Kivalliq News - Dec. 1, 2021 Edition

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Community 1000-ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑏᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᖅᑐᑦ Thousands of gifts headed out across the North

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᓕᖅᑐᑦ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖏᓐᓅᕌᖓᑕ Rankin Inlet now requires proof of vaccination to enter municipal buildings

Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021 Vol 27 No 49

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Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

KIA seeks to revive youth council ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ 2015-ᒥ. “ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᒃᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑯᕆᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᑐ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᒃᑲᓐᓂᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ.

Participants of the Kivalliq Inuit Association’s Pijunnaqsiniq Culture camp in 2015. “It’s good for connections and building communication between communities,” Christine Tootoo, youth co-ordinator with the KIA, says of the decision to revive its youth council. Photo courtesy of Christine Tootoo

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ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᓂᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᓂᒃ Northern News Services

ᐊᕙᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ. “ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᑐᓴᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᑉᓗᑕ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓴᕐᕕᒋᓪᓚᑦᑖᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑯᕆᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᑐ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᓂᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ. ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᔪᒪᔪᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᕐᕕᒋᓇᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓇᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔾᔪᑎᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓪᓚᑦᑖᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᒥᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖅᐹᖑᖕᒪᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᑐ.

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᐸᑕ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᓇᓕᐊᖕᓂ ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᓇᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᑐᑐ ᑐᑭᓯᑎᑦᑎᒋᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒥᓲᔪᒃᓴᐅᔪᒡᒎᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐆᒃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᓴᓇᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᒃᑰᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔾᔪᑎᓕᖅᐸᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᓕᖅᐸᑕ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᑐ. ᑕᑯᔪᒪᓇᔭᖅᑐᕉᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒡᓗ ᒪᓕᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᔭᐃᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ. “ᓴᙱᓂᖅᑖᖅᑎᑦᑐᒪᔭᒃᑲ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᑐ.

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓯᒪᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑐᑐ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕐᓚᒃᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᑉ ᑐᖏᓕᕆᖕᒪᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᐅᔫᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᑐ, ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᒍᓐᓇᖅᓯᖁᑉᓗᒋᓪᓗ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᕐᓗ, ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᓂᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᖄᑎᒌᒍᓐᓇᖅᓯᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. ᐃᒡᕕᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐃᑦ ᐱᔫᒥᒍᓱᒐᔭᖅᐸᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᓇᓕᐊᖕᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑖᑉᑯᓇᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᐆᒃᑐᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᕝᕕᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 3. ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᒍᕕᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕈᒪᒍᕕᓪᓗ ᐅᕗᙵ ᑕᑯᒋᐊᕐᓗᑎᑦ www.kivalliqinuit.ca.

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baa K’e

Kivalliq News

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í±ØÍ≤ÒáíÔÄ?

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 A3

fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Nov. 29

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.

Naujaat

Gameti

Around Kivalliq

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

Vaccine uptake: 27,187 first doses – 92 per cent over age 12 24,037 second doses – 82 per cent over age 12

Behchoko

Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

with Stewart Burnett

As winter sets in, sunrises and sunsets only get more beautiful in the Kivalliq. David Olson snapped this photo of a sundog in Rankin Inlet.

Photo courtesy of David Olson

ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᓯᐊᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᐅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ

Sanikiluaq

KIA looks to advance fibre link project with new cabinet

Kivalliq The Kivalliq Inuit Association board thanked outgoing Premier Joe Savikataaq for his work and is looking forward to collaborating with the territory’s new premier and cabinet.

“I have known premier-elect (P.J.) Akeeagok for some time as we have worked together to support Inuit interests for our regions,” said KIA President Kono Tattuinee in a news release.

“I offer my full congratulations on his becoming premier.

I would like to congratulate all new members of cabinet and we look forward to working with all members to advance our priorities for Nunavummiut.”

One priority Tattuinee noted is advancing work on the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project.

Help design a men’s program

Rankin Inlet The Government of Nunavut and Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre are inviting community members to attend a show and workshop at the Singiituq complex next week.

