Kivalliq News - July 21, 2021 Edition

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑐᙵᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖓ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᖅ

Arviat’s Tunnganarniq Live show keeps national TV slot Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, JuLY 21, 2021

Vol 27 No 30

Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

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20 years of theatre in Arviat Changes (2007): Inuit camp members gather around the shaman for a ceremony. From left, Naujak (Manasie Thompson), Panikpak (Elizabeth McClintock), Uvilik (Becky Okatsiak), shaman (Jordan Konek), Aqigiq (Charmaine Okatsiak) and Nukilik (Ivan Mamgark). Photo courtesy of Gord Billard

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᕋᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒡᓂᒍ ᐃᒍᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᑉᓗᓕᓕᐊᕆᔪᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ

ᓴᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑐᑦ

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Contract #40012157

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Coral Harbour hunters harvest bowhead whale

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KIA and GN voice support for Agnico Eagle waterline

“Less trucking will have less impact on wildlife, less disturbance … means less effects on caribou.”

– Gabriel Karlik, assistant deputy minister of Economic Development, on support for Agnico Eagle’s proposed saline water lines, page 3.

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A2 Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Kivalliq News

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fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of July 20

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Naujaat Gameti

Around Kivalliq Behchoko

Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 657 Recovered cases: 653 Completed tests in Nunavut: 18,662 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 22,495 first doses 18,816 second doses

Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

with Cody Punter

KIA scholarships now open

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)

ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ

Kivalliq The Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) has allocated $92,000 Sanikiluaq in scholarships for Kivalliq Inuit post-secondary students in the upcoming school year. There are six scholarships up for grabs this year.

The KIA President’s Scholarship awards $10,000 to a student with a combination of academic and social accomplishments.

The Ukkusiksalik Scholarship awards $12,000 to a student pursuing further education in a range of fields, including but not limited to traditional ecological knowledge, archaeology, anthropology, social science and natural sciences, renewable resource management, wildlife management, administration ᑐᙵᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᐊᑏ ᓗᓯ ᐊᒡᒑᖅ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓚᐅᐱᓪᓚᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑐᑦ and business management. ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᖑᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᓗᕆ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᐃᕙ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓵᓐᑎ ᐊᖓᔪᒃᖠᖅ ᐅᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅ. ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᐃᓚᒌᑦ The Sakku Scholarship provides $10,000 to assist in the fields ᑐᙵᓇᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒥ. ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴ of administration, business, financial and management studies. ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ The Whale Tail and Meliadine Scholarships each offer $30,000 to a student pursuing post-secondary education in any field, ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᑐᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ. although priority will be given to those studying something related to the mining industry.

The Canadian Heritage Rivers Scholarship is open only to students from Baker Lake.

All students applying for scholarships should have a minimum 70 per cent average grade. The deadline to apply is Aug. Tunnganarniq Live host Nuatie 31, with the exception of the Sakku Scholarship, which has a Lucy Aggark takes a selfie Sept. 18 deadline. during a break in filming for the show with Mallory Okatsiak, Tourney invites out-of-town teams left, Eva Okatsiak and Sandy Sr. Baker Lake Okatsiak. The family band is one Baker Lake has decided to invite teams from out of town of several guests that have been to take part in its second annual Swing Flames tournament. on the show which launched on According to organizer Florence Nagyougalik, the decision national television in January. was made after the chief public health officer approved plans Uvagut TV recently decided to to have teams travel for the tournament. extend the program in Arviat The event was originally scheduled to take place from July 23 after an initial six-month trial to 25 but has now been moved back to the last weekend of the period. Photo courtesy of month so that teams from outlying communities have a chance Nuatie Lucy Aggark. to put together a roster.

The tournament is open to all genders over the age of 16.

Teams are required to field at least 3 female players at a time, for a total of 10 players.

The cost to enter a team in the tournament is $200. The deadline to submit a roster has now been moved back to July 29.

