Kivalliq News - July 26, 2023

Testing their strength

ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᖏᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ

Ilitaqsiniq hosts first strongest man and woman competition in Rankin Inlet

ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃ-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑦᑎᕈᓘᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᙱᓛᕐ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ, ᓴᙱᓛᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ

ᐸᓂᐅᖅ ᑲᕆᑕᖅ ᑭᕕᒃᓯᕗᖅ ᐊᒃᓴᓗᐊᕐᒥᒃ ᐲᔭᐃᑲᑕᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᖑᐊᖅᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓴᙱᓛᖑᓇᓱ ᖃᕐᑕᐅᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓪᓗ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ

Community Baker Lake celebrates volunteers, brings in band for Nunavut Day

Panniuq Karetak heaves his tire in the elimination event during the strongest man and woman competition in Rankin Inlet Wednesday, July 19. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᓴᙱᓛᖑᖃᑕᐅᑎᓇᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᓂᐊᓇᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᖦᐅᑉ

ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᑦ

ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ ᓴᙱᓚᖅ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ

ᐊᕐᓇᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᑯᒋᓚᐅᖅᐸᖓ.

ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕐᓕ ᐅᕙᖓ ᑭᕕᒍᓐᓇᓚᐅᖏᓐᓇᒃᑯ

ᐊᒃᓴᓗᐊᖅ ᐃᓗᒥᐅᖃᑎᓕᒪᒃᑲᓗ

ᐱᖅᑕᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᖏᐊᓵᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᖁᕕᐊᓇᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐃᒪᔮᖅᖢᑕᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑎᒌᒃᖢᑕ.

ᓄᓇᓕᕋᓛᕐᒥ, ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓂᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ

ᐱᓇᓱᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᖃᓕᕌᖓᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

ᑎᒥᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᓴᓚᖃᕋᓱᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ

ᐱᑕᖃᕋᔭᙱᓚᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖏᑉᐸᑕ, ᐱᖏᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᓗᐱᓪᓗᒍ.

ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐊᕌᒍᓛᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᐱᕙᒋᔭᖅᓯᒪᔪᒪᓕᕋᒥᒃ ᓴᓚᖃᕋᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᖃᒃᑲᓂᓕᖅᐸᑦ. ᖃᕆᑕᖅ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᑲᓚᐅᒃ, ᓵᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᐅᔨᕈᓱᒃᐹᓕᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᓄᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᐊᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ

ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᖃᕈᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

ᖃᓄᐃᖏᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᑎᒥᒧᑦ,ᐃᓅᓯᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᓗ, ᓴᓚᒃᓴᕋᓱᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ

ᐊᑑᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

ᐊᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓴᕐᓯᓂᖅ

ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ

ᓴᕿᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐱᑯᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ

ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓖᓪᓗ

ᐱᑯᓇᕿᓪᓗᑎᒃ.

ᐱᑐᐃᓇᖏᖦᖢᑎᒡᓗ, ᐱᓪᓚᑦᑖᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕐᒥᓂᒃ.

ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ

ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᑕᖓᑕ ᐃᓚᖓ

ᑎᒥᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᐃᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅ, ᓲᕐᓗ

ᐃᓚᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓄᑦ

ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᑭᒡᓕᓕᖕ. ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ

ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓯᐅᓂᖃᖢᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ

ᐃᓚᐅᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᐃᓚᐅᔪᖃᖃᑦᑕᖏᓂᑰᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᑦ.

Ohtani on top at 2023 Hudson’s Bay Classic

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

ᐱᑕᖃᑦᑎᐊᖏᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑎᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ, ᐃᓅᓯᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᕐᓂᕐᓗ. ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᓗ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐳᐊᒡᕕᒃᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓯᕚᓕᕐᒥᒃ. ᓴᓚᖃᕋᓱᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖑᐊᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᔪᒪᒧᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᐸᑦ.

