Kivalliq News - May 3, 2023

Tristen Dias is hoisted up after winning the men’s finals of the 2023 Kivalliq Snow Challenge in Rankin Inlet Sunday, April 30. The annual event was Dias’s third-straight championship. Photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

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Ulukhaktok Gameti Behchoko

AROUND Kivalliq

with Cody Punter

Ilitaqsiniq pilots four-day workweek

Kugaaruk Naujaat

Twenty new public housing units are destined for each of Rankin Inlet, Arviat and Baker Lake under the recent announcement. NNSL file photo

150 public housing units on the way

Nunavut

Nunavut Housing Corporation and NCC Development Limited announced the signing of design-build contracts for the construction of 150 new public housing units across eight Nunavut communities, with construction commencing in fall 2023.

The design-build contracts are part of the 202324 Public Housing Delivery Plan under Igluliuqatigiingniq, also referred to as the Nunavut 3000 Strategy.

The design-build negotiated construction contracts for 132 public housing units outside of Iqaluit, including 20 new units in each of Arviat, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Arctic Bay, Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, plus an additional 12 units in Cambridge Bay.

The total contract value, including design and site costs, of these 132 units is $92.5 million – approximately $600 per square foot in construction costs. An additional 18 public housing units were also approved for Iqaluit at a total contract value of $12.8 million.

“The execution of these design-build contracts for 150 public housing units aligns with the vision of Nunavut 3000 and reflects a significant increase in the annual supply of new public housing units desperately needed across the territory,” stated NHC CEO and President Eiryn Devereaux in a news release.

“Our organization is committed to mobilizing Inuit-owned and Northern resources to build homes by and for Nunavummiut. The Nunavut 3000 Strategy includes meaningful and effective training programs that will ensure we lead in the development of skills for Inuit who are interested in a career in the trades. Specifically, we have an Inuit labour target of 30% for our negotiated partnership contracts for public housing units and see this as an opportunity to increase training and capacity development for Inuit in the construction trades sector,” stated NCCD CEO and President Clarence Synard in the release.

The total estimated cost of the Nunavut 3000 Strategy is approximately $2.57 billion to create up to 3,000 housing units across the territory by 2030, with approximately $890 million targeted to be funded by private sector investment and approximately $1.68 billion targeted to be funded by public sector resources.

Sanikiluaq

Move to encourage cultural connection, compete for staff

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local

To help employees connect with their cultural roots, enjoy the sun and retain skilled staff, Ilitaqsiniq is piloting a fourday workweek over the summer.

“We’re always looking to be cutting edge, and we’re firm believers in our innovative approach to things,” said executive director Adriana Kusugak.

Kusugak had been researching four-day workweek studies and reading positive reports, so she brought the concept to senior management and then the board of directors for Ilitaqsiniq, who all supported running a pilot project for the non-profit. Working with human resource specialists, Ilitaqsiniq developed the pilot model and a series of ways to track, monitor and review its success.

“The whole goal behind this four-day workweek is to support our employees, to help them restore their mental health and wellness,” said Kusugak.

And this isn’t one of those four-day workweeks that tacks on an extra two hours each day. The organization has opted to follow the 100-80-100 model, which means 100 per cent salaries, 80 per cent hours and 100 per cent effort. Staff will be working Monday to Thursday at regular hours but paid for five days of work.

“We’re essentially giving them an additional day off on Fridays,” said Kusugak.

And it’s not only for the employees’ wellbeing: it’s also a pitch to retain and recruit staff in a difficult hiring environment.

“It is also an opportunity to be used as a recruitment and

retainment tool,” said Kusugak. “Because we are a not-forprofit organization at Ilitaqsiniq, we can’t compete in some ways with other organizations, but one way that we can is by being creative and innovative and that’s where the four-day work week comes in.”

Hiring is difficult worldwide, in all industries and contexts, said Kusugak.

“Our goal as always is to recruit Inuit who are passionate about serving Nunavummiut,” she said. “If we can use this pilot to support that, then we’re all for it.”

More than anything, though, the goal is for staff to have extended weekends over the summer to engage in Inuit cultural practices, enjoy the sun and connect with family.

“We want to give our staff the opportunity to engage in that because they’ll be using all that learning and information in their programs anyway,” said Kusugak.

The pilot runs May 8 to September 1. Through it, staff will be tracking their work and how they’re feeling about the initiative. Afterward, Ilitsqsiniq will digest the information, analyze it and produce some reports of the findings.

“The goal would be to do it more than once,” said Kusugak, if the data and feedback support it. “I think in order to really research something, you have to do it more than once to prove anything.”

The ultimate goal, she said, is to make the four-day workweek from May to September part of the organization’s workplace policy.

As Ilitaqsiniq prides itself on being forward-thinking, the non-profit will also be sharing its results with other employers in the territory – despite being competitors – to potentially encourage them to implement a similar policy as well.

“Our whole goal as an organization is to empower Nunavummiut,” said Kusugak.

