Nunavut News - Jan. 30, 2023

ᐅᓪᓗᓕᒫᖅ

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔩᑦ

ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᓈᓚᐅᑎ

ᐱᓇᔪᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖅ ᐊᑐᓪᓚᑦᑖᓕᖁᓪᓗᒍ

Aiming to build men’s support groups

ᕿᔾᔮᖅᑕᒥᑦ ᐳᔫᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐳᔫᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐳᖅᑐᓂᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᓯᕿᓂᐅᑉ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᒥᑦ ᔮᓄᐊᕆ 15−ᒥᑦ. ᑖᓐᓇ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᑎ ᒨᐱᒧᑦ, ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᔫᒧ ᑲᑭᒧᑦ.

The phenomenon behind the Northern lights

QIA Inuit mine training program extended with $25 million from Ottawa

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Qikiqtani

With an injection of $25 million in new federal funding, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) will expand its mining-focused Inuit training program to all 13 Qikiqtani communities, also extending it five years from 2023 to 2027, as of February.

The Qikiqtani Skills and Training for Employment Partnership (Q-STEP) is the QIA’s Inuit training and employment project. The initiative was formed in 2017 in partnership with Baffinland Iron Mines as well as the territorial and federal governments and the Kakivak Association.

Baffinland also confirmed an additional $3.1 million with $2.6 million going toward apprenticeships and an in-kind contribution of $519,000.

“Baffinland will also continue to deliver Word Ready Training programs at Mary River and our five communities as well as apprentices from the graduates of the PreTrades Training Program,” said Peter Akman, head of stakeholder relations and communications at Baffinland Iron Mines.

The objective of the program is to increase Inuit employment at the Mary River Mine, developing and delivering training programs for unemployed Inuit and to provide Inuit with certified and transferable skills for other possible employment openings.

It was previously restricted to the five communities most impacted by

Baffinland’s Mary River Mine: Arctic Bay, Iglulik, Pond Inlet, Sanirajak and Clyde River.

The program saw a very successful run with more than 700 training participants taking part in Q-STEP.

“We had a lot of Inuit who started in the program and got into training and then they went on to employment,” said Kris Mullaly, QIA’s project manager for Inuit training programs.

Training in heavy equipment operation, drivers training (class five, seven and three) and pre-trade apprenticeships will continue. Inuit training and career development has also been added to Q-STEP.

Depending on the success of this Q-STEP run, Mullaly said it might expand to other areas, such as fishing and bus driver training, among other possible options. However, it remains a mining and construction focused program for the time being.

“We have the intention of supporting mining and construction but as we’re going, there may be other opportunities,” said Mullaly.

Qikiqtani Inuit who are interested in the signing on with the Q-STEP program can reach out to their local community liaison officer, sign up through the Tuttarvik application or the Q-STEP labour pool database, available on Google Play Store or Apple iTunes.

“We can see the success because we talk to Inuit one-on-one about it. Also it’s evident, we see people coming back years later,” Mullaly said.

ᐅᔭᕋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ, ᓄᓘᔮᓂᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂᑦ Q-STEP−ᒥᑦ.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s mining-focused Q-STEP program has seen more than 700 Inuit participate. Baffinland Iron Mines, whose Mary River Mine is pictured here, is one of the partners in Q-STEP. Image courtesy of Baffinland Iron Mines

The phenomenon behind the Northern lights

Professor explains what makes aurora visible; Pangnirtung photographer gives tips on how to capture the Northern lights

values experienced in the last few months are already as high/frequent as they are predicted at the peak.

Northern lights have been appearing frequently and vividly over the past few months.

Nunavummiut in some communities have been saying that the aurora has been visible almost every night for several weeks.

In an interview with Nunavut News, Dr. Kathryn McWilliams, a professor in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan, explained the origins of Northern lights. The phenomenon starts with solar winds, which charge particles in our atmosphere.

