Kivalliq News, Feb. 3, 2021 Edition

ᑲᐳᐃᓂᖅ ᑲᔪᓯᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Vol 27 No 6

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Nunavut's Award-Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Vaccine program gains momentum Health minister guarantees second dose to anyone who has had their first Moderna vaccination News ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖅ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᕐᒥ

Helping out in Baker Lake

Looks like chicken tonight

News ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓴᙱᔪᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᕋᓗᐊᕋᒥᒃ

Arviat stays strong facing second spike in cases Photos ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑏᑦ ᑲᐳᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ

Needling those at the top "Some of them throw it out there because they enjoy watching people get confused and upset over it and that's really scary."

– Health Minister Lorne Kusugak is frustrated about misinformation around the Covid-19 vaccines, page 2.

photo courtesy of Abluqta Society

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Vaccine program against Covid 'gaining momentum'

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Around Kivalliq with Darrell Greer

Sanikiluaq

photo courtesy of RCMP

A large amount of hard liquor was seized by Rankin Inlet RCMP during its investigation into bootlegging in the community.

Bootlegger nabbed Rankin Inlet A 44-year-old man has been charged with the unlawful sale and possession of liquor in Rankin Inlet.

The charge came about when the RCMP executed a search warrant on Jan. 15 and seized 24 1,114-ml bottles of alcohol as part of an ongoing Liquor Act investigation into allegations of bootlegging.

The man, who the RCMP have not identified, is scheduled to appear in court on March 8.

"The police in Nunavut are committed to helping reduce harm in our communities, including the negative impact bootlegging has on Nunavummiut," said Cpl. Tammy Lobb in an RCMP press release.

"We encourage you to support our efforts in identifying those who cause harm from bootlegging."

photo courtesy of Mike Courtney

Rankin Inlet South MLA and Nunavut Health Minister Lorne Kusugak rolls up his sleeve for his first shot of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 in Iqaluit this past week.

Health minister guarantees second needle to anyone who has had their first dose of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Nunavut

Jen Squires photo courtesy of Leela Gilday

Leela Gilday will once again be artistic director for the Arctic Inspiration Prize, which will be broadcast for the first time on television and online Feb. 19.

Partnership announced Nunavut The Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) announced a new broadcast partnership with APTN on Jan. 25.

The news announcement stated that every year, the AIP celebrates its new laureates at a live ceremony that showcases the AIP finalists, winners and performances by artists from across the North.

This year, for the first time ever, the AIP awards ceremony will be broadcast on TV and online on Feb. 19 thanks to the partnership with APTN. With Leela Gilday once again taking the lead as artistic director, the virtual AIP awards ceremony promises to be an ambitious, pan-Arctic celebration that will bring this year's laureate success stories and musical performances to living rooms from coast to coast to coast.

The rollout of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 is going as planned in Nunavut and the number of people deciding to get inoculated against the virus is gaining momentum, said Nunavut Health Minister Lorne Kusugak this past Sunday, Jan. 31.

Kusugak said people started buying into the vaccine as a good thing from the time of its Dec. 30 arrival in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

He said the movement towards getting the Moderna vaccine has been so strong in the Kivalliq, that the expected number of people to get inoculated will likely be surpassed in the region.

"Every dose (1,181) of the vaccine was given in Rankin Inlet and they ran out of doses in Chesterfield Inlet, as well," said Kusugak.

"When you're running out of vials, that's a very good sign."

Kusugak said more than 1,000 people have received the vaccination in Arviat, which has been the hardest-hit community by Covid-19 in Nunavut to date.

He said there's still some work to do in Arviat, but they're starting to hit the numbers they'd like to see vaccinated in the community.

"It's been really frustrating battling against all the misinformation on social media and, you know, with some against the vaccine, I don't think they believe it themselves when they say it's no good and if you get it you're going to grow a third arm, turn into a monkey or all the other crap that's out there.

"Some of them throw it out there because they enjoy watching people get confused and upset over it and that's really scary."

Kusugak said he understands people's frustrations with Covid.

He said the government is constantly working on how it might loosen the isolation stage, for example, and make it easier for people to travel.

"We need to start with herd immunity and go for as high a number as we can.

"If everyone would get their shots, that would greatly help us get to where we all want to be and that's life closer to how it was pre-Covid.

