Nunavut News - May 15, 2023

During the Red Dress Day march in Iqaluit, Raigelee Alorut holds a picture of her sister Saila Michael, who died in 2014. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

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News Briefs

ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᖅ, ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᖁᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

ᐅᒡᒍᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᕿᒃᓵᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ

ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᑑᓇᑦ ᒥᓗᒃᑐᖅ ᑐᖁᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐄᐳᕈ ᓄᖑᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. “ᑑᓚᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒻᒪᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓴᕆᒪᓱᒍᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᑎᖃᕈᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ,” ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂ. “ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂᓗ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑎᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᒃ. ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑳᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᓂ, ᓇᐅᔮᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.”

ᑕᐃᒪ 1969, ᒥᓗᒃᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᕆᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 1970−ᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᓂ, ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᓗ ᓄᓇᑖᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᒥᓂ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᑖᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ. ᒥᓗᒃᑐᖅ

ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒋᖅᑳᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᑉ ᑐᖏᓕᕆᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒋᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᖅ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᒃᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐊᖏᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

“ᑑᓇᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖏᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓕᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂᓗ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᓄᖅᑲᖁᔨᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓗᔮᓂ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ,” ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ”

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ. ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖑᖃᑕᐅᓕᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑎᑎᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ 2017-ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ 2019-ᒥ.

“ᐃᓅᓯᓗᒃᑖᓂ, ᑑᓇᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ,” ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. “ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐅᓇᓱᐊᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ

ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᓯᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒥᒡᓗ.

ᐅᑭᐅᑦ 30−ᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᖓ

ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ − ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ

ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᑑᓇᑦᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᖢᓂ.”

ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖅ ᐃᓂᑖᕆᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᖅ

ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᕿᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖅᑖᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᖢᐊᖏᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓄᓇᑖᕐᕕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓗ ᑕᑕᑎᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖃᕈᕕᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒍᕕᓪᓗ ᐊᕙᑎᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᖃᕈᕕᑦ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥᒃ, ᑕᑕᑎᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᕐᓗᑎᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ. ᑕᑕᑎᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ

Lawyer Aaju Peter on her healing and reconciliation journey in ‘Twice Colonized’ doc

‘I think Inuit are very trusting people and we believe the best in people’

At the Copenhagen premiere of the new documentary “Twice Colonized” in March, a young Greenlandic woman stood up in the audience and offered Aaju Peter “a beautiful moment of realization.”

“She said that it was the first time she had seen an image of herself being portrayed on a big screen,” Peter, a renowned Inuk activist, lawyer and the film’s main subject, said in a video interview.

“That meant so much to me because we need to tell our story, not only the good side but also show that you can go through hardships and learn to deal with it.”

The experience further underlined why the 63-year-old born in Arkisserniaq, a village in the north of Kalaallit Nunaat — also known as Greenland — agreed to be in front of Danish filmmaker Lin Alluna’s lens. Peter is also one of the film’s executive producers and writers.

“Twice Colonized,” which opened Toronto’s 2023 Hot Docs film festival, centres on Peter, who has been an ardent defender of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Denmark, Greenland and

Canada.

Alluna shadowed Peter over the course of seven years, capturing her liberation from personal traumas and anger — including her forced assimilation and the unexpected death of her youngest son — and her pursuits to establish an Indigenous forum at the European Union.

“It’s scary to just have somebody film you for all those years because they capture everything,” said Peter. “It’s a scary process to be so vulnerable and trusting, but I think Inuit are very trusting people and we believe the best in people — they took that trust to portray both sides of my story.”

After her parents sent her to Denmark to attend high school and live alone, as was the custom at the time, Peter said she was ultimately surrounded by those who didn’t care about or understand her culture as she moved from one place to the next.

“When you try to whiten-ize little Inuit, you separate them from their parents… you separate them from their peers,” she says in “Twice Colonized.”

It’s a documentary that covers the highs

and lows of her journey as a campaigner, activist, and lawyer who often worked as an adviser for both the United Nations and the European Union — a task motivated by a familiar feeling of having one’s identity stripped away.

“When I would go to the European Parliament to protest their anti-sealing legislation and how wrong they were, I was all by myself and felt so alone… so tiny and minuscule,” said Peter, who currently resides in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut.

“I felt like a fly on the wall to them… they are legislating our culture, our economy, and our society through the backdoor and they are all the way in Europe, so I know how important it has been to have Indigenous Peoples represented in the European Union so we can have a collective voice.”

Peter said she prefers to marry the issues she tackles before courts or legislative bodies with her own life trials to illustrate that she isn’t a “100-year-old romanticized vision of an Inuit survivor.”

—By Noel Ransome, The Canadian Press

Photo by Angela Gzowski Photography

Federal, Nunavut governments’ Inuit employment plans not meeting promises: arbitrator

Inuit representation found to be highest in administrative positions and lower in management, supervisory, scientific and professional roles

An arbitrator has sided with the organization representing Nunavut Inuit, ruling that plans by the federal and territorial governments to increase Inuit employment in the territory are not meeting commitments in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

Part of the 1993 agreement aims to increase Inuit employment in the public service in Nunavut to levels representative of the territory’s Inuit population — 85 per cent.

