Kivalliq News, Sept. 30, 2020 Edition

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Vol 26 No 40

$1.00

Nunavut's Award-Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Literacy award winner in Rankin

Pop-up learning at the library Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᖃᑉᑎᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ Teamwork playing big role in fire department growth

ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒃᑯᕕᖕᒥᙶᖅᑐᖅ

News from the capital

"I kind of laughed in relief knowing it really is appreciated."

– Charmaine Okatsiak, Nunavut's 2020 Council of the Federation Literacy Award recipient, is proud of the "unexpected" honour, page 3.

Publication mail

7

Contract #40012157

71605 00500

3

2 kivalliq news, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

news

ᓄá·∆¿ÖÀî

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, y2bWE 30, 2020

ᐃᓂᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒡᓗ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑖᖅ (ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ) ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᕕᒃᑖᖓ ᑲᔪᓯᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ.

RBC ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, ᑭᓕ ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒡᒎᖅ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᑐᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥᒃ ᒫᓂ ᐅᓗᔪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ. ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᑑᒐᓗᐊᑦ ᒫᓂ ᐅᓗᔪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓂᖓ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᑲᐅᑎᒋ ᑐᒡᓕᐊᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᓄᑦ ᓅᓕᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ, ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᒥᑭᔪᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥᒃ ᐃᑭᙳᑎᒌᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᑉ ᐃᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ. "ᒪᑐᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 8-ᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᑎᓐᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐅᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒻᒥᕐᒧᑦ 9:00-ᒥ ᐅᑉᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᕈᒥᑕᕐᓇᒧᑦ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᓕᔭᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᑯᙵᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ 1:00-ᒥ 3:00-ᒧᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᒥᒃ ᑕᐃᑯᙵᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ," ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ. "ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓕᓲᖅ 3:30-ᒥ 6:00-ᒧᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓄᑦ 14-ᓂᒃ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ, 6:00-ᒥ 8:00-ᒧᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ. "ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ, ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓲᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ 10:00-ᒥ ᐅᑉᓛᒃᑯᑦ 4:00-ᒧᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᒃᑯᑦ." ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓚᕆᖕᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖅᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᕿᔪᖁᑎᑯᓗᖕᒥᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕈᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᓪᓗ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖃᑦᑕᓕᐊᓂᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓂᑖᖑᔪᒥᒃ. "ᓴᓚᐅᓱᖕᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᙵᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᒃ, ᑳᐱᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑏᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ, ᑕᒧᐊᔭᒃᓴᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ. "ᐊᐅᓪᓛᑦᑎᐊᖅᑑᔭᖅᑐᖅ, ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᓂᖓ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᑦ ᐃᓂᑕᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᓂᐸᐃᕝᕕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᒥᒡᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᑕᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᒃᑕᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓂᒃ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

ᓴᒃᑲᑖᖅ ᔪᐊᑦᓯᑭ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑕᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓄᑦ 14-ᓂᒃ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᕐᕈᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ, ᓄᑖᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᕕᒃᑖᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 25-ᒥ.

Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Sakkataaq Zawadski shows off the room dedicated to those aged 14 and older, complete with two laptop computers and internet access, at the new (Ilitaqsiniq) Nunavut Literacy Council's pop-up library in Rankin Inlet on Sept. 25. "ᓴᓇᙳᐊᕐᕕᒃᑕᓕᒃᑕᐅᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕆᐅᖅᓴᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕆᐅᖅᓴᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᑕ. ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕋᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. "ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᒐᕝᕕᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᒧᐊᔭᒃᓴᖃᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ." ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐅᑉᓗᒥᒧᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᑕ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔫᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᑖᒥ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ-19 ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ, ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᐃᓄᖃᕈᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ 25-ᓂᒃ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ. "ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐅᓪᓚᔪᐊᖅᖢᑎᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᓕᐊᓲᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᒥᒃ 25-ᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕈᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑎᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ. "ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᓲᑦ ᖃᐃᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ,

ᐃᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᔭᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒍᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ 25-ᖑᓕᕌᖓᑕ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᖃᐃᓯᒪᔪᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ – ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᖃᐃᔭᕌᖓᑕ – ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐃᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖁᓇᒋᑦ. "ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐃᔪᒪᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ. ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᑎᖅᑕᕐᕕᓪᓚᕆᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᐅᑉᓗᓂᓗ. "ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒫᑦᓯ 2021-ᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ ᐱᒋᔭᐅᔪᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᐸᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᓱᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ." bf l A Pop-up m4WZz 5

baa K’e

kivalliq news, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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) 6453223 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?

