Kivalliq News - Nov. 24, 2021 Edition

ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021 Vol 27 No 48

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photo courtesy of Steven Carleton

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ᓂᑉᓕᐅᑎᖃᕈᒪᔪᖅ: ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕ ᐅᕙᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᑕ

ᐱᔨ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ

Guest commentary: Let’s take care of our well being

P.J. Akeeagok selected as premier

A2 Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ.

ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖕᓂᑯᒥ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ Steven Carleton speaks to the crowd during his Hope Gathering meeting in Rankin Inlet in September. Photo courtesy of Steven Carleton

Northern News Services

ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᓱᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᑖᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᖁᓄᔪᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᑦᑕ ᐅᐸᒃᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖑᔪᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᕙᒃᑕᖓᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 16–ᒥ. “ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓇᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᑯᓅᓇ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᒥᖅᐸᓚᐅᕐᓂᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᙵᐅᒪᕐᔪᐊᓚᕐᓂᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓗᓕᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᖓ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓚᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᓐᓂ.” ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ, ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔨᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖑᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑎᕆᖅᑯᐊᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓂᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ. ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᐊᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ. ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ 100–ᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ 50–ᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᐅᐸᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓂᑦ. “ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕈᓐᓇᕈᑦᑕ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕆᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓂᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᕐᔪᐊᖑᕗᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᑉ ᕿᑎᐊᓃᑉᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᕐᔪᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥᑦ. “ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓲᖑᕗᒍᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐳᕙᖕᓂ ᐊᓂᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᓕᒫᖕᓂᑦ, ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ.” ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. “ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐱᐅᒋᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐸᕋ

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᖁᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐱᐅᒋᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐸᕋ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ.” ᐊᓈᓇᖓ ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᕋᓛᒥ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ 1959–ᒥ. ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ – ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᒻᒪᑕ, ᖁᑭᖅᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᓕᒫᓂᑦ, ᓅᑎᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕋᑦᑎᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᕐᒪᖏᓐᓂ. “ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ, ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᓂᐱᖓᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖕᓂᑯᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᑐᑭᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑎᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓂ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᕐᔪᐊᖑᕗᖅ ᓴᐅᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᑎᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᕗᑦ. ᓱᖏᐅᓐᓇᖅᓯᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ.” ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᑕᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᑐᐃᕋᒥ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᓛᕆᔭᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐅᖃᐅᑎᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᓂ. ᐃᓅᓯᖅ ᓇᐃᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᓴᐅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓᓕᒫᖅ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᑦᑎᓐᓃᑦᑐᓂ.” ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ, ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᐅᓗᑎᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒡᕕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ. ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᔪᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᕙᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᓂᖃᙱᑦᑐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᑦ ᑕᑖᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥ. ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂ. ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒋᔭᖓ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ, ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 2014–ᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ.

baa K’e

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

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í±ØÍ≤ÒáíÔÄ?

Wednesday, November 24, 2021 A3

fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Nov. 22

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

Gameti

Naujaat

Around Kivalliq

Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 674 Recovered cases: 670 Deaths: 4

Vaccine uptake: 26,979 first doses – 91 per cent over age 12 23,790 second doses – 80 per cent over age 12

Behchoko

with Stewart Burnett

Boil water advisory for Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet The Department of Health has issued a boil water advisory for all residents of Rankin Inlet effective Friday, Nov. 19.

The advisory is a precautionary measure due to scheduled maintenance on the water treatment plan.

All water for consumption must be brought to a rolling boil for a minimum of one full minute.

It is essential that all water be boiled for the following uses: drinking, preparing infant formulas, preparing juice and ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, cooking and brushing teeth.

It is not necessary to boil water for other uses.

Updates will be provided when available.

Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

P.J. Akeeagok chosen as Nunavut’s next premier

Sanikiluaq

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ - ᓂᐊᖁᙴ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᙳᖅᐳᖅ. ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕿᐊᕈ ᕐᒥ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 17 –ᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᓗᐊᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᕐᒥ, ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖏᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ .

Beer and wine store almost ready

Rankin Inlet Construction is complete and the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Corporation (NULC) has hired and trained eight employees and two administrative staff for the upcoming beer and wine store in Rankin Inlet.

“Our inventory is stocked and ready for us to open,” said Dan Young, director of the NULC. The public-facing side of the store is about 550 square feet and will have three tills to serve customers.

The NULC will be working with newly named Minister of Finance Adam Lightstone to set a firm date for opening and will be communicating those plans with the public.

Part of the goal of the store is to shift drinking behaviours around hard alcohol.

“The NULC looks forward to making it easier for consumers to choose low-alcohol beverages over higher-alcohol spirits,” said Young. “We are excited to work with and get to know our new store team members. We are confident Rankin residents will see us working hard to serve the community professionally and responsibly.”

Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA P.J. Akeeagok is Nunavut’s next premier. More of his colleagues in the legislative assembly selected Akeeagok during the Nov. 17 leadership forum than either Lorne Kusugak or Joe Savikataaq, the other two candidates to lead the territorial government. Image courtesy of the Government of Nunavut

Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA new to the legislative assembly; led Qikiqtani Inuit Association for seven years

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet South MLA Lorne Kusugak, left, and Arviat NorthWhale Cove MLA John Main will be the Kivalliq’s representatives in cabinet. Photos courtesy of the legislative assembly

Kusugak, Main get cabinet portfolios

Kivalliq Two Kivalliq MLAs will carry weighty ministerial portfolios in the newly elected Nunavut government.

Rankin Inlet South MLA Lorne Kusugak was in the running for premier position but lost out to Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA P.J. Akeeagok in final voting.

Instead, Kusugak will take on the portfolios of government house leader, minister of Economic Development and Transportation and minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main will carry Housing and will also act as minister responsible for Suicide Prevention.

Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki, who bumped incumbent Patterk Netser out of the riding in the fall election, will not hold a ministerial position.

Former premier and Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq will sit as a regular MLA, along with Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok and Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak.

Nunavut’s new legislators have chosen to go with youth by making P.J. Akeeagok the territory’s next premier.

Akeeagok, 36, was selected during Wednesday’s leadership forum, topping third-term Kivalliq MLAs Lorne Kusugak and Joe Savikataaq, the latter having served as premier during the 5th legislative assembly.

The forum lasted about 5.5 hours to that point and the selection was made by secret ballot.

Having led the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) for seven years, Akeeagok, a newcomer to the legislative assembly as are 10 of his peers, said the territory is in a crisis and youth are crying out to be heard.

Some young people in Iqaluit literally did that on Nov. 16, staging a demonstration at the legislative assembly, raising issues such as Nunavut’s high suicide rate.

“Nunavut is ready for new leadership,” Akeeagok said during his introductory speech, adding that the territory “is at a crossroads.”

He acknowledged that much has been accomplished over the past two decades, such as establishing Nunavut Arctic College, which is producing Nunavummiut in professional capacities. Yet he said many systemic challenges remain, like a lack of housing and overcrowded homes. He said tangible solutions are needed for issues such as addictions, trauma and mental

health; providing Elder care at home; and accessible and affordable childcare.

During his time as president of the QIA, he helped implement daycare subsidy programs in the Qikiqtani region, released children’s books in Inuktitut, created marine conservation areas, generated employment opportunities, bolstered fisheries and played a role in the creation of the men’s transitional home in Iqaluit.

Akeeagok, MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, said it’s necessary to break down silos and build partnerships with other governments to tackle major issues, such as housing.

Many Inuit who are working want to own their own homes and solutions must be found to make that possible, he said.

“Too many people go through hardship due to a lack of housing,” he said.

Speaking primarily in Inuktitut, he emphasized fisheries as a means to create jobs for communities that aren’t benefitting from mining or government occupations.

“We have to focus on other opportunities … each community had the right to be treated equally,” said Akeeagok, who grew up in Grise Fiord.

