Kivalliq News - March 2, 2022 Edition

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᐅᒻᒪᖅᑯᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᒻᒪᖅᑯᑎᓕᐅᕈᑏᑦ ᓯᖐᑦᑐᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᖄᖓᓂ ᑐᒡᓕᐊᒍᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒪᔪᑦ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ

Rankin Inlet eyes second solar project

Panels atop Singiituq Complex could save hamlet up to $80k per year

Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022

Vol 28 No 10

Community Grey Wolf–ᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓕᕐᒥᔪᑦ

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Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑐᖅ ᕋᐃᒪᓐ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᓂᕗᖅ ᓵᑕᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒥᒃ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ.

Team Grey Wolf raising funds once more News ᖁᕕᐊᓱᙱᑦᑐᑑᙱᑦᑐᑎᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᓕᕆᔾᔪᑏᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ You’re not the only one unhappy with internet services Photos ᐅᓗᓕᐅᖅᓴᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ

Ulu-making workshops prove popular Publication mail

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Family members are on hand as Raymond Ningeocheak exits the chartered plane in Coral Harbour. Photo courtesy of Sarah Netser

ᖃᑕᙳᑎᒌᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ $37,000-ᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᓐᓇᖅᓯᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ Northern News Services

ᕋᐃᒪᓐ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓪᓕᓄᑦ. “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ, ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᒃᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕿᓪᓕᕚᓪᓕᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᑦᑎᒃᑯᐊᓗᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᐅᓚ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ, ᐸᓂᖓ. “(ᕋᐃᒪᓐ) ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ.” ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᐊᑐᕚᒦᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ Embassy West-ᒥ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓯᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐳᐃᒍᖅᓴᕋᐃᓗᐊᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦᑕ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖁᕕᒡᔪᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑎᑦᑐᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᑕᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓯᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᓂᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ ᐅᖃᓵᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᑉᓕᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓇᒥᒎᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᙱᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ.” ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᒌᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᕈᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ $37,000ᒥᒃ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ. ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᖁᔭᓈᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᓂᐊᕋᒥᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᕈᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᖁᒻᒧᒃᓯᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᖅᑐᑦ. ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 21-ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒃᑖᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ, ᑐᒃᑐᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᑐᐊᕋᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ. ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ 81-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑖᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᒃᑐᒃᐸᑦ ᒫᑦᓯ 11-ᒥ. ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒪᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᕉᖅ ᑕᐅᕗᙵᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᐊᓂᕐᓂᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑳᕐᓇᓂ. “ᖁᔭᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖓ ᐅᕿᓪᓕᕚᓪᓕᖅᖢᖓᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᖁᔭᓕᓪᓗᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ $27,000-ᒥᒃ, ᐊᒥᐊᒃᑯᖓ Wabano Centre-ᒥᙶᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ.

ᕋᐃᒪᓐ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᓪᓕᓄᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᓵᑕᒥᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐹᓂ, ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 21–ᒥ.

Elder Raymond Ningeocheak returned home to Coral Harbour by a medevac charter Monday, Feb. 21. Photo courtesy of Sarah Netser

A2 Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Kivalliq News

ᐆᒃᑐᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ

www.nnsl.com

ᔮᓱᐊ ᐊᐅᐱᓛᕐᔪᒃ ᐃᒪᓐᓈᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐸᐅᓕ ᐱᓱᖕᒧᑦ.

ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐅᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᖅᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔫᔭᓕᖅᑐᑦ Northern News Services

ᐸᐅᓕ ᐱᓱᒃ ᐅᓗᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᑕᕋᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᕆᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᓴᓇᖑᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ $5-ᒧᑦ. “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐊᓈᓇᒐᓅᖅᖢᒍᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐊᑐᓂ ᐅᓗᐃᑦ ᓴᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᓯᑕᒪᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᓂᒃ. ᐅᑉᓗᒥ, ᒥᑭᔪᒥᒃ ᐅᓗᓕᐅᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂᒃ. ᓴᓇᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᒥᒃ ᔮᒃ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᑯᕆᔅᑎᓐ ᐱᐊᔅᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᔨ. “ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᒃᑲᐅᒐᒪ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᓱᒃ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑑᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓇᖅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ

ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ. “ᐃᓕᑦᑎᐊᓚᔪᐊᓗᐃᑦ.” ᐱᖓᓲᓕᖓᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒥᓲᓗᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 16-ᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᐊᔅ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔾᔮᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᒃ, ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ. “ᐅᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᓕᐊᕆᔭᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᖕᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᐊᔅ.

ᐅᐊᕆᓐ ᐸᓐᓂᐅᖅ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᑦᑎᐊᕋᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᐅᓗᓕᐅᖅᖢᓂ.

Warren Paniyuk concentrates as he works on his ulu. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Joshua Apilardjuk takes guidance from Paul Pissuk.

Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

“ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑰᖅᑐᒍᑦ – ᐊᖑᑎ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᐸᑦ ᐃᓅᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ. ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᖅ.” ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᕝᕕᐅᒐᔪᙱᒻᒪᑕ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊ ᓴᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᒃᑯᑦ. “ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒍᑎᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓅᖄᑎᒥᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᐊᔅ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᒥᒃ ᔮᒃ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᕐᒥ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑐᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᓵᔨᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ. ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᓇᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓐᓇᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᖅ. ᐱᐊᔅ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒡᓗ, EPLS-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ, Arctic Connection-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ

ᐸᐅᓕ ᐊᕈᐊᓛᖅ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᐅᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᒃᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

Paul Arualak works on his skills during the ulu-making workshop. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᓇᖃᑎᓂ ᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᕐᕕᕕᓂᕐᒥ. “ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓴᖅᑭᑦᑐᓐᓇᕋᔭᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᙱᑉᐸᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᐊᔅ, ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᖃᕝᕕᑦᑐᕐᒥᒃ, ᐱᓱᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᔫᒥᒍᓱᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᐸᑕ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᒫᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᓗᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥᒃ.

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Correction A news brief inUlukhaktok the Feb. 23 edition of Kivalliq News mistakenly stated that Rankin Inlet’s airport terminal building construction contract had been awarded. In actuality, the request for qualifications was completed, narrowing down the companies who can now bid on the project. They are Pilitak Enterprises Ltd, EBC Inc. and NDL Construction.

Kugaaruk Kivalliq News regrets this error and apologizes for any conNaujaat fusion Gameti it caused.

fact file Nunavut Covid-19 situation as of Feb. 28 Active cases: 509 Confirmed cases: 2,813 Recovered cases: 2,299 Deaths: 5 Vaccine uptake: 33,053 first doses/ 94 per cent 27,776 second doses/ 79 per cent 13,523 third doses/ 46 per cent

Around Kivalliq Behchoko

’e

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 A3

with Stewart Burnett

Breakdown by community: Arctic Bay: 2 Arviat: 4 Baker Lake: 24 Cambridge Bay: 12 Clyde River: 4 Coral Harbour: 7 Iglulik: 42 Iqaluit: 115 Gjoa Haven: 28 Kinngait: 5 Kugaaruk: 41

Kugluktuk: 1 Naujaat: 26 Pangnirtung: 21 Pond Inlet: 50 Qikiqtarjuaq: 8 Rankin Inlet: 65 Resolute Bay: 5 Sanrajak: 22 Sanikiluaq: 3 Taloyoak: 24

Sanikiluaq

Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

Ningeocheak returns home Family raised $37k, chartered plane

ᕋᐃᒪᓐ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᑐᕚᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐳᐃᒍᖅᓴᕋᐃᓗᐊᓕᕐᒪᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐊᑭᓖᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᓂᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Coral Harbour

Elder Susie Angootealuk shows off her cod catch at a Coral Harbour fishing derby Saturday, Feb. 26. Photo courtesy of Leonie Pameolik

Vet clinic coming

Rankin Inlet Kangiqliniq Spay, Neuter and Rescue and the Rankin Inlet Fire Department will be hosting a spring veterinary clinic April 8 to 13.

Veterinarians from Grant Park Animal Hospital in Winnipeg will offer services for dogs and cats, including checkups, vaccinations, deworming, advice on medical problems, geriatric checkups, spay, neuter and other minor surgical procedures.

Appointments are required and can be made by calling 867-645-2598.

Elders, students and those on limited income may be eligible for subsidized spays and neuters, and the organizers ask people to mention this when they call.

Raymond Ningeocheak has made it home to Coral Harbour.

“We feel very excited, happy and relieved at the same time,” said Sarah Netser, his daughter. “(Raymond) is very happy.”

Ningeocheak had spent a year in Ottawa at Embassy West under medical care and being treated for dementia. His family desperately wanted him home, but the Government of Nunavut would not fly him back to Coral Harbour without medical clearance.

Minister of Health John Main previously stated in an email to Kivalliq News that he was unable to comment on individual cases, but “repatriation against medical advice comes with increased risk to a client’s health and well-being.”

Netser and her family were forced to raise upward of $37,000 to charter a medevac plane and get the medical equipment needed to allow him to go back home to Coral Harbour. The family also had to sign a waiver with the GN, understanding that they would be responsible for his medical care. All the family needs now is a medical lift.

Ningeocheak returned home Feb. 21 and had maktaq, tuktu and fish as soon as he got in, said Netser. His family will be holding a gathering for his 81st birthday on March 11. Netser said he will be staying home until he passes away.

“I’m just so thankful and grateful and relieved,” said Netser about everyone who donated.

Individual donations totalled $27,000, with another $10,000 coming from the Wabano Centre and other businesses.

Raymond Ningeocheak was being treated for dementia in Ottawa. The Government of Nunavut would not pay to fly him home because he did not yet have medical clearance.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Netser

ᕋᐃᒪᓐ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᑉ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐳᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐅᑉ 81–ᖓᓂ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᕐᓂᖅᓯᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᒫᔾᔨ 11–ᒥ.

KIA company seeks logo

Kivalliq Nukik Corporation is seeking a logo “that represents our strength, culture and values.”

In Inuktitut, Nukik means strength and power.

Entrants must be Kivalliq beneficiaries and 16 or older.

The winner of the contest will be eligible to receive a $2,500 prize plus two Calm Air return tickets.

Nukik was formed to lead the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, a “nation-building” 1,200 kilometre transmission line and high-speed fibre-optic broadband link between Manitoba and the Kivalliq region.

The deadline for entries is March 15.

Mineral enthusiasts sought

Nunavut The Government of Nunavut is offering up to $8,000 to assist would-be prospectors.

Under the Nunavut Prospectors Program, people who are prospectors or interested in searching for minerals are eligible for funding to help cover field expenses, sample analysis costs, assistant wages, materials and supplies.

Applicants must be Nunavut residents, 18 and over and have prospecting experience or completed the Introduction to Prospecting course.

Before applying, the GN suggests applicants contact the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to set up an initial discussion with a resident geologist and to prepare for all necessary permits. The deadline is April 29.

Raymond Ningeocheak’s family plan to hold a gathering for the Elder’s 81st birthday on March 11. Photo courtesy of Sarah Netser

A4 Wednesday, March 2, 2022 Kivalliq News Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Nunavut's award-winning voice of Kivalliq – Published Wednesdays ¥∂‡ç Ä¿Ω‰ÕÇœÀé´ú æƒúΩÇπÖÊíÇπØÀÒ ≤ሠï·∆¿Í´ – ÇÔ¿∞°úΩÖ¿ÖÙ·çâÒ áˆîπÍ´ NNSL Media, a division of Black Press Media 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 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

Kivalliq News

When does ‘annoying’ become dangerous?

Rankin Inlet RCMP policy draws concern Northern News Services

The Rankin Inlet RCMP’s policy of pushing back on people who call the cops on “annoying” drunk neighbours got some reasonable push back itself on social media this past week.

Cst. Zac Roy told hamlet council Feb. 14 that the department was aiming to put a damper on people calling the RCMP to put friends or relatives in the drunk tank if they were “just being annoying.”

He explained that the RCMP are interested in criminal offences, not so much “people calling in saying, ‘I want this person in the drunk tank.’ We’ll go to the house, see what’s going on, and then if the person is just being annoying or won’t go to sleep, we’re not just taking them to the drunk tank anymore.”

Being drunk in your own home, of course, is not a crime. It is anyone’s right to get as tanked as they want in their living room. This policy from the RCMP hinges entirely on what exactly “annoying” means.

Sanikiluaq

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

We have to remember that the and that of my neighbours, drunks RCMP have been around the start off as annoying but then inblock: no one knows better the evitably in many situations the context and circumstances of drunks start to get out of hand, these drunk-tank calls than the such as leading to threats, acts of cops. Roy no doubt has experiviolence against other people and damage to property.” ence deciphering the differences These are sentient concerns. At between someone who is rowdy the same time, you can’t just toss but harmless and someone who every intoxicated person in the is an actual threat. drunk tank, especially if they’re Still, something about the not committing any sort of offence.

RCMP’s policy doesn’t quite As for navigating that grey area, ease the nerves, as intoxicated stewart it’s not my expertise, and I’ll trust people can be so unpredictable burnett the police. and volatile.

If I end up calling the RCMP on More than one commenter a drunk person who was concernpointed out that what starts as annoying can quickly become aggressive, vio- ing me, I would give the benefit of the doubt that the RCMP knew what decision to make lent and dangerous. and accept it if they did nothing.

“It’s fair,” wrote one comment. “But what I would probably still push the couch in happens if I have no choice but to physicalfront of my door, stay up until the morning ly assault someone to get them to leave me and have some sort of weapon available, alone. Will they charge me?” though.

Another comment said, “In my experience,

Flying pretty close Rankin Inlet hamlet pursuing second major solar power project

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

It wasn’t yet approved at press time, but the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet’s senior administrative officer was optimistic about his pursuit for a solar power project on top of the Singiituq Complex.

Darren Flynn is seeking a $1.26-million-dollar, 250-kilowatt solar project on top of the old arena through CIRNAC’s Northern Reach program.

If approved, the hamlet would pay only about $20,000 to $25,000 in equipment and in-kind work.

“We expect that once that’s in place, that’ll generate savings of just a little under $80,000,” said Flynn about the annual revenue boost the project would give the town.

The hamlet collects that savings because Qulliq

Energy Corporation buys the power from the solar panels to supplement its grid.

“Under this program, we’re not actually powering the building itself,” explained Flynn.

Instead, the panels capture power and distribute it to the grid, and then the hamlet invoices QEC monthly.

Last summer, a 110KW solar panel project was installed on the Agnico Eagle Arena. That grid was expected to come online by the beginning of March, now that there’s more sun.

Using large buildings as solar panel farms makes perfect sense, said Flynn.

“If you put it on top of a building, it’s out of the way, it’s catching all the solar power that’s coming out, and especially here in the summer months, that thing will be generating 24 hours a day.”

Flynn added that normally it wouldn’t be eco-

Rankin Inlet installed a 110 kilowatt solar panel system on the roof of the Agnico Eagle Arena last summer. The Hamlet now has its sights set on repeating that project on top of the Singiituq Complex. Photo courtesy of Green Sun Rising Inc. nomical to make a $1.26-million investment to generate $80,000 a year in revenue, but with the federal government footing the vast majority of the bill, it’s a win-win for the hamlet.

If his proposal gets approved soon enough, Flynn hopes installation could happen this summer.

But until it is officially approved, the project remains a dream for now.

Cutting to perfection

Men’s ulu-making class breathes life into foundational skills

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Contents copyright. Printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited. No photos, stories, advertisements or graphics may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written approval of the publisher.

www.nnsl.com

Rankin Inlet

Paul Pissuk used to make ulus as a child and sell them to the craft store in Rankin Inlet for $5 a pop.

“I would be happy and just give it to my mom,” he said.

Each ulu would take him about four days to make at the time. Today, he can make a small ulu in two hours.

He was working with Elder Jack Kabvitok to teach men how to make ulus in Rankin Inlet, a program spearheaded by Christina Best, community mental wellness coordinator.

“I like helping young people,” said Pissuk, adding that it’s a great activity for those stuck at home due to Covid or other circumstances.

“They learn fast too.”

Three age groups had the opportunity to take part in the classes, which saw more applications than there was room for.

The workshops that began Feb. 16 was the first time Best got a men’s program off the ground in the hamlet.

“It won’t be the last now,” she said about the good reception it’s had.

She emphasized how important it was for men to be able to gather with other men, learn traditional skills and bond with Elders and other

Elder Jack Kabvitok shows Warren Paniyuk how to complete his Ulu. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

community members.

“They say a happy wife is a happy life,” said Best. “I think the same applies – a happy man is a healthy life. It goes both ways.”

Men get left out a lot in programming, she added, saying that she held the ulu-making classes in the evening to accommodate people who work during the day.

“This is a time for them to get to know each other, to work with each other and learn from each other,” said Best.

And the expert they got to learn from was Elder Jack Kabvitok. Speaking through interpretation, he told Kivalliq News that he loves teaching and working with young people.

When he was younger, working with adults was easy, but now it can be hard to find people to pass on these skills, added Kabvitok.

Best thanked those who helped make the classes possible, especially the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, EPLS, Arctic Connection and her employer for allowing her to host it at the old arena.

“None of this is possible unless you have people and other organizations pull together to make things happen in the North,” said Best, adding a big thank-you to Kabvitok, Pissuk and community members for showing interest in learning.

At the end of the program, a local Elder will be gifted with one of the ulus made.

www.nnsl.com

Kivalliq News

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 A5

Family pulls together to support daughter Alexandra Rudd raising money for summer brain cancer walk

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Last November, Alexandra Rudd was given up to two months to live by her doctor, as her stage 4 glioblastoma brain cancer continued to progress.

But the 28-year-old Rankin Inlet woman is still holding on, despite being bedridden and losing her mobility.

“I’m feeling OK,” she said. “It’s up and down and in the middle.

Could be better. I wish I could be at home.”

Rudd is staying in the hospital full-time now, as it’s the best place for her to get the care she needs. She has been thankful for the Rankin Inlet Fire Department taking her out a couple of times to get some fresh air.

“It was an amazing experience to be able to leave the hospital bed and feel the cold, brisk air on my skin and in my lungs,” said Rudd. “It’s something I haven’t felt since November. It’s the simple things that make my life happy and give me a smile.”

Now her attention is turned to making sure others don’t have to go through what she has. To that end, she’s been promoting donations to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

As part of Team Grey Wolf, she’s raising money for the virtual walk this year, June 17 to 19.

“This year, we hope to raise $7,000,” said Rudd, though she raised more than $12,500 in 2021.

She’s pursuing that goal through donations, auctions and other means, as readers can find on the Team Grey Wolf virtual fundraiser page on Facebook.

Her mother, Lynn Rudd, said Alexandra has always had a big heart and wanted to help people with anything and everything that she could.

Watching her daughter battle her condition has not been easy for her or the family.

“It’s been very challenging,” said Lynn. “We’re all in this with her.”

Her family rotates shifts so that one or two people are with her in the hospital around the clock.

Kayla Bruce’s Grade 5/6 class at Simon Alaittuq School brightened up Alexandra Rudd’s room at the health centre in Rankin Inlet with her favourite thing: butterflies. Rudd has become bedridden with stage 4 brain cancer. Photo courtesy of Lynn Rudd “It’s very hard to watch sometimes, but we are there for her,” said Lynn, noting that Alexandra’s short-term memory has degraded, though her long-term memory is as sharp as ever.

“It’s so important to Alex that this money that’s raised is taken and used for research on brain tumours, and how they can eradicate brain tumours for everyone,” said Lynn. “It won’t happen right away, but with the money that’s raised, there’s more hope for people in the future who may develop brain tumours of any kind – that there will be help for them, that there will be less sickness and less excruciating pain than what someone goes through right now with glioblastoma or any other brain tumour.”

As a baby, Alexandra was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis,

a condition that can lead to tumours on nerve endings and wreak havoc on the body. She underwent two years of chemotherapy as a toddler to treat optic nerve gliomas, but due to the tumours, she became legally blind.

In 2017, an MRI showed a growing mass in her brain. She has been battling brain cancer since. In June 2021, she was diagnosed with glioblastoma stage 4 brain cancer. In November 2021, her doctor’s prognosis gave her one to two months to live.

While living with the cancer, she has become something of a sensation on TikTok for her cooking videos, and recently had one go viral and reach more than 100,000 people.

Her TikTok account is @alexandra.rudd.

A6 Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Internet service driving man mad Qiniq needs federal funding, ‘still working to get more done’

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

“All my friends in Rankin, we complain about our internet,” said Billy Gallant. “It’s terrible. It’s on and off, on and off.”

He put a poll up on Facebook to see if other residents were satisfied with the internet in town, and in more than 100 responses, the vast majority were not.

“So far, three have been satisfied,” said Gallant.

He’s on Northwestel now, but he’s used Qiniq in the past. What particularly bothers him are the low data caps – 200gb for Northwestel and 100gb for Qiniq – and the town’s notorious evening slowdowns, where Gallant says he will be completely disconnected for several minutes at a time.

The data caps are such an issue that Gallant has been paying more in overage charges than his basic internet plan, estimating he pays about $800 a month for internet.

He’s called Northwestel for explanations several times but hasn’t received the answers he’s looking for.

Calling and individually complaining is fine and all, he said, but he started his poll to see if there could be strength in numbers to effect some sort of change in the community.

“One person, they’re not going to listen to,” said Gallant. “But maybe if 96 per cent of the residents of Rankin Inlet are unsatisfied with the internet service, maybe somebody will listen.”

He just wants answers: is there a limitation on internet here, and what is it? Do providers not have capacity to serve the needs of Rankin Inlet residents? Or are they artificially capping usage?

“If there’s a limitation, say so, so people can understand and make better choices about their internet,” said Gallant.

Though it may not seem like a big deal to some people, Gallant said the limitations can seriously affect those doing university coursework, connecting with family in the south or other professional needs – not just Netflix streaming.

Dean Proctor, chief development officer at SSi Canada, the parent company of Qiniq, gave a lengthy explanation of what the limitations are for internet in Rankin Inlet and the territory, explaining that his company is ready and raring to increase capacity if the federal government can help out.

“The whole question of quality of internet in Nunavut is a topic that is very near and dear to us,” he said.

All 25 communities in Nunavut are dependent on satellite, said Proctor, and “there’s only so much satellite capacity in space.”

In internet terms, the ‘backbone’ infrastructure is what connects a community to the rest of the world. In the case of Rankin Inlet, it is ‘satellite-dependent’, and the satellite backbone used by Qiniq connects to a teleport in Ottawa. Then there’s the gateway infrastructure in town into which the backbone connects.

Third, there is the local or ‘last mile’ infrastructure, which is also connected to the hub and is the final piece of how the consumer connects to the local infrastructure, which is either by a wireless connection, like a wingle or router, or a wired home hookup.

“We are constantly working to improve both backbone capacity and the last-mile capacity,” said Proctor. “That means we’re constantly investing into the network.”

Since Qiniq began in 2005, the company has invested more than $100 million into Nunavut’s internet, supported by a nearly equal amount from the federal government.

However, the feds haven’t been picking up the phone lately, which makes further significant in-

Empowering Nunavummiut, while Serving Nunavummiut and Honouring Nunavummiut Customs and Laws. ᓴᙱᓂᖅᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ, ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐱᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖏᓪᓗ.

Lori Idlout, MP Nunavut Main Office – Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 Telephone: 1-866-267-7701 Email: lori.idlout@parl.gc.ca

ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓ ᑐᕌᖅᑕᕐᕕᒃ ᐅᕙᓃᑦᑐᖅ – ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ X0A 0H0 ᐅᖃᓘᑖ: 1-866-267-7701 ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᕈᑎᖓ: lori.idlout@parl.gc.ca

Billy Gallant has had enough of the poor internet service in Rankin Inlet. He’s spent thousands on overage charges.

Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

vestments to the infrastructure either challenging or outright impossible economically.

“What has been happening of late, which is very frustrating to us and is even more frustrating to the people living in Nunavut, is that there have been broadband funding programs which are still awaiting decisions,” said Proctor.

He named the CRTC’s Broadband Fund, which started in 2018. It offered $750 million over five years, $75 million of which would be specifically set aside for exclusively satellite-served areas, which is mainly Nunavut in Canada.

The first call for applications came in 2019, and SSi Canada promptly applied. Proctor expected a rapid decision, but “nothing came.”

The CRTC then put out another call for applications in 2020, said Proctor, which the company applied for again.

“It is now two-and-a-half years later,” said Proctor. “There’s still no decision from the CRTC Broadband Fund for Nunavut. There have been no decisions made. They’re just sitting there. The last conversation I had with the commission was that no decisions have been made.”

Not even a yes or no, he said.

Meanwhile, another arm of the federal government created the Universal Broadband Fund, which SSi also applied to.

This time, the company got short-term funding of $5 million, while SSi made connections with a

commercial satellite operator to free up an entire satellite for northern Canada.

SSi was then able to fly crews to every community in the territory and point their satellite dishes – 36 in total – to the new satellite. That increased capacity by multiple times, said Proctor, and allowed the company to increase data caps.

“Is that enough? No,” said Proctor. “But it’s much better than it was, and we’re still working to get more done.”

He’s hoping either the Universal Broadband Fund or CRTC’s Broadband Fund can come through with the bigger investment needed for SSi to act on.

“We have solutions where we can actually increase very significantly the amount of capacity available to consumers, and for that matter to business and government in Nunavut, and that can come almost immediately,” he said. “But we need to work with investing partners on that. So that means the CRTC or the Universal Broadband Fund.”

For its part, Northwestel replied to Kivalliq News with an emailed statement and said improvements may be coming soon.

“We’ve seen significant shifts in internet use as more people are working and studying from home,” wrote Northwestel, adding that more devices are connecting at once, impacting the internet experience for some customers. The company states it will continue to make adjustments over the coming weeks to optimize the network.

Cleaning chimneys of snow and ice urged for safety Carbon monoxide risk exists when blockages occur

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet and the community’s fire department are advising residents to ensure their outdoor chimneys and vents are not blocked by snow or ice.

“With extremely cold weather, water vapour leaving the chimney can freeze up and block the chimney, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in the building,” stated a joint news release.

The release also made clear that unclogging people’s chimneys is not the public bodies’ role.

“The hamlet and fire department do not provide this service,” the message reads, suggesting those in housing units call housing, homeowners to do it themselves if properly able, or call a local contractor.

A news release issued over blocked chimneys advises keeping an eye on snow and ice buildup and calling the right people to get it addressed.

Stewart Burnett/NNSL photos

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