In a dispute that went to arbitration in 2020, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., or NTI, argued the governments’ plans do not fully comply with that agreement.

In an initial decision, arbitrator Constance Hunt agreed with the Inuit organization. She found the governments’ current plans fail to set long-term goals that explain how each department will reach and maintain representative Inuit employment, and they make it difficult to determine how much and where progress has been made.

She also said the Nunavut government’s plans fail to use National Occupational Classification codes and do not address regular part-time employment.

“This decision marks a turning point in the lives of Nunavut Inuit and in advancing our social and economic position within the Nunavut Territory and in reminding the governments to comply with their legal obligations under the Nunavut Agreement,” NTI President Aluki Kotierk said in a statement.

“As a society that used to live out on the land, we knew how important every single person is, whatever role they play. And now that we live in communities where far too many Inuit are unemployed, the feeling of being worthless or not having as much value

“As a society that used to live out on the land, we knew how important every single person is, whatever role they play. And now that we live in communities where far too many Inuit are unemployed, the feeling of being worthless or not having as much value becomes a great burden … and it eats away at our self-esteem,” says Nunavut Tunngavik President Aluki Kotierk. NNSL file photo becomes a great burden … and it eats away at our self-esteem.”

Inuit have been significantly under-represented in the public service in Nunavut, which is the largest employer in the territory.

The Nunavut government’s rate of Inuit employment has remained around 50 per cent since 2012, while a 2018 report on the Nunavut Inuit labour force stated 40 per cent of federal employees in the territory were Inuit. A federal employee testified during arbitration that it has risen to 48 per cent in recent years.

That report found Inuit representation

was the highest in administrative positions and tended to be lower in management, supervisory, scientific and professional roles. It identified family responsibilities, lack of opportunities in people’s home communities, health and historical trauma as barriers.

“There are so many things that are involved with having Inuit hired within government and retained and promoted,” Marie Belleau, managing legal counsel at NTI, said during a news conference Wednesday. “All of those require active and ambitious steps where it really has to be a priority.

“It is achievable and that was the goal

and the steps were already laid out in the Nunavut Agreement back in 1993 when the agreement was signed.”

Plans fall short

The federal government has prepared nine Inuit employment plans for its departments and a draft of a whole-of-government plan. Nunavut has published 14 plans for its departments and a master plan to have 54 per cent Inuit employment by 2020 and 58 per cent by 2023.

None of those plans set goals for reaching 85 per cent Inuit employment or address how that would be maintained.

The governments argued long-term goals are less reliable and harder to achieve.

Dr. Michael Prince, Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy at University of Victoria, testified during arbitration that under present arrangements he would not anticipate representative employment levels could be achieved before the end of the century.

Belleau said NTI has proposed remedies and now has 60 days to discuss them with the federal and territorial governments. It’s a confidential process, she said, and could result in monetary damages.

“We are obviously seeking measures that can improve governments’ efforts in achieving adequate Inuit employment plans,” she said.

“I think the biggest outcome, biggest positive outcome of this, would be that the obligations are actually fulfilled, so we don’t find ourselves years from now again trying to figure out how we can impress upon the governments how important it is to live up to the obligations,” Kotierk added.

By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press

Leaders express disappointment with changes to Canadian North airline

Northern leaders say they are disappointed with changes that allow Canadian North to increase prices and reduce flight service in remote communities, but the airline says it will be better able to meet demand.

Ottawa announced late last month it had approved new terms and conditions for Canadian North’s merger with First Air. Those include permitting the airline to reduce community service to one flight per week and increase fares up to 25 per cent within a calendar year.

“People across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are rightfully concerned about the cost of travel in the North,” Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout said in a statement. “After speaking with the company and expressing my concerns, I’m hopeful that Northerners won’t see an increase in their costs, but I will continue to keep a close eye to ensure prices and services are fair.”

Canadian North serves 25 communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and northern Quebec, as well as Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton.

In many Northern communities, air travel is the only way to travel year-round and the cost of living is higher than elsewhere in Canada.

The Canadian government initially approved the merger in 2019 with conditions meant to protect the public interest. A report by the Competition Bureau expressed concerns the merger could result in a lack of competition, price increases, and reductions in passenger and cargo capacity and flight schedules.

Last month, Transport Canada said changes were needed as the Covid-19 pandemic had affected Canadian North’s ability to comply with those rules and remain financially viable. The department noted the airline was exempt from scheduling obligations during the pandemic and received $138 million in federal funding.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra was not made available for an interview, but his office said Canadian North must adjust any route’s capacity or schedule if passenger load exceeds an average of 85 per cent for six consecutive months.

The airline has already made changes to its summer flight schedule.

Some routes will see increased capacity, more than doubling on flights between Inuvik and Yellowknife. The airline is also adding a new route between Iqaluit and Yellowknife.

Other communities are to see service reductions, the greatest being by 50 to 54 per cent between Norman Wells and Yellowknife and Norman Wells and Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.

The airline said in a statement the changes are meant to reallocate capacity to where demand is needed. For Norman Wells routes so far this year, it has seen an average of 10 passengers on planes with 80 to 100 seats.

Canadian North added while some communities will have fewer flights, they will benefit from direct service rather than sharing aircraft with multiple communities.