Ulukhaktok

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

Naujaat Gameti Behchoko

Around Kivalliq Politicians spending unveiled NWT Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, originally from Baker Lake, spent less than $25,000 to be elected as Nunavut’s member of Parliament last Oct. 21.

Running for the NDP, Qaqqaq was the only candidate to show contributions from individuals. A total of $8,111.70 came from 318 people. She also received $16,682.47 in transfers from the Nunavut NDP Electoral District Association, while another $530.05 was donated in non-monetary contributions. Her total expenses amounted to $24,514.12.

The figures from all four Nunavut candidates in the federal election were made public earlier this month after Elections Canada granted a couple of extensions to the filing deadline due to Covid-19.

The Conservatives’ Leona Aglukkaq revealed the largest sum of financial resources – $93,000 in transfers, the bulk of which came from the Conservative Party of Canada Nunavut Electoral District Association – and the greatest total expenses at $87,109.03.

Megan Pizzo-Lyall took in $40,000 from the Nunavut Federal Liberal Association and another $14,225.74 from the Liberal Party of Canada for a total of $54,225.74. Her expenditures totalled $45,216.74.

Douglas Roy, who represented the Green Party, is a newcomer to the territory as principal of Kimmirut’s Qaqqalik School. He is a former deputy leader of the Green Party in British Columbia and reported no campaign contributions and no related expenses.

Qaqqaq was elected with 3,861 votes in the federal election, while Pizzo-Lyall finished with 2,918 votes, Aglukkaq with 2,469 and Roy with 206 votes.

– Derek Neary

Poster contest Baker Lake The Kivalliq Inuit Association's (KIA) land department is currently holding a poster contest for its Inuu'tuti (Life Source) program.

The Inuu'tuti program involves water sampling and monitoring in the Baker Lake area, including lakes and rivers flowing into Baker Lake and then out to Hudson Bay, using both scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge from Elders in Baker Lake.

Posters can be done in any form the entrant likes.

Entrants are encouraged to "find their inspiration" to draw from the great area of Baker Lake.

Entrants are asked to submit their drawings, with their names clearly written on the back, to the KIA office from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Electronically submitted drawings will not be accepted.

There are 15 prizes to be won during the contest.

– Darrell Greer

feature news ᓄêêêΩËîΩÇéíÇÀî á·∆¿ÖÀî

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, y2bWE 30, 2020 3

Making a difference Rankin NTEP student Nunavut's 2020 Council of the Federation Literacy Award recipient

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet/Nunavut

Charmaine Okatsiak of Rankin Inlet comes by her passion for helping youth learn and speak Inuktitut honestly, with her mother being an Inuktitut teacher and her father a youth program coordinator.

Okatsiak, 30, was named Nunavut’s 2020 Council of the Federation Literacy Award recipient this past week in Iqaluit.

With teaching in her blood, Okatsiak spent a number of years working at Leo Ussak Elementary School before headSanikiluaq ing off to Nunavut Arctic College where she is completing the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP).

Okatsiak is also a familiar voice on local radio, where she volunteers her time to practice her language and encourage others to learn and speak Inuktitut.

She also put in countless hours to launch the Inuktitut Revitalization Project this past summer – a summer program for youth – including developing the course curriculum and program materials.

Okatsiak said she was taken completely by surprise when she was told she had won the award.

She said it was a totally unexpected honour and one that fills her with pride.

"When I got the call from the Government of Nunavut all I could do was laugh with joy," giggled Okatsiak.

"I thought about all the things I've done, all the community projects and little activities for youth and how it's

worth all the time I put in – so I kind of laughed in relief knowing it really is appreciated."

Okatsiak said she knows how very important it is that people speak Inuktitut at home from her own personal experience.

