Nunavut News - March 13, 2023

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓄᑦ

ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖓ ᑲᔪᓯᕗᖅ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ

NTI’s language lawsuit goes ahead

GN’s attempt to have case dismissed fails in court

Francophone

Month: Minister, MLA compliment French school ᐅᐃᕖᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᖓ: ᒥᓂᔅᑕ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐅᐱᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᐃᕖᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ

ᑎᐅᕆᒃ ᕗᐃᓯ ᓄᓲᕋᐅᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᓕᒥᓂᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓕᐊᖏᑦᑕ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

Deryk Voisey pulls his sleeves back after congratulating teammates on their overtime win during the U15 Rock Cup in Rankin Inlet. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Rockin’ the rink

ᐅᑕᖅᑭᔪᑦ 320-ᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ

Rankin Inlet housing wait list tops 320

Iqaluit MLA pleased more Inuit are graduating at Ecole des Trois-Soleils

George Hickes adds shared facilities eliminates demographic isolation for some groups

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

During an operations and maintenance committee meeting on March 6 at the Nunavut Legislature, education minister Pamela Gross said the shared use of gymnasium facilities between Iqaluit’s École des Trois-Soleils and the Aqsarniit Middle School is a positive example of commonly shared community values.

Gross said she hope that dialogue will continue between the Iqaluit District Education Authority and the French school board to ensure that reciprocity is given back to Iqaluit and the other schools for the use of their facilities.

Iqaluit-Tasilik MLA George Hickes shared a similar sentiment, saying it “eliminates some of the isolation that some demographics may experience here in the city. We want all of our kids to get exposed to as many different people, cultures and activities as possible.”

Hickes said the ever-increasing amount of graduates, and even Inuit graduates at Iqaluit’s École des Trois-Soleils, is a positive sign for Iqaluit’s Francophone community.

“I attended the graduation at École des Trois-Soleils last year, and I missed the one before that,” said Hickes.

“But I was at the one before that, and there was only one before, and there was only one grad at that point. Last year I think there were six grads and four were Inuit.”

“I think that’s something worth acknowledging and recognizing,” said Hickes.

Hickes said it was a good example of how anyone can succeed in the territory with any three of Nunavut’s official languages, be it French, Inuktitut or English.

According to the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, 4.3 per cent of Nunavummiut can speak both English and French, with 1.7 per cent of Nunavut residents claiming French as their mother tongue.

Seventy-seven of Francophones in Nunavut are born elsewhere in Canada, with 10 per cent of those being born abroad and the remaining 13 per cent born in Nunavut.

Most of Nunavut Francophones live in the Qikiqtani region

The number of graduates at Iqaluit’s Ecole des Trois-Soleils has increased in recent years.

Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

(86 per cent) with most of them in Iqaluit with the territory’s only French school École des Trois-Soleils and Francophone Centre being located in the city.

École des Trois-Soleils is currently in the process of getting its own gymnasium expanded by next September and the deputy minister of Education, Martine St. Louis, is hoping the spirit of cooperation between Iqaluit’s communities continues once it is finished.

“We’re hoping that the collaboration will continue and that the Francophone school board will be able to give back what they receive by sharing their gym,” said St-Louis.

Veterinarians Without Borders begins 2023 Northern clinics with Baffin communities

Last permanent veterinarian left Nunavut capital last September

By Trevor Wright Northern News

Veterinarians Without Borders, a charity and non-profit organization dedicated toward animal health care and capacity-building is making its way up North for the first time this year to deliver clinics in three Nunavut communities.

Usually, Veterinarians Without Borders can be seen in places such as South Sudan, Cambodia, Ukraine and other struggling countries. However, its Northern Animal Health Initiative is a program for more remote, unsupported regions of Canada, where animals don’t often live as long as their southern counterparts, due to having less access to regular care.

“We work within Nunavut and the Northwest Territories with a total of 10 to 12 communities,” said Marieke Van Der Velden, the Northern Canada program manager for Veterinarians Without Borders, who are currently visiting their first Northern communities of 2023.

Having already stopped in Kimmirut from March 8 to 12, the Veterinarians Without Borders team is in Qikiqtarjuaq until March 16, then they will be flying to Iglulik on March 18 to 24. This is the organization’s second visit to Qikiqtarjuaq and Kimmirut; it’s their first time visiting Igulik.

The initial point-of-contact or main problem

Nunavut and NWT municipalities have that Veterinarians Without Borders deals with is rabies, which remains an issue in the Arctic, vaccination against rabies is one of their goals when it comes to visiting a community.

“Our goal with the clinic is to see as many animals as possible to help get their animals vaccinated, spay and neuter, other health check-ups, anything people have concerns about,” said Van Der Velden.

ᐊᓕᔭᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ,ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᖅ ᓂᕐᔪᑎᓄᑦ

ᔫᓕ ᑰᕐ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᕐᒥ.

Management of roaming strays and unwanted puppies is also among the objectives of Veterinarians Without Borders.

Through these annual trips up north, the organization hopes to provide continuity of care for animals in the communities they visit.

There are currently no veterinarians in Nunavut. The last one, NunaVet Animal Hospital, left Iqaluit in September 2022 but there are three in the NWT, all of which are based in Yellowknife.

“There are very few opportunities to access animal healthcare in the territory. We want to make that accessible and to build capacity on the ground, said Van Der Velden.

The Veterinarians Without Borders Awards program, introduced last November also financially supports Northern animal care and assists with capacity building.

The program comes in three parts, a scholarship for northern veterinary students for $10,000, five bursaries of $5,000 for any people pursuing animal health-related training (veterinary schooling, dog care) and the pets first aid course registration for community residents.

The last one is to help pet owners to “stay up-to-date on preventative care for their animals as well as dealing with emergencies that come up and have nowhere to turn to,” said Van Der Velden.

She added they have a longer list of communities who are also seeking animal clinics but added they don’t have enough resources to visit them all.

Veterinarians Without Borders plans to visit 12 communities throughout Nunavut and the NWT this year, and it is getting busier.

“That’s our largest number so far,” noted Van Der Velden, who added they are always looking to support animal healthcare capacity in communities, be it through the awards program or other opportunities.

ᓗᑦᓯᐅᓪ ᑭe, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᕿᒻᒥᖅ ᓄᐊᓐ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ.

ᑭᒡᓕᖃᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᐃᓚ ᑕᐅᓐᔅᑦ, ᑕᓕᖅᐱᐊᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕉᒥ ᓛᑐᔅᑭ ᕿᒧᒃᓯᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ 2022-ᒥ.

ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂ, ᓂᕐᔪᑎᓄᑦ ᓘᒃᑖᓕᕆᔨ ᕕᓐᑎ ᑲᐃᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ

Simailak resigns as Justice and QEC

minister Says he needs to spend more time with family

Baker Lake Lake MLA Craig Simailak resigned Thursday from the legislative assembly’s executive council, giving up his ministerial portfolios.

“I’d like to thank my staff at the Department of Justice, Qulliq Energy Corporation along with my staff upstairs: Nicole Camphaug, Susie Alainga, thank you very much,” said Simailak during the March 9 legislative assembly session, citing the need to spend more time with family as the reason for his decision.

In the interim, Environment, Economic Development and Transportation Minister David Akeeagok will assume Simailak’s Justice, Labour and Human Rights Tribunal portfolios.

Finance and Housing Minister Lorne Kusugak will take over as minister responsible for the Utility Rates Council while Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok will take on duties as minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.

“I wish to extend my appreciation for his service as minister in two crucial portfolios,” Akeeagok said of Simailak.

Aliyah Aglukkaq, left is taught how to vaccinate a dog by veterinary technician/volunteer Julie Kerr in Gjoa Haven. Photo courtesy of Veterinarians Without Borders

From left, veterinarian technician Wendy Kane and veterinarian Dr. Michelle Tuma prepare a dog for surgery in Kimmirut in 2022. Photo courtesy of Veterinarians Without Borders

Lutselk’e, NWT dog Nune is brought in for a vaccination and check-up. Photo courtesy of Veterinarians Without Borders

Services

Qikiqtani

Veterinarians Without Borders volunteers Kyla Townsend, right and Romi Lotoski vaccinate a dog team in Qikiqtarjuaq in 2022. Photo courtesy of Veterinarians Without Borders

Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak has resigned as a minister in the Nunavut Government. NNSL file photo

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services

Ongoing emergency-only status at Nunavut health centres unacceptable, says Amittuq MLA Response

must be improved before

tragedy occurs, says Joelie Kaernerk

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Sanirajak

The ongoing emergency-only status in Sanirajak’s health centre and in other communities is leading to worse outcomes and even tragedies, says Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk, who highlighted the issue during his member’s statement in the Nunavut Legislature on March 6. “Since last summer, the Sanirajak community health centre has constantly been on

emergency services only. I do recognize health centres are understaffed, the nurses need rest and I greatly appreciate the service they provide,” said Kaernerk.

He added that during after-hours emergencies, patients are often asked to call or use a virtual kit to determine whether or not it’s an actual emergency. However, patients often can’t or don’t have time to deal with that process, particularly when it’s an urgent concern, he contended.

another

“There are times in an emergency, it’s just that, an emergency, and people need to have confidence their emergency is going to be addressed in a timely manner,” the MLA said.

Residents are asked to be patient, said Kaernerk, but “when community members are told to call out for assistance, or told to use the virtual kit, they anticipate the response,” which entails waiting for someone to get back to them to determine whether their situation has been iden-

Stop and think before contemplating suicide, pleads Hudson Bay MLA

Daniel Qavvik urges youth to consider impact on loved ones

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Sanikiluaq

In light of a number of a recent suicides in Sanikiluaq, Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik recited a poem during his member’s statement at the Nunavut Legislature on March 6, urging youth across Nunavut to think about their loved ones before committing suicide.

“Another young person has died, how many will weep and cry, that’s the 10th one this week,” said Qavvik. “So stop and think, will your momma cry? Many wonder in their wandering mind, what is going on in their young mind.

“As your father buries you, will he drop to his knees and whisper, why? A cry out for help, what is going on among our young.

“A cry out for help, this has got to stop, so we can move on, you ever wonder what will happen if you try?

“Stop and think, your grandma who loves you will feel like slowly dying. Your grandpa, who taught you so much, will walk around wondering, what did I do wrong?

“Your friend who walked beside you will wonder, if only I had been there will you still be here. Your partner cries and will yell out why, plays the same music within you still held to her dear, thinks about suicide. Dark thoughts enter the mind.

“Stop and think, will that change or bring her home, will that change and bring him home?

“Stop and think, you’re now just a picture on the wall. Stop and think, your father will still whisper, why?

“Stop and think, your mother will still cry.”

tified as an emergency.

“I call upon our government to take immediate steps to improve the levels of emergency service at community health centres,” Kaernerk said. “Nunavummiut should have the healthcare they need, when and where they need them — so that in an emergency they wouldn’t be left without a response or support before another tragedy occurs.”

New Resolute landfill expected to be complete 2025, says Government of Nunavut

One of three former landfill sites in Resolute Bay. Currently the Government of Nunavut is preparing a business case to move the community’s existing landfill. Photo courtesy of Transport Canada

Current site attracts polar bears into town, says acting CAO

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Resolute Bay

The Government of Nunavut is currently preparing a business case for the relocation of the Resolute Bay landfill.

Nunavut’s Department of Community and Government Services is waiting for a review from local council and approval of the final site.

The current landfill site is just a couple of kilometres away from the community, past its fuel tank farms near the cemetery, which causes some problems for Resolute residents.

“It’s close to the community,” said Ian Dudla, acting CAO and director of finance for Resolute Bay, who explained the dump attracts unwanted guests into town.

