Kivalliq News - June 2, 2021 Edition

ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᕈᑏᑦ ᖁᔭᓈᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, June 2, 2021

Vol 27 No 23

Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

$1.00

Sakku School renovations cancelled due to budget concerns First-place finish

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖏᓐᓄᑦ

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Rankin Inlet defenceman signs with Junior A hockey team

ᓇᐅᔮᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓪᓗ

Doreen Niego tied for first place in Baker Lake’s fishing derby over the long weekend. photo courtesy of Kaluk Niego

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Naujaat marches to honour MMIWG

“It’s unfortunate and disgusting. There shouldn’t be any racism in hockey at all.”

Publication mail

Rankin Inlet’s Brayden Uluqsi responds to the news about Ethan Bear in this week’s editorial, page 5.

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Contract #40012157

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A2 Wednesday, June 2, 2021

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Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of May 31

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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 Kugaaruk ééËͬéî ÇÔÍ›ùÀجü ÜÒïúªÄ«, Ç„·√∏≥î Ô‰íÇÕúòî Çflˆ kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Ç„·√∏≥î Naujaat Gameti áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí. ∂¬∂ĉÖͬü

Around Kivalliq Behchoko

Active cases: 9 Confirmed cases: 648 Recovered cases: 635 Total persons followed: 8,656 Current persons followed: 437 Completed tests in Nunavut: 15,946 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 17,044 first doses, 14,113 second doses

Confirmed cases by community Iqaluit: 244 (9 active, 235 recovered) Kinngait: 7 (0 active, 7 recovered) Rankin Inlet: 21 (0 active, 21 recovered) Arviat: 339 (338 recovered) Whale Cove: 23 (all recovered) Sanikiluaq: 2 (all recovered) Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

with Cody Punter

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᓐᑎᐅᕆᔪᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ

Sanikiluaq

Coral Harbour Aiviit Hunters and Trappers Organization was looking to buy 300 geese from community members as of May 26. There will also be a request for eggs in the near future. photo courtesy of Amy Nashalik

Teacher wins award

Baker Lake Grade 2 teacher Jeannie Tapatai was recently given the “Thank you for Making a Difference” award by the local education authority.

Gerry Mannik, one of her students, nominated Tapatai for the award.

“Jeannie works hard every day to make a difference in the lives of her students and Gerry must think she’s really special,” reads a press release.

Tapatai was chosen as the winner for the entire Kivalliq region. Her efforts were recognized with a brand new iPad. Mannik also won a new iPad for writing the nomination for his teacher.

Geese collection ongoing

Coral Harbour Coral Harbour’s Aiviit Hunters and Trappers Organization was looking to buy 300 geese from community members as of May 26.

Harvesters will be offered $20 for each goose they submit.

The HTO is requesting that harvesters bring in at least 10 geese at a time and will not accept less than that.

The geese must be fresh. There will also be a request for goose eggs in the near future.

Agnico’s fish monitoring program displayed to public

Rankin Inlet Agnico Eagle Mines is undertaking a fish monitoring program and wants residents to learn about what the company is doing.

Agnico Eagle invited residents of Rankin Inlet to participate in its first fish sampling activity on May 25. During the presentation, Agnico Eagle was expected to show residents how it monitors fish for an environmental monitoring program, according to a news release from the company. Agnico Eagle also asked resident to share ideas on other ways local fish populations can be monitored.

The company even asked residents to bring their own fish in to have it examined.

Nominations open for Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award

Kivalliq The Inuit Art Foundation has opened nominations for the 2021 Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award (KAMA).

The award is open to mid-career and established Inuit artists working in visual and performance-based practices.

The biannual accolade was established in 2014 to honour the life and work of the late Kenojuak Ashevak. The winner will receive a prize of $10,000, while three shortlisted artists will each receive $3,000.

The IAF invites nominations from artists directly, as well as from professional acquaintances including curators, gallery owners and operators, writers, critics, fellow artists and others in relevant fields, in support of an Inuit artist’s practice.

All KAMA applications will be assessed by an external jury of Inuit arts professionals.

The deadline to apply is midnight on June 25.

