Kivalliq News - Jan. 5, 2022 Edition

ᑕᑯᒋᐊᕐᓂᖅ 2021-ᒥᒃ Looking back on 2021

Photo courtesy of Sara Taparti

Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, January 5, 2022

Vol 28 No 2

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Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Approximately 25 people showed up to Rankin Inlet’s first ever Pride parade in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community on June 19. The march was organized Belinda Ugjuk and her sister Terri Nordman, who both held a Pride walk with their children last year. Photo courtesy of Belinda Ugjuk

Pelagie Owlijoot was one of nine Elders who agreed to receive the Moderna vaccine first in Arviat to show everyone else in the community it is safe on Jan. 14, 2021. Photo courtesy of Steve England

Baker Lake’s bowhead hunters stand on top of the 44-foot whale they harvested after bringing it safely to shore on August 17. Photo courtesy of Dino Mablik

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Simona Kringayark working with customers at the co-op in Naujaat, 1980s. Photo courtesy of Darryl Gershman

Adele Angidlik, right, and her sister Annie Taipana, background left, take a break during the Easter Games in Baker Lake on April 5. Photo courtesy of Karen Yip

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Wednesday, January 5, 2022 A3

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fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Jan. 4 Active cases: 210 Confirmed cases: 900 Recovered cases: 686 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake (over age 12): 30,484 first doses – 93 per cent 24,746 second doses – 82 per cent

Breakdown by community: Iqaluit: 55 Pangnirtung: 19 Rankin Inlet: 44 Qikiqtarjuaq: 3 Sanirajak: 14 Arviat: 48

Cambridge Bay: 1 Baker Lake: 1 Iglulik: 15 Pond Inlet: 1 Kinngait: 7 Chesterfield Inlet: 1 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᕿᑎᒃᑐᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ Northern News Services

ᐅᑎᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐊᖅᑑᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑳᓪᓚᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐅᑉᓘᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᐅᑉ ᑐᖔᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᒃ ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᑎᑕᐅᓕᕐᒥᒋᑉᓗᑎᒃ. “ᑐᓴᕋᑉᑕ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᒃᓯᐅᕐᓂᐊᕋᓱᒋᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᐃᔅᓕ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ. ᐃᓄᐃᓪᓗ ᑲᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᐊᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 23-ᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᒍ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᔾᔮᕈᓐᓃᖅᑑᔭᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑳᖅᑎᓐᓇᒋᑦ.

Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒡᒍᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ ᑲᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᒍᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᓂᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑎᒍᑦ. “ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ‘ᐄᖅ, ᐊᔾᔨᒋᔾᔮᙱᑕᖓ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᑦᑐᓐᓇᔾᔮᙱᒻᒪᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑕᐅᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. “ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ. “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔮᓗᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᖅ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᐹᓪᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᐅᖃᓗᒡᕕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖓ

ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒻᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᑎᔭᐅᕙᒃᖢᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᒻᓂᒃ, ᓄᖅᑲᖁᔭᐅᓇᖓᓗ.” ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓄᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑮᓇᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑮᓇᖏᑦᑕ ᓇᑉᐸᖏᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᙳᐊᖑᑉᓗᑎᒃ, ᓇᑉᐸᖏᓪᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᙳᐊᖑᑉᓗᑎᒃ, ᑮᓇᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᓂᐱᑎᕆᕈᓘᔭᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑉᓯᓇᖅᑐᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᐅᓛᖑᔪᑦ ᑎᑎᖅᑎᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

100-ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓯᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᕆᔭᒥᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 100-ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᓕᐊᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᖅᐹᕆᔭᖃᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥᒃ. ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᔪᕆᔭᐅᒥᐊᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. “ᕿᑎᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᑉᓯᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᐆᒃᑐᕋᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᙳᓱᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ.” ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓂᖅᐹᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒧᒥᖅᑎᑕᐅᖕᒪᑕ Gangnam Style-ᑎᑐᑦ, ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕋᒥ ᖃᓄᖅ ᒧᒥᕈᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑦ. ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᓖᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ,

ᐃᒍᑉᑕᖅ ᐅᒡᔪᒃ ᑮᓇᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᑲᓚᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑮᓇᖓᑕ ᓇᑉᐸᖓ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᓇᑉᐸᖓᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᕐᓗᓂ.

Iguptaq Ugjuk’s multi-coloured facial hair shows the dichotomy of man and woman. Photo courtesy of Iguptaq Ugjuk

ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᓚᐅᕐᒥᔫᒃ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᓕᐊᓂᓗ, ᓄᓕᐊᖓᑕ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᕐᒪᒍ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᕿᑎᒍᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓕᐊᕋᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᒐᑉᑎᒍᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑦᑕᖁᒐᑉᑎᒍᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᑐᕉᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ 2022 ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐅᑭᐅᖅ 2021, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᖅᐹᖑᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᓄᓕᐊᕋ ᐅᖃᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅ 2022 ᐱᐅᔪᐊᓘᓇᓱᒋᑉᓗᒍ. ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᓗᒃᑖᓄᑦ.” ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ Hᐊᒻᓚᖓᑕ Facebook-ᖓᒍᑦ.

Christmas games spread holiday spirit

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Everything was looking clear for a back-to-normal Christmas in Rankin Inlet, until Covid19 re-emerged two days before Christmas and the community was swept into lockdown again.

“Once we heard about the Covid, the whole town, it felt like Christmas is over,” said Wesley Innukshuk.

Along with gatherings being banned as of Dec. 23, Christmas games were looking to be cancelled just before they began.

Hamlet council, senior staff and Innukshuk met to discuss hosting games on Facebook instead.

“We were like ‘Aw, it’s not going to be the same, it’s not like people gathering,’” said Innukshuk.

But they went ahead anyway, and the response was thunderous.

“It turned out really awesome,” said Innukshuk.

“People enjoyed it and our Christmas spirit lifted again.

I’m getting phone calls to my home saying you’re doing great, don’t stop.”

Social media games centred on challenges for community members, such as putting on half-man, half-woman makeup, jigging or taping your face to

look silly. The posts with the most reactions won cash prizes.

Hundreds of people submitted photos and videos of themselves competing, and hundreds more reacted to each post. Everyone from children to Elders participated, often having fun at their own expense.

“The games are fun to watch,” said Innukshuk, who was thrilled with just how many people participated.

“Doing the demonstrating was the shy part.”

His favourite game was a challenge for people to dance to the song Gangnam Style, which he had to demonstrate first.

As cases of Covid continued to rise in the community, he said people were worried about the virus, and so were he and his wife, who helped run the games. But the sacrifice of arranging the games and getting prizes to the winners was worth it.

“It’s what me and my wife love to do, let the community have a great time during Christmas events,” he said.

Innukshuk hopes 2022 is finally a better year.

“This 2021, I’m saying it’s the hardest year for everyone all over the globe,” he said.

