Kivalliq News - June 30, 2021 Edition - Congratulations to the graduates

Congratulations to the graduates ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᒋᕙᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᔪᑦ

Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, June 30, 2021

Vol 27 No 27

Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

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Arviat valedictorians hope to support future students Mae Manik hopes to study child psychology, Phil Kinak wants to become a gym teacher The co-valedictorians for John Arnalukjuak School’s graduation hope to inspire future generations of Arviatmiut now that they have finished high school.

Mae Manik and Phil Kinak, both of whom are 17 years old, were both chosen to give a speech as valedictorians at the school’s ceremony on June 12.

The two students ended up working together to craft the speech with Manik delivering it English and Kinak giving it Inuktitut.

“We wanted to let the other graduates know they could do anything they set their mind to,” Manik told Kivalliq News.

Both students said they faced additional challenges this school year because of the lockdown that Arviat experienced due to COVID-19.

“It was pretty hard because we had to do some of our classes online,” Manik said. “And it was way different when we got back because

we had to follow these procedures.”

Manik received the highest grade in English Language Arts. Kinak ended up winning the Governor General’s Award for having the highest overall average in his class.

Now that she has graduated, Manik is set on going to the University of Manitoba to study child psychology.

“I think Nunavut needs more Inuit mental health care workers. Living in Nunavut, I’ve seen people have the same pattern with addiction, mostly in children. I’m going to focus on that and try and make a change,” she said.

Kinak said he plans to take a few years to spend some time with family in Arviat. But he hopes to eventually go to either college or university so he can one day become a gym teacher.

Like Manik, Kinak said he wants to help the youth of his community.

“I think Arviat needs change in a lot of ways,” he said. “For me it’s mostly for the kids.

So our future generations could be better.”

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ

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ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓱᒍᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

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Kivalliq divided over Canada Day celebrations

Mae Manik and Phil Kinak, who shared valedictorian duties at John Arnalukjuak School’s graduation this year, pose for a photo in their gowns. Photo courtesy of Mae Manik

Rankin Inlet celebrates first Pride parade

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By Cody Punter Northern News Services

“I chose medicine, because I noticed growing up I never saw the same doctor twice.”

– Medical student Anchaleena Mandal recognized for her devotion to improving health care in remote communities, page 3.

r?9o3u iWK5

baa K’e

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Wednesday, June 30, 2021 A3

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Did we get it wrong?

Kivalliq News is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Kivalliq News, call (867) 645-3223 and ask to speak to the editor, or email kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

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fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of June 29

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

Around Kivalliq Behchoko

Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 657 Recovered cases: 653 Completed tests in Nunavut: 18,035 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 21,165 first doses 16,239 second doses

Confirmed cases by community Iqaluit: 253 (all 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

with Cody Punter

Nunavummiuq med student wins leadership award

Sanikiluaq

The Nunavut Impact Review Board is seeking feedback on the proposed Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre line, which will stretch from northern Manitoba to Chesterfield Inlet, then inland toward Baker Lake and the Meadowbank mine when completed. Photo courtesy of Kivalliq Inuit Association

Feedback sought on Kivalliq HydroFibre Link

Kivalliq The Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) is looking for feedback on the proposed Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link.

Beginning in August, the Kivalliq Inuit Association is planning to conduct several fieldwork studies over the course of the next two years to evaluate the feasibility and potential environmental impacts of the project.

The proposed electrical line will stretch from northern Manitoba to Chesterfield Inlet, then inland toward Baker Lake and the Meadowbank mine.

The work will include a field program to determine the best route for the project, as well as surveys of various wildlife, including birds, fish and land animals, as well as their habitats.

Members of the public are requested to submit any concerns they might have about the project with regards to adverse impacts on wildlife, ecosystems or socioeconomic effects.

“Parties are also invited to recommend any specific mitigation measures they feel would be appropriate and to bring any other matter of importance related to this project proposal to the NIRB’s attention,” the regulatory board stated.

The final date to submit a comment is July 2.

Boil water advisory

Baker Lake Baker Lake residents were asked as of June 22 to boil their tap water for at least a full minute if it’s intended for consumption due to turbidity, or cloudiness in the water.

The uses covered by the advisory include drinking, preparing infant formulas, preparing juices and ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, cooking and brushing teeth.

