Kivalliq News - May 31, 2023

Six-year-old Cohen SateanaCormier pays for cans of soup with rolls of coins as he strives to help those in need, plus win a popcorn party at school. Photo courtesy of Candis Cormier

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?

ï·∆¿Í´ ≤áflúòî ÖÚÊéÔÒπØflî Ç≤úõ¿Ö≤ú Ö±Ø ÖéÍ≤ú áîéÖ≤Í´ú. íØêØ Äƒù‚ ÖÚÊéÔÒπØ≤Ò Ä¿íÒπÕ‰ÖÔÍ≤Í´ú

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

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

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

AROUND Kivalliq

with Cody Punter

Kugaaruk Naujaat

Successful search and rescue Chesterfield Inlet

Alexander Sammurtok, MLA for Rankin

Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, used a member’s statement in the legislative assembly to celebrate a successful search May 26.

“Last night (May 25) I received news that an emergency took place in Chesterfield Inlet,” said Sammurtok through interpretation. “The search and rescue team called Sapujjijiit, without regard for themselves, went out to search for an individual of concern, who was fine and healthy when found. In celebration for that, I stand with the community.”

Long list of commissioner’s awards

Naujaat

A couple dozen people in Naujaat received commissioner’s awards from Commissioner Eva Aariak for their contributions to the community.

Solomon Malliki, MLA for Aivilik, used a member’s statement May 26 to echo congratulations to the recipients and list them by name.

“The commissioner generally hardly ever goes to the communities, so this was a very special occasion,” said Malliki through interpretation.

Recipients included Elder’s committee members, Naujaat knowledge keepers, the search and rescue team, volunteer firefighters, the Cnaadian Rangers patrol team and other valued community members, including some who have passed.

The full list is as follows: Elizabeth Aglukakka, Honore Aglukka, Luke Angotialu, Richard Tuilik Angotialuk, Jermaine Bruce, Uluuta Ivanlutanar, Joana Kopak, Paula Kopak, the late Nicolas Kringayark, Rosalina Kringayark, Jay Mapsalak, the late Donat Milortok, Suzan Mablik, Semi Malliki, Alexina Nanordluk, Mary Chantal Nanordluk, Alice Nanorak, Julia Natseck, the late George Putulik, Godelieve Putulik, Luky Putulik, Pasqualina Putulik, Jonah Siusangnark, Paniaq Siusangnark, Leo Subgut, John Tinashlu, Sarah Ullikatar, Tony Ullikatar and Bernadette Uttak.

Cabinet holds ‘Nunavut on the Hill’ meetings

Ottawa

Premier PJ Akeeagok used a minister’s statement to update the legislative assembly on the Nunavut cabinet’s meetings with the federal government in Ottawa at the start of May.

Cabinet members promoted the priorities of Katujjiluta while meeting with federal departments. Akeeagok met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to talk about efforts to build housing, bolster health care, engage on Arctic security and transfer authority over Nunavut’s lands and water through devolution.

“In our meetings, the Prime Minister and his cabinet acknowledged the unique realities of our communities, where a lack of immediate investment means Nunavummiut face daily challenges with adequate housing, health and wellness, access to education, limited local economies and poor supports for the aging,” said Akeeagok.

Restaurant and hotel closed after fire ᓂᕆᕕᒃ ᐅᒃᑯᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ

ᐃᑯᐊᓚᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐳᔪᐊᓄᓪᓗ ᓱᕈᔪᑦᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓂᕆᕕᒃ ᑕᑯᔭᓯ ᒪᓂ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᖏᑦᑐᖅ ᓱᓕ ᖃᖓ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖓᑦ . ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᑐᐃᓐ ᐅᐃᐅᓯᓪ .

Sanikiluaq

Unclear yet how long Whale Cove will be without its sole accommodations ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism

Initiative Whale Cove

A fire that started in the kitchen of Whale Cove’s Tavanni Inns North has left the community without a hotel or restaurant for the near-term future.

“Until we’re granted access, we’re certainly not in any position to speculate about the full extent of the damage, so at this point we consider the hotel to be basically closed indefinitely,” said Duane Wilson, vice-president of stakeholder relations with Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.