She said she is still trying to reclaim her ability to speak Inuktitut fluently.

"I grew up unilingual and learned English first in kindergarten, so, as I got older, I made English my main priority and my Inuktitut deteriorated.

"Now, as an adult, I see other adults struggling as well. We have barriers in that we come up with reasons why we don't try Inuktitut.

"So I wanted to address those and do a five-week healing program where we got to interact with Elders on land trips, did a couple of Inuktitut classes and had discussions on healing – acknowledging what hurt us.

"Once that was out of the way we were able to focus on trying to reclaim our language and learn Inuktitut."

Okatsiak said she doesn't like to compare communities when it comes to the use of Inuktitut, but Rankin Inlet lags behind communities like Arviat and Naujaat.

She said she learned so much during the Inuktitut Revitalization Project this past summer that she's already looking ahead to next time.

"Hopefully, I'll have finished my fourth year of the NTEP, graduated and become a certified teacher next fall, which will also help me with future

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᓴᕐᒦᓐ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ 2020ᒥ Council of the Federation Literacy ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᒍᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ.

photo courtesy of Charmaine Okatsiak

Rankin Inlet's Charmaine Okatsiak has been named the recipient of Nunavut's 2020 Council of the Federation Literacy Award. course planning.

"I have a real passion for teaching and I really enjoy the teacher's education program.

"I can't wait to hit the textbooks and go into my own classroom for real.

"I've been looking forward to that day for quite a while now." bf l A ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓯᒪᔪᖅ m4WZz 6

4 kivalliq news, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Nunavut's Award-Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Nunavut's award-winning voice of Kivalliq – Published Wednesdays ¥∂‡ç Ä¿Ω‰ÕÇœÀé´ú æƒúΩÇπÖÊíÇπØÀÒ ≤ሠï·∆¿Í´ – ÇÔ¿∞°úΩÖ¿ÖÙ·çâÒ áˆîπÍ´ NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated 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 Kugaaruk

Naujaat

Editor: Darrell Greer Associate Editor: Jean Kusugak Box 657, Rankin Inlet, NU X0C 0G0 Phone: (867) 645-3223 Fax: (867) 645-3225 Toll free: (855) 447-2584 Email: kivalliqnews@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews Founder (1934-2018): J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason Publisher, CEO: Bruce Valpy valpy@nnsl.com Chief Financial Officer: Judy Triffo Coordinating Editor: Craig Gilbert craig@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 ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᔨ: ᑎᐊᕈ ᒍᕆᐅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᓕᕆᔨ: ᒪᐃᑯ ᓛᐃᓐᕼᐊᓐ Box 657, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ X0C 0G0 ᐅᖃᓘᑎᖓ: (867) 645-3223 ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ: (867) 645-3225 ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ: (855) 447-2584 ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: kivalliqnews@nnsl.com ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: www.nunavutnews.com ᓇᓂᓯᔨᐅᔪᖅ (1934-2018): J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑎᔨ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑎᔨᓪᓚᕆᐅᑉᓗᓂᓗ: Bruce Valpy – valpy@nnsl.com ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᔭᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᒃ: Judy Triffo ᑲᒪᔨ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎ: ᑯᕆᒃ ᒋᐅᐳᑦ Craig Gilbert – craig@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 ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ: (867) 873-8507 ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: nnsl@nnsl.com ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: 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 $65 Online (entire content) $50/year

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.

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

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

opinions

ᓄwhmK5

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, y2bWE 30, 2020

More to gain from learning our history, not erasing it Northern News Services

I'm a voracious reader at the best of times, so put me in quarantine or isolation for most of the summer and paper cuts become a real hazard.

Like most people (you know, the ones not out tearing down statues and the like) I have very real mixed feelings about looking back in history through a lens of modern times and passing absolute judgment on the party one has decided to put under a microscope.

And, by this point, we all know where that leads, with people screaming for a name to be removed from a school or a statue to be toppled over.

It's a complex situation that can Sanikiluaq be almost impossible to navigate at the best of times. And, let's be honest, it's a difficult conversation for many to have and, as we saw with a certain football team, the majority doesn't always win the day. Far from it.

Interestingly enough, I found a pretty decent example of the pitfalls of name erasing and a direction that makes a whole lot more sense right next door with our neighbours in Manitoba, courtesy of an article penned by one Michael Zwaagstra.

The pitfall was illustrated by two schools in Manitoba, the Cecil Rhodes School in Winnipeg and Nellie McClung Collegiate, a high school in Manitou.

If a band of petitioners get their way, the Cecil Rhodes School will soon be renamed.

Rhodes was a 19th century British

old proverb good for the goose, good politician who served as prime minister of Cape Colony, a British colony for the gander says, in this case it would seem to indicate the only way in present day South Africa.

And, oh yes, he also founded a lit- forward is to rename every school tle enterprise known as the De Beers across the country whose namesake supported or adopted racist views. diamond mining company.

We're going to need a whole lot He also donated a significant sum of new names and, while of money to establish the we're at it, we may want Rhodes Scholarship in to remember a guy named 1902. Fast-forward 118 John, who once quoted years, or so and the schola certain Galilean from arship still exists today, Nazareth as saying, "If making it possible for any one of you is without students around the world sin, let him be the first to to attend the University of throw a stone."

Oxford.

But, there is, indeed, Unfortunately, like most Darrell another option. It is called politicians of his time, Greer knowledge, education Rhodes was a racist and and understanding, which his imperialist policies brings us to our third Manitoba actually paved the way for the forlearning academy, Wolseley School mal adoption of apartheid in South in Winnipeg.

Africa.

Even though the school is named So, even though many students after a 19th century British milhave been helped over the years by itary general who led the Red River his scholarship, that does not give him a get-out-of-jail-free card for his Expeditionary Force that forcibly suppressed the Metis people, the Maniracist views. Nor should it. toba Metis Federation opposes the However, if the call is out to drop proposed renaming of the school. his name, then one has to ponder The federation wants future stuwhy the same call hasn't gone out for Nellie McClung Collegiate, named dents to remember what Wolseley after a woman who believed in white did. And that's a lot less likely to happen if his name disappears from racial superiority and supported the the building. forced sterilization of people with I agree with the author's contendisabilities. tion that Canada's history is a messy Doesn't seem to make much sense, does it? That is, until you real- one and that many of our heroes ize McClung played a big part in get- were also villains.

And we should make sure our stuting women the right to vote in Manidents learn about our history, warts toba and other parts of the country.

An impressive achievement at the and all, instead of trying to erase it.

Food for thought. time to say the least, but, as that

Lucky winner Rankin Inlet

Jimmy Qiyuk is the week’s lucky winner in the fire department's Chase the Ace fundraiser in Rankin Inlet. Qiyuk drew the two of hearts and took home $750.

The next jackpot in the fire department's fundraiser is up to $22,321. photo courtesy of Mark Wyatt

news

kivalliq news, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, y2bWE 30, 2020 5

ᓄá·∆¿ÖÀî

Busy week in the capital Ministers deliver some good news on Kivalliq programs

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Nunavut

Covid-19 and the costs associated with the pandemic were front and centre during a special sitting of the legislative assembly called in Iqaluit during the past 10 days.

Nunavut MLAs spent an additional week in committee meetings before the open session began on Sept. 21.

The regular spring sitting, set to run from May 26 until June 4, was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The special sitting saw new Baker Lake MLA Craig Atangalaaq Simailak be sworn in after being acclaimed in his community on July 24. Simailak, 43, takes the place of Simeon Mikkungwak, who stepped down due to personal reasons this past February.

The week also saw Nunavut Heath Minister George Hickes appeal to Nunavummiut to avoid non-essential travel outside the territory during the holiday season, as the Government of Nunavut (GN) is expecting to see a spike in the demand for isolation hubs (hotels paid for by the GN where most Nunavummiut must spend 14 days in isolation before being allowed to return to the territory) during the Christmas holidays.

As of the special sitting, there were nine special warrants (urgently needed monies not approved in the budget) approved totalling $56.7 million in the battle against Covid-19.

During the minister statements on Sept. 22, Economic Development and Transportation Minister David Akeeagok reported on a made-inNunavut reusable mask program

that benefitted seamstresses in three Kivalliq communities.