"It's constant conversation about Covid at every level and other provinces are now starting to finally see the benefits of what we've been doing in Nunavut – you hear now of people having to isolate for two weeks, like in Winnipeg now, and that's the kind of thing we've already gone through and done, so it's good to see the other provinces are now

walking down that path.

"It's not affecting us for medical travel right now in Manitoba, thankfully, but those discussions on how we're going to be able to loosen the bubble and get back to life as it was are still going on as we speak."

Kusugak said the problems Canada is having right now with some of the suppliers of the vaccine won't affect anyone in Nunavut who has had their first dose of the vaccine.

He said the Government of Nunavut has made sure that anyone who is getting the first dose of the Moderna vaccine against Covid is guaranteed their second dose.

"It won't affect our final counts at the end April. The only inconvenience we may have – if the number of doses we're expecting drops for a bit – is that we won't be able to vaccinate as many communities at one time as we had hoped.

"For everyone who has had their first shot, the vaccine for their second shot is already here.

"We're the land of blizzards and cancellations. So, we took everything into account and there won't be any second round not happening here.

"Everyone who has had the first round is guaranteed a second needle."

kivalliq news, Wednesday, February 3, 2021

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ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᑐᒡᓕᐊᒍᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᓕᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᐃᔭᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᓵᓚᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᐃᒪᔮᖅᑐᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᖃᙱᕝᕕᒋᔭᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕈᓐᓃᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑐᒡᓕᐊᒍᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᒪᐃᔭ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ. ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᓐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, 18-ᖑᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᓖᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ. ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᖏᒐᖕᓂᖃᙱᑦᑐᕉᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓯᐊᒻᒪᒡᔪᐊᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᓈᓴᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ. "ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓈᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᓄᑖᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᓖᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᐅᑉᓗᑦ ᖄᖏᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ (ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 26-ᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 29-ᒧᑦ) ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᑉᓗᑕ ᓈᓴᐅᑎᓂᒃ

fact file Nunavut covid-19 situation as of Feb. 1

Active cases: 27 Confirmed cases: 294 Recovered cases: 266 Total persons followed: 6,468 Current persons followed: 340 Completed tests in Nunavut: 3,011 Total vaccine doses given: 5,464 Total deaths in Nunavut: 1 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ 0, 0, 1, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 0-ᑲᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ," ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ. "ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᒃᑯᓪᓕ. ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᖓ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕐᕕᒋᔪᓐᓇᙱᑕᖅᐳᑦ." ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᓂᑉᓕᖃᑦᑕᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᒐᒥᒃ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᓕᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓕᕐᒥᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᖔᑉᑕ ᐊᑏᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕐᒥᑕ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒡᒎᖅ, ᓱᓇᓗᒃᑖᑦ Hᐊᒻᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᒥ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᒥᓗ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ. "ᓂᑉᓕᕋᔪᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᐊᓛᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᑐᓵᒐᔪᖕᒪᑕ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᐊᓛᕐᓂᒃ, ᓈᓚᐅᑎᐊᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᕈᓘᔭᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑕ ᐅᓂᑉᑳᖅᑐᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᖢᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᖢᑕ. ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᕐᒪᖔᑉᑕ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑉᐸᒃᖢᒋᑦ 7:00-ᒥ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ." ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑖᖑᒐᓗᐊᕉᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓴᕆᒪᒋᒐᒥᒋᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑦᑎᐊᕋᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᐅᒃᑯᓗᒃᑖᖅ, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. "ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑏᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒪᑐᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᑎᖅᑕᕐᕕᒃ, ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ Hᐊᑭᒍᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᔪᑦ ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᔪᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᒃ. "ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ. ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᕐᕕᒃᐳᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥᒃ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ. ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑖᖅᑐᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 11-ᒥ, ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐅᑉᓘᒃ ᓯᕗᓂᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᑉᓗᕐᒥ ᒪᑐᓚᐅᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᕐᕕᒃ, ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑉᓗᕐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᒪᑐᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᓕᖅᑐᖅ. "ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᑎᑕᐅᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖅᐹᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐳᓚᕋᕈᑎᖃᑦᑕᙱᑦᑐᑦ. "ᖃᓄᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕋᓱᒃᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᑦᑐᖓ ᓱᓇᒥᒃ, ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᐊᕋᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅᐸᑦ, ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓂᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᑕᕋᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᓐᓇᑉᑕ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃᑯᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᕈᓐᓃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᕗᖅ." bf l A Arviat m4WZz 6

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᒪᐃᔭᖓ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑲᒥ ᓄᓇᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ.

Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. is confident his community will be able to turn the virus back again and be Covid-free in the not-toodistant future.

NNSL file photo

news

4 kivalliq news, Wednesday, February 3, 2021

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, =}KxE 3, 2021

ᓄá·∆¿ÖÀî

ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᔪᑦ ᐊᑉᓗᖅᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᕐᒥ

ᐊᑉᓗᖅᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦᑕ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᖏᓕᖓ ᓕᐊᓇ ᐸᑦᑐᖑᔭᖅ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᖓ ᐊᑦHᐊᒻ ᐊᑐᔅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑉᓗᖅᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᔨᖓ ᕙᓕᕆ ᐅᐃᓪᔅ – ᑐᐊᕆ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐊᕿᒡᒋᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

ᐅᑉᓗᖅᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 26-ᒥ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᑉᓗᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᕝᕕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᐅᕆᓐ ᓯᑐᕋᑭᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᑉᓗᖅᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᖕᒪᑕ ᓂᕿᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᕿᔪᖁᑎᐊᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᖁᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ, ᐃᐳᐃᑦᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐸᑦᑕᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑭᑉᓗᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ. ᖁᔭᓕᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᕿᔪᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᖁᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᕿᒡᒋᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ.

"Second Harvest-ᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓂᓯᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᓇᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ," ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᑐᕋᑭᓐ. "ᐅᖃᓗᒡᕕᐅᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᑖᑉᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔭᒃᑯᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᖁᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᖁᔭᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ. "ᐅᕙᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᕿᔪᖁᑎᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖁᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᖏᑎᒋᔪᒥᒃ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᒪᖕᒪᖔᑉᑕ, ᐃᓛᒃ ᖃᑉᓯᓂᒃ ᕿᔪᖁᑎᓂᒃ. "ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ, ᓱᓇᒥᒃ? ᐅᖃᓗᑲᑕᓕᖅᖢᑕᓗ." ᓯᑐᕋᑭᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖕᒪᑕ, ᐅᑉᓗᖅᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᑭᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᕐᒦᒻᒪᑕ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᖃᑕᐅᓯᕝᕕᒃᑕᖃᔮᙱᖦᖢᓂ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᑉᓗᖅᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᐊᖅᓯᐅᕝᕕᐊᓗᖕᒥᒃ photo courtesy of Abluqta Society ᐊᑉᓗᖅᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᔪᑦ ᓱᓕ Abluqta Society vice-chairwoman Lianna Pattunguyak, left, ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥᒃ. "ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᐃᑕᐅᔪᑦ Co-op manager Adham Adose and Abluqta Society treasurer Valerie Wells-Dorey display the frozen chicken products donated ᐊᒥᓲᓗᐊᕆᐊᖃᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᖀᑦ. to the society's food bank this past December.

"ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᓕᖅᖢᑕᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ, ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᓐᓂᒡᓗ, ᐊᖏᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᕝᕕᐅᒍᑦᑕ ᓯᕐᓗᐊᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᒡᓕᓇᖅᑐᖃᐅᓯᕝᕕᖏᓐᓂᒃ. "ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᑎᑭᕝᕕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᕿᔪᖁᑎᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᖁᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᓂᕿᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᖃᓪᓕᑎᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᐸᑦᑕᐃᑦᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᑭᑉᓗᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᐳᐃᑦᑐᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ. "ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᐅᕆ ᐸᐅᕗᔅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑏᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑐᖅᑐᖅᓯᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔾᔭᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᐊᑉᓗᖅᑕᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑦHᐊᒻ ᐊᑐᔅ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᓐᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᓯᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᖁᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᕿᒡᒋᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒡᓗ." ᓯᑐᕋᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᖀᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᒡᒎᖅ ᓂᕿᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ, ᐊᑉᓗᖅᑕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᔪᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒧᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. "ᐱᓕᕆᓐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᔾᔭᖅᑐᐃᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᓗᒃᑖᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐴᖅᑐᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᐅᖅᑲᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 26-ᒥ. "ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᓂᕿᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᖓᐃᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕝᕕᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᒐᒋᐅᖅᓴᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᓯᖓᐃᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐅᑎᒋᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑉᑎᒍᑦ. "ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᒐᔪᒃᑐᒍᑦ 130-ᓂᒃ ᐴᒃᓴᕐᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑕᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑎᕐᓂᒃ ᐱᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᕿᑖᕆᐊᖅᑐᕋᔪᒃᑐᓂᒃ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖅᑕᖃᙱᒐᔪᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᐸᒍᑎᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᔪᖃᕋᔪᒃᖢᓂ ᓱᓇᒥᑭᐊᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑏᓐᓇᕋᓱᒋᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ." bf l A Helping m4WZz 8

kivalliq news, Wednesday, February 3, 2021

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opinions

ᓄwhmK5

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, =}KxE 3, 2021 5

A danger on many levels Northern News Services

It's been more than a little encouraging to see the rising number of Kivalliqmiut agreeing to get the first dose of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 during the past few weeks.

Rankin Inlet is just a tad below 1,200, Arviat surpassed 1,000 doses administered and the folks in Chesterfield Inlet exhausted their entire allocation of the vaccine.

Health Minister Lorne Kusugak is bang on when he says the vaccines are our best weapon against Covid19, and reaching herd immunity would be one heck of a giant step towards returning to our way of life before this darn virus introduced itself to the world.

I must, in good confidence however, stick in the one disclaimer. If one or more of the emerging variSanikiluaq ants proves itself to be unaffected by the vaccine, then we could have a whole new ball game.

And to those comparing the vaccines to a simple flu shot, they are not alike and are a long way from it.

For starters Covid has already conquered the globe with its ability to spread. And it did so quickly, with-

out giving a darn what other bugs tool in helping mother nature to were on the go, first in Australia. decrease the surplus population.

At every level I interviewed people I can't imagine how that must who are involved in the battle have felt to someone who had just against Covid. I heard of their fruslost a loved one to Covid-19, hearing tration over the amount of misinfor- that their loved one was no more mation being spread over various than part of the supposed surplus social media platforms. population.

While some, such as Far from humour, it's the microchip conspiracy a cold, calculated, evil theory, were downright statement designed to laughable, others were a elicit sorrow and devalue lot closer to what many life, especially among the would perceive to be realelderly. ity. Those were somewhat You also could not disturbing on a number of miss the irony in those different levels.

Darrell who devalued the lives of Kusugak was bang the elderly lost to Covid, Greer on again when he said while, at the same time, some people just threw protesting what they permisinformation out there on the ceived to be their loss of freedom made-up potential of the vaccine to due to the temporary health restricharm people, or worse, for no other tions in place. reason other than to enjoy watchThe pandemic has taught us a ing those people get confused and lot with its threatening presence, upset over it. including the words, "We shall never He was also bang on when he forget" already ringing hollow with a added behaviour such as that is number of those amongst us. really scary.

We will all be better off in a numAlso just as scary were the number of different ways when its evil ber of people who got a laugh out presence is gone for good. of categorizing Covid as a necessary Food for thought.

Making a world of difference Agnico Eagle employees given incentive to help out at Abluqta Society food bank

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Baker Lake

Abluqta Society member Erin Strachan was impressed with Agnico Eagle almost from the first minute the mining company became involved with the society in Baker Lake, and that respect has only grown with time.

Strachan said Agnico Eagle has really done a lot to support the Abluqta Society in Baker, and that now includes helping to supplying a little manpower to help out with regular society activities, not to mention when large orders of donated food arrives in the community that has to be unpacked, stored and made ready for when the society holds one of its food banks.

