Kivalliq News - June 14, 2023

youth

The 2023 Rankin Inlet high school grad contingent. Front row, from left, are Tanya Ammaklak, Chenille Ayaruak, Bailey Green, Lani Innukshuk, Tracy Ittinuar, Josie Panika, Sharon Pauloosie, Raegan Tattuinee, Julia Ussak and Ella Zawadski. Back row, from left, are Kyle Fredlund, Hailey Jones, Jobie Kadlak, Jessica Kanayok, Alyson McKay, Kayden Mercer, Lily-Anne Nutatakittuq and Keneisha Sammurtok. In the middle in front is Lucy Makkigak, school community counsellor.

Did we get it wrong?

Kivalliq News is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Kivalliq News, call (867) 645-3223 and ask to speak to the editor, or email kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can. í±ØÍ≤ÒáíÔÄ?

ï·∆¿Í´ ≤áflúòî ÖÚÊéÔÒπØflî Ç≤úõ¿Ö≤ú Ö±Ø ÖéÍ≤ú áîéÖ≤Í´ú. íØêØ Äƒù‚ ÖÚÊéÔÒπØ≤Ò Ä¿íÒπÕ‰ÖÔÍ≤Í´ú

í±ØÒíÇÀ≤ú Ö±Ø ÜÒïùÖÒπ¿Í≤Ò. íò∏≤Ê›î í±ØÒπØÀ´ú

ï·∆¿Ò ≤áfl≤, ÇÔ¬∆¬éî Çflˆ (867) 645-3223 Ö±Ø

ÇÔÍ›ùÀجü ÜÒïúªÄ«, Ç„·√∏≥î Ô‰íÇÕúòî ééËͬéî Çflˆ kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Ç„·√∏≥î

∂¬∂ĉÖͬü áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí.

AROUND

Kivalliq

with Cody Punter

Premier, ministers invited to witness concerns

Chesterfield Inlet

Rankin Inlet North – Chesterfield Inlet

MLA Alexander Sammurtok used a member’s statement in the legislative assembly to invite Premier PJ Akeeagok and ministers responsible for education, economic development and housing to visit Chesterfield Inlet at their earliest opportunity following the spring sitting.

“The Minister of Education recently announced the full-day kindergarten pilot project for the community of Chesterfield Inlet,” said Sammurtok in the House June 1.

“While I support the intent of giving our children and youth the best education opportunities possible, I note that this initiative may present some challenges for educators and administrators.”

The Chesterfield Inlet District Education Authority has already raised concerns about whether the department will be able to fill the necessary teaching positions including support-teacher positions, said Sammurtok.

He invited the relevant politicians to visit the community, population of about 400 people, to see the barriers and challenges first-hand.

Waste oil project underway

A happy ending for concerned Angidlik family

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᐃᓱᒪ,ᓗᑎᐅᓴᖅᑐᖅ

Hamlet confirms 191-metre threshold for work near family member’s gravesite

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local

A family in Rankin Inlet issued public pleas for excavation work to stop at the sand pit across First Landing Lake in early June, and after an online petition and meeting with council, the issue with the hamlet was resolved.

Meagan Angidlik had raised an alarm that excavation work was getting “dangerously close” to her grandfather Joachim Angidlik’s gravesite.

“This is a campsite for my family and has been for generations,” she wrote in the petition.

In previous communication with the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, Angidlik said the hamlet committed to a 50-metre buffer zone between the work and the gravesite. However, Angidlik believed that buffer was not being respected, and she was asking for a 200-metre buffer to avoid any further disturbance to the gravesite.

“The terrain where the gravesite is located is unstable and eroding,” wrote Angidlik at the time. “By continuing with this excavating project, it could cause damage to the gravesite, and our family’s access to our cabins. My grandfather’s intentions were to rest in this place, and when the time comes my grandmother Adele Kumaruag will also rest beside him.”

ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦᐊᒪᓗᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ-ᑯᖃᑕᖑᑎᒌᒃᑲᑎᖓᓂᖃᖅᐳᑦᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥᑦ, ᐊᐱᖁᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ. Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕗᑦ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ 191

ᒦᑕᒥᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᒪᓗ ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᔪᐊᑲᒻ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ-ᒧᑦ. ᐱᖁᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᓂᐅᓕᕐᒪᑦ. ᑕᓕᖅᐱᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨ, ᑭᐊᓕᓐ ᓕᓐᑎᐅ. ᐸᑕᒻ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ, ᒥᐊᓕ ᐊᑎᐅ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ ᐸᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᐃᔭ Hᐊᐃᓕ ᑕᐅᑐᖏ. ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᑭᐊᓕᓐ ᓕᓐᑎᐊ

Arviat

A pilot project to assess the feasibility of waste oil backhauling throughout the territory, by targeting one community per region, is underway in Arviat, Cambridge Bay and Pond Inlet.