“I said to my wife, the year 2022 looks so sexy. I hope it’s a good year for everyone.”

The contests and entries can be viewed in the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet Facebook group.

ᐊᑕᒥ ᐊᓗᕈᑦ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓂᖁᓇᖅᑎᒋᖕᒪᖔᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᙴᔭᖅᖢᓂ.

ᒥᒐᓐ ᐊᑯᒪᓕᒃ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᓄᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᕿᐅᖅᑕᖅᖢᓂᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕋᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᖑᑎᙳᐊᖑᓂᕐᒧᑦ/ᐊᕐᓇᙳᐊᖑᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

Meagan Akumalik Netser went to extra lengths and shaved half of her head in the male/ female challenge. Photo courtesy of Meagan Akumalik Netser

ᒧᒥᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐃᔅᓕ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ ᒧᒥᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ.

A screen grab shows Wesley Innukshuk dancing to Gangnam Style for one of the challenges. Photo courtesy of Wesley Innukshuk Adam Alogut shows off his good looks in the cross-dressing contest. Photo courtesy of Bernadette Alogut

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Kivalliq News

Christmas not cancelled in Rankin

Covid might have shut down gatherings, but it didn’t stop the spirit Northern News Services

Sadly, it wasn’t the normal Christmas we were hoping for.

Covid-19 has a penchant for dashing our hopes, and once again a relatively quiet fall took a sharp left turn as the Omicron variant appeared and exploded across the country, Nunavut included.

It took just a few cases in Iqaluit and one in Rankin Inlet to shut everything down again, with Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson announcing a circuit breaker lockdown right before Christmas.

At the time of writing, it was not known whether the new cases were the Omicron variant, but it would be a reasonable guess considering its impact in other jurisdictions.

It caused Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and others to all wrench back freedoms in December. Hockey games were cancelled, and the plug on the World Sanikiluaq Juniors was pulled soon after the

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We acknowledge Nous reconthe financial support naissons l'appui of the Government of financier du gouverCanada. nement du Canada.

from pandemic to tournament began. endemic – its replicaWhat remains to be tion speed threatens seen is the nature of to still send too many an Omicron outbreak people to the hospital in Canada and how at the same time. this variant might For that reason, shift our perspectives governments instituton the pandemic in ing restrictions again the long run. seems sensible, while Looking around we figure out exactly the world, there is how or if this variant cause for optimism. can be managed.

Although this new stewart More than ever, variant spreads at burnett though, the weight an explosive rate, of these restrictions hospitalizations and on mental health is deaths haven’t been making itself clear. The voices of showing that same pace. dissent are getting louder, and the By all accounts, it appears that Omicron presents a low individual deflation felt when bringing back restrictions is more palpable than threat to a vaccinated person. ever. Critical questions are gainWhat could be a threat is the ing traction, like if we actually collective weight of thousands of need to shut down for a virus that infected individuals on the health is not causing serious issues for care system. most.

Even if this only presents as As we await more data, we can a cold for most – something we still see reason for optimism, and have all hoped would eventually that has been on display right at emerge to signal the transition

home in Rankin Inlet.

I know I’m not the only one religiously following the social media contests. Between all the games and challenges, Rankinmiut are spreading joy exponentially in their own fashion. The hundreds of reactions and comments on posts tell it all.

Gathering with anyone outside of your household is currently against the law, but the community has still found a way to gather and share the holiday spirit online.

It’s not easy to be happy and goofy in a difficult time. The way the community has come out to have fun this Christmas, restrictions and spread of a virus or not, is a testament to their spirit and good hearts. I’m excited to be part of this fantastic group of people.

Of course, with Covid, making accurate predictions about how the pandemic will go is just about impossible. We can only hope that anyone diagnosed with a case pulls through, and our hearts go out to them.

January ᔮᓐᓄᐊᕆ Moderna Covid-19 vaccinations begin in Arviat

Arviat residents became the first in the Kivalliq region to start receiving the Moderna vaccine in the fight against Covid-19, with inoculations beginning Jan. 14 in the community.

The Government of Nunavut began its vaccination program at the Iqaluit Elders’ facility on Jan. 6.

Then-Premier Joe Savikataaq recognized the dedicated and exemplary efforts of those who had been shouldering the lion’s share of the critical work in the first round before turning his attention to concerns being raised on social media.

“There have been a lot of comments and questions (raised) on my social media during the past few days about this vaccine, and why I’m not taking it just now,” said Savikataaq.

“The answer is simple. It just isn’t my turn yet. We are making sure our most vulnerable – and our beloved Elders – are receiving these first doses. I’m not at high-risk. I’m not immunocompromised. And, despite these white hairs, I’m not an Elder.”

Elders leading the way

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The Hamlet of Arviat arranged to have nine Elders be the first in line to receive the Moderna vaccine on Jan. 13 to show everyone in Arviat it is safe.

Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. said every Elder who received the vaccination on the first day woke up the next morning.

Savikataaq said he truly believed things were going to get back to normal soon, especially once herd immunity is reached with the vaccine.

Rankin woman was Nunavut’s female athlete of the year

Shanti Dias, 18, of Rankin Inlet was named the Nunavut Recreation and Sport Awards Female Athlete of the Year for 2020.

Dias said she found out about her selection via email and that winning the award came as a complete shock and surprise.

The award was mainly for her exceptional performance in volleyball.

“Everyone in my family played

volleyball throughout the years and they kept pushing me and pushing me, so I stuck to it and actually got pretty good as a player, so I just wanted to keep playing,” she said.

“So here we are and winning this award has made me feel a little bit proud and a little bit successful. It’s nice to be acknowledged for your efforts.”

Covid active in Arviat

Public health restrictions, including travel, were tightened in Arviat once again as 13 new active cases of Covid19 were reported on Jan. 24.

The Arviat outbreak came two weeks after an audio recording of Diane Sammurtok pleading for vaccination in Nunavut was played during a government Covid-19 press conference at the Legislative Assembly.

Sammurtok had lost her husband, Luki, to Covid the previous month.

The powerful recording had originally aired over local radio in the Sammurtok’s hometown of Arviat.

“I will never have my husband back,” said Diane on the tape. “My husband, Luki, did not receive the vaccine, so he had nothing to fight it. Please get the Covid shot, so you don’t go through what I had to go through. Watching your loved ones pass away is not a joke.”

Rankin Inlet rallies against Covid-19

The first shipment of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 was administered during a four-day mass vaccination clinic in Rankin Inlet Jan. 18 to 21.

Senior administrative officer Darren Flynn said he was involved with the planning of the clinic since it was first announced.

“I just think it was a tremendous effort, not just by the folks here, but by the people who showed up as well,” said Flynn.

The clinic saw 1,181 people receive their first dose of the vaccine. Flynn estimated about 900 of those had been given by the third day.

“I’m absolutely mortified of needles, but I was resolved to the fact I was going to put on a tough face for this one just to make sure I didn’t cause any negative reactions,” said Flynn.

