ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒐᔪᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, June 23, 2021
Vol 27 No 26
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Young volunteers bake goods for Elders in Rankin Inlet Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council program encourages youth to give back to the community
ᐃᓚᐃ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᑭᓚ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔭᖅᓯᔫᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᒧᑦ ᔨᓚ ᒥᖅᑯᓵᕐᒧᑦ. ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ ᐃᒐᒋᐅᖅᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᖏᓐᓇᕐᒪᑎᒃ ᓂᕆᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ.
By Cody Punter Northern News Services
A group of youths in Rankin Inlet have been taking part in a baking program dedicated to feeding Elders in the community over the last few months. Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council received federal funding to run the program, which seeks to encourage teens and pre-teens to give back to the community. “Because COVID restrictions are in Rankin and high school students are only going to school twice a week, we thought we should come up with a way to keep them busy … just to give them that warm fuzzy feeling of giving back to the community. During that time we have started talking about doing a baking program,” said Ilitaqsiniq program manager Kelly Clark-Lindell. There are currently 10 youth between the ages of 12 and 18 enrolled in the program. For the past two-and-a-half months, they have been getting together several times a week to bake 15 to 20 trays worth of food a day. Once it is ready, the youths then go around and hand out the baked goods to Elders in the community. “It’s nice for kids to be in that situation where they are giving. The Elders that we have been delivering to have been so appreciative,” said Clark-Lindell. Twelve-year-old Makayla Kaludjak, one of the program participants, said she signed up because she loves baking. She said she has learned new recipes, such as cinnamon buns
Eli Sammurtok and Makayla Kaludjak drop off baked goods for Elder Geela Merkosak. Sammurtok and Kaludjak have been involved in a baking program dedicated to feeding Elders in the community, organized through Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council. photo courtesy of Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council and peanut blossom cookies. She has also enjoyed meeting new Elders in town. “It’s very fun to bring the baked goods to Elders. They are so happy to receive them,” she said. Now that the current baking program has wrapped up, Clark-Lindell said Ilitaqsiniq is getting ready to do a new
round of volunteering. Out of the 10 youth in the current program, nine are planning to do more work throughout the summer. “We’ve been having little brainstorming sessions with what they would like to see, what they’d be interested in,” said Clark-Lindell.
ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔪᐃᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ
ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ Hᐊᑭᖅᑏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ Hᐊᑭᕕᒡᔪᐊᓕᖅᐸᑕ ᐱᖃᑕᐅᔪᒫᖅᑐᑦ
Qaqqaq blasts House of Commons
Rankin hockey team heading to national Indigenous tournament
“Until the federal government takes some serious action, we don’t feel that now is the time to celebrate Canada.” – The Rankin Inlet Fire Department issued a statement on their decision to cancel their annual Canada Day parade, page 2.
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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 Sambaa K’e Çflˆ kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Ç„·√∏≥î ∂¬∂ĉÖͬü áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí.
Kugaaruk
Gameti
Naujaat
Around Kivalliq Behchoko
with Cody Punter
fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of June 22 Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 657 Recovered cases: 653 Completed tests in Nunavut: 17,713 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 20,126 first doses 15,861 second doses Confirmed cases by community Iqaluit: 253 (0 active, 253 recovered) Kinngait: 7 (all recovered) Rankin Inlet: 21 (all recovered) Arviat: 339 (338 recovered) Whale Cove: 23 (all recovered) Sanikiluaq: 2 (all recovered) Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health
Rankin Inlet Fire Department cancels Canada Day parade
Rankin Inlet The Rankin Inlet Fire Department has announced it will not hold its annual Canada Day parade this year. The decision came following the discovery of 215 children buried at a former residential school in British Columbia. “The discovery of 215 Indigenous children’s remains at the Kamloops Residential School is the tip of the iceberg that has brought widespread grief and anger to the surface across the country and has touched every member of our fire department. Until the federal government takes some serious action, we don’t feel that now is the time to celebrate Canada,” reads a statement from the department. The fire department did commit to leading parades for National Indigenous People’s Day and Nunavut Day. It will also be hosting its second annual house decorating competition for Nunavut Day. Meanwhile, the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet plans to do a driveup distribution of 700 picnic packs with fixings for s’mores and hot dogs. “We are also entering those in a draw for $5,400 in gift cards,” said SAO Darren Flynn. “With COVID restrictions at 100 for outdoor gatherings we really have no ability to hold other activities.”
