Kivalliq News - Dec. 22, 2021 Edition

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᖓ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ $6 ᒥᓕᔭᓐ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓃᑦᑐᖅ

KIA Covid relief funding delivers nearly $6 million to communities Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021 Vol 28 No 1

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Community ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑯᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᓕᖅᑐᖅ

Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Christmas in Whale Cove

Longtime Rankin Inlet principal retiring Sports ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᖅᓴᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ Ladies soccer gets extra competitive News ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖓ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᕆᕗᐊ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ Elders and MP call for evidence against Rivoire

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Cpl. James Charles stands with Canada Post worker Roberta Etigaitok, who deserves some huge credit for handling the more than 60 packages that came her way from southern gift-givers. Photo courtesy of Miranda Charles

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Correction

The article “Tattuinee welcomes new cabinet, hopes to advance fibre-link project” (Dec. 15, Kivalliq News) contained misattributed quotes from Arviat Ulukhaktok North-Whale Cove MLA John Main on the hydrofibre link project. The quotes were taken from Main’s comments on another fibre project in the legislative assembly last fall and were not related to the Kivalliq project. Kivalliq News apologizes forKugaaruk and regrets this error.

Gameti

Naujaat

Around Kivalliq Behchoko

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Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A3

fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Dec. 21 Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 676 Recovered cases: 672 Deaths: 4

Vaccine uptake: 30,126 first doses – 93 per cent over age 12 24,655 second doses – 82 per cent over age 12

with Stewart Burnett

Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

‘ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ,’ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ

Sanikiluaq

Canada’s first 737-800 SF cargo plane will begin serving Nunavut in early 2022, according to partners Arctic Co-operatives and Chrono Aviation. Photo courtesy of Chrono Aviation/Arctic Co-operatives

Vaccine wristbands last less than a month

Rankin Inlet The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet no longer accepts its provided wristbands as proof of vaccination.

Since Nov. 30, the hamlet has required proof of vaccination to enter municipal buildings in most circumstances. Users were offered wristbands to show they were vaccinated for subsequent visits instead of having to show their cards again.

“Unfortunately, some people have started taping these bands to cell phones and attaching them to purses,” wrote the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet in a news release.

“This defeats the whole purpose of wristbands being used as a convenient and reliable proof vaccination.”

As of Dec. 17, only QR codes or vaccination codes are accepted as proof of vaccination.

ᓯᐅᓚ ᐃᓄᒃᐸᐅᔭᖅ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑯᓂ ᓴᓇᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ. ᑕᑯᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᐊᒍᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ.

Sarah Inukpaujaq Ayaruak is retiring after a long career in education. She hopes to see Inuktitut further incorporated in Nunavut’s education system going forward. Photo courtesy of Sarah Inukpaujaq Ayaruak

Baker Lake woman’s name on target

Baker Lake Kim Aupaluktuq of Baker Lake’s name for a new firearms campaign won the Department of Justice’s contest.

“Qukiutiliritsiarniq Nunavummi - Firearms Safety Nunavut” is the new campaign name for Nunavut.

The “Aim for a name” promotion asked Nunavummiut to suggest a culturally appropriate name for the new departmental firearm safety campaign.

“The campaign will aim to decrease firearms related incidents in the territory while encouraging safe firearms handling, storage and use,” wrote the Government of Nunavut in a press release.

The GN also urges people to ensure their firearms are always unloaded and securely locked away when not in use.

New cargo plane coming into service for 2022

Nunavut Arctic Co-operatives and Chrono Aviation Group are teaming up to put the first 737-800 SF cargo plane operating in Canada into service in Nunavut.

The aircraft, which can carry 23,500 kg, will be based in Winnipeg with plans for it to begin bringing freight into the territory in early 2022.

The companies are also billing the plane as more environmentally-friendly as it has a range of 3,700 km and reportedly will generate 20 per cent less emissions per tonne compared to previous generations of cargo planes.

“The Boeing 737-800 SF perfectly balances payload size with economical operating costs to minimize cargo costs while increasing the frequency of deliveries,” said Arctic Co-ops CEO Rod Wilson. “It makes a substantial advance towards the ultimate goal of controlling the cost and improving the quality of perishable foods and others goods.”

The plane will also be available for contract charter work.

Arctic Co-operatives comprises 32 member-controlled stores in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. It is a co-owner of the Chrono Group, which has a fleet of 15 aircraft based in Quebec City and Saint Hubert, Que. – Derek Neary

ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᐅᓚ ᐃᓄᒃᐸᐅᔭᖅ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᕿᒪᐃᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᑎᕆᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᒥᓂᒃ Northern News Services

ᓯᐅᓚ ᐃᓄᒃᐸᐅᔭᖅ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᕐᒥ, 18-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᐃᒪᓐ ᕗᐊᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᙳᖁᖕᒪᒍ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᒫᓂ ᐅᓗᔪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ 1987–ᒥ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᓯᒪᙱᖦᖢᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᕐᒥ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᒫᙵᒥᐊᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᕗᐊᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᖕᒪᒍ. ᑕᐃᑲᙵᑦ, ᕗᐊᑦ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ 1990-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ, ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑯᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᕋᓱᒋᑉᓗᒍ. “ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖁᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᒪ ᐃᓚᖓ ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᒐᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑕᒃᑲᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᒐᒥ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᒪᖔᑉᑭᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᑎᒐᑉᑯ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕋᓄᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᒋᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ “ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕋᕕᑦ?” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒡᓚᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ. ᓕᐅ ᐅᓴᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ 2000-ᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᑕᓪᓚᕆᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂ 2010-ᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᕋᒥ.

