Kivalliq News - May 17, 2023

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Ulukhaktok Gameti Behchoko

AROUND Kivalliq

with Cody Punter

Kugaaruk Naujaat

Rankin Inlet beer and wine store stretches support services ‘to the max’

Sanikiluaq

Premier releases statement on Donat Milortok

Naujaat

Premier PJ Akeeagok released a statement celebrating the life of Naujaat Elder Donat Milortok Monday, May 15.

“Following a visit to Naujaat, I want to recognize the late Donat Milortok for the crucial role he played in the creation of the Nunavut Settlement Area as a negotiator and signatory to the Nunavut Agreement,” stated Akeeagok in a news release.

“Donat was a founder and past president of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut, which we now know as Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. As an elected leader, I take much inspiration from Donat, a residential school survivor who overcame many challenges to create a better territory for future generations.

“Even in his later years, Donat continued to advocate for Inuit land and harvesting rights. I am honoured to have met his family and I extend my gratitude and sympathies on the loss of their loved one on April 26. Donat, you are a father of Nunavut, and I thank you for your lifelong service to Inuit and all Nunavummiut.”

Fox tests positive for rabies

Rankin Inlet

A fox that attacked two dogs late April has tested positive for rabies, stated the Department of Health in a news release.

“Due to the danger of rabies, The Department of Health advises all residents to be on the lookout for foxes in the area,” writes the release.

“If you have been bitten or scratched by a fox or a dog, go to the health centre and report the incident immediately. Treatment must be started quickly after exposure, as rabies infections are almost always fatal. Domestic animals that spend time tied up outdoors should be monitored for a change in behaviour and signs of rabies.”

Signs of rabies include behaving strangely, aggression, staggering, frothing at the mouth, choking or making strange noises. Wild animals infected with rabies may also appear friendly and approach humans without fear. Animals showing these signs should be reported to the Regional Environmental Health Office or Conservation Officer.

Anyone who sees a fox or wolf wandering around their community should contact the Conservation Officer at 867-645-8084. If your dog had contact with a fox or wolf, call your local Regional Environmental Health Officer at 867-645-6660.

RCMP, council, community members speak out as crime statistics soar

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Citing grim statistics that seem only to go up, Rankin Inlet RCMP Sgt. Patrick Frenette sent a clear message to hamlet council at its meeting Monday, May 8.

“I don’t know what influence council does have on the minister in charge of the liquor store, but definitely, I think it would be time to have some pretty open conversations,” said Frenette about the impact the beer and wine store is having in Rankin Inlet and the broader Kivalliq.

The store opened in December 2021, and though some crime statistics increased afterward, the RCMP wasn’t sure at first if those figures were related to pandemic restrictions easing or the store itself.

Now, it’s been long enough – and the numbers continue to go up – that Frenette felt confident to point out the problem in Rankin Inlet.

“To be honest with you, Mr. Mayor, the common denominator that I see in the community is the beer and wine store,” he said. “I’m hoping we can have the agreement from council that this is an issue.”

In April, the RCMP responded to 239 calls, with 142 of them having alcohol involved. Eighty-five detainees spent time behind bars, with 13 files resulting in criminal charges and seven more under investigation.

Comparing the year to date to 2022, total calls are up 47 per cent, calls involving alcohol are up 61 per cent, detainees are up 111 per cent and domestic violence is up 244 per cent.

“Our prisoners is what’s really striking here,” said Frenette.

The RCMP is already working at peak summer season levels, he said, with summer only just beginning.

He floated a few ideas for changes with the beer and wine store but said some real discussions need to take place – and the sooner, the better.

“Twenty-four beers a day is not a limit, in my opinion,” said Frenette. “I think if there are no discussions being held with people that can influence the beer and wine store, our statistics are simply going to go up and up and up.”

He added that he wasn’t coming to council to tell them to shut down the beer and wine store, but that there needs to be ideas bounced around and an open roundtable discussion on it.

And not just the RCMP is feeling it. Frenette said all of his community partners are talking about the influence the beer and wine store has had on Rankin Inlet and the whole region.

“We can only sustain statistics like this for so long with the amount of resources and personnel that we have in place to address them,” he said.

If things continue going as they are, he said, “I think Rankin Inlet is going to burn out all their community-based resources.”

‘Stretched to the max’

Pelagie Sharp, executive director of the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, presented to council next and echoed that sentiment.

“All levels of community supports are getting stretched to the max,” she said, adding that the alcohol-related challenges in the community are getting to be too much to handle.

Frenette added that in discussions with other detachment commanders, the beer and wine store in Rankin Inlet is con-

tributing to alcohol-related issues in other communities as well.

“It’s really affecting every family in Rankin Inlet,” said Mayor Harry Towtongie. “We have to do something. We know that.”

Coun. Kelly Lindell said she knows some people may be upset if limitations are put on the beer and wine store, especially the people who are able to enjoy drinking without it becoming a problem.

“But not everyone can enjoy it,” she said. “That’s the part we need to tackle. How do we help the ones who can’t just enjoy it?”

Coun. Michael Shouldice referenced the “thoughts and prayers” line used regarding tragedies around the world.

“I think we’ve crossed the line, most likely before today, on thoughts and prayers with alcoholism in this community,” said Shouldice. “I think we’ve really got to do something solid, solid. Not just, ‘We’ll write a letter.’”

He said he wouldn’t be shy to suggest Rankin Inlet will shut down the beer and wine store, but added that that proposition comes with trade-offs too, like the loss of jobs at the outlet.

Coun. Chris Eccles suggested council members meet and hash out the subject themselves before taking it to higher levels of government so that they can speak in a unified voice.

“Everybody knows it’s an issue,” said Eccles.

He added that he didn’t join council to get re-elected.

“This is one of those changes you’ve got to set politics aside and say this is what our community needs to do.”

Elisha Subgut, five, placed first in the 10 and under category in the 200cc mini kidoo races during the 2023 Pakallak Tyme. Photo courtesy of Angie Subgut

RCMP Sgt. Patrick Frenette sent a clear message to Rankin Inlet council May 8: the beer and wine store is causing a significant problem in the community and beyond. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Pelagie Sharp, executive director of the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, told Rankin Inlet hamlet council that community resources are stretched dealing with challenges of alcoholism. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

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Eighteen teams compete in Laura Gauthier Memorial

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Rankin Inlet volleyball tournament hosts players from every region of Nunavut

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The Laura Gauthier Memorial volleyball tournament is about more than volleyball.

“This is our first win at the LGM,” said Jonah Oolayou of Team Iqaluit, whose team overcame Naujaat in the men’s finals to win gold Sunday, May 8. “I’m feeling pretty ecstatic. It’s been a long time coming.”

But he was thinking of someone else who had played at the tournament in the past.

“This is for you, Dad,” he said at the end of the interview, referencing Sandy Oolayou, who passed in 2015.

Meanwhile on the women’s side, Pangnirtung defeated Iqaluit 3 games to 0 in the finals to secure gold for the north Baffin hamlet.

“Our goal this weekend was to come here in memory of Laura (Gauthier),” said Jenna Qaqqasiq of Team Pangnirtung. “She was our cousin so we always try our best to attend this tournament.”

They had just six players at the event – no subs – but still managed to go undefeated. Qaqqasiq said volleyball is very popular in Pangnirtung right now, as four to six teams tend to come out each night to practise.

In all, 18 teams competed over the weekend, with 11 women’s squads and seven men’s. Teams came from all over the Kivalliq plus Gjoa Haven, Iqaluit and Pangnirtung, making it a truly territory-wide competition.

Organizer Toota Tatty called turnout amazing.

“It’s been a while since we have had this many teams attend our tournament,” she said after the closing ceremonies concludes.

It was also the first time the tournament was held in the Agnico Eagle Arena, where two courts were setup all weekend and the public could view from the stands, while grabbing a bite to eat at the canteen – much different than bouncing around school gyms in the past.

“I think the weekend was just full of good volleyball,” said Tatty. “There were some high-calibre teams.”

Laura Gauthier, to whom the event is dedicated, “changed the face of volleyball in Rankin” by introducing structure and systems play, said Tatty. Many committee members over the last 21 years have been working to make this a successful annual event.

“They helped keep this tournament alive,” said Tatty.

She thanked teams for their efforts to attend the tournament and make it a success, while suggesting they start fundraising to do it all again next year.

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Alexia Galloway-Alainga smiles while playing with Team B. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Alookie Korgak, middle, jumps into the air for a celebration with her Iqaluit teammates during finals play against Pangnirtung. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Kailee Karlik and Eema Jones pause for a photo as they compete for team Familia. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Pangnirtung women celebrate moments after the final whistle as they win over Iqaluit 3-0 in the finals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Braelynn Aliyak bumps the ball for the Rankin Royals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Iqaluit and Naujaat players face off in the men’s finals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

The biggest difference this cop makes is with the youth

Rankin Inlet RCMP officer talks career that took him North

By Stewart Burnett

Travelling, rugby, new horizons and adventure brought Cst. Matt Hope from the United Kingdom to Canada.

He spent his 20s working in small-scale motor gearbox installations and construction-related jobs, but the repetitiveness bored him.

“I wanted a job that wasn’t mundane,” he said about the inspiration to join the RCMP at age 30 in Canada. “You can have all the best intentions and best-laid plans in this job, and minute one, those are thrown out the window and you’re off doing something else.”

And with his brother being a police officer back in Wales and a great-grandfather who was second in charge of the Metropolitan Police Force, it was “kinda meant to be.”

He had considered working in the Vancouver Police Department, living in the city, but ultimately wanted to experience the diversity the RCMP could offer.

“I was all the way across the world from my family,” recalls Hope. “I thought I might as well see as much of this country as I can, and the RCMP being the vessel to be able to do that is incredible.”

He started in Trail, B.C., before spending several years in Haida Gwaii on the west coast, which he raved about, from the landscape to the people, culture, art, wildlife and everything in between. His home is adorned with gifts and art he was gifted or collected while there. His original plan was to go to Campbell River for his next job, but peers of his recommended Nunavut, and he wanted the excitement of something new. He’s been in Rankin Inlet with his wife, daughter and dog since

March 2022.

Hope loves the excitement of the career. He’s worked on a tactical response containment team as a medic, supported emergency response teams with active shooters and everything on the scale.

But the rewarding part of his job is interacting with youth.

“It’s the biggest difference we can make as police officers,” he said.

Usually, people aren’t calling the RCMP because something good happened, he said.

“They’re calling us in most cases because something bad’s happened, something terrifying, scary, traumatizing, or something’s been stolen or what have you.”

So for Hope, it’s great to counterbalance that with going into the schools, playing sports with the youth and being a positive face in the community.

He loves to engage children in sports – and is a die-hard rugby fan – and says he can see the benefits that interaction and connection has.

“I had a kid once who came up, he said, ‘Ah, I was going to do something really silly the other day. It was going to involve taking something that’s not mine and breaking some things.’ He’s like, ‘I didn’t want to come in the school or get taken to the police detachment and see you and you being disappointed in me, so I didn’t do it.”

That human interaction is vital to the work he does and his role in the community. And that respect-building beforehand helps ease future interactions, even among adults, explained Hope.

He said he’s spoken to many people he’s arrested the night before the next day in the grocery store.

“There’s no hard feelings,” said Hope. “Like, ‘Hey, I’m just doing my job, how are you doing today, you feeling better?’”

Rapport building early on, especially in a small town where there’s no hiding, helps in the long run, he said.

But besides future deterrence, being a positive and visible member of the community is a goal in itself for Hope.

“In my mind, the only really important goal any police officer can have is we leave the community a little bit better than when we got there,” he said.

The Englishman-turned-Canadian-cop is enjoying Rankin Inlet, learning the culture and seeing the land. His favourite things are fixing kid’s bikes or playing pick-up basketball.

He hopes his friendliness can help improve the perception of police in the community, and he’d love to see youth inspired to follow a career path with the RCMP.

Soccer camp teaches system skills

Recognized futsal coach Geraldo Ferrari Jr. visits Rankin Inlet

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

Just like Rankin Inlet has gold in its ground, the population has soccer skills. But to get the gold out, and to take those skills to the next level, the right development is necessary.

That’s how soccer coach Geraldo Ferrari Jr. put it when he was in Rankin Inlet running a week-long soccer clinic late April.

“I was really surprised with the level of the players,” said Ferrari Jr. as the camp wrapped up Saturday, April 28. “Of course they gave some skills, but they don’t know yet how to play the game.”

Originally from Brazil, where soccer is in his blood, Ferrari Jr. has been living in Canada for the last 15 years and been involved in professional, high-level soccer the whole time, including coaching the national futsal Canadian team in 2012.

He met Kris Okpatauyak, who played on the Nunavut men’s futsal team, at the nationals in Calgary this spring. With funding from the Nunavut Soccer Association, Okpatauyak invited Ferrari Jr. up for the camp.

“To take it to the next level, we’re going to need to learn how to play a system,” instead of just running toward the net with the ball, said Okpatauyak.

Ferrari Jr. said young players in Rankin Inlet have equivalent soccer skills to other

provinces, with the difference being that they don’t yet know how to play as a team. The most important thing at a young age, he said, is simply for the youth to kick the ball as much as possible.

“When they have the passion, when they want to touch the ball every single day, I think it will be the best development for the community,” he said. “And remember, if the kids kick the ball, that means they don’t do anything wrong on the streets.”

Okpatauyak hopes to bring Ferrari Jr. back next year ahead of soccer tournaments to boost the training Kivalliq players get.

“We’re going to go bigger and better next year,” he said. “We’re going to build from this.”

Ferrari Jr. added that he enjoyed his time in Rankin Inlet, especially getting a chance to see some of the snowmobile races during the Kivalliq Snow Challenge.

In Cst. Matt Hope’s hands is a custom rugby ball he had produced in an effort to raise money for a teenage girl to pursue her rugby dreams. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Nanuq Ikakhik shows off some skills by flipping the ball over an opposing player. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Players gather with coach Geraldo Ferrari Jr. during a soccer clinic in Rankin Inlet Saturday, April 28. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Jackie Nakoolak launches a ball toward the net. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Cst. Matt Hope shows off his Haida wall art and tattoo, having previously served in the west coast island rainforest. Now working in Rankin Inlet, the English-born rugby lover prides himself on working with schools and connecting with the community. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Cody-Neal Okpatauyak-Graham makes a save during the soccer clinic practices. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Missing Arviat Elder found safe

Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa had been missing more than a week

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Arviat

“I’ll put it this way,” said Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. about the return of Elder Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa Friday, May 12, “the town was so happy, the whole town was at the airport when Thomas was arriving.”

The Elder had been missing on the land for over a week.

“He was out on the land and today he got found,” said Savikataaq Jr. “He’s well, he was able to walk on his own. We had a parade right from the airport leading into town.” Alikaswa was spotted by none other than his son, Jamie Kablutsiak, as Kablutsiak and other searchers stopped on an esker and peered through binoculars when the Elder was finally seen.

Resident Jacob Okatsiak said people were deeply connected at Alikaswa’s arrival to the airport, singing and cheering as his helicopter landed.

Okatsiak added that local hunters and search and rescue personnel deserve thanks for their work in finding and returning the Elder.

Arviat Elder Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa is escorted off the runway Friday, May 12, to the cheers of hundreds. He had been missing on the land for over a week. Photo courtesy of Jacob Okatsiak

The town parades after Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa’s return.

Photo courtesy of Rhiannon Taleriktok

Gabe Alagalak, left, stands with Jamie Kablutsiak, Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa and Peter Kaludjak after finding the Elder on the land. Jamie, Thomas’s son, is the one who spotted him with binoculars from an esker during the search.

Photo courtesy of Gabe Alagalak