“Electrons from the solar winds hit air molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere. These molecules get ‘excited’ and then release light as they calm down,” says McWilliams, the first Canadian to ever be awarded an honorary fellowship from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) of the United Kingdom.

Northern lights present a variety of colours, usually green, red and purple. The Canadian scientist explains that each colour is created from a different particle in the atmosphere.

“Different particles emit different lights when they are excited. The green auroras are a result of atomic oxygen being excited between 200 and 100 km above the cloud cover. Red auroras are less common and are a result of atomic oxygen being excited at higher altitudes (between 200 km and 250 km above cloud cover). Purple/blue auroras are emitted when molecular and ionized nitrogen, which occurs at lower altitudes, between 80 and 100 km above cloud cover, are excited,” explains McWilliams.

As for the frequency of the Northern lights, they follow a cycle which repeats every 11 years. The cycles are based on solar winds intensity and were at a peak in 2014. The Northern lights were in the more inactive stage of the cycle for the last few years but are now increasing again.

Although the U.S.-based Space Weather Prediction Center shows the next peak in the night sky phenomenon is supposed to take place in 2025, the

“We might see the predictions change increasingly soon. What is for sure is that we can still expect an increase in Northern lights sightings over the next few years,” McWilliams says.

Photographing the lights

David Kilabuk, an avid photographer from Pangnirtung, offered some pointers for those interested in capturing the Northern lights through their lenses.

“I began my interest in photographing the Northern Lights back in 2008 when I got my Nikon D300, which had the capability to capture lights properly, but it was still a learning process,” he recalls. “Pretty much everything I know has been from reading about photography and learning from my mistakes.”

He started out taking aurora pictures using his camera’s automatic mode and then varying the shutter speed, ISO and aperture. That alters the images look and “mood,” he says.

Although Kilabuk has ventured out with friends to shoot the Northern lights on occasion, he often goes alone, which means being vulnerable to the elements and wildlife.

“We have an area called The End of the Road. I like going there as it is dark, but one time a polar bear was killed right in the same area,” he says. “I have also seen a polar bear on that road. One strange encounter I had when I was taking Northern light photos involved a fox. I usually try to stay as still as I can be while taking photos. I heard something behind me and I did not move at all. It was a fox that decided to walk right past me. It was so close that I could have kicked it but it did not seem to notice me at all. It just kept going towards the dump.”

As for the best tool to do the job, Kilabuk is partial to Nikon digital cameras and he’s also moved to a mirrorless model, which is silent — no clicking of a shutter.

“My advice now would be (to) get a camera that will cater to your advancement as your skills improve,” he recommends. “There is nothing worse when you want to do something but your camera does not have the capability to do it.”

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ.

“What is for sure is that we can still expect an increase in Northern lights sightings over the next few years,” says University of Saskatchewan researcher Dr. Kathryn McWilliams. Chris Putnam/University of Saskatchewan photo ᑭᓱᒥᓪᓕ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᐱᑕ ᐅᓄᖅᓯᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐅᒻᒪᖅᑯᑎᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐊᒡᒋᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅ ᓴᔅᑳᑦᓱᐊᓐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᑳᑐᕆᓐ ᒪᒃᐅᐃᓕᐊᒻᔅ.

A diagram of the process by which we get photons of light that make up the aurora. Image courtesy of NASA ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑕ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᕈᐊᕋᓕᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

‘Lights Over Auyuittuq,’ a 2013 picture by Pangnirtung’s David Kilabuk. Photo courtesy of David Kilabuk

Pictures of the Northern lights taken around Iqaluit, shared anonymously with Nunavut News.

Amazing on the land contest ᐊᓕᐊᓇᖕ ᓄᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕋᓱᖕᓂᖅ

Some eye-catching skylines are featured in this week’s batch of photos from our readers. Enjoy the view!