Norman Wells Mayor Frank Pope said he’s concerned about

“After speaking with (Canadian North) and expressing my concerns, I’m hopeful that Northerners won’t see an increase in their costs, but I will continue to keep a close eye to ensure prices and services are fair,” say Nunavut MP Lori Idlout.

“surprise cuts” on flights in and out of the community from seven to four days a week. He said residents already face high living costs and rely on the airline for medical appointments, economic development and tourism.

“Seems that we’re just at the pointy end of the stick all the time and I don’t think people in the south realize just how tough it is to live in the North,” he said. “We live here because we like it but, boy oh boy, we’re going to be losing more and more people here who do like it, but can’t afford to live here.”

By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press

‘People across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are rightfully concerned about the cost of travel in the North,’ says MP

Photo courtesy of Canadian North

Saving Ranger Jeetaloo Kakee

Iqaluit Ranger recalls the rescue of his colleague and his own brush with death

Contributed Content

The Iqaluit Rangers were told to go to Nattilik Lake first week of April. Mathew Akavak, Jeetaloo Kakee and Noah Alookie were among them.

They got gas and food, four Rangers from Iqaluit and four Rangers from Cape Dorset, according to Alookie. They were flown to Iqaluit, along with Major Sgt. Adam and Sgt. Ryan. The first stop was at Sylvia Grinnell Lake. In the morning, on the way to Amajuaq Lake, they made a stop at the NCC cabin, with three people going to Pond Inlet and then on to Nattilik Lake. They dropped off gas at the cabin that they would use to get back to Iqaluit.

It was getting dark, and at the end of Amajuaq Lake the ice was rough. Alookie said he and Kakee led the Rangers.

It was going smooth for 40 or 50 kilometres. Kakee was leading the small group. Suddenly, Kakee fell and Alookie said the Rangers told him the qamutik could come off and he should turn back.

Akavak handed Alookie the qamutik pin and they went after Kakee.

“Then I saw a Ranger standing with no

Ski-Doo. She told me Ranger Jeetaloo fell in the water. She crawled on the ice to a safe area,” Alookie recalled. “I took my ice chisel, it was so thin. I called to Ranger Jeetaloo if he was OK for two minutes — no answer. He was down in the water.”

Alookie feared that his colleague had drowned.

“I started to cry and tears ran down from my eyes. Then our sergeant, Kevin Kullualik, came with an ice chisel. Ranger Jeetaloo came up, talked to us, (but warned us) ‘Don’t come further — both of you might fall through the ice.’ He didn’t drown, I saw only his head (sticking out the water).”

Kullualik asked Alookie, who was lighter in weight, to push a qamutik toward Kakee while Kullualik held a safety rope.

“Both of us were yelling, I pushed the qamutik toward Ranger Jeetaloo. Jeetaloo was in the water up to his neck,” said Alookie.

“The qamutik (went) back and forth. He managed to get into his qamutik. (He) grabbed the cross piece. We grabbed the (other) cross piece. The qamutik sank through the ice.

(Now) both of us were in the water. I yelled at Sgt. Kevin Kullualik, “Pole! Pole! Pole!” We went and got into a safe area.

“I look back to see if Ranger Jeetaloo is still holding on. Sgt. Kevin took Ranger Jeetaloo. We handily walked to his Ski-Doo. A tent was set up already by the Rangers. I cry. I cry in my heart,” Alookie said. “Both of us got changed, and headed toward Nattilik Lake. Jeetaloo was pushed (in the) qamutik, and checked on every 15 minutes. It took us four to five hours to Nattilik Lake to the cabin.”

Ranger Jeetaloo survived. His body survived without medication, but all of his

belongings were lost. Adam called for an Iqaluit helicopter. It was not coming until the morning.

The next day, Alookie heard the chopper, which landed on the Nattilik Lake ice with two nurses on board to tend to Kakee. Alookie, who’s also a board member with the Amaruq (Iqaluit) Hunters and Trappers Association, said he later learned that if the qamutik pin didn’t come off his Ski-Doo, he would have drowned.

The removed pin off of Noah Alookie’s qamutik and Ski-Doo. Photo courtesy of Noah Alookie

Iqaluit Ranger Noah Alookie takes a photo right after they rescue fellow ranger Jeetaloo Kakee. Photo courtesy of Noah Alookie

Member of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Jeetaloo Kakee had to be rescued after falling through some thin ice. Photo courtesy of Noah Alookie

TB screening planned for Nunavut hamlet battling outbreak since 2021

The Nunavut government and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, a group representing Inuit in the territory, are holding a community-wide screening clinic for tuberculosis in Pangnirtung later this year.

The screening is to begin in September and continue through November.

A tuberculosis outbreak was declared in the hamlet in November 2021.

As of late February, 39 people in the community had been diagnosed with active TB and 167 with latent TB. The last community-wide screening in the territory took place in Whale Cove

in 2018.

The federal government and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national advocacy group, have pledged to reduce active tuberculosis across Inuit communities by half by 2025 and eliminate it entirely by 2030.

Last month, Nunavut Health Minister John Main acknowledged that the Covid19 pandemic has hindered efforts to meet those TB goals.

“Covid has had a huge impact on every area of health care, and that includes TB,” Main said. “While we were putting so much effort toward dealing with Covid,

we did have to slow the pace of work on other areas.”