2014-ᒥ, ᐊᑎᖓ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᑯᑦ. “ᓯᐅᓚ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᓴᙱᔪᐊᓗᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᑕᐅᑐᕐᕉᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓴᓇᔨᒥᓄᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖁᑎᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ

ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐹᓪ ᖁᐊᓴ. ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᕗᓕ Hᐃᐅᓪᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᔨᓯ ᐸᐃᓐᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᙳᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. “ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᑉᓗᖓ, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔫᔭᓲᖅ ᐅᕙᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᙶᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᐅᖓᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᒐᑉᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ. ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖅᐸᑕ ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᒃᑲ, 19-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᐅᓇᔭᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᖓ.” ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᓗᐊᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥ 3-ᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ. ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑯᓗᐃᑦ ᑭᖑᓂᖃᓈᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᒋᑦ, ᖁᖓᒃᑳᖓᑕ ᐅᑉᓗᖓ ᖃᐅᒻᒪᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖃᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ. ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓲᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ. ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᕋᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᖏᑦᑕ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑎᑑᙱᖔᕐᓗᓂ. “ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᖅᑳᕋᑉᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓅᑉᓗᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕐᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓯᒪᔮᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ.” ᓯᕗᒻᒧᐊᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓗᓂ, ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᑐᖅ ᑕᑯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᙳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᓂᒃ. “ᐱᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᒐᑉᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᑭᙶᕐᒪᖔᑕ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔫᔭᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᓄᑦ.” ᑕᐃᒪᑐᕉᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᕐᓕ, ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒦᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᑲᑕᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᓂ. ᐱᖓᓲᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᐅᐸᒍᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐊᑦᓛᓐᑎᒃᒥ.

A4 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᖁᔨᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ

ᐲᑕ ᐃᕐᓂᖅ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᔮᒃ ᐊᓇᕈᐊᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᐅᕆᔭᔅ ᑐᖏᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᙱᓯᒪᔪᑦ.

Piita Irniq, left, Jack Anawak and the late Marius Tungilik have all been advocates for justice in crimes against Inuit children. Photo courtesy of Piita Irniq

ᔪᐊᓇᔅ ᕆᕗᐊ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ 1960-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 1970-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ Northern News Services

ᓱᓇᓗᒃᑖᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᒪᒃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ, ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒦᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᖁᔨᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᔪᐊᓇᔅ ᕆᕗᐊ. “ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓂᙵᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑖᒻᓇ ᐊᖑᑎ ᐃᓱᒪᖅᓲᔭᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖓ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ. “ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᔅ ᕆᕗᐊᒧᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᐹᓪᓕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ.” ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᕗᕋᓐᔅᒥ, ᕆᕗᐊ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ 1960-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 1970-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᓪᓗ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ 1990ᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᐅᔾᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ 2017-ᒥ. ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑖᒻᓇ ᑕᖅᑭᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᕕᑎ ᓚᒥᑎ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦᒧᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᖅᑲᐅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓂᑉᓕᖅᑐᖃᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᐸᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᕆᕗᐊ, ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ

ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ, ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᖁᔨᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. “ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ. “ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖁᔭᒃᑲ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒃᑲᓗ ᑕᒫᓃᓐᓇᑉᑕ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᕈᒪᑉᓗᑕ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᕆᕗᐊ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᓄᓪᓚᒃᓯᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ.” ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑲᒥᓯᓇᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐲᑕ ᐃᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᔪᖅ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦᒥᑦ. “ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᓪᓚᕆᒃᑕᕋ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᕆᕗᐊ ᑲᓇᑕᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑕᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔪᕉᖅ ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᕆᕗᐊ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᐅᔪᖅᑕᐅᖅ ᒪᕆᐅᓯ ᑐᖏᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ 2012-ᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᐱᓯᑉᓗᓂ. “ᐳᐃᒍᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᕆᕗᐊᒥᒃ ᐃᓅᓯᓗᒃᑖᒥᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᖅ. “ᕆᕗᐊ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᑰᔪᖅ ᒪᕆᐅᓯᒥᒃ ᒪᕆᐅᓯ ᒥᑭᔫᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕋᔪᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᕆᕗᐊᒥᒃ, ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᓄᑕᕋᑯᓘᑎᓪᓗᒍ.” ᐃᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᔪᖅ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦᑎᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓂᑉᓕᐅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᓪᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ

Search called off for missing hunter George Putulik overdue since Dec. 2

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Naujaat

The search for a missing hunter in Naujaat has been called off.

After leaving to hunt seals at the floe edge with a skidoo and boat, George Putulik was reported overdue Dec. 2.

Community members alerted the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Trenton, which joined the local search and rescue members in their efforts to locate the hunter.

“At 0500 Zulu on Dec. 3, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre Trenton launched a C-130 Hercules (helicopter) from the RCAF 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron to conduct a search of the area which the hunter was believed to have been in,” said Trevor Reid, senior public affairs officer with the 1 Canadian Air Division.

“That particular search was challenged by very poor weather conditions – strong winds, low clouds and snow unfortunately.”

JRCC Trenton also tasked a CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter from the 442 Transfer and Rescue Squadron

to join in the mission, and members of the Naujaat community aided in the search.

On Dec. 4 and 5, the Cormorant searched for a combined 11 hours in a whitehout.

“It was not very favourable to search conditions,” said Reid.

“Unfortunately, on Sunday Dec. 5 at 2000 Zulu, after consideration of exposure models and with no sign of the missing hunter, the JRCC Trenton made the very difficult decision to transfer the case to the RCMP as a missing person.”

