9 ᑐᖔᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓖᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑏᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᑦ Rankin Rock Hᐊᑭᖅᑏᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ $5,000-ᒥᒃ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒥ Hᐊᑭᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓄᙵᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ
Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022
Vol 28 No 12
News ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ
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Nunavut's Award Winning Voice of Kivalliq
U9 teams take gold
Aglukark to receive humanitarian award Community ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑑᒃ The Rankin Rock, winners of the Jack Burden Cup following the March 10 to 13 tournament in Thompson, Man. They are, back row, from left: Coach Alfred Voisey, Sebastian Siksik, Drayden Voisey, George Tattuinee, Jesse Ashoona, Solomon Sanertanut, Coach David Clark; middle row, from left: Yvon Kubluitok, Theo Clark, Mikkittuq Voisey, Logan Manitok; and in the front row Tooma Netser. Photo courtesy of Ashley Voisey
Rankin Rock quickly raised more than $5,000 to get kids to first southern tournament
Whale Cove hotel operators bid farewell News ᐱᖁᑎᕐᔪᐊᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ Infrastructure the hot topic at legislature Publication mail
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Contract #40012157
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By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet
It was on short notice, but community members and businesses in Rankin Inlet came together and helped send 20 U9 youth off to their first out-of-town hockey tournament March 10 to 13. And the effort was more than worth it, because both Rankin Inlet teams won gold at the 31st Jack Burden Memorial in Thompson, Man. The Rankin Rock won the Jack Burden Cup, while the Rock Penguins came away with the Thompson Minor Hockey Cup. “The kids did amazing,” said Hannah Siksik, team manager. “They won every game and walked away with the gold and the Jack Burden Memorial Cup. They are absolutely ecstatic.” Siksik had nearly lost her voice from cheering over the weekend when she talked to Kivalliq News Sunday, March 13. “We’ve left a mark in Thompson, I think,” said Siksik, congratulating the great teamwork and positivity from the players. “People will remember the Rankin Rock team.” The tournament was the first time the U9 youth had ever travelled for hockey. A March 5 penny sale at the community hall helped raise more than $5,000 to cover some of the expenses. “We had some amazing donations from community members and businesses in town,” said Siksik about the sale, noting the Northern Store, Arctic Co-op, Home Hardware and Red Top. Pandemic restrictions meant notice of
the tournament going ahead came just a few weeks before its start, so Siksik and others had to act quickly to drum up the funds and get everything together. Siksik thanked the Thompson Minor Hockey Association for their great hosting, and to supporters back home. Hilarie and Hope Makpah take in the items up for grabs in the penny sale at the community hall in Rankin Inlet Saturday, March 5. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo
The Rock Penguins were the winners of the Thompson Minor Hockey Cup. In the back row are coach David Clark, left, Kook Misheralak, Jamie Misheralak, Chace Kassar, Kelvin Tatty, Hunter Akerolik, Coach Sidney Nichol. Middle row, from left: Richmond Niviatsiak, Farren Airut, Paris Graham, Ezra Tartak, and in the front row, Victor Kaludjak. Photo courtesy of Kandace Graham
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fact file
Nunavut Covid-19 situation as of March 11 Active (total) cases by community: Active cases: 401 Confirmed cases: 3,265 Recovered cases: 2,859 Deaths: 5 Vaccine uptake: 33,260 first doses/ 94 per cent 28,244 second doses/ 79 per cent 13,890 third doses/ 46 per cent
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ï·∆¿Í´ ≤áflúòî ÖÚÊéÔÒπØflî Ç≤úõ¿Ö≤ú Ö±Ø ÖéÍ≤ú áîéÖ≤Í´ú. íØêØ Äƒù‚ ÖÚÊéÔÒπØ≤Ò Ä¿íÒπÕ‰ÖÔÍ≤Í´ú í±ØÒíÇÀ≤ú Ö±Ø ÜÒïùÖÒπ¿Í≤Ò. íò∏≤Ê›î í±ØÒπØÀ´ú ï·∆¿Ò ≤áfl≤, ÇÔ¬∆¬éî Çflˆ (867) 645-3223 Ö±Ø ÇÔÍ›ùÀجü ÜÒïúªÄ«, Ç„·√∏≥î Ô‰íÇÕúòî Kugaaruk ééËͬéî Çflˆ kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Naujaat Ç„·√∏≥î Gameti ∂¬∂ĉÖͬü áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí.
Around Kivalliq Behchoko
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with Stewart Burnett
Dressed to impress
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 A3
Arctic Bay: 2 (4) Arviat: 2 (136) Baker Lake: 8 (156) Cambridge Bay: 7 (146) Chesterfield Inlet: 1 (8) Clyde River: 5 (8) Coral Harbour: 5 (74) Iglulik: 12 (221) Iqaluit: 96 (652) Gjoa Haven: 42 (69) Kinngait: 3 (99)
Kugaaruk: 32 (101) Kugluktuk: 43 (65) Naujaat: 35 (90) Pangnirtung: 10 (77) Pond Inlet: 30 (93) Qikiqtarjuaq: 12 (39) Rankin Inlet: 51 (278) Resolute Bay: 0 (16) Sanrajak: 5 (77) Sanikiluaq: 0 (56) Taloyoak: 2 (104)
Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health
ᓱᓴᓐ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ JUNO-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ
Sanikiluaq
ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ‘ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑐᕈᖅᑑᔭᖅᓯᒪᔪᕉᖅ’ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓂᐱᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑉᓗᒥᒧᑦ
Northern News Services
Joseph Ulurksit looks stylish at the penny sale in Rankin Inlet March 5. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
Pakallak Tyme tentatively scheduled
Rankin Inlet The 2022 edition of Pakallak Tyme is tentatively scheduled for April 25 to May 1. A poster released by the hamlet says it will have snowmobile races, square dances, teen dances and much more. However, the hamlet is waiting for more information on Covid restrictions and public health guidelines before making too much noise about it. The festival was cancelled in 2020 and revived in 2021, but didn’t allow for other communities to take part, due to pandemic restrictions. The Government of Nunavut is aiming for an April end to the public health emergency.
Radio callers asked to be respectful
Baker Lake The Municipality of Baker Lake is advising radio callers not to phone in if they are intoxicated or using disrespectful language. “You will be cut off immediately and your number ignored,” in that circumstance, wrote senior administrative officer Sheldon Dorey in a news release from the hamlet March 4. “Please do not then call the off-air number and speak angrily to the operator; they do not need or deserve to be talked to or shouted at in this manner.” The release goes on to warn against callers speaking disrespectfully of others on the air, saying the station provides a much-needed service in the community and the operators and audience deserve respect.
Warning issued about rapid Covid tests
Nunavut The Government of Nunavut is warning Nunavummiut about the dangers of misusing rapid antigen self-tests for Covid, based on a Public Health Agency of Canada warning of its own after an increase in reports to poison control centres due to accidental ingestion or spillage of the tests on skin. “The danger comes from chemicals, such as sodium azide and Proclin, in the liquid solutions that may be poisonous if swallowed or absorbed through the skin, particularly in children and pets,” wrote the GN’s news release March 11. It advised contacting your local health centre in the case of accidental ingestion of, or direct skin exposure to test kit solutions.
ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᓱᓴᓐ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᖅᓯᒪᓂᑯᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ – ᑯᐃᓐ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ, ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ Juno-ᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ, ᑯᐃᓐ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖓᑕ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᐃᒻᖏᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ – ᐃᓚᒋᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑑᔭᖅᑐᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑖᕈᑎᖓ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᓪᓚᕆᒃᑕᖓ. “ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑑᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐱᒋᓪᓚᕆᒃᑕᕋ, ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑐᕈᖅᑑᔭᖅᑐᖓᓘᓐᓃᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ 2022-ᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᒻᖏᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ 51-ᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ JUNO-ᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᑲᑕᖕᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᓂᐱᓕᐊᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ Arctic Rose, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐃᒻᖏᖅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥ ᐃᓚᐃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᐱᓯᔪᒃᑯᑦ. “30 ᐅᑭᐅᑦ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᓕᖕᒥᒃ Arctic Rose Foundation-ᒥᒃ, ᑕᒡᕘᓇ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᔪᙱᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖃᖅᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒍᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ. Arctic Rose ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ 2012-ᒥ, ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᒍ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ Arctic Rose Foundation 2016-ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᒍ 2020-ᒥ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᐃᖅᑭᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓪᓚᖓᔪᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ, ᐊᔪᙱᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᒥᒃ. ᐆᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᖅᑳᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 2017-ᒥ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ 2018-19-ᒥ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᖔᓕᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᒥ. “ᑕᐃᒪᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ, ᓱᖏᐅᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᑑᒐᓗᐊᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᒻᒪᑦ
ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᓖᓪᓗ ᐃᓚᕚᓪᓕᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. “ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᔪᑦ.” ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᖃᓱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓕᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᐸᓪᓚᑦᑖᕐᓗᓂᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑕᖅᑐᕈᓐᓇᕈᒫᕈᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᖅᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ. “ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑦ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕋᐃᓕᖅᐸᑕ, ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒫᖅᑐᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕆᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓪᓚᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ. ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒥᓂᒃ JUNOᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᐃᒥ. ᒫᓐᓇᓕ ᐃᒻᖏᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ The Crossing ᓴᖅᑭᑦᑐᒫᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᐃᕆᓕ 29-ᒥ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᔪᑎᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᖓᓂᒃ, ᓴᖅᑭᓐᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖅ. ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᖏᓐᓇᕐᒪᑕ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒥᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᑯᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᒃᓴᒃᑯᑦ, ᑳᒻ ᐃᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ, ᑲᓇᐃᑎᔭᓐ ᓄᐊᑦᑐᒃ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ, ᒫᓂ ᐅᓗᔪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᕙᒃᑕᖏᑦ.
ᓱᓴᓐ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᒐᒥᒎᖅ 2022-ᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐅᑎᒋᔭᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓂ ᑲᔪᓯᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ. Susan Aglukark said receiving the 2022 Humanitarian Award is a sign of her work going full circle from her first album. Photo courtesy of Susan Aglukark
Susan Aglukark to receive humanitarian award at Junos
Recognition feels like a ‘full circle’ from Inuk star’s first album By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Arviat
Arviat’s Susan Aglukark is well decorated already, so one more award on top of everything else – Order of Canada, multiple JUNOs, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards – might seem like just another in the pile, but her latest recognition hits a special note in her heart. “It’s very unique and it is definitely one of the more special ones, because it feels like a full-circle thing for me,” said Aglukark about being set to receive the 2022 Humanitarian Award presented by Music Canada at the 51st annual JUNO awards. Her first album was named Arctic Rose, with the song by the same name being the first time she had expressed through music how it felt to lose a friend to suicide. “Thirty years later, I am able to create a
charity called the Arctic Rose Foundation, whose work is expressive art and reconnecting with our sense of dignity and re-instilling hope,” said Aglukark. She began the Arctic Rose Project 2012, eventually designating it as a registered charity under the name Arctic Rose Foundation in 2016 and incorporating it in 2020. The organization works to support Northern Inuit, First Nations and Metis youth through the creation of Indigenous-led, arts-based after-school programs. The pilot community for the project was Rankin Inlet in January 2017, with the first full school year of activities taking place there and in Arviat in 2018-‘19. The foundation pivoted to virtual programming due to the pandemic, with a presence in Cambridge Bay and Arctic Bay as well. “In spite of the pandemic, we have continued adapting,” said Aglukark, adding
Sanikiluaq was set to take on the program until Covid cases began climbing again. “The response has been really good.” She’s excited to see a potential end to pandemic restrictions and the ability to go back to the in-person program, as it was meant to be. “As soon as the schools give us the goahead, we are back there in person,” she said, adding that’s where the expressive arts aspect of the program works so well. Aglukark will be receiving her humanitarian award at the JUNOs in May. Until then, she has a new album called The Crossing due to release April 29, and she continues work on her expressive arts manual, scheduled to come out this fall. She wanted to acknowledge community partners in Rankin Inlet for their support running the project, including Arctic Co-operatives, Calm Air, Canadian North, Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik and the youth workers.
A4 Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Kivalliq News
Big dreams, but what’s really feasible?
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Nation-building projects seem distant next to current challenges
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The Kivalliq has some mega projects on the mind, namely the hydro-fibre link from Manitoba and a highway network connecting the majority of its communities. Both projects got name drops in the legislative assembly last week and have some amount of higher political traction, so they’re not just pipe dreams. But then you look at other stories this week, and Rankin Inlet can hardly open a 16-unit apartment complex because of the strain on its utilidor and water system. A new air terminal building is on deck to get started this summer, and the hamlet needs what, $100 million to upgrade its water system to proper capacity? Even if Mayor Harry Towtongie’s pleas to the territorial government to prioritize that project come through, upgrading the water system isn’t going to be finished overnight. It’s an endless story of Nunavut, not just the Kivalliq, that the infrastructure needs dwarf the
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: Alyssa Smith alyssa.smith@nnsl.com Kivalliq Advertising Representative: advertising@nunavutnews.com Call collect: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507
ment they take will pay off almost capacity to serve them. immediately with the enhanced Rapid population growth only capacity of the Kivalliq. Besides the fuels that fire further, and then benefits of the finished products, you get the appropriate questions the construction frenzy and opporof why is so much money being tunities for Nunavummiut would be spent on an airport, when we can huge. hardly house our residents in the The road system particularly first place? was one of the original visions for Feeling some sympathy for Nunavut, ideally extending all the Government of Nunavut politiway down to Manitoba and truly cians and staff is natural: unless connecting the territory to the rest of they can really pull a rabbit out the country. of a hat, they’re never going to stewart It would be more than a feather in go down as heroes, because the burnett the cap if the Kivalliq Inuit Associterritory will be chasing its evation can successfully lobby for the er-growing tail and getting more hydro-fibre line to become a reality. and more squeezed, no matter As President Kono Tattuinee said previously, how much progress they make, like a game of the hydro link would be nation building. It Snake. would change the Kivalliq and the territory for And the Kivalliq is only one region of a the better, forever. territory that has these same challenges and deUntil then, let’s keep the heat to the GN’s mands everywhere. feet and hope we can at least get Rankin Inlet’s Despite the challenges, these mega projects are more than worth pursuing. Whatever invest- water system up to standard.
ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐱᖃᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᑦ
Sanikiluaq
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ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᑦᑎᐊᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᔨ Northern News Services
ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᖃᓱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᑲᔫᑏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᕝᕕᐅᑦᑎᐊᓕᖅᑐᑦ. “ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᓖᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᐅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᓖᑦ ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᕈᕆᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᖏᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᑎ ᕿᔪᒃ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐃᓅᖄᑎᒌᑦᑎᐊᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᔨ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ. ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓂᒃ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᖃᑉᓯᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ: ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᒥᖅᓱᕆᐅᖅᓴᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᔭᐸᓕᐅᕆᐅᖅᓴᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐳᐊᓗᓕᐅᕆᐅᖅᓴᑎᖦᖢᖏᑦ, ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᐊᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᑯᒍᑦᑎᐊᑯᓗᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᔾᔫᒥᖁᔨᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒋᔭᓪᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᔪᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ. ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᒥᖅᓱᕆᐅᖅᓴᔪᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓕᕆᔪᑦ ᑕᓯᑎᕆᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᖃᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ; ᐃᑲᔫᑏᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑕᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ; ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᐊᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᑎᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ 15-ᒧᑦ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐅᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᑦ ᓯᑕᒻᒥᕐᒧᑦ. “ᑲᔪᓯᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᐃᑦ, ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᐃᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᔪᒃ. “ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒥᓕᕆᔪᑦ, ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓕᕆᒐᒥᒃ ᒥᖅᓱᕋᒥᒡᓗ. ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᖓᒥᒃ.” ᑐᓴᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖁᔭᓕᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᕿᑎᒍᑕᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ, ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐃᒻᖏᑲᑕᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᒻᖏᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓚᒥᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ‘ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒎᓰᑦ’ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᒪᖔᑕ. ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑕᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑕᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᔪᒃ. “ᐊᐱᖅᓱᓲᑦ, ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔭᕆᐊᓕᒃ? ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᓇ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᕋ? ᐃᒪᓐᓇᖔᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔪᓐᓇᖅᐱᑎᒎᑦ? ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᒥᖅᓱᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᒥᓄᑦᑕᐅᖅ.” ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓪᓕ ᐊᒥᓕᕆᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, “ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ, ᐃᓐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᖃᐅᔭᓕᖅᑐᑦ, ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᔭᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᔪᒃ. ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᓪᓕ, ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᐃᓐᓈᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑕᐅᓇᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᔪᑯᓗᐃᓐᓇᐅᖃᑦᑕᙱᒻᒪᑕ. “ᐱᓕᕆᓕᕌᖓᒥᒡᓕ, ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᓂ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕐᓇᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖅ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᔪᒃ. “ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓲᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ.”
ᒪᑕ ᔭᕋ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᐱᓕᓐᑕ ᐅᑕᑦᓈᖅ, ᓗᐃᓴ ᐴᑦᓈᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᔪᕆ ᓇᑦᑕᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒥᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.
Martha Jorah, left, Belinda Utatnaaq, Louisa Pudnak and Marjorie Nattak, one of the instructors, pause for a moment for a photo during the ladies caribou skin class. Photo courtesy of Dody Qiyuk
ᐊᑎᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑦᑎᐊᓂᓵᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᓕᐅᕈᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕈᒫᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒫᑦᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓱᐊᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᐃᕆᓕ ᐃᒋᐊᓕᖅᐸᑦ, ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᓕᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓄᑦ ᓇᔪᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕈᒫᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᒡᒎᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ. ᕿᔪᒃ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᑉ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᕿᓄᐃᓵᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑲᔪᓯᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑏᑦ.
Medical boarding home nixed for now By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq
Rankin Inlet North/Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok asked in the legislative assembly about the feasibility of a medical boarding facility for travellers coming through the Kivalliq. “For some flights to Kivalliq communities, the stopover is longer than two hours,” he said. “Occasionally the delay becomes an overnight stay. Many medical travellers do not feel comfortable staying at the airport
for such a long period of time. They would prefer to stay and wait at the health centre. Our Elders in particular need a comfortable place to rest.” As the population grows and more patients travel through Rankin Inlet on their way to receive medical care, the Department of Health must ensure they have appropriate accommodations while they wait, he said. Minister of Health John Main said the department offers day rooms for travellers with stays longer than two hours. “However, during the extraordinary times that we have been going through over the past few months
during the Omicron wave, the department has had some issues with the day room service,” he said, adding that it was his understanding that the issues related to the hotel operator wanting to follow public health guidance. He couldn’t offer much more detail, but said the department was working to re-establish the day room service for travellers through Rankin Inlet. Main added that the current approach is to use commercial accommodations and private billets for medical travellers, with a preference for a hotel with a restaurant. Main noted that Indigenous Ser-
vices Canada has indicated its support for a potential boarding home in the Kivalliq region but said that the GN has no indication that the federal government would be willing to support the capital funding for it. “Information the Department of Health has examined has indicated that a boarding home in Rankin Inlet would not be feasible at this point due to the average number of clients overnighting in Rankin Inlet being low,” he said, adding that in the two fiscal years prior to Covid the nightly average of travellers in Rankin Inlet was about four people.
Kivalliq News
www.nnsl.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 A5
Hamlet ups heat on GN for water plant Development of 57 homes stalled as utilidor maxed out By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet
The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet is raising the temperature on the Government of Nunavut in its campaign for a new water supply system in the community. “The condition of the utilidor system has reached a critical point where it is now exceeding capacity limits and is causing the council to delay and even stop development of the community,” wrote Mayor Harry Towtongie to Rankin Inlet South MLA Lorne Kusugak March 3, following a meeting between the hamlet council, Kusugak and Rankin Inlet North/Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok. The letter was tabled in the legislative assembly. Rankin Inlet’s council has had a moratorium on new development in old town for the past three years as a result of the Johnson Cove lift station being at maximum capacity, which has stopped a number of new housing and commercial developments in that part of town. The Johnson Cove lift station is scheduled for upgrade this summer, but that will only partly address current issues with the town’s water supply, wrote Towtongie. “Just this morning, a developer of a 16-apartment complex nearing completion contacted the hamlet to advise that CGS (the Department of Community and Government Services) may not allow him to connect to the sewer utilidor because the system is at max capacity,” wrote Towtongie. “Here will be 16 apartments, ready for occupancy, that will possibly end up sitting empty for some time in a community where housing supply is extremely short.” The water supply side of the system is so taxed, continued Towtongie, that it cannot adequately supply flow to allow both potable water
and fire suppression at the pressure needed to safely accommodate some of the high-density buildings being developed. He pointed to a Nunavut Housing Corporation development of two five-plexes and three other five-plexes that will be completed this fall, as well as another development involving commercial space with 16 apartments to be connected late this fall. “Combined, that is 57 units that will need connection to a system already at capacity,” wrote Towtongie, adding that doesn’t even factor in the requirements of the long-term care facility or new air terminal building. The hamlet is currently ready to go to tender for a new subdivision to add 26 new lots for development, but has been advised to restrict zoning to accommodate buildings no larger than a five-plex. “This will not permit the development of higher-density housing projects that are able to more effectively address the critical shortage of housing in the community,” wrote Towtongie. Additionally, two of the town’s five utilidor loops are in “critical condition and requiring replacement before catastrophic failure.” The system is owned and operated by the GN and Towtongie called the territorial government’s investment into it lacking. “We need to advance this as a critical capital priority for our government,” wrote Towtongie. “Together we need to address this now.” In the legislative assembly March 7, CGS Minister David Joanasie said the department is working to upgrade the town’s water infrastructure. “This project is currently in the planning stage and we can anticipate that a business case will be completed this month, in March 2022,” he said, adding that capital funding may not be in the 2022-23 budget, but as planning nears completion, requests for capital funding will be made for the water treatment facility in Rankin inlet.
Baker Lake programs see high uptake Socialization helping improve participants’ mental health, says community wellness coordinator By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Baker Lake
As pandemic restrictions ease, a raft of community programs in Baker Lake are seeing some fantastic response. “When Covid was quite high here in Baker Lake, we held off everything until the number of cases went down,” said Dody Qiyuk, community wellness coordinator for the hamlet. She’s running several programs now at the same time: ladies traditional sewing, teenagers parka sewing, mitt making for youth, Inuktitut radio games and soon a cabin-making initiative. “It’s important because it helps with their mental health by working on a project together with others,” said Qiyuk about the programming opportunities. Ladies in the sewing class are learning to stretch and prepare caribou skin while getting together again safely; the programs for teenagers are teaching them about teamwork and different learning styles; and the radio games are teaching youth ages five to 15 new Inuktitut words every Monday and Thursday. “They’ve been going good, very awesome,” said Qiyuk. “The ladies that are doing the caribou skins, they’re happy to be working on caribou skin and sewing. And the teenagers are quite
excited for something new to them.” She’s hearing a lot of good feedback from parents in the teenagers’ programs, and for the Inuktitut games, children are singing Inuktitut at home now and asking relatives’ Inuktitut names. The teenagers especially are learning that everyone is different and they have different learning styles, said Qiyuk. “They’re asking each other, how do we do this? How do we do that? Can we do it like this? And they’ll be asking the sewing instructor questions too.” For the women in the caribou class, “they’re out of their house, they’re out among other adults, they get to sit and talk and work together with other ladies,” Qiyuk said. And for all of them, they’re learning to recognize that big projects often start out messy. “And then when they start putting it together, the ending is the best,” said Qiyuk. “They see it from the beginning to the end.” She’s just finishing recruitment for a cabin-making program set to begin in late March or early April, with the finished cabins set to serve as a venue for future programs. She said there has been a lot of interest in that program from women in the community. Qiyuk thanked her co-workers and the Hamlet of Baker Lake for their support and patience in helping her run these programs.
Rankin Inlet’s water system being stretched to capacity means this new 16-unit apartment block might not be able to be hooked up to the utilidor. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie is pressing the Government of Nunavut to move forward on capital funding to upgrade the town’s water treatment infrastructure. NNSL file photo
A6 Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Kivalliq News
Hotel managers bid adieu to Whale Cove
PEI couple opened first restaurant in community in 2019 By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Whale Cove
Emjay Kritterdlik, front, takes a selfie with Randy Baglole and Alison Daly. Randy and Alison departed Whale Cove last week, after initially coming up to open the community’s first restaurant at the Co-op hotel. Photo courtesy of Alison Daly
Randy Baglole works on some delicious offerings while in Whale Cove. A new team is being trained now to take over management of the hotel and restaurant. Photo courtesy of Alison Daly
Alison Daly’s son was working on renovations to Whale Cove’s Tavani Inn in 2019 when he overheard that Arctic Co-operatives was looking for someone to come up for a couple of months to run the hotel and open the restaurant. “He called us and said, what do you guys think of coming up to Whale Cove?” recalls Daly. The next thing she knew, she and Randy Baglole were on a plane to the community, their first time in Nunavut. “It was the first time they’ve had a restaurant in this community,” said Baglole, who had experience working as a cook before, while Daly took on the hotel duties. “They really support the restaurant up here.” The third day of its opening, the restaurant did more than $6,000 in sales. It since gained a loyal following in the community of 435. Daly and Baglole bounced around several Nunavut communities in the time since, helping with restaurant and hotel duties in Gjoa Haven as well, but on March 9, they officially bid adieu to Whale Cove. “We’ve had some amazing times,” said Daly. “We’ve done two grad banquets here, which were absolutely amazing. It was such an honour to see the young kids graduating from high
school.” The pair will fondly remember some of the hotel’s staff and regular customers, saying it was a very friendly community. They also enjoyed meeting travellers through the hotel and getting a “bird’s-eye” perspective on how things operate in the North with fly-in court and medical treatment, services often taken for granted in the south. Running a hotel and restaurant in Nunavut came with its own challenges though, primarily the wait times for produce and equipment to be shipped in. “If there’s a storm and we don’t get a plane, then we don’t get fresh produce for the restaurant,” said Daly. Coming from Prince Edward Island, Baglole said Nunavut wasn’t what he expected, but it was better than he expected. “There’s a lot I didn’t realize before I came up here,” he said, maligning the fact he never did see a whale in Whale Cove. Daly said she will miss the community members. “You get to the point where people come in regularly and you know their names, you know their kids,” she said. “It’s just fun being part of a community.” The hotel officially closed its restaurant March 5 with the pair’s departure. New management is taking over now, and they’re seeking a cook to get the restaurant back up and running. Baglole and Daly said they plan to visit Nunavut again after getting a taste for the North.
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New MOU sought with Manitoba
Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak used the first week of the new sitting of the legislative assembly to quiz the premier on Manitoba-Nunavut relations, as well as emphasize the importance of the proposed Kivalliq intercommunity highway. Trevor Wright/ NNSL photo By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq
During the March sitting of the legislative assembly Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak asked Premier PJ Akeeagok if the Government of Nunavut would be signing a new memorandum of understanding with Manitoba, noting that the last one was signed in 2015 and expired in fall 2020. Akeeagok responded that the GN was reviewing the issue and expects a new agreement will arise. Simailak followed up by emphasizing the importance of the proposed Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link and asked Akeeagok what discussions he has had with the Premier of Manitoba on that initiative. Akeeagok responded that he has not spoken with Premier Heather Stefanson yet, but that he expects in the near future he would raise that and other issues with her and pursue a new memorandum of understanding.
Housing shortages in Coral Harbour and Naujaat
Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki asked Lorne Kusugak, minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, for an update on Nunavut Housing Corporation’s planned constructions of new units in Naujaat and Coral Harbour, which he said were put on hold last summer as a result of supply chain and cost issues. “I have no knowledge of any delays or postponements occurring for housing construction,” responded Kusugak through interpretation. Malliki followed up by asking if the minister could clarify what Inuit labour content requirements are in place for the Coral Harbour and Nunavut construction projects going ahead. Kusugak responded that he didn’t have a particular percentage or a breakdown per community, but the government tries to maximize the Inuit labour content during construction of housing as much as possible. Kusugak added that the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative funding would provide an additional 101 housing units in the territory on top of what the GN is pursuing.
Kivalliq highway study pursued
Simailak emphasized his support for the proposed Kivalliq intercommunity road initiative in questions to Minister of Economic Development and Transportation Lorne Kusugak. Kusugak said the study looking into the the all-season road would commence this summer and conclude by next year, with $4.5 million earmarked from the federal government to support that activity. Asked about the request for proposals for the road initiative study, Kusugak added that the project is threephased, beginning with assessing the technical viability of the proposed corridor and moving to consulting with stakeholders in the second phase. “Finally in Phase 3, they will conduct the geotechnical investigations and complete 30 percent of the design, prepare cost estimates for roadway development and class ‘C’ estimates, prepare order of magnitude cost projections, administration of road, environmental impact and so on,” said Kusugak.