“It affects wildlife, especially polar bears.

It causes issues and wildlife (management) gets involved and they need to deal with the polar bears.”

According to the Government of Nunavut’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (ICSPs), plans for the new site in Resolute include an incinerator, increased double fencing, a recycling centre and remediation for the hazardous waste containment berm.

According to Dudla, the incinerator should help with the polar bears and the new site will work much better in terms of not attracting as much wildlife to the community.

A finalized design for the new landfill is expected in the spring of 2024, construction is to start later that year and completion of the new landfill is expected to be complete by 2025, pending budget approval and contract award.

Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk is urging the Government of Nunavut to improve the emergency services at health centres. Photo courtesy of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly

Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik urges youth in Sanikiluaq to stop and think before committing suicide. Photo courtesy of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly

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Rankin Inlet takes home Rock Cup

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔾᔨᔪᖅ Rock Cup-ᒥᑦ

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

The all-black squad from Salliq/Chester gave them a run for their money, but Rankin came out on top 2-1 in overtime to win the U15 Rock Cup Sunday, March 5.

Five teams competed in the tournament, with another set of younger teams playing a fun cup among themselves. The U13 Rankin Rock team participated in the U15 tournament as well, giving those players a taste of higher competition and physicality.

Fitting for Women’s Day, many of the stars of the weekend were women, including

several dynamo girls on the winning Rankin team.

Ashleigh Ollie shines in orange for team Arviat. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo ᐋᔅᓕ ᐆᓕ ᓵᑦᑐᔮᖅᑐᖅ ᒥᓗᑲᑖᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

Marcus Tutanuaq looks toward the camera during a break in play as he competes for Naujaat/Baker. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

ᑐᑕᓐᓄᐊᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᐳᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕈᑎᒧᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ/ ᖃᒪᓂᑐᐊᕐᒥ.

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Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

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Tina Misheralak, Atuat Hickes, Piupiu Kusugak and Makayla Kusugak gather for a photo after winning the U15 Rock Cup Sunday, March 5. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Myra Kadjuk from Chesterfield Inlet suits up for the Salliq/ Chesterfield team. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Mike Saviadjuk smiles while representing Salliq/ Chester. Stewart

Eli Sammurtok, foreground, smiles while getting his gold medal from David Clark. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᐃᓚᐃ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ, ᓄᓇᐅᑉ ᖄᖓᓂ, ᖁᖓᔮᖅᑐᖅ

ᒎᓗᑖᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᑲᓛᒃᒥᑦ.

ᖃᕆᑕᖅ ᐃᔨᒋᕚ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕋᐅᑎᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.

ᓗᒐᓐ ᐃᕐᓂᖅ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᖅ

ᑳᑉᑕᓐᔅ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ

Pooka Fredlund, middle, and her U13 Rankin Rock team competed against the older players. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᕗᕋᑦᓚᓐ, ᕿᑎᐊᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ

Salliq players take in the moment after giving up the overtime goal to Rankin, earning them silver in the tournament. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ,

Shea Karetak eyes one of his competitors. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo ᓰ

Logan Illnik dons the A for Rankin Rock. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᒻᒥᒃ.

Dexter Kalluak captains Arviat in the tournament. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo ᑕᒃᓯᑐ ᑲᓪᓗᐊᒃ

Deryk Voisey pulls his sleeves back after congratulating teammates on their overtime win. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Makayla Kaludjak receives her gold medal from David Clark. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ

ᐱᔪᓐᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ

ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

By Stewart Burnett

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᕗᖅ ᑎᓴᒪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ

ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᒥ

ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ

ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᒥ.

“ᐅᕘᓇ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᒋᓂᕆᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᑐᑭᓯᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᒧᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔪᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓕᓐᓯ ᑑᕐᓄᕐ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ

ᐊᔪᖅᓴᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᖅᑐᒥ

ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᕕᕗᐊᕆᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ.

ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᑭᒪᓂᖅ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ 2−ᒥ, ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂ

ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᒥ

ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕗᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ

ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᖅᐸᒌᖅᑐᒥ ᑲᔪᓯᔪᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᖓᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕋᔭᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᒥ, ᑭᙵᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᒥ.

“ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂ

ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑑᕐᓄᕐ.

“ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᑭᑭᑦᑐᑯᓘᙱᓚᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ

ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᖓ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ

ᑎᓴᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ. ᑎᑭᕋᔮᓛᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᖅ

ᖃᖓᑭᐊᖅ ᐱᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ

ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᑎᓴᒪᐅᔪᓂ.” ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ, ᑑᕐᓄᕐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖏᑦ

ᐊᐱᖅᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᒻᑕᒥᓂ

ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᓂᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ

ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᒥ

ᑕᐅᑦᑐᖃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ – ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ

ᐃᓄᑑᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᕈᓯᐅᔪᓂ

ᓴᓇᕐᕈᑎᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ,

ᓂᒡᓚᓱᒃᑐᓂ ᑐᖅᓲᖕᓂᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᕿᓯᖕᓂ

ᐊᒥᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ. ᑕᐃᑲᙵᑦ,

ᑑᕐᓄᕐ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ

ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖓᓂ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᒥ

ᐃᓚᓕᐅᔾᔨᔭᕆᐊᖃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ

ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕋᔭᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ

ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᕈᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᓱᖃᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒌᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ.”

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᒌᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑑᕐᓄᕐ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᕝᕕᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᕆᕗᖅ ᑕᖃᐃᖅᓯᐅᕝᕕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐸᖕᒥᐅᓗᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᓚᐅᑲᒋᐊᖅᑐᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

“ᑕᑯᕗᒍᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᒃᑲᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑑᕐᓄᕐ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔾᔮᙱᖦᖢᓂ. ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ

Baker Lake could get community wellness hub

Early work taking place to assess feasibility

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Baker Lake

Baker Lake is one of four communities identified in the territory that could see the future construction of a community wellness hub.

“Through all of our community conversations and gatherings, they’re very clear they don’t have enough spaces to be able to run the wellness programs they want to run,” said Lindsay Turner, director of the Government of Nunavut’s poverty reduction division, on her way home from a consultation trip to Baker Lake late February.

It’s part of the goals of the Makimaniq Plan

2, developed between the GN and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., with early work also going on to determine similar feasibility in Arctic Bay, Kinngait and Kugluktuk.

“It all comes down to budget questions,” said Turner. “Construction is not cheap, but the goal would be to build one in each of those four communities. The eventual big dream one day would be to have one in every community, but starting with these four.”

In Baker Lake, Turner and her team asked the community about their vision and ideas for what a community wellness hub would look like – from programs like private counselling rooms to tool-making shops, cold porches for working with skins and more. From there, Turner can start to develop the picture of what

the actual facility would need to include to facilitate that.

“We heard that they are keen to have a place where they could gather,” she said. “I heard very strongly they wanted a place where Elders could come together.”

Inuit have always helped each other out, said Turner, and creating a gathering spot for the community can help connect people to find ways to help each other. Also, the hub could act as a respite for people dealing with overcrowding or needing time alone.

“We see there’s such a richness in programs and ideas and talent in communities,” said Turner, adding that the goal with the hubs is to equip people with the tools to pursue those ideas.

Nunavut, NWT ban TikTok on government devices

App deemed an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security federally

Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are the latest jurisdictions in Canada to announce they are banning TikTok on government-issued devices pending a federal threat assessment.

Nunavut says access to the video-sharing platform was blocked on all of its networks as of March 7. The Nunavut government says its ban is an interim measure until its security team reviews the full assessment by the federal government. It says it manages a small amount of mobile phones.

The NWT says its ban took effect March 3, following the lead of the federal government and several provinces.

Ottawa announced last week it was banning TikTok from government-owned devices following a review of the social media app by Canada’s chief information officer.

Catherine Luelo determined it posed an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.

Nine provinces have since followed suit, while Ontario says it is considering a ban.

Yukon’s minister of Highways and Public Works told the assembly that employees would be notified of its ban on March 2.

Federal and provincial privacy watchdogs recently announced a joint investigation into whether TikTok complies with Canadian privacy legislation.

The NWT government says it decided to ban TikTok based on several risk factors, chiefly the application’s data collection methods, which “can provide almost complete access” to the contents of devices it has been downloaded on, making them more vulnerable to surveillance.

Nils Clarke, Yukon’s Minister of Highways and Public Works, said his department has the ability to delete specific apps from government-owned cellphones and prevent them from being downloaded. The territorial government said before issuing its ban, no one in its cabinet office had TikTok on their government-issued devices.

ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑑᕐᓄᕐ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐳᖅ ᐅᑎᓛᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᒥᕐᓯ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ. “ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓯᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᑭᐱᓯᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓗᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᒦᑉᐳᒍᑦ. ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᑕᓕᒪᓂ, 6−ᓂ 7− ᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓂᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ, ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᓄᓇᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥ, ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ.”

ᓕᓐᓯ ᑑᕐᓄᕐ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᖅᓴᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᕿᓂᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᑦ

The first consultation went well and won’t be the last. The project is in its early stages and Turner plans to return to Baker Lake for another round of examining priorities and determining what’s feasible and what isn’t. “To get to the ribbon cutting ceremony, it is a long process,” she said. “We’re in the very early stages. It could be five, six, seven years by the time you do all the design, the sealift ordering, the land preparation, the construction.”

Federal, provincial and territorial officials have said there is no evidence that government data has been compromised by using TikTok, but many Canadian jurisdictions have now banned the app on government devices. (Ben Hohenstat/ Juneau Empire)

The Chinese government has a stake in TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, and Chinese laws allow the country to demand access to user data.

The company that owns TikTok maintains that it does not share data with China’s government and its data is not held in that country.

Federal, provincial and territorial officials have said there is no evidence that government data has been compromised by using TikTok.

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

Lindsay Turner, director of the Government of Nunavut’s poverty reduction division, is exploring the potential for a community wellness hub in Baker Lake. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Airlines facing headwinds from worker shortages

Air travel a vital lifeline to Northeners

Airlines that operate in the North — where many residents rely on flights for transportation and goods — say disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic, a Canada-wide pilot shortage and new fatigue regulations are creating headwinds.

“With the Covid effect, that took a lot of people out of the marketplace,” said Michael Rodyniuk, president and chief executive officer of Canadian North. “It’s not as attractive as it used to be to become a pilot.”

Rodyniuk said new regulations that aim to reduce fatigue-related risks restrict the amount of time crew members can be on the job. He said that means airlines need more flight crews and it’s taking longer for pilots to get the needed experience to fly to locations in the High Arctic.

He said Canadian North did about five times the amount of pilot training in 2022 compared to pre-Covid.

“It’s a challenge for us to meet the market demand given some of the new regulations that are coming into place,” he said.

“For the vast majority of the year, the only way to get goods and people in and out of the North is by air, so our role is vital to the survival of the people of the North.”

Rodyniuk said the airline hasn’t had to cancel any destinations or significantly reduce flight volumes, but there have been cases where limits on duty time have resulted in delays.

Major airlines have reduced flights across Canada, including in the North, as they’re unable to keep up with the resurgence in demand since the lifting of pandemic restrictions and facing staff shortages.

Air Canada suspended flights connecting Yellowknife to Edmonton and Calgary last year, but said it intends to resume Edmonton flights in May. Canadian North started daily non-stop service between Yellowknife and Calgary on Feb. 14.

Joe Sparling, president and chief executive officer of Air North, also raised concerns about how the new fatigue rules could hamper airlines’ ability to deal with challenges such as weather disruptions.

“We feel like we’re trying to deal with these things with one hand tied behind our backs,” he said.