The show at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7, will feature Hyper T, Nelson Tagoona, Sam Tutanuak and more. The next evening at the same time and place, attendees will engage in a workshop to give suggestions for what a men’s program should look like in the community.

“This is a chance to say what you think is needed to prevent suicide,” reads the poster.

Everyone ages 17 and up is invited to attend the events.

$50k up for grabs for community projects

Rankin Inlet People with ideas for how to enrich the Rankin Inlet community should pitch their proposals to the hamlet.

The Agnico Eagle Charity Ball Benefit Program, in concert with the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, is offering $50,000 for community groups to make a dream into reality. The maximum available prize per applicant is $10,000.

Last year, only six proposals made their way to the hamlet office, and all of them received a piece of the prize. The winning proposals included support for minor hockey, the Rankin Inlet Radio Society, Christmas hampers and more.

Sidney Nichol, community economic development officer with the hamlet, sits on the committee that will be reviewing proposals. He hopes to see proposals that would benefit the youth.

“It’s all about the youth,” said Nichol.

The funding is in place of the annual ball Agnico Eagle would hold in the past that saw donations given to community organizations in person. Due to Covid-19, the in-person event has been on hiatus, replaced with prize funding for community organizations.

“I’m sure it’ll go back to what it originally was once everything’s opened up and restrictions have lifted,” said Nichol, “but for now, this is all we could do and it’s still a really good donation.”

No formal applications are needed – just a page or two explanation of the project idea. Interested community groups or nonprofits should send their proposal to Nichol at cedo@ rankininlet.ca by 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3.

ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖅ ᖁᖓᔮᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᓯᐊᖅᑖᕋᒥ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᓂᙶᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

Youth in Kugluktuk smile with their gifts from the south. Photo courtesy of Cindy Dhillon

ᖃᑉᓗᓈᓂ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᔩᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᑦ Northern News Services

ᐅᓕᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓖᑦ, ᐱᖅᑐᖅᓯᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᓇᐹᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑭᑦᑐᑦ – ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᔪᑦ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑖᒻᓇ ᓄᖅᑲᑐᐃᓐᓇᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᒃᑲᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. “ᐃᓅᓯᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᖁᑎᒋᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᕈᓘᔭᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᓐᑎ ᑎᓕᓐ ᑲᒻᓘᑉᔅ, ᐳᕆᑎᔅ ᑲᓚᒻᐱᔭᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᓄᓇᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓅᑕᐅᑲᑕᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᓕᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ. ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓗᖕᒪᑕ, ᓯᓚᖓ ᐱᖅᓯᖅᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᓇᐅᒃᑰᕐᕕᖏᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓪᓗᑎᒃ; ᐅᖃᓘᑎᐊᓛᖏᑦ ᐊᔪᓕᖅᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᓯᑐᕝᕕᐅᔪᐊᓘᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᖁᑎᕐᔪᐊᖏᓪᓗ ᓱᕈᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ; ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓴᖅᑭᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᐃᑭᑦᑐᖃᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᓕᑕᓐ ᐃᑭᖦᖢᓂ ᓄᖑᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ – ᑕᐃᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑳᒻᓗᑉᔅᒧᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᑯᓗᖏᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓘᑎᒃᑯᑦ, ᑎᓕᓐ ᑐᙵᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂᓗ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ. ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑏᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᑦ 640 ‘ᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ’, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᒃᑲᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓇᓂᓯᔪᖃᔾᔮᙱᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᖅ. ᖃᓄᖅ ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑕ: ᑎᓕᓐ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᕙᒃᖢᓂ 12-ᓄᑦ 100-ᖏᓐᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᔫᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᒋᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᑦ. ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᔪᐃᔪᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ, ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓲᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒧᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑭᒃᑰᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᓇᑖᕈᒪᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᑎᓕᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ 5,500 ᐅᖓᑖᓂᒎᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ.

