Kivalliq News - April 26, 2023

An impactful date

Love for racing and love for lost father combine in memories of Pakallak Tyme

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

For Hop Issaluk, Pakallak Tyme brings up a difficult but grounding memory.

April 30th, 2009, Issaluk remembers racing Jason Todd’s snowmobile in his first-ever Pakallak Tyme cross country race as a junior. After four or five laps, his snowmachine had a malfunction.

“I continued as long as the sled would go until it could no longer drive,” said Issaluk.

He got to Todd’s truck feeling down, when Todd told him to lighten up and that it was just a race.

But Issaluk had a gut feeling at the time something more was going on.

As the day went on, Issaluk returned to Todd’s place after lunch, when Todd received a phone call for Issaluk.

“I answer and the only words I hear are, ‘You need to go to the hospital,’” recalls Issaluk.

When he arrived, his sisters were outside crying.

His father, Luke Issaluk Sr., had died from a heart attack that day while competing in the dog mushing race.

“My dad passed away doing what he loved,” said Issaluk.

Every year since, Pakallak Tyme has been an emotional event for Issaluk.

“I wish all the participants of the races nothing but the best,” he said.

“Love each and every one of you. Many of you don’t know it, but your smiles and eagerness to race keeps me motivated. Keeps me from falling on my knees.”

Louisa Issaluk, left, sits with Luke Issaluk Sr. Issaluk Sr. passed away during Pakallak Tyme in 2009. Photo courtesy of Hop Issaluk

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?

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AROUND Kivalliq

ᐸᕐᓇᒃᑐᑦ ᐸᑲᓪᓚᑦᑕᐃᖑᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ

with Cody Punter ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᑦ ᑲᑎᑦᑐᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᑕᐃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐸᑲᓪᓚᒃ ᑕᐃᒻ

ᐊᕐᕌᓂ. ᓯᑐᐃᑦ ᐳᓇᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ

Avaatalaaq Kaluraq and Karl Muckpaloo spend an afternoon sliding in Baker Lake. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Qilaut winners announced

Nunavut

After going through more than 30 submissions and judged by a peer-panel based on originality, creativity, melody and lyrics, the top 10 winning songs of the Government of Nunavut’s Qilaut 22 contest were announced.

The winning songs are:

1st - Jocelyn Ukutak Malla- Kajjaarijara

2nd - Rosalie Pissuk Siqiniq- Qaumalirivuq

3rd - Rosalie Pissuk- Tariurmi Sukkaitumik Kaggaaraqtuq

4th - Shawna Seeteenak- Malinnga

5th - Abraham Eetak- Takugakkit

6th - Eva Okatsiak- Anaanaga tuksiaqpuq

7th - Jocelyn Arreak- Kajjaarijakka

8th - Abraham Eetak- Quvianaqtuq

9th - Joanasie Aglak- Inuusivut Aksurungnaqtuq

10th - Eli Qaqqasiq-Taqtu Upinngaarainnuk

The judges included Leena Evic, Mary Poisey and Jo Ellen Pameolik. The theme for 2022 was Kajjaarijara.

The top three winners receive $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500 respectively, and the seven runners-up receive $500 each. All 10 songs will be professionally recorded, and a CD will be released featuring the winning songs. Qilaut 2023 will take place in the fall.

Nominations open for sport awards

Nunavut

The Department of Community and Government Services’ Sport and Recreation Division is accepting applications and nominations for the sport and scholarship awards.

For sport awards, nominations are open to recognize individuals for extraordinary contributions to the development of sport in Nunavut.

For the scholarship program, Nunavut students pursuing a post-secondary program in the field of physical education, kinesiology, sport administration, sport sciences or recreation at a recognized college or university may be eligible to apply for a scholarship.

Applications are due Friday, May 5, 2023. For an application/nomination package, contact: srinfo@gov.nu.ca

“ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐸᑲᓪᓚᒃ ᑕᐃᒻᒥᒃ.”

ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᓚᒥ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕐᓂᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥᒃ ᓯᑯᒥ, ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᓪᓗ ᐅᑉᓛᕈᒥᑕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ.

“ᓯᑭᑑᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᒍᑎᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᓛᖑᕙᒃᐳᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕼᐃᒃᔅ.

“ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᖔᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᖃᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ 100ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᑎᑭᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ.” ᒧᒥᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᐅᓐᓄᑕᒫᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ. ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ

ᐸᑲᓪᓚᖕᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᖃᓚᐅᖏᑉᐳᖅ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᓐᓇᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ Fear Factor ᓵᓚᒃᓴᐅᑎᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᒍᑎᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᔭᖅᑐᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᒻᒧᖕᒥᒃ ᐱᐅᖏᑦᑐᖃᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ. ᐸᐱ ᒥᓯᕋᓛᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᓯᑭᑑᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᖃᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

“ᑕᒪᑉᑕ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᒍᓪᓗ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓯᑭᑑᒃᑯᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᑕᐅᑐᒍᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᔪᓂᒃ ᓇᑭᖅᓴᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑕᑯᒍᒪᑉᓗᑕᓗ ᑭᑐᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ. ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓗᐊᓕᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ. ᑕᐅᑐᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ

ᓯᑯᒧᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᖏᓛᖑᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐸᑲᓪᓚᖕᓇᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒥ.”

ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᒥᐅᑕᑦ, ᓴᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ, ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪ“ᖕᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᐃᓪᓗ

ᑕᑯᔭᖅᑐᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᓂᖅ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ

ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᖏᑦᖢᑎᒃ

ᑲᒪᔨᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ.

“ᖁᕕᐊᒋᑦᓯᐊᖅᐸᕗᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ,”

ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᓯᕋᓛᒃ. “ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕋᓗᐊᖅᐳᖅ

ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᑉᓗᒍ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑭᖑᓂᐊᒍᑦ

ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᔪᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑳᖓᑕ, ᑭᖑᒻᒧᖅ ᑕᑯᑉᓗᒋᑦ

ᖁᕕᐊᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅᐳᖅ.” ᖁᕕᐊᕆᑉᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᐅᑐᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᖏᑦᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᖏᓐᓇᕈᒪᔾᔪᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ.

“ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᓂᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᖏᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᓪᓗ, ᑲᔪᓯᖏᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᓯᕋᓛᒃ. “ᖁᕕᐊᒋᑉᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ.”

Mariyah Aliyak throws a beanbag in the Elders’ games. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᐊᒥᓱᑦ

ᐊᐳᑎᒃᑯᑦ

“ᐅᑭᐅᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᐃᒃᑮᕐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᑦᓯᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᐱᓐᖓᒃᓵᖑᕌᖓᑦ ᓯᑭᓐᓂᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃᔭᐅᑉ ᑐᖏᓕᖓ ᒫᑕ ᕼᐃᒃᔅ ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᒐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᓱᓇᒥᒃ.

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Preparing for another Pakallak Tyme

Fear Factor ᖑᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ. ᓯᑐᐃᑦ ᐳᓇᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ

Editor: Stewart Burnett

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ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ:

ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ

Event brings friends, family, laughs, dance, races and more to Rankin Inlet

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

Rankin Inlet’s premier spring event returns this weekend, with Pakallak Tyme running from April 28 to May 5.

“We’ve had cold winter all year and we love to enjoy the spring and the sun,” said deputy mayor Martha Hickes when asked what makes the celebration special.

“That’s why we like Pakallak Tyme.”

She was looking forward to the outdoor games on the ice, Elder’s breakfast and more.

“Ski-Doo races are the funnest too,” said Hickes.

sick from eating bad milk and everything else they’re forced to struggle through.

Bobby Misheralak of the Kivalliq Snow Challenge is looking forward to all the hard work paying off at the big races.

“We all get excited about the snowmobile races,” he said.

“You want to watch people speeding, see who’s going to win. There are some wipeouts and whatnot. The crowd goes to watch down at the ice. It’s one of the biggest events during Pakallak Tyme.”

He said he’s expecting competitors from Arviat, Coral Harbour, Whale Cove, Chesterfield Inlet and Iqaluit to attend.

The races are all organized and held by volunteers.

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acknowledge the financial support

of the Government of Canada.

“So many people come in from other communities to join the races. We get a few hundred people in town and they all enjoy that.”

The nightly square dance competitions are always a hit and bring a packed and lively crowd to the community hall too.

The full schedule for this year’s event was not available by print deadline, but the Fear Factor competition is well loved and enjoyed by those who compete, and those who just want to see the competitors get

ᑯᕆᒃ ᐴᑦᓵᓪ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᐅᑎᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ 2022-ᒥ Fear Factor ᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᓯᑐᐃᑦ

Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

“We love doing this,” said Misheralak. “It’s hard work doing it, but at the end when the races happen and are completed, we look back and are happy about it.”

He loves seeing the positive vibes from the crowds, which drive volunteers to keep making the event a success.

“As long as we keep getting the support from the community and the people, we will keep going,” said Misheralak. “We love seeing all the racers that come out.”

Audience members watch contestants prepare to play in the Fear Factor event. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Craig Beardsall competes in the 2022 Fear Factor. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Kabvitok pulls young Simon Arnarauyak out of the crowd to dance together. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Princess Nilaulak smiles while dancing with Simon Bruce Jr. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

show wows

Event part of Inuktitut Language Month at Leo Ussak Elementary School

By Stewart Burnett

Adorned in the creations and gifts of family members and loved ones, students at Leo Ussak Elementary School showed off their cultural attire at a fashion show held Friday, April 21. “You get to show what your family members had made, who made it, and it’s just to show pride,” said Inuktitut teacher Charmaine Okatsiak.