19-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎ ᐳᕆᑕᓐ ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ Bradford Rattlers Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᓂᒃ Northern News Services

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐳᕆᑕᓐ ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᒪᔪᕆᐊᕐᓂᐊᓕᕐᒥᔪᖅ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓐᑎᐅᕆᔪᒥ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ Bradford Rattlers ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᓈᒻᒪᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑰᖅᑐᖓ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᓇᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓕᕈᒪ,” ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᑉᓗᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ. “ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᕐᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᖓ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᒃᑲ ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖕᓂᓖᑦ.”

6 feet-ᓂᒃ ᑕᑭᓂᓕᒃ, 170-ᓂᒃ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᓐᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎ Mount Academy Saints-ᑯᓐᓄᑦ 18 ᑐᖔᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂᙶᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ, ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᓇᓂ Hᐊᑭᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ. ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑳᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ Prince Edward Island-ᒥ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ Andrewsᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ Hᐊᑭᖅᑏᑦ ᑕᐃᑯᙵ Hᐊᑭᒋᐊᖅᑐᓲᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥᙶᖅᑐᓪᓗ Hᐊᑭᖅᑏᑦ. “ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᑳᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᓚᐅᕋᒪ Mount-ᑯᓐᓄᑦ. ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᕋ ᑕᒫᓂ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑑᔭᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᕋ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ Bradford-ᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ Hᐊᑭᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐱᔫᒥᒋᔭᐅᖕᒪᑦ. “ᐅᑭᐅᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔭᕋ. ᐅᑭᐅᖅ Hᐊᑭᓐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᕙᒻᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᓪᓚᑦᑖᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓰᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᕝᕕᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐅᓗᖅᓯ, 19-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ, ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓪᓚᑦᑖᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒧᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑯᑦ ᒫᑦᓯ 29-ᒥ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑑᒐᓗᐊᕉᖅ ᓇᓂᓯᔾᔮᕋᓱᒋᙱᖦᖢᓂ Hᐊᑭᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ Bradford-ᑯᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᔫᒥᒍᓱᖕᓂᖅᖢᑎᒃ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᓯᒪᔭᕋ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᕋ.,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

Rattlers-ᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᓵᓐ ᐅᕈᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᐃᖕᒥᓄᒡᒎᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕈᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᕐᒧᑦ. “ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᑎᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑎᖓ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᕈᑦ. “ᒪᕐᕉᓕᖓᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ. ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᔪᔪᐊᓘᑉᓗᓂ. ᑎᒥᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓴᙱᔪᐊᓗᒃ. ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᐊᕚᓗᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᓗᐊᕋᓱᒍᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᖅ.” ᐅᕈᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᑭᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐱᔫᒥᒍᓱᐃᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᑎᐅᕆᓐᔅ ᒪᑲᓚᐃᓐ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᑉᓱᒪᓂᐊᕐᔪᒃ. ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᒥᒃ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕆᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ, ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒋᔭᖏᒡᒎᖅ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ. ᓂᕆᑦᑎᐊᔪᓴᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂᓗ. “ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖓ, ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᑕᖅᖢᖓ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᖅᑐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᓇᑉᐸᖓᒍᑦ ᐱᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᖅᖢᒋᑦ: ᐅᖁᒻᒥᐊᖃᑦᑖᑦ, ᐃᒥᒐᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐸᑦᑕᐃᑦᑐᑦ.” ᐅᓗᖅᓯᐅᑉ Mount Academy Saints-ᑯᓐᓃᓐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐃᓱᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᖏᑦ 2020ᒥ. Prince Edward Island-ᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ, ᐅᓗᖅᓯ Hᐊᑭᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᒻᓇᒎᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ Hᐊᑭᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. “ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦᑎᐊᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᐅᖃᑎᒃᑲ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᖃᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᒃᑲ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.

Hᐊᑭᒋᐊᖅᑐᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓐᓂᖅᐹᖑᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐳᕆᑕᓐ ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᓐᑎᐅᕆᔪᒥ Hᐊᑭᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ Bradford Rattlers-ᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. 6 feet-ᓂᒃ ᑕᑭᓂᓕᒃ, 170ᓂᒃ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᓐᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎ Mount Academy Saints-ᑯᓐᓄᑦ 18 ᑐᖔᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂᙶᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ.