The Department of Health, which issued the advisory, stated that updates will be provided to the community when available.

Summer sports leagues starting

Rankin Inlet The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet will be running youth softball and soccer programs this summer. T-ball will be open to ages 5 to 7, while little league is open to ages 8 to 11.

The soccer program will have four ages divisions ranging from under-14 (born in 2008 and 2009) to under-8 (born in 2014 and 2015).

Residents can register their children for both programs at the rec hall on July 2.

Rankin Inlet’s co-ed softball league was also scheduled to start on Monday. The league is open to anyone ages 14 and up. Games will be played three times a week: on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays, with two time slots per night: 6:00 and 7:15 p.m.

Anchaleena Mandal displays the Rural Student and Resident Leadership Award that she recently received from the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada. Photo courtesy of Anchaleena Mandal

Anchaleena Mandal recognized for dedication to improving health care in remote communities

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Anchaleena Mandal was just four years old when her family moved from India to Canada and nine when they relocated to Iqaluit.

Now that she is a medical student at Queen’s University she is being recognized for her devotion to improve health care in remote communities.

Mandal was recently awarded a Rural Student and Resident Leadership Award for the work she has done through the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC).

“I chose medicine because I noticed growing up I never saw the same doctor twice. We didn’t have doctors who lived in Nunavut. You’re seeing locums and there’s no follow-up care. As I grew up I realized that’s not normal,” Mandal told Kivalliq News. “We’re living in a territory and we’re trying to achieve self-determination but we don’t have a lot of people from Nunavut that are doctors. I wanted to join that kind of movement to provide culturally-appropriate care.”

In 2019, her father got a job in Baker Lake, where her immediate family currently lives.

“The culture of the Inuit is very similar to Indian culture.

The community-based culture, respect for Elders, all of those things really resonated with us,” she said.

Mandal said she first became involved with the SRPC in her first year at Queen’s because she was feeling homesick for rural Northern life.

“I really wanted to meet people who were similar to me, so I joined the student committee and helped with different projects,” she said.

Although she is just in her fourth year of a six-year accelerated program, the 22-year-old has racked up an impressive resume, something which the SRPC acknowledged in giving her the award. As part of the SRPC student committee, she helped develop an annual rural residency catalogue for medical

students considering rural practice.

This year she also co-founded RISE, a national phone-support initiative of the SRPC that partners medical students with isolated individuals in rural Canada to provide companionship during the pandemic.

Mandal is also heavily involved in her faculty’s Indigenous Health Education Working Group, which seeks to indigenize the curriculum. She recently helped create new case studies that could be adapted to teach students about issues facing Indigenous people.

“We are trying to address the calls to action of the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission),” she said. “Sharing experience through stories helps to influence others and make a difference.”

One of the things that Mandal is most proud of is her role with Queen’s Health and Human Rights Conference. She first joined the student-run conference as a faculty liaison for undergrads. However, she has become increasingly involved with the conference’s programming as well. After her first year, Mandal started inviting students and educators from Nunavut to take part in the conference with the help of funding from the Government of Nunavut. Because the pandemic forced this year’s conference to move online, Mandal was able to invite even more Nunavummiut to take part in this year’s conference.

Some of her guests have included Health Minister George Hickes, Iqaluit nurse and former Jerry Cans member Nancy Mike and Adrian Tagoona, a social worker in Baker Lake.

Mandal said the initiative has been mutually beneficial for participants from Nunavut and for faculty and students at Queen’s.

“I was homesick so it was really nice to see them,” she said.

With just two more years of school left, Mandal said she hopes to return to Nunavut to practice medicine when she finishes her program.

“I just love my community members and I’m grateful for them making me who I am today,” she said.