“It’s a physical, visual thing to show our Inuit culture.”

Students received cheers as they walked the gymnasium runway one at a time.

Okatsiak said she could tell the youth were proud while preparing to walk out, telling teachers, ‘Look who made this’ or ‘My grandma made that.’

“It shows pride in who they are as Inuit,”

said Okatsiak. “And one student even told me, ‘This is my great-great-great-great-greatgrandma’s.’”

Okatsiak, along with Appolina Makkigak and Mona Tadayon helping with the fashion show, held events all month for students, such as a day focused on Inuktitut names.

“They got to write their name in Inuktitut and Roman orthography,” said Okatsiak. “Within their class, they could talk about who they were named after. That’s really important.”

She was glad to see the pride in students’ faces.

“We need to communicate with our grandparents, our parents and everybody in our community,” said Okatsiak, asked about the importance of the language.

“When we speak Inuktitut, our community members are really happy. We need to keep it strong. When they learn it at school, they bring it home.”

Keshawn Ayaruak struts. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Malaiyah Kabluitok gives a wave. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Pituaq Okalik laughs amid cheers. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Reid Eecherk catches a look down the runway. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Rylee Eecherk smiles to the crowd. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Northern News Services

Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Jacob Kappi waves to the audience. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

One less thing to worry about One less thing to worry about

ᓕᐴᑎ ᑭᒍᓯᐅᑦᓈᖅ, ᑎᓴᒪᓂᒃ

Ikurraq Food Bank/Deacon’s Cupboard raises $150 for Sila Rainbow

Ikurraq Food Bank/Deacon’s Cupboard raised $150 for Sila Rainbow in Arviat through an outreach program.

Donna Adams, coordinator at the food bank, travelled to Arviat with six containers of clothing from the thrift store. Calm Air provided a pass to take the

containers to Arviat so Adams could hold a $5-a-bag sale, with the proceeds going to community organization Sila Rainbow.

“My goal is for women to have one less thing to worry about,” said Adams.

“Women, mothers have their plates full so at least helping them with clothing is a great support.

All kids love getting new or decent clothes.”

Adams said the food bank and thrift store wouldn’t be able to do things like this without generous donations from all over Canada and especially from residents of Rankin Inlet.

“We will continue sending more containers to the rest of the communities,” said Adams.

“Rankin is so fortunate to have a weekly foodbank and secondhand thrift store.”

Racing to the finish for taxes

May 1 deadline for filing 2022 returns fast approaching

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Nunavut Local Journalism Initiative

If you haven’t yet, here’s your last warning to submit your tax return before the May 1 deadline.

“For anyone who’s hoping or depending on benefits in the coming year, you want to really make sure that you get that tax return on time so that we can calculate them and make sure there is zero interruption to those benefits and credits that you receive,” said Joanne de Waal , CRA spokesperson.

“As we say every year, file early, but definitely file on time.”

She also encourages residents to sign up for direct deposit and not have to wait for paper cheques.

“If you’re in an area where mail is not coming to your house every single day, you don’t want to be waiting for that paper cheque,” said de Waal. “Direct deposit is definitely the way to go when you are in the North because those electronic messages seem to make it to your bank, regardless of what the weather is outside.”

Anyone who needs help with their taxes is encouraged to contact the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, which is a group of organizations across the country who have volunteers trained by Canada Revenue Agency to complete people’s tax return.

The group has representatives in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet, as well as many online on the CRA site who can help from a distance.

Anyone needing help with their return who has an 867 number can call a dedicated phone assistant at 1-866-426-1527.

For the first time this year, taxpayers can also indicate on Page 2 of the return if they would like to receive more information on becoming an organ or tissue donor.

“This is a really important initiative and it doesn’t matter how much money you have,” said de Waal. “If you need a kidney, you need a kidney, so this is a way for us to support each other and make your wishes known.”

She said that ticking that box only means you consent to receiving more information and doesn’t sign you up for anything.

De Waal said the most common mistakes people make on their return is forgetting to include some income and, in the North, grasping the Northern Residents Deduction. With both of those, the CRA assistant at the phone number above can help.

Community members gather as Ikurraq Food Bank/Deacon’s Cupboard hosts a thrift sale in Arviat to raise money for a local organization. Photo courtesy of Donna Adams

Liberty Kigusiutnar, a fouryear-old volunteer, helps set up clothing on tables during the event.

Photo courtesy of Donna Adams

The May 1 deadline for submitting tax returns is fast approaching. A spokesperson for Canada Revenue Agency encourages people to get their returns in soon. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services