Rankin Inlet’s Brayden Uluqsi will be playing Jr. A hockey in Ontario next season after he was signed by the Bradford Rattlers. The 6’0”, 170lbs defenceman is a product of the Mount Academy Saints U18 Prep program in the CSSHLE/ ECEL. photos courtesy of Brayden Uluqsi

ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕆᔭᖏᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐅᕈᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᕉᖅ ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᑦᑎᐊᕙᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᕿᑎᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ. “ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᕿᑎᒃᑏᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᔪᙱᑦᑐᕐᔪᐊᑎᑐᑦ ᑕᐅᑦᑐᖃᓕᐊᓂᒃᑐᖅ.” ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ Hᐊᑭᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ 2018ᒥ, Hᐊᑭᖃᑎᖏᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ Polar Bear Plate-ᒥᒃ Hᐊᑭᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒥᒃ. ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑖᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᔪᐊᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐳᔾᔫᑦ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑎᒃ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓᒍᑦ. “ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ, ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒥᒃ. ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕋᑉᑯ ᐃᒪᓐᓈᖅᑐᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂᖓᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐃᑲᔪᒃᑳᓗᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒍᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓲᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᓲᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᐃᓐᓇᖁᔨᑉᓗᓂ.”

Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᓂ ᐅᓗᖅᓯᐅᑉ ᐅᐱᒋᓂᖅᐹᖓ ᐃᑕᓐ ᐱᐊ, Edmonton Oiler’s -ᑯᓐᓄᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎ Ochapowace-ᑯᓐᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᓪᓚᓂ. ᐱᐊᑎᑐᑦ, ᐅᓗᖅᓯ Hᐊᑭᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓲᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᒥᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓚᕆᓲᑦ. “ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᓯᖁᒥᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᕐᔪᐊᒃᓲᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᔪᒪᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᒎᖅ ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᑐᕉᖅ ᔪᐊᑕᓐᑎᑐᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᓃᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᒫᖅᐳᖅ. “ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᙳᕈᒪᔪᖓ ᖃᑯᒍ.

Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᓃᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖓ.”

www.nunavutnews.com

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 A3

Naujaat student organizes MMIWG march Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

Between 30 and 40 Naujaatmiut showed up to march in support of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on May 25. The march was organized by Grade 11 student Heather Putilik. photo courtesy of Simon Wake

Nearly 40 people attended event Heather Putulik arranged for social studies course

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

A Grade 11 student in Naujaat organized a march to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) last week.

“I’m doing this because I’ve seen a lot of Indigenous women and girls go missing, get murdered and face sexual violence and abuse and I want it to stop,” wrote Heather Putulik in a Facebook announcement about the march. “We really need our culture back.”

Despite unseasonably cold weather with heavy winds, 30 to 40 people turned out on May 25 to march in support of MMIWG. According to her teacher Simon Wake, Putulik arranged the March as part of a year-end project for her social studies class.

“They had to make the plan for something that touches on one of the issues we talked about in class,” said Wake.

“Current news was part of the class and Black Lives Matter was a big part of the discussion. Obviously, being in Nunavut we made a connection between that movement and what is happening with Indigenous people in Canada. She was really passionate about that.”

Putulik said she was inspired to organize the march after seeing so many Indigenous people posting about MMIWG on Facebook and TikTok. “I’ve seen a lot of posts on Facebook about Indigenous women gone missing,” she said.

One of the hardest parts of organizing the march was doing

the public promotion, said Putulik.

“The scariest part was going on the radio,” she said. “I posted on Facebook so my friends in the community would know.”

As part of the assignment, students had to go through the process of applying for a grant to support their ideas.

Although they didn’t have to actually submit applications, several of them did, including Putulik, who ended up getting $250 from Youth Rising.

That money ended up going toward materials for the march, including banners. It also helped pay for some country food.

Most importantly, it allowed Putulik to hire Elder Elizabeth Haqpi to talk about healing and the history of violence against women.

By the end of the march it was too cold to stay outside, so the talk was rescheduled to be held during a community feast on May 29.