The fire began the evening of May 23, and was extinguished without injuries. The Co-op worked with the community to rehome seven guests who were forced to leave from the fire.

Wilson said his staff have not yet been able to access the premises to fully assess the extent of the damage, but based on photos of the scene, he anticipates a staggered return to service.

“We’re pretty sure that the extent of the damage outside of the kitchen and dining room is limited to smoke damage, so in the near term we’re looking at things we can do to remediate the smoke damage and make those rooms habitable for guests,” he said.

“At the same time, we need to have an alternative for food service for them, because anticipating that the return to full service for the restaurant is probably going to be a little bit longer.”

Wilson said he couldn’t speculate about a timeline just yet, but was hopeful that the fact it’s early in the summer sealift season would help Arctic Co-operatives ship any equipment that would be needed.

Wilson said he recognizes that the hotel is an important staple in the community, where it serves as the only hotel and restaurant.

“That’s not lost on us,” he said about the impact the business has in the community.

He called it very important to provide those services in Whale Cove.

“I have no doubt that we will move as quickly as possible to ensure that those services are reinstated,” he said.

ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᐃᓐ ᐅᐃᐅᓯᓐ, ᑯᐊᐸᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᖅ ᑐᒐᓕᐊ. ᐃᑯᐊᓚᓂᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃ 23, ᖃᑎᕆᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐊᓂᖅᑐᖃᖅᓯᒪᖏᖢᓂ.

ᐃᑯᐊᓚᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

7 ᑐᔪᕐᒥᐊᑦ.

ᐊᓂᔭᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ

ᐅᐃᐅᓯᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔭᕈᓐᓇᖕᖏᑲᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓱᕈᔪᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᑯᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑎᕈᓇᖅᓴᓕᓇᓱᒋᕗᖓ, ᖃᓂᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ.

‘ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᖓ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓗᐊᕋᓗᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᐳᔪᕐᓗᕈᔪᒃ ᓴᓗᒻᒪᖅᑕᐅᕌᓂᒃᐸᑦ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᐅᑲᓂᖅᓵᓕᔪᓐᓇᕋᓱᒋᕙᕋ.

ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓱᒪᖃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ

ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᐊᑦᑕ, ᑲᒪᒌᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᒥᒐᑦᑎᒍ. ᐅᒃᑯᐃᓴᓕᔭᖏᑲᓚᐅᖂᕐᒪᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᖓ.’

ᐅᐃᐅᓯᓐ ᓇᓗᕗᖅ ᖃᖓᓪᓚᕆᖅ ᐅᒃᑯᐃᑲᓐᓂᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖅ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᖅᑕᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃᓴᑦ ᑎᑭᑉᐸᑕ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

ᐅᐃᐅᓯᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ, ᓂᕆᕕᑐᐊᖑᓗᓂ, ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᑐᐊᑦᑎᐊᖑᓪᓗᓂ. ‘ᐊᓯᐅᔨᖏᑉᐳᒍ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᑎᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᑦ.’

ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᓂᕆᕝᕕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᖕᒪᑦ. ‘ᐅᐱᒍᓱᒃᐳᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᑲᐅᑎᒋᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖏᑉᐸᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ.

ᐃᓐᔅ ᓄᐊᔅ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᒃ ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂ. ᓂᕆᕕᖃᕈᓐᓂᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐸᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᒃ, ᒪᓇᐅᓚᐅᑲᒃᑐᒥ

Fire and smoke damage in the restaurant is seen here. The extent of the damage or time to repair the structure is not yet known. Photo courtesy of Duane Wilson

A fire started in the kitchen of Whale Cove’s Tavanni Inns North restaurant the evening of Tuesday, May 23. Photo courtesy of Duane Wilson

First responders arrive to the scene of the Tavanni Inns North as a kitchen fire spreads Tuesday, May 23. Photo courtesy of Dayna Igviksaq

inning Voice of Kivalliq

Nunavut's award-winning voice of Kivalliq –

NNSL Media, a division of Black Press Media

Publishers of:

• Nunavut News/North • Inuvik Drum

• Kivalliq News • Yellowknifer

• NWT News/North • Hay River Hub

Member of:

• Manitoba Community Newspapers Association

• Canadian Community Newspapers Association

Would you take your vote back?