A4 Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

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‘ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᐅᒐᑉᑕ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ’: ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᒪᐃᔭᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᔪᖅ ‘ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ’ ᔪᓚᐃ 1-ᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ Hᐊᒻᓚᒋᔭᖏᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓇᑲᑎᕆᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ Northern News Services

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᔪᑦ ‘ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ’ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ. “ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᐅᒐᑉᑕ. ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᒍᑦ, ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᔫᓐ 25-ᒥ. ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑯᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᖅᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᐊᓘᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ. ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᒍᑦ ᓱᓕ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖁᔭᓈᖅᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓇᑲᑎᕆᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᔫᓐ 24-ᒥ, ᑲᐅᐃᓴᔅ ᐊᓪᓚᖓᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᑦ ᓴᔅᑲᑦᑐᐊᓐᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ 751-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓗᕕᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᑎᓕᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕐᕕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑑᑉ ᐃᓂᖓᓂᒃ. ᒪᐃᒥ, 251 ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᖏᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑳᒻᓗᑉᔅᒥ. ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᑲᑎᕆᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᖃᑉᑎᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

ᖁᔭᓈᖅᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᔪᓚᐃ 1-ᒥ ᓄᓇᒃᑰᕈᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒍᑏᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᔫᓐ 23-ᒥ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥᑕᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ. ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑎᒌᖅᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᒪᐃᔭᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑑᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᖅᐸᑕ. “ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᑦᑎᐊᖅᑳᖅᖢᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑳᖅᖢᑕ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥᐅᑦ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖑᔪᖅ,” Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᖓ ᔮᓐ ᐊᐃᕕ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.

Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᕝᕕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᓯᐊᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᕿᒪᐃᕝᕕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ. ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓚᐅᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᒪᐃᔭᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐳᕐᓯ ᖃᑉᓗᓇᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕈᒪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑦᑎᙱᖔᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ, Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓂᐸᐃᓚᐅᐱᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ.

Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐅᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐅᓲᔮᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Hᐊᒻᐳᑯᓂᒃ Hᐊᓚᑏᕐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᖃᑉᓗᓈᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᓗᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑏᑦ ᐊᑦᑎᒃᓯᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ 215 ᐅᑉᓗᓂᒃ, ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᒪᐃ 30-ᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑳᒻᓘᑉᔅᒥ. “ᐃᒃᐱᒋᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᑕᕋᑯᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ,” ᖃᑉᓗᓈᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᔪᑦ ‘ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ’ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ.

Arviat is planning on throwing a “memorable” celebration to mark Canada Day this year, according to Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. Photo courtesy of the Hamlet of Arviat

www.nnsl.com

Wednesday, June 30, 2021 A5

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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

The annual graduation of students is an important rite.

Over the past few weeks, students across the Kivalliq have been winding down the school year. Whether it’s toddlers finishing preschool or college graduates moving on to join the workforce, the last two years have presented extraordinary challenges to youth at all levels of education.

Disruptions to in-person teaching caused by the pandemic have made it harder for children to connect with one another while making the relationship between teachers and students feel much less personal.

For starters, it’s worth offering gratitude to all the teachers who did their best to adapt to the combination of online learning and ever-changing schedules.

Baker Lake Mayor Richard Aksawnee, in a June 4 Facebook post, rightfully extended his thanks to the teachers and staff at Rachel Sanikiluaq Arngnammaktiq Elementary and Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School for their hard work to overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19.

“The last 15 months of the school calendar has been challenging during this current pandemic. But our teachers, staff and administrators have gone above and beyond to work

at a high standard for our children in our community.”

Not to detract from the educators’ hardships, but the ones who have been most affected by the pandemic are the youth. This is especially true in communities like Arviat, which was under extended lockdown for several months.

Even at the college level, where students are more mature and experienced, there were significant challenges.

When the pandemic first hit, many students were sent back to their home communities.

Instead of getting to congregate and bond with peers from other communities, those attending Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) faced constant disruptions.

As Matthew Ayres, vice-president of Nunavut Arctic College’s Kivalliq Campus, said following the joint graduation of 2020 and 2021 cohorts: “It shows great perseverance on the part of our students to be able to not only succeed but excel when facing a blended version of online and in-person delivery … due to public health measures.”

Despite the difficulties they faced, students

like Gail Angootealuk and Nealson Mautaritnaak, who were both earned multiple awards, showed that it was possible to thrive.

Education is the gift that keeps on giving, which is why it is so important to persevere and celebrate these achievements. The fact that NAC is expanding its programming for the 2021-22 academic year is another reason to be optimistic.

Starting in fall 2021, Kivalliqmiut interested in the medical profession will get the chance to study in Rankin Inlet thanks to the college offering an inaugural licenced practical nurse diploma.