After the march, Putulik arranged for people to gather for a healing activity around a bonfire, where participants wrote about experiences that they want to let go of and threw them into the fire.

“During the bonfire I went to my late grandfather’s graveyard to say thank you to him and I talked him a little bit,” said Putulik.

Wake said he was extremely proud of the effort that Putulik put into organizing the march. She ended up getting a final grade of 99 per cent on her project.

“She really went above and beyond,” he said. “Some other projects were good but not nearly as ambitious or challenging.”

Academics aside, Wake said the march also left a positive mark on the community.

“A lot of people were really moved,” he said. “I saw lots of people posting on social media saying they were happy to see this happening in Naujaat.”

A4 Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

www.nunavutnews.com

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑐᐊᖅ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕋᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᑕᖅᖢᒍ ᐅᖓᑕᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᓂᒃ $27 ᒥᓕᔭᒥᒃ

Northern News Services

ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᖓ ᐊᖏᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕋᓱᒃᑐᑐᐊᖑᔪᒃᑯᑦ. ᐸᑎᖅ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᐃᕕᓕᖕᒧᑦ, ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒪᐃ 27-ᒥ ᐊᐱᕆᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒥᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓕᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒪᔪᖅ. “ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓵᖅᑲᐅᔪᒍᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᒥ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃ ᖁᔭᓈᖅᑕᐅᖕᒪᑦ, ᓱᖕᒪᒃᑭᐊᖅ ᖁᔭᓈᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕙ. ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕋᓗᐊᕋᑉᑕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᔪᓯᓂᐊᕋᓱᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᔪᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᓱᖕᒪᑦ ᖁᔭᓈᖅᑕᐅᖕᒪᖔᑦ,” ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑎ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕋᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᖁᔭᓈᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᙵ ᐅᖓᑖᒎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ. ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕈᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᒫᑦᓯᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᑐᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐃᕆᓕ 13-ᒥ, ᑕᐃᑲᙵᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓰᓐᓇᖅ ᐆᒃᑐᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕈᒪᔫᑉ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᕈᑎᒋᔪᒪᔭᖓ ᒪᕐᕉᓕᖓᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖓᑕᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᒍᑦ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᓴᓂᕐᕙᐃᓚᐅᕋᑉᑕ $27 ᒥᓕᔭᒥᒃ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᓄᑖᖑᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕋᓱᒃᑐᑐᐊᖅ ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐅᑎᒥᒃ $55-ᒥᓕᔭᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᒪᑉᓗᒍ ᓄᑕᙳᖅᑎᕆᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ.” ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᑎᑭᑉᐸᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ 2021-ᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ. ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕈᑎᖃᔾᔮᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᒃᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ. “ᓴᐱᓕᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ

ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᕆᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑐᐊᖅ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕈᒪᔪᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᓕᖓᔪᒃᑯᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᖓᑕᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ.

Plans to renovate Coral Harbour’s Sakku School have been put on hold indefinitely after the a single bid on the tender for the contract was more than double the government’s budget for the project. photo courtesy of GN

ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᐊᒍᑎᒋᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑉᑎᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ. ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑎᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ, ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᖏᑎᒋᖕᒪᖔᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ 14,600 square-feet-ᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ ᐲᔭᖅᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᓱᕈᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑐᖃᐅᑉ ᐃᓚᖓ. ᖁᔭᓈᖅᑕᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ, ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᔪᐊᓇᓯᒥᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᕆᔪᒫᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᑖᒥᒃ ᓴᓇᔪᖃᕈᒫᕐᒪᖔᑦ. “ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑑᑉᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑑᔪᖅ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᑉ.

ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᔪᖃᐃ ᐊᖏᕈᓐᓇᖅᐸ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ?” ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᐊᐱᕆᑉᓗᓂ. ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑎᖃᕈᒪᔪᒫᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᐊᒍᑕᐅᒐᔭᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒧᑦ 12-ᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ. “ᐊᖏᖅᑐᖓ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᒻᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑐᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕋᑉᑎᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓕᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒧᑦ.” ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᓂᑉᓕᐅᑎᖃᕈᒪᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᕝᕕᐅᔪᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑖᒻᓇ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

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Racism continues to handcuff hockey – and Canada Northern News Services

Kugaaruk

Naujaat

Editor: Cody Punter 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 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: ᑯᑎ ᐸᓐᑐᕐ 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 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

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Wednesday, June 2, 2021 A5

Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

It’s that time of year again.

