Kivalliq News - Feb. 15, 2023

Eagle, Sarliaq and Kangliqliniq Hunters and Trappers combine on initiative

delves into subject

Wesley Jones and Ryerson Adams help welcome

Games athletes during the parade in Rankin Inlet Sunday, Feb. 5. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Catching pin mania at Winter Games

Cortland Sonnenberg, part of Alberta North’s curling squad, shows off the many pins he’s acquired during three appearances at the Arctic Winter Games.

Stewart Burnett/NNL photo

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Fort McMurray Local Journalism Initiative

Cortland Sonnenberg would normally not go out of his way to talk to a person from Sapmi.

“But yesterday I went to go talk to a person from Sapmi to get their pins,” said Sonnenberg, attending his third Arctic Winter Games for Alberta North as part of the men’s curling team.

Midway through the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, he was stationed at a table in the main lobby hawking his wide collection of pins for trade and taking offers from many passersby.

“It creates a really good atmosphere and sense of camaraderie from all the teams,” he said. “It really brings us together.”

The Games’ official pin-trading table was constantly full throughout the whole week, often with crowds of people in front trying to trade for their next set or seeing what other people were getting. Teams were all given their own pin sets, allowing them to trade with players from other jurisdictions to diversify their collection.

“What I’ve noticed is there’s been

a whole lot of people not on their phones,” said Sonnenberg. “Back at the cafeteria at the lodge, no one is on their phones. They’re all looking at pins, they’re walking around.”

Rankin Inlet’s Makayla Kaludjak was looking forward to bringing some pins home from the Games for her friends.

“Most of my friends wanted to get a whole set,” she said.

Sonnenberg explained he would never trade pins for money, as that defeats the purpose, but set for set is a lot of fun.

“I like to sit here and not move around,” he said smiling. “A lot of people will come over and take a look at my pins and see what they’re interested in and we’ll make a trade. It’s a lot of fun.”

Mark Eetuk, a youth ambassador for Nunavut, had a full lapel of pins by the end of the Games.

“It’s fun,” he said about the hobby. “I got this rare one, 2020 CBC North. I like it so much.”

Pins weren’t the only thing players were trading, either. By the end of the Games, many athletes had switched jackets with players from other jurisdictions, keeping treasured souvenirs from new friends after parting ways.

Makayla Kaludjak, right, helps adjust youth ambassador Mark Eetuk’s bevy of pins around his neck. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

‘Normally I would never go talk to a person from Sapmi’

Helping guide the career path

Super hockey dad following son’s hockey journey one tourney at a time

By Darrell Greer Northern News Services

Dave Wiseman of Rankin Inlet has become somewhat of a super hockey dad as he follows the blossoming career of his 16-year-old son, Gregory.

Gregory was somewhat of a late bloomer in the sport, starting to play at the age of 10 and not taking to the game immediately.

However, with hockey being so big in Rankin Inlet (Hockeytown), all of Gregory’s friends were involved in the sport and he decided he was willing to put in the extra time needed to catch up to his friends skill-wise.

Dave built a rink at the side of his home and Gregory and his brother, Simon, went at it day and night to hone their skills and caught up to the other players within a year.

Gregory played three years in Rankin before following the path several young Rankin players had previously taken and suited up the following year for the Norman North Stars, a AAA midget squad based in Thompson, Man.

David said he’s never missed a tournament his son has participated in since he began playing and that’s come with a somewhat hefty price tag.

He said he caught some slack the first year, being Gregory’s coach, which allowed him to travel mostly free to all the tournaments.

“It cost us $46,000 a year with him playing away the first year and I went down there to live for three months, and I also went down every time he played in a tournament to watch him,” said Dave.

“This Arctic Winter Games (AWG) tournament was a little crazy as Gregory is only

16 playing with and against kids 19 years and under.

“We flew to Winnipeg from Rankin but, once there, anyone who knows me knows I hate to fly, so we drove the 17 hours to the AWG at Fort McMurray. It, pretty much, matched the cost of flying once we got there.

“With the car rental, hotel, food and gas you’re looking at $5,000 for a six-day tournament but it was well worth it – priceless, as I like to say, no matter the travel time and the cost involved.”

Dave said he’s been told by numerous coaches that Gregory is a natural goal scorer with a real love for the game.

He said this past year a national tournament was held in Cape Breton, N.S., and he and his other son, Simon, drove from Winnipeg, Man., all the way down to the event.

“That was fun,” said Wiseman. “It was a very expensive trip but it was worth every dime we spent to get to see Gregory play with kids from different provinces.

“The coaches Gregory has had the past couple of years have all said that he’s a natural goal scorer, sees the ice very well and gives 110 per cent a full 99 per cent of the time.

“Gregory also has a great work ethic, loves being on the ice, loves playing the game hard and he truly respects the game. That’s a big thing for him.”

Dave said the family’s not quite sure where Gregory is going to play next year. After the AWG he still has two weeks left with the North Stars in Thompson, then he moves on to the junior team that picked him up for its last six remaining games then the playoffs.

He said the junior team is currently in first

place and both he and Gregory are excited about the upcoming playoff run.

“We’re gonna wait and see about next year. I want to make the decision over the summer. I think wherever he’s most happy at is probably the best place for him to play. It’s not just my decision. It will be his too.

“When it comes to the hockey scene in Rankin, I’ve never seen a place like it that’s so dedicated. And that’s not just the kids but some of the parents, the workers and the coaches.

“I’ve lived in a lot of communities over the years from Toronto to Nova Scotia and, obviously, different parts of Nunavut.

“Rankin has got to be one of the highest-ranking places I’ve ever seen for dedication, fundraising, and hard-working coaches and parents who are involved with the entire process.

“Following the AWG Simon and I will be travelling to Prince Edward Island to watch Gregory play in the Canada Winter Games.”

Hockey dad Dave Wiseman, left, congratulates his son, Gregory, on Team Nunavut’s advancement to the U19 gold medal game at the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta, on Feb. 2. Photo courtesy Dave Wiseman

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