Traditional culture camp
Rankin Inlet The Kivalliq Inuit Association will run a week-long culture camp for youth in the region in Rankin Inlet starting July 2. The camp is open to Inuit women and men between the ages of 15 and 29 who are interested in learning traditional and
Nicole Ymana, left, and Jovette Kurok, right, hold down their spots in the lead truck as the Nunavut Day parade heads out around the community in Rankin Inlet on July 9, 2020. The fire department has announced they will not hold a Canada Day parade this year, but will be on parade and sponsor its second annual house decorating contest for Nunavut Day. cultural skills first hand on the land with Elders. During the Pijunnaqsiniq Program, participants will be shown how to sew traditional Inuit clothing, prepare and use marine Sanikiluaq and land mammal skins and traditional food preparation and preservation, among other skills. There will also be a healing workshop to learn how to better cope with grief and loss. Interested applicants should have a passion for learning about Inuit culture, a desire to make a difference and be an active and responsible person. The ability to speak and understand at least some Inuktitut is an asset as it will be the language of instruction. All travel, accommodation and meals will be provided to successful applicants within the Kivalliq region.
More community engagement sessions
Rankin Inlet Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) will host three community engagement sessions to get feedback on the company’s proposal for the future of Meliadine mine operations this week. According to a release from the company, the engagement sessions will take place at a tent set up at Kilometre 15 along the road to the mine. “Many measures for no-contact with mine workers are in place, including Plexiglas divider arrangements,” reads the statement. During the sessions, community members will have a chance to learn about the various measures Agnico Eagle is taking to protect wildlife and the environment. Transportation to the tent will be provided by Agnico Eagle. In order to attend, community members are requested to contact AEM’s office. The session are scheduled to take place on June 22 and June 23, with two time slots available for the 23rd.
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Wednesday, June 23, 2021 A3
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ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓇᑎᒃ ᐃᒐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕆᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᕐᓯᔭ ᑯᕈᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓗᐃ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ, ᐊᑐᕆ ᕗᕆᑦᓚᓐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᔅᑎᓂ ᐊᓇᕈᐊᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ. ᕗᕆᑦᓚᓐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓇᕈᐊᖅ ᐃᒐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᖕᒪᑎᒃ ᓂᕆᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᖄᖏᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ.
Marcia Kurok, left, Elder Louie Inukshuk, Audry Fredlund and Destiny Anawak pose for a photo. Fredlund and Anawak have been taking part in a baking program dedicated to feeding Elders in the community over the last few months. photo courtesy of Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council
ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃ Northern News Services
ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒐᒋᐅᖅᓴᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕆᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ. ᐃᓂᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑑᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒥᓂᒃ. “ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᑕᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᓚᐅᕋᑉᑕ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᓐᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑉᑎᒍᑦ… ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᒍᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒥᓂᒃ. ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ
ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒐᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᑉᓗᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᓕ ᑲᓛᒃ–ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᖁᓕᐅᔪᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓖᑦ 12-ᓂᒃ 18-ᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ. ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑮᖕᓂᒃ ᓇᑉᐸᖓᓂᓗ, ᑲᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᑉᓰᑲᓪᓚᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐃᒐᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ 15-ᓂᒃ 20-ᓄᑦ ᐋᓪᓕᕋᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ. ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓕᕌᖓᑕ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᙵᐅᓕᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᒐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᐅᔪᐊᓗᒃ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᑦ. ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᑐᓂᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᖁᔭᓕᑦᑎᐊᓲᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᓛᒃ–ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ. 12-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᒪᑭᓚ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕋᒥ ᐃᒐᒍᒪᒃᑲᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᕉᖅ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᒐᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᓯᓂᒥᓐ
ᐸᓐᔅᓂᒃ ᐊᕿᕐᕈᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓇᑦ ᐸᓚᓴᒻ ᑯᑮᓂᒃ. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᕐᓗ ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᕋᒥ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒥᓂᒃ. “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔭᖅᓯᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᓲᑦ ᐊᔾᔭᖅᓯᕝᕕᒋᔭᕌᖓᑉᑎᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒐᒋᐅᖅᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎ ᐃᓱᓕᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑲᓛᒃ–ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᖁᓕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᖁᓕᖏᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᔪᖅ. “ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᓱᓇᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ, ᓱᓇᓂᒃ ᐱᔫᒥᒍᓱᒐᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᓛᒃ–ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ.