With the NHL playoffs underway, families across the Kivalliq have once again been divided by their allegiances to professional teams.

For the past few weeks, Facebook feeds in the region have been alive with banter, bets and insults.

I can only imagine the lively situation inside the homes of those who are separated into Leafs and Habs’ camps, especially since this is the first time they have met in the playoffs since 1979.

Surprisingly Sanikiluaq though, it was fans of the red-hot second-seeded Edmonton Oilers who were the first to face the devastation of being eliminated with an embarrassing 4-0 sweep by the Winnipeg Jets.

But the depth of those wounds pale in comparison to the attacks which the team’s up-and-coming defenceman Ethan Bear experienced following the Oilers’ early exit.

Bear, who is from Saskatchewan’s Ochapowace First Nation, was the target of vile racist comments following the team’s final loss after he made a mistake on one of Winnipeg’s goals.

Aside from the occasional smashed TV screen in the heat of the moment, most of us realize that professional hockey is just a game, and all the jesting and jeering is all in fun, or it should be.

The fact that such an ugly incident occurred shows once again that Canada and its national game have a glaring racism problem.

This is nothing new. Anyone who knows Jordin Tootoo, or

has followed his career, knows just how much hate is directed at Indigenous players, both by their peers and fans.

It would be one thing if these were isolated incidents but that’s not the case. Ask any Nunavummiuq who has gone down south to play hockey against predominately white kids in small towns and they will tell you how ugly it can get.

What is truly upsetting is that any time an incident like this happens, the onus for denouncing this racism falls to Indigenous, Inuit and Metis people.

Look no further than Naujaat, where Grade 11 student Heather Putulik organized a march to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls last week.

Putulik’s initiative is just another sign that young Indigenous people are fed up with being subjected to physical and lateral violence.

It’s a sign of bravery that young people who have been touched by racism are willing to speak up, but why are those in positions of power such cowards in comparison?

It was shocking, but not surprising, to see how few active players came to the aid of Bear following the attacks against him.

Other than the team’s former captain Andrew Ference, and its current one Connor McDavid, there were almost no personal statements denouncing the league’s racist fans.

Meanwhile, media outlets reached out to Indigenous players to comment in Bears’ defence rather than asking hard questions of the league’s predominately white players.

Why was no one asking Win-

CODY PUNTER

Heather Putilik arranged a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls march in Naujaat on May 25 as part of a school project for her Grade 11 social studies course. photo courtesy of Simon Wake nipeg players about the incident?

Where were the Maple Leafs, the Canadiens? Anyone who is not a person of colour?

What’s so embarrassing about the lack of support for Bear is that hockey is a game which prides itself so much on an unwritten code based on honour. In theory, the code is about sticking up for your teammates, especially when someone takes a cheap shot at them.

While Tootoo remains the only Nunavummiut player to ever make it to the NHL, there’s a new batch of young Inuit players knocking on the door.

That includes Brayden Uluqsi, who was recently signed by the Bradford Rattlers to play Junior A hockey in Ontario. Uluqsi said he looks up to Bear for paving the way for young Indigenous

players like Tootoo did before him and Fred Sasakamoose long before that.

Uluqsi told Kivalliq News he has also encountered small amounts of racism in his time playing down south but that he tried to not let it get to him.

“It’s unfortunate and disgusting. There shouldn’t be any racism in hockey at all,” he said in response to the news about Bear, whom he admires.

It’s incredible to see such a young and talented Inuk speak with such poise and maturity on such a difficult issue.

Which begs the question: if a 19-year-old with a bright future ahead of him can speak up, why can’t a white man making millions of dollars to play the game think of anything worthwhile to say?

GN puts Sakku School renovations on hold due to budgetary concerns Lone bid for project was more than double the government’s $27-million budget

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Plans to renovate Coral Harbour’s Sakku School have been put on hold due to the price being too high from the lone bidder on the project.

Patterk Netser, MLA for Aivilik, raised the issue in the legislative assembly on May 27 when he asked the education minister for an update on the project.