‘Learn To’ events return to Rankin

Rankin Inlet Nunavut Parks is once again offering its “Learn To” programs throughout the summer. All events will be held at the Elders Cabin in Iqalugaarjuup Kuunga Park between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., with the exception of the Learn To Make a Wall-Hanging session, which will be held at the visitor’s centre in town. Due to COVID-19, each workshop will be limited to 10 people. The list of workshops is as follows: July 24 – Learn to make a Wall-Hanging July 27 – Learn to Carve Jewelery Aug. 3 – Learn to Use a GPS and Geocache Aug. 10 – Learn to Make an Aulassaut Box Aug. 16 to Aug. 20 – Learn to Prepare Sealskin Aug. 31 – Learn to Make a Qulliq

Man wanted on second-degree murder charge arrested

Baker Lake RCMP arrested a 33-year-old man in Baker Lake on July 15 who is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for second-degree murder.

Corey Clarke stands accused of the crime in Prince Albert, Sask.

He is in custody following a bail hearing and arrangements have been made with police in Saskatchewan to transport Clarke back to Prince Albert, according to the Mounties.

Shortly after the police announced the arrest, rumours began circulating that Clarke was an employee at Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank complex. However, the mining company issued a news release to clarify that he is not an employee or a contractor and has never been on any of Agnico Eagle’s sites.

Residents can submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submitting a secure web tip at www.nwtnutips.com or text ‘NWTNUTIPS’ plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

ᑐᙵᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᖅᑳᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑰᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑐᓂᒃ Northern News Services

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᖑᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᙵᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑰᕈᑎ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐅᕗᙵᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ. ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᙵᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᒍ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑰᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑰᕈᑕᐅᓲᖅ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑰᕈᑕᐅᓲᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᕈᓐᓃᕐᒪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ. ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓲᖅ ᕿᑎᐊᖑᓕᕌᖓᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ Shaw-ᑯᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑯᑦ. “ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ, ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ. ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓇᑉᑎᒍᑦ. ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᓇᓂᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕋᑉᑕ ᓇᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓗᓯ ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᕙᒍᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑯᑦ. “ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᓂᓯᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᓂᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ.” ᓄᐊᑏ ᓗᓯ ᐊᒡᒑᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ. ᓂᕈᐊᖅᖠᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᑎᑕᒃᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒋᕙᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᑕᒫᑦ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᐃᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᕙᓄ ᐊᒡᒑᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᑯᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ, ᑖᑉᑯᐊᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔫᒃ ᑎᑕᒃᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᒻᖏᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐹᓪ ᑮ ᐃᖅᓴᕐᒥᒃ, ᒧᓂᑲ ᐱᖑᖅᓴᑦᒥᒃ, ᒧᒥᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᓯᐅᑕᓐ ᓂᐱᓴᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓚᑲᐃ ᐱᖑᖅᓴᑦᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒐᔨᒥᒃ Hᐊᑎ ᐊᓚᕋᓚᖕᒥᒃ. ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᑎᑕᒃᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᖓᒍᑦ ᒪᐃᒥ. “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᐊᓗᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᒪᒋᑉᓗᒍ. ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᐊᑏ. “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᑲᒪᑉᓗᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ

ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑕ ᐊᔪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓱᓇᓕᕆᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ.” ᐊᑯᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓃᖃᑕᐅᓕᖅᑑᒃ, ᐃᕚᓄ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓕᐊᖓ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᓕᖅᑑᒃ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖓᑕ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑰᕈᑎᖓᒍᑦ. ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᒃ, ᐃᕚᓄ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓗᒎᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᓕᕋᒥᒃ. “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑑᔭᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᓇᔭᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒍᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑕᒫᙵᒥᐊᖅ, ᐅᕙᒍᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᑉᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᖔᑉᑕ ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑕᒡᕙᐅᓕᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑰᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᖢᑕ.” ᒪᐃᔭ ᓛᑦᓱᕙ, ᑕᑯᔭᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᑐᙵᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑕᐅᓲᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓐᑐᕆᔮᒦᖦᖢᓂ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᖓᒍᒡᒎᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑐᖄᕐᔪᖃᑦᑕᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ, ᑲᔪᓯᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᐃᑦ. “ᐊᐅᓪᓛᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕆᕙᒃᑕᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᖅᐳᑦ, ᐃᓅᑉᓗᑕ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᖅᐳᑦ. ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᑭᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᓚᑦᓱᕙ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᕙᒍᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓚᓯᒋᐊᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᑕᑯᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᓕᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅ, ᐅᕙᒍᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᒥᔪᑦ. “ᓇᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᑕᑯᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᒪᒃᐸᑦ ᓱᓇᓕᕆᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

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Wednesday, July 21, 2021 A3

ᓴᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑕᒥᓂᒃ ‘ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᕆᐊᓛᑲᑕᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ,’ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ Northern News Services

ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑏᑦ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᐊᕐᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ 10 ᒦᑕᓂᒃ ᑕᑭᓂᓕᖕᒥᒃ (33-foot) ᔪᓚᐃ 10-ᒥ. “ᒪᒃᑕᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᐃᑦ. ᓈᒻᒪᒡᓚᒃᑐᕐᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᖅᑲᔭᖅ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒍᒋᕆ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᓇᐅᓕᒃᓯᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ. ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᐃᔭ ᐅᐃᓕ ᓇᑯᓛᖅ, 15-ᖑᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᑲᑉᐱᐊᑯᓗᒃ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐅᑉᓘᑉ ᕿᑎᕈᔪᐊᓂᒃ. ᓂᒋᐊᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓯᒡᔭᒃᑯᑦ, ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ 40 ᑭᓛᒥᑕᓂᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᓴᓪᓕᐅᑉ ᓂᒋᐊᓄᑦ. ᐊᕐᕙᒐᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐅᒥᐊᓃᖦᖢᑎᒃ. ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᐅᔪᓪᓗ ᓯᑕᒪᓕᒃᑰᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑐᖅᑎᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᑯᔭᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᕐᒥᒃ, ᑕᑯᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒦᖦᖢᑎᒃ. ᐅᑉᓘᔪᒥ, ᐊᓄᕌᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓄᕆᖓ ᓴᙱᒃᑎᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᑉᓗᓂ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᓄᓇᒦᑦᑐᑦ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᕐᕕᕐᒥᒃ ᓯᑯᖃᕐᕕᐅᔫᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ. ᐅᒥᐊᖅᑐᖃᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᖅ, ᓇᐅᓕᒃᑕᐅᓇᓱᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᓇᐅᓪᓕᒃᓯᖅᑳᕆᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓂᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᐱᐊ ᓴᕕᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᐅᓕᒃᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᑕᒪᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ. “ᓇᐅᓕᒃᓯᒐᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᕐᒥᒃ, ᑲᐃᕕᑲᑕᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᓇᓗᓇᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᖅ ᓇᐅᓕᒃᑕᐅᒐᒥ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ. ᐊᓯᖓ ᓇᐅᓕᒃᓯᓕᕆᑉᓗᓂ. “ᐱᖓᔪᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᖓ ᓇᐅᓕᒃᓯᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ,” ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, “ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᓱᑲᐃᓪᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᔫᔭᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᖁᑭᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᖄᖅᑕᖅᑐᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ.

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑉᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᔫ.” ᖃᔫ ᖄᕐᒪᑦ, ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ. “ᑐᖁᖅᑲᔭᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ. ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᒥᓂᑦᔅ ᐱᐊᓂᖕᒪᑎᒃ, ᓴᖅᐱᐊᖏᑦ ᑕᒃᐸᐅᙵᕆᐊᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᑐᓄᒥᓄᑦ ᓇᓪᓚᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᓚᐅᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᖁᖓᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ. “ ᑕᒪᑉᑕ ᐃᕆᐊᓛᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᖢᑕ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.” ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᓂ ᐊᕐᕙᒐᓱᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ 2018-ᒥ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑖᒻᓇᒎᖅ ᐊᕐᕙᒐᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓕᔭᓚᐅᕋᒥ ᖁᓕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᑯᓗᖕᒥᒃ. “ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᓕᔭᕋᔪᙱᒻᒪᑕ. ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕙᒐᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ. ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓱᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪᖔᑦ. ᐅᒥᐊᕆᔭᕋᓃᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕙᒐᓱᒃᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐳᐃᒍᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔾᔮᙱᑕᖓ ᐃᓅᓯᓗᒃᑖᒥᓂᒃ.”

100-ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓯᒡᔭᒧᙵᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ. “ᓄᓇᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᒐᑉᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᕗᑦ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᓕᐊᓂᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. 200 ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄᓘᓐᓃᑦ 300–ᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ. ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᓚᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᒪᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᒃᑰᕈᑎᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᑯᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᖃᐃᔪᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓱᒃᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᓴᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. “ᐊᑯᓂᕐᓚᒃ ᐱᓚᓚᐅᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ.

ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑏᑦ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᐱᓚᒃᑐᑦ 33-foot-ᓂᒃ ᑕᑭᓂᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᕙᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᔪᓚᐃ 10-ᒥ. ᑖᒻᓇ ᑐᒡᓕᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ 2018-ᒥ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.

Hunters from Coral Harbour butcher the 33-foot bowhead whale they harvested on July 10. It was the second bowhead the community has harvested since landing its first one in 2018. Photo courtesy of Edna HamiltonNakoolak

Support grows for Agnico Eagle’s waterline to Melvin Bay KIA and GN say they are in favour of the 34 kilometre twin pipes, want improved wildlife monitoring

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

The Kivalliq Inuit Association and the territorial government expressed support for the construction of Agnico Eagle’s waterline from Meliadine Mine to Melvin Bay during the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s (NIRB’s) recent public hearings on the matter.

The meetings, which took place in Rankin Inlet from June 14 to 17, were held to discuss Agnico’s proposal to lay 34 kilometres of twin 41 centimetre pipes from the mine to the ocean to drain saline water that has been accumulating underground.

The company’s plans for the waterline were put on hold in 2020 after NIRB rejected its proposal due to a lack of information.

However, there has been growing support for the project, in part because the company made changes based on feedback from various parties.

“The Kivalliq Inuit Association worked with Agnico Mines and other intervenors to find resolutions to its concerns in advance of and during this hearing. We are satisfied that our technical concerns have been addressed through the new information provided, commitments made by Agnico Eagle and the proposed terms and conditions we have filed with the Nunavut Impact Review Board,”

Currently, surface water at the mine is stored in a containment pond before being treated and diffused into the lake. However, with the proposed 34 km of underground water line, the company would be able to transport the treated water to the ocean instead. Photo courtesy of Agnico Eagle Mines

KIA president Kono Tattuinee said in his closing remarks on June 17.

Pipes will now be covered Among other updates to the project, the company now plans to cover close to 90 per cent of the pipes, in order to address fears that if left exposed they might affect caribou migrations. The company also modified its original design from a single 50 cm pipe to two the currently proposed 41 cm lines.

The two pipes are expected to run parallel to the existing all-weather access road to the mine.

“The waterline will be covered with esker material ... to allow caribou and ATVs to easily cross the road and the waterline,” Michel Groleau, Agnico Eagle’s Nunavut permitting and regulatory affairs general supervisor told the hearing on June 14.

As it stands, the company is currently depending on 20 to 40 truckloads per day to transport groundwater to the ocean. Based on its predictions, Agnico Eagle would need 150 to 300 trucks per day to deal with the growing amount of saline water underground at the mine.

In its submission, the territorial government noted that the waterlines would actually lead to less of a disturbance to caribou than the increased truck traffic.

“Less trucking will have less impact on wildlife, less disturbance. And, again, with fewer traffic on the road, it means less effects on caribou,” said Gabriel Karlik, assistant deputy minister of Economic Development.

During the meetings, Agnico Eagle also pointed out that the waterline would allow

the company to reduce the amount of surface water that is dumped into Meliadine Lake – a concern raised by several groups and individuals.

Currently, surface water at the mine is stored in a containment pond before being treated and diffused into the lake. However, with the water line, the company would be able to transport the treated water to the ocean instead.

“This means that should the waterline be approved, there will be less discharges to Meliadine Lake than there are now,” said Jamie Quesnel, director of permitting and regulatory affairs for Agnico Eagle.

New advisory group to be created One issue that was raised repeatedly throughout the meetings is the impact that the mine, and in particular the road to Meliadine, has already had on caribou migration.

“Communities have noticed changes since the all-weather access road was built. Hunters in Baker Lake rarely see the Qamanirjuaq caribou herd, and hunters in Chesterfield Inlet have noticed additional changes to the migration as it happens through their hunting grounds,” Clayton Tartak, of the Kivalliq Wildlife Board (KWB), said on June 16.