“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᓕᓵᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ Google-ᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᓕᓐ, ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓇᓂ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ. “ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᑐᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᔭᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᖃᕌᖓᑦ.” ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑏᑦ ‘ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒦᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑕ’; ᐃᓄᑦᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ. “ᐃᓅᓯᓗᒃᑖᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓇᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓇᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᖕᓇᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ (ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ), ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᓕᓐ. ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᐅᑎᖅᑕᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᑲᒪᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᑭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᐃᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᓕᓐ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑲᒪᓇᓱᒃᖢᑕ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑑᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᖅᑕᒃᑯᑦ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᓐᓃᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᙱᑎᒋᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑐᔫᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑭᖏᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓲᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᔪᓄᑦ, ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᑐᔫᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ. 100 ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᔾᔩᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᓯᐊᑦ ᐴᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᕌᕐᕕᒋᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᑦᑎᐊᓲᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᑦ ᑎᑭᕝᕕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑕ. ᑐᔫᓯᐊᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᒍᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓲᕐᓗ ᖃᔪᖅᑐᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ, ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑕᕈᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᕿᑎᒋᐊᖅᑐᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑮᓇᐅᔭᕐᔪᐊᕌᓗᖕᒥᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕐᓂᖅᐸᑦ, ᑎᓕᓐ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᓕᐊᕋᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᖅᑐᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ. ᒫᓐᓇᓕ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᕆᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒥᐊᒃᑯᒋᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᒪᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑐᔫᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑰᕈᑎᑖᙱᖔᕐᓗᓂ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᖃᕈᕕᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᒥᒃ, ᓇᓂᒋᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᑖᑉᑯᐊ Facebook-ᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒪᓗᑎᑦ – ᑐᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ.

A4 Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Kivalliq News Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

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What will a vaccine passport achieve?

Northern News Services

To enter a municipal building in Rankin Inlet, you will now need proof of vaccination.

It’s not surprising the hamlet pursued this bylaw, though it is unique in the Kivalliq for now.

Proof of vaccination, or vaccine passports, are becoming the norm across Canada and the western world.

Senior administrative officer Darren Flynn said one of the hopes with the passport is that it will allow the hamlet to increase indoor capacity limits so people can get back to a sense of normalcy with community events and sports.

Throughout the pandemic, we have constantly been reaching to return to normal.

First, we had to flatten the curve by staying inside, but that wasn’t enough. Then we had to wear masks, but that wasn’t enough.

Now we have to take the vaccine. Will that be enough?

It’s easy to be pessimistic. The longer the pandemic has dragged on, the further away the light at the end of the tunnel seems.

The numbers from jurisdictions with high vaccine uptake and vaccine passports are not exactly encouraging, either: the Yukon has a nearly 90-per-cent vaccination rate but recently laid down its toughest restrictions yet; Israel made a third shot necessary for the vaccine passport after the first two proved insufficient to manage the virus; Germany is currently mulling mandatory vaccines for everyone and a full lockdown; and Austria has

already announced the vaccine will be mandatory in the new year.

Of course, extraordinary times tend to call for extraordinary measures. There’s no debating Covid19 represents an extraordinary threat.

Despite seeming make a habit of stewart to dashing our hopes, burnett governments may well be in the right to continue bringing in harsh measures to keep a lid on this evolving natural disaster.

The vaccines have proven to be a miracle; they effectively reduce severe complications from Covid19, and if you don’t want to risk a game of Russian Roulette with the disease, I recommend taking them.

At some point, should we be

resigned to a “new normal” that includes distancing, masking and vaccinating for the foreseeable future?

Are the vaccine passports a way back to the old normal, or another aspect of the new normal that we will just have to get used to?

As if anyone knows at this point. One thing is for sure: the longer these measures continue, the more this way of life will be normalized, especially for children who may grow up knowing nothing else. Few temporary government measures stay temporary.

I hope to be around when we open the black box on the pandemic in 20 or 50 years.

There is at least one technical note the hamlet should take into consideration with its vaccine passport policy: people should still be allowed in buildings if they are at risk from the cold.