“We were just informed today that the contract was cancelled, and I wonder what the reasoning for that cancellation is. We were highly anticipating the commencement of the construction to our school, so we would like to know what the reasons are for the cancellation,” Netser said.

Education Minister David Joanasie told MLAs that the tender for the project was cancelled because it was over budget.

Joanasie said the tender was made public in March and it closed on April 13, at which point there was only a single bidder. The government decided not to award the contract because the bidder’s quote was more than double the government’s allocated budget, he said.

“We set aside $27 million for these improvements for the Sakku School. However, the sole bidder submitted a tender proposal over $55 million for improvements listed for that particular school.”

Construction was originally scheduled to begin after the first 2021 sealift in the community.

Joanasie said the government will now consider alternative options to get the work completed.

“We have not given up on these proposed improvements to the Sakku School, as these improvements are required, but we need to be innovative to determine how best to move forward with our plans,” Joanasie said.

According to the Department of Community and Government Services, the scope of the project included major life-cycle renovations to the school as well as the addition of approximately 14,600 square-feet of new floor area, and the partial demolition of the existing structure.

Following the cancellation, Netser asked Joanasie whether the government plans to renovate the

existing school or build a new one.

“I went to that school when I was young and there is an urgent need to do something about improving the school. Can the minister agree to that?” Netser asked.

Joanasie would not commit to a solution. He said he would arrange a meeting with the district education authority to find a way to move forward with the project for the kindergarten to Grade 12 educational facility.

“I agree to hold a meeting with the district education authority and the hamlet council so that we can give them an update about the plans for the future.”

The Coral Harbour District Education Authority could not be reached for comment by press time.

Fishing derby season nets big prizes in Kivalliq A6 Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

www.nunavutnews.com

Thousands of dollars in prizes handed out

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Even though it was a holiday weekend in May, most families in the Kivalliq were busy trying win big cash prizes as fishing derbies took place throughout the region.

Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour and Whale Cove all held fishing derbies from May 21 to May 24.

In Rankin Inlet, Delilah Pavialuk ended up winning $10,000 for catching a trout that measured 44 5/16 inches.

In Naujaat’s sculpin derby, Sarah Ullikatar won $6,000 for a fish that measured 16 3/8 inches.

In Arviat, Steven Puku Kigsiutnak’s 28.5-inch cod earned him first place and $6,000 in the community’s derby.

In Coral Harbour’s mini derby, Malituk Akesuk took home first place and $2,000 for a fish measuring 34 1/2 inches.

In Baker Lake’s out-of-town fishing derby, Ben Niego and his sister-in-law Doreen Niego tied for first place and split the top prize with $3,500 each for catching a fish measuring 40 5/8 inches.

For Baker’s in-town derby, Vera Angidlik took home first place and $1,500 for her 35 5/8-inch fish.

In Chesterfield Inlet, Savannah Issaluk won first place and $4,000 in the community’s Zone 2 derby, while Johnny Amarok won first place and $4,000 in the Zone 1 derby.

Rankin Inlet - trout derby winners 1. Delilah Pavialuk – 44 5/16” – $10,000 2. Arlene Alagalak – 43 7/8” – $8,000 3. Dayna Ussak – 43 1/2” – $5,500 3. Joyce Ramey – 43 1/2” – $5,500 5. Ursula Inukshuk – 43 7/16” – $4,000 6. John Ussak – 43 1/8” – $3,000 7. Lucy Makkigak – 42 7/8” – $1,500 7. Nina Illnik – 42 7/8” – $1,500

Naujaat - sculpin derby winners 1. Sarah Ullikatar – 16 3/8” – $6,000 2. Jessica Tinashlu – 16” – $4,000 3. Barnabas Qaunaq – 15 1/8” – $3,000 4. Jessica Tinashlu – 14 11/16” – $2,000 5. Candy Ivalutanar – 14 1/2” – $800 5. Wanda Sivanertok – 14 1/2” – 800 7. Francois Nanorak – 14 3/8 ” – $500 8. Susan Siusangnark – 14 1/4” – $300 8. Mary Tinashlu – 14 1/4” – $300 10. Mike Nanordluk – 14” – $200

Coral Harbour - mini derby winners 1. Malituk Akesuk – 34 1/2” – $2,000 2. Leonard Netser – 33 3/4” – $1000 3. Sandra Saviakjuk – 33”– $800 4. Erica Angootealuk – 32 5/8” – $600 5. Geraldine Stanley – 32 1/2” – $400 6. Christina Angootealuk – 32 1/4” – $155

Baker Lake in-town derby winners 1. Vera Aingidlik – 35 5/8” – $1,500 2. Tonya Aksawnee – 33 7/8” – $1,200 3. Barbara Beverage – 32 3/4” – $1,000 4. Tosha Kalluk – 32 1/2” – $800 5. Tosha Kalluk – 32 3/8” – $600 6. Thomas Akilak – 32 1/4” – $500 7. Joan Tunguaq – 32” – $235 7. Diane Iqqaat – 32” – $235 7. Kailey Akilak – 32” – $235

Baker Lake out-of-town derby winners 1. Ben Niego – 40 5/8” – $3,500 1. Doreen Niego – 40 5/8” – $3,500 3. Hannah Tunguaq – 40 3/8” – $1,000 4. Mark Tunguaq – 40” – $800 5. Naomi Itkilik – 39 3/16” – $600 6. Jenna Lee – 38 7/8” – $500 7. Ashlyn Niego – 38 5/8” – $235 8. Elijah Amarooq – 38 3/8” – $235

Chesterfield Inlet - Zone 1 fishing derby winners 1. Johnny Amarok – 40” – $4,000 2. Romeo Kuglugiak – 39 1/2” – $3,000 3. Patrick Putulik – 39 7/16” – $2,000 4. Herman Aggark – 37 1/2” – $1,000 5. Romeo Kuglugiak – 37 1/2” – $900 6. Charlotte Kattegitsiak – 37” – 800 7. Romeo Kuglugiak – 36 15/16” – $700 8. Herman Aggark – 36 3/16 – $600 9. Jayko Kimmaliaarjuk – 35 1/4 ” – $500 10. Edwin Aggark – 35” – $400

Chesterfield Inlet - Zone 2 fishing derby winners 1. Savannah Issaluk – 40 1/2” – $4,000 2. Alice Issaluk – 40 7/16” – $3,000 3. Matthew Anaoyok – 40 1/4” – $1,000 4. Rina Issaluk – 39 1/2” – $1,000 5. Helen Kreelak – 39 1/4” – $900 6. Alice Issaluk – 39” – $800 7. Nipi Alogut – 38 1/2” – $700 8. Lucy Issaluk 36 7/16” – $600 8. Mark Amarok – 36 1/4” – $500 10. Jason Kukkiak – 36” – $400

Arviat - cod derby winners 1. Steven Puku Kigsiutnak – 28.5” – $6,000 2. Jon Copland – 28” – $5,000 3. Anne Renee Angalik – 27 1/4” – $3,500 4. Archie Pauppa – 26 7/8” – $2,500 5. Jose Illnik – 26 1/8” – $1,700 6. Sharon Illnik – 26” – $1,500 7. Innosar Pameolik – 26 3/8” – $1,000 8. Karamay Owlijoot – 26 1/4” – $750 9. Mary Pameolik – 25” – $600 10. Jody Pameolik – 24 7/8”– $400

Roxanne Misheralak kneels beside the umingmak she harvested near Whale Cove during the community’s fishing derby over the Victoria Day long weekend. After harvesting the animal, Misheralak ended up sharing the meat with 10 families in town. photo courtesy of Roxanne Misheralak

Ashlynn Nakoolak shows off the fish she caught during Rankin Inlet’s trout derby over the May long weekend. photo courtesy of Edna Hamilton-Nakoolak

Doreen Niego displays the fish that tied her for first place in Baker Lake’s out-of-town fishing derby over the long weekend. photo courtesy of Kaluk Niego

Bernadette Tutanuak holds up the big fish she caught during Rankin Inlet’s trout fishing derby over the May long weekend. photo courtesy of Bernadette Tutanuak

Gloria Kaludjak, right, holds up fish that Marcy-Lee Tattuinee, left, caught during Rankin Inlet’s fishing derby over the Victoria Day long weekend. photo courtesy of Nick Tattuinee

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Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 A7

Rankin Inlet D-man signs with Jr. A Bradford Rattlers Brayden Uluqsi, 19, headed to Ontario after playing in P.E.I.