CMCA AUDITED

ᓂᕈᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕋᔭᖅᐱᐅᒃ?

Editor: Stewart Burnett

Associate Editor: Ruth Kadlutsiak Box 657, Rankin Inlet, NU X0C 0G0

Phone: (867) 645-2862

Toll free: (855) 447-2584

Email: kivalliqnews@nnsl.com

Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews

Founder (1934-2018): J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason

Group Publisher: Mike W. Bryant mike.bryant@nnsl.com

Managing Editor: James McCarthy james.mccarthy@nnsl.com

Kivalliq Advertising Representative:

advertising@nunavutnews.com

Call collect: (867) 873-4031

Fax: (867) 873-8507

Publishing Office:

Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R1

Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507

Email: nnsl@nnsl.com

Website: www.nunavutnews.com

Box 657, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ X0C 0G0 ᐅᖃᓘᑎᖓ: (867) 645-2862 ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ: (855) 447-2584

ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: kivalliqnews@nnsl.com

ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: www.nunavutnews.com ᓇᓂᓯᔨᐅᔪᖅ (1934-2018):

J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑎᔨ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑎᔨᓪᓚᕆᐅᑉᓗᓂᓗ:

Mike W. Bryant – mike.bryant@nnsl.com

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐅᐃᕆᓴᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨ: ᑎᐅᕆ ᑖᐱᓐ –advertising@nunavutnews.com

ᑲᓕᒃᑳᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᓯ ᐅᕗᖓ

ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ: (867) 873-4031

ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ: (867) 873-8507

ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ: Box 2820, ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ X1A 2R1

ᐅᖃᓘᑎᖓᑦ: (867) 873-4031

(867) 873-8507

nnsl@nnsl.com

www.nnsl.com

Contents copyright. Printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited. No photos, stories, advertisements or graphics may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written approval of the publisher.

Subscriptions One year mail $70

Lorne Kusugak, Minister responsible for the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Board, said he would be meeting with local representatives in Rankin Inlet to discuss the beer and wine store. Stewart Burnett/NNSL file photo

Minister discusses social challenges with beer and wine store

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Lorne Kusugak, minister responsible for the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Board, mused in the legislative assembly about whether Rankinmiut would take their vote back on the beer and wine store.

“I see the real concerns in our community,” he said, answering a question from Alexander Sammurtok, MLA for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet Wednesday, May 24.

“The question of if it’s positive or negative, it depends who you talk to,” said Kusugak, adding that he will be meeting with hamlet council to ensure proper steps are taken to deal with the concerns.

Sammurtok, who represents Chesterfield Inlet, said he was concerned about the impact the store has had on other Kivalliq communities. He asked if the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission is evaluating the store’s impact on neighbouring communities, not just in Rankin Inlet.

ᐊᑐᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᐅᑲᓂᕈᓐᓇᕐᒪᖓᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ.ᐱᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᖃᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐋᕿᒃᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒃᑯᑦ 75 ᐳᓴᓐᒥᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᖃᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᓕᖓ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ 2021-ᒥᓂᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᓂᖅ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᓯᒪᓵᕐᒪᑦ, ᐅᓚᕕᓴᐃᕈᓗᔭᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ, ᑎᒥᖁᑎᓂᓪᓗ ᐊᖓᔮᓕᕋᖓᑕ. ᓴᔨᑦ. ᐸᑐᕆᑦ ᕕᕆᓇ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐸᓕᓯᐅᔪᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕗᖅ ᕼᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᑕᑯᒋᐊᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑐᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

Send us your comments

You can email us at kivalliqnews@nnsl.com; mail to Box 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at our office at 5108-50th Street.

All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so that we can confirm it came from you.

Not all letters will necessarily be published. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern. We particularly encourage new contributors as we attempt to publish a cross-section of public opinion.

Letters of more than 200 words, open letters and those published elsewhere are seldom used. We reserve the right to edit for length or taste and to eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements.