During these times, let’s not let bureaucracy trump humanity.

Kivalliq youth council reignited

Sanikiluaq

ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗᖅᓯᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ 2014-ᒥ. ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᕿᓂᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᙳᕈᒪᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

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Attendees sit in a circle at the Kivalliq Inuit Association’s youth celebration camp in Coral Harbour 2014. KIA is now seeking youth from each community to form a new youth council. Photo courtesy of Christine Tootoo

KIA actively seeking applicants

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq

After a 20-year hiatus, the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) is bringing back its regional youth council.

“The reason we want to initiate a youth council again is to have input from the communities on what kind of programs they want to see and input from the youth directly,” said Christine Tootoo, youth co-ordinator with KIA. The organization is seeking two members to represent each of the communities in the Kivalliq region.

KIA is looking to leverage the youth council to not only get feedback about programs to run, but help form connections to turn ideas into reality.

“The people in the communities know their

communities the best,” said Tootoo.

So if the council thinks a sewing program in one community would be best, the representatives from that community can use their on-the-ground knowledge to find the best teachers and reliable contacts to facilitate it.

Tootoo explained that there may be many knowledgeable people in the communities KIA doesn’t know about because they don’t always apply for jobs, but youth living in the communities would know who they are.

Connecting youth and knowledge keepers across the Kivalliq will build capacity, said Tootoo. She would like to see youth trained to eventually run workshops and programs related to the needs they identify themselves.

“I want to empower them and make them feel like they have the knowledge and the skills to provide those kinds of programs in their own

communities by themselves,” said Tootoo.

Though KIA hasn’t run a youth council in several years, Tootoo knows a bit about them, as she is currently vice-president of the National Inuit Youth Council.

“It’s good for connections and building communication between communities,” said Tootoo, as well as forming relationships.

At the same time, KIA is seeking adult men and women from each community to form a regional council. This council would have elder representation and work in conjunction with the youth council, increasing the connections and relationship-building across the region.

If you or anyone you know would be interested in representing your region on either of these councils KIA is forming, the deadline to apply is Dec. 3. For more information and to apply, visit www.kivalliqinuit.ca.

Got gifts? Local kids would love them

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Want to make a young person’s Christmas?

Bring some toys to Leonie Sammurtok.

“Every kid likes receiving gifts at Christmas,” said Sammurtok, who is arranging her second toy drive in Rankin Inlet after her last in 2018.

“For some people, it’s hard for parents to be able to buy toys, and I’d like to help with that.”

Sammurtok is seeking toy donations until Dec. 20. Anyone who has toys their child has grown out of can donate them or bring new gifts. Parents can pick up gifts from Sammurtok to give out themselves rather than at the toy drive, as well.

She doesn’t think Rankin youth are too picky

about what they’d like and said children would be happy to receive any gifts.

Sammurtok’s favourite gifts as a youth were anything to do with art – pencil crayons, paper, paint.

If people have more than one gift to donate, all the better. In 2018, she collected and distributed about 200 presents.

“The more, the better,” said Sammurtok. “If I can give kids more than one gift, they’d like that.”

She wraps them with the help of her family and enlists a local Santa Claus to give them out. Sammurtok is still waiting on information to confirm the place and time of the gift-giving event. In the meantime, anyone interested in participating should message her through Facebook.

“I really hope it is a good turn out, as it was a few years back,” said Sammurtok.

Alan Everard plays Santa Claus during the 2018 toy drive. Photo courtesy of Leonie Sammurtok

Municipal vaccine passport takes effect in Rankin Inlet www.nnsl.com

Kivalliq News

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 A5

Vehicles line up in front of the Rankin Inlet hamlet office to receive packages of food in March. Anyone wanting to enter municipal buildings after Nov. 30 will have to show proof of vaccination. Photo courtesy of David Fredlund

Hamlet hopes to raise capacity levels; wristbands will signify vaccine status

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

If you want to use municipal buildings in Rankin Inlet, you’ll need to be vaccinated.

Hamlet council unanimously passed the proof-of-vaccination bylaw Oct. 25. It will apply to all municipal buildings in Rankin Inlet, from the arena to community hall, as of Nov. 30.