Public Health Agency of Canada data indicates reported rates of active tuberculosis dropped significantly among Inuit between 2019 and 2020 from 188.7 cases per 100,000 to 72.2. Health officials in Inuit Nunangat, however, say that’s partly due to reduced screening.

Indigenous Services Canada says the rate of tuberculosis among Inuit increased to 135.1 in 2021.

Main said Nunavut is now “getting things back on track.” The territory

signed a tuberculosis information sharing agreement with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., a group representing Nunavut Inuit, in November. Main said they are also working to finalize a three-year plan to guide elimination efforts.

“At this point I can’t say, but it’s certainly not going to stop us from doing everything we can towards that goal,” said Main. “I’m not going to say that I can look into a crystal ball and see what’s going to happen in the next two years, but I’m hopeful, cautiously optimistic I would say.”

—By The Canadian Press

Pangnirtung will be the site of a community-wide screening clinic for tuberculosis from September through November. Timkal/Wikimedia Commons photo

Rankin Inlet beer and wine store stretches support services ‘to the max’

RCMP, council, community members speak out as crime statistics soar

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Citing grim statistics that seem only to go up, Rankin Inlet RCMP Sgt. Patrick Frenette sent a clear message to hamlet council at its meeting Monday, May 8.

“I don’t know what influence council does have on the minister in charge of the liquor store, but definitely, I think it would be time to have some pretty open conversations,” said Frenette about the impact the beer and wine store is having in Rankin Inlet and the broader Kivalliq.

The store opened in December 2021, and though some crime statistics increased afterward, the RCMP wasn’t sure at first if those figures were related to pandemic restrictions easing or the store itself.

Now, it’s been long enough – and the numbers continue to go up – that Frenette felt confident to point out the problem in Rankin Inlet.

“To be honest with you, Mr. Mayor, the common denominator that I see in the community is the beer and wine store,” he said. “I’m hoping we can have the agreement from council that this is an issue.”

In April, the RCMP responded to 239 calls, with 142 of them having alcohol involved. Eighty-five detainees spent time behind bars, with 13 files resulting in criminal charges and seven more under investigation.

Comparing the year to date to 2022, total calls are up 47 per cent, calls involving alcohol are up 61 per cent, detainees are up 111 per cent and domestic violence is up 244 per cent.

“Our prisoners is what’s really striking here,” said Frenette.

The RCMP is already working at peak summer season levels, he said, with summer only just beginning.

He floated a few ideas for changes with the beer and wine store but said some real discussions need to take place – and the sooner, the better.

“Twenty-four beers a day is not a limit, in my opinion,” said Frenette. “I think if there are no discussions being held with people that can influence the beer and wine store, our statistics are simply going to go up and up and up.”

He added that he wasn’t coming to council to tell them to shut down the beer and wine store, but that there needs to be ideas bounced around and an open roundtable discussion on it.

And not just the RCMP is feeling it. Frenette said all of his community partners are talking about the influence the beer and wine store has had on Rankin Inlet and the whole region.

“We can only sustain statistics like this for so long with the amount of resources and personnel that we have in place to address them,” he said.

If things continue going as they are, he said, “I think Rankin Inlet is going to burn out all their community-based resources.”

‘Stretched to the max’

Pelagie Sharp, executive director of the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, presented to council next and echoed that sentiment.

“All levels of community supports are getting stretched to the max,” she said, adding that the alcohol-related challenges in the community are getting to be too much to handle.

Frenette added that in discussions with other detachment commanders, the beer and wine store in Rankin Inlet is contributing to alcohol-related issues in other communities as well.

“It’s really affecting every family in Rankin Inlet,” said Mayor Harry Towtongie. “We have to do something. We know that.”

Coun. Kelly Lindell said she knows some people may be upset if limitations are put on the beer and wine store, especially the people who are able to enjoy drinking without it becoming a problem.

“But not everyone can enjoy it,” she said. “That’s the part we need to tackle. How do we help the ones who can’t just enjoy it?”

Coun. Michael Shouldice referenced the “thoughts and prayers” line used regarding tragedies around the world.

“I think we’ve crossed the line, most likely before today, on thoughts and prayers with alcoholism in this community,” said Should-

ice. “I think we’ve really got to do something solid, solid. Not just, ‘We’ll write a letter.’”

He said he wouldn’t be shy to suggest Rankin Inlet will shut down the beer and wine store, but added that that proposition comes with trade-offs too, like the loss of jobs at the outlet.

Coun. Chris Eccles suggested council members meet and hash out the subject themselves before taking it to higher levels of government so that they can speak in a unified voice.

“Everybody knows it’s an issue,” said Eccles. He added that he didn’t join council to get re-elected.

“This is one of those changes you’ve got to set politics aside and say this is what our community needs to do.”

Pelagie Sharp, executive director of the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, told Rankin Inlet hamlet council that community resources are stretched dealing with challenges of alcoholism. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

RCMP Sgt. Patrick Frenette sent a clear message to Rankin Inlet council May 8: the beer and wine store is causing a significant problem in the community and beyond. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

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HALUU INUIT. HILA ALIANAQHIJUQ AUQTULIQMAN IQALUKTUUTIAMI. IQALUKHIUKNAHIJUQ AUDLATIJUT ALIANAQ. INUIN MAJUVAKTUT

EKALOKTOTIAMUN. NUTAQQATLU QUANA AUDLAATIVAKTUT. UPLAQINIAQMIJUT IQALUKTUUTIAMI

HIKUMILU ULAPQIVIKMILLU KAMIUNITI HAAMILU. INIQNIGIITLU ULAPQINIAKTUTLU. TAPKUAT HAVAKHIMAYAIT ULAPQIPKAINAHUAT QUUJATAKTAVUT IHUAKHAIMATA. NIRINAHUATLU ULISIKNAHUATLU NATTIQHIUKNAHUATLU NUTAQQATLU

ULAPQINAHUATLU

QUANA. MAQPIRAAK QINIQLUGU

HUMUNGGNAQQATLU

CAMBRIDGE BAY TEA TALK

with Navalik Tologanak email: helent@qiniq.com

HUMILIKIAK PINAHUAT. AANIKHIMAITTUMIK ULAPQIJAVUT INUIN. QURLUQTUMIITLU

PULAAQTIQAQNIAQMIJURUT. NAGUJUMIK INUIN AUDLAATJAVUN. UUNIUTIJAVATIT INIKNIRIIT TUPIKNAHUAT HIKUMILLU. TEETURIAPAKLUHI QINIQLURIT ILANNUATIT. NAAMMAKPAKLUHI. IHUMAIJATKA

TAPKUAT AANIAQTUTLU TAPQUATLU ILAIJAKHIMAJUT. AYUKNAKMAN. AKHUUKPAKLUHI.

Welcome to the 2023 Umingmak Frolics in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Yes, it is that time of year again when the community celebrates springtime after a long winter. Although some winter weather was milder according

to our Elders. This year the annual spring festival begins on Saturday, May 13, 2023 happening at the Luke Novoligak Community Hall noon till 2:00pm. The giant bingo was held earlier on a payday weekend. Many events on the calendar show many Elders activities with a tent being set up down at the ice, there are also games scheduled for children with races set up. Each year they hold a seal derby and this year it is going to be held on Monday, May 15th, 2023 starting at 8:00am all week long, Please check the schedule. There will be snowmobile races scheduled for both men and women, and of course we have to have 120 races for children and also Elders. This is a fun event to watch our kids do the 120 races on a short and cute track especially made just for them. Also the Elder 120 snowmobile races are so fun to watch with lots of laughs. Each year volunteer groups or sports groups fundraise by operating the canteen down on the ice. Each year the community appreciates all volunteers to help make the annual festival a successful one and also our hard working recreation staff at the Hamlet Wellness Centre. Niuvipgainahuanlu kammiuniti haami Mai 13mi tualumunggakkan pinahuan. Miqhatitlu hanauyaniklu niqihaniklu tigumiaklugit. Mukpaujakhaniklu iigajavuhi mamagijait inuinlu qablunaatlu. Without bannock at the annual frolics bazaar just won’t be the same, the annual bazaar will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the community hall between 12noon till 2:00pm. So all you talented artists, cooks,

Hi Mom! Happy Mother’s Day going out to Bessie Komak in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Here is 11 year old Leanne PALOK Haniliak ice fishing up at Grenier Lake in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Sunday, May 7, 2023. Photo courtesy of Bessie Komak. Quana.

bring your products to the hall and see you there. We hope everyone has a safe and fun filled week of frolics activities. Be happy and pray for the families who are ill and those who have lost their loved ones. Take good care of each other.

God Be With You Son. I know you will be watching over the snowmobile races from up there and keeping everyone safe.

Making their voices heard

Community members walk through Rankin Inlet in recognition of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Friday, May 5. The event was hosted by Victim Services. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Red Dress Day march held in Iqaluit

Inuit women 14 times more likely to experience violence, says Qulliit

By Trevor Wright Northern

Services Iqaluit

Iqalummiut gathered on May 5 to take part in the Red Dress Day march, held in memory of Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Raigelee Alorut, an Iqaluit resident who took part in the event, lost a loved one to what she believes was a violent death.

“She was my younger sister, she died in June of 2014… police reported it as a suicide, then later as an accident. She drowned in the bathtub. I’m here to represent her for the walk,” said Alorut, speaking about Saila Michael. The circumstances surrounding Michael’s death, as well as the subsequent handling of her case by police, have left more questions than answers, she adds.

“The (murder) rates keep going up higher when the RCMP or cops are involved. It’s like they tend to close the file. They close the file and forget, and they can’t reopen the file,” she said. “Indigenous women, it’s like we’re forgotten. If it’s a non-Indigenous woman there would be a search and they would get it resolved. First Nations, Inuit and Metis, it’s like we’re forgotten.”

Inuit women are 14 times more likely to experience violence in comparison to the national average and are more likely to experience physical and sexual abuse compared to non-Indigenous women, according to the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council.

“The feelings I get in 2023 are strong, to do the work we’re doing to support those who are

continuing to advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women, (and) Inuit women, throughout Canada,” said Amber Aglukark, president of Qulliit.

Aglukark is hopeful that the work Qulliit and other groups are doing will help support the action needed to reduce violence against Indigenous women and girls.

While awareness on the issue of missing and murdered has increased in recent years, says Aglukark, action is still very much required on the matter.

“It’s obvious there’s awareness throughout the country, but now it’s time to take action,” she said. “We put these projects and initiatives in place, but it’s time to take action in making it happen in our communities.”

The march, which brought together around 80 to 90 people, was a good show of support for this issue, according to the Qulliit president.

“I see Inuit, I see non-Inuit included in our group today, that’s good, we want partnership and we want allies,” said Aglukark. “It is OK for Nunavut to come together to not only bring awareness, but advocate and be loud with our council, be loud with those advocating for missing and murdered Indigenous women.”

At the end of the march at the Iqaluit Centennial Library, Pauktuutit showcased the unveiling of its Red Amauti project, a commemorative project designed to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

The event was organized by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council, the Government of Nunavut and the Agvik TWCA.

Signs outside the Qulliit office provide sobering facts about Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Iqaluit residents Newkinga Moss, left, and Lanishaw Degrasse, right, hold up signs in support of implementing a national emergency for missing and murdered Indigenous women. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Raigelee Alorut holds a picture of her sister Saila Michael, who died in 2014. Trevor Wright/ NNSL photo

News

Qulliit president Amber Aglukark speaks to a crowd of 80 to 90 people before the Red Dress Day march. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Bringing back a classic

Race to Whale Cove takes place for first time in three decades

first place, completing the full loop in one hour, 18 minutes, 35 seconds. Four racers broke down and did not finish.

Noel Kaludjak remembers racing in the Rankin Inlet to Whale Cove race 30 years ago, back when it was an annual event.

“It’s always exciting,” he said with a smile, just after 13 competitors took off from Rankin Inlet to Whale Cove and back on their snowmachines Thursday, May 4.

“I know what it’s like. For the young guys, it’s amazing. We’re all pumped up. Watching them take off like that, it’s just amazing.”

Conditions weren’t perfect – Kaludjak was hoping for a sunny day, but it was a little bit white out. Still, it was good enough to race, and the challenges of the elements and the route is what makes the long-distance race so compelling.

“Back in the early 1980s, all the races stopped around here because people were afraid, I guess — machines were too fast, all that, the safety equipment wasn’t there,” said Kaludjak about why the community-to-community race stopped for so long.

“But now we’re getting it back. We’re getting the safety equipment, following all the rules regulations, all that stuff now. It’s safer for the racers to race now, and it’s accepted again. The racing is finally coming back.”

The distance between the communities is just under 70 km. Jarvis Towtongie came in

“First of all, your snowmobile has to be in good running order and fast,” said Kaludjak about keys to the race.

The next is managing the difficult terrain.

“The rocks and ice ridges are challenging,” said Kaludjak, adding that the trail was actually pretty clear this year, though that is not always the case.

But the speed competitors move at also adds an element of danger and difficulty to keep up.

“These guys are so fast,” said Kaludjak.

This year’s event was a trial run, he added, with hopes to make it even bigger next year if people support it.

“The main thing is the young people like to go fast and (it gives them) something to do,” said Kaludjak about why he and the committee brought the race back.

“Gives them something exciting to do. ‘I’m going to race tomorrow, I’m going to race next year, I’m going to get my snowmobile ready.’ Something for them to do besides other stuff. It’ll keep them away from trouble and all that. My dad always said, young people like to speed, give them the speed. Chase wolf, snowmobile race, go hunting, do it. Just do it.”

He added that he was thankful for the committee’s time and efforts to make the race a success. The race was sponsored by Combustion Performance, Sigluaq Shop and Arctic Heating.

Members of the Whale Cove Race Committee gather. From left to right are Silu Autut, Noel Kaludjak, Taina Kubluitok, Moses Aupilardjuk, Gabe Choquette and Neco Towtongie. Photo courtesy of Taina Kubluitok

Racers take off two at a time to Whale Cove. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Daniel Jr. Panika was the last racer to leave Rankin Inlet, finishing sixth with a time of 1:32:23. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Kivalliq

Jarvis Towtongie is hoisted up after finishing first in the race with a time of 1:18:35.

Photo courtesy of the Whale Cove Race Committee

Gabe Choquette waves the flag as racers take off to Whale Cove from Rankin Inlet Thursday, May 4. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Nursing couple loving the North

Julia Swan and Winston Huynh embracing life in Kivalliq region

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Early in the pandemic, couple Julia Swan and Winston Huynh – both registered nurses – saw a job ad for nurses in Nunavut.

“We thought to ourselves, ‘What an amazing adventure that would be to pick up our lives and relocate to the North,’” said Swan about the life-altering decision she and her husband

Huynh were about to make.

That was three years ago and the pair are still here, along with a new, eight-month-old member of the family.

Both work in Rankin Inlet at the Kivalliq Health Centre.

“On our unit we care for patients from all over the Kivalliq region, from small newborn babies up to Elders and everyone in between,” said Swan.

She called nursing in Nunavut a rewarding experience and said she has formed many close friendships with colleagues and community members.

“It feels like one big family,” said Swan.

The position has also allowed her to step outside her comfort zone.

“Every shift is different,” said Swan. “You have to be flexible and ready for anything. I genuinely do feel empowered by the impact I’m making here in the lives of our patients and their families.”

She called experiencing Inuit culture, the language and traditions an unforgettable and enriching experience.

“The land, the climate, vibrant people,” said Swan. “There are so many opportunities for personal and professional growth here in Nunavut.”

Scholarships help five students pursue nursing careers

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

The Government of Nunavut handed out five Queen Elizabeth II scholarships to top Nunavut Arctic College nursing students in Iqaluit April 24.

The award provides $3,000 toward students’ studies for second, third and fourth-year students in the nursing program.

The 2023 scholarship award winners are Hattie Pameolik, Evora Essoh, Charity Uche, Vayda Kaviok and Nicole Boland.

“As Nunavut continues to work through the challenges of a global nursing shortage, it is encouraging to know Nunavummiut are training to fill these much-needed roles,” said Minister John Main in a news release.

“I am proud of my department’s continued support to train nurses locally, which helps develop a stronger, more culturally informed workforce. I would like to congratulate all recipients of this year’s award for their dedication to their studies toward the future care of Nunavummiut.”

Julia Swan and Winston Huynh are a nurse couple living in Rankin Inlet, pursuing the same career. Photo courtesy of Julia Swan

Award winners pose for a photo. From left to right are Evora Essoh, Charity Uche, Nicole Boland and Vayda Kaviok. Missing is Hattie Pameolik. Photo courtesy of the Department of Health

Problem solver extraordinaire

New challenges ahead as Grise Fiord back on track

By Darrell Greer Northern News Services

Grise Fiord’s financial and water woes appear to be a thing of the past, thanks to the efforts of Daryl Dibblee.

Originally from Saint John, N.B., Dibblee, who has a wife of Inuit descent from Labrador, has seen his fair share of Northern communities since starting his Inuit-owned company, Sivummuak (Moving Forward) Consulting Ltd.

Dibblee has a background in finance and operations and his job is to come to a community, fix any issues that exist, hire long-term people and move on.

Since starting his Northern career with Baker Lake Contracting Services, Dibblee has provided his services to a number of communities across Nunavut over the years, including Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet, Resolute, Pangnirtung, Sanikilliaq and Kuugaaruk, among others. He found himself in Grise Fiord about 18 months ago.

Dibblee said his stay ended-up being much longer than originally planned when a water situation cropped up.

He said Grise Fiord is the only Nunavut community still using water tanks, with no water-treatment plant for the community.

“The community’s two tanks (3.7 and 3.5 million litres) are normally filled once a year with water that comes down from the mountains and the fiords,” said Dibblee.

“ A problem with too much heat in one of the tanks (3.5 million litres) led to its base giving way and the community losing all the water in that tank.

“So, for 18 months we were operating on one tank which we could only fill for like a six week period. This past summer, we finally got it fixed, $6.5 million later.”

Dibblee said it was tough on the community, having to conserve water for so long. He said the downed tank was fixed in August of 2022 and an older one was brought back on line to give the community an extra million litres.

“The contractors are coming in at the end of this month to have a look at tank two (3.5 million litres) and make a full assessment of it.

“We want to make sure there’s nothing wrong in there.

“We have a new water-treatment plant being designed this year, with the build taking place, hopefully, this coming year and the year after.”

Dibblee said fixing the problem was quite the challenge. He said his job is to stand-up for the best interests of the community he’s serving.

“So there were times when I really had to take strong stands

Financial and operations problem solver Daryl Dibblee has got things under control in Grise Fiord and may be heading to as yet an unknown Nunavut community about to be put under full administration. Photo courtesy Daryl Dibblee

with Community and Government Services, but you do it in as nice a way as you can.

“They told me the assessment of tank two was going to cost $650,000 and they wanted the community to cough it up out of our reserves, but I said no, I’m not doing that.

“That would have been built into the estimate of the whole process they gave us the previous year, so I wasn’t about to use hamlet money to do that.

“They backed off and are doing the assessment on their dollar this year and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Dibblee was recently surprised to hear a Nunavut community is about to be put under full administration (run by the territorial government instead of municipal governance.).

The problem solver said he still don’t know exactly what

community that is, but he was asked to go there after leaving Grise Fiord.

He said, to his understanding, there’s never been a Nunavut community put under full administration before.

“I’ll have to see how that goes, but I’m, pretty much, finished up here. We’re in pretty good shape here now with a $750,000 surplus, and we’ve started the process of finding a full-time SAO.

“We’re going to be one of the last communities to put a daycare in here, and we just found out that’s going to cost us $450,000 to $500,000 to do the renovations on the building we’re using.

“I’ve got the funding in place, so then we’ll see where we go from there.”

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WINNER! Colin Kooneeliusie sent us this photo from Qikitakussuk. Captured these bears while on outfitting.

Sam sent us this photo from Kinngait.

Daisy Nuqingaq sent us this photo from Qikiqtarjuaq.

Helen Sikkuark Niptayok sent us this image from Kugaaruk. Kugaaruk children with their escort in Churchill for dental taken on May 1 to 6, 2023.

Rose Kolola sent us this image from Kimmirut. Rose’s aippaq on ice picking, taken on April 14, 2023.

Oscar Tan Camano sent us this photo from Rankin Inlet. Through the heat of the sun, melting ice around the Rankin Inlet Inuksuk taken on April 24, 2023.

Jaiden Ishulutak ( ᔭᐃᑕᓐ ᐃᓱᓪᓗᑕᖅ)sent us this image from Pangnirtung. Wayback in 2019 while he was out for seal hunting.

Madeline Issakiark sent us this photo from Arviat. Beautiful sunny afternoon out on the land.

Winnie Qammaniq sent us this image from Pond Inlet. She took this photo at Salmon Creek during a fishing derby a few years back.

Elite tournaments a learning experience for Nunavut players

Team Nunavut boys team gives ‘feisty’ performance at aboriginal championship

While Nunavut came away winless at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship in Winnipeg this past week with an 0-3 record, two hockey parents said the event is a tremendous learning experience for the players.

Kyle Tattuinee of Rankin Inlet was in Winnipeg to watch his son, Liam, 16, play forward with Team Nunavut.

Tattuinee said Liam was excited to play in the aboriginal tourney, especially getting the chance to suit-up with so many of his friends from home.

He said the vast majority of players on the Nunavut team came from the Kivalliq region.

“I find right now the Kivalliq players are more hockey savvy and the Baffin seems to be a little out of touch with their hockey approach right now,” said Kyle.

“The Nunavut contingent is pretty strong right now, after winning gold at the recent Arctic Winter Games with the Under-19 group.

“A lot of that core group is still together.”

Kyle said Nunavut is still a little bit behind the southern players when it comes to their structure and organization.

He said the games he saw at the event were well-attended, and it was mostly a good atmosphere for hockey, but not entirely.

“Each team seemed to have a solid fan base, especially Saskatchewan. They have a lot of aboriginal players that I would class as pretty high end and, being so close to Manitoba, a

lot of their fans made the trip.

“It was an especially good atmosphere at the arena for the Nunavut vs. Saskatchewan game.

“I was a little disappointed with one of the Alberta players calling our players “grasshoppers,” but I don’t want to get too much into that.

“Sometimes, on the surface, it looks like the racism is not there, but it still is very much there. It’s crazy. You’re at an aboriginal tournament and you’re still making racist remarks.”

Warren Kusugak was in Winnipeg to watch his son, Ben, 17, also a forward with Team Nunavut.

Warren said he found the overall play at the aboriginal tournament to be awesome.

He said it was great competition and that’s going to help take hockey in Nunavut to the next step.

“It was a good learning experience for our players, big time,” said Warren.

“I think Nunavut came up just a little short at the tournament when it comes to team chemistry and playing together.

“Many of the players on the team played down south this year and the rest up North, so they really didn’t have much time to come together as a team.”

Warren said he saw Team Nunavut being being feisty and never giving up as the team’s strength at the tournament, while knowing each other and playing together as a team was their weakness.

He said you know they’re good players, they just need to click together a little bit better.

“The earlier our players get to play at higher levels like this the better.

“The more exposure to this level they get, the better they’ll play and they’ll know what to expect when they come to big tournaments.

“The exposure to southern hockey, and seeing how good some of the players in southern communities are, will really help them develop their own game.

“I really like seeing how many Kivalliq players are going down south now to play and I really encourage it.”

Sandy Tattuinee, 18, makes his way onto the ice at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship in Winnipeg, Man., this past week. Photo courtesy Nick Tattuinee

by Darrell Greer, Northern News Services

Meta has team working to block news on Facebook, Instagram from Canadian users

A person stands in front of a Meta sign outside of the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., Tuesday, March 7, 2023. A representative for Meta says it has a team that is working toward blocking news for its Canadian users on Facebook and Instagram. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ AP-Jeff Chiu

Head of public policy for Meta Canada will remove news in a way that is careful, responsible and transparent

Tech giant Meta has learned from the mistakes it made blocking online news from Facebook in Australia, when it accidentally limited access to emergency services pages, a company representative said Monday.

Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta Canada, said the company has put together a content-blocking team that is getting ready to end the availability of news on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram should the Liberal government’s online news bill pass.

Curran told the House of Commons heritage committee the company will remove news in a way that is careful, responsible and transparent.

“It’s absolutely our intention to not make the same errors in Canada that we made in Australia,” Curran said Monday.

In 2021, Facebook temporarily blocked Australians from sharing news stories in response to a government bill that asked Google and Facebook to contribute to journalism.

Australian news organizations could not post stories and people who tried to share existing news stories received notifications saying they were blocked from doing so. It had also blocked some government communications, including messages about emergency services, and some commercial pages.

“Some of the things that were mistakenly scoped in Australia, we’re working very hard to make sure we do not do that this time,” said Curran, who was a policy director to former prime minister Stephen Harper.

She said the team is working to meet the definition of news, and not apply any potential blocks to government pages, emergency services or community organizations.

If passed, Bill C-18 would require tech giants to pay Canadian media companies for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online.

The bill is currently at the committee stage in the Senate. Meta has previously said it could lead the company to stop linking to news in Canada.

The company says less than three per cent of what people see in their Facebook feeds are posts with links to news articles and that many of its users believe that is already “too

much” news.

The Liberal government has accused Meta of intimidating Canadians as a way to retaliate over regulation.

During the committee meeting, Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner said if journalism is blocked from Instagram and Facebook then people will be forced to seek out information elsewhere and it could lead to a rise in misinformation and disinformation.

But the tech giant said it’s a business decision.

“We believe that news has a real social value. The problem is that it doesn’t have much of an economic value to Meta. That’s the real concern with this legislation,” Curran said.

“So if we are being asked to compensate news publishers for material that has no economic value to us, that’s where the problem is.”

-By The Canadian Press

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