Akeeagok said, to date, his department has received and distributed a total of 14,700 washable reusable masks to Nunavut communities, essential services organizations, airlines, businesses, travellers, retailers, isolation hubs and health centres across Nunavut.

He said another 300 masks are expected to be delivered and redistributed within the next few weeks.

"This will bring an end to the department’s project to produce and freely distribute 15,000 reusable masks in Nunavut," said Akeeagok.

"This project created direct income for a total of 45 seamstresses in the communities of Arviat, Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet, Taloyoak and Pangnirtung.

"This project met an immediate

need, critically it has also stimulated further purchase orders from governments, mining companies, municipalities and more.

"Though the guiding principle of Pilimmaksarniq, this project will help seamstresses and related Nunavut business generate more income and benefits, all the while ensuring Nunavummiut have access to reusable masks."

During minister statements on Sept. 24, minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College Patterk Netser noted that the Nunavut Teacher Education program (NTEP) is not accepting a first-year cohort of students this academic year. However, NTEP will be working with more than 80 students in eight Nunavut communities who are in years two, three and four of the program.

Netser also made two special

announcements concerning the Kivalliq communities of Chesterfield Inlet and Whale Cove.

"The Community Learning Centre (CLC) in Chesterfield Inlet is delivering the office administration diploma program for the first time," Netser said.

"The Chesterfield Inlet CLC has delivered the certificate program for the past two years to build a pool of eligible students for the diploma program.

"The diploma program delivers courses on executive office procedures, human resources and an introduction to Northern government.

"The Whale Cove CLC is running the office administration certificate program for the first time. This certificate programs develops students’ skills in computers, business mathematics and communications."

Pop-up space of fun and learning ᖃᓇᒃ ᐃᓴᓗᒃ, ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ, ᑭᑎ ᑲᓇᓕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑯᕐᓯᑎᓐ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕈᓐᓇᕋᒥᒃ ᓄᑖᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᕕᒃᑖᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 25-ᒥ.

Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

New Ilitaqsiniq library off to popular start in Rankin

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet

The new (Ilitaqsiniq) Nunavut Literacy Council's pop-up library is going over well with youth of all ages in Rankin Inlet.

Located next to RBC in Rankin, Kelly Lindell said the decision was made to go ahead with the pop-up library when the Rankin District Education Authority made the decision to close the school library at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI).

Lindell said Ilitaqsiniq was in the process of taking over the MUI school library when they were informed MUI would no longer be able to house it.

She said they swiftly moved to Plan B, trying to make the best of the situation, and opened the small pop-up library in the space at the Okinkingutigiit Building it was renting from Piruqsaijit Ltd. "It opened for the first time on Sept. 8, and we're trying a schedule from Monday to Friday that has public library time from 9 a.m. until noon, then it's parents-and-tots time from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by our after-school program," said Lindell.

"The after-school program runs from 3:30 until 6 p.m., and then it's public time again, ages 14 and older, from 6 to 8 p.m. to round out the weekdays.

"Then, on Saturday, our pop-up library is open to the public from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m."

Lindell said Ilitaqsiniq is working hard with the space it has to try and grow the library and secure more books.

She said a suggestion box set up inside is getting a fair num-

ber of ideas from kids and adults using the library, and a lot of people are just simply enjoying the space.

"It's a very, very comfortable and welcoming space we have at the library, with coffee and tea available all the time, as well as a snack of some sort.

"It seems to work well, the way we have it set up, with an adult room, as well as a quiet kids reading room and a kind of playroom area where we have some toys and children’s books.

"We also have an arts and crafts room and an instructional area where the kids do a literacy activity every day during the after-school program. We try to change the activity every day to keep it fresh for the kids.

"And, also, we have a kitchen area where we do the snacks."

Lindell said, to date, the after-school program is, by far, the most popular time at the new library.

She said due to Covid-19, the library is limited to 25 children at any one time.

"Kids are actually running as fast as they can to the library after school so they'll be one of the 25 allowed in.

"They've been super excited to come, so we've had to actually turn some kids away when we're full. We're keeping an eye on that – the kids have to sign in when they arrive – just to make sure it's not the same kids getting in every day.

"It's great to know that the program is popular and people want to come. It's, really, almost a community centre as much as a library.