STEWART BURNETT

ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᓴᙱᔫᖕᒪᑕ ᐆᒻᒪᕆᒃᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒥᐅᑦ, ᑯᓱᒐᖅ-ᑲᓚᐅᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᖃᐅᓪᓗᓂ. ᐱᓇᓱᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᒥᑎᒍᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖅᓴᐅᑲᓐᓂᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, ᑭᐱᖑᐃᔭᐅᑎᖃᓗᐊᖏᖦᖢᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕐᒥᓪᓗ ᐃᓱᓗᓗᐊᖏᖦᖢᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ.

ᐅᕙᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᕌᒍᒐ 20-ᖏᓃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᖃᐅᑕᒪᑦ ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓪᓗᖓ, ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᕌᖓᒪᓗ ᐅᓪᓗᒐ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓂᖅᓴᐅᕙᒃᖢᓂ.ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᖏᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓪᖢᖓ, ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᐃᓇᐅᔭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᑎᒥᒧᓪᓗ. ᐊᔨᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑦᑎᒑᖓᒪ ᐅᑕᕿᕙᒃᐳᖓ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᕐᒪ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓵᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ, ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅ. ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖃᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᓂᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒪᒐᓗᐊᕐᒥᒐᒥᑦᑕᐅᖅ. ᐱᒃᑯᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐆᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᑐᓂᓯᓗᑕ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒍᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓅᓯᖅᑕᓕᒃ.

ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᔪᓐᓇᐃᓕᖃᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᕌᒎᓂᐊᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᓴᓚᖃᕋᓱᒃᑐᖃᒃᑲᓂᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᐊᒃᓱᒃᑲᓂᐅᓂᐋᖂᖅᑐᖅ.

Sandy Tattuinee rounds third during a play in the finals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Team Ohtani. Back row, from left, are Panniuq Karetak, Sidney Nichol, Gib Papak, Nolan Tattuinee and J.L. Tagoona. Front row, from left, are Wendel Kaludjak, Ben Tulugak, Sandy Tattuinee, Neco Towtongie, bat boy Neco Jr. Towtongie and the little guy in the front is Frederick Tulugak. Photo courtesy of Panniuq Karetak

Team Ohtani emerged victorious in the 2023 Hudson’s Bay Classic, a fast-pitch tournament with four teams held in Rankin Inlet July 21-23.

Yvon Ikakhik leaps away from a ball headed his way at the plate. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Players high five after the bronze medal game. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

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AROUND Kivalliq

with Stewart Burnett

Festive with The Flummies ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓗᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖏᖅᑏᓂᒃ ᑕ ᕕᔅᙱᕝ

Department responds to fire

Rankin Inlet

The Rankin Inlet Fire Department extinguished a house fire late in the day Friday, July 21.

Thirteen firefighters attended the scene and had water on the flames within nine minutes of the initial call. Apart from the exterior cold porch and some minor smoke damage, most of the home is intact, according to the department, which added that the fire is not suspicious.

RCMP respond to possible gun shots

Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet RCMP responded to a call of possible gun shots in the community at 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 18.

Police searched several areas in and around Area 6 and spoke to several people, but did not find anyone with a gun or anyone shooting.

Witnesses described the shots as coming from out of town, said the RCMP’s media relations spokesperson, who added that police drove around Johnson’s Cove and Swan Lake areas but did not locate anyone.

50th anniversary of Arctic People’s Conference concludes

Greenland

The Arctic Peoples’ Conference, hosted by the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) and the Saami Council, brought together some of the original participants who attended the 1973 conference in Copenhagen, as well as Indigenous leaders of organizations that have evolved and developed since then, during the recent gathering in Greenland.

The stated purpose of the 50th anniversary Arctic Peoples’ Conference in Ilulissa, according to a news release from the ICC, was to celebrate the cooperation, successes and achievements of Arctic Indigenous Peoples, while taking stock of the current situation, and discussing visions for the next 50 years.

“The road ahead will be long,” said ICC Chair Sara Olsvig in her keynote address. “We are heading in a direction of greater recognition of Indigenous peoples, and our representation through our own institutions in the United Nations, which are our own Indigenous governments, parliaments or traditional councils.”

