Kivalliq News - Feb. 9, 2022 Edition

ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑑᑉ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᓕᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᖑᔪᖅ ‘ᓱᓕᓪᓚᑦᑖᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ’, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᓕᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒡᓗ

Kivalliq News Wednesday, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Vol 28 No 7

$1.00

Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Jordin Tootoo film crew coming to town Team says documentary ‘had to be authentic’, including visits to Rankin Inlet

Promoting healthy smiles

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Contract #40012157

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Hamza Jafri, left, with daughter Alaya and wife Shireen has a lot to be proud of since opening a full-time dental clinic in Rankin Inlet seven months ago. Jafri says “Now that we have a full-time clinic, we can actually bring in patients when they’re not in pain and see what their issues are.” Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Community ᑎᑎᖅᑲᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᐃᖢᐊᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᓕᒃ ᓴᓇᔨᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᓯᓚᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ Post office faces staffing, weather problems

Arts ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖅ ᓱᖓᐅᔭᓕᕆᒡᒍᔪᖅ Baker Lake teen shares passion for beadwork

News ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ Rankin Inlet airport improvements set for summer start

A2 Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᖃᑦᑕᖁᓇᒋᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔨᖃᐃᓐᓇᓕᕋᔭᖅᐸᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑕᐅᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᖅ Northern News Services

ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑑᔪᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ – ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᕋᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔨᖃᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

ᐊᓚᐃᓐ Hᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᖅ ᑕᕐᕋᖅᑑᑎᓕᔭᖅᖢᓂ.

Aline Ha comes ready to work with mirror in hand.

Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

“ᐱᓕᕆᓐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓯᒪᔪᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᒻᓴ ᔭᕗᕆ, ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑐᖅ Northern Smiles Dental Clinic-ᒥ ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᓄᐊᓂᓗ ᓱᕆᓐ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ 7-ᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᔫᓐ 2021-ᒥ. ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔨᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᓕᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᔭᕗᕆ ᖃᐃᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑭᒍᑎᖏᑦ ᓴᓗᒻᒪᖅᓴᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᓕᖁᓇᒋᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ. ᓇᓕᐊᖕᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᑉᓗᕐᒥ, ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ 15-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ, ᑭᒍᑎᖏᑦ ᓴᓗᒻᒪᖅᓴᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ. “ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ, ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᓇᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᑐᔪᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᔭᕗᕆ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ. ᐱᖁᑎᑖᕐᕕᑦ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᕙᖕᒪᑕ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔨ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᕋᑉᑕ. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓕᕐᒪᑦ. ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᓕᕋᑉᑕ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃ. ᐃᑲᔪᕋᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓕᕐᒪᑦ.” ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔨᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᖃᑯᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᓂᖅᓴᐅᕙᖕᒪᑕ ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᔭᐅᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᒡᕙ ᔭᕗᕆᐅᑉ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔪᒪᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᔪᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᐃᓐᓇᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ 2017-ᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᔪᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ. “ᒪᑐᐃᖓᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᕝᕕᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ, ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᒍᑦ ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕐᕕᒋᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

Northern Smiles Dental Clinic ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓕᖅᑐᑦ 7-ᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ. ᑖᑉᑯᐊ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ Hᐊᒻᓴ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ, ᐊᓕᔭ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᕆᓐ ᔭᕗᕆ.

The Northern Smiles Dental Clinic has been open in Rankin Inlet for seven months. Pictured here are Hamza, left, Alaya and Shireen Jafri. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓂᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔪᐊᓘᖃᑦᑕᖁᓇᒋᑦ ᑭᒍᑕᐃᔭᖅᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖁᓇᒋᓪᓗ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᒡᒎᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᒃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔭᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᑐᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓂᑰᔪᖅ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᖦᖢᓂ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᔭᕗᕆᒥᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

“ᖁᔭᓕᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔨᖃᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒦᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓃᕋᒥᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔪᐊᓗᒃᑕᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᔭᕗᕆ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖁᔨᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᕐᒥᒐᒥᒋᑦ, ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔪᐊᓘᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔨᒥᒃ ᑎᑭᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Did we get it wrong?