“When people go to enter the building, they’ll be asked to present proof of vaccination,” said Darren Flynn, senior administrative officer with the hamlet.

The hamlet will not be scanning anything or retaining any information, he added. Instead, vinyl bracelets will be available for vaccinated people to wear to show their proof of vaccination going forward.

Jordan Pudnak opened this watering hole at Ijaralik so people could get fresh water during the boil water advisory. The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet has worked to clear the road to Ijaralik so people can continue collecting water there. As of Tuesday, Nov. 30, the boil water advisory remained in effect for Rankin Inlet. Photo courtesy of Jordan Pudnak

“Then any subsequent time somebody goes to enter one of our buildings, all they have to do is flash that wristband,” said Flynn.

The bylaw covers municipal buildings only, not stores or private facilities. At the municipal office, unvaccinated people will still be permitted to enter and make payments or apply for permits.

“People will still have access to those services,” said Flynn, noting they would still be required to wear a mask.

He said there have been a couple of written submissions and comments on Facebook criticizing the decision.

“At the end of the day, council has chosen to take this step,” said Flynn.

One thing that did change on third reading of the bylaw was to make exceptions for people with immune deficiencies or those who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons.

Those people will have the option of writing directly to Flynn to request an exemption. They will be required to supply valid documentation showing they have a real medical condition that prevents them from getting vaccinated, said Flynn.

“That doesn’t mean that exemption will automatically be granted,” he said. “But it means that we will take it under consideration.”

He said it’s not a way out for people who are afraid of needles or making a stand on another level.

“We’re trying to protect people,” said Flynn, adding that the

hamlet is also hoping to raise indoor capacity limits with this move.

“If we have a building of fully vaccinated people that are wearing masks, then we should be able to raise our limits.”

The community hall has a capacity limit of 410 people, but only 100 are allowed in right now. The new $30-million arena has 950 seats, but only 50 people are allowed in those currently.

“This is trying to get us towards a place where council can start increasing those numbers for our public buildings,” said Flynn, “and start getting people back to enjoying the things they want to enjoy in life and get on with life.”

When he spoke to Kivalliq News on Nov. 23, Flynn hinted there may be an announcement about capacity numbers soon, in consultation with the office of the Chief Public Health Officer.

The hamlets of Baker Lake and Chesterfield Inlet both told Kivalliq News that no similar bylaw was planned or active in their communities.

As for a territorial vaccine passport system, Danarae Sommerville, communications specialist with the Government of Nunavut, said that would require input and feedback from Minister of Health John Main.

“The Department of Health will discuss with the Minister of Health once the new cabinet is selected and the minister receives their portfolio,” stated Sommerville in an email before cabinet was appointed.

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www.nnsl.com

Weather can’t stop these gifts

Southern curiosity and generosity drive Facebook group

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kamloops, B.C./Nunavut

Floods, blizzards, fires – the apocalypse is going on around her, but that’s not stopping this lover of the North from spreading holiday cheer.

“Life doesn’t stop just because Mother Nature’s gone a little crazy,” said Cindy Dhillon

ᐳᕋᑦ ᑕᑦᓱᕐ ᑯᐳᕐᒃ, ᐊᓐᑎᐅᕆᔪᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐴᖅᑐᐃᔪᖅ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ 600 ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ.

Brad Thatcher from Cobourg, Ontario, packages gifts to send North. He’s one of 600-plus members of Facebook group Northern Canada Mini Projects.

Photo courtesy of Cindy Dhillon

from Kamloops, B.C., a city currently providing refuge for people displaced from historic floods in the province.

When Kivalliq News called, a blizzard was raging outside her window, while the transportation corridors connecting the rest of the province to the greater Vancouver area were out of commission; cell phone lines were spotty at best, as landslides took out infrastructure; and all of that is on top of a summer full of wildfires that saw one entire town, Lytton, burn to the ground – not even to mention the tragic news of residential school discoveries in Kamloops that set off a chain of investigations and reconciliation.

But on the phone, Dhillon is as cheery as her management of the endlessly positive and energetic Facebook group Northern Canada Mini Projects would suggest.

