Kivalliq News - August 4, 2021 Edition: ‘We have nowhere to live’

‘ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᖃᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ’ Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021

Vol 27 No 32

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Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

‘We have nowhere to live’ Repeat champions

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The Rankin Inlet Stealers defended their title as the returning champions on their home turf at this year’s U-16 softball tournament, which wrapped up on July 26. Back row, from left, coach Robert Kabvitok, Darren Ikakhik Jr, Kadin Eetuk, Ben Tulugak, Kayden Mercer, Owen Connelly Clark, Sandy Tattuinee, Liam Tattuinee, Ray Jr Pudlat and coach Holly Mercer. Front row, from left, Lazareth (batboy), Alyson Mckay, Raegan Tattuinee, Makayla Kaludjak and Lana Jane Lindell. Photo courtesy of Robert Kabvitok

News Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕈᑎᓖᑦ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᒥ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᖃᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᑦ

Community ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᓄᑖᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᔭᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᓴᓇᓯᒪᔪᖅ

Hamlet ponders YK to Baker Lake flights

Eskimo Point has new sign made of rocks

baa K’e

A2 Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Kivalliq News

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fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of July 26

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Around Kivalliq Behchoko

Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 657 Recovered cases: 653 Completed tests in Nunavut: 18,740 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 22,719 first doses 19,313 second doses

with Cody Punter

Masks no longer mandatory Kivalliq Chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson announced the easing of public health measures in all Nunavut communities on July 28.

The new measures took effect on July 30.

“After assessing the risk, it is safe to once again ease public health measures across the territory,” he said.

As of July 30, masks will no longer be mandatory but strongly recommended. Indoor public gatherings in facilities such as community halls increase to 75 per cent capacity, or 100 people, whichever is less.

Restaurants and bars may open to 75 per cent capacity with two metres between tables and people in line. There are also no longer any restrictions to outdoor gatherings.

Gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools may increase group sessions to 25 people.

Places of worship are allowed 75 per cent capacity, or 100 people, whichever is less.

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

Hamlet ponders flights from Baker Lake to Yellowknife

Sanikiluaq

Beginners sewing program Rankin Inlet The Rankin Inlet Community Wellness Committee will host an Arnait Ajungitut beginners sewing program at the end of the month.

The program is geared toward 15-to-20-year-olds who are interested in learning how to sew mitts, hats and or slippers. Participants will have a chance to work with seal skin, leather, sheep skin or beaver.

The workshop will be hosted at the drop-in centre between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 25.

There are only 12 spots available.

Soccer tournament planned Arviat Arviat will host a soccer tournament from Aug. 27 to 29. The tournament is open to players 13 and over.

Each team must field five players and a goalie, with at least one player on the field being female at all times.

Each game will run 47 minutes with a running clock.

Anyone interested in registering a team should contact the hamlet.

The prizes for the tournament include $1,100 for first place, $800 for second and $600 for third.

Community to host softball tournament Arviat A softball tournament is planned in Arviat on Aug. 21. The event is open to players 14 and over.

Each team must be able to field a full team, with at least two players on the field being female at all times.

Each game will feature seven innings.

The deadline to register is Aug. 21 at 3 pm.

The prizes for the tournament include $1,100 for first place, $800 for second and $600 for third.

Two planes sit on the tarmac at Yellowknife’s airport. The Hamlet of Baker Lake is currently seeking feedback from residents on the potential for direct passenger and cargo flights to Yellowknife. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Community circulates surveys to residents to gauge interest in proposed route

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Baker Lake residents may eventually have the chance to fly directly to Yellowknife without passing through Rankin Inlet.

The hamlet is trying to gauge interest in regularly scheduled flights to Yellowknife by circulating a survey among community members on the proposed route.

The surveys, which are a available for pick up at the hamlet office, were posted by Mayor Richard Aksawnee on Baker Lake’s community Facebook page on July 12.

Darlene Nukik-Amaruq, Baker Lake’s economic development officer, said the hamlet is not currently in a position to say whether any airlines have expressed interest in offering the flights.

Jessa Earle, Calm Air’s vice-president of human resources and marketing, told Kivalliq News that the airline had not heard anything about the route.