A4 Wednesday, June 23, 2021
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‘ᑕᒡᕙᓃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᖓ’: ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖅ
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ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᓱᑯᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᕕᓂᖃᖃᑎᖃᙱᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᔫᓐ 15-ᒥ.
ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᕕᓂᖃᑎᒋᙱᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ Northern News Services
ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᓱᑯᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᕕᓂᖃᖃᑎᖃᙱᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᔫᓐ 15-ᒥ. ᖁᓕᓂᒃ ᒥᓂᑦᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᑉ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑕᒃᑎᕆᑉᓗᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ. ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᐃᓅᑉᓗᓂᒎᖅ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᑉᓗᓂ, ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᓐᓇᓱᒋᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᒐᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᖅᑐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᐅᙱᖦᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕕᓂᖃᑎᒋᙱᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑕᒃᑎᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᓄᑦ. “ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᑦᑑᔭᐃᓐᓇᕋᒪ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᒥᐊᓂᕆᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔫᔭᕐᓇᖓ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ, ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕋᔪᒃᖢᖓ ᐃᓄᑑᓕᕌᖓᒪ ᖁᒻᒧᐊᒋᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᓇᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᖓ. ᑲᑎᒪᕝᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐃᑎᕌᖓᒪ, ᐃᖅᑲᐃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖓ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᐃᓅᓇᓱᐊᕐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᓪᓚᑦᑖᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓕᖁᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕐᕕᓕᐅᙱᖔᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐅᕙᑉᑎᑑᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓱᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑐᖓ ᓴᓇᔭᖅᑐᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓱᒋᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᔭᖅᑐᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ.” ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᓂᐊᓕᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᒐᔪᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓵᖓᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᙳᒃᑲᓐᓂᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ. ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᓱᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᐃᒥ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓄᒡᒎᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.
“ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᕙᑉᑎᑑᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒦᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ. ᐃᓅᒐᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᑉᓗᖓ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓚᑦᑖᕐᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑎᒃ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᑎᑕᓯᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓅᑕᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᖢᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ 2019ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ 25-ᓂᒃ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐳᓚᕋᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᔪᕐᓕ, ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᒥᐊᓐᓂᕋᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᓕᐳᕈᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖓ ᓚᐸᑐᐊᕆᒧᑦ ᐃᕚᓐ ᔫᓐᔅ ᐃᓅᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ, ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᑲᑕᒃᑎᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᙱᓐᓂᕋᐃᑉᓗᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒡᒍᑎᓂᒃ. “ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ, ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑦᑎᐊᕙᖕᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᖓ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑕᐅᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ. ᐅᖃᐅᑎᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᖓ ᐊᔪᙱᑦᑑᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ, ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑲᐅᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᙱᔫᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᒻᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᓱᓕᓗᖓ ᐅᖃᕐᓚᖓ, ᓱᓕᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᒃᑳᓘᔪᖓ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑦᑎᐊᕙᐃᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᑉᓕᐅᑕᐅᔭᕌᖓᑕ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᓄᙵ ᓴᙱᓂᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᕈᑎᖃᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ.” ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᕐᓇᒥ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᒪᑯᓯ ᒥᓗᒥᒃ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᕝᕕᒋᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓇᔭᖅᐸᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᙱᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᖁᑎᖏᑦ ᑳᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᖅᐸᑕ ᐃᓄᓪᓚᑦᑖᖁᑎᒋᔭᑉᑎᑎᑐᑦ.
Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq issued a scathing rebuke of the racism she has encountered in the House of Commons during a passionate speech June 15. Adrian Wyld/CP photo
“ᑭᐅᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᑖᖓ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᕙᑉᑎᑐᒡᒎᖅ ᐃᓅᓇᓱᒐᔭᙱᑦᑐᖅ. ᑕᒡᕙ ᐃᖢᐊᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᖅ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᓇᓱᐊᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᑐᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᕐᒥᒃ. ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᙱᑦᑐᑦ.” ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓂᖃᙱᓐᓇᒥᒎᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᑐᕉᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒦᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ “ᖃᐅᔨᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᒃᑎᑦᑎᕆᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 70 ᐅᑭᐅᑦ ᑕᐃᑉᓱᒪᓂᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ.” “ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑑᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓪᓚᑦᑖᖑᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᓕᔪᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᓄᓇᒋᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᕋ, ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ. “ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᑦᑖᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᒥᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᑉᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐸᑕ ᓱᓕᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓚᑦᑖᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᑕᒫᓃᑦᑐᓐᓇᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖓ.”
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Cancelling Canada Day feels like the right choice Northern News Services
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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 23, 2021 A5
Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5
Whenever there’s a death in the family, most cultures have a period of mourning that needs to be observed out of respect. It has been less than a month since Canadians learned about the bodies of 215 children buried at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. Unfortunately, their relatives have not had the proper chance to mourn those young lives since these tragic details have come to light. What’s worse, with more bodies being discovered thanks to the federal government finally releasing funding to search all residential school sites, it will be a while until every child can be honoured with the respect they deserve. That is why, with just over a week to go until Canada Day, there have been widespread calls to scale back celebration of the birth of the naSanikiluaq tion. The #CancelCanadaDay movement has taken on various forms among different groups and communities. So far Victoria, B.C. is the only large city to officially cancel its celebrations in favour of supporting National Indigenous Peoples Day. A group of First Nations in
northern Saskatchewan has also made the same collective decision to opt out of festivities. Last week, the Rankin Inlet Fire Department joined the list of those who will be sitting out this year’s celebrations, citing the widespread grief and anger touching every member of its department. In the highly polarized world we live in, there seems to be little room for nuance. Which is why those against scaling back celebrations this year are dismissing these calls for solemnity as leftist propaganda orchestrated by a “woke mob” obsessed with cancelling everything. These are the same people who see history as nothing more than the great deeds of famous white men. For them, history is something set in stone, something unmovable that cannot be changed, precisely because it supports their privileged position in society. It’s why the idea of pulling down hollow bronze statues of their heroes is seen as such as crime – because those statues represent the preservation of the status quo. In reality though, history is in a continuous process of being re-evaluated and shaped by those
CODY PUNTER
who are interpreting it, which happens to be anyone who is currently alive. Today, Canada is celebrated as a multicultural nation that embraces people of different identities. But its foundations could not have been laid without the displacement and disenfranchisement of Indigenous people. Indeed, when Canada was conceived, it actually created two nations: one for settlers and another for First Nation, Inuit and Metis. Aside from cruelty and malice behind the residential school system, Indigenous people in Canada could not vote until 1960. Given that so much of Canada’s formative years were paved at the expense of First Nation, Inuit and Metis, it’s only fair their voices be amplified now. When people are calling for Canada Day celebrations to be scaled back this year, they aren’t attempting to remove a stat holiday from the calendar and make people work. They are just asking for respect for the families and descendants who have suffered so that settlers can enjoy freedom. If only Canadian communities from coast to coast could acknowledge this, we might be able to evolve beyond being a two-tiered country and become whole. Now that would be something worth celebrating.
Business booming for new Rankin Inlet taxi company
Silu Autut has opened two new businesses in 2021, a taxi service and an auto repair shop. Silu’s Shop is made up of his step-son Jason Panika, left, Silu Autut, Silu’s son Ryan Autut and step-daughter Amelia Ipkornerk. Photo courtesy of Silu Autut
Silu’s Taxi teamed up with Slapshot Canteen to donate pizza to Leo Ussak Elementary School as a show of their appreciation to the students and staff for their hard work during this pandemic. Photo courtesy of Silu Autut.
Silu Autut finds new ways to work during COVID By Cody Punter Northern News Services
A new taxi service in Rankin Inlet has been thriving since setting up shop in February, according to the entrepreneur behind it. Silu Autut decided to start up Silu’s Taxi after several months of being off work due to the pandemic. Before that, he had been working for a contractor at Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank mine for several years. “I got sent home like all the other Nunavummiut. Since I worked for a contractor, I had to go on EI for a while,” he said. After several months of being unemployed, Autut started thinking of ways he could earn an income. That’s when he came up with the idea for a taxi service. “I already had the vehicles so I said, ‘Why don’t we try it,’” he said.
The community only has one other taxi service at the moment, Rankin Taxi. Autut said he is currently looking for a second driver after a former employee took a step back due to concerns over COVID-19. With just one car on the road, it can be hard to keep up with demand. When Autut is too busy with calls, he said he refers his clients to Rankin Taxi. “I just want to make sure the town is taken care of. That’s my concern,” he said. In April, Autut also reopened a mechanic shop out of his garage. “Everyone else around here, they find out how much a small transmission block or an engine block is and they never fix their vehicles,” he said. Autut previously ran a mechanical repair shop but stopped several years ago when he got work at the mine. He started it back up
again not just to make money but to help the community. “I did it for the town because there’s so many hunters in town that can’t afford it,” he said. As with his taxi company, Autut also used his first name for the shop. “We were trying to come up with the names but we were just getting silly so we said OK: Silu’s Taxi and Silu’s Shop,” he said. To show his appreciation for the community, Autut recently teamed up with Slapshot Canteen to buy pizzas for the elementary school on the students and staff’s last day of class this month. “It’s for me to thank the teachers and the students, and to let them know there is always light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. Silu’s Taxi is open every day at 8 a.m. Autut usually tries to run to at least 10 p.m., but extends his hours to midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
A6 Wednesday, June 23, 2021
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Rankin Inlet sending team to national Indigenous hockey tournament Team hoping to advance past quarter finals after finishing among top 8 teams in 2019 By Cody Punter Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet will send a team to the Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship in Saskatchewan this August. A squad from the community travelled to the tourna-
ment in 2019 and made it to the quarter-finals before being eliminated. This year, the team has its sights set on emerging as the champs. “Rankin doesn’t send teams away just to do good. If we go, we’re in it to win it,” team manager Roger Tagoona told Kivalliq News.
The national Indigenous men’s hockey tournament is named in honour of the late Fred Sasakamoose, who is considered the first Indigenous person to play in the National Hockey League. Sasakamoose was given the name Chief Thunderstick by representatives of the Kamloops Indian Band when he played senior men’s hockey in B.C. during the late 1950s. Tagoona, who has competed in various national Indigenous tournaments, said getting to compete against all-Indigenous teams adds a layer of camaraderie among the players. “It’s nice to just play hockey. You don’t have to worry about any racists words in the game,” he said. “It’s just a bunch of guys playing hard.” Unlike most senior men’s hockey, the Chief Thunderstick event is full body contact, which plays in Rankin’s favour. “It’s big boy hockey,” said Tagoona. The invite-only tournament will include 32 teams
Rankin Inlet team manager Roger Tagoona is seen far left in a quarterfinal match-up at the Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship in 2019. The team will be returning to compete in this year’s tournament with hopes of winning it all. Photo courtesy of Ron Bonnetrouge from Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia and Nunavut. Past editions of the event have attracted former pros, including former NHLer Dwight King. “The first thing you notice is how high the level of play is,” said Tagoona. “You have all these great players from these reserves and they’re representing their communities, so the effort is there.” There were only 20 teams originally scheduled to play this year but thanks to the relaxing of pandemic restrictions in the province it was
expanded to 32. Rankin ended up being the last of the 32 teams to register. Because the Kivalliq entry finished in the top eight during the last tournament, the team will be seeded in a bracket that guarantees it won’t play against the highest-ranked teams until the playoffs. Tagoona said he’s still finalizing the roster for the upcoming action. For the most part, the squad will be made up of players who went in 2019. However, this year Rankin plans to bring more players to account for the injuries that add up over
the course of a full-contact tournament. “We were kind of understaffed last time – with the hitting and all the games, you end up with a few injuries,” he said. “That was our downfall last time – by the end we didn’t have enough legs.” This year’s tournament is scheduled to go ahead in August. Organizers are awaiting a decision on whether fans will be able to attend the games. “It looks very promising based on Saskatchewan’s reopening plan,” reads a statement from tournament organizers.