Online (entire content) $50/year We

We may also choose to use a letter as the basis for a story.

“I live in Rankin Inlet and I see the impacts that these alcohol facilities have. I think it’s one that people who voted for it may have second thoughts and that, but in saying that, it’s not one that we take lightly and it’s one that we will tackle with both hands and see how we can improve the alcohol services and use in our communities. It takes a whole community to deal with something like that. Alcohol reduction and harm reduction is one that should be community-driven, and I look forward to having those discussions.”

Rankin Inlet voted 75 per cent in favour of a beer and wine store in a 2017 plebiscite. But since opening late 2021, the store has faced criticism for rising crime rates, stressing local community organizations and contributing to public intoxication. Recently, Sgt. Patrick Frenette of the Rankin Inlet RCMP implored hamlet council to tackle the issue, as the social situation in the community has taxed the police force.

Sammurtok asked Kusugak in the legislative assembly whether the store has had a positive or negative impact.

“The beer and wine store is open to people from Nunavut who are able to legally purchase alcohol products from the facility,” replied Kusugak. “Whether they take it to another community and that, that’s beyond the responsibility of the alcohol store in Rankin Inlet or in Iqaluit for that matter, but it’s something that I would be more than happy to discuss within our department to see what kind of program that could be put in place.”

The 2023-24 fiscal year is set to include public consultations on the Liquor Act, which governs the operation of the beer and wine stores in both Rankin inlet and Iqaluit.

ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᓗᐊᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᑲᖏᖠᓂᒦᑦᑐᖅ. ‘ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᑕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᑦᑎᓐᓂ’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐊᓕᒃᔅ ᓴᒧᖅᑐᖅ - ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᒥ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᓄᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᒃ. ᐱᖓᔪᐊᑦ ᒪᐃ 24. ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᕋᒪ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕ ᑕᑯᓯᒪᔭᕋ. ᓂᕈᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕕᖃᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎ ᐃᓱᒪᖃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖁᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ

ᓴᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᐱᕆᕗᖅ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕐᒪᖓᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃ. ‘ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᒥᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕋᖓᒪ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᑕᒪᓇ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎ ᐊᕿᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᖓᑦ ᐃᖏᕋᓂᖓ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓂᖅᓴᒃᑯᑦ.’

ᓴᒻᒧᑐᖅ, ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᔪᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐳᖅ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖃᑕᓕᕐᓂᖓᓂᑦ ᑭᕙᓕᐅᑉ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓂ. ᐊᐱᕆᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᓚᐃᓴᓐᑖᖅᑎᑎᔨ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᕿᒥᕈᔭᐅᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖓᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᑐᐃᓇᐅᖏᑦᑐᒧᑦ.

‘ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᐅᑯᐃᖓᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᑐᐃᓇᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᓄ ᐊᕋᒍᖓ ᓈᓯᒪᑐᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕈᓐᓇᕐᒪᑦ.’ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᑭᐅᕗᖅ. ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓪᓗ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᓄᓇᓕᐊᑕ ᓯᓚᑖᓄᐊᖅᑕᖅᖢᓂ. ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᒃᑲᓂᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᓕᓕᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᓪᓗ ᐃᒥᐅᓗᒃᑖᕕᖏᑦ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒋᔪᒪᕙᒃᑲ ᑭᓱᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᖕᒪᖓᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓇᔭᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᑲᐅᓂᖅᓴᒃᑯᑦ.’ 2023-2024 ᐊᕋᒍᑕᒪᖅᓯᐅᑦ ᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒪᓄᓐ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ

Three Kivalliq air terminal buildings get the go-ahead

ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᓂ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᖏᑦ

ᐱᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕋᕐᑕᐅᕗᑦ

Rankin Inlet’s airport terminal building, seen here, is well underway to being replaced and upgraded. Now, the same is true for terminals in Naujaat, Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet. Stewart Burnett/NNSL file

MLA raises questions over fuel quality and snowmobile filters

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Nunavut Local Journalism Initiative

After some unsuccessful attempts to tender building new airport terminals in Naujaat, Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet, Pilitak Enterprises Ltd. earned the $36.7 million project in March.

“I am very pleased that this tender was recently awarded to a company to perform this work,” said Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki in the legislative assembly Wednesday, May 24.

David Akeeagok, economic development minister, said through interpretation that he was also pleased to see the project move forward, adding that it would start this summer as construction materials arrive.

Savikataaq urges to test snowmobile fuel filters

Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq wanted a commitment from community and government services minister David Joanasie to test black snowmobile filters and see what might be causing buildup of substance.

“In Arviat and other Kivalliq communities, the snowmobilers have been having issues with the filter inside the fuel pump, the white filter turning black, and the snowmobile either running poorly or not running at all,” said Savikataaq through interpretation.

“When it’s warm out, it’s just an inconvenience that you have to change it, but in the colder months, it’s a safety issue. If your snowmobile can’t run and you’re stranded out on the land, then that is not good.”

He asked if Joanasie was aware of this issue.

“In this particular case around the fuel filter in skidoos and snowmobiles, it hasn’t come up per se,” he said. “I would imagine that it’s

something new around our territory, depending on how much usage our equipment gets used, but I thank the member for bringing it to our attention right now.”

Savikataaq said there was something different this year about the fuel.

“The same snowmobiles, in previous years, you may change the fuel filter and the fuel pump once a year,” he said. “Mr. Speaker, there is one person from Arviat that had to change it within a few days of buying a brand-new snowmobile.”

He asked Joanasie if the Petroleum Products Department would collect some of the black filters and find out what the substance is.

“Is it coming from the gas?” asked Savikataaq. “Is it coming from the gas tank? We don’t know, but if the black substance was tested, then we can pinpoint whether it’s a gasoline issue or another issue.”

Joanasie replied that the Petroleum Products Division does sampling to test for quality and control, and he encouraged his colleagues and all Nunavummiut to report any of these types of issues to the division.

“We know that the fuel delivery in the last resupply season has been quite different and we’re not sure if this has to do with it or not, or the source of the fuel where we purchase from,” he said. “I guess we will take different factors into account when we’re doing this assessment, but again thanks for bringing it to our attention and I encourage Nunavummiut to report and bring in samples that can be collected for further testing.”

Savikataaq then wanted a commitment for a public service announcement or minister’s statement to inform people where they can take these filters and when results might be public.

“I would highly encourage the minister that the results should be made public to Nun-

avummiut before the next skidoo season in the fall,” he said. “I know they’re still using snowmobiles now. It’s not as cold and it’s not as critical, but we need to know what this substance was and possibly where it may have come from before the fall.”

Joanasie thanked Savikataaq for the suggestion and said he would look at some form of communication and he committed to collecting samples around the territory.

ᐱᓕᕆᔪᑎᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᓕᐅᖁᔨᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᒃᑕᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ, ᓇᐅᔮᓂ, ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓗᓕᒐᕐᔪᒥ. ᐱᓕᑦᑕ ᐃᓐᑐᐳᐃᔅ ltd. 36.7 ᑐᓐᓂᕆᔭᐅᕗᖅ. ,ᐅᐱᒍᓱᒃᐳᖓ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᓕᐅᖁᔨᔪᑎ ᒪᓂᖕᒪᒃᑎᑕᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᒃᓴᖃᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᖅᐳ ᐊᐃᕕᓕᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᓴᓚᒪᓐ ᒪᓕᑭ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ. ᐱᖓᔪᐊᑦ ᒪᐃ 24. ᑕᐃᕕᑎ ᐊᕿᐊᕈ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐱᕙᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᔨᑯᓐᓄ ᐃᖏᕋᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᓪᓗ, ᐱᒃᑯᒍᓱᒃᐳᖅᑕᐅᖅ ᑲᔪᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖅᓴᖅ. ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ, ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃᓴᑦ ᑎᑭᑉᐸᑕ.

ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖁᔨᕗᖅ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᐅᑉ ᓱᕈᓗᐊᕐᔭᐃᑯᑎᕕᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ - ᓂᒡᖏᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᔪ ᓴᕕᑲᑕᖅ ᐋᔨᖃᑎᖃᖁᔨᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ, ᐱᔨᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᕕᒥᓗ. ᑕᐃᕕᑎ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ. ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖃᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᓱ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᓯᑎᑎᑲᑕᖕᒪᖓᑦ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᐅᑉ ᓱᕈᓗᐊᔾᔭᐃᑯᑕᖏᑦ.

‘ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᓪ, ᑭᕙᓪᓕᐅᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᑦᓱᕈᓗᐊᔭᐃᑯᑕᖏᑦ ᐱᐅᖏᓴᑲᑕᖕᒪᑕ, ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖃᐅᑎᒡᕕᐊᒍ. ᓱᕈᓗᐊᔾᔭᐃᑯᑎ

ᕿᕐᓂᖅᓯᕙᒃᖢᓂ, ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᑦ, ᐱᐅᔪᓐᓂᑲᑕᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᓱᕋᑦᑎᐊᒪᕆᒃᖢᑎᒡᓘᓐᓂᑦ.’ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ.

‘ᓯᓚᕗᑦ ᐅᖁᓇᖅᓯᒐᖓᑦ, ᓇᒻᒪᒍᓐᓂᑲᐅᑎᒋᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ. ᐅᑭᐅᑯᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕈᑎᐅᕗᖅ

ᐃᖏᕋᔪᓇᐃᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒪᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᑉᐳᖅ.’ ᐊᐱᕆᕗᕐᓗ ᔪᐊᓇᓯᒧᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᓴᓚᐅᒪᖓᒍ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᓪᓗᐊᕿᓂᖅ. ‘ᐱᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᑦ ᓱᕈᔪᐃᑦᑐᖃᕐᕕᐊᕋᔭᖁᖏᒻᒪ’. ᐃᓱᒪᒋᕙᕋᓕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᑯᔭᕆᐅᕋᑦᑎᒍ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓴᕿᑎᒃᑲᕕᐅᒃ. ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓂᐊᖅᐸᕗᑦ. ᓴᕕᑲᑕᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕋᒍᔪᒥ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᖏᑦᑐᓴᕐᒪᑦ.

‘ᐊᕋᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓱᕈᓗᐊᔭᐃᑯᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᓯᔨᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ’.’ᐅᖃᖅᑎᑎᔨ, ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓱᕈᔪᐃᑦᑐᖃᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᖏᑦᑐᑦ. ᓄᑕᖑᒐᓗᐊᖅᐊᑦ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᖅ’

ᔪᐊᓇᓯᒧ ᐊᐱᕆᕗᖅ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᑎᑎᓂᐊᕐᒪᖓᑕ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᓯᑎᑎᑲᑕᒃᑐᒥᒃ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᐅᑉ ᓱᕈᓗᐊᕐᔭᐃᑯᑎᑯᕕᐊᓂ.

‘ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖕᒥᖓᖅᐸ? ᐊᐱᕆᕗ ᓴᕕᑲᑕᖅ, ᐅᕙᓗᓐᓂᑦ ᐅᖅᓱᖃᐅᑎᑯᕕᖓᓂᖓᖅᐸᓪᓗᓐᓂᑦ?.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒃᐸᑦ ᐳᔪᕐᓗᒃ, ᑎᑯᐊᓕᕈᓐᓇᕋᑦᑕ ᓇᑭᒐᕐᒪᖓᑦ.’

ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᑭᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖃᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖃᓱᖑᕗᑦ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖕᒥᑦ, ᐊᒪᓗ ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖃᑎᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓗᒃᑖᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᐸᑕᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ. ‘ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᒃᑕᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐊᕋᓂ ᐊᔨᒋᑦᑎᐊᓴᖏᒻᒪᒍ, ᑕᓱᒥᖓ ᐱᔪᑎᖃᖅᐳᖃᐃ, ᐊᒪᐃ, ᐅᕙᓗᓂ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒋᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ.’ ‘ᕿᒥᕈᓇᓂᖃᕐᕕᒋᓕᕈᑎᒍ ᐊᔨᒋᖏᑦᑐᓂ ᐱᔪᑎᖃᖁᖅᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒥᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑐᓇᕋᕕᐅᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᐸᑕ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᑲᑕᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ. ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᖁᔨᕗᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᔪᑎᒥᑦ ᓇᑭᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᖓᑦ. ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖑᓚᐅᖏᓐᓂᖓᓂ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᖁᕙ ᑭᓱ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᓯᑎᑎᑲᑕᒪᖓᑦᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᓂᒃ. ᔪᐊᓇᙳ ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖅ.