Kivalliq News is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Kivalliq News, call (867) 645-3223 and ask to speak to the editor, or email kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Feb. 7 Active cases: 540 Confirmed cases: 1,989 Recovered cases: 1,444 Deaths: 5 Vaccine uptake: 32,500 first doses/ 89 per cent 26,645 second doses/ 72 per cent 12,523 third doses

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Naujaat

Around Kivalliq Behchoko

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with Stewart Burnett

Braving the cold, as normal

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 A3

Breakdown by community: Kugluktuk: 10 Arviat: 19 Pangnirtung: 10 Baker Lake: 45 Pond Inlet: 13 Cambridge Bay: 40 Chesterfield Inlet: 2 Qikiqtarjuaq: 5 Rankin Inlet: 40 Coral Harbour: 27 Sanikiluaq: 23 Gjoa Haven: 1 Sanirajak: 12 Iglulik: 90 Taloyoak: 46 Iqaluit: 133 Whale Cove: 5 Kinngait: 19 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᑐᑑᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᑉᑳᖅᑐᐊᖅ ᓱᓕᓪᓚᑦᑖᕆᐊᓕᒃ

Sanikiluaq

ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ScoreG ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᑲᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ. ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑎ ᓴᐃᓐ ᕕᓂᓯ, ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ, ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᑕᒻ ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒪᓐᓈᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᒪᐃᑯ Hᐊᒧᑕᓐ.

A loader passes a truck on the edge of the Hudson Bay. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Arviat recipients on bursary list

Arviat Northern Youth Abroad awarded nine alumni with bursaries to help fund their education in the organization’s 2021 selection, with two members from Arviat included.

Beth Aglukark, an alumni of both the 2014 Canadian program and 2015 international program, received a bursary for her work on a bachelor’s of commerce in accounting at the University of Ottawa.

James Koomak, an alumni of the 2011 Canadian program and 2016 NYA Next, also received a bursary toward Nunavut teacher education at Nunavut Arctic College.

Aglukark and Koomak were the only recipients from Nunavut.

KIA announces program funding

Kivalliq The Kivalliq Inuit Association has announced new funding available for grants and contributions to support community-based initiatives that foster and enhance traditional Inuit skills, including language.

Budget guidelines include a maximum of $10,000 per proposal request and limitations on instructor and rental fees. Capital assets such as ATVs, boats, sewing machines and video cameras can be rented only, not purchased.

Programs will require reporting, including photos and success stories.

More details about the requirements are available on KIA’s website.

Rec centres reopening

Baker Lake The Hamlet of Baker Lake was tentatively reopening the recreation centre as of Friday, Feb. 4.

“Sport, recreation and physical activities play an important role in the well-being of our residents,” stated the hamlet in a news release. “We are eager to initiate activities again, but we have a responsibility to ensure that participants follow municipal bylaw 237 and Government of Nunavut rules and regulations.”

The bylaw being referenced is the proof-of-vaccination rule, which applies to everyone five years and older entering the recreation centre, including the ice rink, fitness room, community hall and youth centre.

No team sports were permitted upon opening, but players could engage in drills. Players were asked to arrive with equipment already on, besides their skates.

Jordin Tootoo and the ScoreG Productions team gather for a team photo. From left to right are producer Shane Fennessey, Jordin Tootoo, producer Adam Scorgie and director Michael Hamilton. Photo courtesy of ScoreG Productions

ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᖅᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᓕᐊᕈᒫᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ Hᐊᑭᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ Northern News Services

ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᖓ, ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓚᒌᒃᓂᒃ – ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᖁᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑕᒻ ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᖏᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑳᕐᓇᑎᒃ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᑑᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ: ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᑭᙶᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᑦ. “ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ, ᐄᑦᑎᐊᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ. “ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓇᔭᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᓕᐊᖏᒥᐊ ᕌᓗᒐᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.” ᑲᔪᓯᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ, ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᓕᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᒫᑦᓯᒥ Hᐊᑭᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᐅᕆᓐᔅ ᑐᑐ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑉᓗᒍ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ, ᑖᒻᓇ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᖅᑖᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ Hᐊᑭᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑉᓗᒍ ᑐᑑᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ, ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᐱᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ 2002-ᒥ. ᑐᑐ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᐅᑉᓗᓂ, ᐃᒥᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ 2010-ᒥ. ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᐃᒥᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ, ᑐᑐ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᔪᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᐅᒃᑰᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᕐᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ. “ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓱᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᓐᓂᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᑉᓱᒪᓂ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᑉᑳᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᒪᑐᐃᖓᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᓱᓕᓗᓂᓗ ᓱᓇᓗᒃᑖᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᒍᑦ, ᐱᐅᔪᐃᓐᓇᑯᓘᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᙱᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᒃᓴᑦᑎᐊᕙᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ. ᖁᕕᐊᓴᙱᑦᑐᖃᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᕐᓗᓂ.” ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᓕᐊᕈᒫᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖃᑕᐅᔪᒫᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇᒎᖅ ᑕᒡᕙ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑎᙳᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ – ᖃᐅᔨᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒋᔭᒥᓄᑦ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᒪᒃᑖᖅᑐᕈᒪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑐᖅ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᑐᒧᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓈᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᒍᓂ. “(ᐅᖃᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ) ᒪᓕᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᖓ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒎᖓᔪᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ. “ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᑉᓗᖓᓗ, ᒪᒪᕆᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑉᑯ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᑦᑐᖓ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐆᒃᑐᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖓ.” ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐃᐅᐳᑕᒥ, ᓈᔅᕕᐅᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒍᓐᓇᕈᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑐᑑᑉ ᓇᓃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖑᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ 18-ᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ, ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓇᔭᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᕝᕕᒋᕙᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᓚᕕᓴᒃᑯᑦ. ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᑐᖅ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᖕᒪᑕ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᓕᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔪᒪᓕᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓗᒍ ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨ. “ᐅᐱᒍᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖓᓗ ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᐅᕙᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᖠᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ.”

