turn of the century the beads (sapangat) used to adorn an amauti were considered as precious stones only available at great cost from the Hudson Bay traders. On this day we beheld garments of such beauty that any gallery or museum anywhere in the world might covet.

Though the event we had the pleasure to experience was loosely referred to as a fashion show, it was really a remarkable display of art, emerging from endless hours of beadwork, skill, dexterity, imagination and patience. Interestingly, the dominant motif on the beaded women’s amautiit was taqalikitaaq: the mysterious and beautiful butterfly.

By Thursday the fog had lifted, the sun returned and a glorious day for games ensued. The day began with a unique version of baseball. No basemen were required. If the batter had good enough eyesight to hit the ball and the Elder could

Bandleader Udjualuk Itidloie welcomes everyone. ᓂᔾᔭᐅᓯᔭᖅᑎ ᐅᔾᔪᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᑎᓪᓗᐃ ᑐᓐᖓᓴᐃᔪᖅ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ.

Feasts, games and the rendering of justice occurred in the ancient past at Akitsiraqvik, on the west coast of Foxe Peninsula. ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᐱᓐᖑᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔪᓪᓗ ᐱᕙᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᑭᑦᓯᕋᕐᕕᒻᒥ, ᑭᓐᖓᐃᑦ ᐅᐊᓐᓇᖓᓂ.

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November/December 2011

ᐃᔪᖅᓵᖅᑐᓪᓗ. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᐊᔪᑦ. ᑕᑯᕋᓐᓈᖅᑎᓯᔪᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒥᓂᑦ ᐋᖀᓯᒪᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᓘᐃᑦ ᑎᑦᓯᓇᖅᑐᑎᓪᓗ. ᐱᓪᓚᖅᑖᖅᑐᖃᓚᐅᖏᑦᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒡᓚᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᐱᖃᖅᑐᑎᓪᓗ. ᑕᓪᓕᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ “ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᑦ ᒥᑭᓐᓂᐹᖑᔪᓂᑦ”ᑎᑦᓯᓇᕐᓂᐹᖑᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᖅᑐᓂᑦ. ᑎᑦᓯᓈᕿᔪᑦ ᐱᓱᕋᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ 100 ᐅᖓᑖᓂᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓴᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᑎᑦᓯᓈᕿᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓚᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᐃᓐᓇᒻᒪᕇᒃ ᑲᑕᔾᔭᖅᑑᒃ, ᑭᖑᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓵᒃ ᑲᑕᔾᔭᓕᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᒻᒪᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ. ᑕᖁᕋᓐᓈᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᑲᒻᒪᖑᐊᑦ. ᐃᒡᓚᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᓱᕈᓰᓪᓗ. ᑕᑯᒥᓇᕐᓂᐹᖑᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᓯᔪ ᐊᒪᐅᑎᑦᓯᐊᕚᓗᐃᓪᓗ. ᐅᐊᑦᓯᐊᕈᓂᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᓴᐸᖓᓖᑦ ᐊᒪᐅᑏᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐅᐊᑦᓯᐊᕈ ᑕᐅᖅᓰᔪᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᕕᓃᑦ. ᒫᓇᒧᑦ ᓱᓕ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᑦᓯᐊᕙᐃ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᖃᕐᕕᓐᓂᑦ ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᖅᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᖃᕐᕕᖕᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᓲᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᒥᑦ. ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᓕᐅᖅᑐᓃᑦᑕᕆᐅᕐᓗᓂ ᖃᓱᖓᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᓯᔪᑎᑐᑦ,ᑕᑯᒥᓇᑦ-

bend down to pick it up he just hurled it with all his strength at the batter amid howls of laughter.

True, baseball is a relative newcomer to the Inuit sports field, but it is said that a version of soccer was played as far back as any Elder can remember. The soccer played during this celebration was played with a ball stuffed with moss and covered with sealskin as in the old manner.

One can find an illustration by the artist Jamasie in the Cape Dorset drawing archives depicting this version of kickball supposedly being played by the Tunniit. However, on this day the teams were made up of players from Nunavik and Nunavut. Some Elders still remember games played between the “People of the other side” (Nunavik) and the Sikusiilarmiut of Nunavut when the only travel across

ᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᒫᑦ, ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᓪᓗ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓇᓲᔭᖅᑐᕕᓃᑦ ᓴᐸᖓᐃᑦ, ᓴᓇᐅᓯᖏᑦ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᑯᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᑕᖃᔪᐃᑦᑑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓴᓇᔭᕕᓃᑦ. ᑕᑯᒥᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒪᐅᑏᑦ ᑕᕐᕋᓕᑭᓵᖑᐊᓂᑦ ᐊᒡᓚᓖᑦ. ᓯᑕᒻᒥᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᒃᓯᕈᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᓯᕿᓐᓂᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕐᕕᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᓚᒥ. ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᑯᒐᓚᓐᓇᖏᑦᑐᒥ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᕋᕐᒥᑐᑦ ᐊᓇᐅᖑᐊᖅᑐᐃᑦ. ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᖓᑕ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᖏᒻᒥᔭᖓ. ᐊᓇᐅᓯᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᑦᑎᐊᕈᓂ ᐊᓇᐅᓯᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒻᓚᕆᒃ ᐅᑯᓗᓂ ᐊᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᑎᒍᓯᔪᓐᓇᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᐅᓯᓕᒫᒥᒍᑦ ᐃᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᒥᖢᖅᓯᒋᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᓇᐅᓯᖃᐅᔪᒥᑦ ᑎᑦᓯᓇᖅᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. ᐊᓇᐅᖑᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕈᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᕿᔪᑎᑐᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ. ᐊᖅᓴᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑲᐃᒻᒥᐊᖅᓯᓚᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᔾᔪᓂᒃ ᓇᑦᓯᕋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᖄᖓ. ᓴᓇᕙᓪᓕᐊᓗᑎᒃ ᓴᓇᖑᐊᖅᑏ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᔭᐃᒥᓯ ᑭᓐᖓᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᑎᑎᖅᑐᒐᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᓐᓈᖅᑎᑦᓯᓗᓂ ᑐᓂᖑᐊᒥ ᐊᖅᓴᖑᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

November/December 2011

The Elders welcome children from all communities. ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᓕᒫᓂᑦ.

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Evidence of ancient feasts at Inarolik, Southwest Baffin. ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᑯᒥᓃᑦ ᐃᓐᓈᕈᒻᒥ, ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓘᑉ ᓂᒋᐊᓂ.

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the Hudson Strait was by umiaq and later by supply ship.

At this event, while the Elders celebrated, two lovely weddings also took place. The first was that of Natsivak Atsiaq, the bride, and Pitseolak Qimipik, the groom. Their wedding was held in the community’s tiny Anglican church.

Concluding the ceremony was my old friend, Naudla Osuitok, strumming lively foot tapping Inuit songs on his guitar. The second wedding was that of Margaret Hutchings and Ekidlua Teevee. Visiting minister Simeonie Pitsiulak, from Kimmirut, conducted both ceremonies. It was a delightful surprise to see the members of both wedding parties dressed in gowns and suits with curious ravens who are permanent residents of Kinngait looking down upon the whole affair. There were, of course, the obligatory receptions where both families provided the food followed by the presentation of gifts to the bride and groom. It seemed as if an entire younger generation had entered the digital age taking pictures throughout both ceremonies.

With a little less formality a huge feast was held outdoors at Aupaluqtuq the following day. Pieces of cardboard were spread out upon the rocks and laden with wholesome country food. There was caribou, seal, bowhead maktaaq, Arctic

arcticjournal. ca

November/December 2011

ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᑖᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᓇᕕᒻᒥᐅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᖐᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᓚᐅᑦᑐᑦ ᓵᓚᒌᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓇᓱᐊᖅᑐᑦ. ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᖃᐅᒪᔪᑦ “ᐊᑭᐊᓂᒥᐅᓂᒃ” (ᓄᓇᕕᒃ) ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᑯᓰᓚᕐᒥᐅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᒥᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᐸᒃᑐᕕᓂᑦ ᒫᓇᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᑯᑦ ᐃᑳᖅᐸᓕᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ. ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᕐᓂᓯᐅᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᓱᖅᑐᓂ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓇᑦᓯᕙᒃ ᐊᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᓄᓕᐊᓂᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᖅ ᕿᒥᖅᐱᒥᒃ. ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᑯᓗᒻᒥᑦ. ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᑐᖃᕋ ᓇᐅᓪᓚᖅ ᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᑯᒃᑭᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂ ᑐᓴᖅᓈᑦᑎᑦᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᑭᖑᓪᓕᕐᒥᑦ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ ᒪᒍᕋᑦ ᕼᐊᕐᓯᖕᔅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑭᓪᓗᐊᖅ ᑏᕕ. ᐳᓛᕆᐊᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᔪᕆᖅᓱᐃᔨ ᓯᒥᐅᓂ ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᖅ ᑭᒻᒥᕈᒻᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑮᓪᓂᑦ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.ᓂᕆᐅᓇᓚᐅᖏᑦᑐᖅ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᐃ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖅᓯᐊᑎᒪᑎᒋᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᑐᓗᒐᐃᑦ ᑕᐅᑐᕋᓐᓈᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᑐᓗᓃᑦ. ᓂᕆᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᓕᒫᒥᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᑎᒃ ᓂᕿᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᖑᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᓯᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᖃᑖᖅᑑᒃ.ᓲᕐᓗᓕ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᐅᐊᔭᒨᖅᑐᓂᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒪᕇ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔪᒐᓵᓗᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑮᓐᓂᑦ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ. ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᓚᒥᑦ ᐊᐅᐸᓗᒃᑐᒥᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᑖᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᕿᑐᑦᑐᒐᐅᔭᓂᑦ ᓵᖃᖅᑐᑎᒃ ᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕿᓪᓚᕆᓐᓂᑦ.ᑐᒃᑐᒥᓃᑦ,ᓇᑦᓯᒥᓃᑦ, ᒪᒃᑕᑦ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᒍᓇᖅᑕᖃᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᕆᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ. ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᒥᓂᑦ ᓂᕆᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐ ᒥᑭᒐᐃᑦ, ᓂᒃᑰᑦ, ᐆᑦᑎᓯᓚᔪᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓪᓂᑦ ᐊᕿᓗᖅᓯᓂᑦ. ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑲᑐᔾᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᑦᑐᓇᑦᓯᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.

A happy Kenojuak Ashevak re-connects with old friends at the craft sale. ᕿᓄᔾᔪᐊᖅ ᐋᓯᕙᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᑕᑯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᒥ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᑐᖃᒥᓂᒃ.

char, even a little igannuq (fermented walrus meat) for the discreet palate. One had the choice of food raw, dried, boiled or stewed. The feast was a huge collaborative effort, just as all feasts were long into the past.

Some Elders claim that they can tell where an animal came from by its taste and even what season it was taken.

People brought food to this feast from their respective communities: maktaaq came from Iqaluit, caribou from Kuujjuaq and Naujaat, seal from Kinngait, and the most delicious scallops in the world, I believe, came from Salliq.

The place where the feast was held was at one of the ancient feasting places in Sikusiilaq. One can find all manner of reminders of the past nearby. There are stone fox traps, meat caches, hunting blinds, stone dwellings and various other features created 300 to 1,000 years ago by the Tunniit, the Thule ancestors of the Inuit of today. The joy, laughter and companionship experienced during feasts at this place have lasted not for just a day but for generations.

Aupallukpok refers to the colour red. Aupaluqtuq is the place in Kinngait noted for its red granite.

Before closing, the Elders were asked to vote where the next gathering would be held; they wisely chose a little hamlet in Nunavik whose population was only 174 in 2006. Its name is Aupaluk, referring to the reddish soil throughout the area. Aupaluk was a traditional camp blessed with rich hunting sites of caribou, marine animals, fish and wild fowl.

The present day site was entirely designed by its Inuit inhabitants. It is the place where their ancestors had hunted for generations. The life of the Aupalummiut is still closely related to traditional activities thus making the choice for the next Elders gathering quite special.

Attending the Elder’s gathering in Kinngait not merely as an observer but as an invited Elder meant a great deal to me.

It not only put me in touch with Elders from other communities but rekindled sweet memories of the Elders

ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓅᒻᓚᕇᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕋᓚᐅᑦᑐᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᒻᒪᖔᑕ ᑎᐱᑐᐃᓐᓇᖓᒍᑦ ᖃᖓᓂᓴᐅᒻᒪᖔᑕᓗ.ᓇᑭᑐᐃᓐᓈᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓂᕿᒡᒋᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ: ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂᑦ ᒪᒃᑖᒋᖅᓯᒪᔪᖃᓚᐳᖅᑐᖅ, ᑰᔾᔪᐊᒥ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᓗ ᑐᒃᑐᕕᓂᖏᖅᑐᖃᖅᑐᓂ, ᓇᑦᓯᕕᓂᖅ ᑭᓐᖓᓃᖓᖅᑐᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒪᕐᓂᐹᖑᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥᑦ ᑯᑭᐅᔭᐃᑦ, ᓴᓪᓕᓃᖓᖅᐸᓪᓚᐃᔪᐃᑦ. ᑕᐃᓐᓇ ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᕐᕕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᑯᓰᓚᕐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᕐᕕᑐᖄᓗᒃ. ᐃᖅᑲᐃᔪᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐊᑦᓯᐊᕈ ᐱᐅᓯᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᐳᓪᓚᑎᕕᓃᑦ, ᕿᓐᓂᕕᕕᓃᑦ, ᐅᑕᖅᑭᐅᕐᕕᕕᓃᑦ, ᖃᕐᒪᖃᕐᕕᕕᓃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᕐᓂᓴᑐᖃᕕᓃᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᖃ ᑐᓂᕕᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᐃ 300ᒥ 1,000ᒧ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᕕᓃᑦ, ᒫᓇ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᕕᓂᖏᑦ. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᐊᓂᖅ, ᐃᒡᓚᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᖃᑎᒌᖅᓯᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᑲᓪᓛᓗᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᕝᕕᐅᕙᑦᑐᑐᖃᕐᒥᑦ ᑲᑎᓕᕐᒥᒐᒥᒃ ᑭᖑᕚᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ. ᐊᐅᐸᓗᒃᐳᖅ ᑖᓇ ᓄᓇᐅᑦ ᐊᑎᖓ ᐅᔭᕋᑦᑎᐊᕙᓐᓂᑦ ᐊᐅᐸᖅᑐᓂᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᒪᑦ.