"The program is funded until March of 2021, and, if this proves to be something the community really wants, we'll do

Qanak Issaluk, left, Katie Connelly and Kierstin Kabvitok enjoy reading their favourite books in style at the new (Ilitaqsiniq) Nunavut Literacy Council's pop-up library in Rankin Inlet on Sept.

25.

our best to secure the additional funding we need to keep it open."

6 kivalliq news, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

news

ᓄá·∆¿ÖÀî

ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓯᒪᔪᖅ

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, y2bWE 30, 2020

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᓴᕐᒦᓐ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᑐᓴᕆᐊᙱᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕋᒥᒎᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᑎᔭᐅᒐᒥ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ.

ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕐᒦᓐ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᕈᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᒃᑲᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᑦᑎᐊᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ, ᐊᓈᓇᖓ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓯᒪᔭᒃᑯᑦ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑖᑕᖓ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᑉᓗᓂ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᔪᕈᖅ ᑯᑕᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ, 30-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ, ᑕᐃᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ 2020-ᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ.

Council of the Federation Literacy ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᑯᑦ "ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᐸᒃᖢᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ. ᐃᓕᑦᑎᑉᓗᖓ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᐅᖓᓃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓕᕋᒪ, ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓇᓱᓪᓚᕆᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓕᐅ ᐅᓴᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓛᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕋ ᓄᖑᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ "ᒫᓐᓇᓕ, ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓕᖅᖢᖓ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑳᕋᓂ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓴᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᓐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒋᔭᒃᑲ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᐊᓛᒃᑯᑦ "ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑕᒃᑲ. ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕐᕕᖃᕋᑉᑕ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᒃᑲᐅᖕᒥᔪᖅ, ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓇᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕋᔪᒃᑲᑉᑕ ᓱᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᐸᒃᖢᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᕋᓱᒍᓐᓇᙱᒻᒪᖔᑉᑕ. ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ "ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᒪᒋᔪᒪᔭᕋ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᑉᓗᖓ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᒪᒥᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᔪᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᑕ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ. ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒥ, ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᑕᖅᖢᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ, ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓕᕋᒪ, ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᔫᒥᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᑕ ᒪᒥᓴᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓵᖅᑐᖅ – ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᑉᓗᑕ ᓱᓇᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓇᓱᓪᓚᕆᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ –ᐋᓐᓂᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᑉᑕ. ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᓲᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕋ – ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᒃ "ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᐊᓂᒃᑲᑉᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒡᓗ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᑉᓗᓂ. ᑲᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᖑᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ." ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᑐᓴᕆᐊᙱᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕋᒥᒎᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᒐᒥ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ."

– ᓴᕐᒦᓐ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ. ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᙱᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᕈᖅ ᓴᕆᒪᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᖓ. ᐆᒃᑑᑎᖃᕈᒪᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᕈᖅ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ "ᐅᖃᓗᒡᕕᐅᒐᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᒡᓚᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒧᑦ," ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᑭᖑᕙᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒡᓚᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ. ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᕐᒥᐅᖓᓂᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᕐᒥᐅᖓᓂᒡᓗ. "ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓕᓚᐅᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᒃᑲ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᕈᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᑎᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᒃᑲ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᑭᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᒃᑲ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᕐᓗ ᖃᑯᒍ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ – ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕈᒫᕋᒥ. ᐃᒡᓚᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓯᑉᓗᖓ ᖁᔭᒋᔭᐅᓂᕋᓄᑦ." "ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ, ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᖅᐸᕋ ᓯᑕᒪᖓ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ

photo courtesy of Charmaine Okatsiak

Rankin Inlet's Charmaine Okatsiak said she was taken completely by surprise when she was told she had won the award. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎ, ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᕐᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᖃᓕᕐᓗᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓕᕐᓗᖓᓗ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᐅᓕᕐᒥᒃᐸᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. "ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑲᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎ. "ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᒪᓪᓕᖅᑐᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᒍᒫᕐᓂᕋᓗ ᐅᐊᕋᔮᕆᔭᕋ. "ᐊᑯᓂ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᙳᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑕᕋ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ."

