ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐊᖑᑎ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ
Arviat man survives five days stranded Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, January 12, 2022
Vol 28 No 3
Community
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Keeping the skills alive
ᒪᐃᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ Mayors discuss how current Covid outbreak is affecting communities News ᐃᓅᓕᓴᐃᓂᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᐲᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ Participants, coordinators and instructors in the Qitsiriniq and Kammiurniq program in Arviat gather for a photo. Back row, from left, Cecelia Akammak, Cecelia Gibbons, Marcia Angalik, Eunice Muckpah, Nadine Alareak, Hilary Irwin (program coordinator), Lena Napayok (program coordinator) and Angelina Suluk. Middle row, from left, Bernadette Illungiayok, Regalee Curley and Hattie Alagalak. Front row, from left, Bathsheba Kolit and Theresa Suluk. Photo courtesy of Hilary Irwin
Rescuing Rankin Inlet’s abandoned dogs
Kamik-making program bolsters traditional knowledge in Arviat By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services
Sports Table tennis-ᑯᑦ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ Table tennis tournament in Baker Lake Publication mail
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Contract #40012157
71605 00500
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Arviat
Finding funding for a kamik-making program in Arviat took two years, but after the participants went home with their traditionally made footwear in early winter, all that work paid off. “This program was suggested by an Elder, Hattie Alagalak from Arviat,” said Hilary Irwin, one of the co-ordinators of Ilitaqsiniq’s Qitsiriniq and Kammiurniq program. “She wanted to make sure kamik-making is passed down to younger generations, before the Inuit tradition of kamik-making is lost.” Ilitaqsiniq finally found the resources to host a pilot run of the program, thanks to the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA). Ten participants, two co-ordinators and four Elders joined forces for five weeks of full-time training to teach and learn how to create kamiks from scratch, starting with just a raw sealskin hide. Participants had to do everything that was traditionally required: skinning the sealskins, taking the fat off, dehairing,
sewing and more. “Sometimes there were tears, sometimes there were many cigarette breaks,” said Irwin. “There were many different struggles. Each person was different. I’ve made kamiks with skins that were already prepared, but these ladies, they did it right from scratch — how they used to do it traditionally in the iglus. It’s a big process.” The two toughest parts, she said, were cleaning the bearded sealskin properly so there were no uneven patches of hair, and then sewing the soles to the kamiks. The stitches had to be perfect to ensure the kamiks were waterproof. But the effort was all worth it in the end. “They were very excited, proud of themselves,” said Irwin. “There were a lot of tears at the end of excitement, joy and happiness that they were able to participate in such a program.” Along with the kamik-making, the program also incorporated literacy activities, further bolstering participants’ cultural roots. Ilitaqsiniq hopes to hold the program in other communities in the future. “It’s very important that these types
Making kamiks from start to finish is an involved task. Tears were shed along the way, but some beautiful creations were completed in Ilitaqsiniq’s Qitsiriniq and Kammiurniq program. Photo courtesy of Hilary Irwin of programs continue to be run so that this tradition is not lost,” said Irwin, who thanked KIA for the funding necessary to make it a reality.
A2 Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Kivalliq News
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ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐃᐱᙶᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓲᑦ ᓄᑖᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ 111 ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓄᑦ 2021-ᒥ; ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᑕᑯᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᓖᑦ ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᒥᓂᒃ Northern News Services
ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᙳᐊᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᐱᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᓯᔭᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᑐᖁᑎᕆᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖏᓐᓇᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᓕᖕᓄᑦ. “ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᑕᒫᓂ ᕿᒻᒥᖃᕋᑉᑕ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᙱᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᐃᐱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᑯᓯ ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦ, ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ. ᐃᐲᙶᓕᕌᖓᑕ, ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᙳᐊᓄᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᓲᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᒻᒥᐅᓯᕝᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ – ᒪᕐᕉᖕᒪᑎᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᐅᓯᕝᕕᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓯᓚᒥ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᓃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐅᖁᖅᓴᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᕿᒻᒥᐅᓯᕝᕕᒃ ᒥᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓄᑦ. ᐃᓗᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᕿᒻᒥᐅᓯᕝᕕᒃ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓯᕐᓗᐊᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᑭᐊᕈᑕᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᔪᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᕙᓗᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖁᖅᓴᖅᓯᒪᓲᖅ ᓄᓇᒃᑰᕈᑕᐅᓯᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᐅᖁᖅᓴᐅᑎ ᓯᓚᑎᖓᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖁᖅᓴᐅᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ. ᓯᓚᒥ ᕿᒻᒥᐅᓯᕝᕕᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓂᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓄᑦ ᖃᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ. ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᒐᔪᒃᑐᖅ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᐸᐸᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᐸᒃᑐᖅ ᕿᒻᒥᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ. “ᐊᒥᓲᔪᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᖃᑦᑎᐊᔪᔪᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᐸᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒪᓐᓈᖅᑐᐃᓇᓱᒃᐸᒃᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᐲᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᔭᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᙱᓐᓇᑉᑕ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐃᐲᙶᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᒻᒥᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᐃᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᙱᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ – ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᖁᑭᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᖂᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 150-ᓂᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᖃᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. “ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒐᔪᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦ. “ᐃᐲᙶᖅᑐᑦ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐃᐱᖅᑕᐅᓲᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᐅᓯᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᐃᔭᐅᙱᒃᑳᖓᑕ, ᖁᑭᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ.” ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓕᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ 2017-ᒥ, ᐃᐲᙶᖅᑐᑦ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ
ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓ ᓴᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᕿᒻᒥᒃᑯᕕᖕᓂ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐅᕙᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ. ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᑕᑕᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᐅᑉ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ. Rankin Inlet’s protective services department built two dog pounds, one of which can be seen here. Both were filled to capacity the week before Christmas. Photo courtesy of Mark Wyatt
ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑳᒃᑲᓐᓂᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ, Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑭᓖᑎᑕᐅᓇᑎᒃ, ᖁᔭᓕᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᑖᕋᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᒐᒥᒃ. ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᙳᐊᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ Sapy, Neuter and Rescue-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦᒧᑦ ᐸᐃᔾ ᐳᕐᑦᒧᓪᓗ. ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓲᑦ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐱᓚᒃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓯᖓᐃᓕᖅᓱᐃᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᖁᓇᒋᑦ ᓯᖓᐃᖃᑦᑕᖁᓇᒋᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐆᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᕿᒻᒥᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓐᑐᕆᔭ ᕋᐳᑦᓴᓐᒧᑦ, ᕿᒻᒥᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᑯᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᓐᓅᔪᒥᒃ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ. 2021-ᒥ, 111 ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓄᑦ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥᒃ 2022-ᒥ, ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᖃᕐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ. ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᙳᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᔪᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᐊᓛᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓐᓇᒋᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓄᑦ – ᖁᓕᖏᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᖁᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ. “ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑖᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦ, ᑭᓯᒥ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᑮᓯᓇᓱᒃᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᖁᑭᖅᑕᐅᓲᑦ ᓱᓕ.
ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᙳᐊᑦ ᑲᐱᓯᖃᑦᑕᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᔭᒥᓂᒃ, ᕿᒻᒥᓖᓪᓗ ᐊᔾᔭᖅᓯᔭᕌᖓᑕ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᖁᔨᑉᓗᑎᒃ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑕᑯᒐᔪᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕐᒥᖕᒪᑕ ᑎᕆᒐᓂᐊᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒥᔪᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᐱᖦᖤᖏᓴᒃᑐᑦ ᑎᕆᒐᓂᐊᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᔭᑦᑐᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᑎᐊᕌᓗᒃᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᖂᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ. “ᕿᒻᒥᖅ ᐱᖦᖤᖏᓴᓕᖅᐸᑦ, ᑐᖁᓐᓇᖅᑑᔪᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑲᐱᔭᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᓱᕙᓕᑭᐊᖑᓕᕋᔭᖅᖢᓂ. ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ. ᐃᓄᒃ ᐱᖦᖤᖏᓴᓕᖅᐸᑦ, ᑐᖁᒍᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᒥᔪᖅ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᖃᑦᑕᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ.” ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᒻᒦᒡᒎᖅ ᐃᐲᙶᕋᔪᓗᐊᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ. “ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᓯᒪᔫᔭᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᐊᐃᔭᑦ. “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᔫᔭᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᙳᐊᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᑎᒍᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᖂᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ. ᕿᒻᒥᓖᑦ ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᖁᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ, ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕌᖓᑕ, ᑲᒪᒋᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᒋᑦ.” ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑑᔪᖅ, ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐃᐱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕌᖓᑕ ᐃᐱᐅᑎᖏᑦ ᓇᐃᑦᑐᑲᓪᓚᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᖦᖢᑎᒡᓗ.
Rankin Inlet rings in resolutions Photo contests engage residents in fireworks display By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet
Christmas 2021 brought lockdown restrictions in Nunavut, but that didn’t stop Rankinmiut from safely gathering to observe and celebrate New Year’s with a fireworks display. Fire chief Mark Wyatt challenged residents to post their best photos from the fireworks and vehicle parade. The most-liked photos earned gift card prizes. Check out a selection of the scenes that heralded 2022 in Rankin Inlet.
Families gather to take in the fireworks display. Photo courtesy of Panikuluk Kusugak
A drone photo shows vehicles parading through town on New Year’s Eve. Photo courtesy of Gibson Subgut Kimberly Okalik captures fireworks above the innukshuk. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Okalik
Colours fill the air as residents snap photos. Photo courtesy of Shanti Dias
Green and blue dominate the sky above a fire truck. Photo courtesy of Kristen Bruce
Snowmobilers gather for the parade in UFO-like fashion. Photo courtesy of John Ussak
A red glow lights up Rankin. Photo courtesy of Levinia Brown
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Around Kivalliq Behchoko
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with Stewart Burnett
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 A3
fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Jan. 10 Active cases: 215 Confirmed cases: 1,028 Recovered cases: 809 Deaths: 4
Vaccine uptake: 31,227 first doses/ 88 per cent 24,998 second doses/ 71 per cent
Breakdown by community: Iqaluit: 62 Qikiqtarjuaq: 4 Arviat: 28 Chesterfield Inlet: 4 Rankin Inlet: 43 Cambridge Bay: 19 Kinngait: 22 Coral Harbour: 6 Pangnirtung: 19 Pond Inlet: 1 Iglulik: 2 Whale Cove: 7 Sanirajak: 8 Sanikiluaq: 1 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health
ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎ ᐊᒡᒐᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᐊᓚᐅᖢᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᓂᒃ ᐱᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ
Sanikiluaq
ᐆᓂ ᑮᓈᓕᒃ ᐄᑕᒃ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᔪᓐᓇᙱᓚᖅ ᐅᑎᓛᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᕐᓗᓂ, ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓚᐅᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐊᒡᒐᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᔪᖅᓯᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐱᖅᓯᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.
David Olson snapped this gorgeous photo of a sundog in Rankin Inlet, welcoming in 2022 in style. Photo courtesy of David Olson
Essential workers being recognized for efforts
Arviat With Covid-19 forcing everyone home again, the Hamlet of Arviat announced it is relaunching its Essential Worker of the Day program. The program invites residents to recognize essential workers in the community. They could be family, friends or anyone working hard to keep things going while most Arviarmiut stay home. There will be a draw every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a chance to win a $200 gift card for those individuals. “We would like to take this time to thank all the essential workers in the community for continuing to provide services during this time,” wrote the hamlet in a news release. Submissions should include the essential worker’s name, workplace and what they do and can be sent to a.essential.w@gmail.com.
Silu’s Taxi steps up
Rankin Inlet With hard times comes community members stepping up, and Silu’s Taxi is the latest example of Kivalliqmiut seeing needs in the community and filling those gaps. The company, still less than a year old, opened up grocery delivery early this month, working with both the Northern Store and Kissarvik Co-op in Rankin Inlet to get food and supplies to residents in isolation or who otherwise couldn’t go to the store themselves. Silu’s Taxi also partnered with the Kivalliq Inuit Association to deliver KIA’s gift cards. As of Jan. 10, the company had begun making its way through the community house by house to get the Covid gift cards in people’s hands. Those who have not received a KIA gift card should contact KIA, not Silu’s Taxi, and make sure their name is on the list.
None injured in New Year’s Day fire
Baker Lake A house fire in a single-family residence on New Year’s Day in Baker Lake thankfully left none injured. “We got the call Jan. 1 at 7:30 p.m,” said Deputy Fire Chief Inukpak. “When we arrived to the residence, there was smoke coming out of the main entrance and fire in the bedroom window. We started suppression, and the neighbours were telling us the homeowner wasn’t home, so luckily the house was empty at the time.” The fire was limited to one room and its contents, but smoke damage was left throughout the building. “It can be repaired,” said Inukpak, adding it would be up to the building owner about how to deal with the damage. He said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but he wouldn’t say it was suspicious.
Ernie Kiinaalik Eetak can’t wait to get back to Arviat and hunt again, despite losing both hands while trapped on the land in a blizzard. Photo courtesy of Ernie Kiinaalik Eetak
‘ᑕᑯᔪᒪᓕᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖓ ᓴᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᓕᒃᓴᒃᑲᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕋᒪ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕈᒪ,’ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᕐᓂ ᐃᑖᖅ Northern News Services
ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒡᒐᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᒥ ᓯᑭᑑᖓ ᓯᖁᒥᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᕐᓂ ᑮᓈᓕᒃ ᐃᑖᖅ ᖁᖓᔮᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒡᓚᒪᔭᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᐊᕋᒥ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᓕᕐᓗᓂᓗ. “ᑕᑯᔪᒪᓕᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᓴᕕᑦ ᑕᓕᒃᑲ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒥᒐᒪ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕈᒪ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᑖᖅ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒥ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᖕᒦᖦᖢᓂ. ᐊᒡᒐᖏᑦ ᓇᑲᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ. ᐃᑖᖅ ᐊᒡᒐᙳᐊᓕᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᒃᓯᖃᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᓕᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ. ᑐᒃᑐᓕᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᓯᒪᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᒥ. ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓄᑦ 48 ᑭᓛᒥᑕᒥᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᖕᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᒃᑐᑦ ᑐᒥᖏᑦ. “ᑖᖅᓯᓕᕐᒪᑦ ᓱᑲᔪᐊᓗᒃᑯᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᑖᖅ. “ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᓕᖅᖢᖓ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᐃᑭᑦᑕᖅᑐᖏᑦ ᑕᑯᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᑭᑑᕋ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᖢᓂ.” ᐱᖁᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᒋᐊᕋᒥ ᓯᑭᑑᑉ ᐃᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓇᓂᓯᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᑖᕐᒥ, ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᑉᓗᓂ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᐊᕐᔪᒃᑐᒧᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓯᑭᑑᖓ ᐊᔪᓕᕆᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ. ᑕᖃᓯᒪᓕᕋᒥ ᐅᑉᓗᓗᒃᑖᒥ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐱᓱᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᑭᑑᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔭᕋᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᖃᐃᖅᖠᖅᖢᓂ. ᓯᓂᓕᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ, ᑐᐸᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᕝᕕᒃᑕᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᖕᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᓇᓂᓯᑉᓗᓂ ᑐᒥᒥᓂᒃ ᕿᓂᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᑭᑑᕐᒥᓄᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓯᓚ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᓄᕌᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 100 ᒪᐃᓕ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᑕᒫᑦ ᐊᓄᕆ ᓴᙱᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐱᖅᓯᖅᑐᑎᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕋᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᒃᑐᑦ ᐳᐊᓗᖏᑦ ᐊᓄᕆᒧᑦ ᑎᒃᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ. ᐃᑖᖅ ᓯᑭᑑᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖂᑕᓕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᕆᒥᒃ
ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᓯᓚᒥ. “ᑐᖁᖓᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᓗᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑉᓗᓂᓗ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᓯᑭᑑᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᕆᒥᓂᓗ. “–50-ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᖅ, ᐃᒃᑮᕌᓗᒃ.” ᐊᒡᒐᖏᑦ ᖁᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐃᓄᕆᒥᓄᑦ ᓂᐱᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐅᑉᓘᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓂ, ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᑕᐅᑐᖃᑦᑕᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᑐᓵᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᖢᓂ, “ᓲᕐᓗ ᓯᓚᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥ ᐃᒻᖏᖅᑐᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᓪᓗᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐃᓅᓯᒻᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ. ᐊᓂᖅᓵᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᖓ.” ᑕᐃᒪᓕ, ᓯᓚᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕿᓂᕐᓗ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᐊᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᒡᒑᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓅᕌᓂᒐᓱᒋᓯᒪᔪᖅ. ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓕᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ, ᕿᓂᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ. “ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᑖᖅ. “ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᐱᐊᓂᒍᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ.” ᑕᓕᖅᐱᐊᓂ ᐃᔨᖓ ᓱᕈᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᓚᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒡᒐᖏᑦ ᖁᐊᖅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᖢᑎᒃ. ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒧᑦ, ᐊᒡᒐᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ. ᐃᑖᖅ, 42-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑖᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᕐᒥ, ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᓱᓕ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕈᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓄᑦ. ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓪᓚᕆᐅᒐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕿᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒥᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ, ᐊᒡᒐᖃᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᓗᓂ. ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᓕᐊᕐᒥᓂᒃ, ᐊᓐᔨᓖᓐᒥᒃ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒌᓐᓇᕋᒥᐅᒃ ᒪᒥᓴᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒋᐊᓕᕐᒥᒍᓂᒎᖅ ᑕᒻᒪᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥᒃ ᓇᒃᓴᕈᒫᓕᖅᑐᖅ, ᐅᖅᓱᓕᔭᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᓂᓗ, ᓱᐴᔫᓕᔭᕐᓗᓂ, ᐅᖁᕐᓂᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᑐᐱᓕᔭᕐᓗᓂ, ᐊᓐᓄᕌᓕᔭᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᓇᕐᕈᑎᒐᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᓇᒃᓴᕐᓗᓂ, ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᓕᑳᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ.
A4 Wednesday, January 12, 2022 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 Group Publisher: Mike W. Bryant mike.bryant@nnsl.com Coordinating Editor: Craig Gilbert craig@nnsl.com Kivalliq Advertising Representative: advertising@nunavutnews.com Call collect: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507
Kivalliq News
Retaining Inuit culture is more than sentimental Luxury branding for Indigenous art is needed Northern News Services
One of the goals of Ilitaqsiniq’s Qitsiriniq and Kammiurniq program in Arviat last fall was making sure traditional skills are passed on to new generations. Keeping Inuit culture thriving within the North is important on its own, but what it also has the power to do is influence Canadian culture and spur economic development for Inuit. You don’t need to look far for the kind of long-term results these programs can deliver: Rankin Inlet’s own Victoria’s Arctic Fashion (VAF) was inspired by a miqqut program almost a decade ago. Indigenous fashion and art is still underappreciated in Canada and beyond, but that tide is rapidly turning. Manitobah Mukluks (MM) made it on to The Globe and Sanikiluaq Mail’s Top Growing Companies list for 2021, with three-year revenue growth of 50 per cent. They are now pushing expansion into the United States. Anyone who frequents social
media can see that art and fashion not just the demand for beadas homemade crafts, but as luxury products. work and Indigenous That shift is already fashion far outweighs happening, helped by the supply. Raffle brands like VAF and opportunities are MM, but it has a much gobbled up, and artlonger way to go beists often have to turn potential customers fore the industry truly away because they takes off. don’t have time to The iceberg of Cacomplete custom nadians’ awareness orders. Indigenous beauty stewart of That supply imis only just breachburnett ing. Many Canadians balance is one of the barely knew Inuit and biggest challenges First Nations were for Indigenous artnot the same group of people 10 ists: much of the appeal of their work is in the handmade nature of years ago, and now we have an Inuk Governor General. it, so turning it into a production Though the news of residential line like Manitobah Mukluks isn’t school grave sites last year was necessarily feasible or desirable. terrible to learn, the way it domThe only other options are charging a high enough price that inated national headlines shows makes the time investment pay off that eyes are finally turning to a to create kamiks or other works of part of the country that was too art, or establishing a brand identioften ignored before. Indigenous culture is increasty and lending one’s designs to a ingly being seen as more than a production house like MM. historical interest, but as a truly What the industry at large needs is a societal shift to viewing Indigenous special and alluring feature of this
Ron Ullikataq Qamanirq’s Christmas sculpture depicts an intense narwhal hunt. The sculpture took five hours to make. Photos courtesy of Ron Ullikataq Qamanirq
Subscriptions One year mail $70 Online (entire content) $50/year Send us your comments You can email us at kivalliqnews@nnsl.com; mail to Box 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at our office at 5108-50th Street. All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so that we can confirm it came from you. Not all letters will necessarily be published. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern. We particularly encourage new contributors as we attempt to publish a cross-section of public opinion. Letters of more than 200 words, open letters and those published elsewhere are seldom used. We reserve the right to edit for length or taste and to eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements. We may also choose to use a letter as the basis for a story. We acknowledge Nous reconthe financial support naissons l'appui of the Government of financier du gouverCanada. nement du Canada.
A snow sculpture in Naujaat went viral on social media over the holidays. The piece depicted a group of hunters in a boat as they chase down a breaching narwhal. It was photographed and submitted to CBC North, but neither the photographer nor publication knew who made it. But the carver behind the piece showed up in the comments: Ron Ullikataq Qamanirq. “I love narwhal hunting, the same way I love Christmas,” he told Kivalliq News. “It makes me happy.” Qamanirq has lived in Naujaat for 15 years and been carving snow for 12. “It took me five hours,” he said of the piece. Qamanirq used wood and water with snow to put it together. “I enjoy snow sculpture because it reminds me of my childhood,” he said. He already has his next piece in mind, but his lips are sealed until he puts it together. “I love my family and friends,” said Qamanirq, hoping for better times following the holidays. “I hope they will enjoy 2022, not like last year – last year was the worst!” – Stewart Burnett
Power plant plans surge ahead Chesterfield Inlet’s 46-year-old plant can’t meet future needs By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services
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country, something that is both quintessentially Canadian and attractively different. Not only is this an economic opportunity, but fashion and art shape culture themselves. Nunavut is the fastest-growing jurisdiction in the country, and Inuit’s role in the country will only be increasing. By retaining and celebrating their own culture, they can influence Canada’s. All the pieces are there for Inuit fashion to take off as a luxury product, but what it needs is more eyes. In the meantime, passing on Elders’ skills to the new generations is critical for more than the capitalist ambitions. Holding on to these cultural skills has value far beyond any dollar figures. Those who take the time and provide the investments to make these programs happen – from the Elder instructors to the staff behind the scenes writing proposals – should be commended. They are playing a crucial role in something that will have impact far beyond the programs themselves.
Ice hunters frozen in time
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Chesterfield Inlet
There’s no room for growth with Chesterfield Inlet’s aging and decaying power plant, which is why Qulliq Energy Corporation is moving forward on plans to replace it with a state-of-the-art facility. The current power plant is more than 46 years old and has several deficiencies, including an unreliable structure, aging systems and an obsolete switchgear that requires replacement. “The building structure itself is in very poor condition and there’s no room for expansion,” said Rick Hunt, president and CEO of QEC. “Even if we wanted to increase capacity in Chester, we physically can’t do it. The building is not big enough to put a new gen-set in there.” The project is part of a series of power plant replacements across Nunavut, thanks in part to the federal government’s $175 million infusion for the Arctic Energy Fund. “All of our power plants that we’re building under the Arctic Energy Fund are going to be ready for integration with renewables in the future,” added Hunt. Even though QEC is building diesel power plants, the new ones, including Chesterfield Inlet’s, will not only be more fuel efficient but ready to take on any renewable energy sources in the community.
Chesterfield Inlet’s current power plant, seen here, is beyond its life expectancy. Qulliq Energy Corporation is planning to replace it in the next few years. The public is invited to take part in the review by Nunavut’s Utility Rates Review Council, which will be taking feedback until Feb. 25. Photo courtesy of Qulliq Energy Corporation The existing power plant uses a three-generator lineup, and the new one will add a fourth, establishing a layer of reliability to its operations. Another change QEC is proposing with the new power plant is moving its location from the current centre of town to just outside of town, linking it directly to its fuel source at the Petroleum Products Division facility. That’s the energy corporation’s strategy with all of its future power plants, rather than needing trucked fuel delivery several times a week. “You can have the best equipment in the world (and) still have leaks from those fuel trucks into the equipment,” said Hunt, adding there would be a direct line from the Petroleum Products Division
facility to the plant. He didn’t want to put an exact number on the price of the new plant because it would be going out to tender, but said the proposed budget is around $35 million, comparable to the recently finished plant in Arctic Bay. The plan is to have the design in place for 202324, construction done in 2024-25 and the finished product in 2026 to serve the community of approximately 450 people. But first, the project needs approval from the minister responsible for QEC and to pass Nunavut’s Utility Rates Review Council. The public is invited to provide feedback to the council by emailing urrc@gov.nu.ca until Feb. 25.
Kivalliq News
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Wednesday, January 12, 2022 A5
Arviat hunter loses hands to frostbite after surviving five-day blizzard ‘I can’t wait to see my steel arms so I can go hunting again when I get back home,’ says Ernie Eetak By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Arviat
He lost both hands to frostbite after breaking down on the land during a hunting trip outside of Arviat, but Ernie Kiinaalik Eetak is all smiles and laughs as he prepares to return home and resume hunting. “I can’t wait to see my steel arms so I can go hunting again when I get back home,” said Eetak from a Winnipeg hotel. Both hands were amputated. Eetak will be getting prosthetics with a hook to retain some functionality of his arms. He went caribou hunting for what was supposed to be just one day early in December. He was about 48 km from Arviat when he lost track of a group of caribou he was following. “It was getting dark so fast,” said Eetak. “I went back home and saw Arviat’s lights, and my snowmobile stopped.” He searched his equipment and found a new sparkplug, which let him drive a bit longer, but his machine broke down again outside of town. Tired from a day of hunting, he walked from his snowmobile toward Arviat and took a rest by a rock. After falling asleep, he woke up to an angry wolverine. He quickly grabbed his lighter and looked for his foot trail back to his snowmobile, but the weather had changed. “It was really windy, about 100 miles per hour, like a blizzard,” he said. He initially tried to build an iglu, but his caribou mitts flew off in the wind. Eetak propped up his snowmobile and used his tarp for protection from the elements.
“I died for five days because of the bad weather,” he said, remembering his brutally long experience hunkering down next to his snowmobile and under his tarp. “Negative 50, so cold.” His hands froze, sticking to the tarp. At one point, he remembered bright lights filling his vision, and he could hear gospel songs, “like somebody singing on the sky and somebody carrying me and wearing all white,” he said. “I went back to my life. I had a big breath.” Finally, the weather cleared and the sun came out. He credited his traditional caribou-skin clothing and Inuit sunglasses for keeping him alive. On the way to town, he was found by a rescue team and taken to the health centre. “I was so happy that day,” said Eetak. “The traditional clothes I wear survived me.” His right eye had been damaged by ice and his hands were severely frostbitten. He was eventually medevaced to Winnipeg, where both hands were surgically removed. Eetak, who will turn 42 this month, said he’s still going hunting again when he gets back home to Arviat. He has lived a life of hunting and sharing country food with the community, and he looks forward to continuing that tradition, even without hands. He was thankful for his wife, Angeline, who supported him through his recovery. Next time, he said, he will be sure to bring a GPS device, extra gas, a Coleman stove, warmer tent, more clothing and as many tools as he can carry, just in case.
Paying back kindness By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Baker Lake
The community has helped her in the past, and that’s why she opens water holes today. Faith Mautaritnaaq, along with Nancy and Fiona Angatajuak, opened a couple of new water holes in Baker Lake for community members to get fresh water early in the new year. It wasn’t a random act of kindness: Mautaritnaaq is trying to give back in any way she can to a community that has been by her family’s side before. When she lost family in the past, Lucy and Savannah Niego stepped up to start a fundraiser to help her relatives come to Baker Lake for the funeral. “Those fundraisers were a success, and family members did come at a time of need,” said Mautaritnaaq. “I am just so very grateful. Even though it was a few years ago, it’s still really close to my heart.” She was also thankful for the assistance of Fiona and Nancy with opening the holes. “Most of us living in Baker, we fetch water,” said Mautaritnaaq. “I’m hoping that when I post (on Facebook), that there’s a number of people that do get water.” In addition to the fundraiser help in the past, the lifelong Baker Lake resident is grateful for her community’s on-
going generosity in a number of ways. “There’s people out there that are very generous in getting us caribou meat, maktaq, traditional food,” she said. “There’s a lot of things that people help us with, so it’s in my heart at least to try and give back to the community when I can.”
Two water holes were opened last week, with one closer to town so residents without transportation would have an easier time accessing it. “I would just like to say thank you to those that helped me when I go and make open water holes, and thank you to the community of Baker Lake,” said Mautaritnaaq.
ᐆᓂ ᑮᓈᓕᒃ ᐄᑕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓕᐊᖓ ᐋᓐᔨᓖᓐ ᐄᑕᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᕗᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥ. ᐆᓂ ᐅᐃᓂᐱᐊᒡᒧᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᕿᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ.
Ernie Kiinaalik Eetak and wife Angeline Eetak share a moment of support in hospital. Ernie was taken to Winnipeg for treatment of his severe frostbite. Photo courtesy of Ernie Kiinaalik Eetak
Same storm, better boat
Kivalliq mayors react to latest Covid outbreak By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Arviat/Rankin Inlet
Faith Mautaritnaaq and Fiona Angatajuak carve an open water hole as a way to give back to the generous community of Baker Lake. Photo courtesy of Nancy Angatajuak
Despite high vaccination rates, municipal vaccine passports and hopes the pandemic was waning, Covid-19 broke out in Arviat and Rankin Inlet again over the holidays. As of press time, each community was hovering around 55 to 65 active cases. The rest of the Kivalliq region had a smattering of cases – one in Baker Lake, two in Chesterfield Inlet and a presumptive case in Whale Cove. The territory launched a hard lockdown quickly, limiting just about all gatherings and advising strongly against travel. The Government of Nunavut announced on Jan. 6 it would no longer be tracking individual cases, instead assuming that the latest variant, Omicron, is the cause of just about every cold symptom in the territory. Arviat had one of the first major outbreaks during the pandemic in the North, so for Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr., this latest outbreak is a familiar sight. “We’re in the same storm again as last year but in a different boat,” he said. “Our boat is much bigger and much safer now, and it’s due to the vaccine that we have. Our vaccination rates are quite high in Arviat here, above the national average, so we’re much better off now than we were during the last outbreak.” People in his community are feeling more optimistic because of that protection, he
said. Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie said it can be hard sometimes to keep up with policies that change frequently during an outbreak. “We’re coping OK,” he said. “We’re trying to keep everybody calm and not to panic.” He’s trying to ensure the community is informed through social media and radio, while residents isolate and follow protocol as much as possible. “We’re just in limbo right now, I guess you can say,” said Towtongie. “But the community is trying to stay positive. You can tell by people going on radio and saying hello to each other or greetings for New Year’s.” People are accepting the fact that anybody can get Omicron, he said, and that it might be a while until the community is out of lockdown. Towtongie said it’s been a rollercoaster for the community in terms of what’s going to happen next and what the next set of protocols will be, but they’ve had practice over the last two years of keeping safe. “It’s like ‘Oh no, not again,’” said Towtongie. “But we accept it. We’re dealing with it as best as we can and that’s about all we can do.” He suggests people be careful, follow the public health guidelines, be patient and take care of each other. “We’re hoping that we’ll get through this sooner than later, but we’ll get through this.”
A6 Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Kivalliq News
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Rescuing and rehoming Rankin Inlet’s abandoned dogs 111 dogs sent south in 2021; director of protective services sees improvement in responsible pet ownership By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet
Though they’re no longer being destroyed when caught by bylaw, Rankin Inlet’s dogs still deserve proper care from owners. “We do have a lot of dogs here that I would say are somewhat neglected, that live their lives on the end of chains,” said Mark Wyatt, director of protective services with the hamlet. When they get loose, bylaw catches them and keeps them in one of two pounds in the community - one outside for bigger dogs that can handle the low temperatures, and a heated indoor pound for smaller dogs. The indoor holding area was built in the fall using a seacan, framed, insulated and sheeted with plywood and is kept warm by circulating air from the garage next door and supplemented with an infrared heater. The outdoor pen has shelters and space for six dogs at any given time. Wyatt will usually post the dogs on Facebook or try to contact the owners by another means. “There are a lot of good dog owners in town,” he said, adding that he tries to reunite dogs with their owners and provide education on making sure their pets don’t get loose. In the recent past there was little alternative for the dogs whose owners don’t come to collect them – those animals would be shot. The hamlet used to destroy about 150 dogs per year because of this, roughly one every other day. “It’s the standard practice in a lot of different communities,” said Wyatt. “Stray dogs are generally tied up for a couple days and then if the owners don’t claim them, they’re just shot.” Since Wyatt took over in 2017, abandoned dogs are now rehomed in the south, at no cost to the hamlet, thanks to connections he’s made and fundraising efforts.
Bylaw works closely with Kangiqliniq Sapy, Neuter and Rescue, an organization run by Wyatt and Page Burt. The group raises funds to run spay and neuter clinics and provide some veterinarian services. The group also gives aid to a rescue group in Baker Lake run by Andrea Robinson, helping get dogs from the community vaccinated and with the occasional rescue that finds itself overnighting in Rankin. In 2021, 111 Rankin Inlet dogs were sent south. In the first week of 2022, another four were destined for lower parallels. Bylaw is currently raising two puppies until they’re old enough to be sent out - the other nine in the litter had frozen to death. “They all go south, they all get new homes,” said Wyatt, except for aggressive dogs, which still get destroyed. Bylaw also provides vaccination for dogs it captures, as well as for dogs owners bring in. Many communities in the territory have been seeing a rise in foxes lately, including Rankin Inlet. Rabid foxes tend to either be aggressive or super friendly, said Wyatt, but either way deadly to unvaccinated dogs. “Once a dog gets rabies, it’s a deadly disease,” he said. “You can’t do anything about vaccinating it after the fact. Same thing with people. Once people get rabies, it can be an incredibly deadly disease, so we want to try to make sure none of that happens.” He said the loose dog situation in town seems to be improving over the years. “I think it’s getting a lot better,” said Wyatt. “I think people are now more aware that bylaw is here to help them with their dogs, as opposed to just capture them and get rid of them. Our goal is to have responsible dog owners raising their dogs as family pets, if they can, and taking good care of them.” What’s not appropriate, he said, is dogs living on three-foot leashes without adequate shelter.
ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ 2017–ᒥ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᖕᓇᑯᓂ ᕿᒻᒥᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᑐᖁᑕᐅᙱᖔᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐅᕙᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᕿᒻᒥᒃᑯᕕᒃ ᕼᐋᒻᓚᐅᔪᒥ.
Since 2017, Rankin Inlet has been rehoming abandoned dogs in the south rather than destroying them. Seen here is the indoor portion of the dog pounds in the hamlet. Photo courtesy of Mark Wyatt
Table tennis tournament tunes teens’ tenacity Interest and competition high among Baker Lake students By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Baker Lake
Players were gathered all around but everything was quiet while finals matches were played, except for the smacks of the ping pong ball and rackets. “All the other athletes who are watching were respectfully being quiet but then when the matches would be over there would be an eruption of cheering for whoever won,” said Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School teacher Isaiah Lansdowne, who coaches table tennis and helped organize a weekend tournament for students in Baker Lake just before Christmas. “The tension was quite intense during the matches.”
Seventeen players competed in four categories between juvenile and junior age groups. Each category came with three cash prizes for the top players, and everyone who attended for both days of the tournament received a gift certificate. A round robin on Saturday led to finals on Sunday, where top players were put in the spotlight. “Rather than having players play at multiple tables at the same time, we had one centre table where we had each of the finals and everybody was around the outside watching, which was pretty neat, especially for the younger ones having the older ones watching them,” said Lansdowne. Orlando Kalluk won the junior boys category, while Laura Pupik-Highson took top spot for the junior girls. Tegan Tunnuq came out on top for the juvenile boys, with Jayna Kingunkotok
winning the juvenile girls division. “They’re incredible,” said Lansdowne about the players and their skill level. “They’ll be wailing it really hard, having some heavy topspin to bring the ball down to hit the table instead of going out, and then you think the point’s over and the other player gets on defense, gets it back and they’re just moving all over.” His players practise twice a week at the school, Mondays and Wednesdays. Some have competed in other communities, “and it’s definitely a serious thing,” said Lansdowne. Hand-eye co-ordination tends to be a natural gift, but players can still work on it, added the teacher. Practices serve more to keep athletes on their toes and learn to make the quick movements necessary to keep rallies going. The uncertainty around Covid-19 means Lans-
Table tennis players in Baker Lake gather. From left to right, back row are Scarlette Iksiktaaryuk, Laura Pupik-Highson, Alvin Pudnak, Kenneth Kudjaaq, Jon Ryan Kingunkotok, Bryan Kingunkotok, Orlando Kalluk, Tegan Tunnuq, Alexis Joe Tookanchiak, Jayden Kalluk and Dontae Paungrat. From left to right, front row are Mary Ikuutaq, Kassidy Ann Tunguaq, Chloe Tunguaq, Razi Beepanah (toddler), Elizabeth Smadu, Jayna Kingunkotok and Ricky Putumiraqtuq. Photo courtesy of Isaiah Lansdowne
downe is unsure if any tournament travel is in the students’ future this year, but either way, he is planning another tournament at the school for March. “We’re hoping that we’re going to be able to travel more next school year and be able to compete with other communities,” he said. “Regardless, we’ll be back at it and plug away and see where we’re at the next tournament.” Just from the round robin on Saturday to the finals on Sunday, he saw substantial improvement in some players, especially among the juveniles. “It was great seeing excellent sportsmanship,” added Lansdowne. “We didn’t have any disagreements or issues. The kids were all being respectful to one another. We just got to enjoy it and they got to enjoy it. It was a great experience.”
Jayna Kingunkotok, front left, and Elizabeth Smadu compete in a table tennis tournament before the Christmas break. Photo courtesy of Isaiah Lansdowne