“This pilot project was developed to provide estimates, training and guidance to alleviate some of the burden seen from stockpiled waste oil barrels in the communities,” explained Minister of Environment Joanna Quassa.

“My department recognizes that waste oil management is an issue in community landfills. Waste oil is one of the most produced types of hazardous waste in Nunavut. Lack of storage and waste management has been a long-standing challenge for Nunavut. Efforts are being made to properly manage waste drums to prevent spill and contamination.”

The pilot project involves conducting a preliminary assessment and inventory of waste barrels in landfills in the three communities.

“A drum inventory and assessment has been completed in three communities and will be shipped south this sealift season: in Arviat an estimated total of 64,000 litres of waste, which includes 20 tote tanks and 187 drums; in Pond Inlet an estimated total of 51,000 litres, which will include 60 tote tanks, approximately 250 drums; and in Cambridge Bay an estimated total of 91,000 litres, which will include 46 tote tanks and approximately 225 drums,” said Quassa.

“We are continuing to work with communities to ensure that the project addresses their needs and to reduce the impacts of waste oil across the territory. The pilot project will continue to be monitored and managed until its completion.”

She had urged the issue to be addressed immediately, saying the urgency of it seemed not to be a concern to the hamlet of Rankin Inlet.

Following the online petition, Rankin Inlet council members met with members of the family to discuss concerns around the quarry and visited the site together.

Mayor Harry Towtongie, in a news release June 9, stated that the Department of Culture and Heritage recommends a buffer zone of 50 metres around gravesites, but the hamlet established a boundary of 191 metres in July 2022.

“Contractors operating in the quarry are not permitted to exceed that boundary,” wrote Towtongie.

Council established that the 191-metre boundary will remain in place into the future to protect the gravesite and allow the family to enjoy their cabin area.

“Permanent boundary markers and signage will be put in place to make the boundary identifiable to all users,” wrote Towtongie.

“Council is extremely pleased to have

Members of council and the Angidlik family gather at the site in question. The hamlet confirmed that the 191-metre buffer zone between quarry work and the gravesite of the late Joachim Angidlik would continue to be honoured. From left to right are Coun. Kelly Lindell, Ada Angidlik, Maria Kasaluak, Coun. Lynn Rudd, Mary Kasaluak, senior administrative officer Darren Flynn, Adele Angidlik and mayor Harry Towtongie. Photo courtesy of Kelly Lindell

been able to reassure the Angidlik family and thanks them for discussing the issue and reaching this agreement.”

ᐊᒪᓗ ᐊᑭᐊᕿᕕᒃᑯᑦ

ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ

Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓵᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᖅ Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ.

ᒥᑭᓐ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ

ᐳᐊᕆᔭᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥᒃ ‘ᖃᒡᓕᓗᐊᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ

ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂᓗ’ ᐊᑖᑕᑎᐊᖓᑕ

ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᐊᓄᑦ.

‘ᐅᓇ ᓄᓇ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᓯᒪᕝᕕᒃᐳᑦ

ᖃᑕᖑᑎᒋᒃᑎᒍ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ.’ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᓂ

ᑲᖏᖅᓕᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ

Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ 50 ᒥᑕᒥᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᐳᐊᕆᔭᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ

ᐊᒪᓗ ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᐅᑉ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᖅ ᐱᒃᐱᒋᔭᐅᖏᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᕐᕕᐊ, ᐱᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂᓗ 200 ᒥᑕᒥᒃ ᑭᒡᓕᓕᖕᒥᑦ.

ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᓄᓇᖓ ᐊᐅᓚᔅᔭᓕᕐᒪᑦ, ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖃᓕᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᓄᓇ’ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖏᓪᓕᒃ ‘ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕈᓂ ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᐅᔪᓐᓃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᕈᓐᓇᐃᓕᓗᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᖃᕐᕕᕗᑦ.

ᐊᑖᑕᑎᐊᕋ ᑕᒪᓂ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐃᓕᕙᐅᔪᒪᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ, ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓯᒻᒥᒃᐸᑦ

ᐊᓈᓴᑎᐊᕋ ᐸᑎᐅ ᑯᒪᕈᐊ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓄᓇᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᔪᒪᖕᒥᖕᒪᑦ, ᐅᐃᖓᑕ ᓴᓂᐊᓂ. ᑕᒪᓇ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᖁᓚᐅᖅᐸᖓ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᒪᓚᑯᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓗᑎᖃᖁᔨᖏᒻᒪᑕ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ. ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᑎᑲᑕᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᑕᖑᑎᖏᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᒥᒃᐳᐊᕆᔭᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥᒃ, ᐊᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥᒃ. ᒪᐃᔭ Hᐅᓕ ᑕᐅᑐᖏ, ᐱᕙᓕᐊᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᔪᓂ 9, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕗᖅ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᕿᐅᒪᖁᔨᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ 50 ᒥᑕᒥᒃ ᑭᒡᓕᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦᐹᕿᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ

191 ᒥᑕᒥᑦ ᑭᒡᓕᓕᖕᒥᒃᔪᓚᐃ 2022ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ‘ᓴᓇᔨᑦ ᐅᐳᐊᕆᔭᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖓᑕᐅᔨᔭᕆᐊᖃᖏᑦᑐᑦ’ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᖏ. ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ 191 ᒥᑕᒥᒃ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓂᓪᓗᒍᓗ ᓯᕗᓂᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᑦᑎᓐᓄ ᐃᓗᕕᖃᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᓐᓇᐅᒪᑎᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒪᓗ ᖃᑕᖑᑎᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᑯᓗᐊᓃᑦᑎᐊᖃᑕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ‘ᓇᓗᓇᐃᑯᖅᑎᖅ)ᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓇᐅᑯᑦ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔ, ᓇᓗᓇᖏᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᓇᓕᒪᕐᒧᑦ.ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒋ. ‘ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᐱᑯᒍᓱᖃᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᑕᖑᑎᒋᒋᓐᓂᒃ, ᖃᓄᐃᖏᑦᑎᐊᖁᓪᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕋᑦᑎᒍ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᖢᑎᒍᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ.+

The butterfly effect of generosity

After reading about six-year-old Cohen Sateana-Cormier’s efforts to raise cans of food for the food bank with his Grade 1 class in Rankin Inlet, Piruqsaijit donated 97 cans themselves, plus a class pizza lunch, and Arctic Connection gifted the young man a McDavid jersey. Photo courtesy of Piruqsaijit

Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Celebrating the future

The 2023 Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik graduating class in Rankin Inlet

The 2023 Rankin Inlet high school grad contingent. Front row, from left, are Tanya Ammaklak, Chenille Ayaruak, Bailey Green, Lani Innukshuk, Tracy Ittinuar, Josie Panika, Sharon Pauloosie, Raegan Tattuinee, Julia Ussak and Ella Zawadski. Back row, from left, are Kyle Fredlund, Hailey Jones, Jobie Kadlak, Jessica Kanayok, Alyson McKay, Kayden Mercer, Lily-Anne Nutatakittuq and Keneisha Sammurtok. In the middle in front is Lucy Makkigak, school community counsellor.

Hailey Jones

Chenille Ayaruak

Ella Zawadski

Bailey Green

Alyson McKay

Lani Innukshuk

Kayden Mercer

Kyle Fredlund

Kaneisha Sammurtok

Julia Ussak

Jobie Kadlak

Josie Panika

Jessica Kanayok

Tracy Ittinuar

Sharon Pauloosie

Tanya Ammaklak

Raegan Tattuinee

Lily-Anne Nutatakittuq

Photos by Stewart Burnett

‘We climbed mountains’

Rankin Inlet grads share emotions on big day

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Graduates from Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet all had unique stories to tell in the leadup to their achievement.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” said Tracy Ittinuar, one of the grads, during a dress rehearsal before the event.

“I’m happy for each and every one of the graduates. We climbed mountains. We didn’t quit. We didn’t give up.”

Everyone had their reasons for persevering,

she added, whether it be family, spouses, babies or otherwise. Hers was her younger sister.

“I want to be her role model and I want her to follow in my steps because she’s my world and I know she will make it one day,” said Ittinuar.

Chenille Ayaruak was thinking similarly.

“My siblings really look up to me,” she said.

“If I were to not finish school, they would probably do the same thing.”

She said she never thought she would get this far, and she was proud of everyone who made it.

Bailey Green also never thought she’d be a graduate.

“I’m very proud of myself,” said Green. “Even way back 12 years ago as a little kindergartener, I never thought I would graduate. It just felt like a very long journey. I did it alone with my mom and my sister and I never thought I’d get here today.”

Hard work, dedication and putting her heart into the work – not just her brain – were what led her to success, said Green.

Jessica Kanayok, whose graduation was delayed two years because of health issues, was feeling quite cool to finally walk that stage.

“This time I’m not sick at the wrong time, finally,” she said.

For Tanya Ammaklak, she was proud to

graduate but sad some of her closest friends weren’t there to see her.

“I want to cry, but I don’t know what to feel or how to express my feelings,” she said earnestly. “I want to laugh at the same time because all of that hard work paid off.”

She had lost two friends to suicide, one in 2019 and another in 2021. That led her down some bad paths, but she made it to the finish line in the end.

“I had a hard time because they really wanted to be part of my graduation,” said Ammaklak, emotionally. “We had been planning this since we were children, but I’m here standing alone. It’s so hard.”

Bailey Green didn’t think she’d graduate high school when she was young, but here she is. Photo by the grad class/NNSL photo

Raegan Tattuinee and Ella Zawadski pose during rehearsals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Tanya Ammaklak, right, and Julia Ussak share a moment as they prepare for grad. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

wu6ymlt5 kNyst5bsoQ5.