That decision was based on survival models, which take into consideration water and air temperature, meteorological conditions, what survival gear the missing person was reported to have and other factors to calculate the likelihood of survival.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the missing hunter at this difficult time, and we thank those members of Naujaat for their efforts in the surface search,” said Reid.

Local searchers continued their efforts in the days following, but on Dec. 15, the search was called off, Naujaat Search and Rescue member Albert Amautinuar confirmed to Kivalliq News.

ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᖁᑉᒋᑦ ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᖕᓄᑦ. “ᑲᓇᑕᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑕᐅᒃᐸᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᕐᓗᓂ, ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒃᓯᒪᓂᑯᖓ ᐸᑐᔭᐅᔾᔫᒥᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒃᓯᒪᓂᑯᓪᓚᕆᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓄᕐᓗᒃᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᒪᒥᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᕌᖓᑉᑎᒍᑦ ᑕᒫᓃᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓱᓕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐱᓂᕐᓗᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑑᔭᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᖅᑲᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕆᐊᓕᒃ.”

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A5

KIA funding pours nearly $6 million into communities

Phase 4 of Covid funding sees money for freezers, vaccination, mental health

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq

The Kivalliq Inuit Association will be doling out nearly $6 million in Covid relief funding.

“The Kivalliq Inuit Association is very pleased to announce that we will be receiving additional dollars from the federal government and through Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated for Phase 4 of the Indigenous Community Support (ICS) fund,” said Jonathan Pameolik, manager of communications.

“We’ve outlined 11 projects that we have come up with to promote the objectives of the ICS funding.”

Those include addressing food security, provid-

ing Covid relief activities, creating on-the-land programming, offering gift cards and bolstering community freezers.

Most of the funding is tied to specific projects, but $1 million is set aside to fund proposals made to KIA. Those proposals must meet the goals of the ICS funding program to be approved.

New in this round of funding is a greater focus on urban Inuit. That includes $35,000 going to the Manitoba Inuit Association to promote food security, as well as making the $500 gift card program available to all Kivalliq Inuit, whether they live in southern centres, other regions or communities.

“We identified the need to provide support for the urban Inuit from previous projects, that maybe

ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᖅ : ᓖᓴ - ᒧᕇ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᕐᔪᐊᖅ

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐊᕿᒡᒋᑦ ᓴᓂᐊᓂ ᓇᖏᖃᑎᒋᒪᐅᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᐃᒡᓗᒪ ᓯᓚᑎᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᒫᓇᓱᐊᓚᐅᙱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᖓᑦᑕᕐᓇᑎᒃ. ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 3, 2021 –ᒥ .

they weren’t included (in previous funding),” said Pameolik. “This time around, we decided to provide that support to the Kivalliq Inuit regardless of where they live.”

KIA estimates 1,361 Kivalliq Inuit live outside of the region, out of 7,700 registered Kivalliq Inuit in total.

Funding for this round of gift cards totals $3,278,500 and will be made available in January.

KIA will also be upgrading freezers in each community, with $50,000 set aside for each of the seven Kivalliq communities to improve their freezers.

Just over $100,000 will be headed to food banks in the Kivalliq, with the same amount contributed to RCMP food hamper programs.

For mental health and prenatal programs, KIA will be doling out $140,000, with another $210,000 headed to the Pulaarvik Kublu Friendship Centre to promote programs that curb domestic violence or provide women’s shelters in the Kivalliq.

Prizes will be available for double-vaccinated beneficiaries. A total of $232,000 went toward purchasing one Honda 420 ATV and one 900 Ace Skidoo Expedition for every Kivalliq community to be given away in a prize draw, for a total of 14 winners.

Hunters and trappers organizations in the Kivalliq will each receive $25,000 for community hunt programs.

Finally, KIA will provide $105,000 to school breakfast programs in the region.

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. The final contest for the year will be posted Friday, Dec. 17, and will continue again in the new year.

This week’s winner is Lisa-Marie Issumatarjuak. Congratulations!

The last contest for the year has been posted on Friday, Dec. 17, send your photos for a chance to win in the next contest on Jan. 7, 2022.

ᐱᐊᑕᓂ ᐅᑕᓐᓈᖅ

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ ᐃᐊᕆᒃ ᑖᒥᔅ, ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ. ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ, ᐊᕝᕗᖅᑐᖅ ᐸᐅᕐᙵᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ .

Winner: Lisa-Marie Issumatarjuak

Arviat These are the akigik that I stood by just outside of my place, and they didn’t bother to get away or fly away from me. Photo taken Dec. 3, 2021.

Bethany Utanaaq

Baker Lake Eric Thomas, age 2. Taken back in September, picking black berries outside of Baker Lake.

A6 Wednesday, December 22, 2021 Kivalliq News Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

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Naujaat

Editor: Stewart Burnett 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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It’s the economy, friend Hope is needed to address mental health crisis

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Mental health gets a lot of play in the media these days and the vast majority of the commentary comes from young people.

That doesn’t mean mental health issues didn’t exist for previous generations, but it does signal that people under 40 are seeing significant struggles today.

Calls often go to the government to solve the problem. Although governments have some powers, solving problems tends not to be one of their strong suits, especially nebulous and widely integrated ones like mental health.

More mental health nurses and resources offer value, but those are simply medications, when we need to cure the root.

Why does mental health weigh on so many young people today?

For my money, mental health is Sanikiluaq about hope, and that is influenced directly by the state of the economy.

Home ownership is nearly out

Of course, Nunavut of reach for anyone voted overwhelmingunder 30 who doesn’t ly against allowing have high earning municipalities to sell potential. Maybe you land in 2016. Becan find a home in cause of that, short New Brunswick, but of massive and suseven those are being tained government gobbled up quickly, investment, it’s hard as all affordable opto see where a solutions disappear. tion could be.

The housing situaAlong with houstion is even worse in Nunavut, as is well stewart ing, everything in the country continually publicized. Home burnett costs more, especialownership is not ly after Covid-19 and even a distant dream the runaway spendhere – it almost ing Canada and other Western doesn’t exist. nations embarked on to fight the According to Statistics Canada crisis. Wages and salaries obvidata, about 68 per cent of the ously don’t keep up. country owned their own homes Now more than ever, at least in in 2016. In Nunavut, that was my 33-year-old life, I find there’s only 20 per cent. The next lowest not much to look forward to in was the Northwest Territories, at Canada. Taxes can only go up to 53.7 per cent. pay for what we’ve spent; the viThere is nothing wrong with ability of small businesses seems using public housing, but it is lower than ever; and authoritarian inherently a warning sign for top-down control of society, from the territory’s economy and will movement to transactions to sonever meet demand.

Red sky in Naujaat The sun sets in Naujaat in late November as the dark winter sets in. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Tegumiar

cial lives, has been normalized during the pandemic.

Canada is not quite terrible in its current state, but it’s difficult to see how it could get better. It looks like a deep hole has been dug, and the way out is either years of struggle or collapsing the whole foundation.

Though the numbers are bad, sentiment is what drives society.

If people feel optimistic about their outlook, they are happier in their daily lives, and our minds have a magical way of determining our experiences.

We can’t mulligan the wasted government spending and failure to address the housing crisis, but we can change directions and foster hope in the wider population. Pendulums swing, and this moment’s darkness won’t last forever.

It’s going to take significant change to create an environment of hope again. But whatever work that requires has got to be better than the slow snuffing of light currently draining our country.

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A7

ᓴᕐᓕᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᖅ ᓴᓚᐅᓲᔭᓲᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕐᓕᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᑉ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᑕᖓ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖓᓂᒃ.

ᓴᕐᓕᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᑉ ᒥᙳᐊᒐᖏᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Paintings by Charlotte Karetak tell the story of northern living. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Karetak

Charlotte Karetak’s digital art depicts Inuit culture. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Karetak

ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᖓᑕ ᐱᔫᒥᓵᕆᓯᒪᔭᖓ Northern News Services

ᓴᕐᓕᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᑎᐅᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᔫᒥᒋᑉᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᓃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᔫᒥᒍᓱᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ.

“ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᔫᒥᓵᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂᖓ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ, ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑐᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᒋᓪᓗ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᕈᓐᓇᕐᓇᖓ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᔫᓱᒍᓱᒃᐸᙱᖦᖢᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᕆᑕᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒃᐸᓕᐊᐱᒃ ᖃᕆᑕᕐᒥᒃ. “ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᒍ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᕐᔪᐊᖅᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑑᔪᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ.” ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑎᐅᑉᓗᓂ, ᓱᖓᐅᔭᓕᕆᔨᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ, ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᖓ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᕐᒥᖕᒪᑦ. ᖃᕆᑕᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᓕᓚᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖃᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ. ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᓴᓂᕋᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑐᖅ, ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᑦ ᓴᓂᕋᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖃᑦᑕᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑐᓃᑦᓂᒃ. ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ, ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᖅ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᓕᒃ

ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. “ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᓗᓕᖃᑦᑕᕋᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᒻᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᓂᒻᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔪᒪᔭᒃᑲᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕋ ᓴᖅᑭᒐᔪᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᔪᓕᐅᖅᑲᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓗᓕᐅᖅᑲᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ, ᓇᓗᓕᕌᖓᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᓂᒻᓄᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᒃᑲᓂᒃ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᓕᖅᐸᒃᑐᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᖓ ᐃᓛᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.” ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕈᒪᔪᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᑎᙳᕈᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. “ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ ᖃᑯᒍ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᓕᕈᒫᖅᐳᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᕆᑕᖅ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐸᐸᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ. ᓇᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓯ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᑉ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ Facebook-ᖓᒍᑦ Facebook-ᖓ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑎᖓ ᒪᓕᒡᓗᒍ Charlotte Karetak.

‘We need more local educators,’ says retiring teacher Celebrated principal Sarah Inukpaujaq Ayaruak leaves language-promoting legacy

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Sarah Inukpaujaq Ayaruak, who retired this month from a lengthy teaching career, was only 18 when the late Simon Ford asked her to help a deaf student at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in 1987.

She had no training, but she carried an American Sign Language book.

“It came out of nowhere,” said Ayaruak of Ford’s request.

From there, Ford went on to encourage her to take teacher education training, which she pursued in the early ‘90s while transitioning from a student support assistant to teacher.

While teaching kindergarten at Leo Ussak Elementary School, Ayaruak fondly remembers how students often thought she lived at the school.

“One of my former students saw me at the grocery store and asked if that (bag) was for the school, and I said no it’s for my home, and he said, ‘You have a house?’” Ayaruak laughed.

She worked as co-principal of Leo Ussak Elementary School in the early 2000s, eventually becoming the sole principal in 2010 after completing her bachelor of education.

In 2014, she was named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals.

“Sarah Ayaruak is a strong leader who has shared her vision with her staff, students and

community in order to provide her students with learning opportunities that always support Inuit language, culture and academic excellence,” said former education minister Paul Quassa at the time.

Ayaruak credits former principals Bev Hill and Jesse Payne for supporting her to take the principal role in Rankin Inlet.

“Being a local person, I find that we get things harder than southern people, because we’re local people and we know everyone,” said Ayaruak. “If I didn’t get the support from them, I don’t think I would have lasted 19 years as principal.”

Other highlights of her career include supervising a teacher who taught her in Grade 3, as well as supervising teachers she taught in kindergarten.

She said she will miss the students, whose smiles brighten her day, as well as the long-term teaching staff.

Ayaruak always put a focus on language in education. She found it beneficial to be able to communicate with family members of students in Inuktitut rather than English.

“Inuktitut is our first language as an Inuk,” she said. “My parents taught me it should always be priority.”

Going forward, Ayaruak hopes to see more community members become educators and school supervisors.

“We need more local educators,” she said. “We understand

where the students come from, and I think that connection is better for students with their

own people.”

She hopes the government can create an Inuktitut-only school to

bolster the language.

For now, Ayaruak plans to stay in Rankin Inlet and take some

time to travel. She has three provinces left to visit in Canada, all in the Atlantic.

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RCMP and southern giftgivers bring joy to students

A8 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Kivalliq News

Students Gabe Okalik and Tom Enuapik show their joy. Photo courtesy of Miranda Charles

More than 60 packages head to Whale Cove youth

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Whale Cove

Whale Cove RCMP and the Northern Canada Mini Projects group teamed up this holiday season to bring a bounty of gifts to students in Whale Cove.

“The Kids were thrilled and spent the day with big smiles,” said Miranda Charles, who helped

www.nnsl.com

A bevy of gifts await children in Whale Cove, thanks to the RCMP and Northern Canada Mini Projects Facebook group. Photo courtesy of Miranda Charles

husband Cpl. James Charles facilitate the gifts.

The southern group of gift givers, who co-ordinate through the Northern Canada Mini Projects page on Facebook, sent up an array of gifts, and the RCMP supplemented them. Each child in Inuglak School got a surprise envelope and got to pick two gifts from the table.

The RCMP’s work wasn’t done there, as they were due to hand out Christmas hampers later in the week, as well as Co-op gift cards.

Cpl. Ron Miller, left, Miranda Charles, Cpl. James Charles and children Renee and Bennett Charles pose for a picture on the day of gift giving.

Photo courtesy of Miranda Charles

Cpl. James Charles stands with Canada Post worker Roberta Etigaitok, who deserves some huge credit for handling the more than 60 packages that came her way from southern gift-givers. Photo courtesy of Miranda Charles

Kivalliq News

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Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A9

MP asks Nunavummiut to bring forth evidence against former priest ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᖁᔨᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᔅ ᕆᕗᐊᒥᒃ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᕆᕗᐊᒧᑦ.

ᐲᑕ ᐃᕐᓂᖅ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᕆᐅᓯ ᑐᖏᓕᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔫᒃ ᓇᑦᑎᖅᓯᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ. ᐃᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᔪᐊᓇᔅ ᕆᕗᐊ ᑲᓇᑕᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᙱᑕᖏᑦ ᒪᒥᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ.

Piita Irniq, left, and Marius Tungilik are pictured seal hunting outside of Rankin Inlet. Irniq is among others calling for Johannes Rivoire to be brought back to Canada to stand trial so his victims can begin to heal. Photo courtesy of Piita Irniq

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout is seen here at her swearing-in ceremony earlier this year. She is now calling on Nunavummiut to bring forth evidence and allegations against former priest Johannes Rivoire, in order for the Government of Canada to reopen a legal case against him.

NNSL file photo

Johannes Rivoire was stationed in the Kivalliq region in the 1960s and ‘70s

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq

In the pursuit of justice and closure to a traumatic page in the Kivalliq’s past, some high-profile Inuit are calling for Nunavummiut to bring forth evidence and allegations against former priest Johannes Rivoire.

“Our parents and grandparents have dealt with pain and anger while this man has been allowed to go free for too long,” said Nunavut MP Lori Idlout. “I am committed to making sure that Nunavummiut abused by Johannes Rivoire get the justice they deserve.”

Currently living in France, Rivoire was a priest in the Kivalliq region in the 1960s and ‘70s. He was charged with indecent assault and sexual assault in the 1990s, but those charges were stayed in 2017.

In the House of Commons earlier this month, Minister of Justice David Lametti told Idlout that he can’t resurrect stayed charges, but if further evidence is brought forward against Rivoire, the Justice Department could re-examine the case.

Now, Idlout is asking Nunavummiut to bring that evidence forward so Canada can pursue a case against the former priest again.

“I understand that this is a very difficult thing for many to speak about,” said Idlout. “I want

everyone to know that my team and I are here to help anyone who has been affected by his atrocities. It is important that Rivoire faces the strongest repercussions for the harm he committed in our communities.”

Former Nunavut commissioner Piita Irniq backs her call.

“I fully support our Nunavut MP Lori Idlout for her calling on the Government of Canada to extradite Rivoire back to Canada,” he said.

He said he knew quite a few alleged victims of Rivoire, one being his friend Marius Tungilik, who died by suicide in 2012.

“He never, ever forgot about Rivoire all the time he was alive,” said Irniq. “Rivoire had a

horrible impact on young Marius. He always talked about Rivoire, the time that he sexually abused him when he was a little boy.”

Irniq echoes Idlout’s call for Nunavummiut with evidence or allegations against the former priest to bring such details to the RCMP. “If he’s brought back to Canada to stand trial, that would put at least a closure to that horrible crime that he did to the young Inuit children and the victims would begin to have an opportunity to start healing,” he said. “Because every time we talk about him and he’s not back here and they’re not doing anything about him, the victims are re-traumatized. That has to stop sometime and the healing process must begin.”

A10 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Kivalliq News

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Tensions run high at Rankin Inlet soccer tournament Committee wants to hire professional refs; ladies looking to travel in new year

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Soccer in Rankin Inlet is hyper-competitive, and that has Rankin Inlet Women’s Soccer looking to bring in professional referees.

A co-ed tournament Dec. 11 to 12 brought nearly 50 players on five teams together, and tensions were high when it came to the gold medal game between Beercelona and Franklin Inlet.

“It was crazy intense,” said Keisha Ugjuk, who played on Franklin Inlet and also sits on the women’s soccer committee.

Her team ended up winning the gold medal – and $2,700 prize, with $1,800 for second place – but it was fraught with controversy.

“There was so much stress between the players and refs,” said Ugjuk. “I don’t know if people were happy about (us winning the gold medal) because the committee members running the tournament (ended up) winning the tournament.”

To avoid that kind of stress, Ugjuk is looking to fly in professional referees in the future.

“If we’re ever running another co-ed tournament, we are going to look into official refs,” said Ugjuk.

Besides alleviating tournament tensions, her main focus now is revitalizing competitive women’s soccer in Rankin Inlet. A recent $7,500 donation from the Agnico Eagle Charity Ball Program will help go toward new equipment to help the women train, and she hopes the post-Covid era means the ladies can travel to tournaments for the first time in years.

Ugjuk has been playing soccer since Grade 5. She attended several tournaments as a youth, including the Arctic Winter

Franklin Inlet came out on top over Beercelona in the gold medal game of the co-ed soccer tournament Dec. 11 to 12. They can be seen here flashing their $2,700 in prize money. In the back row are Hunter Nakoolak, left, AJ Curley, Chad Graham, Kublu Niviatsiak and Airo Akerolik. Front row are Panilaaq Tartak, left, Amelia Ipkornerk, Ramona Niviatsiak and Keisha Ugjuk. Photo courtesy of Keisha Ugjuk Games, but she grew up to find there were no women’s teams to continue playing with. Three years ago, she helped start the women’s soccer committee in Rankin Inlet, which organizes tournaments for ladies 16 and up.

“It’s supposed to be 18 and up, but there are so many great players,” said Ugjuk. “I travelled so much in my high school

days for soccer tournaments, and I want the older ladies to have that opportunity.”

Covid, of course, blunted those dreams for the past two years.

But with the growing possibility of virus restrictions nearing the rear-view mirror, Ugjuk hopes tournament travel can become a reality again – at least to Yellowknife, if not more exotic locations.

Kivalliq News

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Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A11

Charlotte Karetak finds calmness in art Her grandmother provides inspiration

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Arviat

Charlotte Karetak was always creative and interested in art, but it was through the osmosis of living with her grandmother that inspired her to pursue the craft more fully.

“It was really nice to know that somebody was encouraging me and helping me with that, because I had a lot of ideas and thoughts that I wanted to put into physical form, but I couldn’t push myself to do it or didn’t have the inspiration,” said Karetak about her grandmother Rhoda Karetak. “Seeing how hard she would be working on things made me want to be the same way.”

A seamstress, beader and multi-disciplinary artist, her grandmother also taught Karetak that art was about the energy she was putting into it.

Karetak started off with pen and paper draw-

ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃᓴᖅ ᓴᕐᓕᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᑉ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᕕᒋᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ.

ings and has progressed to digital art. She paints murals, some of which can be seen in local buildings, and she even designs tattoos.

For her, art is a way of communicating with herself and letting out emotions.

“I don’t always have the right words to express how I feel or express the things that I wish I could say,” she said. “I think most of my creativity comes from being stuck and blocked-in, not knowing how to express how I feel. So then I just put it into drawings and writing sometimes.”

She’s in school for office administration and would like to turn her work into a business, as well as teach aspiring artists how to draw.

“I’m hoping that I will someday have my own business,” said Karetak, adding that she has always wanted to preserve Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles and have them play a larger role in education in the North.

Find more of Karetak’s work on her Facebook page named Charlotte Karetak.

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᕕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓴᕐᓕᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᑉ ᒥᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᓂᒃ.

A handmade card shows Charlotte Karetak’s artistic skills. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Karetak

ᓴᕐᓕᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᖅ “ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ” ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᕿᐊᖅᕚᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᖅᓯᒃᑯᑦ – ᑎᕕᓂ ᐊᔭᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ ᒪᑲᐃ.

Charlotte Karetak drew some “fan art” of the Inuit throat-singing duo PIQSIQ - Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Karetak The Hamlet of Arviat is home to a mural Charlotte Karetak painted. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Karetak

A12 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Kivalliq News

GN outlines Diplomacy five priorities down south at caucus retreat

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“ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑎᒃᑲ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᕙᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᑉᐳᒍᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ (ᒫᔾᔨᒥ), ᐊᔪᕆᖅᓱᐃᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖅᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓵᓚᒪᓐ ᒪᓕᑭ, ᐊᐃᕕᓕᖕᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ.

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok flew down to Ottawa to discuss housing, Elder care and mental health support with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other federal ministers. P.J. Akeeagok/Facebook photo

Premier Akeeagok attends meetings with Prime Minister, Northern Affairs Minister and with NWT Premier in Ottawa

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut/Ottawa

“My colleagues and I look forward to the tabling of the new government’s mandate statement (in March), which will guide the implementation of our shared vision for the territory through the budgetary and legislative process,” says Solomon Malliki, Aivilik MLA and chair of the Regular Members’ Caucus. Photo courtesy of Solomon Malliki

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Cambridge Bay

MLAs meeting in Cambridge Bay last week identified five priority areas for the 6th Legislative Assembly: implementing a comprehensive Elder care strategy; reinvesting in education; enhancing health, mental health and addictions services; expanding housing; and diversifying the economy.

Territorial legislators also confirmed that an electoral boundaries commission will be established in 2022 to review whether changes should be made to existing ridings.

“Our caucus retreat began with an historic dialogue between members of the Legislative Assembly and the leadership of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and all regional Inuit organizations,” said Premier P.J. Akeeagok.

“We are committed to a renewed and re-energized relationship based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to taking collaborative action to achieve meaningful improvements

in such critical areas as housing.”

Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki, chair of the Regular Members’ Caucus, added, “My colleagues and I look forward to the tabling of the new government’s mandate statement (in March), which will guide the implementation of our shared vision for the territory through the budgetary and legislative process.”

Another caucus retreat, involving only cabinet this time, is planned for early January to discuss steps to advance goals outlined in the mandate. The draft from that caucus meeting will be shared with all MLAs later in the month and with Nunavut Tunngavik in early February.

While in Cambridge Bay last week, MLAs participated in various events, including the opening of Nunavut Arctic College’s new Kitikmeot campus, the opening of the Arnat Qimavik Women’s Shelter, and visits to the Cambridge Bay Continuing Care Centre and the Canadian High Arctic Research Station.

The first session of the 6th Legislative Assembly is scheduled to convene on Feb. 21.

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok met with various federal ministers in Ottawa on Dec. 14, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss various issues impacting Nunavummiut.

Among these topics are housing, early childcare education and Elder care, according to the Premier.

“Looking forward to continuing the dialogue,” wrote Akeeagok on social media.

While the premier was down south he also met with NWT Premier Caroline Cochrane and Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.

Akeeagok spoke with Vandal also with regards to housing, Elder care and mental health.

The Premier also gifted Trudeau with a piece of metal art in the shape of an Arctic char from Cambridge Bay’s Red Fish Studio.

“I’m so proud of the young artists who produced this artwork,” wrote Akeeagok.

“This studio is an example of the many innovative projects across Nunavut.”

Premier P.J. Akeeagok, left, gifted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with an art piece from Cambridge Bay’s Red Fish Studios. P.J. Akeeagok/Facebook photo

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Kivalliq News

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A13

150 show up for mental health meeting Rankinmiut share stories and get to know service providers

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Mental health challenges are present in every culture, but are better supported among smaller populations, said Rankin Inlet’s Levinia Brown, originally from Chesterfield Inlet.

“But over time, communities got bigger and bigger, and it seems like (mental health issues are) multiplying quite heavily,” she said.

She was a guest speaker at a mental health interagency event held at the Singiituq Complex Community Hall in Rankin Inlet Thursday, Dec. 17. The Mental Health and Addictions Division organized the affair in collaboration with the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet and Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre.

“When we lived in the communities, we managed our own with the people we had,” said Brown, noting Chesterfield Inlet was home to about 80 residents when she lived there.

She added that everybody has issues, but there are some heavy ones families and friends are dealing with.

“It seems like not enough people are asking for help,” said Brown. “I don’t know why, but we’re stressing don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Reach out before it gets too bad.”

Upwards of 150 people attended the event, which was hosted by Christina Best, wellness co-ordinator for the hamlet. Brown and recreation co-ordinator David Clark were the featured speakers.

Stéphanie Richard, regional manager of mental health and addictions, said the intent of the event was to get the community together before the end of a difficult year.

“We wanted to make sure our community, Rankinmiut are aware of what kind of supports are available and how and where they can reach

out to,” she said.

Richard said it can be scary to ask for help and go to an office, so the event also served to familiarize community members with the faces behind the supports available. A number of booths helped attendees connect with different mental health service providers.

“You don’t have to wait to be in crisis to talk to us,” said Richard, who was thrilled with the crowd of approximately 150 people.

“We were so hoping to have a good turnout and people came, people showed up. It was not good weather, but they still came and it’s something we hope to do on a quarterly basis going forward, to reinforce that supports are there and to encourage people to connect with us.”

Her favourite part was the personal stories guest speakers shared.

“To have these role models go on stage and really put it out there and be brave enough to share about their challenges and ways they overcame them was extremely inspiring,” said Richard, adding that by normalizing people’s struggles, it becomes easier to come forward and ask for help.

Brown said she was particularly impressed by the message from co-guest speaker Clark.

She added that Rankin Inlet has great mental health services, plus numerous Elders to turn to. She understands it can be hard to discuss some things within a family.

“When I was growing up, I found it hard to speak to my mom and dad about heavy issues,” said Brown.

She stressed the importance of encouraging youth to talk and that everyone shares a similar journey, regardless of their background.

“We all suffer, we all struggle and we all have issues,” said Brown. “But by working together and accepting each other, we’ll make it easier to walk on the path.”

Mental health workers gather. From left to right are Christina Best, hamlet wellness co-ordinator; Stéphanie Richard, regional manager of mental health and addictions, Kivalliq; Sheila Schweder, outreach supervisor, mental health and addictions, Kivalliq; Favour Chukwunonso, community mental health nurse. Photo courtesy of Stéphanie Richard

Stéphanie Richard, left, and Levinia Brown were two of the speakers at a mental health event in Rankin Inlet on Dec. 17. Photo courtesy of Stéphanie Richard

Upwards of 150 people came out to a community mental health meeting on Dec. 17. Photo courtesy of Stéphanie Richard

A14 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Kivalliq News

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Pauktuutit responds to federal fiscal update Canada’s focus remains on Covid-19; Inuit women’s organization prioritizing funds for shelters, housing, healing centres

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut/Ottawa

Insisting that “Canada’s economic recovery is well on track,” federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered Economic and Fiscal Update 2021 on Dec. 14.

While the examination of the country’s economic performance through the pandemic and the path forward contained further commitments to limit damage from Covid-19, it didn’t address the issues that Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada has identified as priorities.

The Ottawa-based organization that serves Inuit Nunangat is seeking new funding for Inuit-specific shelters and transition housing, community healing centres and programs and training for Inuit midwifery.

“While Pauktuutit is encouraged by the government’s commitment to a distinctions-based approach toward reconciliation, what we are seeing on a practical basis is a lack of detail regarding funding for Inuit women and gender-diverse people,” said Pauktuutit President Rebecca Kudloo.

“For example, a commitment this month for $724 million for Indigenous shelters and transition housing had no specific allocation for Inuit, nor was any application available in Inuktut.”

Pauktuutit pointed to the $2.2 billion allocation for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) initiatives in the April federal budget and noted that the Government of Canada has yet to detail how much money will be transferred to Pauktuutit and other Inuit organizations for action plans specific to Inuit women.

“A distinctions-based approach is necessary because Inuit history with the Crown – along with

Inuit language, Inuit culture and Inuit geography – are expressly distinct from that of First Nations and Métis peoples,” Kudloo said, adding that “for healing to occur, commemorative initiatives for the Inuit women we have lost must be designed and implemented by the victims’ families, Inuit women and our communities.”

Inuit-specific approaches to improving the safety and security of Inuit women, girls and gender-diverse people – along with systemic changes to health care, education, housing and economic security based on Inuit input – are also imperative, according to Pauktuutit.

The organization also urged the federal government to be open to Inuit-specific strategies to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Ottawa’s spending plans revealed on Dec. 14 include $7.3 billion toward Covid-19 vaccine booster doses, $2 billion for antiviral drugs and $1.7 billion for Covid-19 rapid tests. The government estimates that Covid-19 has cost Canada approximately $631.8 billion so far – almost $512 billion at the federal level and $120 billion at the provincial and territorial level.

There was no amount mentioned for housing programs in Economic and Fiscal Update 2021.

“Addressing housing affordability remains a priority for our government. Our work is ongoing. We will take further action in the upcoming budget,” reads a line in the 96-page document.

The financial outlook noted that Canada’s real gross domestic product was only 1.4 per cent below the pre-pandemic level as of the third quarter of 2021. It’s expected to return to the level achieved before Covid-19 by the first quarter of 2022, according to the Government of Canada.

The document also states that Nunavut realized a 10.6 per cent increase in total revenues in

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒌᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 13–ᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᑦᑕ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂᑦ. ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ: ᒪᑭᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖁᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐲᑕ ᐋᑕᒥ, ᑯᐃᓐᒧᑦ–ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᒫᒃ ᒥᓗᕐ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᔪᕼᐋᓇᔅ ᓛᒻᑉ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑖᓐ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ, ᐃᖃᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒫᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᔪᐊᐃᔅ ᒨᕆ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᒨᓇ ᕗᐊᑦᑎᐊᐃ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᓚᓴᑎ, ᐃᓄᕕᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᑎᒥᖁᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖓ ᑐᐊᐃᓐ ᓯᒥᑦ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐳᕋᐃᐊᓐ ᐹᑐᓪ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᓇᐃᑕᓐ ᐆᐱᑦ.

ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑯᕆᔅᑎᐊ ᕗᕇᓚᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᕐᑯᒃ ᓴᓂᕐᕙᐃᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 14–ᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᓄᑖᙳᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ 2021–ᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᐃᕗᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂ.

Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and the federal government didn’t set aside more money for housing in the Dec. 14 Economic and Fiscal Update 2021, but the Government of Canada promised to address housing in the next federal budget. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang photo 2020-21 compared to the previous year.

“Fiscal results for 2020-21 highlighted the resilience of provincial and territorial government revenues, which increased in contrast with a decline in federal revenues,” the document

Inuit national priorities outlined with feds

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Ottawa

Inuit leaders from across Canada met in Ottawa Dec. 13 to discuss Inuit Nunangat’s shared priorities. From left: Makivik Corporation president Pita Aatami, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated President Aluki Kotierk, Nunatsiavut president Johannes Lampe, Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray, Treasury Board President Mona Fortier, Justice Minister David Lametti, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair Duane Smith, National Inuit Youth Council president Brian Pottle and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed. Photo courtesy of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

reads. “This dynamic reflected substantial federal support and transfers, largely through Canada’s Covid-19 economic response, which helped put a floor under provincial-territorial government revenues, thereby limiting their deficits and debt.”

The Inuit Crown Partnership Committee meeting was held in-person at Ottawa’s Shaw Convention Centre, and online on Dec. 13. Bringing together Inuit leaders from across Inuit Nunangat.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed co-chaired the meeting.

In attendance also were Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated President Aluki Kotierk, Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray, Treasury Board of Canada President Mona Fortier and Justice Minister David Lametti. Tuning in online were Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada president Monica Ell-Kanayuk.

Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and the federal government didn’t set aside more money for housing in the Dec. 14 Economic and Fiscal Update 2021, but the Government of Canada promised to address

Among these discussions include addressing economic and social inequality for Inuit and the ongoing work with the National Action Plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIWG), the Inuit Action Plan and the federal path towards addressing MMIWG. “I look forward to working in collaboration and continued partnership with Inuit leaders to address your priorities and make changes that will have lasting impact across Inuit Nunangat,” said Miller.

Obed said there were productive discussions regarding the implementation of the 2021 federal budget and making Inuit priorities clear for the 2022 budget.

It was also the first time in nearly two years Inuit leaders were able to meet in-person due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Today’s meeting renews our mandate to work together to create prosperity for Inuit in Canada,” said Obed.

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