The Covid-19 pandemic proved that the government can mobilize very quickly and provide support to Nunavummiut. Akeeagok said he views suicide similarly and he thinks the same level of action is needed to make improvements to mental health.

He also addressed food insecurity, noting that the QIA introduced a program to aid in the harvest of traditional foods. He added

that Nunavut’s government will have to advocate for the Nutrition North program to be more transparent.

“It’s very unfortunate that some stores do gouge Nunavummiut,” he said.

Cambridge Bay MLA Pamela Gross nominated Akeeagok.

Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk nominated Savikataaq.

Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak was named as Speaker by acclaimation.

Cabinet members in place The eight members of the sixth Government of Nunavut cabinet will comprise two rookie MLAs, both women.

Of the 16 MLAs who allowed their names to stand for a cabinet post, the successful nominees were Quttiktuq MLA David Akeeagok, Cambridge Bay MLA Pamela Gross, South Baffin MLA David Joanasie, Rankin Inlet South MLA Lorne Kusugak, Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Lightstone, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main, Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk and Aggu MLA Joanna Quassa, who required a fifth round of voting to break what started out as a nine-way tie.

Quassa and Gross are the only newly-elected MLAs to be selected for a cabinet seat.

The choices were made during Wednesday’s leadership forum by secret ballot.

The eventful day wrapped up at 10 p.m.

Akeeagok has the privilege of assigning portfolios to his cabinet.

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Sharing lightens the load Northern News Services

For Steven Carleton, whose Hope Gathering meetings we covered in this issue, overcoming abuse began with opening up to people close to him.

On paper, talking about difficulties in your life doesn’t sound like much. It doesn’t sound like action. It can almost sound like a cop-out: sure, we can talk about it, but what are we actually going to do?

There is truth in the need for real action, but communication is one of the most powerful tools we have.

We all know the feeling, in one way or another, of how sharing an issue with a trusted person can lighten the load on our shoulders.

In research from the University of California, Los Angeles, putting feelings into words actually helps your brain process difficult situations.

It’s called “affect labelling” and it assists your mind in managing

that resonated with its flight or fight reme: “As long as sponse. you’ve got breath in Someone who your lungs, there’s has experienced a real potential for our traumatic event may lives to improve.” have great emotional difficulty even I have not expethinking about it afrienced the trauma terwards. But as time many people have, passes, as your interand I do not attempt nal dialogue continto equate my strugues and you discuss gles with others’. it with other people, The biggest chalyour emotional reaclenge in my life has tion diminishes. been my speech imCommunication is pediment. is editor of an essential step in In high school and Kivalliq News processing issues in college, I descended our lives. into an increasingly When we “bottle dark place. I refused up” our feelings and refuse to to confront my internal dialogue engage with our internal dialogue about my stutter, because I was or discuss them with others, we constantly overwhelmed and desimpede our ability to come to perate for relief. This left me in a terms and move forward. This constant fight-or-flight state. leads to a constant state of feeling In a college writing class, it overwhelmed and engaging in the was coming up to my turn to read fight-or-flight response. my paper aloud. I was too scared.

Carleton said something else I got up and ran to my car, pour-

Stewart Burnett

ing tears in the pouring rain. I spent about an hour there and something magical happened: I engaged with myself, and I had the epiphany that so long as my heart is beating, nothing is truly wrong.

That didn’t solve my anxiety around speaking overnight, but it did initiate a fundamental shift in my mentality going forward.

I am happy to report that in the years following, and through much more internal dialogue, I mentally overcame that challenge (though not physically – you’ll still hear me stutter; it just doesn’t affect me now).

My experience is nothing compared to what many go through, but the same principles are at play. The more we can communicate internally and with others, the more we can process challenges in our lives and help each other. If we are not dealing with a significant issue ourselves, at least we should be the friend others can open up to.

Sanikiluaq

On the land Do you have an amazing story from your adventures on the land? Tell us your story and show us your photos for a chance to win $100.

Submit your story and photo to our Nunavut News Facebook page, editor@nunavutnews. com, or by mail to Nunavut News, PO Box 28, Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0.

Entries will be placed on our Facebook page.

They may also appear in this newspaper and other Northern News Services publications. The story and photo with the most combined likes and shares at the end of the week wins.

This week’s winner is Alanna Qiyuqtaq. Congratulations!

Winner: Alanna Qiyuqtaq

Qikiqtarjuaq Caught my first polar bear, Nov. 5.

Candace Anaruak

Rankin Inlet Me and my niece built this on a beautiful evening in Rankin Inlet.

Kivalliq News

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Wednesday, November 24, 2021 A5

Inuusivut kamagitsiarlavut Let’s take care of our well being Editor’s Note: This column has been edited for length; the full version can be found online at nunavutnews.com.

On Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. we will be having a Mental Health Movement in Rankin Inlet for all of Nunavut in front of Turaarvik Inns North.

I got involved in the movement because in the other two territories and the 10 provinces of this country, the average causes of death are accidents or natural causes. The main cause of death in Nunavut is suicide.

We are having the Mental Health Movement to raise awareness to this issue. It affects nearly all of us Nunavummiut, it is a cycle that needs to be broken.

There are so many issues that Nunavummiut have gone through or are still going through, such as the lack of mental health services. There aren’t enough therapists in any of our communities and most people must be sent out of their community to be able to receive mental health care.

The majority of Nunavummiut don’t have the proper resources that are needed.

Most of the mental health therapists are transient work-

ers, meaning that access to mental health services is very limited or near impossible.

Having to do the same therapy sessions repeatedly could feel like the trust and bond is broken to a lot of people; it can be hard for a person to do all over again.

There are many people that are living with mental illnesses, and it needs to be addressed.

Bringing awareness to this topic is important for Nunavummiut to understand.

This topic dates way back to residential schools. What happened in that time has made a major ripple effect to today.

I strongly believe that intergenerational trauma plays a big part in Nunavut’s main cause of death. The last residential school in Nunavut closed in 1997, known as the Kivalliq Hall (Arctic college) here in Rankin Inlet.

It has made Nunavummiut resilient. In 1999 our Nunavut territory was built, we have our own territory due to resiliency.

Our Inuit culture is very important. I live in a generation where I am in between the older generation and modern generation. Creating

ᓕᐅᓂ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ.

Readers Write

Leonie Sammurtok is one of the organizers of the mental health rally taking place in Rankin Inlet this weekend. Photo courtesy of Leonie Sammurtok a balance between the two worlds while maintaining our Inuktitut language and culture is crucial for future generations. Personally, I understand Inuktitut more than I can speak it.

I have been discouraged many times because I am not fluent in my mother tongue.

Despite that, I am learning more about my language and

Inuit culture and I strongly encourage everyone to keep learning, no matter what comments are made.

Our land, identity, culture, and Inuit are very important.

Nunavummiut need more and reliable resources. Understanding that not a lot of people find it easy to speak about their experiences, I believe that more activities

for our isolated communities needs to be provided.

We need recreational activities that aren’t sport-based, as not everyone plays sports.

More sewing programs, which create warmth for families during our long winter months and teach essential skill sets for people. More baking and cooking classes for men and women would

be appreciated by many. Programs for all ages.

With the co-operation of everyone, I believe that we can put an end to suicide that affects Nunavummiut. We are strong, resilient and caring.

Our land, language, culture and Inuit are important and we all matter.

by Leonie Sammurtok Rankin Inlet

A6 Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Kivalliq News

ᐃᓅᓯᕗᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᑦᑎᐊᕐᓚᕗᑦ

ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᐅᑉ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᖓ: ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑕᑭᓂᖓ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒍ, ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑑᔪᖅ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ nunavutnews.com-ᒥ. ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 28, 2021-ᒥ 2:30-ᒥ ᐅᑉᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᐅᑉ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᕝᕕᒋᓕᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ ᐱᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᓕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᖃᕌᖓᑦ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᕋᔪᖕᒪᑕ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᕈᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᓄᓇᕗᒥᓕ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᕋᔪᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓃᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᒋᓇᓱᒃᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᔭᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᓅᖄᑎᒌᒃᑐᓄᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓯᒪᓲᖅ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᖅᑲᔭᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᓯᔪᖅ ᓇᑲᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᕈᓐᓃᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ. ᐊᒥᓲᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᖅᑐᑦ ᓱᓕ, ᐊᒥᒐᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᑦ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒃᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᓕᐊᖕᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᓴᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ. ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᓴᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᑦᑐᑦ. ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᓴᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᐱᓪᓚᒃᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᓲᑦ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓗᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᕐᓚᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᓪᓚᑦᑖᖅᑐᖅ. ᐊᒥᓲᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓖᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᒃ. ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑲᒻᒥᙱᑦᑐᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᐃᑉᓱᒪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᒥᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ. ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖓ ᑕᐃᑉᓱᒪᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᒥᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕝᕕᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᑐᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ 1997-ᒥ, ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅ Hᐊᓚᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ (ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒋᔭᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ) ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᓴᙱᒃᑎᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ. 1999-ᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᓇᑖᖅᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᓴᙱᔫᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ. ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᓄᓇᖁᑎᕗᑦ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑑᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᓖᑦ. ᕿᑎᒃᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᓕᒃ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᕿᑎᒍᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᖏᓐᓈᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᖃᑦᑕᙱᒻᒪᑕ. ᒧᖅᓱᖅᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒡᓗ, ᐃᓚᒌᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᖃᓂᒌᒡᓕᕈᑕᐅᕙᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᒡᓕᓇᖅᑐᐊᓘᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᑑᑎᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ. ᒪᒪᖅᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᒐᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᐸᑕ ᓱᓇᕈᓘᔭᕐᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᒐᑎᑕᐅᕙᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᓪᓚᕆᒐᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ. ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒡᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓄᑦ. ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᓕᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ. ᐊᒥᓲᔪᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᔪᔪᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑦᑐᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓇᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᐸᑕ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᓂᒃ, ᓇᒧᙵᐅᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᓱᓇᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖃᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᔪᓪᓗ ᐃᓚᕙᓪᓕᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᓴᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᕌᖓᑕ ᓄᓇᑉᑎᓐᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓲᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ.

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ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᐸᑕ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓕᕆᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓱᕐᕋᖕᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᒡᕙ ᐱᖢᐊᖏᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᖅ ᐅᑉᓗᒥ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ. ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᕈᑎᒍᓐᓃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ, ᓯᖁᑉᑎᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᖕᓄᓪᓗ. ᐃᓚᐃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓚᓐᓈᕐᒥᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᓐᓇᐃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐋᖓᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᕐᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᖓᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᕐᓗ “ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖅᑐᑑᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ” ᓄᓇᑉᑎᓐᓂ; ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕆᐊᓕᒃ. ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᐅᙱᑦᑑᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒥᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕌᖓᑉᑕ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ. ᐃᒥᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥᒃ whiskey-ᒥᒃ ᑎᒥᒃᑯᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᓲᑦ ᐅᐃᕆᓴᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓚᐃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᒋᔭᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓕᕌᖓᑕ. ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᓴᖅᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᓕᒃ. ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑉᑕ, ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᐱᓯᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓂᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓄᑦ. ᓴᙱᔫᔪᒍᑦ, ᐱᒡᒍᔪᐊᓘᔪᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᒃᑲᐅᔪᒍᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅᐳᑦ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᖁᑎᕗᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓗᒃᑖᖅᑐᒍᑦ.

ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑐᖅ ᓕᐅᓂ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ

Youth marched through Iqaluit Nov. 16 as part of a growing movement demanding suicide prevention and improved mental health programs. Photo courtesy of Amy Akumalik

www.nnsl.com

Kivalliq News

Sports & Recreation

Wednesday, November 24, 2021 A7

Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: sports@nnsl.com • Fax: (867) 873-8507

ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᕐᓗᑎᒃ volleyball-ᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᖅ

Northern News Services

ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖁᔭᐅᔪᑦ. ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔩᒃ ᕋᐳᑦ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Hᐊᓕ ᒧᕐᓱᕐ volleyball-ᖃᑕᐅᖁᔨᔫᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ volleyball-ᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 22-ᒥ 28-ᒧᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒪᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖁᔨᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᖕᓇᕐᒪᖔᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ. “ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᓲᑦ, Hᐊᑭᓲᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ volleyball-ᖃᑕᐅᓗᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ. ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᕌᓂᒃᐸᑕ, ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᑯᓗᐃᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ.” ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ volleyball-ᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᖅᓴᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᑐᓗᕈᑎᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ ᒧᕐᓱᕐᓗ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ, ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓚᐅᐱᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᑕᕋᒥᓃᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓚᒥᓃᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ. ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ ᓴᕆᒪᒋᔭᓕᒃ volleyball-ᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓄᙵᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ. “ᑕᒡᕙ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᖅᐳᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ. “ᑕᑯᔪᒪᔪᒍᑦ volleyball-ᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ.” ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ volleyball-ᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ volleyball-ᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᒋᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ. “ᐅᕙᑉᑎᓐᓃᖏᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐅᕙᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓱᓕᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑦᑏᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑑᔪᒪᔪᖓᑦᑕᐅᖅ – ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᔪᖓ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓂᒃ. ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᕋ.”

ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂᒡᓗ volleyball-ᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᑯᓗᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ volleyball-ᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

Volleyball-ᒍᒫᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐅᕌᓂᒃᐸᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 22-ᒥ, ᕿᑎᐊᓂ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 24-ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᒥ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 28-ᒥ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ. ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᒧᕐᓱᕐᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ. ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ ᓇᓕᐊᖕᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᓐᓅᔪᒥ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐃᓂᖃᑐᐊᖅᐸᑕ.

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨ ᕋᐳᑦ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᓂᑯᕕᖓᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ Rankin Royals–ᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᑐᓄᐊᓃᑦᑐᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᓐᑎ ᑎᐊᔅ, ᑲᐃᓕ ᖃᕐᓕᒃ, ᑕᓕᐊ ᒍᕋᓐᑦ, ᐊᒻᐳᕐ ᒍᕆᔭᒻ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨ Hᐊᓕ ᒧᕐᓱᕐ. ᐊᑖᓃᑦᑐᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᑎ ᑲᓇᓕ–ᑲᓛᒃ, ᐸᕐᑯᕐ ᕚᒃᓄᕐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᔭᐃᑦ ᐊᓇᕈᐊᖅ.

Compete to learn Skill-development volleyball tournament invites all

by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

The junior girls need practice, and that’s where Rankin Inlet residents come in.

Coaches Robert Kabvitok and Holly Mercer are inviting men and women to compete in a casual volleyball tournament Nov. 22 to 28, with the aim of helping develop the junior girls team’s skills.

“The main purpose is to get the kids to develop their skills and see how a tournament feels,” said Kabvitok. “These kids are playing soccer tournaments, hockey tournaments, but they’ve never really played a volleyball tournament. After the mini-tournament, we’ll see what we have to work on with the girls.”

He said the girls will be working on their volleying, bumping, communication and serving, plus bonding as a team.

The pair of Kabvitok and Mercer have been coaching for years, though they recently took a break to spend more family time.

Kabvitok is particularly proud of his past volleyball alumni who went on to compete in the Arctic Winter Games and Canada Summer Games.

“That was our goal,” said Kabvitok. “We wanted to see volleyball players representing Rankin and to have fun.”

Kabvitok found his love of coaching through his coach in junior high school.

“He was always with us and teaching us how to play,” he said.

“He was true to us and that’s what I wanted to do – help kids out. I love coaching.”

He thanks the senior men’s and women’s volleyball committee for allowing the girls to use their volleyball time.

The tournament will be held Monday, Nov. 22, Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov. 28 in the evenings.

To sign up, contact Kabvitok or Mercer through Facebook or find a sign-up sheet in the gym. Players are encouraged to join any night through the tournament, so long as there is space to play.

Cutline: Coach Robert Kabvitok, left, stands with a past Rankin Royals volleyball team. From back, left to right are Shanti Dias, Kailee Karlik, Talia Grant, Amber Graham and coach Holly Mercer. From bottom, left to right are Tati Connelly-Clark, Parker Faulkner and Jade Anawak. Photo courtesy of Holly Mercer

A8 Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Mental health care must change

Organizers of the mental health rally in Rankin Inlet gather. From left to right are Meagan Akumalik Netser, Leonie Sammurtok and Emily van der Kamp. Not pictured are George Aksadjuak and Nicole Ymana. Photo courtesy of Meagan Akumalik Netser

Rankin Inlet advocates rally on heels of Iqaluit suicide protest

by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

How many times can you share your pain without making progress to heal?

That’s what Rankinmiut and many across the territory are asking themselves, their communities and the Government of Nunavut.

On the heels of a youth-led protest for better mental health treatment and suicide prevention in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet residents have held a rally of their own.

“Mental health care in Nunavut is very poor,” said Meagan Akumalik Netser, one of the organizers of the mental health movement scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20.

“I’ve experienced it myself. Trying to speak with a mental health nurse is hard because the mental health nurses are always so transient. There’s always a new one coming in. We have to retell our heartbreaking story over and over again. And the suicide

rate in Nunavut is so high … I’m just tired of our people dying.”

Glenn Woodford, Kissarvik Co-op Retail Store Manager, knows how difficult dealing with mental health issues can be due to the transient aspect of support staff.

He said he doesn’t intend to criticize anyone and the job that health care staff do in Rankin Inlet is admirable, but he too felt let down after sharing his story with a nurse, only for that person to leave town.

When a new one comes in, “now you’ve got to start right from the beginning,” said Woodford, “and start over again because someone new wants to know you and try to help you. And their intention is admirable, their intention to help is real, but they don’t stay around long enough. So that in itself is nothing but frustration to the patient. So why bother? And then there’s that feeling of let-down.”

Though the recent protest in Iqaluit was led by youth, Woodford knows these struggles affect people in all walks of life.

“I have a number of staff working with me, and I have to be

professional,” he said. “But being professional and running a business doesn’t mean that I’m not human, because I am. And like everybody else, I feel pressure too. There are times I need help and I don’t mind saying that.”

When he saw Netser’s post on Facebook about the upcoming rally, he let her know the Co-op would support her cause. Netser said the Co-op is providing refreshments, coffee and space outside of Inns North for the demonstration.

“I thought, that’s awesome she’s doing that,” said Woodford, who afterwards found out one of his own staff was helping to organize the event, adding to his desire to support the cause.

Leonie Sammurtok, one of the organizers of Saturday’s event, says that “In the other two territories and the 10 provinces of this country, the average causes of death are accidents or natural causes.

“The main cause of death in Nunavut is suicide.”

This dates back to residential schools, she added, with the last residential school in the territory closing in 1997 in Rankin Inlet. Nunavummiut are resilient, but intergenerational trauma still lingers.

Sammurtok believes Inuit culture is an important part of the solution.

“Without knowing it, we all carry the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within ourselves,” she said. “That is what I love about our people.

We are very respectful, welcoming to a lot of newcomers; we help people and families when needed, making sure the decisions we make will benefit everyone around us; we are eager to learn new things even if they are challenging; we are a community that’s more like family; we do our part to help others; we use the limited resources we have to build great things. Respecting the land, animals and environment is very important to Inuit.”

With the co-operation of everyone, Sammurtok believes the suicide crisis can be overcome. She encourages everyone to attend the mental health movement rally to honour the people lost to suicide and prevent the loss of any more souls.

“It is news that we should hear no more,” she said.

Beyond more permanent mental health staff, Netser would like the government to make it mandatory for workplaces and schools to have staff trained in mental health first aid or psychological first aid.

Sammurtok suggested more activities beyond sports are needed, like sewing, beading carving and hunting. Providing more activities and outlets for people so they don’t turn to drugs or alcohol could help address the root problems, she said.

The mental health movement was originally scheduled for last weekend but postponed due to weather. It is now scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, in front of Turaarvik Inns North.

Finding hope in Baker Lake www.nnsl.com

Kivalliq News

Wednesday, November 24, 2021 A9

Abuse survivor uses personal experiences to let youth know they are not alone

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Baker Lake

Steven Carleton’s mission in life is helping Inuit find hope through their darkest moments.

He knows the struggle well, having been sexually abused as a teen by a member of the church his family attended.

That’s one of many stories he tells at his Hope Gathering meetings, the latest of which was held in Baker Lake on Nov. 16.

“I talked about how I was able to find a way through that,” said Carleton. “I talked about how I drank, and I was extremely angry and confused. I didn’t know what was going on in my life.”

Prayer, finding a counsellor and reconnecting with Inuit ways of life was how he turned a corner and found hope.

Carleton held a similar meeting in Rankin Inlet in September.

More than 100 people attended that meeting, and roughly 50 came to the Baker Lake event. What particularly thrilled Carleton was the number of young men present.

“If we’re able to tell stories of other Inuit, other First Nations men and women who have had experiences similar to some of the people in our meetings, and how they’ve been able to overcome them and find a way through, then I think that’s worth its weight in gold,” said Carleton.

The meetings centre on storytelling, sharing the real lived experiences of people who have survived abuse, addiction and trauma.

“We tell stories of hope, that it’s possible to overcome these things,” said Carleton. “And as long as you’ve got breath in your lungs, there’s real potential for our lives to improve.”

He’s well aware of the mental health challenge in Nunavut.

“I hate alcohol for what it does to my people,” said Carleton. “I hate that Inuit have gone through the things we’ve gone through.”

His mother was born in an outpost camp outside of Pangnirtung in 1959. She lived a nomadic life as a child, the Inuit way of life – until the RCMP came, shot all the dogs, relocated people and bulldozed their summer stone homes.

“It’s injustice in its purest form,” said Carleton, the emotion in his voice clear.

He advocates that abuse survivors and those going through mental health challenges open up to people they trust.

“First thing we need to understand is it’s not your fault that this happened,” said Carleton. “And then secondly, it’s so important that we don’t bury these things in our lives. We need to talk about them. We need to normalize conversation around the things that we’re struggling with.”

Change in his life only started happening when he opened up to his close friends and parents.

“Talk to at least one person,” said Carleton. “Tell them some of the things you’re struggling and dealing with. Because life is really too short to bury all these things inside of our hearts.”

For those who are not dealing with abuse or mental health issues but who want to help, Carleton suggests being that friend others can turn to.

“Be a lifeline to at least one person,” he said. “You might not be able to travel all throughout the territory, you might not have a large Facebook following or YouTube platform – those things really don’t matter as long as you can help one person through a tough time in their life.”

He was encouraged to see the Iqaluit demonstration demanding suicide prevention.

“I really do believe that we can beat it,” said Carleton. “We can beat this suicide crisis. It’s one of the most beautiful things about my people. When people are healthy, there’s such a phenomenal sense of community and people looking out for each other.”

Steven Carleton speaks to the crowd during his Hope Gathering meeting in Rankin Inlet in September. Photo courtesy of Steven Carleton

Hope Gathering attendees pose for a group photo during their meeting in Baker Lake. Photo courtesy of Steven Carleton He wants to foster an environment where suicide does not survive, and people’s lives are full of hope.

Carleton thanked the local co-op for their support of his events.

His organization, the Arctic Hope Project, was founded in 2014 as an Inuit youth leadership development and suicide prevention program. More information is available at www.bpea. com/arctic-about.

Steven Carleton presents at the Hope Gathering meeting in Baker Lake Tuesday, Nov. 16. Photo courtesy of Steven Carleton

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