ᐳᕌᓐᑕᓐ ᓕᐋᓐ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐊᒥᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᕐᒥᒃ. ᓯᕐᓗᐊᕋᓛᕐᒥᒃ ᓯᓇᕐᔪᓕᒃ Crazy Lake-ᒥ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᑉ ᓯᑭᑑᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᑉ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ.

ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᔨᒧᑦ−ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᑕᐅᑐᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐃᑦ! ᓵᓚᖃᖅᑐᖅ! ᔪᒥᐅ ᑲᑭ ᐊᔾᔨᓐᖑᐊᒥᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᕐᒥᑦ.

ᕼᐋᕆᑦ ᓇᓄᕐᓗᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

Harriet Nanordluk

WINNER! Jomu Kaki sent us this photo from Gjoa Haven. Celebrating the return of the sun in Gjoa Haven on Jan. 15, 2023, captured by Kitty Murphy.

Niomi Nakoolak sent us this picture from Pangnirtung. Last summer, went for a hike to Alaniq with friends.

ᓂᐆᒥ ᓇᑯᓛᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐸᓐᓂᖅᑑᒥᑦ. ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᐱᓱᔪᒋᐊᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ

Brandon Leon sent us this photo from Iqaluit. A little supply shack at the edge of Crazy Kake, on the Iqaluit to Pang SkiDoo trail earlier this month.

sent us this photo from Naujaat. The red sun of summertime while camping with her grandmother and the grandchildren.

Nunavut News presents the Amazing On-the-Land contest, generously sponsored by NCC Investment Group Inc., visit www.nccig.ca today.

ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᒋᐊᕆᓐ ᕗᐊᓯ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᕙᙶᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ Thunder Bay North Stars−ᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᔫᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᖓ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕋᐅᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ.

ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᒋᐊᕆᓐ ᕗᐊᓯ ᐱᙳᐊᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ

ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ 2018−ᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᖏᑕ ᕼᐋᑭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᓵᓚᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅᓯᐅᑎᓂ ᐊᓛᔅᑲᒧᑦ. ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᕗᐊᓯ ᐊᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᑉᑕᐅᔪᒥ C−ᖓᓂ ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ

ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᒎᓗᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᒥᐅᔪᒧᑦ. “ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕈᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᐳᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕗᐊᓯ, 18, ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ. “ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᖢᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᕗᒍᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐆᒧᖓ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᑦᑎᐊᕚᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᓇᓱᐊᕐᓗᑕ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᖕᓂᖃᕐᓗᑕ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ.”

6-ᓂ-ᐃᓯᒐᓪᓗᐊᓂ ᑕᑭᓂᓕᒃ, 179-ᐸᐅᓐᓂ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᔨᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ A Thunder Bay North Stars−ᓄᑦ ᑕᓐᑐᕐ ᐸᐃ, ᐋᓐᑎᐊᕆᐅᒥ, ᐃᓯᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ 8−ᓂ 26−ᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ.

ᓂᕈᒥᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᒡᒐᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᓂᐊᓗᐊᓂ ᓇᖏᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 2022−ᒥ Polar Bear Plate ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑎᒥᓂᑦ ᖃᑯᓪᓕᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᓵᓚᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥ.

“ᖁᔭᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᖓ ᐅᕙᓃᓐᓂᓐᓂ ᑕᓐᑐᕐ ᐸᐃᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕗᐊᓯ. “ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᑦ, ᖁᕕᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᙱᓚᖓ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ.”

ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᔫᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ, ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ

ᕼᐋᑭᑕᖃᙱᑦᑐᒥ.

“ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐸᖓ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᕼᐋᑭᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕗᐊᓯ, ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ.