photo

Disappointment expressed over fibre link funding

Intercommunity road initiative consultations to start in September

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Kivalliq

Nunavut Premier PJ Akeeagok expressed disappointment in not seeing the investments he was looking for in the federal budget for the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, a proposed infrastructure project that would bring reliable internet and energy to the Kivalliq from Manitoba.

“I have been a strong and vocal supporter of the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project, which promises to achieve transformative change in our region of the territory,” said Baker Lake MLA Craig Simialak in the legislative assembly May 25.

“Mr. Speaker, as the minister is also aware, the Kivalliq Inuit Association is leading this project through the Nukik Corporation and I pay tribute today to the association’s leadership. Can the minister provide an update today on his department’s role in this project and its relationship with the Kivalliq Intercommunity Road Study that is currently underway?”

Akeeagok called the fibre link a “transformative project” and said he met with Kivalliq Inuit Association president Kono Tattuinee on it just recently.

“I’ve had the opportunity to go down to Ottawa as well with the invitation of President Tattuinee to do a lobby before the federal budget,” said Akeeagok. “During my most recent meeting just the other day, I think we all shared the frustration that we didn’t see the investments in the federal budget. That is something that the Nukik board, as well as President Tattuinee was advocating for, for quite some time. On this particular project, we meet very regularly and the updates are there and we’re very supportive of this Inuit-led, Inuit-driven project that would really bring transformative changes not only to Nunavut but to Canada as we move forward.”

At the previous day’s legislative assembly, May 24, Simialak had asked economic development minister David Akeeagok for an update on the $1.6-million study to undertake a detailed analysis and assessment of the proposed Kivalliq Intercommunity Road initiative.

Akeeagok confirmed that there had been a delay on starting with consultations for that study, but said he didn’t know why, adding the

people running the study have now scheduled for in-person community visits for all five communities in September.

To88 and beyond

Six-year-old Rankin Inlet boy raises donations for food bank

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

With visions of a popcorn party at school, six-year-old Cohen Sateana-Cormier emptied two piggy banks and raised all the donations he could for the Ikurraq Food Bank in Rankin Inlet.

Candis Cormier, his mom, said his class had a challenge to collect canned goods to donate May 25. Sateana-Cormier’s goal was 88 cans.

Asked what he had done, Sateana-Cormier said, “Get canned goods for the people that need it.”

“He has always saved his money and chooses to use it wisely,” said Cormier about her son, who’s in Grade 1 in Rankin Inlet.

And the reward: “We get a popcorn party, and guess what?” he asked, about to smile, as his mother recorded a video interview of him. “We’re going to get a pizza party.”

His mom said, “Cohen asked if we can collect cans and also requested to use his money to buy more. He emptied two piggy banks and totalled over $140.”

He was also given more donations and electronic money transfers.

Before the final results had been revealed, Cormier said, “He is excited because he knows that this will benefit our community members and his class can win a popcorn party. There are donations from community members as well as others from social media. He is also very thankful for the donations.”

In the end, Sateana-Cormier amassed 99 cans.

“We just picked up the last donation request now – we are both exhausted,” wrote Cormier. “The last house, he knew he was past his goal. As we were leaving her house, he said, ‘I think I’m going to cry.’”

She said the rest of the class had an overflowing amount of gifts too.

Nunavut Premier PJ Akeeagok expressed “frustration” over lack of federal funding toward the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link. Stewart Burnett/NNSL file photo

Cohen SateanaCormier emptied two piggy banks and drummed up help to donate as much goods to the food bank as he could. Photo courtesy of Candis Cormier