Suicide strikes in Baker Lake The community of Baker Lake felt the painful sting of suicide once again as two people reportedly took their own lives.

The youngest of the two was said to be a 17-year-old young male.

Men’s wellness specialist and counsellor Noel Kaludjak of Rankin Inlet said his heart aches for Baker’s loss.

He said a continued message of positivity and letting people who may be struggling know that it’s OK to ask for help are two things that have to continue to grow and be expressed continually if Nunavut is ever going to turn the battle against suicide around.

“Personally, when I have something to look forward to during the next day or two, it helps me stay positive and I’m eager to wake up the next morning,” said Kaludjak.

ᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᓵᓐᑎ ᑎᐊᔅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑎᓕᒃ ᕙᓕᐹᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔭᒥᓂᒃ Hᐊᓕ ᒧᕐᓱᕐᒥᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕋᐳᑦ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᕐᒥᒃ.

Female Athlete of the Year Shanti Dias shares a moment with her longtime volleyball coaches Holly Mercer, left, and Robert Kabvitok. Photo courtesy of Robert Kabvitok

ᐱᓚᔾᔨ ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᓕᖏᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᖅᑖᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᙱᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᐴᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 14, 2021-ᒥ.

Pelagie Owlijoot is one of nine Elders who agreed to receive the Moderna vaccine first in Arviat to show everyone else in the community it is safe on Jan. 14, 2021. Photo courtesy of Steve England

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Kivalliq News

Wednesday, January 5, 2022 A5

February ᕖᕝᕗᐊᕆ Arviat threw down for round two

There was no fear or panic to be found in the community of Arviat when Covid-19 made its second appearance in the community in January. Instead, people reverted back to their previous safe behaviour and began following all the health guidelines to rid themselves of the viral invader one more time, said Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. As of press time in early February, there were 18 active Covid cases in Arviat.

Savikataaq said the tone in the community when it was announced Covid had made its way back to Arviat was 100 per cent ‘we know what to do, so let’s do it again.’

Savikataaq said he can’t help but feel bad over how this pandemic has affected the youth of the community.

He said he’s proud of how Arviat youth have persevered through everything, considering how much they’ve lost during the pandemic.

Kativik store closes its doors

The owner of one of Rankin Inlet’s most popular stores turned off its lights for the final time.

Ron Roach was part of the ownership group to launch Kativik – a general store on one side and a hardware store on the other – in December 1999.

Roach said candidly that he knew it was time to retire when, after almost 40 years in the industry, he found he had no patience remaining to deal properly with customers or little else for that matter.

He said he was really taken aback about how many people were saddened by the news of Kativik’s closure.

“The other big thing in my decision was all this Covid and having to wear masks in the store. I just grew so sick of it all and knew it’s time for me to go,” said Roach.

“I was surprised by how many positive comments were made about the store. I honestly didn’t think the store was as well liked as it was and would be missed a lot more than I ever thought it would be.”

Following Roach’s departure, the Northwest Company took ownership of the store and reopened Kativik in March.

Rankin and Arviat strong

Spirits remained as high as can be expected as the second round of the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 made its way across the Kivalliq region.

Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie was proud of his community using its entire initial allotment of the vaccine and expected nothing different as the vaccine’s second shot was delivered to the community in early February.

Towtongie said once was enough for the community when Covid made its first appearance in Rankin and everyone is doing their best to keep the virus on the outside looking in.

He said being in total lockdown is no fun and the number of people being vaccinated in Rankin shows how dedicated to the fight against Covid the community truly is.

his youth, having competed in two Arctic Winter Games, the Canada Winter Games, two National U19 Field Lacrosse championships with Team Nunavut, as well as numerous regional and territorial events.

He also represented Nunavut at a number of national events as a respected youth delegate.

Mariq’s mom, Jenny Mariq, said her son always loved sports.

ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᕿᒃᓵᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᔮᓐ ᕆ ᒪᕆᖅ, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 1-ᒥ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᒥᒍᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

Getting vaccinations into arms

The community of Rankin Inlet hosted its second mass vaccination clinic in February, which saw 1,242 people receive their first or second shot of the Moderna vaccine.

Hamlet senior administration officer Darren Flynn said the hamlet was more than happy with the second great turnout of people to receive the vaccine.

“People just want to get back to a normal life here in Rankin, that’s really all there is to it,” said Flynn.

Baker Lake mourns loss of multisport athlete

The community of Baker Lake was mourning the loss of one of its brightest lights, whose life candle was softly extinguished long before its time in the community in February.

John Ray Mariq, 33, passed away on Feb. 1 due to heart complications.

Mariq was a talented and decorated multisport athlete in

The community of Baker Lake was saddened by the death of John Ray Mariq, who passed away on Feb. 1 due to heart complications.

Photo courtesy of Brad Mainse

March ᒫᑦᓯ Literacy council unveils new Kivalliq home base

The Ilitaqsiniq: Nunavut Literacy Council’s new regional home in Rankin Inlet was dedicated to one of the council’s most dedicated members, Quluaq Pilakapsi.

Council member Adriana Kusugak said Ilitaqsiniq received a donation from Agnico Eagle Mines when the company was celebrating the first pour at its Meliadine gold mine in 2019, which was used to support Ilitaqsiniq: Nunavut Literacy Council in its purchase of a building to house its operations in the Kivalliq region.

Arviat MLAs want Covid shaming to stop

John Main and Joe Savikataaq, who both represented Arviat as MLAs, were imploring people to stop making mean-spirited comments about Arviarmiut’s struggle with Covid-19 outbreaks.

ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 350-ᓂᒃ 500-ᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᐊᐃᒃᖠᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᕿᔪᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᐃᑯᕐᕋᒃᑯᓐᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᓗ ᒫᑦᓯᒥ.

Between 350 to 500 families picked up boxes of food at a drive-thru event hosted by the Ikurraq Food Bank and the town in March.

Photo courtesy of David Fredlund

Speaking in the legislative assembly in March, Main said there had been tremendous support extended to Arviat residents during the previous few arduous months, but the community had also seen “the dark side,” as some individuals chose to belittle Arviarmiut and lay blame.

“I am asking for patience and I’m asking for empathy from our fellow Nunavummiut, whether it is online or whether it is in person,” said Main.

Lockdown lifted at last

As Arviat marked the end of more than 100 days in lockdown, Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. said residents deserved praise for pulling together amid a pandemic that was worsened by overcrowded and inadequate housing.

“I’d like to thank Arviammiut for everything they have done,” he said. “They made a lot of sacrifices for the sake of their community and I commend every single Arviammiut for that. Everything that we did was necessary, it was all for public safety, and if we would have to do it again, we’d do everything the exact same.”

The lockdown was lifted March 10.

Kivalliq sales of caribou ‘getting very worrisome,’ Netser says

Kivalliq MLAs were once again voicing concerns over sales of caribou meat that they said could do lasting harm to the Kivalliq region’s treasured herds.

Patterk Netser and Cathy Towtongie both spoke of pressures on the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds, which were hunted not only by harvesters from Nunavut, but also from the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Nunavut.

“Caribou in the Kivalliq are in a crisis. A lot of it is due to overhunting and internet sales … There is currently no control of the sale of the meat, and some individuals will sell caribou online at a very expensive price,” Towtongie, then-MLA for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, said in the legislative assembly on March 12.

“Additionally, sometimes we can see caribou that has been hunted and just thrown away because they don’t have any fat.

They just get left behind. They just get the tongue, and that is not the traditional Inuit way.”

‘It’s been my life:’ Longtime educator reflects on almost 50 years of work

Uliut Iksiktaaryuk, a Grade 5 teacher at Rachel Arngnamaktiq Elementary, was closing in on 50 years of experience as an educator.

She taught generations of Baker Lake students, championed the Inuktitut language and was still going strong in March.

“It’s been my life,” she said. “The only way I was able to last this long is I work with a lot of good supportive teachers.”

Coming up through an education system that originally intended to suppress her Inuit culture and language, Iksiktaaryuk had a tremendous impact on her students and the community.

“I was the last one in my family to be born in an iglu out on the land,” she said.

‘It smells like mud in this apartment’

An Arviat mother whose home was overrun with mould said the problem was making her family sick.

Emilda Hallauk, 36, was worried about how the mould could affect her elderly father, who had respiratory problems, and her three-year-old daughter, who had been asthmatic since birth.

“It smells like mud in this apartment,” she told Kivalliq News.

Home for Hallauk was a two-bedroom Arviat Housing Association apartment she shared with up to 13 other people, including her six children, her parents, two brothers and three sisters, although one sister then lived with her boyfriend because “we don’t have enough room,” she said.

The story had a happy ending, though.

The Arviat Housing Association responded to her issues and helped move her into a new home March 26.

A6 Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Kivalliq News

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April ᐄᐳᕆ Hot meal program returning

Baker Lake’s once-popular hot meal program returned after a two-year hiatus thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers led

by Darlene Nukik-Amaruq.

“I’m back into it and people are excited,” Nukik-Amaruq told Kivalliq News.

The meal program, intended for those that need help putting food on the table, was originally spearheaded by Nukik-Amaruq in 2015.

Whale Cove’s first ever women’s hockey team makes it official

Whale Cove’s men’s hockey teams have won their fair share of tournaments in the Kivalliq over the years, so a newly formed team of women was hoping to make a name for themselves in regional competitions once the end of Covid-19 restrictions made such events possible again.

The community’s first ever women’s team, which had been playing together for two years, was founded by Victoria Kidlapik when she moved from her hometown of Naujaat to Whale Cove for work in 2019.

Given that “ladies hockey is big in Naujaat,” Kidlapik was surprised to find out the community of 400 didn’t have a team. So she asked local women if they’d be interested in starting one.

“It started with just three of us and it started to grow,” said Kidlapik.

Residents raising money for brain tumour research

A 27-year-old Rankin Inlet woman who had been battling the effects of a brain tumour for the previous four years was raising money for brain cancer research so that no one else has to experience what she had gone through.

Alexandra Rudd was the leader of Rankin Inlet’s Grey Wolf brain tumour walk team, which, to date in April, had raised more than $6,000 for the national brain tumour walk.

“I’ve always been one to help others,” Rudd told Kivalliq News. “My dad has always told me that I have a big heart and that I help people when I can.”

When she was just 18 months old she was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. The condition caused her to have optic glioma, which left her legally blind.

snow and ice will begin in the coming days.”

The public service announcement was posted to the department’s website on April 21, but was no longer accessible online on the morning of April 22.

Hockey nights return to Arviat after six-month hiatus

Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq announced she was taking a two-week sick leave on the advice of her doctor, several days after she got embroiled in a controversial conflict with a fellow MP on social media.

“I continue to struggle with some personal health problems. Recently, the doctor has suggested some time off to heal,” said a statement from Qaqqaq released on April 27. “Although it has been a hard decision to make, I feel it is important to follow this advice.”

The easing of Covid-19 restrictions in midApril allowed Arviat hockey players to finally hit the ice again.

“Lots of people showed up, but people showed up half-dressed so they can just put skates on and play,” said Andrew Kuksuk, the community’s recreation co-ordinator, who also played on one of the senior men’s teams.

The arena had to close for the first time in March 2020 due to Covid-19. Hockey was allowed to resume briefly in November 2020 but as cases numbers went up in Arviat, everything had to be shut down again.

Kuksuk said the senior men’s league got about five games in before the November shutdown.

With the ice open again, they had been trying to squeeze in as many games as possible.

Fuel spill threatens fresh water supply

Qaqqaq takes two-week sick leave

The announcement came several days after Qaqqaq issued an apology for claiming that Liberal Labrador MP Yvonne Jones is not Inuk on social media.

Baker Lake narrowly votes to keep unrestricted alcohol

Baker Lake residents hoping to reintroduce limitations on liquor sales and importation in the community fell short by six per cent in an April plebiscite.

The vote in favour of restrictions reached 54 per cent, or 182 people. However, 60 per cent or more was needed for the changes to take effect, including the establishment of an alcohol education committee to regulate liquor use.

Voter turnout at the polls was 32.5 per cent.

The community got rid of alcohol limitations during a vote in 2018.

May ᒪᐃ ᔪᐅᓪ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᖁᒻᒧᒃᑎᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᑲᑉᐱᐊᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐸᑲᓪᓚᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᐃᒥ.

The territorial government was rushing to clean up a 10,000- litre fuel spill in Baker Lake before it could contaminate the community’s drinking water.

Details about the leak were only made public on April 21, nearly one month after it was first detected.

“With the season of warmer weather approaching, there is a risk of the spilled fuel contaminating the community’s fresh water supply,” stated a public service announcement from the department of community and government services.

The announcement went on to say that “remedial efforts to contain and treat contaminated

Dog travels from Rankin to Whale Cove alone

The Kivalliq witnessed its own real life version of Homeward Bound earlier in May when a dog travelled 70 kilometres across the tundra to be reunited with its owners.

The Adams family was getting ready to leave Rankin Inlet for Whale Cove after hearing about a death in the family on May 2. Flights were cancelled the next day, so they planned to head to Whale Cove by snowmobile the following morning.

While they were getting ready to go, the family noticed their 10-year-old German shepherd Pepper was frantic and eager to join them. That was out of character for the aging dog, who had poor hearing and spennt most of her days sleeping. Her desire to travel was even more unusual given that Pepper hadn’t joined the Adams on the land ever since an incident years ago gave her a scare.

“She was determined to go with us,” said Donna Adams. “She even jumped on the sled. I attribute it to her knowing that something was wrong and she knew we were traumatized and grieving that day. She didn’t want to leave our sight.”

Rankin Inlet D-man signs with Jr. A Bradford Rattlers

Joel Netser is hoisted up after winning the junior boy’s division at the Kivalliq Snow Challenge during Pakallak Tyme in May. Photo courtesy of Qovik Netser

Rankin Inlet’s Brayden Uluqsi was set to take the next step in his hockey career in Ontario after signing with the Bradford Rattlers Jr. A team.

“I think I’ll fit in really well with the organization and the league,” Uluqsi told Kivalliq News. “I’ve been developing a lot and working extra hard and my coaches believe in me.”

The six-foot, 170-pound defenceman is a product of the Mount Academy Saints U18 prep program in the CSSHL, where he had played for the past three seasons.

Naujaat student organizes Tristen Dias crowned champion MMIWG march A Grade 11 student in Naujaat organized a march at Kivalliq Snow Challenge Tristen Dias was once again the Kivalliq Snow Challenge champion after he secured victory during Rankin Inlet’s Pakallak Tyme in May. The 2021 challenge featured a record number of racers despite a lack of participants from other communities due to Covid-19.

The annual snowmobile race, which normally attracts lots of competitors from neighbouring Kivalliq communities, ended up having 60 racers from Rankin Inlet taking part over the course of the weekend.

Nursing program introduced in Kivalliq For the first time ever, aspiring nurses in the Kivalliq got the chance to study in Rankin Inlet thanks to Nunavut Arctic College’s inaugural licensed practical nurse diploma.

The program was designed with a view to support Rankin’s new Elders care facility, which was set to open when the first cohort graduates.

The three-year diploma includes a pre-health sciences course that is taken in the first year, followed by a full two-year licensed practical nurse program.

On top of existing education programs in Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Arviat and Coral Harbour, the college was set to offer bachelors of education in Naujaat and Whale Cove for the first time.

to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in May. “I’m doing this because I’ve seen a lot of Indigenous women and girls go missing, get murdered and face sexual violence and abuse and I want it to stop,” wrote Heather Putulik in a Facebook announcement about the march. “We really need our culture back.”

Despite unseasonably cold weather with heavy winds, 30 to 40 people turned out on May 25 to march in support of MMIWG.

Kivalliqmiut mourn following discovery of mass grave in B.C.

Kivalliqmiut gathered on May 28 to mourn and support each other following the discovery of a mass grave of 215 children at a former residential school in British Columbia.

In Rankin Inlet, Jacqueline Apak and Cassandra Nattar organized a vigil at the Inukshuk in the centre of town to honour the 215 children who perished.

“The reason we did this and put our hearts to this is because both our mothers were in residential school,” said Apak.

Nattar added, “We saw on the news about the story, so Jacqueline messaged me if I would like to help her bring some shoes to the Inukshuk.”

Although it was planned at the last minute, approximately 100 people showed up to the vigil.

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June ᔫᓂ Leafs-Habs bet amuses Rankin Inlet

The longstanding rivalry between Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens fans in Rankin Inlet is powerful enough that it sometimes divides families.

But when the two teams met in the playoffs for the first time since 1979, an unusual bet between cousins had the unlikely effect of uniting the community.

At the outset of the series, diehard Leafs fan Wendel Kaludjak and Habs supporter Jonathan Pameolik decided to put a wager on the outcome.

Rather than placing money on the table, they agreed that whoever’s team lost the series would have to ice fish on Williamson Lake for two hours.

The only catch was Williamson Lake is not stocked with fish, which made the bet all the more absurd and amusing.

“Everyone in town here knows there’s no fish in the lake,” Pameolik told Kivalliq News.

After the Leafs lost in 7 games, Kaludjak was forced to fish the fishless lake for the community’s pleasure.

Baker Lake woman back at home thanks to wheelchair donation

A Baker Lake woman who suffered a stroke was finally back home after community members fundraised for her to get a new wheelchair.

“It’s always good to be back home,” Ruby Atutuvaa told Kivalliq News after returning to the community.

Atutuvaa said she was taken to the health

centre in February and was later medevaced to a Winnipeg hospital after being found in bad shape by her partner.

Baker Lake bans single-use plastic bags

ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 25 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᐸᒍᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕇᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᔫᓐ 19-ᒥ. ᐱᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᓐᑕ ᐅᒡᔪᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᑲᖓᓄᑦ ᑎᐅᕆ ᓄᐊᑦᒪᓐᒧᑦ, ᑖᑉᑯᐊᒃ ᓄᑕᕋᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᓱᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ.

Baker Lake banned single-use plastic bags in an effort to tackle its growing waste management issues.

Bylaw 236 passed unanimously after its final reading on June 3. It “prohibits the provision, distribution, and sale of single-use shopping bags by retail establishments.”

The maximum fine for failing to adhere to the new regulation was set at $10,000.

Dentist opens office in Rankin Inlet

Hamza Jafri and his wife Shireen Jafri officially opened Northern Smiles Dental Clinic on June 16. Hamza said the phones had been ringing off the hook ever since.

“It’s super exciting. We are just swamped,” he said.

Agnico Eagle starts welcoming Kivalliq staff back to work

Nunavut employees at Agnico Eagle’s Kivalliq mine sites were invited to return to work at the end of June after more than a year’s absence.

The mining company sent Nunavummiut workers home with 75 per cent pay in March 2020 to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 in local communities.

Approximately 25 people showed up to Rankin Inlet’s first ever Pride parade in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community on June 19. The march was organized Belinda Ugjuk and her sister Terri Nordman, who both held a Pride walk with their children last year. Photo courtesy of Belinda Ugjuk Since then, Agnico Eagle had been working with Nunavut’s chief public health officer to implement its return to work plan.

First Pride parade held in Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet held its first Pride parade in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community on June 19.

Approximately 25 people showed up to the

march, including several members of Rankin’s queer community. Belinda Ugjuk and her sister Terri Nordman organized the march.

Although neither of the women is part of the LGBTQ2S+ community, they both consider themselves allies.

“I really wanted to support my family and friends who are LGBTQ2S+ to have space to be who they are and awareness of equality, love and acceptance,” Ugjuk told Kivalliq News.

July ᔪᓚᐃ Arviat bids farewell to drama teacher Gord Billard

Gord Billard, longtime teacher, retired to his hometown at the end of the 2021 school year after helping start the community’s first drama program in 2001.

“It’s been a very rewarding 20 years. My heart and mind are still there and probably will be for many more years,” he told Kivalliq News.

Billard first came North after a colleague was offered a job as the principal at the school.

Coral Harbour lands bowhead whale

Hunters from Coral Harbour harvested a 10-metre bowhead whale on July 10.

“That’s a lot of maktaaq. Enough for most of the community members,” said Greg Ningeocheak, one of the hunters to harpoon the animal.

Captained by Mayor Willie Nakoolak, a team of 15 men and one boy left town around midday. They headed south along the coast, eventually setting up around 40 km south of Coral Harbour.

The hunt team was split up with most of the men divided among five boats. Another few were on all-terrain vehicles acting as spotters, looking for whales from shore.

Heavy winds made the hunt challenging, but the crew was successful in the end. Hundreds of people came down to greet them as they returned with their catch.

Diamond exploration resumes in Naujaat

North Arrow Minerals was continuing to evaluate the potential value of diamond reserves at its Naujaat property with a large-scale sampling program this past summer.

Ken Armstrong, CEO of North Arrow Minerals, said the

company was hoping to get a better sense of the value of a special kind of coloured diamond that had been retrieved from previous samples.

“There are these really intriguing potentially high-value diamonds,” said Armstrong.

Baker Lake man starts Alcoholics Anonymous group

A recently sober Baker Lake widower had started a new Alcoholics Anonymous program for the community.

“Not to bad-name Baker Lake, it’s a beautiful place, but too many people are drinking nowadays,” said Allan Qiyuaryuk.

The father of four had attempted to quit drinking several times since his wife died in 2012. The loss of his partner at such a young age led him down a self-destructive path.

tut-language television channel. The show was originally only supposed to run for six months but it proved so popular that it was set to continue.

ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑏᑦ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᓴᓇᒃᓴᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ 33 feet-ᓂᒃ ᑕᑭᓂᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᕙᓚᐅᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᔪᓚᐃ 10-ᒥ. ᑖᒻᓇ ᑐᒡᓕᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐊᕐᕙᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ 2018-ᒥ.

‘Nowhere for us to live’: resident decries lack of market housing A university student from Rankin Inlet spoke out about the lack of homeownership opportunities for young Nunavummiut this summer.

Augatnaaq Eccles, who was hoping to go to teacher’s college after finishing her undergraduate degree in 2022, vented about the territory’s housing trials and tribulations in a July 16 Facebook post.

Contract extended for Arviat’s national TV show

Arviat’s popular Tunnganarniq Live show was extended indefinitely after wrapping up its first six months of filming in the summer.

The community began hosting Tunnganarniq Live in January as part of the launch of Uvagut TV, Canada’s first Inukti-

Hunters from Coral Harbour butcher the 33-foot bowhead whale they harvested on July 10. It was the second bowhead the community has harvested since landing its first one in 2018. Photo courtesy of Edna Hamilton-Nakoolak

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August ᐋᒡᒌᓯ Baker Lake rapper drops debut album

Baker Lake rapper Shauna Seeteenak released her first fulllength album in August through Nunavut-based label Hitmakerz.

Seeteenak told Kivalliq News that the record was a musical diary of the things she had experienced growing up in Nunavut.

“The album means a lot to me because when I was younger it

was hard for me to express how I felt inside. I was never taught to express myself healthily. It just felt like a therapy session every time I sing a song,” she said.

Seeteenak has been a mainstay within Nunavut’s hip-hop scene ever since she first performed at Iqaluit’s Alianait Festival in 2010.

Eight Rankin Inlet teens redefine fashion in two-week workshop

Eight Rankin Inlet students in need were due to receive new parkas for the upcoming school year, thanks to the stylish work of young seamstresses enrolled in a sewing program last summer.

The Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council launched the Ikajurniq youth corps program earlier in the year, which encouraged youth to give back to the community. To complete the program, each participant had to volunteer 120 hours.

During this two-week program, participants were taught how to sew a parka from scratch in the first week. The garments sewn during this period were made for students without parkas.

Participants then spent a second week refining their skills by sewing a customized jacket for themselves.

“Everyone really enjoyed it. Maybe half the participants had never used a sewing machine before. You could tell in the end they are going to continue sewing,” said Ilitaqsiniq program manager Kelly Clark-Lindell.

Hunters make history

A group of Baker Lake hunters made history by harvesting the community’s first-ever bowhead whale.

According to Philip Putumiraqtuq, the hunt’s captain, the hunters had been stuck camping out on the land near Naujaat for nearly three weeks due to bad weather when they started to think about giving up and heading home. The conditions were so bad that they had hardly been able to get out on the water.

“It was getting pretty frustrating with weather, not being able to get out. A lot of the crew was getting home-sick,” Putumiraqtuq said.

Then on the morning of Aug. 15, the waters calmed down and the crew successfully harpooned the whale at 9 p.m.

Homegrown teacher returns to Rankin Inlet to begin career

Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, top centre, visited the Aqqiumavvik Society Aug. 10 during a tour of Nunavut ahead of the upcoming federal election. Photo courtesy of Aqqiumavvik Society

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

After completing eight years of post-secondary studies in the south, Bruce returned to Rankin Inlet to do just that, being hired as the new Grade 5-6 teacher at Simon Alaittuq School.

“Going into it back in 2015, that was my plan, to come back

home,” said Bruce. “I feel ready and I’m happy to be here.” Bruce completed her bachelor of education degree at the University of Winnipeg. Before that, the 28-year- old spent two years pursuing Inuit Studies at Ottawa’s Nunavut Sivuniksavut.

Freaks reclaim Calm Air Cup title

Rankin Inlet’s Freaks defeated their Coral Harbour rivals, the Salliq Invaders, in a rainy championship game during the Calm Air tournament in August.

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

With winds clocking in upward of 70 kilomentres per hour and rain blowing sideways, it was a soggy end to an otherwise fair-weather tournament.

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

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

Leadership forum unites Inuit women

Women from across Nunavut who want to build a better future for themselves and the territory hailed the Arnait Tulliningit Inuit women’s leadership forum as a success.

The name Arnait Tulliningit refers to a women’s trail in a traditional camp, which mirrors the journey of women attending the forum.

The Arnait Tulliningit women’s leadership forum took place simultaneously in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit from Aug. 23 to 26.

The program was originally supposed to be hosted in Rankin Inlet but bad weather meant the course ended up being divided between the Kivalliq and Iqaluit.

Rankin Inlet finishes in top four at national Indigenous hockey tournament

Rankin Inlet finished in the top four at the Fred Sasakamoose “Chief Thunderstick” National Hockey Championship, which wrapped up in Saskatoon on Aug. 15.

The result was an improvement on Rankin’s top eight finish in their first appearance at the national Indigenous men’s tournament last year. This year they almost made it to the finals but they dropped a hard-fought 2-1 battle to Eagle Lake First Nation in the semis.

“We’re proud to be from Rankin and that’s who we were playing for and I hope we made Nunavut proud. We weren’t out there playing for ourselves we were playing for so much more,” team captain Roger Tagoona said in an interview.

September ᓯᑎᐱᕆ Rankin Inlet installs solar panels on arena

Rankin Inlet was set to become the largest independent power producer in Nunavut thanks to the installation of solar panels on the community’s new arena.

The hamlet planned to develop the system as part of Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Commercial and Institutional Power Producer program (CIPP), which was designed to allow existing commercial and institutional customers to generate electricity using renewable energy systems and sell it to the corporation.

“Rankin can now pride itself to not only be the first to take part in the CIPP but also the largest solar system in Nunavut,” said Klaus Dohring, president of Green Sun Rising Inc., which installed the panels.

Once up and running, the system was expected to be capable of generating a total of 110 kilowatts.

Five Kivalliq cousins signed to Manitoba AAA hockey team

Five Kivalliq cousins were heading south to play for the same Manitoba-based AAA hockey team in September.

Justin Issakiark, Kadin Eetuk, Prime Paniyuk, Kobe Tanuyak and Koby Connelly all made the Norman AAA Northstars after going down to try out for the team at the end of August.

Kivalliq Canucks goaltender Connor Faulkner, who joined them for support during the tryout, said they have made their home communities proud.

“They all went 110 per cent this weekend and gave it everything they had to crack the squad,” Faulkner wrote in a Facebook post.

All the players hail from Rankin Inlet, with the exception of Prime Paniyuk, who is from Coral Harbour. Sandy Tattuinee also attended the tryouts but broke his ankle while playing.

SC Johnny Karetak’s memorial unveiled in Arviat

RCMP Special Constable (SC) Johnny Karetak was honoured at a special ceremony in Arviat.

Karetak died in June 2017 at the age of 87 after serving with the police force for 25 years.

“He built a bridge between RCMP and the community,” Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. told Kivalliq News. Karetak was born in St. John’s, N.L. but moved to Arviat at the age of three and lived there until he passed away.

Although he was buried in 2017, plans to hold a special ceremony in his honour were on hold until this past summer.

The cross for Karetak’s grave was made from the mast of his Peterhead fishing boat. It has since had a specially engraved gravestone added in front of it.

ᑭᕕᓐ ᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᕿᒡᒋᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᔭᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᕕᒃᑐ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ.

Rankin Inlet getting tougher on trash

Rankin Inlet joined Baker Lake as the second community in the Kivalliq to vote in favour of banning single-use plastic bags.

The third and final reading of the bylaw, which passed unanimously without comment from councillors, took place on Sept. 13.

Coast Guard’s search and rescue teams wrap up fourth season in Rankin Inlet

The Canadian Coast Guard’s inshore rescue boat station wrapped up another successful season in Rankin Inlet.

The program began four years previous as a way to serve communities as far north as Chesterfield Inlet and as far south as Whale Cove, while encouraging Indigenous students from across Canada to get experience working for the Coast Guard.

The Rankin Inlet team was made up of two crews of four, a total of eight students, six of whom are Indigenous, including two Inuit.

Kevin Niatok jumps off the dock after a day of paddling as part of Victor Sammurtok School’s qayaq program. Photo courtesy of Alikamiq Jordin Ippiak “Those students have been very important in teaching Inuktitut,” said Emma Moore, senior officer with the Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue program.

This summer the station was operational from June 16 to Sept. 7. The students completed pre-season training in Perry Sound from May 3 to May 30 before relocating to Rankin Inlet, where they received electronic navigational training, medical training and courses on local knowledge.

Arviat teacher honoured with Council of the Federation Literacy Award

When Nunia Anoee decided to move from

Sanirajak to Arviat for a teaching job in 1999, she thought she’d only be there for two years.

More than 20 years later, Anoee was recognized for her accomplishments and commitment to education with Nunavut’s Council of the Federation Literacy Award.

The award was presented to a teacher in each province and territory to celebrate exceptional achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.

“After my two years I asked if I’m going back to Hall Beach or am I staying. I ended up buying a house, having a child and having a baby. So this is home now,” said Anoee.

On Sept. 13, then-Premier Joe Savikataaq recognized Anoee’s accomplishments in the legislative assembly

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October ᐅᑐᐱᕆ Rankin Inlet dedicates Agnico Eagle Arena

The $26-million arena – a 950-seat multiuse facility complete with concession stands, volleyball courts and, of course, a hockey rink – was formally dedicated as the Agnico Eagle Arena Oct. 6.

More than 2,000 people attended the dedication ceremony for the state-of-the-art facility, which has become a “focal point” for the community, said Darren Flynn, Rankin Inlet’s senior administrative officer.

The hamlet treated all attendees to a barbecue.

It also gave out about $30,000 in draw prizes including a Honda ATV, a 65-inch television and a number of $1,000 gift cards.

Pair of Kivalliq incumbents ousted in territorial election

Nunavummiut headed to the polls Oct. 25 to vote in new MLAs for the territorial government.

Aivilik saw Solomon Malliki elected ahead of incumbent Patterk Netser, with 134 votes to Netser’s 111.

Craig Atangalaaq Simailak was re-elected in Baker Lake with 73 per cent of the 454 votes cast.

In Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, incumbent Cathy Towtongie lost her seat with 124 votes to Alexander Sammurtok’s 147.

Lorne Kusugak held his seat in Rankin Inlet South with more than 52 per cent of the 379 ballots cast.

John Main and Joe Savikataaq were acclaimed to the Arviat North-Whale Cove and Arviat South ridings.

Great egret spotted by eagleeyed photographer in Rankin Inlet

The rare fowl soared into the Kivalliq community in September, thrilling eagle-eyed bird watcher Bernice Sandy, who spent days on the hunt before finally snapping a few images of the feathered fellow in the wetland behind the Rankin Inlet Healing Facility.

“For two days I went looking for it and couldn’t find it, and then I finally saw it on October 17,” said Sandy.

Though common enough in southern Canada, the birds are seldom seen in the North, said Eric Reed, a waterfowl biologist in Yellowknife.

Photos shared of Naujaat, Coral Harbour in the 1980s

Darryl Gershman was only supposed to spend one year away from his private practice in Winnipeg.

But in 1980 the young dentist – then working in Manitoba’s Peguis First Nation – took an instructor job at the National School of Dental Therapy in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.

The result was a decades-long career that brought him to many rural, remote and underserved communities across the North – and over 10,000 individual Kodachrome slides.

“The photos were a personal documentation of the community and my experiences,” Gershman told Kivalliq News in an email interview.

“I wasn’t very good at keeping a journal so the photos were my journal.”

He shared a serious of 40-year-old photos that demonstrated life in the Kivalliq in the ’80s.

Amy Komakjuak working to help Inuktut speakers navigate system

An Arviat woman was looking to make higher education more attractive to other Indigenous students.

Amy Komakjuak, a certified interpreter-translator undertaking her final year in the Inuktitut/ English interpreter-translator program at Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit, said she is “encouraging people with kids to apply for college and bring their children to attend school.”

She applied for the interpreter-translator program back in 2019 because “I like to try new things,” and was immediately accepted.

As an interpreter-translator, Komakjuak was looking to bridge the communication gap between Nunavummiut who use Inuktut as their first (and sometimes only) language and the primarily English-speaking workers who run medical services, the justice system and other

industries across the country.

Arviat residents working to open permanent homeless shelter

Jenny Gibbons described the last few years as nothing short of a whirlwind.

Precarious housing had been a reality for her – she did not have ready access to a telephone – but she remained at the forefront of a growing campaign to open a new homeless shelter in Arviat.

Gibbons said her own experience with precarious housing inspired her to help others.

“I didn’t have any place to go,” she said of a housing situation she faced several years ago.

In 2019, she took part in Inspire Nunavut, an entrepreneurial leadership and employment skills program.

After considering a number of business ideas, Gibbons decided a shelter in the community to address its social problems was needed.

In October, organizers were looking at funding resources and fundraising ideas to support the concept of a permanent shelter in the community.

ᐳᔾᔫᑦ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒡᓂᒍ ᐃᒍᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᐃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᕐᕕᒃᑖᓵᖑᔫᑉ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᖓ ᐅᑐᐱᕆ 6-ᒥ.

November ᓄᕕᐱᕆ Rankin Inlet man dies after armed standoff with police

A 22-year-old Rankin Inlet man died in a standoff with police in early November.

The RCMP responded to a disturbance involving intoxicated men in Area 6 of the community.

One man obtained a rifle and was seen walking in town. The Mounties allege that he shot toward the police officers.

He then took a truck at gunpoint and drove the vehicle outside of municipal limits, according to the RCMP. The Mounties contained him in that area for several hours and called in the Emergency Response Team from Manitoba, who arrived and were involved in a fatal shooting incident.

The man was later pronounced dead.

11-year-old Arviat resident winner in national recipe contest

Logan Williams, an 11-year-old Arviat resident, was among 26 winners of 2021’s Kid Food Nation competition.

His award-winning recipe – called the taco mashup – included avocado, ground beef, cheese, tomatoes and a flavourful homemade taco sauce.

Amid the Covid-19 lockdown in Arviat, he wanted to try something new and decided to put some of his favourite foods together. That’s when the taco mashup was hatched.

“Everyone liked it in my family and I kept making it,” he continued. “It was a bit of an experiment.”

The mouth-watering recipe was set to be published in the Kid Food Nation cookbook, Volume 5.

Municipal vaccine passport takes effect in Rankin Inlet

Hamlet council unanimously passed the proof-of-vaccination bylaw Oct. 25, which came into force for 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 initially handed out vinyl bracelets for vaccinated people to show their proof of vaccination going forward, but that option was soon revoked, and only proper documentation was accepted.

Flynn said there had 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.

Rankin Inlet advocates rally on heels of Iqaluit suicide protest

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

“Mental health care in Nunavut is very poor,” said Meagan Akumalik Netser, one of the organizers of the event.

The event received support from the hamlet, Co-op and other organizations. Around 25 people braved snowy conditions to make their voices heard.

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

Steven Carleton told the story of how he overcame abuse in his Hope Gathering meeting 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.”

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.

Kivalliq youth council reignited

After a 20-year hiatus, the Kivalliq Inuit Association was looking to bring 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 the Kivalliq Inuit Association.

The organization saught two members to represent each of the communities in the Kivalliq region.

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

Pujjuut Kusugak, the director of the Nunavut affairs for AEM, spoke to attendees at a dedication ceremony for the new Rankin Inlet arena on Oct. 6. Photo courtesy of Darren Flynn

A10 Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

December ᑎᓯᐱᕆ A new foodbank champion emerges

As a young mother in Calgary, Sally Cormier-Ittinuar needed her local food bank.

“I was in dire straits,” remembers the Rankin Inlet woman, who moved to the Kivalliq from New Brunswick almost two decades ago.

She took over the role as “champion” of the Ikurraq Food Bank Society, a role Mary Fredlund filled for 25 years.

The society had warned that the charitable organization could close if a new leader couldn’t be found.

“I saw that they were having a hard time getting somebody, so I thought well, I guess it’s my time to step up and try to make a difference, try to do what (Fredlund) does,” said Cormier-Ittinuar.

Liquor outlet’s opening day rakes in $32k and 444 customers

The first day of Rankin Inlet’s new beer and wine store saw 444 customers spend just under $32,000 on alcoholic beverages.

“The opening went quite well,” said Daniel Young, director of the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission, referring to Dec. 4.

ᓯᐅᓚ ᐃᓄᒃᐸᐅᔭᖅ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᓴᓇᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ. ᑕᑯᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ.

“It was not overly busy like we had worried for opening day.”

He commended the well-trained staff for their customer service.

The opening faced some questions and criticism on social media about the value of having alcohol so readily available in the community, but Rankin Inlet had voted for the store in a 2017 plebiscite.

Rankin vaccine passport forces man out of hockey

The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet’s decision to bar unvaccinated people from municipal buildings meant one resident’s time on the ice was over and he would no longer be able to watch his children play either.

“Not able to go see my kids play (and) practise is pretty hard, for both me and my kids,” said Savik Ford, who was unvaccinated.

Since Nov. 30, only people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 were allowed to enter municipal buildings such as the hockey arena.

“It’s pretty hard not to help them dress up or just give them tips for the ice,” said Ford.

Arviat brings in vaccine passport

On the heels of Rankin Inlet, the Hamlet of Arviat implemented a vaccine passport system for municipal buildings in the community in December.

“We went through what no other community in Nunavut went through,” said Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr., referring to the Covid-19

outbreak in Arviat that stretched from fall 2020 to spring 2021.

“We had the highest numbers in the whole territory, and it was six months of very hard lockdown measures that we followed.

The community abided by everything that was asked of them.”

With that experience in mind, the hamlet decided to introduce a municipal vaccine passport system to further protect the safety of the community, the mayor said.

Celebrated principal leaves legacy

Sarah Inukpaujaq Ayaruak, who retired in December 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.

She went on to become a teacher Leo Ussak Elementary School, then co-principal, and finally as the school’s sole principal for the last decade.

Search for missing hunter in Naujaat 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 and staff from the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Trenton searched for Putulik over the coming weeks, but the efforts were finally called off in mid-December.

It is now a missing persons case with the RCMP.

ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓖᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑏᑦ ᓴᓇᔩᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᑖᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕆᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃᑖᓵᖑᔪᒥ, ᒪᑐᐃᓪᓚᑦᑖᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᒥ.

Sarah Inukpaujaq Ayaruak retired after a long career in education.

She hoped to see Inuktitut further incorporated in Nunavut’s education system going forward. Photo courtesy of Sarah Inukpaujaq Ayaruak

Six customer service workers were staffed to take orders at Rankin Inlet’s colourful new beer and wine store, which officially opened in December. Photo courtesy of Daniel Young

Toy drive brings joy in Rankin More than 500 gifts distributed before Christmas

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

More than 500 toys found their way into children’s hands in Rankin Inlet, thanks to a Christmas toy drive initiative organized

by Leonie Sammurtok.

Sammurtok had revived the toy drive this year after organizing Jadan, Rylan-James, Ariel, Audrey and Jordan Pudnak gather for a photo with Santa. Photo courtesy of Diane Papak

her last one in 2018.

The initiative received a boost of $10,000 funding through the Agnico Eagle Charity Ball program, which handed out cash to non-profit and community organizations in December.

Kevin Lagacé was on hand to play Santa Claus and pose for pictures with children who received gifts.

Happy families posted dozens of photos from the toy drive on social media.

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