Aslat Holmberg, President of the Saami Council, lamented the fact that Saami from Russia could not attend the conference due to the war in Ukraine. He highlighted the increasing threats to Indigenous lands from the ravages of climate change.

“I must be honest, there are some very dark clouds in our horizon,” he said, according to the news release. “We face severe threats from green colonialism, where our lands are colonized in the name of fighting the climate change.”

Baker Lake sees busy Nunavut Day

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Baker Lake

Baker Lake had some special events for Nunavut Day.

Nathan Annanaut, recreation director for the community, said Mayor Richard Aksawnee wanted something special for the Elders on the 30th anniversary of the Nunavut land claim agreement.

The town arranged for an Inuit band from Labrador, The Flummies, to perform in Baker Lake the Friday before Nunavut Day and then again for the Elders at a luncheon the next day.

The Elders and band ate caribou stew, pipsi, coffee, tea and snacks before another performance, said Annanaut.

“The Elders truly had fun with the band participating in most of the day’s festivities with them,” he said.

For Sunday, community wellness coordinator Karen Yip helped organize the Nunavut Day parade, barbecure, ceremony and sponsors.

Sherrie Lee Mouqtassid and William Manernaluk both won Outstanding Community Service Awards for keeping Baker Lake clean and safe.

Annanaut added that Yip said she could not have pulled the event off without a lot of help from the community, specifically the RCMP, Fire Department, volunteers, Sanavik Co-op, Nunamiut Lodge, mayor Aksawnee, Mark Oklaga and Marjorie Kavik Kaluraq from the health and wellness committee. The community’s youth coordinator also held an event at the campground for youth to enjoy a barbecue, music and socialization.

On Monday, the community enjoyed their annual Nunavut Day games in Baker Lake, as well as Inuit games. There were bicycle giveaways from Agnico Eagle, plus cash prizes.

Annanaut said the weekend event would not have been possible without the tremendous sponsorship and partnership with local businesses such as Sanavik Co-op, the Northern Store, Agnico Eagle Mines, the RCMP, Fire Department and the Hamlet of Baker Lake.

“Also, a big thank you to the volunteers and participants of Baker Lake who took part in our celebrations,” he said. “Happy Nunavut Day, everyone.”

ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐱᖁᔨᓚᐅᕋᒥ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᒥᒃ, 30 ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᑦᑖᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᑕ.

ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑎᑕᒃᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᖅ ‘The Flummies’ ᑕ ᕙᓚᒥᔅ ᓛᐸᑐᕆᒥᐅᑦ, ᑎᑕᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᓪᓗᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᕆᓚᐅᖏᑎᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᓱᓕ, ᖃᐅᖕᒪᓪᓗ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓕᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᓐᓇᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓂᕆᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᑕᒃᑎᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᑑᑉ ᖃᔪᐊᓂᒃ, ᐱᔅᓯᓂᒃ, ᑳᐱ, ᑏ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒧᓗᒐᒃᓴᑦ ᑎᑕᓯᒋᐊᓚᐅᖏᑎᓪᓗᒋᒃ ᓱᓕ, ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓐᓇᓴᐅᑦ. ‘ᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᑕᒃᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᓕᒪᑲᓴᒃ’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ.

ᓴᓇᑕᐃᓕᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓅᓯᖃᖅᑎᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨ ᑭᐅᕆ ᔨᑉ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᖁᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑏᑦ ᐃᖏᕋᔭᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᐹᐱᑭᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓂᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ.

ᓯᐅᕆ ᓖ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕆᓕᐊᒻ ᒪᓄᕐᓈᓗᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᔪᑎᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᐊᔪᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ, ᖃᑦᑎᕆᔩᑦ, ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᓴᓇᕕᒃ

ᓛᐳᑐᕆᒥ ᑎᑕᒃᑏᑦ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᑦ ‘The Flummies’ ᑕ ᕙᓚᒥᔅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᖏᑦ ᐱᖑᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᕆᑎᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᓄᓰᐊᓂ. ᐊᔨᖁᑎ ᓇᐃᑕᑦ ᐊᓈᓴᐅᑦ

Labrador band The Flummies and Baker Lake Elders play Inuit games together for the community’s Nunavut Day celebration weekend. Photo courtesy of Nathan Annanaut

ᓯᐅᕈ ᓖ ᒪᖕᑖᓯᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᔪᑎᑖᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᐊᔪᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔨᖁᑎ ᓇᐃᑕᑦ ᐊᓈᓴᐅᑦ

Sherri Lee Mougtassid receives an outstanding community service award with children Adam and Asher. Photo courtesy of Nathan Annanaut

ᕆᓕᐊᒻ ᒪᓄᕐᓈᓗᒃ, ᕿᑎᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᐊᔪᒥᒃ

William Manernaluk, middle, is awarded an outstanding community service award.

Photo courtesy of Nathan Annanaut

ᓇᒡᒐᔭᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᐊᕋᒍᑕᒪᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓲᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓘᑕᐅᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᓂ, ᐃᓄᐃᓪᓗ ᐱᖑᐊᕈᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖑᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᑐᒃᑲᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒡᓗ, ᐊᓐᔩᑯ ᐄᑯᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ.

ᐊᓈᓴᐅᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᓚᐅᑏᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᖏᑉᐸᑕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓂᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂᒡᓗ, ᓴᓇᕝᕕᒃ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᑦ, ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᒃ, ᐊᓐᔩᑰ ᐄᑯ ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ, ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ, ᖃᑦᑎᕆᔩᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Hᐊᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᓂ. ‘ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᔭᓕᒋᓪᓗᑎᒍ ᐊᑭᖃᑏᑦᑐᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐅᕐᒥᐅᑦ, ᑲᒪᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ,’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ. ‘ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓐᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᖃᑦᑎᐊᕆᑦᑎ’.

Hundreds gather in front of the Co-op for a community barbecue and games. Photo courtesy of Nathan Annanaut

A house fire in Rankin Inlet was extinguished by firefighters Friday, July 21. Photo courtesy of Mark Wyatt

The winning men. First is Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark, with father Pujjuut Kusugak second and Panniuq Karetak third. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Battle of the beasts crowns Rankin’s strongest

Hundreds attend competition hosted by Ilitaqsiniq

Hᐊᓇᓚᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᕗᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᓄᑦ

run for his money.

“It was very difficult honestly,” he said about the competition. “I was quite shocked.”

He said it was a good challenge and a “real eye-opener” for him and other participants.

Ian Sammurtok brings the tire up with no sweat. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo ᐄᔭᓐ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ

More than 40 competitors whittled down to two at the end, with Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark and Amelia Ipkonerk being named Rankin Inlet’s first strongest man and strongest woman, respectfully.

The event was hosted by Ilitaqsiniq at the Agnico Eagle Arena Wednesday, July 19. Participants competed in an initial elimination round followed by several contests of strength, agility and endurance. Scores were tallied after each event, with the overall winners determined by points. Ipkonerk was happy, sweating and glad she got a good workout in after winning the competition on the women’s side.

“It was a really tight race between the three of us,” said Ipkonerk, referencing second-place finisher Lynette Didur and third-place competitor Gloria Kaludjak.

She said she came in to the event expecting top five but not first place. What worked for her was cutting out the crowd in her mind.

“Just focusing on me and trying to hustle, keep my head down and just go for it,” she said.

On the men’s side, Kusugak-Clark bested his father, Pujjuut Kusugak, and third-place finisher Panniuq Karetak.

“Honestly pretty tired,” he said when asked how he was doing after the event. “But pretty happy as well.”

He said he knew he had a good chance at winning the competition but knew people from Nunavut are very strong and could give him a

Kusugak-Clark credited his consistency in the gym for helping him win.

“I’m usually there Monday to Friday, maybe even Saturdays, training for hockey season,” he said, adding that his father pushed him, and that he now could tease him about coming second to his son.

Asked if he had anything to add, Kusugak-Clark said, “I’d just encourage Inuit and people of Nunavut to keep pushing yourself, go to the gym, enjoy your fitness, push for a better, healthy lifestyle and keep going.”

Prize money included $1,250 for first place, $750 for second and $500 for third, plus a slew of door prizes and awards from winning individual events. Ilitaqsiniq hopes to make the event an annual competition.

ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᓪᓗ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ. ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅᑯᑦ

ᑲᒪᒋᓚᐅᖕᐊᔾᔪᒃ, ᐊᓐᔩᑯ ᐄᑯ ᓯᐊᕆᔮᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ

ᐱᖓᔪᐊᑦ, ᔪᓚᐃ 19. ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᒃᑐᑦ

ᐲᔭᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᒐᒥᒃ ᓴᖏᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐱᒃᑲᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ

ᐊᒃᓱᕈᒃᑲᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ. ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑦ

ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑐᕇᖅᑕᒥᓄᒃ, ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕈᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ

ᖁᑦᑎᓛᕐᒥᒃ

ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᑕᑯᙳᐊᓚᐅᕋᒥ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᖏᑦᑐᖅ.

ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖏᑕᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᙱᖢᓂᒋᑦ

ᖁᖏᐊᖅᑐᑦ.

‘ᐅᕙᓐᓂᑐᐊᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᖓ, ᐱᓇᔪᐃᓐᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᖓ, ᓂᐊᖁᒐ ᐅᑯᖓᓗᒍᓗ ᐱᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᖓ,’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ.

ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᖅᑐᑦ , ᑯᓱᒐᖅ-ᑲᓚᐅᒃ ᐊᑕᒥᓄᑦ

ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᐳᔾᔫᑦ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ, ᐱᖓᔪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐸᓐᓂᐅᖅ ᖃᕆᑕᖅ. ‘ᑕᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᐳᖓ,’ ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᒐᒥ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᒃᑐᑦ. ‘ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑭᓪᓗᖓ,’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓚᐅᕋᒥ ᓴᓚᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒋᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᓴᖏᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᐆᒃᑐᕈᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒧᑦ. ‘ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ,’

ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ‘ᖁᒃᓴᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ’. ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ

ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓚᐅᖅᐸᖓ, ‘ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᖅᐹᓕᖅᐳᖓ’

Noreen Porter pulls back on the rope with weights attached to the end. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo ᓴᓚᖃᕋᓱᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᒃ. ‘ᐱᖓᓱᑎᒍᑦ ᖃᓂᒌᒃᑐᑯᓗᖕᒥᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᓕᒑᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ,’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᑉᑲᕐᓇᒃ, ᑕᐃᓪᓗᓂᒋᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᖅ ᓕᓂᓐ ᑏᑐᕐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᖓᔪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑯᓗᕆᔭ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ.

ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ, ᐊᓯᒥᓄᒡᓗ. ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᑲᓚᐅᒃ ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᕐᕕᓕᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕈᑎᒋᕙᖓ.

‘ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᖅᐸᒃᐳᖓ ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᒥᑦ, ᐅᓪᓗᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ, ᓯᕙᑖᕐᕕᒃᑯᓪᓘᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐱᔭᕆᔭᒃᓴᖅᐸᒌᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᑭᕐᓇᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒧᑦ,’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ, ᐊᑖᑕᖓᑕ ᐱᒋᐊᖁᓚᐅᕐᒪᔾᔪᒃ , ᓴᓚᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᓪᓕ, ᑕᐸᓱᒍᓐᓇᖅᓯᕙᕋ ᐅᕙᓐᓂᒃ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ. ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᒐᒥ ᐃᓚᓯᔪᒪᖕᒪᖔ ᐅᖃᕈᒪᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ, ᑯᓱᒐᖅ-?ᓚᐅᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ‘ᐱᖁᔨᒐᓗᐊᖅᐳᖓ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᖃᐃᓕᓴᖃᑦᑕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐱᒋᐊᖅᐸᒡᓗᑎᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᐃᓅᓯᖃᕋᓱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐅᕗᖓᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᐃᓅᓰᑦ.’

ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ $1,250

ᓯᕗᓕᖅ, $750 ᑭᖑᓪᓕᕐᒧᑦ, $500 ᐱᖓᔪᒋᔭᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᓵᓚᒃᓴᒐᒃᓴᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐃᓯᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ

ᓱᑑᕈᑦ ᐳᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᔨᖁᑎ/NNSL

ᐊᒥᓕᐊ ᐃᑉᑲᕐᓇᒃ, ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅ ᓕᓂᑦ ᑎᑐᕐ, ᐊᒪᓗ ᑯᓘᕆᔭ ᑲᓗᔾᔭᖅ ᐱᖓᔪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ.

ᖃᕆᑕᖅ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ-ᑲᓚᐅᒃ ᐴᖅ ᓯᐅᕋᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓗᓕᓕᒃ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᕗᖅ ᐅᕿᖏᑐᓕᕆᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᓱᑑᕈᑦ ᐳᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᔨᖁᑎ/NNSL

ᐸᓐᓂᐅᖅ ᖃᕆᑕᑦ ᖁᒻᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒧᒃᓯᕗᕐᓗ ᐊᒃᓴᓗᐊᕐᒥᓂ. ᓱᑑᕈᑦ ᐳᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᔨᖁᑎ/NNSL

Strong person competition a hit Early exit for editor doesn’t diminish praise

Ilitaqsiniq’s strongest man and woman competition was really cool.

Letting aside that I couldn’t lift the tire up and my whole household got eliminated in the first round, we had an awesome time getting hyped for the event and spectating during it.

In a small community, it becomes even more stark how much difference individuals and organizations can make. That competition doesn’t exist if Ilitaqsiniq’s staff aren’t inspired to run it, and likewise for other recreation activities in town.

After the event, I observed people talking about wanting to train for next year and get in better shape for future competitions. Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark, who won strongest man, called the event an eye opener for a lot of people. From the advertising for the event, Ilitaqsiniq wanted to encourage fitness and

healthy lifestyles, and it seems like the competition was a raging success.

Also, Ilitaqsiniq is just on fire as an organization. The amount of programs they are simultaneously running and advertising is remarkable. And they’re not cookie cutter workshops either, but have real thought put in.

In Ilitaqsiniq’s masseuse program, for example, participants are paid handsomely for doing the three-week workshop. As an organization, Ilitaqsiniq recognizes that dangling benefits out in the future does not appeal enough to many people, and takes what might have once been considered an unorthodox approach – paying people to learn and build their skills – and uses it to ensure success.

There is not much replacement for the benefit of endorphins, healthy living and exercise. In a community and territory that need all the outlets and mental health supports we can get, competitions like these and other sport tournaments are not just great extracurricular pursuits, but satisfy core needs for people.

Young people in Nunavut are active and strong, as Kusugak-Clark also mentioned. Encouraging them to focus on fitness and show off their gains helps reinforce the benefits of healthy living and gives people goals to work towards. Anything that counters that sense of bleakness and lack of looking to the future is a major mental health win.

When I was working on my mental health

and developing myself as a person in my 20s, I had a mantra that it was never a bad day if I worked out. And it was true: I didn’t care if work went poorly or issues cropped up in life if I got a good gym session in. Fitness goes far beyond aesthetics and is more connected to our mental wellbeing than sometimes meets the eye.

After posting photos on our social media pages, I’m always checking the shares and seeing what people are saying about the events in Rankin and the Kivalliq. One common theme after recreation events like this is for people in other communities and Iqaluit saying they wish their home did these things too. We are lucky in Rankin to have some people with real energy, ideas and passion to bring these events to life.

I’m sure many people agree with me about already looking forward to next year’s event, where the competition will likely be even more fierce.

STEWART BURNETT

Northern News Services

Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark drops his sandbags on the finish line during the obstacle course. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo Pujjuut Kusugak flips his tire down the field. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Panniuq Karetak heaves his tire in the elimination event. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

The winning women. First place is Amelia Ipkonerk, with second-place Lynette Didur and Gloria Kaludjak third. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo