Kivalliq News - March 22, 2023

Military descends on Rankin Inlet

Operation Nanook-Nunalivut sees Canadian Armed Forces train in Kivalliq capital

ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᑭᖑᕚᖏᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ

ᐊᐅᓚᓂᖅ ᓇᓄᖅ-ᓄᓂᕗᑦ ᑕᑯᕗᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᙳᐊᑦ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᕐᒥ

Gold for Tootoo

ᖃᕆᑕᒡ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ−ᒃᓛᒃ ᐃᓯᒐᐅᔭᙳᐊᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᑎᑦ 2023−ᒥᑦ Terence ᑐᑐ ᕼᐋᑭᓕᐅᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓈᑦᑏᖑᔭᖅ, ᒫᑦᓯ 19.

Qaritag Kusugak-Clark hoists the cup as Team Tootoo wins the 2023 Terence Tootoo Memorial hockey tournament Sunday, March 19. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᓂᔾᔭᐅᑎᖏᑦ

Did we get it wrong?

Kivalliq News is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Kivalliq News, call (867) 645-3223 and ask to speak to the editor, or email kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can. í±ØÍ≤ÒáíÔÄ?

‘ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᒃᑲᓄᑦ’

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í±ØÒíÇÀ≤ú Ö±Ø ÜÒïùÖÒπ¿Í≤Ò. íò∏≤Ê›î í±ØÒπØÀ´ú

ï·∆¿Ò ≤áfl≤, ÇÔ¬∆¬éî Çflˆ (867) 645-3223 Ö±Ø

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Kivalliq

ÇÔÍ›ùÀجü ÜÒïúªÄ«, Ç„·√∏≥î Ô‰íÇÕúòî ééËͬéî

Ulukhaktok Gameti Behchoko

AROUND Kivalliq

with Cody Punter

Kugaaruk Naujaat

Çflˆ kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Ç„·√∏≥î ∂¬∂ĉÖͬü áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí.

Jacob Okatsiak releases debut album

Arviat

Arviat rapper Jacob Okatsiak released his debut album, titled Inuugapta, with the Hitmakerz label March 10.

The 15-track album’s title translates to “We Are People” and much of the album is an ode to people in Okatsiak’s life.

“The overall theme I was aiming for is that I wanted to let the people know we can be heard,” stated the rapper, musician and singer in a news release. “Our feelings, our emotions, what we wanna say – I want to let them know that we are people.”

Work on the album began in August 2021 as Okatsiak collaborated with Hyper-T at the Hitmakerz Compound in Ottawa.

The album features guests such as Hyper-T, Baker Lake rapper Shauna Seeteenak and Arviat rapper Chrisjr Mikeeuneak.

“It felt amazing because I can also challenge myself with their amazing writing capabilities,” stated Okatsiak. “I want to introduce and bring forth Inuit hip-hop to the hip-hop game and let ‘em know that Inuit can rap too. Moreover, it was a great feeling to invite some prolific artists onto this album because I know together we can shine.”

Arctic Music Awards launches this weekend

Nunavut

Hitmakerz will be hosting its first-ever Arctic Music Awards as an online event March 24-25.

The conference and awards bring together Arctic artists for awards, presentations, workshops and panel discussions.

Nominations for a variety of awards, such as album and single of the year, have been open for most of March, with winners to be announced this weekend.

More information can be found at www.arcticmusicconference.com

New cabinet portfolios

Nunavut

Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced changes to the territory’s cabinet March 15, following the resignation of Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak from executive council. Portfolio assignments are as follows:

In addition to premier, Akeeagok holds the titles of Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Minister Responsible for Immigration and Minister Responsible for Qulliq Energy Corporation.

Pamela Gross holds the titles of Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, Minister of Culture and Heritage, Minister of Languages and Minister Responsible for Seniors.

David Joanasie holds the titles of Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council and government house leader.

Lorne Kusugak holds the titles of Minister of Finance, Minister Responsible for Liquor Licensing Board and Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

David Akeeagok holds the titles of Minister of Justice, Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Minister Responsible for Labour, Minister Responsible for Mines, Minister Responsible for the Human Rights Tribunal, Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation and Minister Responsible for Trade.

Margaret Nakashuk holds the titles of Minister of Human Resources, Minister of Family Services, Minister Responsible for Homelessness, Minister Responsible for Status of Women and Minister Responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

John Main holds the titles of Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Suicide Prevention.

Joanna Quassa holds the titles of Minister of Environment, Minister Responsible for Energy and Minister Responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.

6-2−ᒥ ᒫᓚᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ AC−ᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᕗᑦᓱᓪ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᓈᑦᑎᖑᔭᖅ, ᒫᔾᔨ 12−ᒥ, ᐊᐅᐸᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᓂ ᐱᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔭᖅᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. “ᓂᓪᓕᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᕗᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐃᓇ ᐳᕉᔅ, ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᐅᐸᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᓂ ᓵᓚᐅᙲᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ 8−ᖑᔪᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ.

ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᕗᑦᓱᓪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᐊᓪᒍᕆᒥ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ.

Sanikiluaq

“ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᖢᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᕗᙵᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓇᙱᖦᖢᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᐅᕗᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐳᕉᔅ.

ᐄᒪ ᔫᓐᔅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᓯᕘᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᒃᑲᓄᑦ, ᐃᕆᐊᓛᕐᕕᒋᕙᒃᑲ. ᐅᓇ ᐃᓕᔅᓯᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᕗᖅ.” ᐳᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᓯᑯᒧᐊᕋᒥᒃ, ᓯᕘᕋᓂᖓ ᐸᓚᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᓯᕘᕋᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

ᐊᑭᕋᖏᓐᓂ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅᓯᐅᑎᒥ

ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᓪᓗᐊᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ

AC ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᒥ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ

ᐅᑯᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᖓᓂ.

“ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᓯᕘᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑮᓴ

ᐊᓕᔭᖅ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ AC−ᑯᓐᓄᑦ

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔨᐅᔪᒥ. “ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᒃᑎᒍᑦ ᓴᙲᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖃᕋᑦᑕ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐅᕙᙵᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᖃᓗᐊᕐᓂᑯᒧᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓯᕘᕋᓗᐊᒧᑦ.

ᐊᐅᐸᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᐃᓯ ᔫᓐᔅ, ᑕᐃᓇ ᐳᕉᔅ, ᕕᕕᐊᓐ ᐸᓂᔪᒃ, ᑮᓴ ᔫᓐᔅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᐃᓚ ᔫᓐᔅ, ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᔩᓂ ᔫᓐᔅ, ᓇᐃᐆᒥ ᐃᒥᒃᑕᐅᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑯᕆᔅᑕ ᐃᒥᒃᑕᐅᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ.

ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᓕᒫᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑲᒪᓚᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᒥᕆᐊᖅᓴᖅᑐᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ.” ᐅᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᐸᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑕᑯᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ. “ᐆᒻᒪᑎᒧᑦ ᓱᕋᐃᓂᐅᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᐳᖅ ᓵᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓕᔭᖅ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᐅᐸᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᓂ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᓴᙱᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᓵᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᙲᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂᓕᒫᖓᓂ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᓴᙱᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑉᐳᖅ.”

ᒫᓐᓇ ᐊᐅᐸᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕᐅᑉ−ᕿᑎᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂ. ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᓕᔭᕐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᐅᓪᓯ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ, ᓚᐃᓚ ᕼᐊᐸᓇᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᐃᔭ ᑐᕘᑎᓐᒥ ᖁᕝᕙᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ AC−ᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔨᐅᔪᖅ ᑮᓴ ᐊᓕᔭᖅ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒃᓯᕚᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ.

ᑲᐃᓚ ᔫᓐᔅ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

‘To my Whale Cove babies’

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Kivalliq

With a 6-2 victory over Rankin AC in the women’s futsal territorials Sunday, March 12, Red Flags earned themselves a ticket to nationals in April to represent Nunavut.

“We’re speechless,” said Dayna Bruce, following the tournament, where Red Flags went undefeated among eight teams from around the territory.

The tournament served as a qualifier for the women’s futsal Canadian championship in Calgary this April.

“We worked so hard to get here and

it’s a surreal feeling,” said Bruce.

Eema Jones said her team was very nervous before the final game.

“But we did so good,” she said. “To my Whale Cove babies, shout out to them. This one was for you guys.”

Bruce said that once the players hit the court, the nerves calmed down.

Those nerves were readily apparent on the opponent’s side in the finals as well, as at least one Rankin AC player was spotted bent over the trash can between shifts.

