Kivalliq News – April 6, 2022 Edition

ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖅ ᐃᓅᔪᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐃᓚᓂᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑳᓐᓱᒥᒃ ᐊᓂᒎᑎᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᑕ

Baker Lake teen wins the fight of his life Desmond Jr. Kreelak and family share his story of overcoming cancer

Kivalliq News WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022

Vol 28 No 15

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Mayor Harry Towtongie smiles with Lisa Oolooyuk, who received a special recognition award from the territory’s Sport and Recreation Awards. Sport Nunavut called Oolooyuk “a shining light in the Rankin Inlet soccer community.” Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Community ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑐᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ A reading explosion in Naujaat

Arts ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐃᒻᖏᖅᑎ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᒥ ᐃᒻᖏᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ Baker Lake rapper hitting festival circuit in Yellowknife

Photos ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᓂᕆᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ Feeding the community

A2 Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

ᐃᓅᔪᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᑲᑎᑦᑐᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ 15-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᑳᓐᓱᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᐅᔭ ᓇᑯᓛᖅ, ᓗᑲᓯ ᓇᑯᓛᖅ, ᓴᓈᖅ ᕿᓚᒃ, ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᒃᖠᖅ, ᒪᑎᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᐊᓕ ᕿᓚᒃ.

Family gathers to celebrate 15-year-old Desmond Jr. Kreelak being declared cancer free. Left to right are Nowyah Nakoolak, Lucassie Nakoolak, Sanaaq Kreelak, Desmond Sr. Kreelak, Martin Kreelak and Mary Kreelak. Photo courtesy of Sanaaq Kreelak

ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖅ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᑳᓐᓱᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ Northern News Services

ᕿᓚᒥᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ, ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐊᔪᓕᕋᓱᒋᓚᐅᐱᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑳᓐᓱᒥᒃ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ. “ᖁᔭᓈᑐᐃᓐᓇᕈᒪᓚᐅᙱᓐᓇᒪ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓚᖓᒍᓪᓗ ᖁᔭᓈᕈᒪᑉᓗᖓ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕈᒪᙱᓕᖅᖢᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ 15-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ. “ᓯᑯᙱᖅᖢᖓ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑎᒥᒐ ᑐᖁᕙᓪᓕᐊᔫᔭᖅᖢᓂ.” ᐃᒻᒥᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓ ᑳᓐᓱᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᕿᑎᐊᒍᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᕿᖓᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᖃᑦᑕᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᒪᒍ. ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒦᑉᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᓗᐊᖅ ᐊᐅᓕᕌᖓᑦ ᕿᖓᒃᑯᑦ, ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᓴᙱᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. “ᐊᔪᓕᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔫᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᐅᖏᔭᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕋᒪ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᕙᒻᓄᑦ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.” ᕿᖓᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᓈᓇᒥᓃᖦᖢᓂ, ᓴᓈᖅ ᕿᓚᒃᒥ. ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᒪᙱᖅᑳᖅᖢᓂ, ᐊᐅᒍᓐᓃᖅᓯᐊᖑᔪᒪᑉᓗᓂ. “ᐊᐅᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᑲᒃᑭᐅᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓱᓇᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᖢᑎᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᐅᒃᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ. ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᒪᓇᖓ, ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᒍᓐᓃᕋᓱᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᖢᖓ.” ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᐊᓈᓇᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᒪᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᐊᕙᓗᔭᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᑉᓗᓂ ᓇᔭᙳᐊᓄᑦ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᓄᓪᓗ. “ᐊᐅᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᑎᒥᒐᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓪᓗᓂ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ. ᐊᐅᒍᓐᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᓐᓅᔪᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐅᑉᓘᒃ ᐱᐊᓂᖕᒪᑕ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᐃᒡᓗᑕᖓᓂ, ᐊᐅᓕᕐᒥᒋᑉᓗᓂ. ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᑕᑯᔫᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. “ᑐᐸᒍᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓐᓂᕋᒪ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᓂᒃ, ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔪᓐᓃᖅᖢᖓᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᕐᓇᖓ. ᑕᑯᑉᓗᖓ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᑯᓗᖕᒥᒃ. ᐅᕐᓂᓕᖅᖢᒍ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᖅ. ᐱᓱᒃᑑᔭᖅᖢᖓ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᒧᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᖅ ᒥᑭᔪᑯᓘᑉᓗᓂ. ᑎᑭᑦᑐᓐᓇᖅᑑᔭᕐᓇᒍ. ᑎᑭᓐᓇᓱᒃᑕᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ. ᐅᒡᓚᒃᑑᔭᖅᖢᖓ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᒧᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑎᑭᙲᓐᓇᖅᖢᒍ.” ᐃᒻᒥᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᕿᖓᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ‘ᑲᐴᑎᒃᑯᑦ’ ᓯᕝᕕᐊᖓᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒃᑯᑦ. ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑳᓐᓱᖃᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᒎᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔪᓐᓇᖅᑕᖓ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᒃᐱᖕᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ “ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᒥᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.” ᐃᓚᖓᓂ, ᑎᖑᖓ ᐳᕕᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᙱᖦᖢᓂᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᒍᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᓯᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓᓄᑦ. “ᓂᙵᐅᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᓇᔭᙳᐊᓄᓪᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ. “ᐅᕙᒻᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᔭᖅᑐᕌᖓᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕆᐊᖅᑐᑐᐊᕌᖓᑕ, ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᙱᑕᒃᑲ ᓂᑉᓕᕐᕕᒋᔪᓐᓇᕐᓇᒋᓪᓗ … ᑕᐃᑉᓱᒪᓂ

ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᓗᐊᒧᓪᓗ.” ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑖᑕᖓᑕ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕆᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᑭᒍᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᑮᓯᒪᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕌᖓᒥ. ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ 2021-ᒥ, ᓈᕐᒥᒍᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕈᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ. “ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᒃᑯᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᕋᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐸᐅᕐᖓᖅᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᓃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑕᒃᑲ. ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓕᖅᖢᖓ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓇᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᒻᓂᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᖃᐃ ᑕᖅᑭᕐᓂᒃ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᖢᖓ, ᐅᖃᓘᑎᒐᓃᖦᖢᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᓯᐊᕆᕙᒃᖢᒍ.” ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋ ᓄᖅᑲᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᖅᖢᓂ. ᒫᓐᓇᑲᐅᑎᒋ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒧᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᒥᒃᑯᑦ, ᐱᕈᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᓇᓂᓯᕝᕕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐲᖅᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 16-ᒥ. ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒦᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒻᒥᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ, ᓯᕙᓂᕈᑎᒥᒡᓗ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᑳᓐᓱᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᒫᑦᓯ 15-ᒥ. ᐊᑖᑕᖓᓄᑦ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᒃᖠᕐᒧᑦ, ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕐᓂᖅᐹᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᕉᖅ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓵᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔭᒥᓂᒃ. “ᑐᓴᖅᖢᒍ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑐᖅ,” ᕿᐊᒍᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ. “ᓯᐅᑎᒻᓄᑦ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕐᓂᖅᐹᖅ. ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕐᓂᖅᐹᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.” ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᐃᖅᑕᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᓂ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐃᕆᓕᒥ. “ᓴᙱᔪᐊᓗᒃ ᓄᑲᑉᐱᐊᑯᓗᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓂᖅᓴᖅ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ. “ᓴᐱᓕᕋᓱᓚᐅᖅᑑᒐᓗᐊᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᔪᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᓐᓃᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ.” ᐳᐃᒍᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑐᒥᒃ. “ᐊᓂᑉᓗᓂ ᓴᑭᒐ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᓂᖅᓴᖅ ᐱᖃᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ, ᓴᑭᒐᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᓂᖅᓴᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒃᑲ. ᑎᑭᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒧᑦ ᑕᐅᑐᒍᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᓯᔪᒥᒃ. ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕐᓂᕐᐹᖅ ᐃᓛᓪᓚᑦᑖᖅ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑎᑦᑎᖕᒪᑦ ᓯᕙᓂᕈᑎᒥᒃ.” ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖅᐹᕆᔭᖓ “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ. ᓴᙱᒃᑎᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ. ᓴᙱᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᑉᑯᐃᓇᓱᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᖅᐹᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓴᓈᖅ. “ᐃᒻᒥᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᕌᓂᒃᑳᖓᑦ, ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᓴᙱᔪᐊᓘᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᓇᓪᓚᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓕᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᓂᒃ ᓄᑭᖃᑦᑎᐊᕋᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᒪᓇᓂ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ ᓴᓈᖅ. ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᕿᖓᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓗᐊᒧᑦ,

ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᕿᖓᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᒍᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ.

Desmond Jr. Kreelak is seen here during a severe and life-threatening nosebleed. Photo courtesy of Sanerk Kreelak

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᔨᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᖓ. “ᕿᖓᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᒃᑐᐊᓘᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᐅᒍᓐᓃᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐃᓅᑎᑕᐅᓇᓱᒐᔭᕐᒪᖔᕐᒪ ᐊᓂᖅᓵᕈᓐᓃᕈᒪ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᓕᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓅᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᐊᐅᒍᓐᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.” ᖁᔭᓕᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᑯᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ. “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓴᓈᖅ. “ᓴᕆᒪᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ. ᓴᙱᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᑯᓗᒃᖢᓂ ᓴᐱᓕᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ.” ᓴᙱᒃᑎᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᓄᑭᑖᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᒥᔪᖅ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖅᐹᖓ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕈᓂ. “ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᕐᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓯᒪᖕᒫᖓ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒥᑭᔪᑯᓘᑉᓗᖓ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ

ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ. “ᐊᕐᕌᓂ, ᐊᐃᕆᓕᒥ ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᕐᒪ ᓯᑕᒪᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᑎᓚᐅᕐᒫᖓ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒍᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ. ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕈᒪ, ᓯᑭᑑᖅᑖᕐᓂᐊᕐᒫᖓ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒍᑎᒥᒃ. ᐊᐱᕆᑉᓗᓂᖓ, “ᓱᓇᒥᒃ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖅᐹᖑᕕᑦ?” ᑭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᖤᒍᒪᑉᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕈᒪ, ᐊᒃᖤᒃᓯᐅᕈᒫᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᖤᒍᓐᓇᖅᑕᕋᓂᒃ. ᐅᐊᕋᔮᖅ.” ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᐊᑖᑕᖓ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᓂᒃ ᐅᐃᓂᐲᒃᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ. “ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓚᐅᙱᑉᐸᑕ, ᐃᕐᓂᖃᕈᓐᓃᕋᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᐊᖓᔪᒃᖠᖅ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᐅᑉ ᓇᐅᒃᑰᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᑎᑐᑦ, ᓴᐱᓕᖅᑕᐃᓕᖁᓇᔭᖅᑕᒃᑲ. “ᖃᐅᒃᐸᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᖅ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᑉᓗᒥᐅᖓᓂ, ᖃᐅᒃᐸᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᓐᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᓯ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

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fact file Nunavut Covid-19 situation as of March 29 Active cases: 78 Confirmed cases: 3,472 Recovered cases: 3,389 Deaths: 6

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Around Kivalliq Behchoko

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with Stewart Burnett

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 A3

Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑐᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ Northern News Services Sanikiluaq

ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ. “ᑕᐃᓚᐅᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ‘ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑐᐊᓗᐃᑦ’ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᔭᐅᖁᒐᑉᑎᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᔪᐃᔅ ᒍᕆᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪᓪ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᓇᐅᔮᑦ ᑑᒑᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ. ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᖁᔨᓲᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕆᐅᖅᓴᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ. “ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᖁᔨᒐᓗᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᖁᔨᑉᓗᑕ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒍᕆᒻ– ᕈᐃᔪᓪ. “ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᖕᒥᔪᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒍᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ.” ᑐᕌᒐᕆᓗᐊᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒨᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ.

“16 ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᖃᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒍᕆᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪᓪ ᓴᕆᒪᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᑲᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᒫᑦᓯᒥ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥᒃ 7-ᒥ 12-ᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒍᕆᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪᓪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖃᑎᓂᓗ ᐃᐅᕆᑲ ᑖᒻᓴᓐ ᐊᑐᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ. “ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖁᑎᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑕᐅᔪᒪᒐᔪᖕᒪᑕ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒍᕆᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪᓪ. “ᐊᐅᓚᔪᒪᓂᖅᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᕋᒪ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ, ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ.” ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᔪᑯᕆᓂᔭᒥᐅᑦ

Albert Netser, chair of the Rankin Inlet District Education Authority, scribbles names on a board as DEA members figure out a schedule of gym use at Simon Alaittuq School March 22. Previously, a conflict between the DEA and hamlet meant that the hamlet’s gym programming was suspended because it would have enforced the municipal proof-of-vaccination bylaw. Instead, the DEA accepted individual user groups to schedule their own time. The hamlet’s bylaw is set to end when the Government of Nunavut ends the state of emergency. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Feedback sought for making TRC statutory holiday

Nunavut The Department of Justice is seeking public input on making the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which occurs Sept. 30, a statutory holiday in the territory.

The department is seeking feedback from registered businesses and societies in Nunavut on if they support the initiative and if it would have any negative effects on them.

Any feedback should be sent to TRHolidayConsultations@gov.nu.ca and is due by April 8.

Fuel prices rise

Nunavut It wasn’t an April Fool’s joke and had nothing to do with the invasion of Ukraine, but Nunavut’s fuel prices rose April 1 due to the federal carbon tax.

Gasoline is now $1.19 per litre, with vehicle diesel at $1.29 per litre. Naptha is $8.22 per can.

The carbon tax increase was offset by the Nunavut Carbon Rebate, which reduces the impact of the tax by 50 per cent.

ᕋᓴᒥᐅᓪᓗ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦᑕ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ. ᒍᕆᔭᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪᓪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒻᓴᓐ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒥᑦᓵᓄᑦ ᐱᓯᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓅᖓᔪᓂᒃ, ᐆᒃᑐᕋᙳᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᖃᑕᐅᔪᑎᑐᑦ. “ᐊᔪᙱᑦᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᑕᕋᑯᓘᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᒪᒃᑲᐅᔪᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒍᕆᔭᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪᓪ. “ᐱᔪᒪᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓚᐅᖅᑕᖅᐳᑦ – ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖁᑉᓗᑎᒍᑦ.” ᑕᒻᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕈᑏᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᒥᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑕᐅᓲᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᙱᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᓗᑎᒡᓗ. “ᖃᐅᔨᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᒃᑯᑦ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᑉᓗᑎᒡᓗ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᐊᓯᖓᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗᖅᑐᒥᒃ – ᐃᓗᐊᓄᑦ ᒥᓯᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᒃᓴᓗᑭᑖᖅᑎᖦᖢᒍ – ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᓂᑉᓕᐅᑕᐅᓇᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᔭᒃᑯᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᖅ ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓂᒃ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ 85%-ᑯᑦ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔮᓚᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑉᐸᑦ. ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔩᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑕᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒃᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᑦᑎᐊᕌᖓᑕ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᔭᖏᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒍᕆᔭᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪᓪ.

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᔪᐃᔅ ᒍᕆᒻ–ᕈᐃᔪ ᑑᒑᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᒥ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ, ᕿᑎᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ, ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ‘ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓂᒃ’ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ.

Teacher Joyce Graham-Royal at Tugaalik High School in Naujaat, middle, leads a ‘Reading Explosion’ program in the school.

Photo courtesy of Joyce GrahamRoyal

Vaccine passport ends in Baker Lake

Baker Lake The Hamlet of Baker Lake’s vaccine passport bylaw was no longer in effect as of Tuesday, March 29.

The bylaw had required individuals to provide proof of full vaccination against Covid-19 before entering a municipal public building. It was repealed by hamlet council with another bylaw.

The hamlet reminded residents that all current Government of Nunavut public health measures are still in effect until removed by the GN.

Vaccine uptake: 33,463 first doses/ 95 per cent 28,825 second doses/ 82 per cent 14,373 third doses/ 49 per cent

A veritable reading explosion New program in Naujaat teaches through play

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Naujaat

It’s not just a reading activity, class or even adventure – no, it’s an explosion.

“We dubbed it ‘reading explosion’ because we wanted a catchy name,” said Joyce Graham-Royal, a teacher at Naujaat’s Tugaalik High School.

The new program sees students invited to attend a literacy class on Saturdays to engage in activities to improve their reading, speaking and comprehension of English.

“What we are hoping to achieve is to increase the literacy level among all of our students,” said Graham-Royal. “We want to also improve students’ confidence in their literacy skills.”

And a main goal of the program is to be fun.

“We had 16 kids,” said Graham-Royal proudly about the first session in March.

They ranged from Grades 7 to 12, and Graham-Royal along with fellow teacher Erika Thompson used current events to create literacy games.

“Our students prefer to be actively involved,” said Graham-Royal. “They prefer to be moving. And so, we have grounded our approach in the whole idea of play.”

One student asked about the conflict in Ukraine with Russia.

Graham-Royal and Thompson were prepared with articles, and they used the class to go through news stories on the war, dramatize the sides and even roleplay as if they were in it.

“They were so good, and these are not children who usually like to talk too much,” said Graham-Royal. “We got what we wanted – we wanted them to talk.”

Thompson said literacy-based games that incorporate technology help students learn their analytical skills while having a good time.

“We find that students are developing important skills but also it’s maintaining their interest in what they’re doing, so they’re having fun and also learning,” she said.

Another game they played was using hoops to learn about verbs. Students would do an activity with a hoop – jumping in it, rolling it – and other students would find the right verbs to describe what they were doing.

The program is all new and will run for two years. Students who attend 85 per cent of the Saturday sessions will be eligible to receive an iPad at the end.

In the long run, the teachers hope the program will have spinoff benefits on students’ performance.

“What we’ve found was that whenever they speak good English, their performance in other disciplines tended to be better,” said Graham-Royal.

A4 Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Kivalliq News

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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

The Association des Francophones du Nunavut (AFN) was not happy about our article titled ‘No French, no problem’ (March 23, Kivalliq News), in which we featured the opinion of a French-Canadian resident in Rankin Inlet about access to language services and the francophone community here.

Her opinion – that she didn’t expect or need access to French services or a francophone community and would prefer to be integrated in and learn from the Nunavut culture – ruffled some feathers.

“These remarks were presented in a way that portrayed the French fact as optional, even useless, for Nunavummiut living in the Kivalliq region, and the francophone community in the territory as withdrawn and isolated,” wrote the AFN in a March 31 news release.

The release goes on to say that we never contacted their organization for comment, which is incorrect, and we replied with screenshots of the email sent with a request for the AFN’s feedback. But no response came in time for publication.

That said, it’s neither here nor there if we contacted the AFN for that story.

Sanikiluaq The AFN seems to think Nunavut News — the sister newspaper to Kivalliq News, in

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 Alyssa Smith – alyssa.smith@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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which the story was also pubbetween government advertiselished — “did not do its ethical ment and organic story blurs duty to seek the veracity of the further. facts before its publication.”

Some of us prefer the old days What facts? It’s one person’s of media, before rewritten press opinion, like so many other storeleases, turned-off comments and government-endorsed fact ries. What the AFN really means, checking. of course, is that it’s the wrong We like being a venue for diopinion.

Who made the AFN king of verse opinions, stories of success French-speaking Nunavummiut? and pain, debates about this poliThe article was not about the cy or that, and celebrations of the AFN and didn’t even mention the rollercoaster stewart always-entertaining AFN, so there is no ethical onus of life. burnett to contact them for input, even We’d love to get the AFN’s though we tried. opinion on French services in This gatekeeping culture is rife the Kivalliq, but their opinion is within the territory. Teachers and principals no more or less valuable than any citizen’s. here can no longer speak to the media without We are not infallible either, and readers are getting Government of Nunavut approval. encouraged to contact the paper if they have We had to go through the Department of Edconcerns with coverage, which we will work to address. ucation to talk to teachers in Naujaat about a weekend reading program. Everyone involved But at the end of the day, we want to write but the most militant bureaucrats can see what something worth reading, and that means a goofy system this is, but it exists, and so it talking to real people and getting their real pershall be enforced. spectives, even if they go against the ‘official’ All it means is we get fewer ‘real’ stories, stances of the AFN, the GN or whoever else. and more government talking points. BureauThank you to everyone brave enough to give your voice, even if the big boys in Iqaluit crats are kept busy coming up with speaking don’t like it. notes and playing receptionist, while the line

Early work on playground underway Rankin Inlet council decides on vaccine mandate, fluoride

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet’s recreation department is in the early planning stages of pursuing a municipal park behind the baseball diamond, director David Clark told council March 28.

“We have preliminary drawings done up,” said Clark, noting that the park could include a playground area, bike track, parking, skate park, bigger bike track, basketball court, walking trail, garden area and picnic tables.

“It’s very early in the planning stages,” he said.

Council moved to support the park pursuit. Senior Administrative Officer Darren Flynn said it could take four to five years to get the park fully financed.

Clark also discussed the cancelled Terence Tootoo Memorial tournament, which organizers are hoping to potentially reschedule for December, but those plans are uncertain, he said.

The arena was set to close April 4 following the last hockey tournament of the season. In about six weeks, the volleyball courts will be installed and ready to go. Following that, the recreation department will put down turf for summer soccer.

Clark committed to keeping the skating rinks at Williamson Lake maintained every day, even weekends, so long as weather doesn’t interfere.

The Area 5 basketball court will be completed toward the end of June this summer, he added.

For the upcoming Pakallak Tyme, council voted to make April 29 a municipal holiday for staff.

Sport awards handed out

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Recreation Director David Clark got something of an ovation from council members for his department’s work in the community, with Mayor Harry Towtongie thanking him at the March 28 council meeting. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo Clark said the big race dates are set for the annual event, with planning work to continue.

At the end of his presentation to council, Mayor Harry Towtongie said, “I’d just like to say you guys do so much work for this community” and thanked him and his department.

Clark responded that he has great staff and appreciates working for the hamlet.

Hamlet vaccine mandate to end with state of emergency

Flynn was tasked at the March 14 council meeting to research what impact ending the vaccination mandate for hamlet staff might have.

“I checked with the heads of all departments,” he said at the March 28 meeting. “Nobody has any concerns.”

The hamlet’s municipal vaccine passport bylaw includes a clause that it will end once the Government of Nunavut ends the state of emergency, currently forecast to end April 11, but the vaccine mandate for staff was a separate policy with no end date written in. It requires all staff and council members to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Council decided to align the policy with the passport bylaw so that both would end when the GN’s state of emergency ends.

“We don’t want to have that paternalistic attitude,” said Coun. Megan Pizzo-Lyall. “We want people to be able to make the right decision on their own, to be vaccinated or whatever their decision is.”

Flynn said that there were some people who left their job at the hamlet because they refused to get vaccinated. Those people would not be offered their jobs back, but anyone can apply for future positions posted by the hamlet.

Council rejects fluoridation

Adriana and Pujjuut Kusugak receive the Male Athlete of the Year Award on behalf of son Qaritaq Kusugak Clark from Mayor Harry Towtongie. Qaritaq was called “a true role model on and off the ice for youth in Rankin Inlet and Nunavut.” Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Council was swift to reject the idea of fluoridating the town’s water supply, an idea floated by Dillon Consulting in the company’s analysis of Rankin Inlet’s water treatment plant site plans.

“Something like that needs to go to a public discussion,” said Coun. Michael Shouldice, adding he would be “very uncomfortable” to approve adding fluoride into the town’s water without a significant public engagement process.

Pizzo-Lyall agreed.

“I wouldn’t approve a motion supporting fluoride in the water,” she said, adding it goes back to her not wanting the hamlet to play a paternalistic role in people’s health choices.

Council voted to decline fluoridating the town’s water.

Kivalliq News

www.nnsl.com

Eager to perform again

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 A5

Baker Lake’s Shauna Seeteenak on lineup for Folk on the Rocks

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Baker Lake

The first wave of artists announced for Yellowknife’s iconic Folk on the Rocks summer music festival includes a familiar name to those in the Kivalliq: Baker Lake hip-hop artist Shauna Seeteenak.

“Covid has taken a huge toll on being able to travel and perfom and share my music,” said Seeteenak from Iqaluit, where she now lives.

The Baker Lake artist got into music when she found an old cassette tape in one of her mother’s spare rooms as a child.

“It was Salt-N-Pepa,” remembers Seeteenak.

“I really loved the way that it sounded.”

And she always had a penchant for performing in front of a crowd, with a talent show in elementary school being her first time singing for a full room.

“I really loved the way it made me feel when the crowd clapped and cheered,” she said.

As she got older, she got into Eminem and appreciated how he was able to express his emotions through music without taking action.

“I started practising following along with his songs, getting to know the rhythm,” said Seeteenak. “That’s when I started wanting to become a rapper.”

Her writing skills continued to develop through poetry in junior high. When she was a teenager, she plugged a Rock Band micro-

phone into her computer and downloaded recording software and instrumentals. After recording, she uploaded songs to Bebo, a popular social media platform at the time, and her music began circulating around her home community.

“I’m sure I have over 500 songs that are stored somewhere,” said Seeteenak. “I wrote a lot. I really liked the way it made me feel.

Growing up, I was never taught how to express myself healthily.”

Performing at a Baker Lake talent show then got her an invite to the Alianait festival in 2010, her first professional performance.

“I’m still learning a lot to this day, recording music the professional way,” said Seeteenak, who is now signed to Iqaluit-based label Hitmakerz and put out her first album, Therapy Sessions, in 2021.

Over the years, her music has changed and become more positive, she added.

“My music back then was angrier,” she said.

“A lot of sad songs I put out. I’ve noticed lately that the music I’m writing now is a lot more heartfelt, more about healing and more about helping other people.”

She’s excited about the Yellowknife festival, and she’ll be following that up with another performance at Alianait this year as well. When not on the road, she’s continuing work on her second album.

Readers can find her music on any streaming platform under her name, Shauna Seeteenak.

Shauna Seeteenak performs during the Alianait festival in November 2021 in this photo by Vincent Desrosiers. Photo courtesy of Shauna Seeteenak Originally from Baker Lake, Shauna Seeteenak now lives in Iqaluit while pursuing her music career. She will be performing at Folk on the Rocks this summer in Yellowknife.

Photo courtesy of Shauna Seeteenak

Food bank hands out tuktu Nauya Fredlund asks a driver if they want the tuktu in their backseat or front. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Sally Cormier-Ittinuar, coordinator of the Ikurraq Food Bank, gives a bag of tuktu and potatoes to Leo Eecherk. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

The Ikurraq Food Bank in Rankin Inlet has been on a roll of community support initiatives, with the latest one being a free bag of tuktu, potatoes and fruit cups to nearly 800 people.

Sally Cormier-Ittinuar, food bank coordinator, and a team of volunteers handed out generous bags of frozen tuktu, fruit cups and potatoes to every car, ATV, snowmobile and pedestrian that came by Wednesday evening, March 30.

She thanked the Department of Economic Development and Transportation for funding for the tuktu meat, as well as Kivalliq Arctic Foods and Agnico Eagle for the fruit cupts and EPLS for delivering the potatoes.

Mia Eetuk, Donna Makayuk and David Fredlund make sure all their tuktu is in order.

Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Mia Eetuk, right, organizes tuktu and potatoes while Sally Cormier-Ittinuar, back, lugs a fresh bag out. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Nauya Fredlund grabs a bag of tuktu to give out to a resident. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

A6 Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Kivalliq News

Winning the fight of his life Baker Lake teen rings the bell after being declared cancer free

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Baker Lake

For a moment, Desmond Jr. Kreelak felt himself slipping away in his battle through cancer.

“I didn’t want to give up, but I wanted to give up at the same time, because I just wanted to be out of the pain,” recalled the 15-year-old Baker Lake student. “I just closed my eyes and I started to feel my body starting to shut down.”

His chemotherapy treatments for a cancer in his midsection caused prolonged and life-threatening nosebleeds.

Hospitalized for an uncontrollable nosebleed, Desmond Jr. was losing strength.

“I felt like I was going to fade away,” he said.

“There was so much blood lost. It was just so scary for me.”

His nose had first started bleeding in the apartment he was staying in close to the hospital with his mother, Sanaaq Kreelak.

Desmond Jr. didn’t want to go to the hospital at first, hoping to stifle the bleed himself.

“It kept going through the Kleenex,” he said.

“There was just so much blood. I didn’t want to go to the hospital, so I would try to stop it by myself.”

Finally, he agreed to his mother’s pleas and an ambulance took him to the hospital, where he was immediately surrounded by nurses and doctors.

“I lost so much blood that my body couldn’t even move anymore,” recalled Desmond Jr. The bleed was controlled that night, but a couple days later in the hospital room, it started again. That’s when Desmond Jr. had a flash before his eyes.

“I was in a coma I think for a couple hours, because I couldn’t feel anything,” he said. “I couldn’t move. I just saw something. It was just a little light. I started going to it. I felt like I was walking toward the light but the light was so small. I felt like I couldn’t get into it. I tried my best to get into it. It felt like I was running to it, but I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Nosebleeds weren’t the only effect of the chemotherapy, which was administered through a ‘port’ surgically placed in his chest.

Desmond Jr. said the only thing that can describe his battle with cancer is “pain and torture.”

At one point, his liver was bloated, making him uncomfortable and affecting his mood.

“I was just so mad at the doctors and nurses,” he remembers. “Every time they would come check up on me, I would be rude or not say anything to them … It was just so hard at that time, especially because I missed home.”

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ᑎᔅᒪᓐ ᕿᓚᒃ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᓂᑉᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᓯᕙᓂᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᑉᓗᓂ ᑳᓐᓱᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᑖᑕᖓᑕ ᓯᕙᓂᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕆᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ.

Music to a father’s ears Desmond Jr. has a penchant for gritting his teeth through pain.

In summer 2021, his abdomen was bothering him to an increasing extent.

“It was getting more and more painful each day,” he said.

“I couldn’t do my favourite activities like hunting, berry picking or just being out. I couldn’t do any of those. I would just stay home.

I didn’t tell anyone about my pain for a couple months, so I would just stay home, be on my phone and wait for the pain to stop.”

But the pain didn’t stop, and in September, he went to the health centre. They immediately sent him to Winnipeg for a CT scan, which found a tumour that was removed Sept. 16.

That began his stay in Winnipeg for chemotherapy treatments, until he finally rung the bell to signify being cancer free March 15.

For father Desmond Sr. Kreelak, that was the best sound he’s ever heard.

“To hear that bell,” choked out the emotional father. “Music to the ears. The best sound in the world is right there.”

Desmond Jr. had two minor appointments left, but his chemotherapy was over and he is due to head home to Baker Lake in April.

“He’s a strong boy,” said the older Desmond.

“He tried to give up but he kept going.”

He’ll never forget that bell.

“He came out with my father-in-law, motherin-law and my parents. They flew all the way here just to witness him ringing the bell. The best sound in the world is right there when he rings the bell.”

Just one wish “I feel so happy,” said Desmond Jr. about being at the end of his battle.

Now he’s on the road to getting his strength back. Seeing him lose that was one of the toughest parts of the journey, said Sanaaq.

“After his chemo treatments, the medication is so strong that he would just lie in bed for two or three days and have no energy to really do anything,” remembers Sanaaq.

And when he was nearly losing his life to a nosebleed, an ask from medical staff became all too real in the situation’s cold reality.

“He couldn’t stop nose bleeding, so they asked me to sign a form if I want him to be revived, because they knew that he was going to go,” she remembers. “But they managed to stop the bleeding.”

She’s so thankful he didn’t make it into that light.

“We’re so happy,” said Sanaaq. “We’re so

Desmond Jr. Kreelak ringing the bell to be officially declared cancer free was music to the ears of his father.

Photo courtesy of Sanaaq Kreelak proud of him. He’s such a strong young boy that didn’t give up.”

His strength is coming back, and he has one big wish when he gets home.

“My grandpa taught me hunting at a very young age,” said Desmond Jr. “Last year, April, my grandpa bought me an ATV for hunting.

When I go back home, he’s going to buy me a snowmobile for hunting. He asked me, ‘What’s your biggest dream of all?’ And I said to catch the biggest grizzly bear in Nunavut. So when

I go back home, we’re going to try to go on a bear hunt and catch a monster bear for me. I just can’t wait.”

Desmond’s father thanked the doctors in Winnipeg and everyone who sent prayers.

“Without that, I think we would have lost our boy,” said Desmond Sr. For anyone going through what Desmond Jr. just did, he says to keep your head up.

“Tomorrow is a better day than today, so just keep going for tomorrow,” he said.

Spring bringing smiles “Take my picture,” said Ester Issaluk, posing on a sunny March 21 afternoon, “of beautiful Rankin Inlet.” Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

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