Sparling, whose airline has also not needed to reduce or cancel any flights, said pilots who get training and work in the North tend to move on to southern carriers.

“I think northern operators are going to have to become more aggressive in the job market,” he said. “We’re going to have to reach out to northern kids and encourage them to take up aviation as a career, not just as pilots but maintenance engineers.”

Robert Wickins, a pilot and flight instructor with the Terry Harrold School of Aviation in Fort Smith, NWT, said it can be difficult to attract and retain pilots in the North due to the lack of services compared to large cities.

He said financial incentives and other supports are needed to keep pilots in the North, where there are also benefits to working. He said the flight school is unique as it also has an airline, Northwestern Air Lease Ltd., where graduates can get experience.

“This is where… guys can get a lot of flying,” he said.

Difficulties in attracting and retaining pilots in the North are causing concern for the industry. Nick Morales/Unsplash

A 2018 report by the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace estimated the industry needed to hire 55,000 new workers by 2025 to keep up with projected growth and replace retirees. That included 7,300 new pilots and 5,300 new aircraft maintenance engineers. The report said the number of domestic graduates will only account for a quarter of those positions. It said the greatest current challenge is the high cost for new commercial pilots combined with historically low starting salaries and non-linear career paths.

Data from Transport Canada indicates the number of commercial pilot licences issued in Canada has significantly declined in recent years An average of 1,116 licenses were issued annually between 2012 and 2019, but 474 licences were awarded in 2020, 293 in 2021 and 238 in 2022.

Tim Perry, Canada president of the Air Line Pilots Association, said the effects of the pandemic, including disruptions to flight schools, have contributed to the issue.

“People considering the career were seeing how fragile it was and how many pilots were

out of work and how the whole transportation sector ground to a halt and left transportation workers in a very difficult position,” he said.

Perry said entry-level wages have been stagnant and it takes a long time to train pilots. He added airlines that operate in remote parts of Canada can have “cumbersome” schedules. Perry believes governments, industry and labour organizations, can work together to make the profession more accessible, affordable and desirable. He said that includes supporting flight training in more places, addressing financial barriers for students, improving wages for entry-level workers and attracting northern residents to the sector.

“The aviation sector in Canada is an essential, strategic national resource,” he said. “We can’t pretend that it’s anything less important than that and that means long-term planning, long-term investments.”

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

Iqaluit zoning bylaw revision hopes to address housing crisis Community consultations important part of process, says city’s economic development officer

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

The last full comprehensive review of Iqaluit’s zoning bylaw was in 2010, and work is currently underway on revising the city’s zoning bylaw to help shape how the territorial capital grows over the next 20 years.

Research, outreach and consultation on the zoning bylaw took place over the spring and summer of 2022 in the form of community surveys, staff workshops, open housing and meetings. One of the key issues, according to city officials, also turned out to be one of the more obvious ones.

“We know we have a housing crisis to deal with, and the community has reiterated this as the most important issue,” said Geoffrey Byrne, the city’s economic development officer.

More diverse and affordable housing options, more mixed-use flexibility in the core area, redevelopment opportunities for added secondary suites on single dwelling units and generally incentivizing more housing projects are being explored to address the housing crunch.

“These housing recommendations form only one part of an overall

effort to address housing, including the city’s housing strategy and initiatives being undertaken by other levels of government and organizations.”

Better policy around water drainage is also needed, said Byrne, with recommendations coming out of

consultations urging better tracking and monitoring of water and wastewater capacity as well as to limit new development dependent on trucked water and sewage.

Provisions surrounding cabins and beach shacks on the city’s waterfront are also outlined in city documen-

tation, something not historically regulated in Iqaluit’s past.

“There are currently very few provisions related to beach shacks in the general plan and zoning bylaw. A proper framework can help provide guidance on setbacks from the water,” said Byrne.

Much of the Iqaluit waterfront is under the jurisdiction of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, but Iqaluit’s zoning bylaw gives direction and regulation on how and where development occurs in the municipal boundary. Iqaluit might also seek to “normalize” from a planning perspective, cannabis stores, lounges and production facilities and to allow stores/lounges in designated central business, district commercial and capital district zones and to limit production facilities to industrial areas.

“This was a particular issue that the city requested be examined,” said Byrne, “These uses are not fully contemplated in the current documents. These uses may not be dealt with on a consistent or fair basis, due to the case-by-case approach.”

The city hopes the framework surrounding cannabis will better align them with territorial legislation and follow a similar approach to how alcohol is regulated in the city.

Good policy, said Byrne, is tailored to the specific needs along unique cultural and environmental factors of its people. That makes these public consultations particularly important, according to Byrne.

“Planning policy shapes the physical structure of our community, which can have both obvious and more subtle effects on the lives of community members.”

“These impacts range from housing and employment opportunities to commutes and pedestrian accessibility to drainage and snow piling.”

It also influences roads, water, sewage and overall development.

“These are long-term investments that are slow to change once built,” he added, saying today’s policies are tomorrow’s infrastructure.

“We encourage everyone to take a look at the draft Iqaluit Vision and proposed policy directions and provide feedback to the city.”

The project website can be viewed online and is available in Inuktitut, English and French.

The city hopes to reach out to the public again this spring on future proposed drafts and policy directions with more specifics and mapping before it is considered for proposal.

The City of Iqaluit is looking to revise its current zoning bylaw. The last comprehensive review was in 2010. NNSL file photo

ᐱᔪᒪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᖢᓂ

ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑕᐅᓕᖅᑑᖕᒪᑕ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ.

KINDLY

Nunavut News pre sents the Amazing On-the-Land contest, generously sponsored by NCC Investment Group Inc., visit www.nccig.ca. The post on our page with the most reactions each week will win $100. Send in your entry to Nunavut News by Facebook messaging.

ᐃᐅᕆᒃᕿᖕᖓᖅᑐᖅᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᓂᑦ. ᑖᓐᓇ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ ᓇᓄᖅ ᐱᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 25, 2023-ᒥ.

BY INVESTMENT GROUP INC. ᓵᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐊᓖᑭ ᑕᕙᕇᔅ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᓂᑦ, ᐱᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 26, 2022. 5 ᐃᓯᒐᓪᓗᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᐳᑎᖃᓐᖏᑦᑐᑦ. ᓯᑭᑑᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᑦ

ᐊᖅᑯᓵᖅᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᐳᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᖦᖢᓂ.

ᒫᕝ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᖅ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᑐᒑᐱᖕᒥᑦ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓯᒥᐅᓂ ᖃᔭᕐᒧᑦ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 19, 2022−ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᑐᒑᐱᐅᑉ.

ᑲᐅᕈ ᐅᑮᕕ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᑦ.

Photographers from across the region show what it’s like to be on the land.

Chantel Aleekee Tavares sent us this image from Taloyoak, taken on Feb. 26, 2022. They’re missing about five feet of snow. Ski-Doo trails usually pass by there, but no one does.

Daniel Taukie sent us this image from Baker Lake, a lovely morning taken on Feb. 28, 2023.

Erik Qingnaqtuq sent us this image from Taloyoak. This is his second bear taken on Feb. 25, 2023.

Karl O’Keefe sent us this photo from Naujaat.

Marv Illauq sent this picture from Clyde River, taken by Simionie Qayaq on Feb. 19, 2022 at other side of Clyde River.

ᓵᓚᖃᖅᑐᖅ! ᐊᓛᓱᐊ ᕼᐋᓐᓴᓐ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᒥᑦ. ᐊᓛᓱᐊ ᓇᖏᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ -55 C ᐊᓄᕆᒨᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᒧᒥᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

Daniel Taukie sent us this image from Baker Lake, a lovely morning taken on Feb. 28, 2023.

Okpik Ittimangnak sent us this image from Kugaaruk, taken on Feb. 28.

WINNER! Alassua Hanson sent us this image from Iqaluit. Alassua stood in the -55 C windchill to capture aqsarniit dancing in the sky.

Film review: ‘Ever Deadly’ is a documentary of Inuit power and song

Ever Deadly is a documentary about award-winning Inuk singer, activist and author Tanya Tagaq.

The film was written and directed by Tagaq and filmmaker Chelsea McMullan, and was produced by the National Film Board of Canada. Ever Deadly premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9, 2022. Since then Ever Deadly has had various screenings across Canada, including two screenings at the Metro Cinema in Edmonton in January 2023, which is when I watched the film.

I was excited for the film since I love listening to Tagaq’s music and her book Split Tooth is one of my favourites. But, despite being a fan I didn’t know too much about her — except that I love her music and her book. While the film doesn’t provide a complete biography of her life, it does provide glimpses into her life with a focus on her music and activism.

The film started off with Tagaq traditionally throat-singing with another Inuk artist Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory. At first, I was wondering: what were they doing? Were they simply singing a song together? Were they acting out a story together? Then at one point I realized they were competing with each other. And later on in the film I felt delighted to be proven right when Tagaq described tradi-

tional throat-singing as a friendly competition between two women. Tagaq’s throat-singing that is featured in most of her albums is contemporary throat-singing.

In Ever Deadly, scenes shot in Nunavut of Tagaq’s life were skillfully entwined with scenes of her performing at a concert. The film also features animated illustrations hand-drawn by Inuk artist Shuvinai Ashoona and spoken word lines from Split Tooth. The flow was captivating in that the tone of the scenes from Tagaq’s life were being matched with the tone of her singing scenes. Performance scenes where she would be singing in a calmer way were followed by calmer scenes from her life, while scenes where she was singing in a darker and more anguished way were followed by darker scenes. The film actually reminded me of a score of music where each note was paired with the next notes. All the scenes and sequences in the film flowed together very melodiously.

The film and Tagaq’s music was creepy and scary at times. But, I didn’t mind. In fact, I welcomed the creepiness and scariness of the film and her music. Because the world is a creepy and scary place. If people want to criticize Tagaq for having strange and dark sounding music, they should first criticize the world for being a strange and dark place.

Dark situations and topics were shown in the film. Tagaq’s mother tells the story of how the Canadian government forcibly relocated Tagaq’s family from their resource-rich community to a new location that was scarce in resources. Her family nearly starved to death, but they managed to survive. The film also brought attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada and brought attention to residential schools and the abuse and assimilation practices that happened.

“Residential schools have beaten the Inuktitut out of this town in the name of progress and the name of decency,” Tagaq said at one point in the film.

People were using their power to harm others. And most people didn’t care to stop it because it was Indigenous peoples being harmed.

Despite addressing such dark issues, the film was also really funny at times. There was a sense of humour and healing throughout the film. When Tagaq was asked if other animals besides fish also have hearts that continue to beat after they die, Tagaq remarked that she doesn’t know. She thought for a moment and then said that maybe chickens do.

I’m not capturing the sense of humour in that scene through my writing, but watching it in the theatre almost everyone around me was laughing. The audience members around me

were also laughing when Tagaq humorously said at one part in the film, “I don’t want people to visit my grave. I hate people!”

In conclusion, I really loved Ever Deadly. The film was so beautiful and stunning and was (just as the title suggests) ever deadly. I would really recommend that everyone watch the film. The messages and truths that the film tells on the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism in Canada are incredibly important.

And even if Ever Deadly had only shown concert footage scenes, the film would still be incredible just for the pure beauty and radiance and darkness of Tagaq’s music and singing. Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film shot and cut together in the way this film has been. Something about the way the film was edited and directed really gives off a sense of it being a song almost.

However, I will acknowledge that the film and Tagaq’s music might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Both the film and her music are very different from what most people would normally see and hear. But, as Tagaq said herself in the film: “It’s a very small room, so if you really hate it, it’s easy to leave. It’s just a few steps that way.”

—By Deena Goodrunning, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, Alberta Native News

Ever Deadly, a documentary featuring Tanya Tagaq, right, premiered in Toronto last September. Here she engages in throat-singing with Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory. Image courtesy/National Film Board of Canada

ᐄ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑖᓐᔭ ᑕᒑᖅ, ᑐᕌᓐᑐᒥ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᐅᕙᓂ ᑲᑕᔾᔭᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᓛᑯᑯᓗᒃ ᐅᐃᓕᐊᒻᓴᓐ ᐊᑖᑕᕆᒧᑦ.

‘Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to build infrastructure, says Patterson

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson recently spoke on the past and future of transportation in Nunavut, including the Grays Bay Port and Road project. This is the second half of his speech from the Kitikmeot Trade Show. The first half appeared in the March 6 edition of Nunavut News.

Big projects get done because the timing is right. We got a commitment to Nunavut from a prime minister that wanted to leave a legacy and show that cultural and language minorities could be accommodated within the Canadian federation, not by leaving as Quebec wanted to do and almost voted to do in the late 1980s. The extension of the Dempster Highway to Tuk (Tuktoyaktuk), which has benefited this region by allowing cargo destined for the Kitikmeot to come to Tuk by highway, was built by another prime minister who idolized John Diefenbaker and wanted to complete Diefenbaker’s dream of a highway to the Arctic Coast.

Another reason I get excited about this project is because of what it means to Canada’s sovereignty and security goals in the region. In creating a deep-water port in the western Northwest Passage, which can be utilized by the Royal Canadian Navy as a refueling station and base, Canadians will be boldly bolstering defense and security in the Arctic as never before — reducing the current vulnerability on our northern shores that the invasion of Ukraine has highlighted.

Building assets along the Arctic coast would also help assert Canada’s sovereignty over what we contend are internal waters. Not building such infrastructure would make us vulnerable to be having the Northwest Passage labelled by countries like China — not our friend these days it seems — and even our friend and neighbour the USA as an international strait, which would have an accompanying international air corridor, leaving us susceptible to foreign incursions, and not just balloons.

Over the years, I have worked closely with Nunavut Resources Corporation and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association to highlight the benefits of this project with key decision-makers in Ottawa. Three years ago, we secured a grant of just over $20 million to take the next steps with this project, launching the NIRB process — then Covid got in the way. So now we need to restart.

Kitikmeot leads the way

Once again the Kitikmeot region is leading the way in Nunavut — the GBPR (Grays Bay Port and Road) project is well advanced thanks to the existence of solid baseline data which will be required in the regulatory process — and thanks to the parallel support and participation of our territorial neighbour to the west — the NWT for their phase of the road north from Yellowknife to the Nunavut border — reiterated with Premier (Caroline) Cochrane on my way to Cambridge Bay this week. I know that this spectacular project will take great effort to nail down further support in Ottawa and line up corporate partners and patrons of the road and port. But we will be inspired by the potential to provide long term employment and business opportunities for our growing population while providing Inuit with a long-term revenue stream in return for the provision of their lands and license.

Throughout my 50-plus years living and working in the Arctic, I have always advocated for better support for northern infrastructure. I have railed against ad-hoc and per capita funding formulas and lamented the fact that an uncoordinated approach to funding has led to an inability for Canada to build momentum toward a strong, sustainable and self-reliant Arctic economy.

‘A huge challenge’

I’m no stranger to big projects that sometimes seem impossible to achieve.

Tackling our transportation infrastructure gaps is a huge challenge, because of the significant cost of these major projects — Iqaluit’s new airport cost a staggering $400 million and it is hard to get our transportation infrastructure needs noticed in southern Canada, where transportation infrastructure money easily goes into building new subway

lines to shorten the commute for people going to work in big cities. Canada built its national railway and national highway system and built federal government docks in every little town and village in the Atlantic and Pacific and never thought about our needs in the North. We are too few and too small to matter in Ottawa and we only have one MP and one senator. We have to sometimes shout to be heard. What successes we’ve had have been few and far between. But we have had successes and I’m honoured to have played a role in many of them.

My hometown of Iqaluit — built over 200 miles deep into Frobisher Bay — has one of the highest tides in the world, a huge barrier for annual sealift resupply. And Pangnirtung has rich fishing grounds, especially turbot, which is a wonderful fish in high demand in China. Our first small crafts harbour in Nunavut was built in Pang in 2013 and I was pleased to work with then Minister Aglukkaq to make it happen. Just this past summer, a new deep-water port was built in Iqaluit. After pushing for that port for over 50 years, it finally happened. I was at the official opening of the second Small Crafts Harbour in Nunavut in Pond Inlet last May. The Iqaluit marine project and the Pond Inlet Small Crafts Harbour together cost $90 million. The federal government has committed to building another small crafts harbour to support the significant fisheries potential in Qikiqtarjuaq and as part of the Tallurutiup Imanga Marine Conservation Area, there will be Small Crafts Harbours built in Clyde River and Arctic Bay by 2025 at a cost of $15 million.

‘Transformative projects’

It is my hope that by sharing these stories with you today, proponents and supporters of the Grays Bay Road and Port will feel comforted and energized in their efforts to make this project a reality. History has shown that persistence, clarity in purpose, and smart partnerships can move mountains and bring these transformative projects into existence.

With $4.9 billion announced for NORAD modernization and tens of billions more on the way, as well as millions ear-marked to support initiatives that would help advance Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy, we need to seize on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use as much of that money as possible to build the infrastructure required to support Canada’s ambitions with regard to Arctic sovereignty, de-

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑐᐊᕐᒥᒡᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖃᖅᖢᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᓯᓇᑕᒥᒃ.

“We are too few and too small to matter in Ottawa and we only have one MP and one senator. We have to sometimes shout to be heard,” says Nunavut Sen. Dennis Patterson.

courtesy of Dennis Patterson

fense and no longer having to rely on foreign critical minerals producers. Sovereignty and security must involve people of Nunavut and their communities.

I want to lend my continued support to the great visionaries of this region and I thank you for continuing to lead the charge to transform the Kitikmeot into a territorial leader when it comes to building your economy and finding ways to benefit all Kitikmeot communities, Nunavut and Canada.

Thank you. Qujannamiik. Koana. Taima.

Photo

Indigenous partners involved in developing food security

Everyone deserves access to affordable healthy food options

By Dan Vandal

Everyone deserves access to affordable healthy food options and essential goods no matter where they live.

The month of March marks National Nutrition Month across Canada. As the world faces increased costs for necessities, food prices affect everyone, and nowhere is this more acute than in the North and Arctic. Supply issues and shipping rates continue to affect retailers and families in communities across the North.

Our government has made substantial improvements to food security programs that directly respond to needs and priorities identified by Indigenous, territorial, and other partners across the North and Arctic.

No one program, department, or order of government can address food security on its own, which is why we continue to work directly with Indigenous and territorial partners to coordinate an approach that addresses costs, supply, transportation, and access to traditional Indigenous foods.

As a result, our government introduced the new Harvesters Support Grant, co-developed with Indigenous partners. It recognizes the importance of traditions, as well as hunting, harvesting, and food sharing, to the health

and well-being of Indigenous peoples and northern communities.

The grant is designed to ensure that Indigenous partners decide how to use it. They are the experts on harvesting and what their communities need. For example, supporting on-theland learning, youth and Elders programs, traditional ceremonies, hunting, food preparation and storage, and more.

In its first year alone, over 5,500 harvesters have been supported in communities across the North and Arctic, with more than 85 new food-sharing initiatives and 113 community hunts and harvests taking place.

Last summer, in Inuvik, I announced $163 million in funding to Nutrition North, which includes an enhanced Harvesters Support Grant as well as a new Community Food Programs Fund. This new fund will support activities that are led and delivered by community members, charities, recipient governments, health organizations, and Indigenous partners.

It will include support for initiatives such as local food programs, including at schools, meals for elders, and local food banks; community kitchens; chartered food delivery and support for those who travel winter roads to shop for others in the community; food-related infrastructure, such as storage and distribution; repair of equipment and renovations of facilities for food purposes; and pilot projects and innovations addressing food security.

In addition, our government established the Food Security Research Grant which will support northern communities, Indigenous organizations and academics to conduct Indigenous-led research that will improve food security data and inform and revise the impact of the Nutrition North subsidy program and analyze the impact on food security, and fill data gaps on the cost of living.

We are also taking action on food security initiatives through CanNor and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. CanNor uses the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund to support community-led projects

for local and Indigenous food production systems with an emphasis on innovative and practical solutions to increase food security across the North.

As part of this, CanNor funded the Northern Food Innovation Challenge, which supported innovative, community-led projects for local and Indigenous food production systems to help improve food security. Phase 1 saw nine projects, in all three territories, receive funding to develop their ideas to improve food security in the North.

We continue to invest in several food sovereignty initiatives such as greenhouses where food can be grown locally year-round as well as community freezers, supporting food sharing initiatives, and traditional foods storage.

Where you live shouldn’t dictate whether you have access to affordable healthy foods and necessities. As I have seen all across the North and Arctic, there is no shortage of resilience and innovative ideas in Indigenous and Northern communities. We will continue to work closely with Indigenous and northern partners to address food security and food sovereignty.

—Dan Vandal is the Minister of Northern Affairs, CanNor, and PrairiesCan, and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, Man.

Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal

Nunavut finally finds success at Tim Hortons Brier

Men’s rink defeats Newfoundland and Labrador for first-ever win at Canadian men’s curling championship

By James McCarthy Northern News Services

It’s official — every province and territory has now won at least one official game at the Tim Hortons Brier.

Nunavut made history at the Canadian men’s curling championship thanks to a 7-4 win over Newfoundland and Labrador in the first game for both teams at the 2023 edition of the event in London, Ont. on March 4.

Jake Higgs and his rink of Sheldon Wettig, Brady St. Louis and Jeff Lichty out of the Iqaluit Curling Club stole singles in the ninth and 10th ends to salt the win away.

In the post-match media scrum following the win, Higgs, who’s playing with the team as the out-of-territory player under Curling Canada’s rules, was just trying to take it all in.

“The crowd was so great it almost made me want to tear up,” he said. “You just try to keep breathing. I was nervous out there and you say just make all the shots you can and let the chips fall where they may.”

Nunavut started the contest with last rock in the first end, but Newfoundland and Lab-

rador would steal a single to go up, 1-0. Higgs would score two in the second to go out in front, 2-1, and the teams would trade singles from the third end to the eighth. At 5-4, Nunavut would steal one to increase their lead to 6-4, and another steal in the 10th and final end sealed the deal and set off some wild scenes at the Budweiser Gardens.

The big shot of the game came in the final end courtesy of Higgs — he could’ve played a double takeout to remove two Newfoundland and Labrador rocks, but he chose to play a hit-and-roll behind a guard.

That took away any chance for Newfoundland and Labrador to score at least two and tie the game.

Higgs even said the hit-androll was his shot choice all the way.

“Most of the teams here will play the bullet-weight thin double,” said Higgs. “That’s not my shot. I’m more control weight, make the nice hit and roll.”

Things didn’t go as well during the days that followed as Nunavut’s record fell to 1-6 by the end of play on March 8. That put the territory in a tie with Newfoundland and Labrador for last place in Pool A.

Nunavut celebrates its very first win at the Tim Hortons following a 7-4 win over Newfoundland and Labrador in London, Ont., on Saturday. From left, coach Blair Evans, Terry Lichty, Brady St. Louis, Sheldon Wettig and Jake Higgs. Curling Canada/ Michael Burns photo

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