ᐳᕆᑕᓐ ᐅᓗᖅᓯ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ Hᐊᑭᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᐊᓐᑎᐅᕆᔪᒥ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ Bradford Rattlers-ᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᒫᑦᓯ 29-ᒥ. ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑖᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᔪᐊᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐳᔾᔫᑦ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᙳᕋᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet’s Brayden Uluqsi is set to take the next step in his hockey career in Ontario after signing with the Bradford Rattlers Jr. A team.

“I think I’ll fit in really well with the organization and the league,” Uluqsi told Kivalliq News. “I’ve been developing a lot and working extra hard and my coaches believe in me.”

The six-foot, 170-pound defenceman is a product of the Mount Academy Saints U18 prep program in the CSSHL, where has played for the past three seasons.

He got his start with the Prince Edward Island team following a standout performance at the annual Andrews showcase, where prospects from all over the world come to play in front of junior and college teams across North America.

“I was lucky enough to get chosen by the Mount. It’s been awesome. I love it here, it’s like my second home,” he said.

Uluqsi told Kivalliq News that Bradford’s general manager reached out to him at the beginning of this season to say they were interested in him.

“We’ve been talking throughout the year. When the season was almost over that’s when they reached out, and a few weeks later I signed on,” he said.

Uluqsi, 19, officially signed his one-year contract on March 29. He said he was worried he wouldn’t find a team to play for next year until Bradford expressed interest in him.

“It motivated me to work harder and keep grinding,” he said.

Rattlers’ general manager Sean Werth said Uluqsi was recommended to him by a contact in Nunavut.

“This summer when we started putting together he was one of the names at the top of our short list,” said Werth. “He has a two-way game. He’s a great skater. He’s lean but he’s strong.

He makes a good first pass and he doesn’t take big risks.”

Werth said the team has been interested in players from the territory ever since they signed Baker Lake’s Terrence McLean, who went on to become the team’s captain a few years ago.

“We’re pretty excited to have him and to continue this being a path for Nunavut players coming south,” he said.

Since signing his contract, Uluqsi said he has upped his training regimen. He has also made efforts to improve his diet.

“Right now I’m training every day, two times a day, and I cut out having junk food: candy, soda and chips.”

This year has been unusual for Uluqsi and his team due to COVID-19. Their league normally sees them compete against

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Rankin Inlet’s Brayden Uluqsi will be playing Jr. A hockey in Ontario next season after the Bradford Rattlers signed him March 29. He credits his dad Jordy and Pujjuut Kusugak with helping him develop as a player. photo courtesy of Brayden Uluqsi

teams across Canada and the United States. However, due to health restrictions, they were limited to playing against three other teams on the island.

“We didn’t travel that much because of COVID. That ruined our season,” he said.

Uluqsi’s Mount Academy Saints ended up winning the league title in 2020. In addition to playing in PEI, Uluqsi was also a member of Team Nunavut at the Youth Canada Winter Games tournament. He said that experience was one of the most positive of his career so far.

“That was my first-ever Nunavut team. That was exciting stuff.

It was one of the best tournaments I’ve ever been to,” he said.

In addition to his skill set, Werth said he was impressed by Uluqsi’s maturity and experience in big games.

“We like players who have been faced with deep-pressure situations,” he said. “He already carries himself as a professional.”

Uluqsi grew up playing hockey in Rankin. His last big tournament there was in 2018, when his team captured the Polar Bear Plate. He credits his dad Jordy and Pujjuut Kusugak with helping him develop as a player.

“When he lived in Iqaluit, I worked out with (Kusugak).

We talked and he gave me lots of advice,” he said. “It helps you a lot and gives you confidence and reminds you to keep working hard.”

The NHL player Uluqsi looks up to most is Ethan Bear, the Edmonton Oilers’ player from Ochapowace First Nation.

Like Bear, Uluqsi is a defenceman that likes create plays and take the body.

“He’s broken so many barriers and he works hard,” he said.

He said his idol growing up was Jordin Tootoo and he hopes to follow in his footsteps by making the NHL. “That’s what I want to do one day. I want to make it to the big leagues.”

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