A representative for Canadian North also said that airline had no information regarding the potential new flights.

Nukik-Amaruq said any such service would depend on the response from surveys.

“If there’s enough interest, there may be a flight,” she said.

“Hopefully in the next week I’ll get more forms returned to me.”

The survey asks respondents to state how interested they would be in direct passenger and cargo service between Baker Lake and Yellowknife on a scale of one to 10.

It also asks how frequently respondents would want to fly, what their top three reasons for travel would be and whether they would be interested in ordering items from big box stores in Yellowknife.

Silas Arngna’naaq, a former MLA from Baker Lake, is one of several residents who filled out a survey in support of the proposed route.

Arngna’naaq told Kivalliq News there used to be direct flights from Baker Lake to Yellowknife in the 1980s but they “fell through over time.”

On a personal note, two of Arngna’naaq’s children are currently working in Yellowknife. One of the reasons he is in favour of the route is because bad weather in Rankin Inlet can affect flights throughout the rest of the Kivalliq.

He pointed out that sometimes weather is bad in Rankin Inlet but good in Baker Lake. But because there are no direct flights from smaller communities to the NWT, travellers either get stuck at home or in a hotel waiting for storms in Rankin Inlet to clear.

“Very often you’ll be weathered out in Rankin Inlet and you’ll be weathered out from a flight from another part of the region,” he said. “When my daughter was getting called to the bar, it was perfect weather in Baker but fogged out in Rankin, so I missed her getting called to the bar. That’s just one example of the stories.”

Arngna’naaq also pointed out that having more flights to Yellowknife might open up new job opportunities for Baker Lake residents.

“There’s a gold mine in Baker Lake and the life of the mine is questionable. Agnico (Eagle) has lots of miners that local workers are already trained. I believe Agnico bought out TMAC Resources.

If there were direct flights, Agnico would then be able to hire Inuit to work at that mine since they are already hired by Agnico.”

From a shopping perspective, Arngna’naaq said it would be much quicker and cheaper to order things online from Yellowknife than from Winnipeg, if direct flights were offered.

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Kivalliq News

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Wednesday, August 4, 2021 A3

‘ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᖃᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ’: ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕉᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᐅᒐᑦᓈᖅ ᐃᑯᔅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ, ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᕐᓂᕐᒨᙱᑦᑐᖅ Northern News Services

ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᓂᑉᓕᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓄᑦ. ᐊᐅᒐᑦᓈᖅ ᐃᑯᔅ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕈᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ, Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᔪᓚᐃ 16-ᒥ. “ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑑᑉᓗᖓ ᐃᓅᑉᓗᖓ, ᐅᖃᐅᑎᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖓ, ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᑎᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖁᔭᐅᑉᓗᑕ ᓴᓇᔭᒃᓴᖅᑖᑦᑎᐊᕈᒫᕋᑉᑕᒎᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᑯᒍᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᒫᕋᑉᑕᒎᖅ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖓ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᖅᖢᖓ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᕈᒫᕐᓂᒻᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᒐᓄᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᖅᑐᕐᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒃᑲᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑐᕐᓗᖓ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᕋ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᒐᑉᑯ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐃᖢᐊᖏᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑎᕋᓗᐊᕋᑉᑕ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᖃᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ.” ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑯᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓯᒪᓕᕐᒪᒍ. “ᐅᑕᖅᑭᙳᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᐊᓯᒐᓂᒃ ᓂᑉᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᒥᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕈᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᒍᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᕿᓂᙱᓐᓇᒥ “ᐊᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ” ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᕈᒪᓇᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕆᔾᔮᙱᑕᒥᓂᒃ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᕆᓇᔭᖅᑕᒥᓄᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᓂ, ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᔪᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᐃᔪᖅ $1,900-ᒥᒃ ᒥᑭᔪᑯᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ.

“ᐃᓱᒪᒋᐊᕆᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕈᑎᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᐅᖅᑲᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᐅᖅᑲᐃᓇᔭᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒃᑯᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᑯᔅ. “ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᔪᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑑᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕋᓱᒃᖢᓂ.” ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᖢᐊᖏᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᕉᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᐅᖕᒪᑕ, ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᐃᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᒐᔪᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔭᕌᖓᑕ, ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᙱᖔᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕋᔭᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᑭᑐᔪᐊᓘᑉᓗᓂᓗ, ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᖓ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒍ. “ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓖᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ $400,000ᑐᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐊᕆᓇᔭᖅᑕᒥᓄᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᑕᓕᖕᒥᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ $75,000-ᒥᒃ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖓᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᕌᖓᓇᔭᖅᑐᒥᒃ, ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᐃᔪᓐᓇᕋᓗᐊᕈᕕᑦ $500,000-ᑐᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᓄᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᑕᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕋᓱᒍᑎᒧᑦ, ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊ ᐃᒡᓗᒦᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᖅᑐᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖅᐸᑕ ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᒐᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ.” ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᓐᓇᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᐃᑯᔅ ᐃᓚᓐᓈᖓ ᐊᒻᐳᕐ ᐅᕐᑯᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖁᓕᖏᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒡᒎᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᓅᑲᑕᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᖓ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ. “ᐊᒥᓲᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓗᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑕᐅᓲᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᕐᕕᓐ. “ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᕈᑎᔪᓐᓃᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ.” ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᖅᑑᒃ, 20-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᖃᓕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ 8:30-ᒥ ᐅᑉᓛᒃᑯᑦ 10:00-ᒧᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᓱᒍᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᒃ. ᐊᑕᐅᓰᖅᖢᓂᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᑲᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᒧᑦ, ᓇᓂᓯᓇᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᐅᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᓂᐅᕕᒐᒃᓴᑦ. ᓇᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᒥᓂᒃ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓚᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑖᖅᖢᓂ, ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ 7.5 %-ᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᖅ, ᐅᑉᕕᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᒃᓴᒥᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᐅᖅᑲᐃᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ. “ᐊᒥᓲᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕋᓱᒃᑐᑦᑕᐅᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐱᔫᒥᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕆᔭᖓᓂᒃ. ᐊᒃᓱᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᕋᑉᑯ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᑯᔅ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᐅᑐᕐᕉᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᐃᑖᕐᓗᓂ ᓄᑕᖅᑭᐅᕐᓗᓂᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓗᓂ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᙱᒃᑯᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᓂᓗ, ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᕆᐊᖃᕈᒫᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᕉᖅ. “ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓪᓚᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᒃᑐᒥᒃ. ᐅᑎᕈᒪᔪᖓ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒃᑲᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᑉᓗᖓ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᔾᔮᙱᒃᑯᒪ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕈᓐᓇᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ. “ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᓐᓇᔾᔮᙱᒃᑯᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᑦᑎᐊᔾᔮᙱᒃᑯᒪ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕋᓗ ᓄᑕᕋᖅᑖᕆᔪᒫᖅᑕᕗᓪᓗ, ᓂᕈᐊᖅᖠᕋᔭᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᖓ ᓅᑦᑐᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕋᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓂᖃᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕈᒪᙱᑦᑎᐊᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ.”

ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᒡᒎᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒃᑯᑦ 16%-ᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ

ᐊᐅᒐᑦᓈᖅ ᐃᑯᔅ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒃᑯᒥᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᖅ, ᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᙱᓚᐅᑦᓈᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᐅᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂᒎᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᑎᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖢᐊᖏᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ.

Northern News Services

ᐊᐅᒐᑦᓈᖅ ᐃᑯᔅ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᓂᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᒧᑦ ᔮᓐ ᒦᓐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒡᒐᕆ ᓇᑲᓱᖕᒧᑦ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ. ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᑐᕉᖅ ᑖᑉᑯᓄᙵ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᒐᒥ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐱᓗᑲᑕᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓪᓗᓂ. ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒥᒃ, ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᑎᐊᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ 1980-ᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 1990-ᓂᒃ, ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᑕᒡᕘᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᑯᑦ, ᓄᑖᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑑᑎᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ. ᔪᓚᐃ 26-ᒥ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᒥᒃ ᑭᐅᓯᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᑯᔅ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖓᓄᑦ, ᓇᑲᓱᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᑦᑖᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ “ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑏᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᓇᔭᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᒃᑯᑦ.” ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑕ “ᐃᓕᓯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᖓᓂᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᒃᑯᑦ” ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ.

2018-ᒥ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᓯᕕᑐᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᐸᑐᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ. “ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ, ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑑᑎᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐊᒥᒐᖅᓯᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔫᑏᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᖕᓄᓪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᙵᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ. ᓇᑲᓱᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᖅᑐᕋᔭᖅᐸᑕ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᒐᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕋᔭᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, 84%-ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕆᐊᓖᑦ.

“91%-ᒋᔭᖏᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᑭᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᑐᔫᔪᖅ. ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᑕ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 16%ᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᐃᕌᓂᒍᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᒥᓂᒃ,”

Augatnaaq Eccles currently lives at her parents’ house, pictured here, when she’s at home from university in the summer. However, she says that living with multiple generations under a single roof is not the solution to Nunavut’s housing crisis. Photo courtesy of Augatnaaq Eccles

ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᓇᑲᓱᒃ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ, “ᐅᖃᕋᓱᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑏᑦ ᐊᓂᒍᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᓂᒍᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕᓗ.” ᑭᐅᓯᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᑲᓲᑦ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᖓᓂᒃ, ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓇᔭᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᔭᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᒡᓗᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ. ᐃᑯᔅ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᓂᑉᓕᕐᕕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᒧᑦ

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᕐᒧᑦ. “ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐱᕆᑉᓗᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᑯᔅ. “ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᓇᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓲᖅ - ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᕐᓂᒍᓐᓇᖅᑕᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑉᓗᓂ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᓕᓲᑦ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᐅᙱᒥᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᕝᕕᒃᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᒧᑦ, ᑭᓯᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᑭᒃᓴᖅᑐᓄᑦ.”

A4 Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

r? 9o3 u iWK5

Rankin Inlet Stealers defend U16 title against Baker Lake

The Rankin Inlet Stealers defended their title as the returning champions on their home turf at this year’s U-16 softball tournament, which wrapped up on July 26. Back row, from left, coach Robert Kabvitok, Darren Ikakhik Jr, Kadin Eetuk, Ben Tulugak, Kayden Mercer, Owen Connelly Clark, Sandy Tattuinee, Liam Tattuinee, Ray Jr Pudlat and coach Holly Mercer.

Front row, from left, Lazareth (batboy), Alyson Mckay, Raegan Tattuinee, Makayla Kaludjak and Lana Jane Lindell. Photo courtesy of Robert Kabvitok

Hometown team downs visitors 17-2 after round-robin loss

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

The Rankin Inlet Stealers defended their title on home turf at this year’s U-16 softball tournament, which wrapped up on July 26.

The final was a rematch of last year’s championship game against Baker Lake. Although the visitors finished the round-robin tournament undefeated this year – including a 12-8 win against the Stealers – they were not able to match Rankin Inlet’s offensive prowess when they faced the team for the second time, taking a 17-2 loss.

“The Stealers were ready to play Baker, because they’re a strong team,” said coach Robert Kabvitok.

In addition to Baker Lake, the tournament saw teams from Arviat and Whale Cove competing. Coral Harbour was also supposed to play, but they were unable to fly due to bad weather.

“The weather wasn’t the greatest but what can you do when you’re on Hudson Bay,” Kabvitok said.

After cleaning up in round-robin play, Baker Lake eliminated Rankin Inlet’s other entry in the semis.

In the other semifinal, the Stealers beat Arviat 15-1.

Arviat ended up bringing home the bronze medal from the consolation final.

Although they won by a large margin in their semi, Kabvitok and fellow coach Holly Mercer gave their players a pep talk to maintain their focus.

“As a coach, you need to remind them that not every game is easy. You have to rebuild yourself,” said Kabvitok. “Before the finals we told the kids to support each other, play hard and communicate and to have fun.

That’s the most important thing is to have fun.”

Right off the bat, the Stealers put up six runs in the first inning.

When the Baker Lake squad got their first at bat, the Stealers’ defence was able to keep them off the scoreboard. In the second inning, the Stealers added two more runs. Although Baker Lake eventually got on the board, Rankin Inlet piled on the runs until the game was called off in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.

“Our defence all around was ready. They only had two runs the whole game,” said Kabvitok. “The pitching and the defence worked so well together.”

Since they were unable to make it for last month’s tournament, Kabvitok said Rankin Inlet would host Coral Harbour for a mini-tournament against the two local U-16 teams.

He added that the growing popularity of softball and fastball among Kivalliqmiut has raised the standard of the game in the past few years.

“It’s going to pick up if they keep playing in each community,” he said.

Couple makes Eskimo Point sign from rocks

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

A husband and wife have constructed a massive Eskimo Point sign out of rocks on the outskirts of Arviat.

Joshua Curly said he has been thinking of constructing the sign ever since 2008.

“I saw the one in Arctic Bay and I thought there should be one here,” he said.

Curley first tried building the larger-than-life sign closer to town in 2015 but the area was too flat for boaters to see. This summer he finally settled on a slightly inclined inlet on the east side of Eskimo Point, about five kilometres north of town.

Arviat got its English name “Eskimo Point” when whalers came north in the 1800s. That name stuck until 1989, when the community officially adopted the traditional Inuit “Arviat,” which means “the shape of a bowhead whale.”

While Curley accepts the name change, he said there are still people of his generation who cherish the community’s English name.

“I’m from Eskimo Point. I wanted to use the old name because it’s been there since the 1800s.

Arviat is a new name. A lot of people miss the old name,” he said.

Curley started gathering rocks for the Eskimo Point sign with his wife Regalee Curley at the

beginning of July. He used his all-terrain vehicle to transport the small boulders from the beach.

In total, it took him and Regalee about eight trips and 186 rocks until they had enough to recreate the place name.

“I’m still a good trapper but my back was kind of tired after this, so I took a few days off afterwards,” he said.

After taking some downtime, he and Regalee returned to paint the rocks white so they would be more visible.

“We did have fun – just me and my wife – the two of us,” Joshua said. “When we were finished, we went about a quarter mile away and looked back at it and said: ‘Wow, look at that.’”

“She did a lot of work and she actually loaded more rocks than I did, but I’m still a trapper.”

Joshua has been a proud resident of Eskimo Point since moving there from Coral Harbour in the 1960s.

“I was still in school, maybe 17 or 16 (years old), the first time I came in 1966. We sort of got addicted to it so we finally moved here in ‘68.

Part of my family was here, my sister was here a long time and other family. There is caribou around here. That’s the main food. So we just became addicted to it,” Curley said. “It’s got a good view. No mountains, but it’s a good place.”

Joshua has made a living from trapping all his life, though he has dabbled in carpentry, too.

“My dad taught me how to trap. I went to school down south but when I came back I didn’t even look for a job, I just said, ‘Let’s trap.’”

Joshua married Regalee in 1972. They have since raised nine children in Arviat – eight of them still live in town.

“I have 27 or 28 grandchildren. It’s kind of hard to count them all,” he said.

Joshua wanted to build the sign to show his family’s love for his hometown.

“Hopefully the Calm Air captains will see it.” he said.

Joshua Curley and his wife Regalee Curley constructed a massive Eskimo Point sign out of rocks on the outskirts of Arviat in July. Curley, who has lived in Arviat since 1968, said he wanted to show pride for his community’s English name, which was officially in use until 1989. Photo courtesy of Joshua Curley

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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, August 4, 2021 A5

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It is common to hear politicians and educators in Nunavut preach about the importance of supporting and empowering the next generation of Nunavummiut leaders.

Education is rightfully listed as one of the top priorities to achieving this goal.

However, young Inuit who are motivated to attend university with a view to returning home to make a difference are finding that putting down roots in their hometowns is simply not feasible due to a lack of housing in the territory.

This is an issue that Rankin Inlet’s Augatnaaq Eccles highlighted in a recent viral Facebook post which blasted the lack of opportunities for homeownership in the territory.

Sanikiluaq Like so many of her peers, Eccles is inspired to improve the quality of life for her fellow Inuit.

Her dream is to finish university and return to Rankin Inlet to become a teacher.

But with so few housing options, she must either choose to live in a crowded home with family at the expense of her independence and mental health, or wait and hope that she gets on a waiting list for public housing. Neither of these options is suitable for young professionals who want to invest in their future and start a family of their own.

Eccles’ story is all too familiar and her post

has rightfully garnered a lot of attention from other youths in the territory, who see themselves left out in the cold.

As it stands, more than half of Nunavummiut rely on social housing to keep a roof over their heads. While social housing will always play a significant role in meeting the territory’s housing needs, it is clear that politicians at all levels need to support homeownership.

At the conclusion of the her housing tour, Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq concluded that Nunavut’s housing problems lie “squarely with the federal government that needs to do more to support the NHC (Nunavut Housing Corporation) and every organization in Nunavut,” she told APTN News in March. “The NHC can only do what it can with the money it is given.”

There is no doubt that the feds are guilty of severely underfunding the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and there is a dire need to address the disastrous social housing conditions.

However, if it wants to truly make a difference in the lives of Nunavummiut, the territorial government needs to start listening the

plight of people like Eccles, The truth is there will never be enough money to solve all the territory’s problems.

But those in power need to make a concerted effort to find innovative ways to make sure people have the ability to invest in their future.

Eccles’ post suggested the now defunct Homeowners Assistance Program, which was an incentive by the territorial government of NWT in the 1980s and ‘90s, could be used as a potential model for building new market homes.

In a letter responding to Eccles, Housing Minister Margaret Nakashuk, explained several reasons why that particular program is no longer feasible.

She also pointed to the NHC’s 2018 review of homeownership, which revealed that just 16 per cent of Nunavummiut could afford to own a house.

That number may be where the territory is at now. But if the GN wants to retain homegrown talented young professionals, that number will have to grow. Otherwise the territory will risk losing the very foundation upon which its future depends.

CODY PUNTER

‘Nowhere for us to live’: resident decries lack of market housing Rankin Inlet’s Augatnaaq Eccles wants savings to go toward down payment and mortgage, not rent

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

A university student from Rankin Inlet is speaking out about the lack of homeownership opportunities for young Nunavummiut.

Augatnaaq Eccles, who’s hoping to go to teacher’s college after finishing her undergraduate degree next year, vented about the territory’s housing trials and tribulations in a July 16 Facebook post.

“As a young Inuk, I was told, like many others, to go for post-secondary education so I could get a good job and one day own my own home, which I did. I went to school with the goal of coming back to work and give back to the community I love so much,” she wrote. “The issue is once we come back, there is nowhere for us to live.”

In an interview with Kivalliq News, Eccles said the issue has been weighing on her mind for some time.

“I was tired of waiting for someone else to say something, so I thought I might as well say something and get the conversation going,” she said.

In her post, she makes it clear that she’s not looking for “handouts” or the option of paying rent for public housing she will never own. Rather, she wants to be able to invest her money in a property that has value.

She said her sister, who’s currently articling for legal aid in Rankin Inlet after attaining her law degree, is currently paying $1,900 for a tiny public housing unit.

“Imagine that could go towards a mortgage instead so you reap the benefits long-term, that would be amazing,” Eccles wrote in her post. “It would be great for those who are working and have the financial means to afford a down-payment and long-term costs that come with housing.”

Eccles said the problem is that because there are so few housing options, existing units rarely go up for sale and when they do, they are sold privately

rather than going on the open market. The alternative of building a home up from the ground up is equally costly, according to Eccles.

“Young people currently cannot afford $400,000 to build their own two-bedroom home, or the $75,000 just for a lot to be built, and even if you could afford $500,000 for an old two-bedroom home, there are no homes to purchase on the market,” she wrote. “If those who are in a place to afford having their own homes built could have it done for a reasonable cost, it would also free up more housing units.”

Eccles’ friend Amber Irwin said she ended up living in nine different places over the course of two years after her grandmother passed away because there weren’t any other housing options.

“There are so many financial and emotional burdens on each member of the household,” Irwin said.

“We shouldn’t have to be fighting for roofs over our heads.”

Two years ago, the 20-year-old Rankin resident said she started working two jobs from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. at night in the hopes of being able to buy her own place. Even once she had saved up enough money for a down payment, trying to find a home to buy was difficult because there are so few options.

“There were no houses on the market and it was so discouraging to get to this point where I was financially and mentally prepared to buy a home and there was nothing,” she said.

Eventually the right house came up for sale. With the help of family and the Nunavut Down Payment Assistance Program, which contributed 7.5 per cent of the down payment, Irwin said she was able to finally get a mortgage.

“There were a lot of other people looking for homes as well, and even other people interested in that home.

I just got lucky,” she said.

Eccles dreams of returning to Rankin Inlet to raise a family and work as a teacher. However, she said

Rankin Inlet’s Augatnaaq Eccles spoke out about the lack of opportunities for homeownership for young Nunavummiut in a Facebook post last month. Photo courtesy of Augatnaaq Eccles if she doesn’t have the opportunity to purchase a house with her partner, she might end up choosing to move south.

“I saw the difference it makes when you have a teacher that cares about your well-being. I want to be able to come back and give back to my community, but if I don’t have a place to stay I can’t do that,” she told Kivalliq News. “If I didn’t have the chance to own a home and have a stable place to start a family, I’d probably choose moving down south where it’s easier to own a home and have that permanence.

Even though that’s not what I really want to do.”

A6 Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

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Minister says reviving Homeowners Assistance Program no longer feasible Only an estimated 16 per cent of Nunavummiut can afford a home

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Augatnaaq Eccles also sent letters to MLA John Main and Margaret Nakashuk, minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, to express her dismay over a lack of housing.

Eccles said she reached out to them because she wants to see things change instead of just complaining. Eccles pointed to the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP), which was an incentive by the NWT territorial government in the 1980s and ‘90s, as a potential model for encouraging new market homes to be built.

Under the program, new homeowners were physically involved in the building of their homes and they received the initial capital required to fund them.

In a July 26 letter responding to Eccles’ concerns, Nakashuk said that stricter building code regulations create “significant obstacles to the role program participants had historically played in building their future homes.”

She also wrote that Nunavummiut were no longer able to “contribute the same sweat equity” that was once required to build a home.

A 2018 review of homeownership tabled in the legislative family also noted that early programs like HAP did not undertake rigorous assessments of the potential homeowners’ financial ability to keep and maintain a home.

“As a result, many homeowners that acquired homes under these programs have impaired mortgages and many lack adequate resources to maintain their homes. Though some homeowners were ultimately successful, the legacy of these programs for many individuals and families was financial insecurity and more dependence on government,” reads an excerpt from the report.

Nakashuk added that while homeownership would alleviate the strain on the public housing system, it’s out the reach of 84 per cent of Nunavummiut.

“For 91 per cent of public housing tenants, the cost of purchasing and maintaining their own home is prohibitively expensive.

We estimate that as few as 16 per cent of families would be able to afford homeownership,” Nakashuk wrote, adding, “That is not to say these obstacles cannot or should not be overcome.”

In response to Nakashuk’s letter, Eccles told Kivalliq News that even if a new HAP isn’t the answer, the government should find an innovative solution to the lack of market housing.

Eccles has received an overwhelming amount of feedback from people across the territory since making her post, including a personal message from Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq.

“She said she was excited about the initiative and asked if there is anything she could do to support this,” said Eccles.

Qaqqaq, who tabled a report on Nunavut’s housing crisis in the House of Commons earlier this year, did not return a request for comment prior to press deadline.

In her post Eccles, touched on some issues that Qaqqaq raised

during her Nunavut housing tour, including the toll that the lack of housing takes on people.

“Having your own place contributes to mental health well-being as well — to have your own safe space to go to, and to have that independence. So many people are stuck in abusive homes because there is nowhere else to go, other than an already over-crowded home,” she wrote.

Augatnaaq Eccles currently lives at her parents’ house, pictured here, when she’s at home from university in the summer. However, she says that living with multiple generations under a single roof is not the solution to Nunavut’s housing crisis. Photo courtesy of Augatnaaq Eccles

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