She said Agnico Eagle has a large number of employees in the community who can't go back to work at the Meadowbank mine right now because of Covid, so they started what's come to be known as the Good Deed Brigade.

"The brigade is made up of Agnico Eagle employees who are currently being paid 70 per cent of their salary, I believe it is, even though they're at home because of the virus," said Strachan.

"The company told their employees that they'd top up their salary to 100 per cent for the days they worked, if they agreed to go and help out and work at the food bank.

"So the way it all worked out is that we've actually gotten helpers from them, and this is like a really big deal for us because finding

photo courtesy of Abluqta Society

Baker Lake's Abluqta Society treasurer Valerie Wells-Dorey looks over the frozen chicken products donated to the society's food bank this past December as society vice-chairperson Lianna Pattunguyak looks on from directly behind her in Baker. volunteers to help out with society events like the food bank is not always easy.

"We do, of course, have a couple of diehards who help out with just about everything but we often don't have enough to get things done properly, so having Agnico Eagle actually step in and send their employees to help out has just made a world of difference for us."

Strachan said having the extra helpers meant that the society could keep operating during the

pandemic, and that wasn't a for sure by any means because everyone on the Abluqta board also works at other jobs.

"In fact," Strachan added, "the chair of our board, Silas Arngna'naaq, has several jobs, so Agnico Eagle sending us helpers has really had a big impact on us.

"You know, not only did they provide us with funding so that we could operate our food bank, when we had to call them and say we were having trouble getting volun-

teers, they were right there helping us find a solution.

"To me, that's like going above and beyond. It's not just here's the money to take care of our corporate social responsibility. It's them saying we want to actually help you make this work because we know how important it is for the community.

"So I have to say hat's off to them. They've really impressed me ever since we started working with them."

Leading by example 6 kivalliq news, Wednesday, February 3, 2021

photo story ᓄphoto stories

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, =}KxE 3, 2021

MLA vaccine Feature

ᑕᑯᔭᒃᓴᐃᑦ Northern News Services

A special time was set up in Iqaluit this past month for a number of Kivalliq MLAs to receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine against

by Mike Courtney Kivalliq/Iqaluit Covid-19.

Work commitments kept the MLAs from receiving the first dose in their home communities.

– text by Darrell Greer

photos courtesy of Mike Courtney

Nunavut Health Minister and Rankin Inlet South MLA Lorne Kusugak has a chat with Sandra Schwartz, who is a graduate of the Nunavut Arctic College nursing program, before getting his first dose of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 this past month in Iqaluit.

Rankin Inlet NorthChesterfield Inlet MLA Cathy Towtongie prefers not to stare down the needle as she gets her first dose of the vaccine.

Baker Lake MLA Craig Atangalaaq Simailak is ready to receive his first dose of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 in Iqaluit.

Arviat throws down for round two Mayor confident community will defeat Covid-19 again

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Arviat

There was no fear or panic to be found in the community of Arviat when Covid-19 made its second appearance in the community this past month. Instead people just reverted back to their previous safe behaviour and began following all the health guidelines to rid themselves of the viral invader one more time, said Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. As of press time, there were 18 active Covid cases in Arviat.

Savikataaq said he's not worried at all that Covid-19 will get a large grip on the community this time round.

He said everyone in Arviat knows what they have to do and that's evident by the numbers being reported in the community's latest battle with the virus.

"Everyone doing their part shows in the number of new cases reported this past week, as each day went past (Jan. 26 to Jan. 29) and we saw the numbers 0, 0, 1 and 0 again," said Savikataaq.

"Everyone here is doing very well in my opinion.

"Again, everyone here knows

what to do and everyone is sacrificing for the betterment of the future in our community and you can't ask any more of them than that."

Savikataaq said the tone in the community when it was announced Covid had made its way back to Arviat was 100 per cent we know what to do so let's do it again.

He said, basically, everything in the hamlet has reverted back to the way it was this past November and December when Covid first became active in three Kivalliq communities.

"We've ramped up our presence on the local radio station, which everyone tunes in to listen to, to have over-the-air activities such as telling stories and playing games.

"And we give the community daily updates on the Covid situation at seven o'clock in the evening."

Savikataaq said he can't help but feel bad over how this pandemic has affected the youth of the community.

He said he's proud of how Arviat youth have persevered through everything, considering how much they've lost during the pandemic.