The college will also be offering bachelors of education in Naujaat and Whale Cove for the first time in an effort to train and recruit more Inuktitut-speaking teachers.

On their own, these initiatives may seem like a drop in the bucket but the bigger picture points to a region that is planning for a brighter future.

Combined with the resilience and perseverance of students, these investments in adult education will lay the foundation for a new generation of leaders in the territory.

CODY PUNTER

ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕇᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 25 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᐸᒍᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒌᓪᓗ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᔾᔪᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᔫᓐ 19-ᒥ. ᒪᓕᒍᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓱᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᓐᑕ ᐅᒡᔪᒃᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᑲᖓᓄᑦ ᑎᐅᕆ ᓄᐊᑦᒪᓐᒧᑦ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᑕᕋᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᓱᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ.

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Approximately 25 people showed up to Rankin Inlet’s first ever Pride parade in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community on June 19. The march was organized Belinda Ugjuk and her sister Terri Nordman, who both took their children on a Pride walk last year. Photo courtesy of Belinda Ugjuk.

25 ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒥᓲᑎᒋᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᓪᓗ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕇᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ Northern News Services

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᓪᓗ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕇᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᐱᓱᖃᑎᒌᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᔫᓐ 19-ᒥ. ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 25 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ, ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ. ᐱᓕᓐᑕ ᐅᒡᔪᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᑲᓂ ᑎᐅᕆ ᓄᐊᑦᒪᓐ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᓇᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑉᐸᖃᖃᑦᑕᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᒃ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᒐᒥᒃ. “ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᕈᒪᑦᑎᐊᕋᑉᑭᑦ ᖃᑕᙳᑎᒃᑲ ᐃᓚᓐᓇᕆᔭᒃᑲᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᓲᑦ ᑭᓇᐅᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᖁᓇᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖁᔨᒐᒪ

ᐃᓅᖃᑎᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒃᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ, ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᑎᓐᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᒡᔪᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᑐᒡᓕᐊᒍᑦ ᐅᒡᔪᖕᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᑕᐅᓇᓱᒃᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᓲᑦ. ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᑕᕋᒥᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᓱᖃᑎᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. “ᐊᕐᕌᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓚᓐᓇᕆᔭᕋ ᐅᕙᒻᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᒡᒎᖅ ᐱᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑐᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕋᐃᑉᓗᓂ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᓄᑲᕋ ᐸᓂᖓᓗ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒥ ᐱᓱᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔫᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᖃᑎᒋᔪᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᒐᑉᑯ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒦᑦᑐᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᙱᓐᓇᒪ ᐱᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ

ᐊᕐᕌᓂ ᓄᑕᕋᒃᑲ ᐱᓱᖃᑎᒋᓕᓚᐅᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᓴᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑕ ᑐᓴᕐᓈᖅᖢᑕᓗ. “ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᑲᕋ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᐅᖃᑦᑕᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᓂᒃ! ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ. ᐱᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᑕ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᒡᔪᒃ. ᓄᐊᑦᒪᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ. “ᐃᓚᓐᓇᕆᔭᒃᑲ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒦᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᒡᔪᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᐊᑦᒪᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᔫᒐᓗᐊᒡᒎᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐱᓱᒍᒫᕐᒥᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

r?9o3u iWK5

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Wednesday, June 30, 2021 A7

Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

Congratulations to grads across the Kivalliq! ᐃᒋᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᓇᓴᒥᓂᑦ ᑕᑉᐸᐅᖓ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ 2021–ᒥ ᔮᓐ ᐊᕐᓇᓗᒃᔪᐊᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ. ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᑎᑎᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ, ᒥᐅᓪᕕᓐ ᐊᒪᒃ, ᓗᐊᕇᓐ ᐊᑲᒻᒪᒃ, ᐱᐊᑦᓕ ᐊᓚᕆᐊᖅ, ᐃᓄᒃᔪᐊᖅ ᐊᓕᒃᑎᓕᒃ, ᓚᒃᓯ ᐊᓄᒑᖅ, ᒫᓰᐊ ᐊᖓᓕᒃ, ᔫᓯᐸ ᐊᓇᐅᑕᓕᒃ, ᐃᓕᓴᐱ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᔪᑦ, ᑖᓄᑦ ᐸᐃᑲ ᓯᐸᓐᔅ, ᓈᑕᓕ ᐸᐃᑲ, ᒃᓚᐃᑕᓐ ᕼᐊᓪᓚᐅᒃ, ᓴᐃᓚ ᐃᑲᒃᕼᐃᒃ, ᔭᐃᑕᓐ ᐃᓪᓂᒃ, ᑎᕋᓐᑎᐊ ᐃᓪᓗᖏᐊᔪᒃ, ᕉᓚᓐ ᐄᓴᓗᒃ, ᐃᐊᕆᓐ ᐃᓴᖅᑭᐊᖅ, ᐅᐊᓃᑕ ᐃᓴᖅᑭᐊᖅ, ᐋᒪᓐ ᐃᕗᓂᕆᔪᒃ, ᑲᐃᔪᓪ ᖃᑉᓗᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᒪᐃᒋᓐ ᑲᓪᓗᐊᒃ, ᐲᑕ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ, ᐳᕋᐃᑕᓐ ᑲᕕᐅᖅ, ᐆᓴᓐ ᑭᓪᓛᐱᒃ, ᓯᐳᕋ ᑭᒍᓯᐅᑦᓇᖅ, ᑏᕕᐅᓪ ᑭᓇᒃ, ᐃᒪᓕ-ᐋᓐ ᑰᒪᒃ, ᒫᓂᑲ ᑰᒪᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᕆᔅᑎᓐ ᖁᒃᓱᒃ.

Tossing their caps into the air are the class of 2021 at John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat. The graduates are, alphabetically, Melvin Ahmak, Laureen Akammak, Bedley Alareak, Inukjuak Aliktiluk, Lexie Anawak, Marcia Angalik, Josepha Anowtalik, Elizabeth Aulatjut, Donald Baker Spence, Natalie Baker, Clayton Hallauk, Shayla Ikakhik, Jaden Illnik, Terentia Illungiayok, Roland Ishalook, Aaron Issakiark, Juanita Issakiark, Armand Ivunirjuk, Kyle Kablutsiak, Megan Kalluak, Peter Kaludjak, Brayden Kaviok, Ocean Kidlapik, Sephra Kigusiutnak, Theophile Kinak, Emily-Anne Koomak, Monica Koomak and Tristan Kuksuk. Photo courtesy of John Arnalujuak High School/Department of Education

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᔫᓇ ᐊᒥᑦᓈᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ 2020 ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᒍᔅᑎ 27, 2020–ᒥ. ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᓴᓇᐃᐊ ᑑᑯᒥ, ᑕᐱᓴ ᑯᒃ, ᕋᐃᑦᓱᓪ ᑕᒍᕐᓈ, ᔭᐃᓖᓐ ᐅᒃᐸᑎᒃᑯ, ᓯᑦᓂ ᐊᐅᐸᓗᒃᑐᖅ, ᕆᒥ ᐅᒃᐸᑎᒃᑯ, ᐸᑎᖅ ᖃᑉᓗᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᓵᓕ ᐸᐅᕐᙵᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᓕᓐ ᒪᓐᓂᒃ.

Baker Lake’s Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School’s 2020 graduating class celebrated on Aug. 27, 2020. From left, Shania Tookoome, Tabitha Cook, Rachel Tagoona, Jaylene Ukpatiku, Sydney Aupaluktuk, Remi Ukpatiku, Patterk Kablutsiak, Sally Paungrat and Dylan Mannik. photo courtesy of Jonah Amitnaaq School

ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᑑᒑᓕᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐋᓐᑐᓃᔅ ᒪᑉᓕᒃ, ᓴᐃᓐ ᒪᑉᓴᓚᒃ, ᔮᔅ ᐳᕉᔅ, ᔭᒫᓪ ᓯᐅᓴᕐᓈᖅ, ᑖᓇᕙᓐ ᑯᐸᒃ, ᐋᓐᔨᓖᓇ ᓯᐅᓴᕐᓈᖅ, ᐋᓐᑐᓴᓐ ᐳᑐᓕᒃ, ᐳᕆᔾᔨᑦ ᒪᓕᑭ, ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅ ᑲᑉᐱ ᕼᐊᖅᐱ, ᐃᒪᓕ ᕉᔅ ᖃᐅᓐᓇᖅ, ᕕᒃᑐᕐ ᕿᕐᓗᐊᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ, ᐃᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐊᒥ ᒪᒃᓚᐅᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ.

Naujaat’s Tuugaalik High School’s graduation class. From left, Anthonese Mablik, Shane Mapsalak, Josh Bruce, Jamal Siusangnark, Donovan Kopak , Angelina Siusangnark, Anderson Putulik, Bridgette Malliki, Tigumiak Kappi Haqpi, Emily Rose Qaunaq, Victor Kridluar, missing from picture Macleod Arnatsiaq. Robert Babic photo

ᐅᑯᐊ ᒫᓂ ᐅᓗᔪᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖅ 2021–ᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ: ᔪᓕᐊ ᐊᖒ, ᑳᑦᓖᓐ ᑕᑎ ᑳᓂᓕ–ᑲᓛᒃ, ᓂᐅᓪᓯᓐ ᐃᑦᑐᐊᙵᑦ, ᐹᑲ ᕚᓪᒃᓄᕐ, ᒥᐊᕆ ᒋᐱᓐᔅ, ᐋᒻᐳᕐ ᒍᕋᐃᐊᒻ, ᐃᐊᑦᕗᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᓖᐅ ᖃᓴᓗᐊᖅ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ, ᓴᕕᐅᕐ ᖃᑉᓗᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᑎᓕᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ, ᕋᐃᓕ ᓚᓵᓐᔅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᑎ–ᐱᐅᓪ ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ. ᑐᓄᐊᓂ,, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ: ᐃᔅᕆᐃᐅᓪ ᒪᒃᑖᖅ, ᑏᐊ ᒪᒃᑖᖅ, ᐅᐃᓐᑎ ᒪᓂᓚᒃ, ᓴᓃᓴ ᓇᑯᓛᖅ, ᔫᓪ ᓇᑦᓱᕐ, ᕋᐃᑦᓱᓪ ᐆᓗᔪᒃ, ᔭᓯ ᕿᔪᒃ, ᑲᑕᕆ ᖁᐃᓇᖕᓇᖅ, ᕇᐱᑲ ᓴᙳᐃᓐ, ᔅᑳᑦ ᓯᒍᑦᓴᓐ, ᓅᓚᓐ ᑕᑦᑐᐃᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᒃᑲᑖᖅ ᓴᕙᑖᔅᑭ.

Here is the Maani Ulujuk High School class of 2021 in Rankin Inlet. Front row, from left: Julia Angoo, Kathleen Tati Connelly-Clark, Nelson Etuangat, Parker Faulkner, Mary Gibbons, Amber Graham, Edward Kabluitok, Leo Qasaluaq Kaludjak, Xzavier Kubluitok, Dylan Kusugak, Riley Lachance and Addy-Belle Lindell. Back row, from left, Israel Maktar, Tia Maktar, Wendy Manilak, Sanisha Nakoolak, Joel Netser, Rachel Oolooyuk, Jesse Qiyuk, Catherine Quinangnaq, Rebekka Sanguin, Scott Sigurdson, Nolan Tattuinee and Sakkataaq Zawadski. Sunisha Rakesh photo

A8 Wednesday, June 30, 2021

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Kivalliq News r?9o3u iWK5

‘We are Canadians, so we are going to celebrate Canada Day’: Arviat mayor ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᒪᐃᔭᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᖏᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᓇ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ “ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᐅᒐᑉᑕ.” ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᓇᑲᑎᕆᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᖁᔭᓈᓪᓚᑦᑖᕐᓗᒋᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᖏᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. says his community will celebrate Canada Day because We are Canadians. Some other Kivalliq communities are cutting back on festivities or cancelling them due to residential school graves being located recently.

NNSL file photo

Community plans ‘memorable’ July 1 celebrations as other hamlets scale back

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Arviat is planning on throwing a “memorable” celebration to mark Canada Day this year, according to Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. “We are from Canada. We are Canadians, so we are going to celebrate Canada Day,” he told Kivalliq News on June 25.

Savikataaq said the decision to celebrate came after a lengthy discussion with council last week. He said all councillors were in favour of doing something to mark Canada Day, including Peter Alareak, an Elder who is a residential school survivor.

Due to COVID restrictions, Arviat will host radio games with prizes throughout the afternoon.

At 7 p.m. the community will be asked to gather at the hamlet’s flag

poles where there will be special ceremony, including performances by local throat singers.

According to Savikataaq, the hamlet, Nunavut and Canada flag will all be lowered an put back up with orange flags on top of them, with the word “honour” written in the territory’s three official languages. Alareak will be the one raising the Canadian flag.

“Instead of working against others we’re honouring what happened before to respect what everyone went through,” he said.

After the flags have been raised, the community will host a parade led by the fire department.

“It will be quite the event. We’re still in the final stage of planning it but it’s going to be quite memorable,” Savikataaq said.

The news comes as other Kivalliq communities have announced

they would be either cancelling or scaling back activities this year in solidarity with the growing number of graves being uncovered at former residential schools.

On June 24, Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan located 751 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school. In May, the remains of 215 children were found in Kamloops.

Rankin Inlet was the first community to announce it was scaling back plans to celebrate, when its local fire department decided to cancel its annual July 1 parade.

On June 23, Chesterfield Inlet followed suit. After meeting to discuss the issue, mayor and council decided it would not be appropriate to celebrate.

“After sober discussion and thought, the Hamlet of Chesterfield Inlet has decided that we will not be

observing Canada Day this year,” SAO John Ivey wrote in statement.

The hamlet will also be establishing some type of a monument or memorial site where people can gather or drop off teddy bears and flowers.

Although Whale Cove hasn’t had a council meeting yet this month, Mayor Percy Kabloona said councillors told him they do not want to have a celebration either.

Instead of the usual games on Canada Day, the hamlet will hold a moment of silence for victims and survivors of residential schools.

The hamlet will also hand out free hotdogs and hamburgers on the stat holiday. Kabloona added that the community is keeping its flags at half mast for 215 days, retroactive to May 30 to commemorate the Kamloops’ children’s graves.

“We’re just respecting the memory

of the children,” Kabloona said.

Coral Harbour Mayor Willie Nakoolak also told Kivalliq News that council had decided not to hold any games or special events on July 1 out of respect for the families of survivors.

“We thought we should do like all the other Nunavut communities,” said Nakoolak.

As of June 25, Naujaat had not yet made a decision on its Canada Day plans.

“I’m going to ask our Elders what they want and suggest,” said Mayor Allan Robinson.

Kivalliq News was still awaiting comment from Baker Lake on its plans as of press time.

All the communities that are reducing Canada Day celebrations said they planned on reallocating resources for bigger and better Nunavut Day celebrations.

First Pride parade held in Rankin Inlet March attracts about 25 supporters of the LGBTQ2S+ community

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet held its first ever Pride parade in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community on June 19.

Approximately 25 people showed up to this year’s march,

including several members of Rankin’s queer community.

Belinda Ugjuk and her sister Terri Nordman organized the march.

Although neither of the women is part of the LGBTQ2S+ community, they both consider themselves allies.

“I really wanted to support my family and friends who are LGBTQ2S+ to have space to be who they are and awareness of equality, love and acceptance,” Ugjuk told Kivalliq News.

The parade was Ugjuk’s second attempt at organizing an event in solidarity with the queer community. Although she and her children were the only ones who took part last year, it was a start.

“Last year with the pandemic, a friend of mine mentioned there was a virtual walk online and you could send donations,” she said.

“My sister and her daughter have been in the Pride parade in Winnipeg before and I always wanted to join with her but was never able to be in Winnipeg during the parade. So that brings us to last year when we and our children walked around town with our rainbows and music.

“This year we announced on Facebook a few days in advance and my sister was getting messages from people wanting to join in! We were so happy. As we were walking, more people also joined in,” said Ugjuk.

Nordman said there were also members of the local LGBTQ2S+ community who were unable to attend.

“Any of my local friends who are in the rainbow were not able to make it because they were out of town that day,” she said.

Both Ugjuk and Nordman said they hoped to see support for the march grow next year.

Belinda Ugjuk, front, her sister Terri Nordman, and Cassie Ugjuk take part in Rankin Inlet’s first ever Pride parade in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community on June 19. Ugjuk and Nordman organized the event after having arranging a Pride walk with their families last year. Photo courtesy of Belinda Ugjuk

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