A4 Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Kivalliq News Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

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Kivalliq News

Dentist office a remarkable benefit Maybe mail needs some entrepreneurship too Northern News Services

Publishers of: • Nunavut News/North • Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News • Yellowknifer • NWT News/North • Hay River Hub Member of: • Manitoba Community Newspapers Association • Canadian Community Newspapers Association Kugaaruk

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

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Having a full-time dental clinic in Rankin Inlet is a serious benefit for the town and the Kivalliq as a whole.

As owner Hamza Jafri said, it means residents can focus on prevention instead of treatment.

Regular cleanings can prevent extractions and expensive and invasive dental work, and they help identify issues that could turn into bigger problems.

That’s the kind of approach we need everywhere, from mental health to addiction, spousal abuse and so on.

Band-Aids are fine if they’re all we have, but not needing them in the first place is always best.

By all accounts, it appears that Jafri’s business is booming, so the demand for these kind of services is there.

Let’s hope even more entrepreneurs see the opportunity in Nunavut and take advantage of it,

in 2020, with results not in yet for 2021.

The Crown corporation and legal Canada Post woes monopoly is not in a unsurprising great place and has Now, if only we been consistently could open those cutting back services same entrepreneurand raising prices ship opportunities to across the country. mail delivery.

The organization Much commotion is mandated to be has been made onwithline about the woes stewart self-sustaining, out funding from the of Canada Post in burnett government.

Rankin Inlet and the According to a reKivalliq.

Through no fault port by David Akin of the staff – even though they for Global News last weekend, likely bear the brunt of comthe government has even been putting out feelers for drastically plaints – the post office has not reducing the post office’s services been able to keep up with demand, either due to understaffing, further.

The office of Filomena Tassi, Covid regulations or other buminister in charge of Canada reaucracy.

Post, included questions in a poll We can call out for more staffing and resources in Nunavut post from the Privy Council Office that asked if Canadians supported offices, but the fact of the matter closing rural post offices, ending is Canada Post lost $570 million to their benefit and ours.

all home delivery, reducing mail delivery to three times per week, raising postage costs or replacing workers with machines.

Respondents were largely against closing rural post offices, but they did support replacing workers with machines and ending all home delivery.

An even better and long-overdue option may just be to throw the Crown corporation to the wind and let private industry take over. That, or the federal government could fund it and even enhance services, but we just spent far more than we could ever afford during the pandemic and are just beginning to pay for it with inflation.

Obviously, people in the Kivalliq want packages delivered and have the money to order and send them, so the demand is there.

Canada Post can’t meet the demand under its mandate, so let someone else do it properly.

Sanikiluaq

Canada Post woes rankle Rankin Inlet

Publishing Office: Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R1 Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 Email: nnsl@nnsl.com Website: www.nunavutnews.com ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᔨ: ᑯᑎ ᐸᓐᑐᕐ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᓕᕆᔨ: ᒪᐃᑯ ᓛᐃᓐᕼᐊᓐ Box 657, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ X0C 0G0 ᐅᖃᓘᑎᖓ: (867) 645-3223 ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ: (867) 645-3225 ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ: (855) 447-2584 ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: kivalliqnews@nnsl.com ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: www.nunavutnews.com ᓇᓂᓯᔨᐅᔪᖅ (1934-2018): J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑎᔨ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑎᔨᓪᓚᕆᐅᑉᓗᓂᓗ: Mike W. Bryant – mike.bryant@nnsl.com ᑲᒪᔨ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎ: ᑯᕆᒃ ᒋᐅᐳᑦ Craig Gilbert – craig@nnsl.com ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐅᐃᕆᓴᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨ: ᑎᐅᕆ ᑖᐱᓐ – advertising@nunavutnews.com ᑲᓕᒃᑳᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᓯ ᐅᕗᖓ ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ: (867) 873-4031 ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ: (867) 873-8507 ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ: Box 2820, ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ X1A 2R1 ᐅᖃᓘᑎᖓᑦ: (867) 873-4031 ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ: (867) 873-8507 ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: nnsl@nnsl.com ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: www.nnsl.com

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Canada Post has been a hot topic on Rankin Inlet’s Facebook pages recently. Limited hours and slow deliveries rankled many residents, but that sentiment seemed to change over the weekend, when the post office opened for full services on Sunday, Feb. 6, to the cheers of many social media commenters.