“Everyone was nervous on our team,” said Keisha Aliyak, Rankin AC player and tournament organizer. “There was a couple of us who have weak stomachs, so it was either from exhaustion

ᐸᓂᓛᖅ ᑕᖅᑕᖅ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᔩᓂ ᔫᓐᔅᒥ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅᓯᐅᑎᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

or nerves. We played our best this last game so I’m not surprised there was puking.”

She was proud of the turnout for the tournament, which saw teams from Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, Whale Cove and Coral Harbour.

“It’s always a heartbreak losing,” admitted Aliyak. “But Red Flags was the better, stronger team this game. They were undefeated all weekend, so it shows that they’re a really strong team. It is what it is.”

Now Red Flags is preparing for the nationals mid-April. The team has picked up Aliyak, along with Kelsie Kaludjak, Lyla Hapanak and Maiya Twerdin to bolster their Team Nunavut forces.

Eema Jones launches a shot on net. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Eema Jones, back left, gathers with Red Flags players Macy Jones, Dayna Bruce, Vivian Paniyuk, Keesha Jones and Kayla Jones, with Jeannie Jones, Naomi Emiktowt and Christa Emiktowt in front. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Kayla Jones huddles with her team before the championship game. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Panilaaq Tartak races against Jeannie Jones in finals action. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Rankin AC players and tournament organizer Keisha Aliyak watches play from the bench. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Little hope for medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet

Health minister says numbers do not support such a facility

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

Alexander Sammurtok, MLA for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, pressed Minister of Health John Main on establishing a medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet for medical travellers last week, but he received little confidence that one would be pursued.

“I have asked numerous times about establishing a stand-alone boarding home in Rankin Inlet,” Sammurtok said in the legislative assembly March 14.

He asked if Main would commit to reconsidering providing additional boarding options in Rankin Inlet so that medical travel clients are not left stranded when hotels are full and there are travel interruptions with the airlines.

“I can certainly commit to looking into it again,” replied Main. “However, I suspect that looking into it, we will look at the numbers, which have been looked at before, which do not support establishing a boarding home. So we do have reliance on hotels in Rankin Inlet. We do have a strong commitment to ensuring the comfort and safety of our medical travellers. It’s something that we take very seriously.”

He went on to say that in these type of cases, the numbers usually “do not lie” and “either you have the critical mass needed to justify a

John Main, minister of health, gave little hope for establishing a medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet in the legislative assembly. He committed to looking into the issue, but said he suspects that the numbers will not justify establishing a boarding home. Stewart Burnett/NNSL file photo facility, or you don’t have the numbers.”

Main said his department is focused mainly on two infrastructure goals: community health centres and Elders’ facilities.

“If the member would like to propose that we focus on other infrastructure priorities, he is certainly entitled to do so,” said Main. “I feel quite strongly that community health centres need to be a priority, as do Elders’ facilities.”

Everybody was kung-fu fighting

Arviat player Anthony Uluadluak looks to the camera as he takes a hit from Baker Lake player John Kalluk during the 2023 Polar Bear Plate in Rankin Inlet. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓚᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ

ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᖃᙱᓚᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Kivalliq

ᐋᓕᒃᓵᓐᑐᕐ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᒥ-ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒧᑦ, ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖕᓂᖅᑖᓗᐊᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ

ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᑕᐅᓇᔭᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ.

“ᐊᐱᕆᓯᒪᕗᖓ ᖃᔅᓰᖅᓱᒐᓚᒃᖢᖓ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᒥ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ,” ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 14−ᒥ.

ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃᓐ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ

ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ

ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ

ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᕈᓐᓃᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ

ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕖᑦ ᑕᑖᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓂ.

“ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᓐᓇᓪᓚᕆᒃᐳᖓ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᓐᓂ,” ᑭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃᓐ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᒐᓗᐊᕐᓗᒍ, ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᔪᓂ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓵᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ. ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖃᓲᖑᕗᒍᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖕᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᓴᙱᔪᒥ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᙱᓚᒍᑦ

ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ

ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ. ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ

ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ

Never too famous

ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ “ᓴᒡᓗᒐᔪᙱᓚᑦ”

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ “ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖃᙱᑉᐳᑦ.” ᒪᐃᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ:

ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕕᖕᓄᑦ. “ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕈᒪᒍᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃᓐ. “ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖓ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕖᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕕᖕᓂ.”

Jordin Tootoo cleans ice from a chimney while in his hometown of Rankin Inlet for the Terence Tootoo Memorial hockey tournament Thursday, March 16. Photo courtesy of Peter Tapatai

Armed forces traverse Rankin Inlet

By Stewart Burnett Northern

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces were busy in Rankin Inlet this month conducting Operation Nanook-Nunalivut from March 1 to 20.

The operation is an annual winter event that demonstrates the forces’ ability to project and sustain forces in the Arctic while increasing interoperability with international allies.

Members of the forces finished their stay with an exhibition hockey game March 17 and a booth at the community craft market March 18.

Overall view of the Land Task Force camp during long range patrols of Operation NanookNunalivut in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut on March 9, 2023. Photo by Corporal Antoine Brochu

Aerial view of Land Task Force members on a long range patrol during Operation Nanook-Nunalivut in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut on March 6, 2023. Photo by Corporal Antoine Brochu

News Services

Team Tootoo takes home Cup

Jordin Tootoo suffers eye injury in Terence Tootoo tournament

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Local Journalism Initiative

They lost Jordin Tootoo after an injury in semifinals play, but Team Tootoo rallied to win the 2023 Terence Tootoo Memorial hockey tournament in Rankin Inlet Sunday, March 19.

Tootoo took a stick to the eye from Russell Matoo of Team Nunavut in a tight game that was decided in overtime, sending Team Tootoo to the finals against Niksik. The NHL veteran returned to the arena wearing an eye patch.

“Part of hockey,” said a jovial Tootoo before the final game of the tournament. “You get a little banged up and whatnot. I had a bit of a scare the last game, semifinals, got a stick in the eye.”

He said it was a hockey play and happens all the time.

“To the young guy, Russ Matoo, keep your head up high,” said Tootoo. “It’s hockey. I actually forget how it is to get hit in the face

since being retired for four or five years now.” In the finals, underdogs Niksik took an early lead 3-1 off goals from Tyrese Dias, Zack Lille and Mitchel Tilley.

Continued on page 9

Jordin Tootoo hits the ice in his first game of the tournament Thursday, March 16. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Nathan Gardner and Sateana Goupil pulled the game back to a 3-3 tie for Team Tootoo, with Wendel Kaludjak and Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark finishing the job for a 5-3 win.

“It’s pretty emotional right now,” said Pujjuut Kusugak, captain of Team Tootoo, following the win. “My son’s on the team playing with Jordin and a whole bunch of us that got together to play in this thing. It’s the best feeling ever. I’m so proud of our guys for being able to work hard and come back like that. It’s going to be an important one for a long time.”

He said the team knew they could win the whole game and focused on grinding and getting their chances.

“Sure enough, we got big goals from our top line,” said Kusugak.

Tootoo was glad to see the memorial tournament held for the first time in the new Agnico Eagle Arena.

“Far too often in remote communities, we seem to come together when there’s a death in the family, but this weekend the community support has been second to none,” said Tootoo, adding that his brother Terence, after whom the event is dedicated, was a great hockey player himself. “Every day the arena has been jampacked. Hockey in Rankin has always been counted on for the community to come together, and to have an arena like this where everybody can fit in one sitting, it’s awesome.”

He was impressed with the Team Nunavut squad, who recently earned the territory’s first-ever Arctic Winter Games hockey gold.

“They have a lot of great potential,” said Tootoo. “This tournament, they were right there. They could have beat us. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of these youngsters be successful in the hockey world down south.”

Tootoo said his family appreciates all the support and he looks forward to making the TTM even bigger in the

“We want to get bigger and better, and we’re going to do that,” he said.

Over in the B division of the tournament, Team Todd surpassed Eskimo Point in the finals 5-4.

Jordin Tootoo took a stick to the eye in semifinals play against Team Nunavut, knocking him out of the 2023 Terence Tootoo Memorial, but his team rallied to win the cup in the end. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Andrew Pearce shares a hug after Team Tootoo took home the top prize. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Goaltender Seth Ningeongan smiles as Team Tootoo celebrates their win. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Pauloosie Nakoolak tracks the puck skyward during B Division finals. Stewart Burnett/

Team Todd’s Jon Maktar glides into the offensive zone. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Continued from page 8

Qaritaq KusugakClark hoists the cup as Team Tootoo win the A Division. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

future.

Team Todd and Eskimo Point players collide in the corners of the B Division finals. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo