Kivalliq News, November 18 Edition

ᖁᓕᒃᑲᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ

10 new Covid-19 cases Wednesday, November 18, 2020 Vol 26 No 47

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News ᒪᑐᐊᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ

Nunavut's Award-Winning Voice of Kivalliq

Stop the spread

Masks for the masses News ᓇᓐᓄᒐᓱᖕᓂᖅ ᑲᔪᓯᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ

Hunting going well in Rankin News ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᔪᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ

Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Arviat ready to beat Covid

"Covid-19 stops here," indicates Anthony Arnarauyak while working at the local gas station in Rankin Inlet on Nov. 15.

"I think we all knew eventually this was going to happen."

–Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie is confident the community will get past the Covid-19 pandemic, page 2.

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2 kivalliq news, Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, k=WE 18, 2020

Positive Covid-19 tests in Rankin Inlet and Arviat

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᐃᔭ Hᐊᕆ ᑕᐅᑐᙱ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᖓ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓂᒎᑎᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᐃᒻᒪᙱᑐᐊᖅᐸᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐃᒻᒪᖕᓂᕆᔭᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᙱᑐᐊᖅᐸᑕ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ.

Behchoko

Around Kivalliq with Darrell Greer

Pelagie Sharp of Rankin Inlet models a homemade mask as Kivalliqmiut react to the rising number of positive Covid-19 cases in Arviat and Rankin Inlet this past week.

Sanikiluaq

photo courtesy of Pelagie Sharp

Covid update Kivalliq In his Nov. 16 update on the rising number of cases of Covid-19 across Nunavut, the territory's chief public health officer, Dr. Michael Patterson, confirmed a total number of 26 confirmed positive cases in Nunavut, with 20 being in Arviat and four in Rankin Inlet and two in Sanikiluaq.

Petterson said the second confirmed case in Rankin Inlet has been linked to the outbreak in Arviat.

"Due to the number cases of Covid-19 in Arviat, anyone from Arviat who left the community on or after Nov. 2 is being asked to immediately isolate for 14 days wherever they are," said Patterson.

"In addition, to protect Elders in Arviat, there will be no visitors allowed at the Elders' Centre for at least two weeks.

"Exemptions to this rule will need to be approved by the public health doctor on call."

Patterson went on to say all individuals with confirmed cases of Covid-19 are in isolation and doing well.

He said rapid response teams are on the ground in all three impacted communities, with support from regional and territorial public health teams.

"At this time, there are signs of community transmission in Arviat, but not in Rankin Inlet or Sanikiluaq.

"Community transmission is more likely to occur when there are no clear links that trace how somebody became infected.

"Contact tracing in Rankin Inlet, Sanikiluaq and Arviat continues, with the end goal to trace and contain the virus."

Still booze free Arviat/Coral Harbour Arviat and Coral Harbour will remain booze free after the no side carried the day in liquor plebiscites held in both communities on Nov. 9.

A total of 47.4 per cent of voters in Arviat and 56.4 per cent of voters in Coral Harbour were against moving towards a restricted quantities system.

Under the Liquor Act, at least 60 per cent of voters are needed to change the status of a community from prohibited to restricted quantities The consumption, possession, purchase, sale or transport of liquor will continue to be prohibited in Arviat and Coral Harbour.

Thrift store being closed Baker Lake With the announcements of positive Covid-19 cases in Rankin Inlet and Arviat this past week, the Abluqta Society's Erin Strachan informed the residents of Baker Lake that the Abluqta Thrift Shop will be closed to the public until further notice.

She said the Abluqta Society's emergency food bank services, however, will continue as usual.

"We will make an announcement when the next food drive is available," said Strachan.

"If your family is in need of emergency food, please contact Holly Kayuryuk or Valerie Dorey.

"Please take precautions of hand washing, wearing masks and keeping two metres of physical distancing whenever accessing our services to protect our volunteers and team."

photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie is confident the community will get past the Covid pandemic as long as people stay calm and don't let panic rule the situation.

"We'll be OK as long as we don't panic and we help each other out."

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Arviat

While everyone in the Kivalliq region was hoping and praying that it would pass by after having been kept it for out so long, the news folks had been dreading finally dropped when it was confirmed first in Rankin Inlet and then in Arviat that people in each community tested positive for Covid-19.

Nunavut's chief public health officer, Dr. Michael Patterson, said based on the timing of the person's symptoms in Rankin, his department believes the person became infectious around Nov. 5.

He said, as of Nov. 12, the number of contacts were too few to report, but they were expected to grow as time went on, adding all high-risk contacts will be isolated at home. Low-risk contacts will be asked to monitor for symptoms.

As of press time, the number of Covid-19 cases in Nunavut has reached 26 with six new cases in Arviat and two new cases in Rankin Inlet.

Concern that the virus might spread to other communities is what led to the decision to go into a territorial-wide lockdown in Nunavut, effective Nov. 18.

"Others may have been exposed so that raises that concern," said Patterson during a Nov. 16 press conference.

"It will take one to two weeks to know if the measures that we put in

Arviat last week are effective."

Masks are now mandatory in the Kivalliq region and in Sanikiluaq, but not in the rest of the territory, however, use of masks is strongly recommended across Nunavut.

Rankin Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie said he received a phone call from Health Minister Lorne Kusugak on Remembrance Day morning advising him of the positive Covid test in Rankin.

He said the hamlet has announced the presence of Covid-19 in every manner possible, and is following every protocol put forward by the health department in dealing with the situation.

"We've distributed every mask we could get our hands on to the community and, also, we're starting-up a new food hamper program which should be up and running, hopefully, this week or next, but it's a lot of work," said Towtongie.

"I think we all knew eventually this was going to happen. It was just a question of when. There was just too much going on in Winnipeg, or wherever, and I think we were just lucky for a long time.

"We had a lot of people on the planes who hadn't quarantined or selfisolated before they came here. Some of these people just weren't being careful enough, coming into town without

wearing a mask and things like that.

"I'm no expert but you see all these people coming into town and you don't recognize so many of them, so you can't help but wonder where they came from and what they're doing here."

Towtongie said the people of Rankin Inlet went into lockdown mode fairly easily this time, without having to be encouraged or constantly reminded to do so.

He said everyone knows what's going on and they have to work together as a community to get past this.

"No one knows for sure, but I have a feeling we're going to get through this.

"There was a lot of panic and fear for awhile at first, and there was a bit of blame here and there pointed at the airlines and some of the decisions our government made, but you kind of know that's going to happen anyway.

"We'll see how it goes after they're done with the contact tracing but I'm hoping we'll have one or two cases and then we're done with it.

"We'll be OK as long as we don't panic and we help each other out. I think we'll be alright as long as we don't let panic control this thing."

– with files from Trevor Wright bf l A ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ m4WZz 4

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kivalliq news, Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, k=WE 18, 2020 3

ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐅᑎᓕᒃ 400-ᖃᔭᕐᓂᒃ ᒪᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᕋᓐᑎ ᒥᓗᕐ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐹᖅᓯᔪᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᒃᑰᕈᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᒪᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓵᖅᑐᒥ.

photo courtesy Jared Osborn

Randy Miller talks to a passerby from his truck while taking part in the Holy Comforter Anglican Church mask distribution in Rankin Inlet this past week. ᐅᐃᒪᔮᕈᓘᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᑐᓴᓵᕋᒥᒃ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑖᖅᑐᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᔭᐅᕐᑦ ᐊᔅᐳᐊᓐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨᓅᖅᑐᖅ ᕋᓐᑎ ᒥᓗ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᐊᑉᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᒥᓗᕐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᒪᑐᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᐅᔾᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᑐᒃᓴᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ Samaritan's Purse-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 300-ᓂᒃ 400-ᓄᑦ ᒪᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ. "ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᑐᐊᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑕᐅᓗᐊᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᐱᕐᖔᖅ ᒫᓐᓇᓕ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ," ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒥᓗᕐ. "ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᒍᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᙵ ᐱᔪᒪᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᓪᓗ ᐊᓂᓗᐊᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ." "ᑐᒃᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔾᔭᖅᑐᐃᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᒍᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᑖᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ." ᒥᓗᕐ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᑲᐅᑎᒋᖅᑲᔭᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᑎᑕᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑕᑯᓚᐅᕋᒥᒎᖅ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᔪᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓇᑭᑦ ᒪᑐᐊᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᔅᒧᐊᓐᓗ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᓕᓚᐅᖅᑑᒃ. "ᐃᓛᒃ, ᐱᓯᒪᒐᑉᑕ ᒪᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐅᔪᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᕈᒪᙱᖦᖢᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᑎᖅᑕᕋᔭᕐᒪᑕ ᑲᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ. "ᐅᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᖓ ᒪᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒃᑰᕈᑎᒻᓂᒃ. ᐊᖏᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨ, ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑕᕐᕕᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐅᕙᖓ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᓱᐊᓃᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᐱᖃᑖᓂ ᐃᓱᐊᓃᓪᓗᓂ. "ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ Facebook-ᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔪᕿᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᐊᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ. ᓈᓚᒡᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᓗᖃᑦᑕᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᓅᑐᐊᕌᖓᑉᑕ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ ᓇᓃᓕᕐᒪᖔᑉᑕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᐊᓘᔮᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑑᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ. "ᐱᓕᕆᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ 2:00-ᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓂᑦ 2:30-ᒥ ᐅᑉᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 11-ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᖑᕈᑎᑉᓗᑕ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ 5:00-ᒥ. ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐸᐸᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕆᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᒫᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᒍᑉᑕ. "ᖁᔭᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖓ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑲᐅᒐᑉᑕ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ."

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4 kivalliq news, Wednesday, November 18, 2020

r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, k=WE 18, 2020

ᓄá·∆¿ÖÀî

ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ-19-ᑖᖅᑐᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᓗ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑑᒐᓗᐊᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᖁᒃᓴᓇᕆᔭᐅᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᒡᓕᕆᔭᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᓘᓐᓃᒡᒎᖅ ᐊᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ-19-ᖃᓕᕐᒪᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨ ᒪᐃᑯ ᐸᑐᓴᓐ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑖᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒍ ᐱᑕᖃᓕᕐᓂᖓᓗ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑖᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 5 ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 12-ᒥ, ᖃᓂᓪᓕᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦᑕ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖏᑦ ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᐅᓗᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᒡᒎᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓚᕙᓪᓕᐊᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᑎᑕᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ. ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖁᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᙱᑦᑑᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ. "ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ," ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐸᑐᓴᓐ. "ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕆᔭᖅᑐᕐᕕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᐊᔾᔭᖅᑐᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔾᔨᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ , ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᓂᕆᔭᖅᑐᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᓂᕆᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ 50 ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᓐᓇᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ 50% ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᓐᓇᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᕝᕕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ. "ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᒦᑕᓂᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᒌᒍᑎᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᐋᓪᓕᕋᐅᔭᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᓪᓗ ᑐᑭᓕᕇᒃᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᑯᕕᖓᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔾᔨᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓂᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᓖᕝᕕᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓖᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᖃᑎᒌᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᒎᙱᑦᑐᖅ. "ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ 50 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᑦᑐᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓯᓚᒥ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᐅᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᓄᑦ, (ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊᓕ) ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᕕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᕝᕕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᑦ, ᐃᓄᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ 50-ᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ 50%-ᒋᔭᖏᑦᑕ ᖃᑉᓯᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᖃᑉᑎᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒡᓗᒍ." ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᐃᔭᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ Hᐊᕆ ᑕᐅᑐᙱ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖃᓗᒡᕕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓᓄᑦ ᖁᐊᓴ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑉᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓛᒃᑯᑦ

ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ-19-ᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓇᐅᒃᑯᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᒪᒋᓂᐊᕐᓗᒍ. "ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐃᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᒪᑐᐊᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔭᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᐅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ, ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᑐᒡᓕᐊᓂᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ," ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᙱ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓗᒃᑖᓚᐅᖅᑰᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᑯᒍᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒃᑰᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ. ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᒃᓴᑐᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᖓᐅᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑦ. ᕕᓂᐲᒃᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᖃᓗᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᔪᖓ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᐊᑯᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᓚᐅᕋᑉᑕ. "ᐊᒥᓲᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᓪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᑑᑎᓯᒪᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᐅᙵᖅᑳᖅᑎᓐᓇᒋᑦ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᙱᓗᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ, ᓄᓇᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒪᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᓇᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᕈᔪᖕᓂᒡᓗ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᐊᓘᙱᑦᑐᖓ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᕋᑉᑕ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔪᓐᓇᙱᖦᖢᒋᓪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓐᓇᖅᓯᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᑭᙶᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒫᓂ ᓱᓕᕆᖕᒪᖔᑕ." ᑕᐅᑐᙱ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓄᖏᑦ ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᑎᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ, ᐊᔭᐅᑐᐊᓗᒋᐊᖃᕐᓇᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐃᑏᓐᓈᓗᒋᐊᖃᕐᓇᑎᒃ. ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑐᖃᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒋᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᒃᑑᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᓂᒍᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖃᙱᑦᑑᒐᓗᐊᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᒃᑐᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᓂᒎᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. "ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖁᒃᓴᓪᓚᒃᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓱᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᑉᓰᓐᓇᑦ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑐᕈᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᓂᕋᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒋᔭᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᖃᑦᑕᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖅᑐᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. "ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᖃᖅᑳᕐᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ. "ᓈᒻᒪᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐅᐃᒻᒪᙱᑐᐊᕈᑉᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑑᑎᒍᑉᑕ. ᖃᓄᐃᔾᔮᙱᖅᑰᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐅᐃᒻᒪᓗᑕ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᑲᒪᓇᓱᙱᑐᐊᕈᑉᑕ."

Arviat mayor prepared to stop the spread Confirmed cases of Covid-19 continues to climb in Arviat

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Arviat

Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. has no doubt that the people in his community will rise up to meet the challenge of Covid-19 now that it has arrived in the Kivalliq region.

As of press time, Arviat had 20 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and Rankin Inlet had four cases. All those infected with the virus are reported to be in total isolation and doing well, according to Nunavut's Department of Health.

Savikataaq said the con-

tinued safety and health of the people in his community immediately came into his mind when he first heard of a positive case being determined in Rankin Inlet.

He said luckily Arviat had a head start on the situation due to an emergency meeting of its hamlet council on Remembrance Day. "We met as soon as we heard of the positive case in Rankin and council decided to, basically, revert to the mode the community was in this past March and April," said Savikataaq.

"So we started this procedure two days before we

officially went code red with our own first confirmed case.

"To be honest, I had held onto my own personal hopes of this not coming here because the efforts the Government of Nunavut (GN) had put into place were proving to be very effective.

"But, I guess, it was just a matter of time here because of our close relationship with Winnipeg and the number of positive cases that have been recorded there per capita."

Savikataaq said everyone has a role to play in this pandemic.

And, he said, everyone has a duty to do what they can to protect themselves and their fellow community members.

"We shouldn't always rely on someone above us such as the hamlet or the GN to see us through things. Everyone has to do their part to protect the public, themselves and their families.

"Our community here is just amazing. It's the friendliest community in Nunavut. As soon as they heard about the case in Rankin, even before the council held our emergency hamlet meeting on Nov. 11, people in our community were already wearing their masks at the stores.

"This is important to note because they were doing this

without (hamlet council) telling them to do so – or someone above us telling the community to do it.

"It was just automatic because, basically, the people of our community have become hard-wired about it now. They've been preparing for its arrival and they've been ready for it."

Savikataaq said now is not the time for Kivalliqmiut to harbour fear and be scared of the situation as it unfolds.

He said now is the time to be vigilant in taking all the necessary precautions to stop the spread of the virus.

"We've been ready for this and now it's time to put all our precautionary measures in place and not slack off from them at all.

"I've already been on local radio here to ask people to remain calm, not spread any rumours that they may have heard and not point their fingers at anyone.

"Like my dad said, everyone should use that energy to help other people, not to criticize other people.

"I don't have Facebook myself, but I've heard there's been all kind of rumours flying around on it, and now is certainly not the time for people to get caught up in it and believe everything they're reading on that."

photo courtesy of Hamlet of Arviat

Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. said everyone has a duty to protect themselves and their fellow community members following the announcements of positive Covid-19 tests in Rankin Inlet and Arviat this past week.

Savikataaq said it's human nature for people to want to know who has tested positive for the virus in case they've been in contact with them.

"It's a form of reassurance, I suppose, for the people who can say they haven't been in contact with that person. At least I'm assuming that's why people want to know specific names as to who has tested positive for Covid-19.

"I can understand that line of thinking, but there's a fine line between public safety and privacy laws. That can be a difficult thing to balance but, I think, the contact tracing will take care of that as long as we all remain calm, vigilant and patient.

"We have the tools to stop the spread of this and I believe the people of Arviat will do exactly that."

kivalliq news, Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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Confident and vigilant is the path we have to take Northern News Services

No matter how this battle turns out now that Covid-19 has finally made its way to the Kivalliq, it is heartwarming to see the hamlets, churches, business community, and various organizations and individuals stepping up to the plate and doing all they can to ease people's fears and keep as much normal in community life as possible during these most trying of times.

What hasn't been so pretty are the odd posts on social media pointing fingers and laying blame.

There is no one organization, company, government level or individual to be found at fault for Covid-19 finally making it into the Sanikiluaq Kivalliq region through Arviat and Rankin Inlet.

In fact, it's quite to the contrary.

We have been extremely fortunate during the past nine months or so, for Nunavut to remain free of Covid-19 and, all the wishful thinking in the world aside, it was only a matter of time until the pandemic reached us here.

The airline industry is our life's blood in Nunavut. It would be all but impossible in the modern world for Nunavut to survive without it.

Because of that and the supposed need for our region to keep flying in "essential workers" – often on the same flights as people on medical travel and others who isolated for 14 days in one of Winnipeg's two hub hotels before returning home from their travels – any logic would dictate our luck was bound to run out sooner or later.

ing supplies and bottled water, We were darn lucky it was the latter rather than the former – end church members driving around their community to hand out free of story. face masks, retail store employBut now that the virus has arrived in two of our communities ees driving around communities to leave special treats at the doors of to date, Arviat Mayor Joe Savikaall those folks with sticktaaq Jr.'s father, the ers or posters on their premier, was bang on window paying respect when he told his son that to all our front-line workrather than pointing finers, warms the heart and gers and issuing blame, boosts confidence in our everyone should use ability to stop the spread that energy to help other of Covid-19, even as the people, not to criticize number of confirmed other people. positive cases continues And, thankfully, that's the way most have been Darrell to rise now on a daily basis. responding since the Greer It's going to be a tough region finally received battle now that Covid-19 the news from Nunahas broken through our territorial vut chief public health officer Dr. government's staunch defences Michael Patterson that its resiand made its presence known dents had been dreading to hear in our region, but we can stop it for so long. in its tracks if everyone follows In all honesty, for the first time the directives being issued by our since the pandemic started, the government and fights the good vast majority of residents in Ranfight on behalf of everyone in our kin Inlet have been following Patcommunities, especially our elders terson's directives to the letter. and those at severe risk due to There's no sense in trying to compromised and/or diminished enter any retail outlet in Rankin systems. these days without wearing a Both Savikataaq Jr. and Rankin mask because you simply will not Inlet Mayor Harry Towtongie are be allowed entrance. And, you bang on with their contention that can expect to have hand sanitizer plopped in your mitts the moment now is not the time to let fear and panic rule the roost. you do gain entry inside.

We must remain positive and And that's the way it has to be be vigilant in our efforts to deny if we're to stop this darn virus in the virus deeper passage amongst its tracks as we await, with every other human being on the planet, our population.

It won't be a walk in the park, the arrival of a vaccine successful in ending this pandemic once and but if we each do all that's expected of us, we can send for all.

Covid-19 packing once and for all.

Meanwhile seeing hamlets Food for thought. providing food hampers, clean-

Holy Comforter Anglican Church pitches in to distribute masks Close to 400 masks handed out in about three hours

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet

The spirit of the community was front and centre almost immediately after Rankin Inlet learned it had its first confirmed Covid-19 case when Rev. Jared Osborn and church member Randy Miller took to the streets to run the Holy Comforter Anglican Church mask distribution effort in Rankin this past week.

Miller said the Rankin church had a whole bunch of masks sent to Rankin earlier this year by the Send North ministry in

co-operation with Samaritan's Purse, when the pandemic first started to break out in Canada.

He said between 300 and 400 masks were sent by the ministry.

"They're the reusable cloth-type masks, but there really wasn't the call for them here in the spring like there is now," said Miller.

"They also sent us a bunch of church Bibles and Inuktitut Bibles because they felt that maybe people would like to have those as well, especially during times like these when people

really can't get out very much at all.

"We still have a number of the Bibles available and we could probably drop them off safely to anyone who wanted them."

Miller said shortly after everything was locked down in Rankin due to its first confirmed case of Covid-19, he saw a number of posts on Facebook from people in the community wondering where they could get a mask.

He said that led to him and Osborn having a talk about the situation.

"You know, we had them so we wanted to dis-

tribute them but it probably wasn't a really good idea to use the church because then people would be coming in and out of the door and gathering inside.

"I mentioned that I would be quite happy to hand the masks out through my vehicle window. He agreed, so then we set up a plan to make about five stops with me on one side of town and him on the other side of town.

"So I posted it on Facebook and he got on the radio to announce it. We would call the radio sta-

tion every time we moved to a new spot and that seemed to work pretty well. People seemed to be pretty happy about it.

"We started at about 2 or 2:30 in the afternoon on Nov. 11 and we ran out of masks by 5 p.m. We did keep a few of them just for people who come to church and need a mask whenever we're able to open again.

"It was amazing and I'm really pleased over how it went. I'm just grateful that we had something we could offer people and they were really happy to receive them."

news

6 kivalliq news, Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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r?9o3u iWK5, WzJx8i, k=WE 18, 2020

Smooth hunting season to date Nine of 12 polar bear tags used so far in Rankin

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet

With polar bear season in full swing across the Kivalliq region, things have been going especially well this year in Rankin Inlet.

The season got underway in Rankin on Saturday, Oct. 31, and runs until the final day of June, 2021, with Rankin having 12 tags in total.

Kangiqliniq Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) spokesperson Andrew Akerolik said there were 12 tags in total available this season in Rankin, with nine tags being open and a lottery draw being held for the final three.

He said the season's ratio is the normal one-to-one ratio of six male polar bears and six females available to be tagged.

"The season has been going pretty well and, as we speak, nine of them have been caught already," said Akerolik.

"I'm not sure exactly how many people have been out hunting so far this year, but I can say we've been receiving nothing but really good cooperation and communication from every hunter I've been in contact with to date.

"Every time so far a hunter catches a polar bear, I get apprised of the catch right away.

"When the communication is flowing that well, then we're never in any danger of accidentally going over the tag-limit quota that's been set for the community this season."

Akerolik said just like in other Kivalliq communities, there are many hunters in Rankin Inlet who feel the quota of polar bear tags available for their community should be higher this year.

He said they push every year for more tags and every year they're rebuffed by the Government of Nunavut.

"It's not just Rankin Inlet, itself, that is asking for more tags to be

made available every year. That's being asked from communities with tags right across the Kivalliq region.

"Asking for a higher polar bear quota is going to be an ongoing battle across our region for a very long time to come, from what I've seen.

"The problem starts when someone from the federal government states that they do their counting of the polar bear population but they don't say where the counting took place.

"Every year they always say the same thing, that they've already did their counting and there aren't enough bears active to justify increasing the quota in our region (western Hudson Bay). I mean, come on. Why don't they come and count the bears in the Kivalliq region and make the results known to all?"

Akerolik said the Rankin hunters have been perfect in following all the rules of the hunt this year to the best of his knowledge.

He said the Rankin hunters have been very respectful and those with any questions text or message him right away from wherever their location is.

"I simply tell them the rules our HTO board set- up to be followed, we pretty much agree on any point being asked about and they continue their hunt in compliance with those rules.

"I encourage the females in our community to go hunting for polar bears when they can, as well, because they have every right that our male hunters do.

"Our wildlife department is also paying the hunters a stipend for samples of different parts of the bear they bring in if that's possible.

"We inform the hunters about it but we're not going to tell hunters that they have to bring in the samples. That's left up to the hunters and is not something that we're going to enforce on the condition they use a tag."

Lutie Kaviok, 18, of Arviat landed his first polar bear earlier this month.

photo courtesy Johnny Kaviok Sr.

GN imposes territory-wide lockdown Schools, restaurants, gyms and more will be closed for two weeks

by Dererk Neary

Northern News Services

Nunavut

Nunavut will be under Covid lockdown conditions for at two weeks, beginning Nov. 18, as the virus has been spreading rapidly in the Kivalliq region.

The Government of Nunavut announced on Monday afternoon that all non-essential services, businesses and organizations will be required to close and switch to work from home, wherever possible. All schools will close and move to remote learning plans. Childcare centres will be closed to all but essential workers.

Masks are now strongly recommended in public spaces, and when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Masks remain mandatory in the Kivalliq region, and Sanikiluaq, the two areas of Nunavut hardest hit by the

virus, which is known to have infected 26 people in the territory so far.

"As we see more cases in our communities, it is vital we look at ways to break potential transmission of Covid-19 in the territory," said chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson. Limiting any potential exposure to the virus is our best possible defence in Nunavut. We will re-evaluate the effectiveness of these measures on Dec. 2, to determine if they need to continue or are working the way we hope."

The Government of Nunavut strongly advises against non-essential travel. Outdoor gatherings over five people will no longer be permitted and indoor gatherings are restricted to five people in addition to household members. All recreation facilities will be closed. All sporting activities and events are

suspended. All restaurants become take-out only, and bars will be closed.

Personal services, such has hairstylists and masseuses must close. All health centres and the Qikiqtani General Hospital are closed except for emergency services. Government of Nunavut services will be maintained with staff transitioning to work from home, where possible.

"Nunavummiut, this is our opportunity to re-set and plank the curve in our fight against Covid-19. We all need to work together to protect one another," said Premier Joe Savikataaq. "It's more important than ever that we do everything we can to help our communities. I know this will be hard, but we can do this. If we all do our part, we will be in a much better position in early December.

Please don't take chances.

Stay home and stay safe."

NNSL file photo

"It's more important than ever that we do everything we can to help our communities. I know this will be hard, but we can do this," says Premier Joe Savikataaq.

kivalliq news, Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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8 kivalliq news, Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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NWT closes travel bubble

NNSL file photo

Chief public health officer of NWT Dr. Kami Kandola. The suspension of the travel bubble comes amid the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Nunavut.

As cases rise in Nunavut, mandatory isolation is re-introduced

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

NWT/Nunavut

The travel bubble that the NWT shares with Nunavut will be suspended due to the increase in Covid-19 cases there, chief public health officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola said Monday.

Beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 17 Nunavut travelers are now subject to the same self-isolation protocols and travel restrictions as anyone else travelling in the NWT and must self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, unless otherwise exempted under the July 16, 2020 travel order.

People coming to the NWT from Nunavut to live, work, study, or under compassionate or family reunification exemptions approved by the CPHO where necessary, may travel within the NWT. The news release said Kandola made the order in accordance with Section 29 of the Public Health Act. Nunavut patients can still travel to the NWT for medical treatment but are required to self-isolate when they are not attending their medical appointments.

Anyone who is currently in the NWT and has traveled from Arviat, Rankin Inlet, or Sanikiluaq within the last 14 days must selfisolate immediately for 14 days from the date of their arrival in the NWT. The same rule applies to people who have shared accommodations with others who have traveled from those three locations in Nunavut in

the last 14 days.

Both groups should contact Yellowknife public health at 867-767-9120, and submit a self-isolation plan to Protect NWT by 4 p.m. on Tuesday. That can be done online or by contacting Protect NWT at 811 or 1-833378-8297.

If travellers intend to leave the NWT by airplane within the self-isolation period, they can go to the airport but must wear nonmedical masks and maintain physical distance of at least two metres from others.

Travellers who have already arrived from Nunavut in the last 14 days must self-monitor for Covid symptoms for 14 days, contact Protect NWT and wear nonmedical masks whenever in public places.

Requirements for exempted workers remain the same. That includes supply-chain workers, essential workers, airline crews and employees, remote camp workers working at NWT mines, and non-remote camp workers working on NWT projects.

If travellers from Nunavut don't have a safe space to self-isolate, they should contact Protect NWT to access those spaces in Yellowknife.

The GNWT will provide those spaces for Nunavut residents at no upfront charge in isolation centres in the territory until Nunavut can re-establish its own isolation centre in Yellowknife.

Payment for Nunavut residents will be covered by the Government of Nunavut.