The group might have ‘only’ 640 members, but one would be hard pressed to find a more active and giving community.

How the group works: Dhillon posts Northern communities that could use some love, and dozens and even hundreds of comments flood in from southerners arranging packages to send up. She has arranged gift campaigns for every community in the North, regularly theming them to holidays, students, Elders or otherwise.

She even goes the extra mile by using her resources in communities to find all the Elders’ names and what they might like to receive so that members can tailor their presents to individual recipients.

In a recent Christmas gift campaign, Dhillon reported that more than 5,500 gifts were destined for Northern students this year.

“I just became aware of issues doing a Google search across the newsfeed one day,” said Dhillon, who has been running the group for six years and has never been to the North herself. “There are a

ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐴᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᙵᐅᔪᑦ.

Gifts being packaged up, headed to a Northern community. Photo courtesy of Cindy Dhillon lot of struggles in the North that people just aren’t aware of until it’s brought to their attention.”

She clarifies that the members of her group aren’t ‘saviours’ of the North; they are simply good Samaritans who want to help.

“After a lifetime of not knowing or being formally educated on what unique and sometimes heartbreaking challenges Inuit and Indigenous groups are faced with, the board offers (southern members) a place to go, be educated and consciously do something about it,” said Dhillon.

Politicians and governments can sometimes go in circles trying to address needs and figuring out who pays for what, said Dhillon, so in the meantime, the group steps in and fills any needs members can.

Many southerners are completely ignorant about what goes on in the North, she added, and are outraged when they find out about some

of the conditions and government neglect.

The cost for sending gifts is entirely on the givers, who pay for the presents and shipping themselves. Hundreds of photos adorn the group’s page of packages being taped up, ready to send out or arriving at their final destinations. The group loves to see photos of Northerners receiving the presents.

Beyond gifts, the group also organizes fundraisers for things like soup kitchens, food banks and student travel to sports events.

If she wins the lottery, Dhillon plans to finally go north herself and see the people she’s been sending gifts. In the meantime, she’d rather use any spare cash for more presents than a plane ticket for herself.

If you know a community in need, search for the group on Facebook and ask to join – they would love to hear more.

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www.nnsl.com

Prosecute these fists

Jayda Pilakapsi and Meagan Akumalik Netser demonstrate some self-defence techniques in the background while instructor Alan Regel takes a photo.

Photo courtesy of Alan Regel

Nomadic lawyer shares self-defence training

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Coral Harbour

When he’s not busy in court, lawyer Alan Regel – and karate black belt – loves to teach self-defence in the communities.

He’s been visiting the North since 1986 for court. In Yellowknife, he helped teach karate at an RCMP club. He went on to open a dojo in Florida in the early 2000s, before moving back to Canada and travelling the Northern communities as a lawyer again.

“If there’s a community I go to and I have time on my hands, then I’ll do a self-defence seminar,” said Regel, who had recently wrapped up a session in Coral Harbour after running classes in several Kivalliq communities over the summer.

His classes teach basic moves like getting out of a headlock or how to slip out of someone’s grip.

Though the sessions don’t last long enough to get into more advanced training, like properly defending against a knife attack, Regel tries to include enough teaching that if someone is in a

dire situation, perhaps one of the sessions can come to mind and that person can escape.

“Hopefully, they don’t have to use it,” said Regel, who added that there are theories that simply training in self-defence can give people an extra bit of confidence that could dissuade wouldbe attackers.

He teaches all ages, from eight years old to Elders. He fondly remembers one 70-year-old in Chesterfield Inlet who amazed Regel and his co-instructor.

He tries to keep the classes short and sweet, estimating that youth have an attention span of about 45 minutes. Many of them soak it all up, he said, and participants are encouraged to create their own groups to keep practising when he’s not around to teach.

One of the messages he tries to get through to participants is the first line of defence should be to avoid the situation altogether.

“There’s a saying in karate that when two tigers fight, one is dead, and the other is seriously injured at the end of it,” said Regel.

“So you never know if you’re going to be on the receiving end of things or not. No matter how well trained you are, things can go wrong.”