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‘I do not belong here’: Nunavut MP “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᕙᑉᑎᑑᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒦᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ. ᐃᓅᒐᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᑉᓗᖓ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓚᑦᑖᕐᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑎᒃ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᑎᑕᓯᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓅᑕᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ,” ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᔫᓐ 15-ᒥ. ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓐᓂᑰᔪᖅ 2019-ᒥ.
“People like me do not belong here in the federal institution. I am a human being who wants to use this institution to help people, but the reality is that this institution and country have been created off the backs, trauma and displacement of Indigenous peoples,” Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq said in the House of Commons on June 15. She’s seen here in 2019. Adrian Wyld/CP photo
Mumilaaq Qaqqaq speaks out against racism in the House of Commons during passionate speech By Cody Punter Northern News Services
Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq issued a scathing rebuke of the racism she has encountered in the House of Commons during a passionate speech June 15. In her 10-minute member’s statement, she took aim at the poor treatment she has received from security staff on Parliament Hill and she levelled criticism at politicians who she said have failed to deliver on promises to help those in need. Qaqqaq open the statement by saying that, as an Inuit woman, she has felt unsafe going to work every day because she has been treated with disrespect and racially profiled by security. “I have never felt safe or
protected in my position, especially within the House of Commons, often having pep talks with myself in the elevator or taking a moment in the bathroom stall to maintain my composure. When I walk through these doors, not only am I reminded of the clear colonial house on fire I am willingly walking into, I am already in survival mode,” she said. “The federal institution needs to change its own policies and procedures to reflect reality instead of creating barriers for people like me. “I should not be afraid of going into work. No one should be afraid of going into work.” It is customary for members of Parliament to make a farewell speech if they publicly state they are not running in the next election. Qaqqaq
announced she won’t be seeking a second term in office in a statement released in May. In her speech last week, she said the hostility she faced in the House of Commons influenced her decision not to run again. “People like me do not belong here in the federal institution. I am a human being who wants to use this institution to help people, but the reality is that this institution and country have been created off the backs, trauma and displacement of Indigenous peoples,” she said. Qaqqaq has twice taken sick leave for her mental health since being elected in 2019 at the age of 25. The first period of time off entailed a couple of months after she completed her housing tour of Nunavut last fall. More recently, she took another two weeks away after she issued an apology for claiming on social media that Liberal Labrador MP Yvonne Jones is not Inuk. After talking about her negative experiences in the House of Commons, Qaqqaq denounced the indifference of her fellow politicians, in particular government ministers. “During my time in this chamber, I have heard so many pretty words, like reconciliation, diversity and inclusion. I have been called courageous, brave and strong by people outside of my party. However, let me be honest, brutally honest: nice words with no action hurt when they are uttered
by those with power over the federal institution who refuse to take action.” Qaqqaq specifically pointed to a moment during question period when she pressed Marc Miller, the minister of Indigenous Services, about what he would do if his constituents faced the same inequality and levels of poverty that Inuit face. “He could not answer me. He said he would never even try to place himself in my shoes. That is exactly what the problem is. Inuit have been telling those with the power and ability to make change to try and survive in their shoes for one day, one week, one month. They could not.” Qaqqaq concluded by saying that she did not have a place in the House of Commons but that she hoped she her presence has “made a crack in the foundations of this very federal institution that started colonizing Inuit barely 70 years ago.” “I realize that this is difficult for some members to hear, but it is the reality and the truth,” she said. “This place was built on the oppression of Indigenous peoples, people like my grandfather, who was born and raised on the land but was forcibly relocated to a settlement that was financed and built by the federal institution. “It will take a mountain of support to even begin the healing process. As long as these halls echo with empty promises instead of real action, I will not belong here.”