Striking a balance kivalliq news, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

community

¥∂¿ú

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, y2bWE 30, 2020 7

Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Members of the Rankin Inlet Fire Department are, front row from left, Lt. Meagan Netser, Chloe Norris, Nicole Ymana, Brittany Aggark and Katauyak Everard and, middle row from left, Aqpa Kasaluak, Cates Bayabay, Jayda Pilakapsi, Lt. Pam Pilakapsi and Jovette Kurok and, back from left, Capt. George Aksadjuak, Lt. Scott Morey, Chief Mark Wyatt, Kelly Kabvitok, David Shaffrey and Obadiah Sanguin in Rankin on Sept. 24. Missing from photo are Nathaniel Hutchinson, Troy Innukshuk, Mark Kappi, David Lowe, Scott Lowe and Daniel Anautak.

Pride, morale high as chief chips away at fire department wish list

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet

Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series that shows how far the Rankin Inlet fire department has come in the past five years as it readies itself to officially open its new training centre in Rankin.

There have been a lot of changes within the Rankin Inlet Fire Department since Fire Chief Mark Wyatt

took the reins about five years ago; some accomplished with positive attitudes and lots of elbow grease from a talented staff, some with hefty price tags attached and some still a work in progress that no one had previously imagined ever being in Rankin.

Fortunately for the community and beyond, Wyatt has a good imagination. And, he knows the value of a well-equipped and smart-

ly-dressed force and what that does for morale and effectiveness.

Wyatt said in a fire department like the one in Rankin, you tend to have highs and lows all the time.

He said you have periods of time when you get good people in the department and then sometimes you get people who aren't so good and that can mess things up a little bit.

"I have to say that, right now, this fire department is stronger than it's

photo courtesy of RIFD

Rankin Fire Chief Mark Wyatt has been working hard to make his department as happy as the department makes the rest of the community – as they did here in April where firefighters, from left, Chloe Norris, Mark Wyatt (fire chief) and Troy Innukshuk surprised Rosalinde King with a drive-by birthday visit.

ever been before," said Wyatt.

"Everyone is paddling in the same direction and we brought a lot more women into the department, which has made a heck of a difference in terms of being better and more balanced.

"The women we have in the department are every bit as capable as any male firefighter I have in here. And, we now have a 50-50 balance in terms of men and women.

"In fact, I had all women recruits this year and they've all either passed, or are going to pass, their Firefighter Level 2 in their first year. It's an exciting place to be right now."

Wyatt's current contract with the hamlet has him heading the Rankin department until at least the end of 2021.

He said one of the things still at the top of his wish list for the Rankin department is a ladder or aerial truck.

"If there's a fire in the kitchen and people have to get out of the apartment, for example, on the third storey of a structure that's not a sprinkler building, it's just going to spread because of the lack of that sprinkler system in there to help put it out.

"So, all of a sudden, I've got a building with a fire on the third floor at the back, where I have no access up to the windows apart from a regular 35-foot ladder. That means I don't have the ability to fight that

fire the way it should be fought.

"And, even more importantly, if there are people trapped who can't get out, I don't have the ability to rescue them from any of these apartment buildings, so a ladder truck is a primary piece of apparatus that we need in this community.

"The ticket price on that is $650,000 to $1-million, but it's a basic piece of firefighting equipment in any town this size that has multi-storey buildings and I'm determined it's something we are going to have here in Rankin Inlet."

Thankfully, the department has managed to bolster morale in other areas with much smaller price tags.

Wyatt said the firefighters all have station uniforms and some of them have dress uniforms.

He said Remembrance Day is a prime example of when all the firefighters show up in their uniforms.

"They look proud because they're an organized department.

"In addition to that, they get summer jackets and we've had parkas made locally for all the firefighters, which we need more of this year for our new members.

"They also get baseball caps, T-shirts and hoodies so that even when they're at a community event, or whatever, we can recognize that they're part of the fire department.

"And every time I'm able to open a box of new stuff, people are happy."

8 kivalliq news, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, y2bWE 30, 2020 r?9o3u iWK5, W1ZJx8i, y2bWE