"All the youth programs have been stopped with the closure of the dropin centre, the kids aren't playing hock-

ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᖅᑖᖅᑕᐃᓕᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᐳᖅᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᓕᕐᒥᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

Elder Tommy Owlijoot is all set to get his first shot of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 during the community's first battle with the virus. The virus is active again after Arviat was declared Covid-free this past month. photo courtesy of the Hamlet of Arviat

ey at our arena and no one is going to our indoor playground either.

"It's definitely been especially tough on the kids who play hockey.

Our arena opened for about a week, I'd say, in November, but that's been it. As soon as Rankin got its first case on Nov. 11, which was two days

before us, that's when we shut the arena down, on Remembrance Day, and it's been closed ever since.

"All the other activities that the hamlet does for the kids at the community hall have all stalled and, the biggest thing of all in town, no one is visiting others again.

"We've been doing everything we can to help with the mental health aspect of this, but I don't know what, if any, lasting impact this will have on the kids. We've never gone through anything this drastic before, so I guess time will tell. "

kivalliq news, Wednesday, February 3, 2021

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8 kivalliq news, Wednesday, February 3, 2021

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Helping hand comes in large quantities ᐊᑉᓗᖅᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᓇᑕᓴ ᓇᒡᔪᒐᓕᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ, ᕋᒧᓇ ᐊᓂᙶᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕕᓐᔅ ᐸᑦᑐᖑᔭᖅ ᐴᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᖃᐃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᕐᒥ.

photo courtesy of Abluqta Society

Abluqta Society workers Natasha Nagyougalik, left, Ramona Aningaat and Vince Pattunguyak prepare donated food items for distribution to those in need in the community of Baker Lake on Jan. 26.

Abluqta Society receives food donations in Baker Lake

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Baker Lake

The Abluqta Society distributed food once again to those in need on Jan. 26 and this time around there were some special food items to be found thanks to kind donations being made to the Baker Lake society from southern organizations.

Society member Erin Strachan said Abluqta owes a huge thank you to Second Harvest food rescue, which sent large pallets of frozen bison meat, canned salmon and french fries.

She said a debt of gratitude is also owed Food Banks

Canada for the pallets of frozen chicken it sent.

"Second Harvest receives donations of unused food items from other groups in the south, and then it finds different ways to get it to communities in need all over the place, not just in the North," said Strachan.

"I received a call from them and, from what I understood, they received money from the federal government to ship large quantities of frozen food products to food banks across the country that have been affected by Covid, including those in remote communities.

"They reached out to us to

let us know they had all these pallets of frozen food and the money to ship them up to our food bank, and they wanted to know how much bison meat we wanted, like how many pallets.

"We're like, 'What?' and started making calls."

Strachan said as most people know, the Abluqta Society is located in a little house in Baker Lake with no storage capability at all.

She said Abluqta only recently sent in a proposal to purchase a freezer for the society house and they're still waiting to hear back on it.

"So, at first, we were thinking we can't really accept much more than what we can give out in one go because we don't have any storage space to take anymore.

"Then we talked to the two local stores, the Northern and the Co-op, and they agreed to receive the donations for us and store them in their sea cans.

"So we were able to order a couple of pallets of frozen bison meat that was ground into like sort of ground beef, along with french fries, frozen salmon and canned salmon, and they shipped all that up to us.

"So we owe a thank you to Perry Powers and the team at Northern for storing the food and then delivering it to

Abluqta, as well as Adham Adose at the Co-op for storing our frozen chicken and frozen salmon for us."

Strachan said the food items actually landed in Baker just before the Christmas holidays.

She said with all the food hampers that were on the go around Christmas time, the society decided to wait until January to distribute these donated goods when they would probably do more good.

"It takes a lot of effort to get food like that out the door, so everyone came together well to package it all up and then hand it out to the community on the 26th.

"We donated some of the frozen bison meat to the prenatal program because they conduct cooking classes for expectant mamas and we still have some remaining we're figuring out how to distribute.

"We usually give out about 130 bags of food when we hold a food bank and we have a list of regular food bank users who are usually at each one.

"There always seems to be someone who didn't know or couldn't make it for some reason because there's such a need in the community, and all we can do is keep trying our best to make a difference."