Given those concerns, Agnico Eagle has committed to improve its monitoring of caribou migrations with the formation of a terrestrial advisory group that will include a variety of partners including the KWB. NIRB has until July 30 to provide its final report and recommendations to the minister of Northern Affairs and other responsible government ministers for their consideration.

A4 Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

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Coral Harbour lands bowhead whale ‘Everyone was just yelling in celebration,’ hunter says

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Hunters from Coral Harbour harvested a 10-metre (33-foot) bowhead whale on July 10.

“That’s a lot of maktaaq. Enough for most of the community members,” said Greg Ningeocheak, one of the hunters to harpoon the animal.

Captained by Mayor Willie Nakoolak, a team of 15 men and one boy left town around midday. They headed south along the coast, eventually setting up around 40 km south of Coral Harbour.

The hunt team was split up with most of the men divided among five boats. Another few were on all-terrain vehicles acting as spotters, looking for whales from shore.

As the day went on, heavy winds grew stronger. This made for choppy conditions on the water. Fortunately, it didn’t take long until one of the spotters noticed a whale on the far side of a massive piece of ice. Once the boaters located the animal, they started trying to harpoon it. The first three attempts to hit the whale missed, but Tapia Saviakjuk was able to get one in on the fourth try.

“As he struck the whale, it kind of went in circles. I’m sure it was injured from the hit,” said Ningeocheak.

Another harpoon went in shortly after.

“I put a third one in him,” Ningeocheak said, “and then the guys started shooting with their rifles. It didn’t seem like it wasn’t getting slower so we used the explosive gun, what we call the bomb gun. In our dialect it’s called a qayuu.”

After the explosive went off, Ningeocheak could tell the whale was badly hurt.

“That was almost enough to kill it. A couple minutes later, the flipper went up and then it rolled onto its back. That’s when we knew it was dead,” Ningeocheak said. “Everyone was just yelling in celebration. It was a fun moment.”

Ningeocheak was part of Coral Harbour’s first bowhead hunt in 2018, which was the first to take place in Nunavut after the ban on hunting them was lifted. That crew included just five men and it took them close to 10 trips before they finally landed one. While that was a memorable moment for Ningeocheak, he said this hunt was even more special because his 10-year-old son was on board.

“The guys hardly bring their sons. The captain allowed for him to get on. He understood why it was important. He was on my boat and part of my crew,” he said. “It was awesome, man. He’ll

Coral Harbour’s bowhead crew. Front row, from left are: Terrence Pudlat, Troy Netser holding his son, Nigel Nakoolak, Ala Nakoolak, Joe Saviakjuk, Tapia Saviakjuk, Danny Pee, and Ray Netser. Second row, from left are: Brad Putulik, Ethan Matoo, Casey Paniuq, Luke Eetuk, Charlie Shapangak, Darrell Nakoolak and Gregory Ningeocheak. Photo courtesy of Edna Hamilton-Nakoolak remember it for the rest of his life.”

Hundreds of people came down to greet the crew as they returned with their catch.

“When we brought it to shore, most of the community members were already waiting. There was well over 200 people, maybe even

300,” said Ningeocheak.

As the crew was butchering the whale by the water, a loader showed up to pull the animal farther onto shore so more people could help out.

“It took a while to butcher,” Ningeocheak said.

Contract extended for Arviat’s national TV show Tunnganarniq Live has become popular since launching on Canada’s first Inuktitut-language television channel

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Arviat’s Timothy Taleriktok speaks with Tunnganarniq Live host Nuatie Lucy Aggark. Uvagut TV recently decided to extend the TV program in Arviat after an initial six-month trial period. Photo courtesy of Nuatie Lucy Aggark

Arviat’s popular Tunnganarniq Live show has been extended indefinitely after wrapping up its first six months of filming.

The community began hosting Tunnganarniq Live in January as part of the launch of Uvagut TV, Canada’s first Inuktitut-language television channel. The show was originally only supposed to run for six months but it proved so popular that it will continue. It’s broadcast live on Wednesday evening on Shaw TV. “Arviatmiut, they were giving great feedback. When they are so enthusiastic like that we can’t close the door. We had to find a solution and we did,” said Lucy Tulugarjuk, managing director of Uvagut TV. “Arviat was so successful that we found another spot for them to continue their live shows.”

Nuatie Lucy Aggark hosts the variety show. She picks different Arviatmiut artists to interview each week. With the help of her husband Evano Aggark, who works as the cameraman and occasionally subs in as the host, the crew has interviewed guests such as musician Paul K. Irksuk, visual artist Monica Pingushat, dancers Shelton Nipisar and Malachi Paungalak, and chef Hattie Alagalak. They also broadcast a concert featuring local talent on national television in May. “It’s pretty exciting to keep doing this. We can continue to highlight Arviat,” Nuatie said. “We are very happy to keep doing what we do and keep showing skilled and talented people.”

As longtime members of the Arviat Film Society, Evano and his wife had been used to filming projects, including programs for the local cable channel. Given their humble beginnings, Evano said it’s amazing they are now broadcasting nationally.

“It seems like nobody believed that we could make a TV show. No one would believe that we were aiming for the TV,” he said. “Out of nowhere, Uvagut TV showed up asking us if we could do a show and here we are with a national TV show.”

Maia Iotzova, project manager of Tunnganarniq Live, who helps produce the show from Montreal, said that despite a

few technical hiccups in the first few months, everything has been running smoothly.

“We have a good well-oiled machine,” she said.

Inuktitut TV station 40 years in the making Uvagut TV, which is available to anyone with basic Shaw cable, was launched by the Nunavut Independent Television Network (NITV). The Iglulik-based non-profit has been creating and disseminating programming locally on basic cable since 1991.

But when television networks began making the switch to high definition, there were concerns that the equipment wouldn’t keep up.

That’s when NITV started reaching out to potential partners, eventually finding one in Shaw.

“After several meetings and explaining that this truth and reconciliation covers protecting our language and our culture – part of that is the goal of Shaw, to have more Indigenous people involved. Once they learned that we were serious and know what we are doing, we signed an agreement. That’s something I will always remember,” said Tulugarjuk. “It was a lot of work. It wasn’t just our team. It was also our Elders involved in the NITV board. They never gave up hope.”

The channel broadcasts programming relevant to Inuit Nunangat around the clock, 365 days a year. Tulugarjuk said almost all of the shows are broadcast in Inuktitut, and those that aren’t are presented with subtitles.

Having such a channel is fundamental to the survival of Inuit, she added.

“This is our right, it’s our Inuit right. It’s in our protection to be able to switch on the TV and see Inuit speaking their language,” she said.

Iotzova said Uvagut TV is looking to expand its programming into other communities throughout Inuit Nunangat.

While some experience with filming is preferred, Uvagut TV is able to offer training opportunities.

“If any community is interested to go live with us, we are happy to talk to them about that opportunity,” she said.

Kivalliq News

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Arviat drama teacher gave huge boost to Kivalliq performing arts 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

The art of performance has the ability to unite people in a way that few other media can.

Whether it’s dancing, singing, or putting on a play, there is great power in being able to use one’s creative energy to connect with strangers on an emotional level.

Last month, Gord Billard retired as Arviat’s first drama teacher after 20 years in the role. While teachers come and go in the North, Billard was exceptional in his dedication to inspiring youth to achieve their full potential on the stage.

While not all students under Billard will pursue a career in the arts, the impact that creative expression has had on them is impossible to measure.

Among other things, drama and performing classes help improve communication skills, concentration and memory. It also aids in building confidence and allows youth Sanikiluaq the opportunity to explore new and exciting ways of expressing themselves.

Billard knew how important these things were, which is part of the reason he decided to stay in Arviat 18 years longer than he had originally planned.

His influence on youth extended beyond the classroom and into the community in many ways.

Although he was an anglophone working in an Intuktitut-speaking part of the world, he understood the fundamental value of producing plays in Inuktitut.

Not only did this allow the productions to connect with an older generation of Arviatmiut, whose first language is not English, it helped contribute to the preservation of language and bridged the gap between several generations of Inuit.

In addition to those benefits, the theatre productions also provided entertainment for Arviatmiut several times a year.

In an email to Kivalliq News, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main wrote that he personally came away with a better appreciation of artistic and technical initiatives within Nunavut’s schools thanks to Billard.

“Gord has shown me how beneficial they can be for those involved,” Main wrote.

Indeed, his initiatives went far beyond the classroom, and included his role in the Arviat Film Society.

Billard helped found the society with Main, Eric Anoee and Jamie Bell in 2010.

The initiative even attracted the attention of the acclaimed film director Zacharias Kunuk, who travelled to Arviat several times over the years to mentor the group.

“It’s unreal that he was here to help us and teach us how to shoot,” Arviat Film Society alumnus Evano Aggark said of Kunuk’s mentorship.

Jordan Konek, who was part of Billard’s drama productions as well as the film so-

Umingmak visits town

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Wednesday, July 21, 2021 A5

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An umingmak roams the land just outside of Baker Lake on July 7. Photo courtesy of Freddie Oovayuk

ciety, has gone on to launch a career as a renowned storyteller. Meanwhile other film society graduates like Evano and his wife Nuatie Lucy Aggark have become the first ever team to host a nationally televised program produced in Arviat with the Tunnganarniq Live show.

Reflecting on Billard’s influence, Evano told Kivalliq News how much of an impact Billard has had on the community.

“He wasn’t just a teacher. His door was open to anyone who needed to talk. He was willing to help with everything and anything,” he said.

As Billard has noted, theatre production in the traditional sense of the word is not something that is part of Inuit culture. However, oral tradition and storytelling is. In recent years there has been a growing number of Inuit playwrights telling new stories through this medium.

The fact that Iqaluit is working toward building the territory’s first performing arts centre in the form of Qaggiq is proof that there is an increasing demand for Inuit-inspired performance art.

With the amount of Arviatmiut who have been introduced to the joys of the stage over the years, it’s not a stretch to imagine that the art form will continue to grow throughout the Kivalliq and the territory.

CODY PUNTER

A6 Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Kivalliq News

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Celebrating 20 years of drama in Arviat Taking a look back at some plays performed under Gord Billard

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Gord Billard retired as Arviat’s first drama teacher last month. Over the course of his 20-year career in the community, the 60-year-old teacher reckons the school produced 180 performances from a selection of dozens of plays.

This week we take a look back at the stars of some of the plays the students put on under his direction.

An Easter Story (2004): A happy ending to a traumatic Easter weekend comes with the healthy birth of a baby. From left, father (Harry Manilak), mother (Amber Tagalik) and baby (Brayden Kaviok, who just graduated 2021). Photo courtesy of Gord Billard

A Christmas Carol (2001): The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Ebenezer Scrooge a scene from the Cratchit family’s Christmas celebration. Back row, from left, Ghost of Christmas Present (Travis Kritaqliluk), Scrooge (Rodney Sabourin), Bob Cratchit (David Manilak) and Mrs. Cratchit (Maria Illungiayok). Front row, from left, Nancy Cratchit (Stephanie Etuangat), Tiny Tim Cratchit (Jordan Konek), Martha Cratchit (Charlotte Kuksuk), Dick Cratchit (Gabe Alagalak) and Peter Cratchit (Amos Irkok). Photo courtesy of Gord Billard

Slapshot Santa Scores Again (2001): Backstage, the director (Gord Billard) and Mrs. Claus (Katelyn Sulurayok) chat while Jacob Marley (Katie Angalik), far right, waits in the background for A Christmas Carol to start. The teacher in the background is Wade Patterson.

Photo courtesy of Gord Billard

Romeo and Juliet (2017): The opening sword fight between the feuding Capulets and Montagues.

From left, Paris (Lydia Kaviok), Tybalt (Kevin Mikiyungiak), Lady Capulet (Robyn Koomuk), Lord Capulet (Russell Suluk), Mercutio (Ethan Tassiuk), Prince (Edith Issakiark) and Benvolio (Noah Muckpah). Photo courtesy of Gord Billard

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2007): The Grinch schemes with his helpers before stealing Christmas from the Who’s house. From left, Pongo (Jimmy Napayok), the Grinch (Daniel Alagalak) and Bongo (Mark Shamee). Photo courtesy of Gord Billard

Playhouse of the Damned/Thriller (2011): The cast and crew pose for a group shot following the end of show. Back row, from left, Ramon Kaviok, Jonathan Kigusiutnak, Solomon Nungnik, Larry Ussak, Meagan Netser, Innosar Issakiark (Michael Jackson), Emily Innuksuk, Keith Alikut, Kristin Netser and Samantha Abbott. Front row, from left, Gino Qiyuaryuk, James Issakiark, Peter Aliktiluk, Andy Evaloakjuk, (obscured face likely Troy Illungiayok), Alvin Illungiayok and Joni Okatsiak. Photo courtesy of Gord Billard

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