Kivalliq News - Feb. 1, 2023

Arctic Winter Games get underway

Nunavut athletes on the ground in Fort McMurray

ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓃᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᓄᓇᒦᑦᑐᑦ ᕗᐊᑦ ᒪᒃᒨᕆᒥ

Cheering ‘em on

AWG brings numerous benefits

Games take off with a party

Fort McMurray plays host to hundreds of athletes

By Stewart Burnett

For Kendrick Cardinal, seeing the Indigenous games like Dene games and Arctic sports in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in his region meant a lot.

“As a council in this region, we are tremendously proud to support these games,” said Cardinal, councillor for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. “After almost a year’s delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and because of the hard work of so many people and partners involved here, it is our time to shine in 2023.”

He was speaking at an opening press conference for the games Sunday, Jan. 29. Most teams arrived Jan. 28, with a few preliminary games held before the opening ceremonies that evening.

John Rodda, president of the Arctic Winter Games international committee, called it a special occasion and thanked everybody who “held the line” on bringing the Games back to life.

The opening ceremonies were held on a chilly -17 C Sunday night, with family and supporters packing the stands at Legacy Dodge Field, as hundreds of athletes and numerous officials and volunteers made their way down to the quasi-mosh pit in front of the stage to great applause.

A dog sled team piloted by Indigenous Elder and Olympian Brooke Voigt brought the Games’ torch to the cauldron, which was lit and the Games were officially declared open.

“These folks rode that rollercoaster with us,” remarked Melissa Blake, chair of the board for the host society for the event, referring to the supporters and sponsors who helped make the 2023 Games a reality in Fort McMurray.

“It’s a Games that I think was built to re-

member. It is for our community, the first big event that we’ve had in a long, long time.”

The Halluci Nation highlighted the musical performances, with DJ Qpid acting as host of the evening, along with Miranda Beaton and Holly Fortier.

A theme song was even written and performed at the opening ceremonies. Several local artists contributed to it, including producer Zion Afuang and drummer Darren Mercredi. The song ends with the slogan of the Games: “It’s our time to shine.”

A laser show and fireworks ended the evening, as athletes headed back to their village in buses, preparing for the start of competitive events on Monday, Jan. 30.

Olivia Tapatai takes a selfie with Baker Lake athletes Alooq Tagoona, Haley Hachey, Niego Killulark and Rayna Joedee. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Team Nunavut athletes and participants gather for a group photo after arriving on the first charter plane in Fort McMurray, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 28. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Northern News Services Fort McMurray, Alta. Local Journalism Initiative

Nunavut’s Ainsley Pitseolak talks to a CBC journalist upon arrival in Fort McMurray. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Baker Lake’s Haley Hachey carries the Nunavut flag as her team enters the arena Sunday, Jan. 29.

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ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓃᑦ ᑎᑭᑉᐳᑦ

ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ

ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

Kugaaruk

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᕐᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ

ᐅᑭᐅᓪᓗᐊᒃᑯᑦ, ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓃᑦ

ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓂᐊᑎᑦᑎᕕᐅᕗᑦ.

CMCA AUDITED

ᖁᔭᓈᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᓄᑕᐅᙱᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓚᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᑐᐃᓐᓇᓲᖑᙱᓚᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ

ᑎᒥᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᐃᓱᒪᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᓴᙱᔫᑎᑦᑎᒋᕗᖅ.

ᐱᙱᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂ 2023−ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ

ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ Fort McMurray, ᐋᓪᐴᑕᒥᒪ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐱᕼᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᑦ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᖁᕕᐊᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ

ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ−ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

Editor: Stewart Burnett

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ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᖁᕕᐊᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ

BURNETT

ᐃᑲᔪᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᖓᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓗᑎᒃ. ᐃᓕᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᓂ, ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ,

ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ

ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ

ᐃᓱᐊᓂ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ

ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᑦ

ᐃᓚᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓱᓕᕗᖅ

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ

ᐃᓛᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᓐᓇᐃᕙᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ

ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖅ

ᐱᓂᕐᓗᖕᓂᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐊᓂᒎᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᑭᓱᓕᒫᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑉᐳᖅ: ᓵᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒦᓪᓗᓂ, ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖕᒦᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᙵᖃᑎᒋᔭᕐᓂ, ᓄᑖᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑕᑯᔭᕆᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐳᓚᕋᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥ. ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᑎᒍᑦ ᓯᖕᓇᓲᖑᕗᒍᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᕼᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ.

ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒍᒪᙱᓚᑦ

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᓱᓕᒫᑦ

ᐱᙳᐊᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᕼᐊᓐᓇᓚᖏᓐᓂ

ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕐᓂᕐᒥ,

Games are upon us

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᓂᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ, ᐊᑭᓖᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ, ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓇᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓛᓗᖕᓂ ᑭᒡᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖁᑎᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᔭᓕᔭᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᑦ. ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᓂ.

Competition will grow independence among youth

In a territory with a dearth of options in the heart of winter, sports are a vital outlet.

Writing off sports as any old recreational activity is easy, but not only do they help keep people’s bodies healthy, they also keep our minds sharp.

The athletes attending the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alta., this week are lucky. Many adults are likely watching with nostalgia-tinted glasses, remembering the sense of excitement and adventure to attend a youth tournament, and especially such a high-profile one as the Arctic Winter Games.

The territory spends a fortune

on this. Just the flights and accommodations must be a massive bill, let alone all the ancillary work, training, coordination and so forth. But to give Nunavut youth something to work toward, look forward to and feel the thrill of is priceless. These events build independence, confidence and grit. Moments like these help develop youth on their path to becoming capable adults. They’re thrown into the frying pan of schedules, training, com-

Game time

mitments, responsibility and pressure. And no matter how they perform in the end, the youth will be better for it.

That’s true even if the athletes shirk at times from the pressure. Every young athlete I talked to in the lead up to the Games admitted they were nervous. Sports can be very intimidating – no one wants to mess up a play when everything is riding on them, especially in front of dozens or hundreds of people. But just as with winning,

messing up and learning to get over it is a vital part of growing as a person.

Everything about the Arctic Winter Games is a good time: taking a chartered plane, staying in a hotel with your team, meeting new people and visiting a new city. I think a lot of us older folk are jealous of the sense of adventure these youth must be feeling.

Nunavut mission staff officials, sponsors, volunteers and multiple levels of government put in a lot of hard work to make these opportunities possible for our youth, and they deserve a massive thanks. Memories are being made here that will never be lost.

Nous reconnais

sons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

STEWART

Northern News Services

STEWART BURNETT

Shea Karetak, Ray Jr. Pudlat and Peecee Pudlat pose for a photo by the Rankin Inlet inuksuk just before heading off to the 2023 Arctic Winter Games Friday, Jan. 27. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Hamlet perplexed at DEA silence

Council seeks another member; meeting with Canada Post fruitful

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin

Rankin Inlet’s council wants a solution to the often-dangerous parking and pickup situation at Leo Ussak School, whether the district education authority (DEA) meets with them or not.

“It’s only going to keep getting worse,” said Coun. Kelly Lindell at the Jan. 23 meeting. “Like we’ve said many times, what’s it going to take? Some kid’s going to die and then they’ll finally do something?”

She asked if council could contact the Rankin Inlet District Education Authority and Department of Community and Government Services to seek a solution.

Coun. Michael Shouldice said the current DEA and past DEA were “invited by hamlet numerous times and they blew us off.”

“I just find it astounding that you would invite an organization for well over two years to have a meeting and get no response,” said Shouldice.

He said a solution is desperately needed. Council suggested the hamlet reach out to the Government of Nunavut about it.

Mayor Harry Towtongie agreed.

“It’s very scary up there,” he said.

Kivalliq News contacted the Rankin Inlet District Education Authority for comments on the statements made at the council meeting.

As of press time, the DEA’s office administrator said they were not allowed to speak to the media and that chair Albert Netser was out of town.

Candidates sought to fill vacant council seat

Rankin Inlet council is again seeking candidates to fill an empty spot within the group, this one due to the passing of Coun. Justin Merritt.

Discussing whether council should fill the seat or let it remain empty until the next municipal election this fall, Coun. Lynn Rudd said she would prefer a full council for the remainder of the term.

The hamlet has now issued a call for interested people to apply to join the council. Applications are due by Feb. 9 and council plans to select an appointee from among the eligible applicants at the Feb. 13 meeting. The next municipal election will be held Oct. 23, 2023.

Some hopeful, some not after Canada Post meeting

Coun. Michael Shouldice said he was part of an excellent meeting with senior Canada Post officials and other parties about the woes of the Rankin Inlet outlet recently.

“The people who came to this meeting certainly could speak with authority,” said Shouldice. “They stated several times how committed they were to fixing the problem.”

He said they were looking into whether housing could become a benefit for Canada Post staff, as well as properly staffing the office and using flexible hours to prevent bottlenecks like what happened in the runup to Christmas.

“We’re certainly not on their capital plan for a new facility,” he said, adding that storage capacity will remain an issue at the post office.

Coun. Lindell said she found it funny that the post office was closed the day after the

recent meeting.

“It was good that they understand the situation and I think they did totally own up to what’s happening,” she said.

“Do I think things are going to change?” asked Lindell rhetorically, tilting her head, saying changes could take a while.

Solution for homelessness needed

Coun. Megan Pizzo-Lyall referred to posts on Rankin Inlet social media about a woman and her young baby desperately seeking a home.

“Something that I’m proud that we do is advocating for Rankin Inlet to be better in whatever way we can, and there’s been a case of one individual in town who keeps experiencing homelessness,” said Pizzo-Lyall, adding she wasn’t sure if she had an answer to that resident’s problem, but that she wanted to put the issue on the table.

Mayor Harry Towtongie suggested the hamlet could meet with government departments and see if a solution could be found in these kind of circumstances.

Enjoying the camaraderie Community wellness coordinator Selma Eccles told council that Elders enjoyed their latest lunch gathering, which featured about 50 people and took place Jan. 18. They had fish, maktak and many other varieties of traditional food to enjoy.

“Even though there was no games or anything going on, you could just see that people were happy to visit with each other,” said Eccles.

She added that the hamlet staff have been very helpful to her and always rush to accommodate any needs she has, such as clearing snow at entrances.

ᑲᑎᒪᔨ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᓲᓪᑕᐃᔅ

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐃᒃᓯᕐᕕᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓕᐅ ᐅᓱᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ.

Coun. Michael Shouldice gives an impassioned message that something needs to be done about the parking and pickup hazards at Leo Ussak Elementary School. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Giving men purpose again

Men’s program hosts take on heavy job

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq

Editor’s note: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers.

Taking part in a training workshop for men’s programming hosts last week, Martin Kreelak was reminded why his work is so important.

“Inuit men seem to have disappeared, no more direction,” said Kreelak, who was born in Chesterfield Inlet but having lived in Baker Lake for more than 40 years. “Just like inuksuk in the old days used to give us strong direction, we don’t have that much any more.”

During the week-long training through the

Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, he heard about two Kivalliq residents who had taken their own lives.

“Somewhere, it has to stop,” said Kreelak.

“We don’t have no direction from the men anymore. We need to bring that back. We have to bring that back.”

Before colonization, he explained, Inuit men played the important role of trailblazing and showing the younger generations where they can walk.

“That’s my job as a man, making a trail, making footprints, giving our younger people hope that there’s a good future ahead,” said Kreelak. “Every community is growing and if we don’t do something about it, we will see more hurt and pain, especially when we have

the mining companies around Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet. It will impact us more.”

Kreelak may be retired professionally but feels his work as a man isn’t finished yet.

“Still that urge inside me, still lots of work to do,” he said. “Things won’t happen overnight or be easy.”

He was joined in the week-long workshop with men’s programming hosts from other communities, including Leroy Kukkiak from Chesterfield Inlet.

“What I think we need as men back home is more activities, more on-the-land programs,” said Kukkiak after the training wrapped up Friday, Jan. 27. “It’s mostly women that get programs back home, so I think more men need activities and programs for them. Some

people’s mental health needs to be seen. There are some people that just need to do stuff so they won’t feel so down.”

He suggested tool-making, hunting and land-based programming to help keep men busy.

Roger Pilakapsi, based out of Rankin Inlet, said he learned a lot about how to run programs of his own from the workshop.

He said not all men are able to participate in hunting, whether due to a lack of resources or proper gear, so that’s something he would like to help with.

He’d like to see Elders involved to help keep Inuit traditions alive among men.

“Even an Elder is still learning,” said Pilakapsi.

ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᐅᔫᑉ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖓ: ᐅᓇ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖅ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ

ᐋᓐᓂᕈᑕᐅᔪᓐᓴᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ

ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ.

ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ

ᑲᑕᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᒫᑎᓐ ᕿᓪᓚᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᐃᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂ.

“ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᓯᒪᔫᔮᖅᐳᑦ, ᑐᕌᒐᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᖢᑎᒃ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᓪᓚᖅ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 40−ᓄᑦ. “ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒐᕐᒥ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᑐᖃᖅᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᕙᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓴᙱᔪᒥ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖃᓗᐊᕈᓐᓃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ.” ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᓕᒫᒥ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕘᓇ ᐳᓛᕐᕕᑉ ᖃᑉᓗ ᐃᓚᓐᓇᕇᖕᓂᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ

ᑲᑎᕝᕕᒃ, ᑐᓴᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᔪᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᑦ. “ᖃᓄᑭᐊᖅ, ᓄᖅᑲᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖅ,”

ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᓪᓚᖅ. “ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᖃᕈᓐᓃᕋᑦᑕ

ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ. ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᕗᑦ.

ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᔾᓚᕆᒃᐸᕗᑦ.”

ᐱᖅᑯᓯᕆᙱᑕᖓᓄᑦ

ᐱᐅᓯᖃᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑳᕋᑎᒃ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒥ

ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᖓᓐᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᐅᓯᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂ ᓇᒧᑦ ᐱᓱᓪᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ.

“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᕆᕙᕋ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᓪᓗᖓ, ᐃᒡᓕᓂᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᑐᒥᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖁᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᐅᔪᒥ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᓪᓚᖅ. “ᓄᓇᓕᓕᒫᖅ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᙱᒃᑯᑦᑕ, ᑕᑯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ

ᐋᓐᓂᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᓂ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᑕᖃᕐᓗᓂ

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ

ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ.”

ᕿᓪᓚᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓕᕋᓗᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᒃᐳᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓱᓕ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᓯᒪᙱᓚᖅ.

“ᓱᓕ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖅ ᐃᓗᓐᓃᑉᐳᖅ, ᓱᓕ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖓ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᐊᖏᓐᓇᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔮᙱᓚᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑯᓘᔾᔮᙱᓚᑦ.” ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᓕᒫᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑎᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓖᕈᐊᐃ ᑯᒃᑭᐊᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥᐅᑕᕐᒥ.

“ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᕋ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᓄᓇᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ

ᑯᒃᑭᐊᖅ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᔭᕇᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᓪᓗᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 27−ᒥ. “ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓇᒐᓚᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᖃᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᖑᑏᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ

ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒥᓂᑦ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ. ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᒐᒃᓴᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᑕᒃᓯᒪᓗᐊᔾᔮᙱᒻᒪᑕ.”

ᓴᓇᕐᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᒥ−ᑐᙵᕕᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐱᖁᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᖑᑎᓂ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᕌᔾᔪᕐ ᐱᓚᑲᑉᓯ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᒧᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓐᓇᙱᓚᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ, ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᓐᓇᕌᑦᑎᐊᕙᓂᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᓪᓗ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓇᔭᖅᐳᖅ.

ᑕᑯᔪᒪᓇᔭᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓗᑐᖃᕐᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ

Paul Pudlat, seated, and standing, from left, Leroy Kukkiak, Roger Pilakapsi and Martin Kreelak took part in a training workshop in Rankin Inlet in late January. They are mens’ programming hosts for the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo