Kivalliq News Sept. 1 2021

ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ -19-ᒥᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕋᓱᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖁᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 Vol 27 No 36

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Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

COVID-19 detected in Rankin Inlet waste water Back to school ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑑᔪᒪᓯᒪᒐᒥ

Nanook!

Teacher fulfills hometown dream Sports ᐊᓃᕐᓂᖅ ᒪᖁᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ

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Playing in the rain

Clemens Imgrund snapped this picture of a polar bear in Coral Harbour on July 23. Photo courtesy of Clemens Imgrund

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If you spot an error in Kivalliq News, call (867) 645-3223 and ask to speak to the editor, or email kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

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Gameti

Behchoko

Around Kivalliq with Cody Punter

COVID-19 confirmed at Meadowbank Baker Lake A case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at the Meadowbank Complex and a Nunavummiuq worker who may have been exposed to the virus already left the mine site on Aug. 21, the Department of Health stated on Aug. 27.

The risk is considered low and the individual who departed Meadowbank is being followed by Public Health, according to Dr. Rosann Seviour, Nunavut’s acting chief public health officer. The Department of Health did not indicate the individual’s destination upon leaving the site.

The infected mine worker and other contacts are isolating at the mine, 110 km north of Baker Lake.

The Department of Health has temporarily suspended flights in and out Meadowbank while contact tracing is being completed.

The COVID-19 case was confirmed on Aug. 25 after the Department of Health was notified of a presumptive case on Aug. 24.

COVID-19 vaccines are still available to all Nunavummiut aged 12 and older. Contact the local health centre to make an appointment.

Bench Warmers claim ball hockey title Arviat Arviat’s Bench Warmers won the community’s ninth annual ball hockey tournament, which wrapped up on Aug. 14.

The team defeated the Rankin Rocks in the final to claim victory. Eskimo Point finished in third place.

The event featured seven local teams as well as an entry from Rankin Inlet for the first time.

“The tournament went well, no serious injuries, only bruises,” said organizer Pierre Ikahik.

Although the capacity for spectators was capped at 100 people, Ikahik said he was grateful to have visiting teams come to Arviat again after being under lockdown for so long.

“We are very fortunate to have been able to run this tournament,” he said.

Ikahik extended his thanks to Hamlet of Arviat, the Kivalliq Inuit Association and Eskimo Point Lumber Supply for sponsoring the event.

Nunavut Youth Ambassador Program open for applications Nunavut Nunavut’s Youth Ambassador Program is now accepting applications for the next cohort.

Participants between the ages of 16 and 21 will be given the opportunity to work alongside like-minded youth to develop leadership skills through sport and recreation programs, training and volunteer opportunities.

The goal of the program is to teach youths how become more engaged in their communities in a leadership role.

Among other opportunities, there’s the potential to take part as a volunteer for the Canada Summer Games.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program should contact the Department of Community and Government Services.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 17.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 A3

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fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Aug. 31 Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 657 Recovered cases: 653 Completed tests in Nunavut: 18,860 Deaths: 4

Vaccine uptake: 22,921 first doses – 79 per cent over age 12 19,794 second doses – 68 per cent over age 12 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑎᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ

Kugaaruk

Naujaat

ᑭᓚ ᐳᕉᔅ ᓴᓇᔭᒃᓴᖅᑖᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ 5-ᒥ 6-ᒥᓗ ᓴᐃᒪᓐ ᐊᓚᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ Sanikiluaq

Northern News Services

ᑭᓚ ᐳᕈᔅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᕈᒪᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ. ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ 8-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂ, ᐳᕈᔅ ᐅᑎᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᐳᕈᔅ ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᔭᒃᓴᖅᑖᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᓴᐃᒪᓐ ᐊᓚᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᓄᑦ 5-ᒥ 6-ᒥᓗ. “ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ 2015-ᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒻᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᕈᒫᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᒻᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐳᕈᔅ. “ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᔫᔭᕋᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᖢᖓ ᑕᒫᓃᑦᑕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ.” ᐳᕈᔅ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᔭᖅ. ᑐᖔᓂ, 28-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑐᕚᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᒥ. ᑲᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᓐᓇᓱᒃᖢᒍ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓚᐅᐱᓪᓚᒋᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᖄᖏᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᑲᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ, ᖁᓕᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ, ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒡᓗ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᓗᒃᑖᒃᑯᑦ. “ᐆᒃᑐᕋᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓪᓚᑦᑖᕐᒥ

ᐱᓕᕆᒋᐊᖅᑳᕐᓇᓂ,” ᐳᕈᔅ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᖅ ᐳᕈᔅ ᐊᐅᖓᓃᑦᑐᖅ. ᐊᓈᓇᖓ ᑐᕈᑎ ᐳᕈᔅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᖏᓕᕆᔭᖓ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᖅ. ᑕᐃᒪᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐊᑦᓴᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓂᑰᖕᒥᔪᑦ. ᐳᕈᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓚᒌᖕᓂᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᖏᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒥ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᖕᓇᖅᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᐳᕈᔅ ᐃᓚᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂᓗ ᑕᓪᓕᒻᒥᐅᓕᕌᖓᑦ Facetime-ᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᓐᓄᒍᒥᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓚᓂᓗ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒪᔪᑦ. “ᐃᓚᒃᑲ ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ. ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᓗᒃᑖᖅ. ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᖏᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕋᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᕐᓇᓕᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓯᔪᖅ ᑕᒫᓃᓕᕋᒪ.” ᐳᕈᔅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒥᑭᓂᖅᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓵᕐᔪᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᓕᓚᔪᖅᑖᕈᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᓕᕋᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ 5-ᒥ 6-ᒥᓗ ᐆᒃᑐᓚᐅᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ. “ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᒥᑭᔪᓄᑦ, ᓱᓇᓗᒃᑖᑦ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᓱᓕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕆᒐᑉᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕋᑉᑭᑦ.” ᖃᑉᓰᓇᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓰᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐳᕈᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᒎᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᕙᓪᓕᐊᑉᓗᓂ ᑭᒃᑰᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖁᑎᖏᑦ. ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑑᒐᓗᐊᑦ,

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᑭᓚ ᐳᕈᔅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᒥᓂ ᓴᓇᔭᒃᓴᖅᑖᕋᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ 5-ᒥ 6-ᒥᓗ ᓴᐃᒪᓐ ᐊᓚᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ. ᐊᔾᔨ ᑭᓚ ᐳᕉᔅᒥᙶᖅᑐᖅ

Participants in Baker Lake’s 2019 suicide prevention 2019 gather in town. Theresa Aasivak Parker is organizing the community’s seventh annual suicide prevention walk on Aug. 25. Photo courtesy of Theresa Aasivak Parker

ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖁᑎᒥᓂᒃ. “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᕐᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

Covid-19 detected in Rankin Inlet wastewater

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Covid-19 has been detected in Rankin Inlet’s wastewater, according to a press release from the Department of Health. ‘“Currently there are no confirmed cases of active Covid-19 in Rankin Inlet,” said Dr. Rosann Seviour, Nunavut’s acting chief public health officer.

“The unexpected signals could mean people with Covid-19 are in the community or recently travelled through Rankin Inlet and are unaware of infection.”

The signals were identified in samples collected on Aug. 17, 18 and 19.

Wastewater samples are being sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg for testing. Results can take up to 10 days to be reported.

The Department of Health is monitoring the situation and has increased testing frequency as a result.

All Nunavummiut are reminded if they have symptoms they should get tested and follow public health orders.

Covid-19 has been detected in Rankin Inlet’s wastewater, according to a press release from the department of health.

Pixabay photo

A4 Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Kivalliq News

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Homegrown teacher returns to Rankin Inlet to begin career

www.nnsl.com

Kayla Bruce hired to be the Grade 5-6 teacher at Simon Alaittuq School

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Kayla Bruce has dreamed of becoming a teacher in her hometown ever since finishing high school.

After completing eight years of post-secondary studies in the south, Bruce has returned to Rankin Inlet to do just that.

Bruce was recently hired as the new Grade 5-6 teacher at Simon Alaittuq School.

“Going into it back in 2015, that was my plan, to come back home,” said Bruce. “I feel ready and I’m happy to be here.”

Bruce completed her bachelor of education degree at the

University of Winnipeg this summer. Before that, the 28-yearold spent two years pursuing Inuit Studies at Ottawa’s Nunavut Sivuniksavut.

The integrated program in Winnipeg took six years to complete. It required her to do a practicum in a local school every year for the last five years. In total, she spent 10 weeks teaching in classrooms last year, which included having to do all the teaching and programming for a class for an entire month.

“You’re getting to practice it before you go into your own classroom,” Bruce said.

Teaching runs in Bruce’s blood. Her mother Trudi Bruce is a vice-principal in Rankin and her grandmother was also a teacher. That’s not to mention some of her aunts, who are also in the profession.

Bruce said family is important to her and relatives were crucial in helping her get through the COVID-19 lockdowns in Winnipeg during her final year. The combination of not being able to travel home and having to do courses online was an extra strain. However, Bruce was able to keep in regular touch, even making time for regularly scheduled Friday night Facetime dinners with family back home.

“My family has been a tremendous help. They have supported my through everything. They have always encouraged me and told me I can do it,” she said. “You do get homesick, but it’s so worth it now that I’m back here.”

Bruce specialized in elementary and middle school streams for her degree, so she’s excited she got hired for the Grade 5-6 job that she applied for.

“With younger kids, I find everything is still magical,” she said. “It’s exciting to know they are our future and I get to work with them.”

It’s only been a few weeks since school started, but Bruce said she has loved getting to know who her students are.

Although it’s still early days, she believes that being from Rankin Inlet helps to build connections with her students.

“It’s always nice to have people that understand the community,” she said.

Rankin Inlet’s Kayla Bruce is starting her first year of teaching in her hometown after being hired as the new Grade 5-6 teacher at Simon Alaittuq School. Photo courtesy of Kayla Bruce

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Wednesday, September 1, 2021 A5

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Election wide open in Nunavut as Liberals flounder nationally Sanikiluaq

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Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq speaks during a march on July 31. Three women are running to succeed her as the next member of Parliament. Photo courtesy of Raul Rincon Northern News Services

It’s only been a few weeks since the date for the next federal election was announced and it will only be a few more until it’s over.

As things stand right now, it looks like Justin Trudeau’s government could have a pretty short shelf life too.

Trudeau decided to call the snap election with little notice this fall.

Of course, there had been whisperings this may happen since Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq announced she would not seek a second term.

Regardless of the strategic justifications for planning surprise elections, it’s hard to imagine the Liberals would want to go to the polls unless they thought they could upgrade their current minority to a majority.

Based on current polling numbers, it looks like they might not even be in power after Sept. 20. Over the weekend, the Liberals were briefly polling below the Conservatives, according to numerous polling agencies. Considering they had a seven-point lead going to into the election, that’s pretty shocking.

Even taking into account how unreliable

polls can be, there could be all kinds of reasons for Trudeau’s decline in popularity. The fact is most Canadians are worn out from the additional hardships that the pandemic has brought on. The veil of Trudeau’s selfie-based political act has also worn thin.

That’s because the former drama teacher said all the right things to unseat Harper but he’s a fair ways off from fulfilling his elections promises. The fact that he’s orchestrating an expensive and unnecessary election when the pandemic is far from under control doesn’t help either. Canadians are tired and an election is not what this country needs most right now.

Nunavummiut’s task is to decide who they want to represent them in Ottawa, but with the race as tight as it is at the federal level, it’s hard to imagine the current drama unfolding at the national level won’t impact voters.

One thing that stands out about the candidates from Nunavut is they are all women.

Considering men are most often given credit for founding Nunavut, it’s refreshing to see that Inuit women are playing a leading role in shaping its future.

All the candidates are also each extremely

CODY PUNTER

well-qualified. Although their leader may be floundering, the Liberals have a solid candidate in Iqaluit’s Pat Angnakak, who grew up in Kinngait and Pangnirtung. She served as Nunavut’s first deputy commissioner, in addition to being an MLA and former cabinet minster.

The Conservatives have also gone with someone who has plenty of government experience by choosing Laura MacKenzie. Not only does MacKenzie have 15 years of experience working for the GN, mostly as the director of economic development and transportation, she has also run her own business and is a former director of Rankin Inlet’s women’s shelter.

Meanwhile, the NDP has found an impressive successor to Mumilaaq Qaqqaq with Iqaliuit-based lawyer Lori Idlout, who is also an entrepreneur. Among other things, Idlout has represented the Nuluujaat Land Guardians in their fight against the expansion of Mary River iron mine.

All three candidates are busy hopping around from community to community, trying to make their case for being elected.

While they all have different visions for the territory, they have all invested time and effort into making Nunavut a better place.

It will be up to voters to decide who is best suited to represent Nunavut in Ottawa, but it’s hard to imagine that what’s happening in the national leadership race won’t have an influence on who gets their vote.

A6 Wednesday, September 1, 2021

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Freaks reclaim Calm Air Cup title

www.nnsl.com

Rankin Inlet team defeated rivals Salliq Invaders in rainy regional softball championship

By Cody Punter Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet’s Freaks defeated their Coral Harbour rivals, the Salliq Invaders, in a rainy championship game during the Calm Air tournament, which took place Aug. 18 to 22.

“It’s just how we wanted it. We couldn’t have asked for any better finish,” said team captain Lee Kreelak.

With winds clocking in upward of 70 km/h and rain blowing sideways, it was a soggy end to an otherwise fair weather tournament.

The Freaks’ Chad Graham described the wet and windy conditions as a “Calm Air classic.”

“We’ve played in this before and we knew what was to be expected,” added Kreelak. “You’re getting rain in your face. It sucks but we’re used to it.

When it’s pissing 40 mm of rain we know what we’re up against.”

The co-ed tournament, which is a qualifying event for national softball championships, featured five teams from Rankin, one from Baker Lake and two from Coral Harbour.

The Freaks finished round robin play in first place with six wins and just one loss. The only game they dropped was to Coral Harbour’s B Team. Graham said the loss was a “real eye-opener for the team.”

Second place Salliq defeated 3rd ranked Bat Intentions in one semi final while the Freaks downed

local rivals New Era to set up a showdown against the Coral Harbour team.

In the final the Invaders ended up getting out to an early 3-0 lead against the Rankin squad. The Freaks answered with four runs of their own to make it 4-3.

Salliq managed to regain the lead with some strong offense and halfway through the game they were winning 8-6. But a big inning for the Freaks saw them put six runs on the board to make it 12 to 8.

“We thought we were going to mercy them but they came back,” said Kreelak.

Although Salliq pushed hard in the final innings,

the Freaks came up with some solid defence to keep them at bay. The final score was 15-11 for the Freaks.

“It was pretty tight but our guys know what playoffs are all about. Not a single soul was out of line, they all played like champs,” Kreelak said.

The Invaders won the Calm Air Cup in 2018 but the Freaks edged them out to claim last years’ title.

Kreelak credited the Coral Harbour team for always being competitive at the tournament.

“This rivalry doesn’t get any better,” Kreelak said.

“We’ve got a pretty deep history and they always come with a very strong team.”

Rankin Inlet’s Freaks captured the Calm Air Cup softball championship on August 22. Back row, from left: Carlo Hamilton, Seamus Ayaruak, James Merritt, Chad Taipana. Norman Okalik. Donovan Akerolik, Airo King, Chad Graham and Lee Kreelak; front row, from left: Pataa Hamilton, Tracy Roach, Molly Ayaruak, Catherine Ayaruak, Odie Tagalik, Suzanne Sammurtok, Kandace Graham and Shirley Nakoolak. Cody Punter/NNSL photo

www.nnsl.com

Kivalliq News

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Wednesday, September 1, 2021 A7

Zoom lens recommended Clemens Imgrund snapped this picture of a polar bear in Coral Harbour on July 23. photo courtesy of Clemens Imgrund

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