Long wait times to ship out packages and frequent closures causing angst

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Canada Post is becoming a lightning rod on Rankin Inlet’s social media.

The company has been taking to Facebook to update the community almost every working day on the store’s hours and any news of closures.

The posts have been garnering dozens of comments, debate and calls for change to mailing in the North.

“Canada Post is getting very frustrating,” said one Chesterfield Inlet resident to Kivalliq News.

The resident requested anonymity, and though many people publicly commented on Canada Post’s updates, they also did not want to share their names with local media.

“I’ve sent packages to Kuglugtuk and Kuujjuak (Quebec), and they still haven’t arrived since late October/early November,” said the resident. “I’ve also been waiting for packages from Arviat since mid-October and still haven’t heard a word back from Canada Post.”

The individual shared a screenshot of their tracked package, which showed the item being picked up in Chesterfield Inlet Nov. 24 and still “in transit” as of Feb. 2.

“Even when I go check the local post office, they say they’ve sent it and request us to check with the Kivalliq main hub, which is based in Rankin Inlet,” said the resident, who went on to say how ridiculous it was that packages sent from Nunavut take so long to get anywhere, whereas packages

from the south get up North far more quickly.

Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie noted how Covid-19 seems to be turning things on and off all the time, and said, “We are getting so good at being patient.”

Kivalliq News reached out to Canada Post when the Rankin Inlet office was closed for two days Jan. 27 and 28.

Valérie Chartrand, media relations worker with Canada Post, said that closure was “due to Covid-19 cleaning protocols and employee isolation, as directed by public health.”

The post office went on to open Feb. 1 and 2 for customers to access their postal boxes only, and then on Feb. 3 to also pick up parcels from the counter.

“We recognize the difficulties facing residents of Rankin Inlet,” Chartrand stated. “We are working hard to keep the post office operating and open as it faces various challenges as seen across the territory, such as weather and staffing issues related Covid-19. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. We appreciate our customers’ understanding and cooperation during this time and thank them for staying patient and keeping the post office friendly.”

Kivalliq News followed up by asking if Canada Post would bolster staffing and resources at the Rankin Inlet outlet or any of the Kivalliq facilities to avoid this problem in the future. As of publication deadline, Canada Post had not responded.

However, it seemed sentiment had change by the weekend. Canada Post opened on Sunday, Feb. 6, for full services, which was met with many thanks on Facebook.

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 A5

ᓴᓇᔩᑦ Northern Smiles Dental Clinic ᑭᒍᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑦᑐᑦ. ᐅᑯᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᓚᐃᓐ Hᐊ ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ, ᓕᓚ ᐊᐅᑐᑦ, ᔭᐃᑲᑉ ᐊᐅᐱᓛᕐᔪᒃ, Hᐊᒻᓴ ᔭᕗᕆ, ᐊᓕᔭ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᕆᓐ ᔭᕗᕆ.

Staff at the Northern Smiles Dental Clinic gather. They are Aline Ha, left, Layla Autut, Jacob Aupilardjuk, Hamza Jafri, Alaya Jafri and Shireen Jafri. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Focusing on prevention Permanent dental clinic a unique service in Rankin Inlet

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

A rarity in the North – residents of Rankin Inlet can actually focus on prevention of dental issues, rather than treatment, thanks to the community having its own permanent clinic.

“It’s been quite busy,” said Hamza Jafri, owner of Northern Smiles Dental Clinic with wife Shireen, about the first seven months in

business since he opened in June 2021.

Unchecked dental issues can lead to root canals and tooth decay, so Jafri is trying to get as many people as possible in for regular cleanings to prevent the need for treatment.

On any given day, his clinic sees about 15 patients, split between those getting cleanings and those receiving treatments.

“When we first started, just opening the clinic was a challenge because of Covid,” said Jafri, adding that the pandemic delayed opening for

ᔭᐃᑲᑉ ᐊᐅᐱᓛᕐᔪᒃ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᑭᒍᓯᕆᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᙵᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ.

Jacob Aupilardjuk greets patients with a friendly voice in his role as receptionist. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

nearly a year.

Supply-chain issues make ordering proper equipment a long wait at times, he said.

“Things happen,” said the good-spirited dentist.

“But we have just got to push through. I’m glad we opened. We’re serving the community. We’re doing as much as we can to help them out. So, you know, better late than never.”

Communities that have dentists fly in every so often tend to receive treatment more than prevention, which was part of Jafri’s inspiration for opening his permanent Rankin Inlet business.

He used to work as a travelling dentist in Nunavut in 2017, which was part of his inspiration to open a clinic in the Kivalliq.

“Now that we have a full-time clinic, we can actually bring in patients when they’re not in pain

and see what their issues are,” he said.

That means that down the road, those issues don’t turn into something major that requires treatment or extraction.

He said he’s had good reception from the community since opening. Even when Kivalliq News visited the clinic to take photos, a patient was just leaving and thanking Jafri for his services.

“They definitely are very grateful for the fact there is a full-time clinic in town and they don’t have to wait for weeks to get necessary dental treatment, especially if people are in pain,” he said.

Jafri also wants people in surrounding communities to know that his clinic is open for their services, and that they don’t have to be in pain waiting for a dentist to come to their community.

Tootoo documentary had to be authentic

A6 Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ, ᑐᒡᓕᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᕐᒥ, ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑎᒥ ᓴᐃᓐ ᕕᓂᓯᒥᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᓯᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᑕᒻ ᓯᑯᐊᔾᔨᒥᒃ, ᑐᒡᓕᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒪᓐᓈᖅᑐᐃᔨᒥᒃ ᒪᐃᑯ Hᐊᒧᑕᓐᒥᒃ, ᑕᓕᖅᐱᐊᓃᖅᑐᖅ.

Jordin Tootoo, second from right, talks with producer Shane Fennessey, left, producer Adam Scorgie, second from left, and director Michael Hamilton, right. Photo courtesy of ScoreG Productions

Production team plans visits to Rankin Inlet to participate in hockey, traditions and hunting

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

They loved his story, put together a proposal and met his family – but Jordin Tootoo had one caveat before Adam Scorgie and his team could get to work on filming the hockey star’s documentary: they had to truly understand where he came from.

“We’re like, man, absolutely,” said Scorgie.

“We wouldn’t plan on making this film and not going to Rankin Inlet.”

The production team had planned to visit Rankin Inlet in March for the Terence Tootoo Memorial Tournament, which was named in memory of Tootoo’s older brother, who commit-

ted suicide in 2002. The 2022 tournament was cancelled Feb. 7 due to Covid concerns, though.

Tootoo himself worked through challenges during his hockey career, including checking himself into rehab for alcohol addiction in 2010. Sober since then, Tootoo is in a perfect position to genuinely reflect on everything he’s been through, said Scorgie.

“He’s not afraid to talk about anything that has caused him trauma or hurt in the past, which is vital for a documentary, that you’re going to be open and honest about every aspect of your life, not just the great parts, but the dark moments too,” he said. “That makes great television. You have to have conflict and resolution.”

The production team also plans to make two

other trips to Rankin Inlet to go hunting and engage in traditional activities. Scorgie said that’s why he became a filmmaker – to experience different cultures, learn about people, put together a cinematic story and share it.

He’s already prepared to eat raw beluga, or anything else Tootoo tells him he has to do. “(I told him) I will follow whatever tradition you want, I’m game,” said Scorgie. “I was like, I don’t know how well I’m going to stomach it, but I’m down to try it.”

The group will also be shooting in Alberta,

Nashville and other locations to follow Tootoo’s journey from minor leagues to the NHL. The documentary is expected to be done in about 18 months, with initial release at film festivals and then on Super Channel. Scorgie hopes to also have a limited theatrical release.

He said his team is chomping at the bit to get to Rankin Inlet.

“We can’t wait to go on this journey with him and his family,” said Scorgie. “I truly feel blessed and honoured that Jordin chose our team to be able to tell his story.”

ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑑᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᐅᓯᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑐᑐᒧᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓪᓚᑦᑖᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑑᑉ ᐅᓂᑉᑳᖅᑐᐊᖓᓂᒃ.

The team making Jordin Tootoo’s documentary said it was imperative to Tootoo that it be filmed partially in Rankin Inlet to truly understand the former NHL player’s story. Photo courtesy of ScoreG Productions

www.nnsl.com

Kivalliq News

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 A7

Small non-profit group helps Nunavummiut navigate Inuit Child First Initiative Almost 600 beds approved for communities across the territory

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Every child deserves a safe place to sleep and the Indigenous Kids Network of Canada (IKNC), a non-profit consisting of a team of five volunteers from across Canada, is helping fill that need in Nunavut. IKNC also assists Inuit and Indigenous families facing bureaucratic barriers access direct aid from the Government of Canada.

So far 592 beds worth $692,801.23 have been approved and sent to Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Whale Cove, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Iglulik, Coral Harbour, Naujaat, Arviat and Pond Inlet. A figure for overall services provided by the Inuit Child First Initiative with the help of IKNC was not available.

The IKNC mainly provides support to Indigenous kids in Canada by writing letters of support to Jordan’s Principle, or through the equivalent Inuit Child First Initiative, who in turn provides assistance.

Jordan’s Principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child of Norway House Cree Nation born in 1999 with special medical needs who died in the hospital at the age of two, while the Manitoba and Canadian Governments argued over who should pay for his home-based care. Jordan’s Principle was created to ensure parents can access these types of services.

Indigenous parents writing these letters often face barriers by the government and often have a hard time accessing services due to the requirement of Jordan’s Principle/Inuit Child First Initiative to have a health-care professional or social worker also write a letter saying assistance is needed.

“We try to streamline the process for them,”

said Hyejun Kim, a board member with the Indigenous Kids Network of Canada.

“It’s not just the beds, it depends on the needs of children. So if the children need speech therapy or health-related services we can ask families to get a letter (from a professional). We can try and get those services approved for these children,” she adds.

Inuit in Nunavut often live in overcrowded housing, a fact well-known by many Nunavummiut, which makes it easier for the government to approve funding for beds.

“Most of them are very happy, very thankful.

If a request gets declined if we are able to find a reason we can go back and try again. We really try to get these requests approved. As long as the needs can be verified,” said Kim. With the onset of Covid-19, however, getting health-related services approved through Jordan’s Principle/Inuit Child first Initiative has gotten more difficult.

“There’s not enough nurses or social services professionals who are able to provide support letters, Covid has made it more difficult for the families and professionals to get the letter done,” said Kim. To offset the burden on overwhelmed healthcare professionals the organization hopes to raise enough funding to hire funded navigator positions in communities in order to help fulfill larger group requests to ensure more can be approved in a shorter amount of time.

“We really need funding so we can help more children,” Kim adds. “As an organization we recognize there is quite a bit of barriers for Indigenous children and families to have to go through to have to access services and supports.”

The IKNC accepts donations by e-transfer which can be sent to iknc@indigenouskidsnetwork.com. Families can reach out to the IKNC by contacting its Facebook page.

ᓲᓴᓐ ᓯᐅᓪᒪ ᓴᐃᓐᑦ ᔮᓐ ᖁᕕᐊᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᒡᓕᖓᓂ ᐱᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.

Susan Selma St John is overjoyed with her new bed that she received with help from the Indigenous Kids Network of Canada. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth St John

A8 Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Kivalliq News

Spare time but high skill

www.nnsl.com

Baker Lake youth’s beadwork impresses

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Baker Lake

She’s a senior in high school and beads in her spare time, but one would hardly know it’s just a side skill by the quality of Samantha Putumiraqtuq’s art.

“I create different types of jewelry using different types of antler,” said the Baker Lake resident, who is also an eyelash

technician and is involved in various artistic pursuits.

Her social media feed inspires her artwork, as well as influential people in her life.

“There are some women, like Paula Piryuaq, who has helped me and provides a lot for me when I ask,” said Putumiraqtuq.

For now, her work is just a part-time business until she graduates from high school.

In the future, Putumiraqtuq is interested in pursuing a career in the STEM field.

From Baker Lake, Samantha Putumiraqtuq says she is inspired by women like Paula Piryuaq. Photo courtesy of Samantha Putumiraqtuq

Blue-and-white whale tails show the Nunavut connections in Samantha Putumiraqtuq’s beadwork.

Samantha Putumiraqtuq is a Baker Lake artist who hopes to eventually pursue a career in the STEM field. Photo courtesy of Samantha Putumiraqtuq

Samantha Putumiraqtuq, a senior in high school in Baker Lake, does beadwork in her spare time. Photo courtesy of Samantha Putumiraqtuq

Kivalliq News

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 A9

Mothers share hopes for childcare improvements www.nnsl.com

Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould, flanked

by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, says reductions in daycare fees, made possible by $66 million in federal funding over five years, cannot be made immediately because time is needed to “build the system.” Photo courtesy of the Government of Canada

After years of struggles, Nunavummiut moms optimistic that daycares will be better off due to more federal funding

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

Ashley Tulugak and Kaylie Kattegatsiak are among many Nunavummiut who have witnessed daycares struggle to stay open and also among those who hold out hope that a recent federal government announcement of $66 million over five years will truly make a difference.

Kattegatsiak, a resident of Chesterfield Inlet, said she has been fortunate to have a relative move in with her family to look after her two toddlers, allowing her to become employed again.

The local daycare closed a few months ago due to a shortage of staff, she said.

“I am thrilled,” she said of the aid from Ottawa that will subsidize Nunavut daycares. The government says the extra money will cut childcare fees in half by the end of this year and reduce costs to $10 a day, on average, by March 2024 at publicly-licensed facilities.

It will also result in higher wages for childcare employees.

“Yes, it will interest people to apply for the positions and catch some attention, which will help many parents to be able to go to work,” Kattegatsiak said, adding that she would also like to see the territorial government oversee daycare staffing instead of a local board of directors. “I think it would work better instead of the organization working by itself.”

In Rankin Inlet, Tulugak said this development comes too late for her family as her two children are now too old for daycare, but she’s pleased with the news anyway.

“We have lots of relatives and friends who’ll benefit from this, and I’m happy for them,” she said. “Change in the daycare system was desperately needed for a long time and it was next to impossible to make change. To see a new system come through that offers more support for daycares, workers and more spots is hopeful.

I’m interested to learn more of the plans as it rolls out. More training and facilities for daycares are definitely needed. Higher wages for the workers would help keep staff as well.”

Tulugak was paying $10,400 per child when she made use of a local daycare, where she was a board member. However, she described the system as “dysfunctional” and keeping the daycare operational proved to be a strain. She decided to withdraw her children and take two years of leave without pay to ensure that they received quality care.

Nevertheless, she still had to take on different jobs from home to help cover various expenses.

“There are so many parents who struggled with childcare – some who stuck it out, stayed home, found other options or moved away. That says so much of how badly change was needed for the better. Children are the most vulnerable and it’s up to adults to make things better for them,” said Tulugak. “Now, with the plan of early childhood care and learning being generously supported (through the new federal funds), I’m so hopeful for the future for precious babies and children in Nunavut, they totally deserve it. We’re tightknit communities. These babies and children are people we deeply care about, if they’re not our children, they’re our nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, grandchildren. I can’t wait to see the positive change from improvements made to the childcare system.”

In Kinngait, Kootoo Toonoo, who has managed a daycare for more than 32 years, said she’s lucky to have three long-term staff as she’s watched many others quit after paydays.

She refuses to get excited at the prospect of being able to offer a higher rate of pay or any other perks until the money from the Government of Canada actually flows into her facility.

“We will see when it comes out,” she said.

‘Building the system’ Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould, who hailed the new daycare funds in a virtual news conference with Premier P.J. Akeeagok, Education Minister Pamela Gross and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Jan. 24, said communities with insufficient buildings to host daycares should consult with the Government of Nunavut because the federal funding includes support for existing infrastructure.

“As Minister Gross was mentioning, it’s also about building new infrastructure and thinking about childcare right from the get-go, so whether it’s a new school being built or a community centre, building in childcare into that new infrastructure will enable growth in the sector, in particular for communities that don’t have childcare already,” said Gould.

The agreement includes 238 new childcare spaces in Nunavut by March 2026.

Asked why the cost-cutting and growth targets are set years into the future, Gould replied that meeting the infrastructure needs and raising wages will take time.

“It’s really about building the system while also reducing fees,” she said.

Overall, Gould said she’s “really excited” about the opportunities that this development will present.

“We heard the premier speak, I think very el-

oquently, about the importance of a good start in life and also the fact that the Government of Nunavut will be building in culturally-relevant,

language-specific programming that I think will be really important for the healthy development of children in Nunavut,” she said.

A10 Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Rankin Inlet airport set to triple in size

Rankin Inlet’s new airport terminal building will be more than three times the size of the current one. Photo courtesy of Prairie Architects

Work expected to begin this summer

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

The seating area at the new Rankin Inlet airport terminal will sport a much more modern look. Photo courtesy of Prairie Architects

Rankin Inlet’s air terminal building is due for an upgrade and work may begin this summer.

“It’s been a good terminal, but it’s come to the end of its days with passenger volumes, passenger traffic and airline volume expected to continue growing,” said Darren Nichol, director of Nunavut airports.

The new terminal will be a brandnew facility built over two phases in the next five years.

The first phase may see construction begin this summer on the initial part of the structure and will take close to three years. Once complete and operations have been transitioned, the old terminal will

be demolished, paving the way for the second phase of work to finish the job.

Nichol didn’t put a number on the total cost for the new terminal, saying the Government of Nunavut is still in the award phase and he could circle back on the costs in the summer.

The new building will be roughly three-and-a-half times the size of the current terminal.

“It’s going to be significantly bigger,” said Nichol. “It’ll offer a better passenger experience, more modern amenities, additional seating, much more space. It will be quite an impressive facility.”

He called it an exciting project for Rankin Inlet and the Kivalliq and is looking forward to getting moving on it.

The runway side of the planned Rankin Inlet airport terminal will feature tall windows in the waiting area. Photo courtesy of Prairie Architects

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A12 Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Kivalliq News

Coping with Covid’s impacts on mental health Hotlines, remote counselling and community activities are among the supports

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

One-in-five Canadian reported feeling high levels of mental distress one year into the Covid19 pandemic, according to a report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and research company Delvinia.

The pandemic is almost into its third year and some Nunavummiut leaders are trying to be creative in offering a sense of relief for residents.

In Gjoa Haven, like many other communities, activities have been held online, such as bingos and snow sculpture contests. The local snowmobile club, square dance group and volleyball teams have contributed prizes.

Households have been provided food hampers and various supplies, much of it funded by the territorial government. “(We’re) trying to keep the community entertained,” said Mayor Megan Porter. “Residents enjoy games and appreciate all efforts, but could always use more.”

Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak made multiple pleas in the legislative assembly for a mental health facility in his community long before the pandemic existed.

“We have advocated for additional mental health supports for a number of years, including the construction of a local facility,” Porter acknowledged.

It hasn’t happened, and there are no such plans.

“The Hamlet has encouraged use of the local supports and hotlines,” Porter added.

One of the primary sources for mental health support by phone is the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line. There were 1,144 calls officially logged to the hotline in 2021, according to the Department of Health. It’s likely that a few hundred more calls likely occurred but data is unreliable due to poor internet.

Nevertheless, the number of calls last year is similar to 2019 and 2020, representing a “minimal” change, the department stated. The trends detected from 2021 include increases in

calls from those over age 45, people who are employed and Nunavummiut who had never dialed the line before.

Healing by Talking, a counselling service delivered remotely to Inuit across Nunavut, has seen 228 applicants since the program launched in January 2021, and 107 of them are still actively involved, the Department of Health stated.

Some Nunavummiut call other helplines or stop by their local health centre or even the RCMP when they’re in the grips of a mental health crisis.

However, there is currently no system in place to comprehensively track requests for mental health support, the Department of Health conceded.

The department provided the following statement: “Mental health is a conversation that is growing continuously. The more mental health is discussed, and destigmatized, the more people will feel comfortable reaching out for support.

During Covid-19, the importance of taking care of yourself during trying times of lockdowns and isolation has been an important topic. In Nunavut, throughout the last two years, we have increased mental health services. This is not necessarily because of Covid-19 but have more options of support for Nunavummiut. We hope that services will become even more accessible, and more people will be able to get the support that best suits their needs.”

The Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, based in Iqaluit, has undertaken a study on Covid-19’s impacts on the mental health of Nunavummiut, but the results have not yet been released.

In a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s journal article titled Pandemic-Induced Mental Health Distress, Dr. David Gratzer, a Ontario-based psychiatrist, said he reminds his patients of the harms of turning to alcohol or other addictive substances in an attempt to cope with their anxiety. “…it’s important to choose ways of coping that are healthful and will not ultimately undermine us, such as healthy diet and regular exercise. If appropriate, I do make a point to bring up substance-use because patients often feel reluctant to speak about it,” Gratzer stated in the article.

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“The hamlet has encouraged use of the local supports and hotlines,” Gjoa Haven Mayor Megan Porter says, but she noted that her community has been requesting a mental health facility through the territorial government for years. Photo courtesy of Megan Porter

fact FILE Options for help Going to the local health centre or RCMP - Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line – 867979-3333 or toll free at 1-800-265-3333 - Crisis Services Canada – 1-833-4564566 or www.crisisservicescanada.ca - Youthspace.ca – 1-833-456-4566 (call); 778-783-0177 (text); or www.youthspace.ca - Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Kataujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council – 1-866-804-2782; email: embracelife@inuusiq.com; or visit www.inuusiq.com - Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868; kidshelpphone.ca for live chat; text 686868 - Healing by Talking: Offers virtual counselling services to Inuit across the

territory for up to 22 sessions annually.

Counselling can be accessed via phone or video conference.

- GN/city employees family assistance program: 1-800-663-1142 - Federal employees family assistance program: 1-800-268-7708 - In Iqaluit: drop-in counselling is located at Greenstone, building 961; contact 867979-5900 to schedule an appointment - St. Joseph’s virtual counselling services, also located at Greenstone, building 961.

Contact central intake at 867-975-5999 or email MHIntake@gov.nu.ca for more information Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health