November/December 2011

above & beyond

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of Kinngait with whom I travelled with for over 45 years.

Some were my mentors who taught me everything I know about the land and life in traditional times.

Although this gathering was over, it reminded me of another time sitting beside friends and the sea with the fragrant smoke from burning Arctic heather beneath a black bubbling teapot filling the air. Lia was tending the fires.

Close by were pots in which snow geese were boiling in a rich delicious broth. Fresh bannock was shared along with our chatter, laughs and memories of good times. As if all these pleasures were not enough, an island seemed to rise up from the sea before us. It was a bowhead whale on its way to some distant place. ᓄᖃᓚᐅᖏᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᓂᕈᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᒥ ᑲᑎᓛᓕᕐᒥᒻᒪᖔᕐᒥᒃ; ᓂᕈᐊᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒻᒦᓚᕐᓂᒥᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᖃᖅᑐᒥᒃ 174ᓂᑦ 2006ᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᒍᑦ. ᐊᐅᐸᓗᒻᒥᑦ ᓯᐅᕋᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᐅᐸᔪᒃᑐᒥᑦ ᐊᑎᕆᓚᕿᔭᖓ. ᐊᐅᐸᓗᒃ ᐅᐊᑦᓯᐊᕈ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᐅᑲᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᕕᓂᖅ, ᑐᑐᓕᒃ, ᐳᐃᔨᓕᐊᓗᒃ, ᐃᖃᓗᓕᒃ ᑎᖕᒥᐊᖃᕆᓪᓗᓂᓗ. ᒫᓇ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᐅᓕᕋᒥ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᖅ. ᓯᕗᓕᕕᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐆᓚᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑐᖃᖅ. ᐊᐅᐸᓗᒻᒥᐅ ᓱᓕ ᒫᓇᒧᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓯᓖᑦ ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕆᓐᓄ ᑲᑎᕝᕕᐅᓛᓕᕐᒥᔪᖅ. ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᓐᖓᓂᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᓯᒪᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓴᓂ ᖃᐃᖅᑯᔭᐅᓯᓚᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᕙᓐᓄᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᐹᓪᓕᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᐃᓄᒻᒪᕆᓐᓂ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᖅᑖᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓴᖓ ᐳᐃᒍᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔾᔮᔪᓃᖅᑕᕋ ᐃᖃᐅᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᒍ ᑭᓐᖓᓃᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ ᐃᓄᒻᓚᕇᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᐊᕌᒍᓂᑦ 45ᓂᑦ. ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᖃᓄᓕᒫᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᓄᓇᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᑐᖃᕐᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᕙᑦᑐᕕᓂᕐᓂᑦ ᐃᖃᐅᒪᓇᖅᑐᖅ. ᑲᑎᓐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐱᔭᕇᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᖃᐃᔪᑎᒋᔭᕋ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᓐᓂᑦ ᓯᒡᔭᒥᑦ ᕿᔪᑦᑖᖅᓱᓂᒥ ᓇᐃᒪᓪᓗᖓ ᐃᒑᒧᑦ ᑏᓕᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᓛᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᐱᖅᑎᐊᕆᒃᑐᖅ. ᓕᐊ ᐃᒐᓪᓗᓂ. ᓴᓂᐊᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᒃᑯᓰᑦ ᐅᒋᓖᑦ ᓂᕐᓕᒡᒥᑦ ᖃᔪᑦᑎᐊᕆᒃᑐᐊᓗᒃ. ᐸᓚᐅᒑᓪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᑕᒧᐊᕙᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᒋᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᔪ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᒡᓚᕋᓴᒃᑐᑦ, ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᑐᖃᕐᒥᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᑦ. ᖁᕕᐊᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓲᕐᓗᓕ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᖅ. ᓱᓇᐅᕙ ᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥᑦ ᐳᐃᔪᖅ.

Beautiful Kinngait Mountain at Cape Dorset. ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ ᑭᓐᖓᕐᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᖅ.

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arcticjournal. ca

November/December 2011

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T O

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Navy Board Inlet women sew on deck of the Maud, July 1889.

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November/December 2011

A Canadian Inuit Migration to

Greenland Pond Inlet Inuit rejuvenate Polar Inuit society

by Gerard Kenney

M

ost of us have heard of family feuds. The most famous raged between the Hatfields and the McCoys in the latter part of the 1800s in the West Virginia-Kentucky backcountry. Shots were fired. People died.

Inuit also had their family differences in the same timeframe, but they often used a more sure-fire way of settling them before things got nasty and completely out of hand: one of the two parties involved moved far away from the other — far enough away, in fact, that there was no longer any interaction between the two parties. The famous Inuit migration from Pond Inlet to Greenland in the mid-to-latter 1800s was such a case.

In about the mid-1800s (the date is not certain) two groups of Inuit set out from Pond Inlet and headed north. Two men, one named Qitdlarssuaq (aka Qillaq) and the other, Oqe, each led a group of their followers toward a new homeland to the northeast.

The Inuit had many obstacles to overcome on their epic migration.

The very first obstacle, shortly after leaving Pond Inlet, was Lancaster Sound. The Sound was extremely dangerous because it often did not freeze over solidly, even in the coldest years. It was almost always an unstable, shifting, moving, icy surface to travel and camp on. Despite this situation, Qillaq and Oqe successfully led their followers across Lancaster Sound and headed for the southeast coast of Devon Island where they set up camp and spent a peaceful and bountiful five years.

There was lots of game and hunting was good.

During those first years, very few people from the outside world crossed paths with the migrants on Devon Island. The first to do so, in 1854, was Royal Naval Officer Augustus Inglefield in Phoenix in his attempt to find John Franklin. The second, and last it seems, was Royal Naval Officer Francis McClintock in Fox, in 1858, also searching for Franklin. It is believed that Qillaq first learned of the existence of Polar Inuit in Greenland from Inglefield.

SOURCE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA C-88340

November/December 2011

above & beyond

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SOURCE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA C-88383

Right: Inuit of Pond Inlet on the Maud, July 1889.

Below: Inuit summer dwellings, Admiralty Inlet, July 1889.

The trip north was not an easy one as the travellers had to carry all their worldly possessions with them. This was definitely not just a simple, easy hunting trip. The Inuit took with them their qajait (kayaks) and even, according to some, a much larger umiak, as well. However, not everyone shared Qillaq’s enthusiasm for the drudgery of the trip to new lands. A number of the migrants began pining for their old homeland.

Oqe was one of them and he decided to turn south back to his Baffin Island home along with most of his followers, and some of Qillaq’s to boot. However, some fourteen of the original migrants kept their faith in old Qillaq – he was indeed old by then, with a head that was quite bald – and carried on north toward the land of the Polar Inuit of which Inglefield had spoken.

After crossing Pim Island off Cape Sabine on Ellesmere Island, Qillaq and his followers crossed Smith Sound on the narrow neck of floes that separates Canada from Greenland at that latitude. To the delight of Qillaq and his people, they found

SOURCE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA C-88349

Although the American, Elisha Kent Kane, was exploring in the land of the Polar Inuit in the late 1850s, he does not seem to have met Qillaq and his followers. At least, he doesn’t appear to have reported on them if he did.

Qillaq was an angakok, or shaman, as they were also called, who were said to have special powers that made it possible for them to spiritually fly to foreign lands, and even to the moon. Although he and his followers had found peace and plentiful supplies of meat while on Devon Island, Qillaq, being forever a restless soul, convinced most of his followers, as well as some of Oqe’s, to follow him to the northern land of the Polar Inuit that he had visited in his spiritual shamanistic flights.

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SOURCE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA C-88352

Left: Close-up of an Inuit summer dwelling, July 1889.

habitations built of stone on the Greenland side. Although there were definite signs of life, the residents themselves were not there at that time of the year.

By then, it was time for Qillaq and his followers to prepare for the long darkness of the polar winter with its howling, deadly winds blasting across the deeply frozen landscape. The migrants set up their winter camp near Etah. Hunters set out to hunt the surrounding tundra and were successful in bringing back many hundreds of birds’ eggs for their larder, along with many of the plentiful caribou and sea animals such as beluga and narwhal. Well provisioned, Qillaq and his followers hunkered down in igloos as well as in some of the already existing stone habitations to survive the coldest months of the Arctic year.

After several months of deep cold and darkness, the sun finally began to peep shyly over the horizon – it was time for the hunters of the group to start refilling their larder which was nearly empty by then. Game was scarce at first, but finally the men arrived back from the long hunt with sled-loads of caribou. As Qillaq and the other hunters with him approached their encampment, they could see that their women were waiting for them along with some strange unknown Inuit. In fact, those who had stayed at the winter camp while the hunters were gone had finally made contact with the Polar Inuit that angakok Qillaq had foreseen in his spiritual flights!

The Polar Inuit were quite friendly, but communication was difficult, especially at first, because of differences in their two dialects. Over time, and by using sign language, the two groups did succeed in communicating quite well with each other.

When the Pond Inlet Inuit first met them, the Polar Inuit were a declining society of less than 150 souls. Long ago, this northern most band of Inuit had lost contact with their neighbours to the south because of bad relations between them. And to the north lay the frozen pole. Over the years, the result of this isolation was that the small band of Inuit withered in number as the elders died and took with them to their graves many of the skills essential for survival in their harsh homeland. Despite the initial language barriers, the Pond Inlet Inuit reintroduced many of these lost skills and tools to the Polar Inuit, which proved to be a rejuvenating, lifesaving breath of fresh air for the latter.

The Canadian Inuit showed the Greenlanders how to make qajait to allow them to travel to nearby islands where many kinds of birds nested and could be captured for food, as well as how to build igloos for warmth and comfort in the deep cold of winter, how to make bows and arrows to kill the plentiful caribou, and how to make hooks and spears to catch fish. The new blood from Canada completely transformed the Polar Inuit and gave them the energy to rejuvenate their society. The two groups of Inuit got along very well together and intermarriages began to take place.

Qillaq had not been a young man when he had first set out on his migration to the north. After spending a number of happy years in the land of the Polar Inuit, he finally sensed the approach of the end of his mortal life, and he began feeling the urge to return to his homeland on Baffin Island before it was too late to go back. Despite his

SOURCE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA C-88389

Below: Pond Inlet Inuit travellers, July 1889.

advanced age, Qillaq was still a leader and he succeeded in convincing almost all of his followers, some 20 in all, to join him in a trip back to Baffin Island. Unfortunately, the years caught up with Qillaq on the return trip, and neither he nor any of his followers ever reached their homeland.

A Catholic priest, Father Guy Mary-Rousseliere, spent 36 years in Pond Inlet and during this time he became closely involved with the descendents of Qillaq who lived in Canada as well as those living in Greenland. He arranged a number of meetings between Qillaq’s descendents from Pond Inlet as well as those from Greenland for them to celebrate their kinship together. The meetings took place either in Canada or Greenland. Unfortunately, Father Mary, as most people called him, died tragically in a fire that destroyed his church and home in 1994 and these meetings no longer take place.

Father Mary had become quite knowledgeable about Qillaq’s migration over the years and wrote a book on it titled Qitdlarssuaq — The Story of a Polar Migration. As a result of that migration in the late 1800s, there are now descendents of the Baffin Island migrants living today in Greenland as well as in Pond Inlet.

November/December 2011

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ŠHeiko Wittenborn

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Greenland

An Arctic Neighbour

at the crossroad?

Text and photos by Yvan Pouliot

Seal hunting in famed Disko Bay, near Ilulissat.

November/December 2011

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Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the fastest moving glaciers on Earth (at 19 metres/day), produces an endless stream of icebergs.

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he airplane prepared for landing in full view of the ice cap, the rocky peaks, glaciers and icebergs. A completely different world appears: the biggest island* and the northernmost country on Earth. Exiting from the plane the fresh alpine air confirms it. The surroundings of rocky mountains, snow and ice look like the Himalayas at 5,000 metres of altitude, but the airport is not very high above sea level. The latitude makes the difference here, just below the Arctic circle. On this spring day, my mind was loaded with many questions.

Who are the people living here? Their language? What are they doing? How do they live their northern lives? What is different here from the northern part of my country, Canada? As an environmental biologist, I was also greatly interested in their environmental issues and how they manage their wastes. How are they affected by global warming?

My journey to Greenland started with the intent of answering these questions as much as possible. I went aboard the Sarfaq Ittuk, the ferry transporting people from village to village, sailing North from Nuuk to Ilulissat, and then South to Qaqortoq. In two weeks, I travelled to a dozen villages, visiting Viking ruins, old European settlements, glaciers and ice fjords, sheep farms, museums and met with many interesting people.

This region of southwest Greenland offers a great diversity of villages, human life and landscape, and thanks to the warm Gulf stream current, the sea coast of this region is free of ice all year round, with the exception of icebergs, of course.

Located in the middle of this region, Nuuk the capital, is a modern city of 37,000.

Nuuk’s buildings and houses are all constructed directly on the bedrock.

In total Greenland is home to nearly 60,000 people spread across 50 villages located in a thin corridor of ice-free land along the coast. About 85 percent of its territory is covered by an icecap close to 3 km thick in some areas. The weight of this ice is so heavy that the ground underneath is pushed down in a concave shape where the low point lies below sea level.

*

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Can also be considered as the second biggest island after Australia. The latter is however often considered as an island-continent.

November/December 2011

Norse ruins at Hvalsey near Qaqortoq.

Greenland yesterday My first question was answered in Sisimiut, a picturesque village located 300 kilometres north of Nuuk. There, the Katersugaasivik Museum housed precious archaeological exhibits (discoveries related to Greenland’s first inhabitants) in old colonial buildings.

Indications are that this territory has been inhabited for almost 4,000 years by different waves of Palo Eskimos called Saqqaqkulturi, then the Tuniit siulliit and then the Tuniit kingulliit. The Norse (Vikings), named Qallunaatsiaat by the Inuit, arrived more than 1,000 years ago. They vanished (as known) around 500 years ago apparently due to the cooling of the climate known as the little Ice Age. The inhabitants of Greenland today are the descendants of the two last waves of people: the Inuit arriving from northern Canada, close to 1,000 years ago, and the European people, sailing 500 years ago to Greenland for fishing, walrus and whale hunting, explorations, and later on for evangelization and colonization.

Spoken languages are Greenlandic locally called, Kalaallissut, a dialect of Inuktitut.

The second language is Danish and English is also spoken as the third language.

Eskimo archaeological sites are scattered all along the coasts. The Norse occupied the southwestern part between year 985** and 1500 approximately. They settled in flat grassy plains where they could practice agriculture and sheep farming. Some 300 farms are estimated to have existed at that time and the Norse population probably never exceeded 5,000. Several ruins are still visible today. An astonishing one is the stone church built some 700 years ago at Hvalsey, which is along a fjord where the cousin of Eric the Red had settled. The church was the centre of a dwelling complex linking the development of Christianity in the region as in many places on Earth at that time.

Living in Narsasuaq, Pavia (right) comes to Igaliku each summer to grow vegetables for his family.

Greenland today Greenland had been a Danish colony until 1953 and is now an independent territory of this country. Since a referendum in 2008 and a special law in 2009, the autonomy of Greenland has been strengthened. It is inhabited by Kalaallit (Inuit) and Scandinavians, mainly Danish. Kalaallit are connected to the land and traditions and the Danish to Europe and modern economy.

Kalaallit and Danes often intermarried and still do, creating a unique Greenlandic cultural heritage. One example of this heritage is the traditional costume of the Kalaallit, which display material and design from both cultures. With coloured linen and beads brought from Europe, Kalaallit have designed a gorgeous costume incorporating seal fur and skin, which they wear at every official ceremony such as confirmation.

Even if Greenland is geographically close and geologically bonded to North America, it is culturally and economically connected to Europe. This is the first surprise for any Canadian travelling here. We have to go to Iceland or to Denmark to get to Greenland, a somewhat lengthy but pretty detour. A direct flight from Eastern Canada would take

Offshore oil exploration along the west coast.

** Eric the Red sailed to Greenland in 982 and came back with 35 ships from Iceland in 985, but only 14 made it.

November/December 2011

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Aasiaat, a village situated in the archipelago of the same name — at sunset.

The community of Qaqortoq is the cultural center of Southern Greenland.

Cruising among icebergs in Disko Bay.

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less than three hours to go to Nuuk or to Kangerlussuaq while the best itinerary I found took 22 hours, through Montreal-Boston-Reykjavik-Nuuk.

All visited villages were clean, surprisingly clean. No paper, debris or garbage was on the ground. Colours used for houses are the same in every village: Red, Blue, Yellow and some Green. This is one reason why Greenland villages are so typical and recognizable.

People seem generally well educated and proud of their environment, and of their fitness. Hiking, biking and jogging are regular activities here.

Tourism is well organized in many villages. Bed & Breakfast, hotels of different classes and even youth hostels are available and costs are similar to what we find in Canada.

Fishing has been the main industry for a long time but the depletion of the sea resource has reduced the activity here like elsewhere. Containers stacked on the wharf are part of every village scenery.

Every village has an incinerator to burn domestic wastes, so dumpsites are reduced to metal and ashes. Wastewater however, is ejected directly to the sea, but does not seem to create significant impacts considering the small population of villages and the long distance between them.

It was somewhat surprising to learn that global warming does not seem to be a big issue here in this country of ice. In fact, the permafrost can thaw and the stability of buildings will not be affected since they are constructed directly on the bedrock. The same holds true for roads and other civic infrastructure. All are constructed in a way so as not to be affected by the freeze and thaw.

Potable water resources and sewage pipes all lie above ground and are insulated.

When people are asked if global warming is a concern in Greenland, they politely answer, “yes,� and mention examples such as the thinner sea ice in some areas where people used to fish during winter, which render the activity more dangerous now. Years ago, it was possible to cross Disco Bay in winter, the ice was solid enough, but not anymore. And as the conversations continue, the real concerns arise: jobs, more independence from Denmark, upcoming huge oil or mining projects, threat of economic and cultural invasion, and so on.

A mining project near the village of Narsaq at the southern tip is a good example of the challenging issues that are facing Greenlanders today. The company Greenland Minerals and Energy, a subsidiary of an Australian mining company, acquired a licence to explore the Kvanefjed project area, which contains rare earth, zinc and uranium. The feasibility and impact assessment studies are underway and if positive, the mine construction is planned for 2013 for completion in 2015.

The construction phase will require a taskforce of 2,000 employees, and 600 afterward for regular operation. With a total population of 1,600 people in Narsaq, and of around 7,000 total in South Greenland, the region would not be able to supply the specialized manpower required for such a venture. Most of the manpower will have to be brought from abroad.

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From where? Where would they lodge? Are the politicians going to sell the land for nothing? Will the surrounding villages and landscape be impacted? Will this big project bring social problems? Are the food, language and way of living going to disappear?

The land will not be as peaceful as it is now. What will the benefits be? These are questions and comments I have been hearing from people I have encountered.

During my stay, the mining company held an information session in Qaqortoq to introduce the project to the population, to answer questions and address concerns. This session comprised several booths on the mining processes, a display of specialized equipment, simulated images of the landscape before and after the project, conferences, information on archaeology, games outside for children and an open food buffet all weekend long. A soccer game between Qaqortoq and Narsaq teams was even organized.

Mining companies well know that social acceptability is paramount in the implementation of new projects and such public relations events are necessary, even if they are costly.

The small village of Kangaamiut (pop. 350) is nestled amidst outstanding Arctic scenery.

Greenland tomorrow Kvanefjed is one project among several ones currently in progress in Greenland. This situation is not so surprising considering that Greenland abounds in resources such as oil, gold, rare earth, zinc, iron and uranium, and that the world demand for these resources is high, especially in China.

Greenland is known for its dramatic natural features such as the glaciers, pushed by the icecap, calving icebergs in ice-field fjords where they are first born to start their long journey along the coast. It is a pristine place where people seem to live in harmony with their environment, a real model for other northern countries I would risk to say. This is most evident in observation of their genuine respect for the environment, their pride in speaking their language and sharing knowledge of their customs with visitors.

However, being a tiny population in a huge territory makes them vulnerable.

Sourcing enough workers from abroad to fill the jobs created by multinational companies for large scale exploitations of natural resources will bring new rules and challenges and change the present equilibrium, no doubt.

Steven from Denmark and Ivalu from Qaqortoq now live in the Greenland capital Nuuk.

The social debate currently taking place is intense and highly important for the people and politicians. And the outcome will shape the Greenland of tomorrow. For many, these projects are great opportunities to develop a new economy and to create jobs highly needed since the downturn of the fishing industry. It is the occasion to discuss many issues: culture, autonomy, economy, politics and environment.

The challenge is to find a way to implement these projects while protecting the culture and the environment. As we know, oil and mineral exploitations can be very polluting if not properly managed and regulated. Will Greenland be able to stay green?

November/December 2011

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A R T S , C U LT U R E & E D U C AT I O N

Fossils at Risk Understanding global warming y camera is focussed on the exquisite remains of a tree. It is a metre tall, twisted and silvered with stubby branches reaching out in all directions. Five million years ago, this tree lived and thrived in the High Arctic. It is one of many fossils from Ellesmere Island, Nunavut that are stored here in the archives of the Canadian Museum of Nature.

At 196,236 square kilometres, Ellesmere Island is the tenth largest in the world, the most northerly point in Canada, and has fewer than 150 permanent residents. This stark and magnificent land of mountains, ice caps, permafrost and glaciers is one of the coldest and driest places on Earth. The annual precipitation of only 6 cm equals that of the Sahara desert. Temperatures range from minus 38° C in winter to 9° C in summer. Still, a fragile ecosystem survives on this vast polar desert and despite its sparse vegetation; the tundra is able to support a small population of musk oxen, wolves, Peary caribou, Arctic hare, fox, weasels and lemmings.

Polar bears roam the coastline and migratory birds visit during the brief summers.

Fifty million years ago, Ellesmere Island was totally different and the proof lies in its fossils. In 1975, American palaeontologists Mary Dawson and Robert West found the fossil remains of primitive alligator, fish, turtle and mammals on Ellesmere Island.

Their discovery proved that millions of years ago, the climate of the far North had been warm. This breakthrough was recognized as one of the greatest contributions to vertebrate palaeontology of the last century.

Fossil records verify that during the Eocene period, 50 to 55 million years ago, there was no permanent polar ice on Ellesmere Island. Instead, a lush rainforest dominated by dawn redwood trees and tropical vegetation flourished near Strathcona Fiord. This fertile ecosystem survived despite being shrouded in darkness for six months of the year. The forest thrived on rich flood plains

Š LEE NARRAWAY

M

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Š LEE NARRAWAY (3)

that teemed with a diverse variety of life, including alligators, tapir, giant tortoises, primates, snakes, lizards and the hippo-like Coryphodon, all nourished by the abundant rainfall and mild climate.

Over many millennia, the Earth began to cool.

During the Pliocene period of three to five million years ago, shortly before Earth plunged into an ice age, a lake existed on Ellesmere Island amid a boreal forest setting of larch, dwarf birch and northern white cedar.

Wetland mosses, herbs and patches of grass surrounded it. The area was home to fish, frogs, molluscs, birds, tiny deer, primitive black bear, three-toed horse, rabbit, badger, shrews and small beaver.

In 1961, John Fyles of the Canadian Geological Survey discovered what is now known as the Beaver Pond site near Strathcona Fiord and in 1988, he found the first fossil there, that of a beaver. Ongoing field research Dr. Natalia Rybczynski talks to a group at the Museum of Nature about the fossils on Ellesmere Island.

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began in 1992 with teams led by Canadian palaeontologist Dick Harington and Natalia Rybczynski, palaeontologist with the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Fossils are often preserved through a process known as permineralization. This occurs when solutions rich in minerals fill in the porous tissues of organic material such as bone or wood. Although heavier, the fossil now retains the original shape of the organism. But this site has yielded organic material, including trees, leaves, cones, plants and mosses that have been preserved in peat deposits, thus they are “mummified” rather than fossilized.

The Beaver Pond site on Ellesmere Island is unique. There are no other recorded fossil bones from the Pliocene period anywhere else in the High Arctic regions of the world.

Many believe this is one of the most important fossil archives on the planet. Tests on its organic material indicate that average annual temperatures during the Pliocene period were 11-16° C warmer than today in summer and 18 to 19° C warmer in winter. Climate models have confirmed that during the Pliocene era, the Earth itself was two to three degrees warmer than now and predict the temperature of the planet will again rise to that level over the next 100 years. Therefore, data from this site provides both a fossil archive of the actual conditions in the High Arctic under those temperatures and a benchmark to measure the pace and impact of current climate change.

But… these irreplaceable fossil records are under threat. Ellesmere Island fossil forests are preserved as coal seams and, unfortunately, the Strathcona Fiord region, with the most fossils and the most coal, has been licensed for exploration and future mining.

When this information became public in 2010, an outpouring of protest letters from scientists around the world helped convince the Nunavut Impact Review Board to demand that the project be modified or abandoned due to the “high likelihood of unacceptable adverse impacts to wildlife and fossil beds” in the region. However, the final decision still remains in the hands of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

The fossils of Ellesmere Island provide a window into a warm Arctic world that has disappeared. The information they retain plays an ever-important role in our understanding of global warming and its future effect on the planet.

Palette of a three-toed horse found on Ellesmere Island Beaver Pond site.

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ENVIRONMENT

Climate Adaptation Planning Community-led holistic approach key to safer Arctic strategies

ajor effects of climate change in Canada’s Arctic are prominently featured in national news coverage.

Recently, stories have surfaced about the pending disintegration of winter roads and the growing ozone hole hovering over Arctic land. The ongoing saga of the government’s increasingly robust plans to develop future oil and gas deposits found beneath melting ice also appears below headlines.

Beneath these reported issues are the everyday realities of climate change that many Inuit communities amongst others in the North, are facing. While climate-focused policies often target the macro-level solution of mitigation through the reduction of greenhouse gases, it’s equally important for communities to adapt to climate change

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effects and uphold their quality of life.

Across the Arctic this is already happening.

Collaborative efforts are underway with governments, organizations, communities and individuals combining their knowledge and resources to develop more effective adaptation strategies. An example of this kind of joint effort is the community-led adaptation work being done in Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok.

Established by two passionate climate change scientists, James Ford (PhD) and Tristan Pearce (PhD), their Canadian-based organization, ArcticNorth, is teaming up with communities in the Northwest Territories to develop and implement adaptation action plans, as part of their vision to better assist communities, businesses and industry in adapting to a changing climate.

November/December 2011

Changes in Paulatuk Paulatuk is a hamlet located in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), an area in the Northwest Territories that is bearing the brunt of climate change effects. Scientists and community members have identified several disconcerting climate trends. Temperatures are increasing at a rate more than twice the global average, permafrost is continually melting, and wildlife migration patterns as well as sea-ice regimes are steadily changing.

For Paulatuk, where subsistence activities largely contribute to the social, cultural and economic well-being of the community, environmental changes make an enormous difference in the day-to-day lives of many individuals.

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© TANYA SMITH

ENVIRONMENT

Ice-fishing plays an important role in community sustainability.

Part of the Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan’s mandate is to help establish five community working groups in Paulatuk.

The groups are then divided into different themes, including: Business and Economy, Culture and Learning, Health and Well-Being, Subsistence Harvesting, and Transportation and Infrastructure.

Herb Nakimayak, a Paulatuk resident who was originally born in Inuvik, was a participant in both the Business and Economy and Health and Well-Being working groups. Herb described some of the challenges in Paulatuk that are brought on by climate change.

“Here in Paulatuk, everyone is a harvester … Unpredictable conditions is the concern as

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well as [people’s] livelihood if they’re going out hunting and fishing. It’s in our culture.

The eroding banks in town, the amount of accumulation of snow we get in the winter…

Our graveyard is right in the middle of town, and that’s [been] waterlogged too.”

Herb recalled when a search and rescue operation was conducted last year, after snowmobilers were unable to move because of melting ice conditions. The incident sparked concern amongst hunters in the community that winter.

“Everyone is sticking to the dry land, and travelling in pairs as well.”

After several months of working with the Amundsen for a McGill University research team that was assessing health in Arctic communities, Herb moved to Paulatuk, where he can apply his knowledge and skills in his home region. He is an active member of the Hamlet Council and serves as a liaison between exploration companies and the community. Herb believes it’s of critical importance to identify more effective adaptation actions at the community-level.

“We have to start teaching new ways in how to adapt and figure this out together. If we don’t, we’ll be left behind.”

Amanda Caron, a researcher at ArcticNorth, helped to facilitate the community working groups discussions on adaptation. She describes how climate change is impacting Paulatuk.

“People are finding that they’re having to take longer trips to access the same hunting and fishing grounds… There’s open water where there didn’t used to be open water. So they need different equipment and more gas.

It’s become more expensive so some people aren’t able to go hunting or fishing as much or at all.”

Caron explains that it’s not only harvesters who are concerned about the changes occurring. Many worry that youth are not equipped with adequate local environmental knowledge — something that is vital for effective adaptation planning.

“The main thing that really struck me and that came up in every workshop regardless of the theme of the workshop was a strong concern that younger generations are not getting the practical experience and traditional knowledge of older generations, which is needed in order to hunt and fish and travel safely. This is especially important when people are describing changing and increasingly unpredictable conditions for travelling.”

In Paulatuk, community members have experienced longer periods of open water.

When carrying out discussions related to climate change and adaptation planning, it is essential that Elders are included and recognized for the invaluable knowledge they carry.

They are leaders in the community whose concerns are rooted in a deep history and more intimate relationship with the land.

“Having the Elders’ inputs and knowledge, I don’t think any research can go on without it.

Otherwise, you’re missing a huge link. It’s very important,” says Nakimayak. “Given they have travelled and lived on the land.”

Adaptation Report In Paulatuk’s Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, the list of outlined adaptation actions is extensive, ranging from promoting training opportunities for better diversification

David Roy Ekpakhoak and Troy Kataoyak learn how to digitize and upload oral history recordings to the community's oral history database, 'Nauvikhaq,' at Helen Kalvak Elihakvik (School) in Ulukhaktok. The Nauvikhaq project is a partnership between ArcticNorth, the Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, and Helen Kalvak Elihakvik to preserve and make oral history accessible to the community.

November/December 2011

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© TANYA SMITH

ENVIRONMENT

Survival skills are becoming increasingly important in a changing climate. Paulatuk’s Herb Nakimayak builds an iglu out on the land.

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November/December 2011

of the economy, to establishing more addictions services to help overall community cohesion and well-being. The report, which is a direct result of the community working groups’ findings, was submitted to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), the funder behind ArcticNorth's adaptation work.

The gathered information shows the need to embrace a more holistic approach when it comes to climate change adaptation. In communities like Paulatuk, where people’s lives have a complex connection to the environment, all areas of community life must be considered in adaptation planning.

Addressing community health challenges that are seemingly unrelated to climate change serve as important adaptation actions.

“Some participants noted the role emotional health plays in community cohesion and the ability to adapt, and expressed the need to strengthen support services in the community,” explains Caron.

In the report, adaptation actions are identified with varying levels of urgency and are followed by a list of resources that could assist in their implementation.

Actions related to transferring Elders’ environmental knowledge to the community,

ENVIRONMENT especially to youth, are seen as requiring immediate attention. These include: supporting initiatives to teach traditional skills and knowledge such as drum dancing, sewing, traditional art forms and storytelling, supporting land camps for youth, and identifying opportunities to record and pass on oral history of how Inuvialuit have adapted and been resilient to environmental changes throughout their history.

Reaching policy and moving forward After conducting research on climate change vulnerability, establishing working groups, and developing an Adaptation Action Plan for Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok, Arctic North is now working in the last two stages of their four-stage approach to adaptation plan development.

The group is currently overseeing a detailed assessment of the adaptation actions they have identified and are conducting a policy analysis related to the actions. They are also embarking on their final step, which is to implement the outlined adaptation actions and evaluate the progress being made in the two communities.

Pilot projects are being developed to test the effectiveness of proposed adaptation actions. In Paulatuk, a community kitchen series has brought community members together to share recipes that combine country foods and healthy store-bought foods. A strategically located snow-fencing project is also being built. In Ulukhaktok, the team is helping to develop an oral history database.

Caron would like to see the Adaptation Action Plans having some influence on future policy decisions related to climate change adaptation in the Arctic.

“Another major goal in this process is to communicate local ideas about what needs to be done to decision makers and policy makers at all different levels, at the local level but also regionally, territorially, federally.”

Shifts in policy could help alleviate some of the historical socio-economic problems that complicate local efforts to adapt to climate change.

“I think everyone in the community can relate to a policy-level frustration because local resources are already strained. Communities are dealing with a lot of changes simultaneously, many of which are the legacy of something that they had little control over, such as policies for permanent settlement and residential schools.”

Caron hopes that Canada’s Arctic communities will be given the same kind of attention

in adaptation planning that other low-lying coastal communities in the ‘developing world’ have received.

“We need to acknowledge that there are high-risk communities within developed nations like Canada and the U.S., and they’re going to need some extra support as well.”

Discussions at the community level and collaborations with policy makers nationally enhance communication and promote better strategies for everyone. Until established climate initiatives are fully operational, the residents of Paulatuk will continue to adapt as

November/December 2011

best they can — something they have been doing long before climate change earned its hesitant position on the political agenda.

“Climate change is spoken at the coffee table…” explains Nakimayak.“If you go to the east there are a couple of rivers to worry about, and if you’re going out west there are other issues. Everyone is concerned about this. At the end of the day, it’s the safety of everyone.”

Kelsey Rideout

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NORTHERN BOOKSHELF

Great reads for all ages Stefansson, Dr. Anderson and the Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913–1918: A Story of Exploration, Science and Sovereignty Stuart E. Jenness, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, 2011 This book presents the first comprehensive and authoritative account of the Canadian Arctic Expedition and the personal animosity of its co-leaders: the intrepid explorer/ethnologist Vilhjalmur Stefansson and the respected scientist Rudolph Anderson. The 440-page volume details the Expedition’s successes and tragedies, including the discovery of islands never before mapped and the sinking of the flagship Karluk. The book includes 84 illustrations and maps, several appendices, and a detailed bibliography. The author draws on accounts from his father, Diamond Jenness, who was a scientist on the Expedition, and knew or met eight of the Expedition members, including both Stefansson and Dr. Anderson. The book is a companion to the Canadian Museum of Civilization’s expedition installation, which runs until April 2012.

Arctic Obsession, The Lure of the Far North Alexis S. Troubetzkoy, Dundurn, 2011 Today’s Arctic is developing into tomorrow’s hot spot. Arctic Obsession dwells on contemporary issues besetting the most fragile part of our globe — global warming and environmental, ecological and geo-political concerns. Arctic Obsession goes beyond the history of northern exploration and those intrepid adventurers who searched for the Northwest and Northeast Passages. The book also provides an overview of the entire Arctic region, from Canada, Russia, and Alaska to Greenland, Iceland, and the North Sea.

Arctic Visions, Encounters at the Top of the World Stephen Gorman, The Art of the Wild, 2010 Stephen Gorman has spent the last several years travelling throughout the Arctic, often under extreme conditions, and most often with Inuit companions. Arctic Visions unveils the incredible splendour and diversity of the landscape, wildlife and people of the region. Using his sharply honed photography and wilderness travel skills and his powerful connection to his subject matter, his gorgeous images reveal the surreal beauty of the glaciers and the aurora borealis, the awesome power and presence of the polar bears, the magic between light and ice and the traditions and complexities of modern life in Inuit communities. The stunning images are complemented

by Gorman’s, though short, eloquent and lively text. Arctic Visions has won the prestigious 2011 Benjamin Franklin Award in the Gift Book category.

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INUIT FORUM

uring the first week of November delegates to the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami conference will take some time to reflect on the work we as Inuit have done over the past 40 years. The first of November marks the 40th anniversary of our incorporation as the national Inuit organization. Our role, then as now, is to speak with a unified voice for Inuit advancement.

To mark the anniversary we are holding a conference in Ottawa from November 1-3, at the National Arts Centre. We are calling it, “From Eskimo to Inuit in 40 Years”. When the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC) began its work in the early 1970s the word “Eskimo” was still commonly used. Over time, we have adopted the term “Inuit” which is the term used in Inuktitut to describe who we are — a people with a distinct culture, language, and identity.

We wanted the conference title to reflect both this evolution and the 40 years of history that has taken place.

We’ve worked to ensure founding members of ITC will be present at the conference to reflect on what’s been done in the past four decades.

Tagak Curley, now a Minister in the government of Nunavut, will be present to open the conference at the “Founders Panel”.

We will also have past ITC presidents such as John Amagoalik, Rosemary Kuptana, and Mary Sillett speaking. They will address key moments of Canadian history, notably the inclusion of Aboriginal Rights in the Canadian Constitution, and representing Inuit during the Charlottetown Accord negotiations.

All of ITC’s past presidents have been invited to the conference. We will also take time to mark the passing of our last president, Jose Kusugak. His wife Nellie will introduce someone Jose knew well, and worked with as Prime Minister — the Right Honourable Paul Martin, the keynote speaker at our closing dinner.

We intend to give full voice to our Inuit youth at this conference.

We’ve worked with the National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC) to identify top speakers for the Youth Panel. They include the Mayor of Rankin Inlet Pujjuut Kusugak, NIYC President Jennifer Watkins, Marie Belleau a young Inuit lawyer, and Johnny Kasudluak who recently ran in the federal election as a candidate in the huge Nunavik riding.

We’ll also look “Beyond our Borders” with a panel of Inuit and guests who’ve specialized in the international arena. Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sheila Watt-Cloutier will be with us to speak as part of this panel, as will ICC (Canada) President Duane Smith; Tom Axworthy, Chair of the Walter and Duncan Foundation; and Professor Brad Morse, Dean of Law at the University Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, who will provide a comparison of the Inuit, Aborigine, and Maori experiences.

I’m also looking forward to the “Polar Pundits” panel, to be moderated by the CBC’s Peter Mansbridge, host of The National.

Journalists are sure to have their own perspective on the past 40 years, and we will no doubt push them to gaze into the crystal ball for the next few decades. Joanna Awa, William Tagoona, Whit Fraser, and Jeffrey Simpson of the Globe and Mail are the “Polar Pundits”.

The current ITK Board of Directors will conclude the conference with a panel that will be visionary in scope. As leaders we are consumed with the present and managing future projects. We are in the “post land claims era” and thus have our sights set on the work that must be done in the next few decades to build on the work of our founders. Our Board members on this panel are: Nellie Cournoyea, Chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation; Cathy Towtongie, President of

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© PATRICIA D’SOUZA / ITK

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© MONTREAL GAZETTE

40 Years of Inuit History

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated; Pita Aatami, President of Makivik Corporation; and Jim Lyall, President of the Nunatsiavut Government.

To inject some humour, we will unveil a special exhibition of Inuit editorial cartoons spanning the past 50 years on the evening of November 1st. This collection of 100 cartoons presented in ten thematic panels was compiled with the assistance of Terry Mosher who draws as “Aislin” for the Montreal Gazette.

We’ll also hold a “Film Night” in collaboration with the National Film Board to officially launch a collection of retrospective Inuit documentary films on November 2nd. This project is a joint effort of the NFB, ITK, and the Inuit Relations Secretariat of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

The project is called Unikkausivut: Sharing our Stories.

If you can’t be present in Ottawa to share in this event, we intend to document it so that the past forty years of Inuit history is written into Canadian history. The names of our Inuit leaders should become synonymous with those of other famous Canadians.

Mary Simon

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