Adriana Kusugak, executive director of Ilitaqsiniq, speaks during a panel on Inuit opportunity at the 2022 Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet. The nonprofit organization is piloting a four-day workweek, with no extra hours taken on in those four days for staff, as a means of attracting talent and allowing employees to spend time engaging in their culture this summer. Stewart Burnett/NNSL file photo

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The trickle-down social effects of a poor economy

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Speaking in the House of Commons, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout said she couldn’t name the number of Indigenous women who had reached out to her trying to flee from violence.

“To those who are forced to live with their abusive partners, I say, ‘I hear you,’” said the Nunavut MP at the April 26 session.

She went on to talk about some of the contributing factors to those women’s strife, namely overcrowded housing, which limits opportunities for escape, and a seemingly unjust justice system.

The reason Nunavut doesn’t have enough housing is because there’s not enough money going into housing and a weak economic backbone. Demand far exceeds the ability to supply, but individuals in Nunavut have little buying power and fewer options.

The government is obsessed with changing that, for good reason, but it’s a job bigger than government. Building more so-

cial housing is not the answer. It is a temporary bandaid that slows the bleeding but doesn’t address the issue.

Other than incentivizing housing projects, what the government can do is clear a path for economic investment in the territory.

Nunavut needs a strong economic base that puts money – power – in individuals’ pockets and optimism in their eyes.

The only way out is for Nunavummiut to become richer. Individual Nunavummiut need economic buying power, not just the government. Economic buying power is freedom in this world, like it or not, and those stuck jobless or floundering in Nunavut’s sleepy economy are at the mercy of the tides.

Even those with decent government jobs have limited opportunities, with almost no housing

Idlout calls for investments to help Indigenous women

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout is banging the housing drum to help the circumstances of Indigenous women in the House of Commons. Screenshot from the House of Commons

Nunavut MP says overcrowded housing trapping victims

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Local Journalism Initiative Nunavut

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout took a moment in the House of Commons to call for greater investment in improving Indigenous women’s safety April 26.

“I cannot name the many Indigenous women who have reached out to me, trying to flee from violence,” said Idlout. “If I did, I would make their already difficult situation even worse. To those who are forced to live with their abusive partners, I say, ‘I hear you.’”

She went on to say that the government needs to hear that these women are forced to live in abusive situations because of the lack of housing, lack of shelters and “the justice system is not protecting them.”

“The government needs to recognize how failures in investing in Indigenous housing leave women living in fear and unable to find safety,” said Idlout.

“I am calling on this government to make much-needed investments now.”

While discussing the federal budget April 21, Idlout had also called out the government for allocating “almost a billion dollars to persuade Indigenous peoples to exploit their lands.”

She said that the inherent rights of Métis, Inuit and First Nations people were being violated.

“I say to the families of the MMIWG, the survivors and families of residential schools, families who were forced off the lands and into settlements and to Indigenous peoples and their lands that were, and continue to be, stolen, that they must protect and defend Indigenous peoples’ lands,” said Idlout.

“To Indigenous peoples who are homeless, living in overcrowded or dilapidated housing conditions, and to all Inuit, First Nations and Métis, I say that too few of MPs will stand up for their rights and I plead with them to protect their rights, speak up and demand justice from their MPs.”

available for sale. Many Nunavummiut and those who come North for work are simply saving money to put toward a house in the south, because there’s nothing to buy here.

people are suffering. It’s doubtful that anyone’s vision for Nunavut involved 15 people cramped in a three-bedroom home, all getting repeatedly sick, all on years-long housing waiting lists and all at the mercy of their lack of options.

STEWART BURNETT

The awkward subject is that the main way for Nunavut to become richer is to make Nunavut look more like the rest of Canada and less like Nunavut, meaning more large infrastructure projects, more roads, more mining, more economic activity. All of this comes at the potential expense of chipping away at the way of life and serenity of an untouched land.

Everyone would like to find a path that balances both pursuits in perfect harmony. While we think of that, in the meantime,

Even worse, many of those people, and many Indigenous women, are stuck in homes that are not safe for them. Some are trapped because of their controlling and violent partners, some are trapped economically and can’t afford to leave, and some are trapped because they are sacrificing their own lives to make things as easy on their children as possible.

Going back to Idlout’s comments, Indigenous women need power. That means more than a safe house, which is a fantastic thing to have. Indigenous women need economic power to own their own homes, leave bad situations and pursue new opportunities. Nunavut needs a stronger economy for that.

Tristen Dias is hoisted up after winning the men’s finals of the 2023 Kivalliq Snow Challenge in Rankin Inlet Sunday, April 30. The annual event was Dias’s third-straight championship.

He Dias it again

Photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

Council slaps down internet application

Rankin Inlet hamlet not in mood to endorse private business

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative

What would often be a routine endorsement was slapped down by Rankin Inlet council at their meeting April 24.

Doug Harvey, vice-president of Galaxy Broadband, had requested support from the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet for his company’s application for CRTC Universal Broadband Fund money to help launch a service called INUKNET that would provide internet to businesses across Nunavut.

“Galaxy is forming a partnership with an Inuit company to create INUKNET that will be a (sic) Inuit majority owned company headquartered in Iqaluit but will be servicing all 25 communities,” wrote Harvey in a letter to Darren Flynn, senior administrative officer for the hamlet.