ᕗᐊᓯ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ 10−ᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᓲᖑᓂᖓᓂ ᖁᑦᑎᓛᖑᔪᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᕼᐋᑭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ. “ᐱᐅᒋᔭᐃᓐᓇᕆᕙᒃᑲ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᕼᐋᑭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ

ᖁᙱᐊᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᐳᖓ ᑲᐃᔪᓪ ᒪᑳᕐᒥ. ᖁᙱᐊᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᐳᖓ (ᑳᓄᕐ) ᒪᒃᑕᐃᕕᑦ, ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᕌᓗᐃᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

“ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᓲᖑᕗᖓ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᒋᓇᓱᐊᓲᕆᕙᒃᑲ.”

ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖅ ᑳᑉᑎᓐ−ᖑᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᕗᖅ

ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᕕᐊᑉᐳᖅ 2023−ᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᑭᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 29−ᒥ

ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 4−ᒧᑦ Wood Buffalo, ᐋᓪᐴᑕᒥ.

but he’s loving the high level of competition in the south. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Garren Voisey embraces the ‘C’ for Team Nunavut

Whale Cove rising star excited

at Arctic Winter Games

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Whale Cove Local Journalism Initiative

The last time Garren Voisey played at the Arctic Winter Games in 2018, his Team Nunavut hockey squad lost in the semifinals to Alaska.

This time, Voisey will be donning the captain’s C as he tries to lead his teammates to a gold medal.

“This team is pretty determined to win,” said Voisey, 18, from Whale Cove. “We’re working pretty hard preparing for this great opportunity to go out there and be the best we can, and just have fun out there.”

The six-foot, 179-pound defenceman has been playing for the junior A Thunder Bay North Stars in Thunder Bay, Ont., where he’s put up eight points in 26 games this season. His soft hands and commanding presence were on display at the 2022 Polar Bear Plate tournament in Rankin Inlet this past December, as

for

second

crack

he helped lead his team to a silver finish, losing to Iqaluit in the finals.

“I’m just thankful to be here in Thunder Bay,” said Voisey.

“This team is great. I couldn’t be more excited. It’s been wonderful.”

And it’s a big step from Whale Cove, where there is no organized hockey.

“It’s way different from organized hockey,” said Voisey, remembering his days practising in his home town and reflecting on his development as a player.

Voisey has been playing since age 10 and he says he tries to learn from all the top NHL talents.

“I love every NHL player but I’m always watching Cale Makar, I’m always watching (Connor) McDavid, the big superstars in the game,” he said.

“I try to learn from their play and learn from them.”

He’s thankful to be captain of Team Nunavut and is ready and raring for the 2023 games coming up Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 in Fort McMurray, Alta.

ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᒋᐊᕆᓐ ᕗᐊᓯ ᑳᑉᑕᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᕼᐋᑭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ 2023−ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

photo

Garren Voisey says going from Whale Cove to the Thunder Bay North Stars has been a big step,

Whale Cove’s Garren Voisey will captain the men’s Team Nunavut hockey squad at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games. Stewart Burnett/NNSL

Abandoned mines among most expensive territorial contaminated sites

Giant Mine’s former mill is shown in September during a surface tour of the remediation project near Yellowknife. Clean up will cost an estimated $4.38 billion. The Canadian Press/Angela Gzowski

Environmental advocates say costly cleanups of former non-renewable resource projects in the North show the need for better planning.

Three of Canada’s top five most expensive federal contaminated sites are abandoned mines in the North: Giant Mine in the Northwest Territories at an estimated $4.38 billion and the Faro and United Keno Hill mines in Yukon at $1 billion and $125 million, respectively.

Former resource extraction projects are also among the most costly sites where the territories are responsible.

In the NWT, the 2021-2022 public accounts include more than $99 million in environmental liabilities for 248 sites. The greatest costs are for abandoned mines, with nine sites estimated at more than $31 million.

The NWT government declined to provide site-specific estimates, saying that could affect the procurement process.

The territory said, however, liabilities include sites where it has not accepted full responsibility. It said the two most expensive ones where the territory has accepted responsibility are a former power plant and tank farm, and the former Icicle Inn in Sachs Harbour.

Yellowknife MLA Kevin O’Reilly, a longtime environmental advocate who has pushed for greater transparency around contaminated sites, said they underscore the importance of prevention.

O’Reilly pointed to the Cameron Hills oil and gas field, which stopped production in 2015 and whose owner Strategic Oil and Gas Ltd. went into receivership in 2020. He said when the territory took responsibility for the property during devolution in 2014, there was not an approved closure plan or estimated reclamation cost.

Audit director Kelsey Hogg said during a review of the NWT’s latest public accounts in December, environmental liabilities had increased by $20 million largely due to the territory’s accrual of Cameron Hills.

O’Reilly believes it will ultimately cost taxpayers more than double that figure.

“I’d much rather spend that money on housing, health care or education than cleaning up contaminated sites that should have been prevented or we shouldn’t have accepted in the first place” he said.

The territorial government recently issued a survey saying it’s working with the federal government to explore the vi-

ability of a remediation economy in the NWT, with a focus on keeping economic benefits in the territory.

When Nunavut became a territory in 1999, it took over ownership of sites and activities associated with tank farms and power plants. It has yet to undergo devolution.

The two most expensive territorial contaminated sites are the old Clyde River town site, at nearly $4 million, and Clyde River’s old solid waste dump, estimated to cost more than $2.4 million.

The settlement, which was originally established by the Hudson Bay Company as a trading post on the east side of Patricia Bay in the 1920s, was abandoned when it moved to the west side of the bay in 1970.

‘Terrible’ consequences

Lewis Rifkind, a mining analyst with the Yukon Conservation Society, said unlike contaminated sites where federal money benefits the territory’s economy, sites under territorial control have “terrible” financial and environmental consequences.

“All the money the Yukon government… spends on that could be spent on other things that we actually need,” he said.

Yukon’s 2021-2022 public accounts include an estimated $94.6 million to remediate 100 sites. The two most expensive are Wolverine Mine at $39 million and the Wellgreen mill and tailings site at an estimated $15.5 million.

Rifkind said mining companies take the profits and abandon sites when things go bad, leaving taxpayers with the mess.

“We’re privatizing the profit and socializing the risk. That has to change.”

He said it’s critical to calculate the appropriate financial security, a deposit for the estimated cleanup cost once a mine is finished operating, and get the money upfront.

The bankrupt former owner of Wolverine Mine, which ceased operations in 2015, did not pay the full $35.5 million in financial security required for closure and remediation.

The Yukon government successfully petitioned to put Yukon Zinc Corp. into receivership in 2019, but the court-appointed receiver was unable to find a viable buyer.

Since 2018, the Yukon government said it has spent $27.9 million on the site, with roughly $10.5 million covered by financial security posted by Yukon Zinc. The territory awarded a more than $12 million contract for care and maintenance of the site last month.

The old mill and tailings site for the Wellgreen mine was constructed in 1972 and operated for about a year before it closed. While the federal government approved the tailings dam at the time, assessments later found further remediation was needed.

Responsibility for the site transferred to the territory during devolution in 2003. The Yukon government said it’s discussing a cost-sharing agreement with the federal government.

—By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

‘I’d much rather spend that money on housing, health care or education,’ says MLA

Priciest territorial contaminated sites include abandoned mine, former town site

A map, photographed in 1987, shows 30 radar sites spread along the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, which involves Alaska, Northern Canada and Greenland. The Department of National Defence said in 2014 it spent $575 to clean up a total of 21 DEW-line sites across the Arctic. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons be determined whether the NWT or federal government is responsible.

Three of Canada’s five most expensive federal contaminated sites are abandoned mines in the North. Former resource extraction projects are also among the most costly sites where the territories are responsible.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says the most expensive federal contaminated site is Giant Mine in Yellowknife. That’s followed by Faro Mine in Yukon, the Port Hope Area Initiative in Ontario, Esquimalt Harbour in British Columbia and Yukon’s United Keno Hill Mine.

Here’s a look at the most expensive contaminated sites in the territories:

Nunavut

Nunavut took ownership of sites and activities associated with tank farms and power plants when it became a territory in 1999. It has yet to undergo devolution.

There are 807 federal contaminated sites in the territory. The two most expensive, which have both been cleaned up, are a former Distance Early Warning-line radar site in Cape Dyer, which cost $107 million, and radar site BAF 5 Resolution Island, which cost $74 million. The Department of National Defence said in 2014 it spent $575 to clean up a total of 21 DEW-line sites across the Arctic.

The latest Nunavut public accounts state it could cost up to $182,700 to remediate sites on commissioner’s land where liabilities for contamination may exist.

The two most expensive are the old Clyde River town site, estimated to cost nearly $4 million, and Clyde River’s old solid waste dump, expected to cost more than $2.4 million.

Northwest Territories

Under the Northwest Territories’ 2014 devolution agreement, some sites were transferred to the territory while others remained a federal responsibility. Several are still under negotiation.

The NWT has a total of 1,665 federal contaminated sites. Giant Mine is expected to cost $4.38 billion between 2005 and 2038, including $710 million the federal government said has already been spent.

The territory’s 2021-2022 public accounts include more than $99 million in environmental liabilities for 248 sites, including those where the NWT has not accepted full responsibility.

The territorial government said the two most expensive are the site of a former power plant and tank farm, and the former Icicle Inn in Sachs Harbour. It would not provide site-specific cost estimates.

The public accounts attribute the greatest costs to abandoned mines, with nine sites estimated at more than $31 million. It was also revealed during a review of the accounts in December that environmental liabilities increased by $20 million between 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, largely due to accrual of the Cameron Hills oil and gas field.

Six abandoned mines are among sites where it has yet to

Yukon

During Yukon’s devolution in 2003, responsibility for several contaminated sites were transferred to the territory, while others remained under federal jurisdiction. There are 147 federal contaminated sites in Yukon. Remediation of Faro Mine is currently estimated to cost $1 billion and $125 million for United Keno Hill Mine. More than $770

million has already been spent on both sites so far.

Yukon’s 2021-2022 public accounts include an estimated $94.6 million to remediate environmental contamination at 100 sites.

The most expensive is the former Wolverine Mine, expected to cost $39 million, followed by the old Wellgreen Mine’s mill and tailings site, estimated to cost $15.5 million.

—By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

ᐋᓪᐴᑕᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᐳᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᑭᙵᕐᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂ

ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓂ

ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓂ ᐹᖑᔪᓂ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ

ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓴᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᕗᑦ

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑭᙵᕐᓂ. ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑳᒻᕉᔅ, ᐋᓪᐴᑕᒥ, ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ

ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᔾᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐅᕙᙶᖅᐳᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᑲᒃᐸᒃᑐᓂ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᓗᒡᕕᒃᓴᓂ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓂ ᐹᖑᔪᓂ’ ᐃᓴᒃᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᙵᕐᓄᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᒍ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂ 8-ᓂ 18 ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ. ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ

ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᑉ

ᐃᓗᐊᓂ.

ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕈᑕᐅᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅ

“ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐸᓖᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔭᓯᑲ ᕼᐊᑎᓐ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᒻᒪᕆᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓂ ᐹᖑᔪᓂ. ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓂ ᐹᖑᔪᓂ ᑭᙵᕐᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ. “ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ NGOsᕝ−ᖑᔪᓂ (ᒐᕙᒪᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂ) ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓃᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᐊᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ. ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᓕᒪᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᐅᔪᓂ — ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᑉᐳᑦ, ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐋᓪᐴᑕᒥ. ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᑎᓪᓗᑎᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᕼᐊᑎᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᖓ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᓗᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

“ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᐃᑦᑐᒻᒪᕆᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕈᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑕ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ,” ᕼᐊᑎᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᕗᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᕌᓂᖕᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ.”

ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓂ ᐹᖑᔪᓂ’ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. “ᐊᑐᓕᒪᓂᖃᖅᖢᑕ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖄᓂᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᕙᒌᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕼᐊᑎᓐ.

ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓂ ᐹᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 25−ᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐅᖓᑎᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᕼᐊᑎᓐᒧᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᙵᕐᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᔫᓂᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

“ᒫᓐᓇ ᕿᓂᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᑭᓱ ᒪᓕᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ. ᐃᔾᔪᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᐸᕗᑦ ᐊᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒧᑦ? ᑭᓱᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᖃᕆᐊᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᑦ?”

Youth programming is among the services Open Doors offers in Kinngait. Photo courtesy of Open Doors Nunavut

Celebrating

fashion

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Arviat

Arviat’s Kakpik Fashion Show, held just before Christmas, showed off just how beautiful authentic Inuit fashion can be. Models from the community took turns walking the spot-lit runway, showcasing Kivalliq designers’ work in parkas, amautis and more Saturday, Dec. 18.

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑲᒃᐱᒃ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖓ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕝᕕᐅᑉ ᓯᕗᕐᖓᓐᓂ, ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᑦᑎᐊᕙᖏᓐᓂᑦ.

ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᙶᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᑭᑦᑖᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓱᑲᑕᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᒥᕝᕕᖕᒧᑦ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᓴᓇᓯᒪᔪᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦ

ᐊᓐᓄᕋᔾᔨᐅᖅᑎᓂᒃ.

Ruth Qaviuq hits the runway to show off various designers’ threads. Omar Caneo photo

Dexter Kalluak models a stunning seal skin outfit made by Gloria Issumatajuak. Omar Caneo photo

Alberta non-profit hopes to help Kinngait youth and families in need

Crisis intervention and group programming part of services

By Trevor Wright

Northern News Services Kinngait

Open Doors, a non-profit with a focus on social and outreach programming for rural youth, families and adults has been making inroads in the territory, specifically in Kinngait.

Based in Camrose, Alta., the organization’s services to clients range from youth transitional, emergency housing, helplines, employment programs and addictions treatment, among several other programs.

Open Doors’ outreach to Kinngait so far has been focused on youth ages eight to 18 as well as another program for 18 plus. Its services have been related to group programming and crisis intervention within the community.

“We worked with some individuals who were involved in policing who also worked up in Nunavut. They identified specifically a way to work one of our programs as potentially being very impactful,” said Jessica Hutton, the CEO of Open Doors.

The focus of Open Doors for Kinngait came out of seeing a need for more services outside of Iqaluit.

“We very quickly understood that a lot of the NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are in Iqaluit and not out into other communities. Given our experience

working in rural communities and understanding rural differently than urban — that’s where all of our programs are, in rural Alberta. It’s unique with regards to how you deliver services,” Hutton said of The organization’s goal was to start in one place and build capacity there to help make a grassroots difference.

“We wanted to take things very slowly and we want to learn and grow with the community,” Hutton said. “Our goal is to assist in creating community capacity; we very much feel like we’re starting to achieve that already.”

The nature of Open Doors’ programming and its background has also been beneficial in getting started in Nunavut.

“Having the history that our organization has had with regards to already working with Indigenous populations has been helpful in terms of having further funding conversations in established relationships,” said Hutton.

Open Doors has been operating for 25 years and has been active in the territory for over a year, according to Hutton, with programs in Kinngait since the end of last June.

“Now we’re looking at what’s next. Can we replicate this in another community? What might need to be changed?”

Jessica Hutton, the CEO of Opens Doors, said there’s a need for non-governmental organizations services in communities outside of Iqaluit. Kinngait was chosen as one place that needed such services. Photo courtesy of Open Doors Nunavut

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Tenders on the Web

All tenders advertised in the current editions of Inuvik Drum, NWT News/North, Nunavut News/North, Kivalliq News and Yellowknifer are also available on the NNSL website. For more information on how to access them, contact circulation@nnsl.com

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