Kivalliq News - July 14, 2021 Edition

ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᖑᑎ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒥᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ

Baker Lake man sets up Alcoholics Anonymous program Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, JuLY 14, 2021

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Diamond exploration continues in Naujaat

Arviat drama teacher retires

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᖓᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᓲᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᔪᖅ

Drug bust in Rankin Inlet

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ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᖅ

ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᔪᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ

“How can the perpetrator of mass crimes investigate themselves?”

Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq is calling for a special prosecutor to investigate crimes perpetrated at residential schools and other institutions, page 5.

A2 Wednesday, July 14, 2021

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ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᖑᑎ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ‘ᑕᒫᓂ ᐃᓄᑦᑎᐊᕚᓗᐃᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᔪᑦ. ᓈᒻᒪᒍᓐᓃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᖓᔮᓕᕌᖓᑕ.’

Northern News Services

ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒥᖅᑕᐃᓕᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᓄᓕᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥᒃ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ. “ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᑲᙳᑦᑎᑖᕆᓇᓱᙱᑕᒃᑲ, ᓄᓇᑦᑎᐊᕚᓘᖕᒪᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᒥᓲᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒥᖃᑦᑕᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᑉᓗᒥᐅᔪᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐋᓕᓐ ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ.

38-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᐊᑖᑕᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᑕᒪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᕋᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓂᑰᔪᖅ ᖃᑉᓰᑲᓪᓚᒃᖢᓂ ᓄᓕᐊᖓ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ 2012-ᒥ. ᓄᓕᐊᖏᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑑᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒍᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ. “ᓄᓕᐊᖏᕋᒪ ᐃᒥᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓚᑦᑖᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ,” ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᒥᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᓕᕋᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ 2018-ᒥ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ, ᐃᒥᙱᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ. ᐊᐅᓪᓚᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐳᕆᑎᔅ ᑲᓚᒻᐱᔭᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᓕᖅᖢᓂ, ᑕᐅᕙᓂ ᐸᓂᖅᓰᕝᕕᖕᒦᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ. ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᕋᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 2019ᒥ, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᓕᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒥᖃᑦᑕᓕᕆᑉᓗᓂ. “ᐃᓄᑑᔮᑦᑎᐊᓕᓚᐅᕋᒪ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᖕᒪᑕ ᐅᑎᖅᖢᓂ ᐸᓂᖅᓰᕝᕕᖕᒧᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ, ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ. “ᐃᓚᐃᕈᑎᔪᒪᙱᓐᓇᒪ ᐃᓅᑎᓪᓗᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓱᓇᐃᕈᑎᓯᒪᔪᖓ. ᓵᓚᐅᙳᖅᑐᖓ. ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓯᒪᔭᒃᑲ

ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᒪᓕᖅᑕᒃᑲ.” ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕝᕕᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᖃᕈᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᑉᓗᓂᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᕈᒪᔪᓂᒃ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᖃᓵᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᐃᕆᓕᒥ ᐃᒥᐊᓘᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᐊᒥᓲᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᐊᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᖅᑐᐃᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᖑᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓇᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ. ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑎᒍᑦ ᓇᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᔭᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓗᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. “ᓇᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᓐᓇᒪ ᓇᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᕐᒪ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᕆᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ. ᐅᑉᓗᒥᒧᑦ ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᖅᖢᓂ. ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᐃᓚᐅᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᓂᕆᐅᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᐃᖃᑦᑕᓕᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᓕᕈᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᐃᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᐃᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒃᓴᒥᓂᒃ. ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᙱᓚᐅᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ, ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᔪᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᕿᑎᐊᖑᓕᕌᖓᑦ 6:30-ᒥ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ. “ᓂᕆᐅᓇᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ‘ᑕᒫᓂ ᐃᓄᑦᑎᐊᕚᓗᐃᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᔪᑦ. ᓈᒻᒪᒍᓐᓃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᖓᔮᓕᕌᖓᑕ.’

ᐋᓕᓐ ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᕿᑎᐊᖑᓕᕌᖓᑦ 6:30-ᒥ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ.

Allan Qiyuaryuk has started a new Alcoholics Anonymous program in Baker Lake. The 38-year-old father of four is hoping he can build a community of sober people to support one another. Photo courtesy of Allan Qiyuaryuk

baa K’e

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Wednesday, July 14, 2021 A3

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fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of July 13

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: 18,554 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 22,026 first doses 17,435 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

Arviat bids farewell to drama teacher Gord Billard

Sanikiluaq

Makayla Kaludjak of the Rankin Inlet Stealers team rounds the bases during the U-16 regional softball tournament in Rankin Inlet over August long weekend last year. Softball is a go again across the Kivalliq with tournaments in the works for youth and adults. photo courtesy of Veronica Connelly

RCMP seize large quantity of marijuana

Rankin Inlet Rankin Inlet RCMP confiscated 25.7 lbs of marijuana, $15,600 and an all-terrain vehicle after executing a search warrant at a residence in the community on July 4.

Larissa Misheralak was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling, unlawfully importing cannabis into Nunavut, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Also arrested was Dustin MacLean. He’s been charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling, unlawfully importing cannabis into Nunavut, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and and failing to comply with an undertaking.

The charges have not been proven in court.

The RCMP encourages residents to continue to report suspicious activity by contacting their home RCMP detachment or by calling Crime Stoppers at toll-free 1-800-222- 8477 (TIPS), submitting a secure web tip at www.nwtnutips.com or text ‘NWTNUTIPS’ plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Women’s leadership forum

Rankin Inlet The Department of Family Services will host a women’s leadership forum in Rankin Inlet from Aug. 23 to 26.

The Arnait Tulliningit forum aims to empower women and girls using traditional knowledge and skills while encouraging them to assume their role as natural leaders in their communities.

Representatives will work to build relationships that can help further economic and political opportunities for women, while setting the foundation for social change and gender equality in the territory.

One participant from every Nunavut community will be selected to take part in the forum. All costs associated with travel, including accommodations and all meals, will be covered.

To register, or for more information, contact the Department of Family Services and ask for Myna Kiguktak or Sarah Payne.

Youth softball tournament

Rankin Inlet Rankin Inlet is planning to host a youth softball tournament from July 23 to 25.

The event is open to boys and girls who are born in 2005 or earlier. Teams are required to field at least three girls on the field at a time for a total of 10 players.

Rosters must be submitted to the recreation coordinator by July 14.

Arviat drama teacher Gord Billard, who helped start the community’s first drama program in 2001, is retiring. He was interviewed about his role in the drama program as well as the Arviat Film Society on a special episode of the Tunnganarniq Show hosted Sylvia Aggark. Photo courtesy of Isuma TV

‘It’s been a very rewarding 20 years. My heart and mind are still there and probably will be for many more years.’

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Arviat has bid farewell to its longtime drama teacher Gord Billard.

The 60-year-old Newfoundland native retired to his hometown at the end of this school year after helping start the community’s first drama program in 2001.

“It’s been a very rewarding 20 years. My heart and mind are still there and probably will be for many more years,” he told Kivalliq News Billard first came North after a colleague was offered a job as the principal at the school. It took a couple of months of convincing, but Billard eventually agreed to come up and work for a couple years.

“He called me up to see if I’d be interested in going there to form a drama club. He had already hired a music teacher, Mary Piercey (Lewis), who just won a Juno. We were the first music and drama teachers the school had,” he recalled.

At first, Billard committed to teaching in Arviat for two years. But he fell in love with the community and those two years turned into two decades. Billard explained that the school’s theatre productions became such an important outlet for youth who were looking for ways to express themselves.

“Obviously producing plays with kids kept me going. It’s what gave me rewards and the greatest satisfaction. Rehearsals were always on evenings and weekends. They came because they wanted to be there. I believe those memories will stay with the kids, some of whom are adults now,” he said.

As a teacher with a background in languages, Billard understood the importance of trying to put on performances in Inuktitut.

He still remembers the first time the school hosted its annual Easter play in Inuktitut.

“I remember being back stage and seeing unilingual Elders

in the crowd laughing or cracking up. I knew this was ringing bells for them. I find that people really, really appreciated that,” he said.

Performing plays in Inuktitut went on to be a staple for all the productions the school put on. While Inuktitut doesn’t have a tradition of written plays, Billard said they are becoming increasingly common and the school has adapted some of the productions over the years.

Every year that Billard was teaching, the school put on at least two productions, and occasionally three. Given that each play was performed four times – twice for other students and twice for the public – Billard estimates that students put on 180 shows during his 20 years.

“It was quite amazing to look at the list after I compiled it to realize just how much we’ve done and all the memories we created,” he said.

In addition to his teaching and extra work at the school, Billard helped found the Arviat Film Society with John Main, Eric Anoee and Jamie Bell in 2010.

“We wanted to have it driven by youth in the community.

It took off from there,” he said.

While the film society hasn’t been as busy as it used to be, Billard said its legacy has left a huge imprint on Arviat. As examples of the program’s success, he pointed to members of the society like Evano Aggark and Jordan Konek, both of whom have gone on to do big things as visual storytellers.

“There’s still a large number of young people in Arviat that have the skills and knowledge to do filming and video editing,” he said. “I think we’ll see more coming out of the town.”

Although he has now moved back to Newfoundland to retire, Billard said he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of returning to Arviat should the right opportunity present itself.

“If the stars are aligned I could see myself going for another stint,” he said. “I’m definitely not done with the North.”

A4 Wednesday, July 14, 2021

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ᑕᐃᒪᓐᒥᒃ (diamond) ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᔪᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ North Arrow ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᓖᑦ 2,000–ᑕᓐᓂᒃ ᐆᒃᑑᑎᖃᕈᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ Northern News Services

North Arrow ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᒋᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᑕᐃᒪᓐ (diamond) ᐅᔭᖅᑲᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᖏᔪᒥᒃ ᐊᐅᔭᖅ. ᑭᓐ ᐊᐅᕐᓯᑐᕋᖕ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨ North Arrow ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᒋᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᑕᖅᓴᓖᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐆᒃᑑᑕᐅᓵᓚᐅᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ. “ᑕᐃᒪᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐅᕐᓯᑐᕋᖕ. ᕙᐃᓐᑯᕙᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᓖᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᖏᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᒥ ᓇᐅᔮᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ 2014-ᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ 2014-ᒥ, North Arrow–ᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ 1,350 - ᑕᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᓐᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐆᒃᑑᑎᓂᒃ kimberlite-ᓂᒃ ᑕᐅᕙᓂ. ᑕᐃᑲᙵᓪᓗ 234-ᑕᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐆᒃᑑᑎᓂᒃ 2017-ᒥ. ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑎᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᒪᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ 2,000-ᑕᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᓐᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐆᒃᑑᑎᓂᒃ. North Arrow ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑎᕋᔭᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓄᑦ 2020-ᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ -19 ᓴᖅᑭᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑎᑭᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥᒃ Burgundy Diamond ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᑕᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᑭᐅᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᖅ. ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐆᒃᑑᑏᑦ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ 20-ᒥᓕᔭᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᓂᒃ, ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᕈᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᕈᔪᒃᖢᓂ. North Arrow-ᑯᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᒋᔭᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓇᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᒋᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᑕᐃᒪᓐ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᑦ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᖅᓱᐊᖓᔪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᔪᓂᒃ. ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᑑᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᑭᒋᓇᔭᖅᑕᖏᓪᓕ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊ ᓇᓗᓇᙱᑲᐅᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᙳᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᖏᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓲᑦ ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᖏᓂᖏᑦ, ᑕᖅᓴᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᖅᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᑦ.

North Arrow-ᑯᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᓯᒪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᖅᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ Geological Institute of America-ᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᒋᐊᖃᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᑉᓯᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᖃᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᑕᐅᕙᓂ. “ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᓴᓕᖕᓂᒃ

ᑕᖅᓴᓕᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐ (diamond) North Arrow ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓᓂᒃ. ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᑉᓯᐅᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᖑᔪᑦ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᑦ ᑕᐅᕙᓂ.

A coloured diamond from North Arrow Minerals’ Naujaat property. The company is currently doing more work to determine how many of the special diamonds are located in the area. photo courtesy of North Arrow Minerals

ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐅᕐᓯᑐᕋᖕ. ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᑑᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, North Arrowᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒋᔭᖓ ᑲᒥᓯᓇᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓃᑦᑐᖅ. ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ, North Arrow-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᑉ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ. ᐊᐅᕐᓯᑐᕋᖕ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓚᕆᒐᔭᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ

ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᐃᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᓇᔭᖅᐸᑕ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ. “ᑕᐃᒪᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕋᔪᙱᑦᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᓯᑎᑦᑎᒋᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐅᕐᓯᑐᕋᖕ. ᓇᓃᓐᓂᖓ ᑕᐃᒪᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᓴᓇᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ. ᐊᐅᔭᐅᔪᖅ North Arrow-ᑯᑦ ᓴᓇᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ 25-ᓂᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒃᑯᑦ.

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opinions ᓄwhmK5

Appointment of first Indigenous governor general long overdue 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, July 14, 2021 A5

r? 9o3 u iWK5

There was something extra to celebrate on Nunavut Day this year. Nunavik’s Mary Simon became the first Indigenous person to be appointed as governor general, just a few days before the territory’s celebrations on July 9.

Indigenous leaders across the country applauded the decision, which comes at a fraught time for the nation’s relationship with its First Nations, Metis and Inuit.

As Kivalliq Inuit Association President Kono Tattuinee said in a July 7 statement, “Her appointment will help us move forward in the spirit of true reconciliation.”

The daughter of a fur trader father with the Hudson’s Bay Company and an Inuit mother, Simon’s identity reflects the cultural crossroads where Canada finds itself as it comes to terms with graves of children that continue to be dug up at former residential schools, and the traumatic legacy Sanikiluaq left in their wake.

But Simon’s pedigree goes much further than her identity. She’s no stranger to politics and has the resume to back it up. She served as Canada’s first ambassador for

Circumpolar Affairs from 1994 to 2004, and was the lead negotiator for the creation of the Arctic Council.

She also served as the Canadian ambassador to Denmark from 1999 to 2002.

These may not be the most important political positions but they are more impressive than those of former governor general Julie Payette, whose main claim to fame was going to space. And we all know how that appointment played out, with Payette becoming the first governor general to resign due to scandal, because of her callous mistreatment of her staff.

In contrast to Payette, Simon is a leader who has shown tremendous empathy and interest in advancing the rights of women and Indigenous people. These are the kinds of qualities that are in dire need in Canada at the moment.

The largest criticism that has so far been levelled against Simon is her inability to speak French.

Simon herself responded to the critique by saying that she is indeed bilingual. As she told reporters, “My bilingualism is in Inuktitut and English.”

The imposition of French at the expense of the country’s many Indigenous languages is something that reeks of hypocrisy and it’s good to see Simon sticking it to the naysayers.

Besides, even though she never had the chance to learn French at the federal day school she attended, Simon has committed to trying to learn the language.

There is, of course, the question as to whether Canada needs an governor general anymore, or a queen for that matter.

Given the increasing momentum toward distancing Canada’s future from its colonial past, there is hope that one day the country’s ties to its the monarchy will be fully dissolved.

In the meantime, Simon will serve as a beacon for true reconciliation.

CODY PUNTER

Nunavut MP calls for special prosecutor to investigate residential schools ‘It’s time to treat this as a crime of genocide that continues to happen here in Canada today,’ says Qaqqaq

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services

Editor’s note: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers.

New Democrat MPs Mumilaaq Qaqqaq and Charlie Angus are calling on Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate crimes against Indigenous children in residential schools and other institutions.

Arguing that there’s been a lack of action to date, such as fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action and lack of adequate compensation from the Indian Residential School Settlement, the pair of NDP parliamentarians insist that international observers should be part of the mandate.

“This is a policy of genocide against a people and we have to keep in context of abuses in the international court system,” said Angus, who represents the Ontario riding of Timmins—James Bay, during a July 8 news conference in Ottawa.

As communities continue to find unmarked mass graves at residential school grounds in Canada, the two politicians said they do not trust the Justice department to be part of any future investigations into this matter.

“How can the perpetrator of mass crimes investigate themselves?”

Qaqqaq asked. “What would we say if this was happening in another country, in a non-Indigenous community? Many genocides across the world have been investigated and the perpetrators have been tried for their crimes. It’s time to treat this as a crime of genocide that continues to happen here in Canada today.”

Angus said the federal government has protected participants of the residential school system before, citing the St. Anne’s Residential School trial in Ontario as one such case.

“They failed to disclose they were sitting on a persons of interest (POI) report — a POI that was 2,472 pages of rape and torture of innocent children,” said Angus. “…the government suppressed police and court records of abuse and torture, and the blacked out the names of so many perpetrators while the survivors were deliberately denied justice.”

Qaqqaq opened the press conference by speaking about Johannes Rivoire, one of multiple alleged pedophile priests who held positions of power in the residential school system in various communities in Nunavut and the NWT. “Attorney General David Lametti and the Liberal Government are doing nothing to bring (Rivoire) to justice,” said Qaqqaq, who added that Rivoire is accused of raping children in the Sir Joseph Bernier Federal Day School in Chesterfield Inlet.

“The abuse at his hands has caused generations of trauma,” Qaqqaq said. “The Government of Nunavut demanded that they bring him to justice but Lametti had refused. Instead of facing justice for his (alleged)

Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq holds a photo of priest Johannes Rivoire, who has been accused of sexually abusing children in various Northern communities during the residential schools era. CPAC/live web capture crimes, Rivoire is living a luxurious retirement in a home for priests in Strasbourg, France and the federal institution is doing nothing about it.”

The legacy of residential schools is plain and clear for Inuit and all Indigenous people, with higher rates of child sexual abuse, alcohol abuse and suicide, said Qaqqaq.

“We see suicide, unfortunately, as the normality in Nunavut. I have many friends and family I have lost or have attempted (to take their own lives). We all have in Nunavut — that is from colonization, that is from residential schools and attempted genocide. That is from people not learning love as parents and teach their children love. Can you imagine communities filled without love because the children were taken away for education?”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on the Catholic Church to turn over documents relating to residential schools. While that’s a step in the right direction, according to Angus, he said the Government of Canada has its own responsibility and documents of its own to make public, amounting to an ongoing cover up.

“We as the (NDP) are calling for this cover up to end… the reality is the federal government has their own long list, a detailed list of the criminals and their crimes,” Angus contended.

Reconciliation cannot move forward until the participants of the residential school system are brought to trial for their crimes, they say.

“There cannot be reconciliation without truth, there cannot be reconciliation without justice,” said Qaqqaq, “It’s time for Canada to face the truth.”

A6 Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Kivalliq News

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Diamond exploration resumes in Naujaat

North Arrow Minerals’ 2,000tonne bulk sample is ongoing at the Naujaat Diamond Project this summer, nine kilomteres from the hamlet. This image shows workers at Pit D, clockwise from foreground, Paul Leach (red vest with his back to the camera), Eddy Sivanertok, David Kadjuk, Roy Kopak (giving the peace sign), Kenneth Katokra and John David Aggark. Photo courtesy of North Arrow Minerals

North Arrow Minerals targets 2,000-tonne sample at its Kivalliq property

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

North Arrow Minerals is continuing to evaluate the potential value of diamond reserves at its Naujaat property with a large-scale sampling program this summer.

Ken Armstrong, CEO of North Arrow Minerals, said the company is hoping to get a better sense of the value of a special kind of coloured diamond that has been retrieved from previous samples.

“There are these really intriguing potentially high-value diamonds,” said Armstrong.

The Vancouver-based mining company has been evaluating the small area just a few kilometres outside of Naujaat since 2014.

In the summer of 2014, North Arrow carried out a 1,350tonne bulk sample of kimberlite in the area. That was followed by a 234-tonne mini bulk sample in 2017.

Now the company is back to perform a 2,000-tonne bulk sample. North Arrow Minerals had originally planned to return to Naujaat in 2020, however COVID-19 created a setback in travel and financing for the operation. The company was subsequently able to work out an agreement with Burgundy Diamond Mines to fund this year’s work.

Based on previous samples, the company believes it has a 20-million carats inferred resource, which is an estimate that comes with a lower level of confidence. North Arrow’s current sampling is trying to determine the quality of those diamonds, in particular the bright orange diamonds that have been found in some samples.

Unlike other mineral resources that have a fixed price based on weight, the value of diamonds is determined by a variety of factors, including size, colour and clarity.

North Arrow has already had some samples of its coloured diamonds certified as high-value diamonds by the Geological Institute of America. Now it is a question of finding out just how many of them there are in the area.

“The goal is to get enough of those coloured diamonds to model whether there is enough in there to make it worth our while,” Armstrong said.

Unlike most mining projects in Nunavut, North Arrow’s property is located on commissioner’s land. That means it falls within the hamlet’s immediate jurisdiction.

Because of that, North Arrow has been working very closely with the local municipality on the permitting required for exploration. Armstrong also said the community would be front and centre in negotiations over mineral rights should a

mine eventually open up.

“There’s a lot of logistical things going for the deposit that you don’t normally have,” explained Armstrong.

The proximity of the site to the community also means that the company has been able to hire dozens of local labourers to help with the program over the years.

This summer alone North Arrow has hired 25 Naujaatmiut to work on the project.

“We have a good group of employees that have worked with us over the years,” Armstrong said.

Work on this year’s sampling program is currently underway and is expected to wrap up by the end of August. Following that, Armstrong said the company hopes to update information about potential reserves in the new year.

Baker Lake man starts Alcoholics Anonymous group ‘There are good people here. It’s just bad when they’re drunk.’

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

A recently sober Baker Lake widower has started a new Alcoholics Anonymous program for the community.

“Not to bad name Baker Lake, it’s a beautiful place, but too many people are drinking nowadays,” said Allan Qiyuaryuk.

The 38-year-old father of four has attempted to quit drinking several times since his wife died in 2012. The loss of his partner at such a young age led him down a self-destructive path.

“When I lost her that made me one of the worst alcoholics in Baker,” Qiyuaryuk confessed.

His drinking problem eventually led him to seek help at the end of 2018.

To qualify for treatment, he had to be sober for two months. He then flew to British Columbia for rehab, before spending several months in a halfway house.

When he returned home in January 2019, he once again struggled with personal circumstances and fell back into the grips of alcoholism.

“I felt so empty and alone,” he said.

A few months later he went back to rehab. Despite his struggles in the past, Qiyuaryuk is now three months sober.

“I don’t want to lose my family from my life,” he said. “I lost so much already. I’m tired of losing. I want to start gaining stuff back.”

Qiyuaryuk decided to start the Alcoholics Anonymous program in Baker Lake so that he could connect with and help other people who are trying to overcome their reliance on alcohol.

The move was particularly important following the community’s April liquor plebiscite, in which not enough residents voted for regulating the sale of alcohol to change the status quo, Qiyuaryuk said.

After he reached out to the community on Facebook for somewhere to hold the meetings, the a local pastor contacted him.

“I couldn’t find a place to do the meetings so he suggested we could do it at the Roman Catholic Church,” said Qiyuaryuk.

Aaron Solberg, Reverend Deacon at St. Aidan’s Anglican Parish, just

moved to Baker Lake last year. He had been thinking of starting an Alcoholics Anonymous program himself, but then he connected with Qiyuaryuk.

“From the get-go I saw that AA is a necessity,” Solberg said.

Although he has some familiarity with the way Alcoholics Anonymous functions, Solberg said he was happy to let Qiyuaryuk take the lead with the meetings.

“You help people the most often when you want to help yourself,” he said.

So far Qiyuaryuk has hosted three meetings. Although just a handful of people have attended, he’s hoping the number will grow as more residents find out about it. He added that people who are uncomfortable coming to the meetings alone are welcome to bring a friend to support them.

Although he had to cancel a recent meeting because he was working, Qiyuaryuk is planning to regularly hold the gatherings at the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

“I think there is hope,” he said.

“There are good people here. It’s just bad when they’re drunk.”

Kivalliq News

Wednesday, July 14, 2021 A7

Celebrating Nunavut Day

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By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Communities across the Kivalliq celebrated Nunavut Day on July 9.

In Rankin Inlet, there was a parade, games and the fire department hosted a vehicle decorating contest. The winners of that competition were as follows: First place: Caribou-skinned Honda ($2,000) Second place: Ice Fishing Ford Ranger ($1,200) Third place: Nunavut Proud Voisey F-150 ($800)

A youth in Rankin Inlet waves a Nunavut flag during Rankin Inlet’s July 9 parade. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Osborn

Ashley Sandy and Alfred Voisey stand outside their home, which they decorated for Nunavut Day. Sandy sewed the massive flag on her own. Photo courtesy of Ashley Sandy

Fire Chief Mark Wyatt drives past a decorated home during the Nunavut Day parade. Photo courtesy of Allysha Sateana Tologanak

Veronique Nirlungayuk and her granddaughter Natluitok ride on a Honda that they decorated for the Nunavut Day parade. They ended up winning first place and $2,000 for their entry. Photo courtesy of Veronique Nirlungayuk

Northern Pharmacy decorated a truck for the parade in Rankin Inlet. Photo courtesy of Mark Wyatt

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