The letter goes on to talk about how INUKNET would use a combination of GEO and LEO satellites to provide internet for businesses, and how Galaxy is seeking federal funding to subsidize the cost of residential internet service for Iqaluit and all Nunavut communities.

“We would appreciate your support with this very important effort for affordable internet access,” wrote Harvey to Flynn. “Could we receive the signed letter back after your meeting?”

Coun. Megan Pizzo-Lyall was the first to express uncertainty about supporting Galaxy’s application.

“I don’t know why I feel hesitant to place our hamlet’s support on an individual company’s application,” she said, adding that she supports improved Internet services for Rankin Inlet.

“In the big picture, we want to go fibre, because no matter

what kind of satellite – really high or really low – as long as the cloud comes by, we’re going to be impacted by that.”

Coun. Michael Shouldice expressed a similar notion.

“I read it (the letter) and I thought, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said, echoing Pizzo-Lyall’s skepticism about this company actually providing anything new or reducing any costs.

“To me it was, you know, yeah I could support it but I’m honestly not excited,” said Shouldice.

Coun. Patrick Tagoona said fibre could be a long ways off.

“I think the more alternatives we have, the better,” he said.

Coun. Chris Eccles also wasn’t impressed.

“They talk about an Inuk partnership but they don’t give you any details,” he said. “They give you a little letter that they gave to us but they don’t make the effort to come here.”

He suggested holding back endorsement, as it appeared to him the company was just sending the letter around to different hamlets to get as many signatures as possible to apply for federal funding.

Council proceeded to vote down a motion to sign the letter of support.

Rankin wins U15 hockey title at Toonik Tyme Tournament

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Coun. Chris Eccles, the newest member of Rankin Inlet Council, wasn’t eager to lend the hamlet’s name to support a business’s application for federal internet funding.

Stewart Burnett/NNSL file photo

Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet continued its hockey domi-

nance at the 2023 Toonik Tyme event in Iqaluit, with the U15 team taking home gold for the Kivalliq capital in a 6-3 win over Iqaluit Sunday, April 23.

Darren Ikakhik, coach, stands with Atuat Hickes, Thornton Kaludjak, Little Kaludjak, Piu Piu Kusugak, and coach Pujjuut Kusugak in the back row, with Yvon Ikakhik, Logan Illnik, Jeff Taparti, Deryk Voisey and Carson Tatty in the middle. Goaltender Orren Makpa is in front. Photo courtesy of Nazie Darehshoripour

Piu Piu Kusugak, Makayla Kaludjak, Atuat Hickes and Tiana Misheralak pose for a photo after winning gold. Photo courtesy of Nazie Darehshoripour

Dancing all the way to Toronto

Chloe and Kassidy Tunguaq display some moves they’ve learned. Stewart Burnett/

Baker Lake youth head south as part of Outside Looking In dance program

By

Seven youth from Baker Lake are headed south to take part in a dance camp and then show in Toronto as part of the Outside Looking In program.

“It’s about dancing for young Indigenous people,” said 13-year-old Vicky Nakoolak, succinctly.

Outside Looking In runs eight-month community-based dance programs in more than a dozen communities in the country, with Baker Lake being signed on last fall. The program culminates in two shows in front of audiences in Toronto.

Nathan Annanaut, recreation director for Baker Lake, connected with Outside Looking In when he wanted to provide something for youth other than the typical games, hockey and similar.

“I wanted the youth of Baker Lake to experience something different,” he said. He found wellness funding to support the

program, with attendance jumping from five to more than 20 youth between the first and second sessions. A professional dance choreographer, Sebastian Bash Hirtenstein, has been visiting Baker Lake regularly to teach the youth. When he’s gone, the youth have been practising with video rehearsals two or three times a week all winter.

“Usually you’d have to go to New York or Los Angeles or Vancouver for this type of thing,” said Annanaut. “I wanted something different, so I brought (Hirtenstein) up to Baker Lake instead.”

David Kalluk, 13, was enjoying showing off some of the moves he’s learned.

“At the start of every practice, we do exercises to get our body going,” explained Kalluk.

Annanaut sees something in these youth.

“When I see these young people, I see trailblazers, I see future leaders,” he said. “It changes them. I want them to become our leaders in the future, 10, 20 years from now. I want them to be councillor, mayors, MLAs. I want them to take chances. I want the kids to learn if you try something and work hard, you will get something out of it. I just want

them to win.”

As the youth head south, Annanaut turns his attention to Hamlet Days games in the community, with about $32,000 in prizes to give out and a dozen games every day for nearly a week.

“After Covid everyone realized, what were we doing?” remarked Annanaut about how much people love gathering, playing and connecting. He said people are not taking the chance to be together for granted this time.

NNSL photo

David Kalluk strikes a pose. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

David Kalluk and Vicky Nakoolak put on a show during rehearsals. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

David Kalluk, Vicky Nakoolak, Kassidy Tunguaq and Chloe Tunguaq show off some moves as part of the Outside Looking In dance program in Baker Lake. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Baker Lake