Nunavut News - May 22, 2023

Mary River mine gets annual review from Baffin communities

Pond Inlet hosts forum for communities to have their say on Baffinland iron ore project

By Tom Taylor

Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation and Qikiqtani Inuit Association both say that this year’s Annual Project Review Forum (APRF) was productive and fruitful.

The APRF occurred from May 9-11.

There were 36 people in attendance for the forum. That figure includes representatives from Baffinland and QIA, as well as delegates from each of five communities affected by Baffinland’s Mary River iron mine on north Baffin Island: Arctic Bay, Iglulik, Pond Inlet, Clyde River and Sanirajak.

Each community sent its community director, as well as an Elder and a youth.

“The forum is intended to be an open dialog between communities, QIA, and Baffinland,” the QIA stated. “We have received valuable information from the impacted communities and conversations have been positive and fruitful.”

The APRF is a byproduct of the Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement negotiated for the Mary River Project. The agreement was cosigned by QIA and Baffinland.

The forum gives both parties and representatives from affected communities an opportunity “to discuss project operations and agreement implementation for the previous

year, and provide recommendations on how to improve the project,” according to QIA.

This year marked the first APRF since 2019, as the Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible in more recent years.

“Because it’s co-signed, because there’s obligations for both parties to implement the agreement, we spend typically half the time with Baffinland presenting information and data from the prior year, and then Qikiqtani Inuit Association spends time presenting as well,” said Udlu Hanson, Baffinland Iron Mines’ vice-president of community and strategic development.

“Then during the course of forum, and during question and answer sessions, the community representatives have opportunities to speak. They usually bring forward recommendations.”

There were “a lot of great discussions” about “a lot of different issues” at this year’s APRF, according to Hanson, including “discussion around employment and training, contracting, health and safety.”

Concerns about the mine’s impact on wildlife and the environment were also addressed.

“We have heard comments regarding dust, impacts to terrestrial and marine wildlife, job and contracting opportunities for Inuit, and improving conditions for workers at the site to make their rotations more enjoyable,” said QIA. “We also heard about the need for fur-

ther supports in communities for rotational workers.”

Now that this year’s APRF has concluded, Baffinland will begin compiling a public report based on the proceedings. The report will be available on the company’s website this summer.

In the meantime, both Baffinland and QIA seemed optimistic about the future of the project.

“That’s the sentiment after the meetings –that they were were good discussions, and everyone is looking forward to hearing back on the recommendations from both parties,” Hanson said. “The recommendations were very forward-looking and optimistic in themselves that we’re moving in the right direction.”

“Conversations were productive and positive, and have yielded some great recommendations for QIA and Baffinland to work on,” QIA said.

Representatives from Baffinland Iron Mines, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and the five communities affected by the Mary River iron mine speak at the 2023 Annual Project Review Forum in Pond Inlet, Nunavut.

Photo: Baffinland Iron Mines.

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News Briefs

ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑐᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑐᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᒪᐃ 16-ᒥ, ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᖕᓂᖅ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ. ᒫᓐᓇ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑐᖅ 6-ᖑᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᓕᑦ ᓯᓂᖕᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑐᖅ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ, 1,3000 ᑐᖔᓂ ᐃᓄᖃᖅᖢᓂ, “ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᓪᓗ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ”, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ.

ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᓂᓕᖃᖅᑐᕕᓃᑦ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᖅᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᑐᐊᕈᑎᒃ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᐃᒃᐱᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᖕᓂᐊᓂᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᒐᔭᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᖁᐃᖅᑐᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ, ᑕᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ, ᓂᕆᒍᒪᖃᑦᑕᖏᓐᓂᖅ, ᐆᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖓᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ. ᐳᕙᒡᓗᖕᓂᖅ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐅᑎᑐᖅᑎᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐅᑎᖃᕐᒪᑕ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᖁᒍᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂᓗ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᐃᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ, ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᖅᑕᐅᓗᓂᓗ,

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ.ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ

ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᖃᖅᑐᑦ

ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᖅᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᖏᓐᓄᐊᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ

ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑎᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑑᓇᑦ ᒥᓗᒃᑐᒥᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ PJ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑎᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᖅ ᑑᓇᑦ ᒥᓗᒃᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐅᕌᓂᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᒪᐃ 15-ᒥ. “ᓇᐅᔮᓄᐊᓚᐅᖅᖢᖓ, ᐃᓕᑕᕆᒍᒪᓚᐅᕋᒃᑯ ᑐᖁᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑑᓇᑦ ᒥᓗᒃᑐᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑖᖅᑎᑦᓯᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᒃᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐊᖏᕈᒻᒥᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ.

“ᑑᓇᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓᓐᓂᒃ. ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᖓ, ᐅᐱᒋᓯᒪᕙᕋ ᑑᓇᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕ`ᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓐᓂᓗ

ᓄᓇᖃᑦᓯᐊᕈᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒧᑦ.

ᑑᓇᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ. ᐅᐱᑉᐳᖓ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑭᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᖃᑕᖑᑎᖏᑦ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᖢᖓᓗ ᕿᒃᓵᖃᑎᒋᓪᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᐃᓚᓗᒃᑖᖏᑦ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᖏᑦ ᐅᖓᒋᔭᖏᓪᓗ ᐄᐳᕈ 26-ᒥ. ᑑᓇᑦ, ᐊᑖᑕᕆᔭᐅᕗᑎᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ, ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᐸᒋᓪᓗ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᓗᒃᑖᑲᓴᖕᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒐᕕᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓄᑦ.”

ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ

ᐱᑦᖤᖏᓴᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ

ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᖅ ᑮᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᓯᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ

ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᓄᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐄᐳᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᑦᖤᖏᓴᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᑎᓴᑎᒍᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ.

Missing Arviat Elder found safe

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Arviat

“I’ll put it this way,” said Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. about the return of Elder Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa Friday, May 12, “the town was so happy, the whole town was at the airport when Thomas was arriving.”

The Elder had been missing on the land for over a week.

“He was out on the land and today he got found,” said Savikataaq Jr. “He’s well, he was able to walk on his own. We had a parade right from the airport leading into town.”

Alikaswa was spotted by none other than his son, Jamie Kablutsiak, as Kablutsiak and other searchers stopped on an esker and peered through binoculars when the Elder was finally seen.

Resident Jacob Okatsiak said people were deeply connected at Alikaswa’s arrival to the airport, singing and cheering as his helicopter landed.

Okatsiak added that local hunters and search and rescue personnel deserve thanks for their work in finding and returning the Elder.

“ᐱᑦᖤᖏᓴᕐᓂᖅ

ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ,

ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᑦᓯᐊᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᓕᓂᕐᒥ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ.

ᑭᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᑕᑯᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᒥᒃ ᐊᒪᕈᕐᒥᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓗᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ

ᐆᒪᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ 867-645-8084. ᕿᒻᒦᑦ ᐱᖃᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᒃᐸᑕ ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᒪᕈᕐᒥᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᐅᖃᓗᖁᔭᐅᕗᓯ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᕙᑎᒥᐅᑕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ

Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa had been missing more than a week

Gabe Alagalak, left, stands with Jamie Kablutsiak, Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa and Peter Kaludjak after finding the Elder on the land. Jamie, Thomas’s son, is the one who spotted him with binoculars from an esker during the search. Photo courtesy of Gabe Alagalak

The town parades after Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa’s return. Photo courtesy of Rhiannon Taleriktok

Arviat Elder Thomas Hiatalaaq Alikaswa is escorted off the runway Friday, May 12, to the cheers of hundreds. He had been missing on the land for over a week. Photo courtesy of Jacob Okatsiak

State of emergency declared in Kinngait as treated water reserves dwindle

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Kinngait is under a state of emergency as treated water reserves are alarmingly low due to an electrical issue at the community’s water pumphouse, the Department of Community and Government Services (CGS) advised on May 17.

“Our department is committed to supporting the community of Kinngait in their efforts to restore water services in the community,” said CGS Minister David Joanasie, who delcared the state of emergency under Nunavut’s Emergency Measures Act. “We are working with the hamlet to restore services and support the residents of Kinngait.”

The department stated that available reserves of water “have been depleted, posing

a risk to both public health and community infrastructure.”

The community’s 1,450 residents are being encouraged to conserve water and follow directions given by the territorial government and the Hamlet of Kinngait.

“The need to declare a state of emergency at this time is to expedite the processes required to deploy necessary resources to respond to the issue in Kinngait. This step will enable the GN to ensure the necessary supports are available to the Hamlet of Kinngait and its residents,” a news release from CGS reads.

“This will also give the GN additional authority to control and assign assets of GN departments and public agencies under the Emergency Measures Act.”

The state of emergency will be in effect until May 30.

A photo of the hamlet office in Kinngait, where the community is under a state of emergency as of Wednesday due to very low reserves of treated water. An electrical issue at the water pumphouse is the source of the problem. NNSL file photo

Tuberculosis outbreak declared in Naujaat

By Tom Taylor Northern News Services Local

Initiative

The Department of Health declared an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in Naujaat on May 16, following a spike of active cases in the community.

There are currently six active cases of TB and 10 cases of latent TB in Naujaat, a community of less than 1,300 people, which has necessitated “enhanced public health follow-up,” according to a public health advisory.

Those who have come into contact with an active TB case are encouraged to visit

the health centre for screening as soon as possible, as are those exhibiting symptoms. Symptoms of active TB include coughing that lasts longer than three weeks, feeling unusually tired, loss of appetite, fever and night sweats.

TB is treatable and can be cured with medicine that is available in the community, however, it can be serious and even lethal, so it’s important to get tested, receive treatment, and take medication as directed by your health care provider, according to the Department of Health.

Community members with questions are encouraged to contact their local health centre.

Tuberculosis culture as seen under a microscope. An outbreak of the disease has been declared in Naujaat. CDC/Dr. George Kubica photo

Journalism

Kitikmeot Heritage Society visits Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

Get an up close look the Inuinnait people’s traditional ihualik bow and arrow

By Tom Taylor Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative

By the time Mabel Etegik was born in 1943, the Inuinnait people’s traditional ihualik bow and arrow had all but vanished. She never saw one intact, and certainly never saw one being used.

Yet she recalls glimpsing vestiges of the forgotten hunting tool in her childhood.

“When I was young, my father already owned a gun, so I didn’t really see the bow and arrow,” said Etegik, who serves as a board member and Elder in residence with the Kitikmeot Heritage Society (KHS) in Cambridge Bay. “But I do remember the braided sinew that they used to make the bows.”

“I remember my younger brother had a play bow and arrow made out of caribou rib,” she added.

The Ihualik is one of several bows used by the Inuinnait, an Inuit group living in the Central Canadian Arctic, including the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Unlike the bows made below the tree line, where long pieces of wood are readily available, the ihualik was constructed using three smaller pieces of wood, caribou antler, or muskox horn, and held together by caribou blood and braided sinew.

Anthropological records suggest it was accurate, even from significant distances, but it could not contend with the rifle, and by the early 1900s, it was already disappearing.

It may not be gone for good.

Etegik, along with four other members of the KHS, recently made the long flight south to Washington, D.C., where they visited the The Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of the American Indian and, along with staff at the two facilities, began to unearth the mysteries of the ihualik with the ultimate goal of recreating one.

“We’re losing all of our Elders – the most experienced people,” said KHS Men’s Program Coordinator Charlie Ikkutisluk, who was also on the week-long trip. “I’m very happy that I went down there to Washington to see the bows and arrows.”

The KHS team was joined by France’s Coline Lemaitre, a PhD Candidate at University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Lemaitre has spent years studying the bows and arrows of West Alaska, and months working with the Smithsonian, so she had plenty of wisdom to share.

That she is also an experienced archer made her all the more valuable as the group sought to understand the workings of the Ihualik.

“It’s very unique and it’s very specific,” said Lemaitre. “These bows and arrows were probably one of the most unique bow and arrow technologies in the world.”

“It hasn’t been made for a very, very long time.”

The hope among the Smithsonian team, according to Lemaitre, was that their visitors from Cambridge Bay would “remember or have ideas of how to make this bow.”

It was a fruitful effort.

Together, the group examined dozens of artifacts, many of which related to the Ihualik, and by the time the trip concluded, had a much better understanding of its workings.

Lemaitre is now hard at work learning how to build the bow. For the moment, her efforts are mostly digital, as she uses a complex software called VirtualBow to test the design of the tool.

“I don’t have a lot of experience making bows,” she said. “My experience is more with shooting. I know the feeling of shooting with different types of bows, and I know a lot about the mechanics.”

“Because the type of bow I’m studying is very specific, this software isn’t perfect for that, so I’m also trying to figure out how I can use other technologies and 3D modelling and other simulations. I’m using all of that to try to understand how these bows could work.”

The group’s efforts to bring back the ihualik are rooted in a desire to protect Inuinnait tradition.

According to Etegik, it’s also about protecting the language associated with the bow, much of which is not used in other contexts and has therefore disappeared along with the tool itself.

“It’s very important to keep the language,” she said. “A lot of these old words [associated] with these traditional tools, you don’t hear them much anymore.”

“It’s very important to bring it back so we can keep our culture alive.”

If the KHS, Lemaitre and the Smithsonian are able to successfully recreate an Ihualik bow, it remains to be seen who will be the first to use it.

It is said to require both strength and technique to fire, so an experienced archer like Lemaitre might make the most sense in the early going. Yet the hope is that ihualik bows will eventually end up back in the hands of the Inuinnait in Cambridge Bay and beyond.

Ikkutisluk says he would like to fire one, while Etegik can envision the ihualik in the hands of her grandson.

“One day I hope to see that happen,” she said. “I want to help keep the traditions alive, especially for my grandson.”

Emily and Mabel video conferencing with Cambridge Bay Elders about various bows in the Smithsonian collection: Photo: PI/ KHS

Kringaudlik of Bathurst Inlet shooting arrow from bow at Cape Wollaston, May 19, 1916.

Photo: Rudolph Anderson CMH 39039

Inuinnaq archer with an ihualik on Victoria Island May 19, 1916. Photo: John Hadley CMC 51167.

Emily, Mabel and Charlie studying a bowcase. Photo: PI/KHS

Two foxes test positive for rabies in Nunavut

Iqaluit Humane Society is advising caution among pet owners

The Iqaluit Humane Society is advising caution among pet owners after two foxes tested positive for rabies in the capital and Rankin Inlet last week.

“Anyone who leaves their animal tied up outside unsupervised for any length of time is putting their animal at risk,” said Janelle Kennedy, president of the Iqaluit Humane Society.

Rabies is transmitted when the blood or saliva of an infected animal comes into contact with that of an unaffected animal. Usually, this occurs by way of a bite, however, transmission through saliva alone is possible.

Symptoms in both pets and wild animals range from frothing at the mouth, to erratic behaviour, to an unusual swaying of the head. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.

Rabies can remain dormant in animal for long periods before symptoms ever occur. It is also impossible to test a living animal for rabies, which leaves local authorities with no choice but to quarantine pets that may have been exposed to the disease for weeks, and in some cases, up to six months, according to the Government of Nunavut Department of Health.

“You can’t test for rabies easily,” Kennedy said. “You have to destroy the animal and sever the head, because you need to be able to test the brain stem. That’s how you would know for sure if it did or didn’t have rabies.”

“It’s a very long quarantine period if the environmental health officer suspects that it’s still a possibility that the dog has contracted the virus.”

There are several things pet owners can do

to protect their pets from rabies. The simplest is keeping pets behind a fence or on a porch so that they can not easily interact with wildlife. This is particularly important as wild animals with rabies tend to be bolder than normal.

“The foxes that tested positive that we’ve seen around town, one of the first signs that they show is a lack of fear and increased curiosity, to be able to come up to people and come up to pets,” Kennedy said.

The best way to protect your pet from rabies is by vaccinating it against the disease.

A single dose of the vaccine can be effective for up to three years, according to Kennedy. However, she recommends yearly shots, particularly in high-risk areas.

Unfortunately, rabies vaccines are in short supply.

With the help of a team of veterinarians from British Columbia, Kennedy recently administered 50 doses in Pond Inlet – where they also spayed and neutered dozens of local pets – and another 37 upon returning to Iqaluit.

There are no vaccines remaining after those initiatives, but she is optimistic more will arrive in June.

June will be a busy month for the Humane Society, as the organization will move into the old NunaVet Animal Hospital (building 3070) in the city’s Apex neighbourhood.

The newly renovated facility will feature an animal shelter, an animal hospital, a pet supply store, a groomer, and more.

Kennedy’s hope is that, once the move is complete and things settle down a bit, she and her team will be able to administer rabies vaccines more frequently, and in doing so, put the minds of area pet owners at ease.

“At least once a month, we’re hoping to be able to offer vaccinations to any owner that needs it here in Iqaluit,” she said.

A Nunavut pet awaits care from the Iqaluit Humane Society in Pond Inlet. Photo courtesy of Iqaluit Humane Society

by Tom Taylor Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative

Iqaluit Humane Society staff administer an IV in Pond Inlet. Photo courtesy of Iqaluit Humane Society

Printing a new pattern

Gallery features artists’ experimental prints from Kinngait

By Jonathan Gardiner Northern

Services

The Gallery at 47th Street in Yellowknife featured a second round of works from Kinngait. Prints from multiple artists such as Papiara Tukiki and Padloo Samayualie were on display last Friday.

Ainsley Dempsey, co-owner of The Gallery on 47th Street, said that she wasn’t certain, but she believes that this was the first summer show Dorset Fine Arts has produced since the pandemic began.

“That’s not every spring, maybe not even every few years, but whenever they have the collections together,” she said. Compared to Dorset Fine Arts’ usual shows, this one is different because the artists do more experimental work, said Dempsey.

“Often they’re going outside of their subject matter, comfort zone, and usually in different styles,” she said. “More avant-garde experimental stuff from the artists.”

In My Mind made by Padloo Samayualie. Jonathan Gardiner/NNSL photo

Diana Rogers observing the art at The Gallery on 47th Street on Friday. Jonathan Gardiner/NNSL photo

Winter made by Papiara Tukiki. Jonathan Gardiner/NNSL photo

Krista Armstrong said that the prints at the gallery were very nice. This was her first time in the gallery on Friday. She’s visiting family in Yellowknife from Ontario. Jonathan Gardiner/NNSL photo

The Fox and The Rabbit made by Mary Pudlat. Jonathan Gardiner/NNSL photo

Sedna’s Song made by Ningiukulu Teevee. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, Sedna is the goddess of the sea in Inuit mythology. Jonathan Gardiner/NNSL photo

Avingnga made by Saimaiyu Akesuk. Jonathan Gardiner/NNSL photo

News

KINDLY SPONSORED BY INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

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

The post on our page with the most reactions each week will win $100. Send in your entry to Nunavut News by Facebook messaging.

WINNER! Akkak Cecilia sent us this image from Kugaaruk. Akkak caught this on the weekend on Dewline Lake. Too bad it wasn’t during fishing derby!

Nujjai Noah sent us this photo from Rankin Inklet. Nujjai’s 7 year old son Jaden seal hunting on May 7, 2023.

Jason Todd sent us this photo from Baker Lake. Falcon outside Baker Lake on the highway to Meadowbank Gold mine. Jason took the picture around km 49.

Kukkiak Loranda sent us this photo from Chesterfield Inlet. Kukkiak’s twin sister Qilak caught this big fish during their fishing trip on May 8, 2023.

Benjamen Arnaqaq sent us this photo from Pangnirtung. Benjamen took this beautiful photo back in November 23, 2022.

Aiden Atsanik sent us this image from Qikiqtarjuaq. Aiden took this picture when out on the land, fishing with nets on February 9, 2023.

Simata Aqpik sent us this photo.

Acacia Lawrence sent us this photo from Chesterfield Inlet. Lightning and thunder here and there. Taken on August 16, 2022.

Jason Iqaluq sent us this image from Sanikiluaq. This photo was taken near Kataaluk in a blind waiting for geese.

Jusipi Pitsiulak sent us this image from Pangnirtung. Jusipi took this photo when trying to go seal hunting with dog teams.

Miranda Paniyuk sent us this photo from Rankin Inlet. Little Mattias down at the sea ice, during the fishing derby weekend.

Acacia Lawrence sent us this photo from Chesterfield Inlet. Lightning and thunder here and there. Taken on August 16, 2022.

Barbara Rose Porter sent us this photo from Gjoa Haven. Camping in Gjoa Haven.

Michelle Amarok sent us this image from Chesterfield Inlet. Michelle took this during their annual cod derby on May 15, 2023.

Jaco Evvik sent us this image from Pangnirtung. Jaco finally caught his first seal pup this year!

The biggest difference this cop makes is with the youth

Rankin Inlet RCMP officer talks career that took him North

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Travelling, rugby, new horizons and adventure brought Cst. Matt Hope from the United Kingdom to Canada.

He spent his 20s working in small-scale motor gearbox installations and construction-related jobs, but the repetitiveness bored him.

“I wanted a job that wasn’t mundane,” he said about the inspiration to join the RCMP at age 30 in Canada. “You can have all the best intentions and best-laid plans in this job, and minute one, those are thrown out the window and you’re off doing something else.”

And with his brother being a police officer back in Wales and a great-grandfather who was second in charge of the Metropolitan Police Force, it was “kinda meant to be.”

He had considered working in the Vancouver Police Department, living in the city, but ultimately wanted to experience the diversity the RCMP could offer.

“I was all the way across the world from my family,” recalls Hope. “I thought I might as well see as much of this country as I can, and the RCMP being the vessel to be able to do that is incredible.”

He started in Trail, B.C., before spending several years in Haida Gwaii on the west coast, which he raved about, from the landscape to the people, culture, art, wildlife and everything

in between. His home is adorned with gifts and art he received or collected while there.

His original plan was to go to Campbell River for his next job, but peers of his recommended Nunavut, and he wanted the excitement of something new. He’s been in Rankin Inlet with his wife, daughter and dog since March 2022.

Hope loves the excitement of the career.

He’s worked on a tactical response containment team as a medic, supported emergency response teams with active shooters and everything on the scale.

But the rewarding part of his job is interacting with youth.

“It’s the biggest difference we can make as police officers,” he said.

Usually, people aren’t calling the RCMP because something good happened, he said.

“They’re calling us in most cases because something bad’s happened, something terrifying, scary, traumatizing, or something’s been stolen or what have you.”

So for Hope, it’s great to counterbalance that with going into the schools, playing sports with the youth and being a positive face in the community.

He loves to engage children in sports – and is a die-hard rugby fan – and says he can see the benefits that interaction and connection has.

“I had a kid once who came up, he said, ‘Ah, I was going to do something really silly the other day. It was going to involve taking something that’s not mine and breaking some things.’ He’s like, ‘I didn’t want to come in the

In Cst. Matt Hope’s hands is a custom rugby ball he had produced in an effort to raise money for a teenage girl to pursue her rugby dreams. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

school or get taken to the police detachment and see you and you being disappointed in me, so I didn’t do it.”

That human interaction is vital to the work he does and his role in the community. And that respect-building beforehand helps ease future interactions, even among adults, explained Hope.

He said he’s spoken to many people he’s arrested the night before the next day in the grocery store.

“There’s no hard feelings,” said Hope. “Like, ‘Hey, I’m just doing my job, how are you doing today, you feeling better?’”

Rapport building early on, especially in a small town where there’s no hiding, helps in

the long run, he said.

But besides future deterrence, being a positive and visible member of the community is a goal in itself for Hope.

“In my mind, the only really important goal any police officer can have is we leave the community a little bit better than when we got there,” he said.

The Englishman-turned-Canadian-cop is enjoying Rankin Inlet, learning the culture and seeing the land. His favourite things are fixing kid’s bikes or playing pick-up basketball. He hopes his friendliness can help improve the perception of police in the community, and he’d love to see youth inspired to follow a career path with the RCMP.

Cst. Matt Hope shows off his Haida wall art and tattoo, having previously served in the west coast island rainforest. Now working in Rankin Inlet, the English-born rugby lover prides himself on working with schools and connecting with the community. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᓴᕿᑎᑎᕗᖅ

ᒥᑎᒪᑕᓕᐅᑉ ᓄᓇᓕᖓ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᖃᖅᑎᑎᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᒪᙵᑕ ᐸᔭᓐ ᓚᓐ ᐅᔭᕋᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ. ᑭᒐᑐᐃᔨ ᐸᕙᓐ ᓚᓐ ᐅᔭᕋᓂᐊᕕᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒋᑦ, ᑕᓕᒪᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓗᔮᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᐳᑦ 2023 ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐱᔨᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦᐊᕋᒍᑕᒫᖅᓯᐅᑎ ᐅᓂᑲᐅᓯᖅ.

ᒥᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ. ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᐸᕕᓐ ᓚᓐ ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᕕᒃ.

ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᑉ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓂ ᐱᔨᑎᕋᕐᓂᒧᑦ

ᐊᕋᒍᑕᒫᖅᓯᐅᑎ ᐅᓂᑲᐅᓯᖅ

ᐹᕙᓐ ᓚᓐ ᐅᔭᕋᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᑭᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕌᒍᔪᒥ APRF-ᑯᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᕙᓕᐊᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑐᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂᓗ.

APRF-ᑯᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒦᓴᖅᐳᑦ. ᒪᐃ 9, 10 ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 11. 36 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᕗᑦ. ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᑭᒐᑐᐃᔩᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ, ᐹᕙᓐ ᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ. ᐅᐊᖕᓇᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᑦ − ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᒃ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ, ᒥᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ, ᑲᙱᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᓂᕋᔭᒃᒥᐅᑦ, ᐃᓚᒋᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑎᔩᑦ, ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᓪᓗ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᓪᓗ.

ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐅᑯᐃᙵᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ, ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ. ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨᖓ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᓴᕈᒥᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᑑᑎᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᓵᓴᖅᐳᒍᑦ.

ᓄᑕᙳᕆᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨᐅᕗᑦ APRF-ᑯᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᒧ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᙱᓐᓄᑦ

ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐹᕙᓐ ᓚᓐ. ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᕌᒍᒋᓵᖅᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᖃᓄᕐᓗ ᐊᕿᑦᑎᐊᑲᓂᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ. ᕆᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐱᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒋᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᑦ.

APRF-ᑯᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕗᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᖃᕆᐊᖅᓴᖅ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑑᓴᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᕙᓇᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ 2019−ᒥᓂᑦ. ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᐅᓚᔨᓕᐅᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓲᕆᕙᕗᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᕙᓐ ᓚᓐ ᐊᖓᔪᕌᖓᑕ ᑐᒡᓕᖓ, ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑎ, ᐅᓪᓗ Hᐊᓐᓴᓐ. ᑲᑎᒪᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᕕᖃᖅᑎᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᓂᑦ, ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ

ᓄᓇᓕᐅᑉ ᑭᒡᒐᑐᐃᔨᖏᓂ. Hᐊᓐᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᓵᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ; ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᒥᒧᑦ ᐋᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ.

ᐃᓱᒫᓗᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᒪᔪ ᐊᕙᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓵᕆᕗᑦ. ᑐᓴᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐊᓂᕐᓂᖃᖅᑐᑉ ᓱᕈᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒃᑑᑎᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᖁᓂᖓ; ᓄᓇᐅᑉ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕ ᓂᕐᔪᑏᑦ. ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖏᓐᓂ, ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

AFRP-ᑯᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᖕᒪᑕ, ᐹᕙᓐ ᓚ−ᑯ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᑕᖑᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᓂᒃ. ᑭᑯᑐᐃᓇᓄ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᒐᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ.

ᒫᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐸᕙᓐ ᓚᓐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒋᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

ᐊᑐᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᑯᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ, ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᖅᐳᓪᓗ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᑦ.

ᐱᔪᒪᓇᖅᑑᓴᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᐅᔪᑦ, ᐃᖏᕋᑎᐊᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ.

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪ ᐱᐅᔪᓵᖅᐳ, ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᕿᑭᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᒪᓗ ᐹᕙᓐ ᓚᓐ−ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ. ᐅᖃᖅᐅ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃ ᑲᑐᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ.

Providing shelter in the capital

Uquutaq Society undertaking ambitious projects to fight homelessness in Iqaluit

was wonderful.

The Uquutaq Society raised an impressive $20,000 with its first venture into hosting a Spring Gala this past May 13.

A severe housing crisis in Iqaluit has Uquutaq working on a number of initiatives it hopes to have in place by 2025 or 2026 to help address the situation.

The proceeds from the gala will go towards those initiatives. Uquutaq has set an initial goal of raising $50,000 towards its new projects, which include a Low Barrier expansion project and the rebuilding of the Butler Building in the territorial capital to feature affordable single-room occupancy to help battle homelessness in the city. Society executive director Laurel McCorriston said the society sold 82 tickets to the gala, which went much better than they had expected.

She said there was a lot of activity around the silent auction and Loonie Toonie draws, with the community rallying around the event to donate a number of items.

“We had a lovely print from Northern Collectibles and Canadian North gave us two airline tickets to Ottawa among other items,” said McCorriston.

“We had aimed to break even because this was our first time out with an event like this and we ended up raising about $20,000, so we were very pleased.

“It’s a new event in town and there’s really nothing else going on in the spring, so it was kind of a surprise for people. We did much more than just covering the costs, so that

“We had a $10,000 donation from a local maintenance and cleaning company, C & K Services Ltd., which was very kind and our success with the event was due largely to that.” McCorriston said homelessness is growing in the capital. One-bedroom apartments cost in the neighbourhood of $2,700 a month, while two-bedroom apartments go for $3,200 or more, putting them out of reach of mostly anyone who doesn’t have a great-paying job and/or subsidized housing, which most of the federal jobs in the city offer.

She said there’s housing being built in Iqaluit but it’s being leased-up by the various levels of government before it’s built, so there’s no increase in housing that’s available to private individuals.

And, she said, since anything that may be leftover in housing simply isn’t affordable to many people, the Uquutaq Society initiatives are even more urgent.

“Low Barrier services means you do not have to be sober to enter into the program. With High Barrier you do have to be sober. We have a High Barrier shelter that has been operating for many years and we have a High Barrier transitional housing program.

“We have a Low Barrier overnight service we’ve been operating for three years now in an old Government of Nunavut building. We need to expand that by at least 17 cots.

“Overall the society has grown. When I started here four years ago the annual budget was $500,000 and now it’s up to almost $4 million.

“Each of the two new projects – Low

Barrier services and the Butler Building for single-room occupancy affordable housing project – has a $30-million construction cost but I’m absolutely sure we’re going to get them both done.”

McCorriston said the society has a lot of support from all the levels of government and the community at large, so she doesn’t see any reason why the organization wouldn’t keep

growing and providing affordable housing and homelessness services in Iqaluit.

She said the society has applied for Rapid Housing Initiative money for the Butler Building and Low Barrier services from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. and, if they receive those funds, the commitment is that they have to have them up and running by 2025.

Uquutaq Society executive director Laurel McCorriston is confident two new major projects to help address homelessness in Iqaluit will come to fruition. Photo courtesy Uquutaq Society

by Darrell Greer, Northern News Services

Soccer camp teaches system skills

Recognized futsal coach

Geraldo Ferrari Jr. visits

Rankin Inlet

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

Just like Rankin Inlet has gold in its ground, the population has soccer skills. But to get the gold out, and to take those skills to the next level, the right development is necessary.

That’s how soccer coach Geraldo Ferrari Jr. put it when he was in Rankin Inlet running a week-long soccer clinic late April.

“I was really surprised with the level of the players,” said Ferrari Jr. as the camp wrapped up Saturday, April 28. “Of course they have some skills, but they don’t know yet how to play the game.”

Originally from Brazil, where soccer is in his blood, Ferrari Jr. has been living in Canada for the last 15 years and been involved in professional, high-level soccer the whole time, including coaching the national futsal Canadian team in 2012.

He met Kris Okpatauyak, who played on the Nunavut men’s futsal team, at the nationals in Calgary this spring. With funding from the Nunavut Soccer Association, Okpatauyak invited Ferrari Jr. up for the camp.

“To take it to the next level, we’re going to need to learn how to play a system,” instead of just running toward the net with the ball, said Okpatauyak. Ferrari Jr. said young players in Rankin Inlet have equivalent soccer skills to other provinces, with the difference being that they don’t yet know how to play as a team. The most important thing at a young age, he said, is simply for the youth to kick the ball as much as possible.

“When they have the passion, when they want to touch the ball every single day, I think it will be the best development for the community,” he said. “And remember, if the kids kick the ball, that means they don’t do anything wrong on the streets.”

Okpatauyak hopes to bring Ferrari Jr. back next year ahead of soccer tournaments to boost the training Kivalliq players get.

“We’re going to go bigger and better next year,” he said. “We’re going to build from this.”

Ferrari Jr. added that he enjoyed his time in Rankin Inlet, especially getting a chance to see some of the snowmobile races during the Kivalliq Snow Challenge.

Nanuq Ikakhik shows off some skills by flipping the ball over an opposing player. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Cody-Neal Okpatauyak-Graham makes a save during the soccer clinic practices. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Jackie Nakoolak launches a ball toward the net. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Players gather with coach Geraldo Ferrari Jr. during a soccer clinic in Rankin Inlet Saturday, April 28. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Eighteen teams compete in Laura Gauthier Memorial

Rankin Inlet volleyball tournament hosts players from every region of Nunavut

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

The Laura Gauthier Memorial volleyball tournament is about more than volleyball.

“This is our first win at the LGM,” said Jonah Oolayou of Team Iqaluit, whose team overcame Naujaat in the men’s finals to win gold Sunday, May 8. “I’m feeling pretty ecstatic. It’s been a long time coming.”

But he was thinking of someone else who had played at the tournament in the past.

“This is for you, Dad,” he said at the end of the interview, referencing Sandy Oolayou, who passed in 2015.

Meanwhile on the women’s side, Pangnirtung defeated Iqaluit 3 games to 0 in the finals to secure gold for the north Baffin hamlet.

“Our goal this weekend was to come here in memory of Laura (Gauthier),” said Jenna Qaqqasiq of Team Pangnirtung. “She was our cousin so we always try our best to attend this tournament.”

They had just six players at the event – no subs – but still managed to go undefeated. Qaqqasiq said volleyball is very popular in Pangnirtung right now, as four to six teams tend to come out each night to practise.

In all, 18 teams competed over the weekend, with 11 women’s squads and seven men’s. Teams came from all over the Ki-

valliq plus Gjoa Haven, Iqaluit and Pangnirtung, making it a truly territory-wide competition.

Organizer Toota Tatty called turnout amazing.

“It’s been a while since we have had this many teams attend our tournament,” she said after the closing ceremonies concluded.

It was also the first time the tournament was held in the Agnico Eagle Arena, where two courts were setup all weekend and the public could view from the stands, while grabbing a bite to eat at the canteen – much different than bouncing around school gyms in the past.

“I think the weekend was just full of good volleyball,” said Tatty. “There were some high-calibre teams.”

Laura Gauthier, to whom the event is dedicated, “changed the face of volleyball in Rankin” by introducing structure and systems play, said Tatty. Many committee members over the last 21 years have been working to make this a successful annual event.

“They helped keep this tournament alive,” said Tatty.

She thanked teams for their efforts to attend the tournament and make it a success, while suggesting they start fundraising to do it all again next year.

Gholam Dareshoripour makes a diving play to keep the ball alive for the Falcons. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Iqaluit and Naujaat players face off in the men’s finals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Alookie Korgak, middle, jumps into the air for a celebration with her Iqaluit teammates during finals play against Pangnirtung. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Kailee Karlik and Eema Jones pause for a photo as they compete for team Familia. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Alexia GallowayAlainga smiles while playing with Team B. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Braelynn Aliyak bumps the ball for the Rankin Royals.

Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Full-day kindergarten planned for Nunavut following pilot project at five schools

by Tom Taylor Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative

Full-day kindergarten could soon be offered at schools across Nunavut.

This fall, the Department of Education will begin testing an all-day kindergarten program in five schools in the territory. If the pilot project is successful, the program will gradually be made available to other schools.

“There’s so much that has been reported to be beneficial in running a full-day kindergarten,” said Department of Education Deputy Minister Rebecca Hainnu, a mother of two and a former teacher, vice-principal and principal at Clyde River’s Quluaq School. “It will support the development of early language acquisitions in Inuktitut, in Inuinnaqtun, or in English or French.

“We’ll be able to monitor and ensure that students are acquiring the same skillsets that other students in other jurisdictions are getting.”

The full-day kindergarten pilot project will be implemented at Nanook School in Apex, Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet, Qaqqalik School in Kimmirut, Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik in Kugluktuk, and Inuglak School in Whale Cove.

The purpose of the project, according to a Department of Education press release, is “confirming departmental resources needed to support a full-day kindergarten program, testing of the program, learning how the program stands up to real-life scenarios, making improvements to the program prior to full roll-out, and ensuring buy-in from relevant stakeholders.”

Some parents have concerns about the feasibility of a territory-wide full-day kindergarten program.

Emma Baasch is the Vice President of the Iqaluit Parents and Tots Association, and the mother of a child who will start the territory’s standard half-day kindergarten program next year. She admits she is “very skeptical” about the government’s ability to manage an full-day program.

“I think everyone’s fear is it will be introduced and there won’t be enough teachers for it to be everywhere, and it will be in some places but not everywhere,” she said. “There’s already a significant shortage of teachers, as well as people who specialize in early childhood education in the territory.

The Department of Education will implement an all-day kindergarten pilot project at five schools in Nunavut starting this fall. Department of Education Deputy Minister Rebecca Hainnu is “optimistic” the program will be available territory-wide soon.

“While I think the program will work and it will probably be good for kids and parents, I’m not overly optimistic that it will be staffed effectively – at least for a while.”

Hainnu has heard parents’ concerns, and notes first and foremost that “the department does not have legal authority to require or mandate full-day kindergarten,” meaning some communities may decline to use the program.

Among interested communities, the department is planning to implement a phased roll-out that will distribute the program “equally to the three regions” of Nunavut.

“We need to plan it out,” Hainnu said. “We need to make sure we have kindergarten teachers in the communities, that they can go through the training with us.”

“We’re looking at the constructions costs and where can we do it fastest in the best, most resource efficient way.”

With “so many factors” in play, Hainnu says it is too early to provide a firm date for the implementation of Nunavut-wide, full-day kindergarten. However, she is “very optimistic” it will happen in the near future.

Baasch, while skeptical, is hopeful it can be pulled off.

Photo: Unplash/@lastnameeaster

Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to San Francisco makes surprise stop in Iqaluit

An Airbus A330-300 spends three hours in Iqaluit due to a medical emergency on board

By Tom Taylor Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative

Passengers on a flight from Dublin, Ireland to San Francisco, California found themselves making an unexpected stop in Iqaluit last Tuesday when somebody on board required urgent medical attention.

The Aer Lingus Airbus A330-300, which seats nearly 300 people and is classified as a wide-body aircraft, landed in the city for approximately three hours, during which time one passenger was taken to the hospital, and the plane was refuelled.

It was certainly not what the passengers on board expected, and an unusual sight for anybody near the airport, which does not typically welcome such large passenger planes. However, it was a development airport staff were well prepared for.

“The Iqaluit Airport is designated as an alternate airport for many flight plans on high latitude and polar routes,” said Government of Nunavut spokesperson Weichien Chan. “The airport is equipped for these incidents and has a plan in place for wide-body diversions.”

The first priority upon the plane’s arrival was getting the passenger that required med-

News Briefs

ical attention to the hospital.

However, staff quickly dedicated themselves to the task of getting the plane back into the air, and keeping the passengers on board as comfortable as possible in the interim.

“The goal of the airport is to work with the airline to get the aircraft on its way as soon as possible, to ensure the flight crew do not exceed their duty time,” Chan said. “The airport has agreements with local providers to provide food, accommodation, and medical assistance in the event of an unplanned diversion, and can accommodate a jet with hundreds of passengers with very short notice.”

Iqaluit resident Brian Tattuinee watched the plane’s entire stopover, and says “paramedics were on the scene ready to assist when the airplane arrived.”

“I seen a passenger get off the aircraft with the assistance of paramedics and into the ambulance, I presume to our hospital,” he added, noting that RCMP and border services were also on site.

Tattuinee partakes in a hobby known as plane-spotting with several other Iqaluit residents. He has seen similar diversions occur in the past, but admits “it doesn’t happen often.”

“I don’t recall the last big diversion,” he said, noting that an Aer Lingus flight headed for Dublin landed in the Iqaluit in July of 2022,

Premier releases statement on Donat Milortok

An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to San Francisco made an unexpected stop in Iqaluit last Tuesday when a passenger required medical assitance. Airport staff are prepared to “accommodate a jet with hundreds of passengers with very short notice,” according to Government of Nunavut spokesperson Weichien Chan, and got the plane back in the air in roughly three hours.

and a United flight headed from Munich to San Francisco stopped in the city in 2020. “There’s been a few for sure that I’ve missed,” he said. “Some arrive in the middle of the night.”

“Usually within about a two-hour window is when big planes turn around and continue,” he added. “Generally, Iqaluit is well prepared for emergencies such as Aer Lingus’ medical diversion.”

Naujaat

Premier PJ Akeeagok released a statement celebrating the life of Naujaat Elder Donat Milortok Monday, May 15.

“Following a visit to Naujaat, I want to recognize the late Donat Milortok for the crucial role he played in the creation of the Nunavut Settlement Area as a negotiator and signatory to the Nunavut Agreement,” stated Akeeagok in a news release.

“Donat was a founder and past president of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut, which we now know as Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. As an elected leader, I take much inspiration from Donat, a residential school survivor who overcame many challenges to create a better territory for future generations.

“Even in his later years, Donat continued to advocate for Inuit land and harvesting rights. I am honoured to have met his family and I extend my gratitude and sympathies on the loss of their loved one on April 26. Donat, you are a father of Nunavut, and I thank you for your lifelong service to Inuit and all Nunavummiut.”

Fox tests positive for rabies

Rankin Inlet

A fox that attacked two dogs late April has tested positive for rabies, stated the Department of Health in a news release.

“Due to the danger of rabies, The Department of Health advises all residents to be on the lookout for foxes in the area,” writes the release.

“If you have been bitten or scratched by a fox or a dog, go to the health cen-

tre and report the incident immediately. Treatment must be started quickly after exposure, as rabies infections are almost always fatal. Domestic animals that spend time tied up outdoors should be monitored for a change in behaviour and signs of rabies.”

Signs of rabies include behaving strangely, aggression, staggering, frothing at the mouth, choking or making strange noises. Wild animals infected with rabies may also appear friendly and approach humans without fear. Animals showing these signs should be reported to the Regional Environmental Health Office or Conservation Officer.

Anyone who sees a fox or wolf wandering around their community should contact the Conservation Officer at 867645-8084. If your dog had contact with a fox or wolf, call your local Regional Environmental Health Officer at 867645-6660.

Elisha Subgut, five, placed first in the 10 and under category in the 200cc mini kidoo races during the 2023 Pakallak Tyme. Photo courtesy of Angie Subgut

Efforts underway to improve internet access in Nunavut

Several projects are underway to improve internet access in Nunavut, which has long been slow, unreliable and costly for many residents.

Quintillion and CanArctic Inuit Networks Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year to build a subsea fibre optic cable network in the North American Arctic. Initially, they plan to construct a fibre line from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L., to Iqaluit.

Madeleine Redfern, chief operating officer of CanArctic, a majority Inuit-owned company, said the project is “effectively shovel-ready,” but requires funding. She said the goal is to complete a marine survey this summer, which would allow for construction in 2024.

“The need is immediate,” she said. “Without this type of infrastructure, northerners, especially those in Nunavut, continue to pay the highest internet, telephone and cellphone services.”

A recent report on Arctic security and sovereignty by the House of Commons standing committee on national defence recommended the federal government work with Indigenous-led corporations on subsea fibre optic and other projects to provide increased and affordable internet coverage across the Arctic.

The Nunavut government has said it also plans to build an undersea fibre cable to provide faster, more reliable and affordable internet for Nunavummiut. A request for proposals for that project was cancelled without being awarded last month.

The Nunavut government said construction on the Katittuq Fibre Project, which would see a fibre line between Milton, N.L., and Iqaluit, was expected to begin this year and be completed in 2026. It said the total approved budget was $205.7 million but no eligible bids were received within that amount and the department is now updating estimates.

An auditor general’s report published earlier this year found that since Canada’s connectivity plan was released in 2019, a digital divide still exists between urban, rural and remote areas. As of 2021, it found while nearly 91 per cent of households across Canada had access to minimum connection speeds, that was the case for less than 60 per cent of households in rural and remote areas — and zero in Nunavut.

Northwestel, one of biggest internet service providers in the North, said it provides broadband service for all Nunavut communities using Telesat’s Telestar 19 VANTAGE high-throughput satellite. After the satellite was deployed in July 2018, Northwestel said it would significantly improve broadband connectivity in the territory, increasing speeds to 15 megabits per second.

The federal government’s minimum high-speed internet connectivity target for all Canadians is 50 megabits per second for downloads and 10 megabits per second for uploads.

A new Inuit-controlled internet service provider says it is aiming to become the leading telecommunications service provider in Northern Canada. Panarctic Communications and Galaxy Broadbands Communications announced last month they had formed InukNet Communications Inc., promising the “fastest available internet in the North” and no fees for data overages.

“InukNet will provide the northern territories with state-ofthe-art internet service made possible by advances in satellite technology,” Harry Flaherty, president and CEO of Qikiqtaaluk Corp., which owns Panarctic, stated in a press release.

Some Nunavut residents have seen improved internet access since Starlink, which uses a low Earth orbit satellite network operated by SpaceX to deliver internet, became available in the territory late last year.

Thomas Matthew Lambe in Iqaluit has had the service for about two months. He said he prefers Starlink but has experienced some minor issues.

“It’s been good to have faster streaming service, be able to play online video games, scroll through the internet so much faster,” he said.

-By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press

CanArctic COO Madeleine Redfern poses with a sample of the fibre-optic cable at the former Iridium satellite station in Iqaluit. The Canadian Press/Ho-Natalie Maerzluft

Moon mission could boost Canadian health-care, climate efforts: Artemis II astronauts Arctic might stand to benefit from next year’s research in outer space

Four astronauts selected to orbit the moon say the Artemis II mission can help inform how Canada responds to food insecurity, health-care needs and climate adaptation in the Arctic.

“How do we actually get eight billion people to row in the same direction and work on these problems? Because these are global problems.” said Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian colonel who will join three Americans in space.

The mission planned for November 2024 is part of an ambitious plan to establish a long-term presence on the moon, and has NASA hoping Ottawa further boosts its spending on outer space.

The 10-day mission involves slingshotting into deep space for a figure-8 manoeuvre around the dark side of the moon.

If it is successful, Artemis II will mark the first time any human has ventured so far from Earth.

It will also set the stage for another mission planned for 2025 that will include driving a vehicle on the moon’s surface and seeking materials that could be converted into fuel and building supplies.

Mission pilot Victor Glover said the diversity of the small but highly specialized crew, which includes people of two nationalities, a woman and a person of colour, is a deliberate message to the planet.

“This is an example of what we can accomplish, the challenges we can overcome,” said Glover, who is Black.

“When we bring our diverse skill sets together, our countries together, we can do what the president said in your Parliament: ‘big things,”’ he said, referencing President Joe Biden’s address to the House of Commons last month.

The ultimate later ambition is to install a manned outpost in orbit around the moon.

The crew noted that beyond the positive message of co-operation that the mission sends, there are a range of what Glover called “inspirational returns” and economic spinoffs.

Hansen argued the scientific research involved in the mission is particularly important for Canadians, as it will gather reams of data relevant to climate change and test out new ways of coping with remote environments.

“If we can’t grow food in the Canadian Arctic, how can we expect to do it on the moon and on Mars?” he said.

“These are areas that we can use the inspiration of space to help us bring real benefits to Canadians on the planet and society in general.”

The Canadian Space Agency also sees the mission as a way to advance tech jobs in commercial space robotics, building on the success of the Canadarm series of robotic arms.

Hansen said Canadians must recognize “opportunity lies ahead for us, to leverage a program like Artemis.”

Hansen, the only astronaut on the mission who hasn’t

already been to space, said he wants to show that it’s possible to go from being raised on a farm in rural Ontario to reaching the dark side of the moon.

“My message to Canadians is: ‘Don’t keep yourself small.’ I think we have a habit of doing that,” he said. “There’s so much genius across the country to contribute to the world.”

He said he’s excited by what the Artemis missions plan

to discover, from monitoring climate conditions to seeing whether the regolith that coats the moon could be used to create structures that resemble concrete buildings.

“We’re going to have humans walking on the moon, we’re going have humans going to Mars and we’re going to be solving real huge problems on the planet,” Hansen said.

“This is not the pinnacle. This is just one small step.”

- By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

The crew of Artemis II are (from l) Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Hammock Koch. (Photo credit: NASA/James Blair)

Opinion: Taxing the wealthy to the hilt would make us all much better off

By Tom Malleson, Associate Professor of Social Justice Peace Studies, Western University

In Canada today, one person — media magnate David Thomson — possesses roughly CA$73 billion while more than 235,000 people are homeless. In Toronto alone, 187 homeless people died on the streets in 2022.

What can be done to address these kinds of disparities?

Though most people naturally dislike inequality, it’s often argued that raising taxes on the rich will do more harm than good by damaging incentives and investment, thereby slowing economic growth and ultimately hurting us all.

It’s accurate that high taxes on the wealthy bring real risks. But in general, the downsides are highly overblown.

For instance, a common worry is that rich people will respond to high taxes by working less. But there’s essentially zero empirical support for this claim. In fact, there is now close to consensus among researchers that while the rich do frequently try to avoid taxes, they don’t do so by working less.

The most serious potential cost of high taxes is the reduction of private investment. This is definitely possible.

But the key point to keep in mind is that such a reduction is only half the picture. It’s wrong to think of taxes as simply reducing investment, because states do not simply collect taxes — they also spend them.

Therefore it’s more accurate to regard taxes not as reducing investment but as rearranging it — from the private sector to the public.

Whether this is a good or bad thing depends entirely on the details. In many cases, levying high taxes on the rich will mean money is no longer invested in foreign stock markets or spent on unproductive things like private jets and multiple mansions, but is rather spent on productivity-enhancing entities like schools, hospitals, roads, public research grants and so on.

Indeed, critical research shows that, all things considered, high inequality actually tends to reduce an economy’s overall growth rate.

The most sensible and cautious conclusion is that high taxes — very high taxes, in particular — could somewhat reduce economic growth, but these costs are likely to be only mild or moderate.

What about the other side of the ledger? What are the social and economic benefits from high taxes and reduced inequality? In my book Against Inequality: The Practical and Ethical Case for Abolishing the Superrich, I note that five stand out:

1. The environment

It’s well-known that the rich emit far more carbon than the rest of us. The wealthiest 20 people in the world emit 8,000 times more carbon than the poorest billion people on Earth combined.

So imposing high taxes on the rich would be doubly effective from an environmental perspective. It would directly reduce the copious emissions of the rich. And it would provide the necessary resources to build the new low-carbon infrastructure — including public transit, green energy grids, etc. — that we desperately need. That would indirectly help the rest of us reduce our emissions too.

2. Our democracy

The evidence is overwhelming that inequality erodes democracy. For instance, American scholars Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page examined 1,779 public policy debates between 1981 and 2002 to see whose voices actually mattered in deciding important issues.

They found that:

“The majority does not rule — at least not in the causal sense of actually determining policy outcomes. When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites or with organized interests, they generally lose.”

Such evidence demonstrates that significant inequality can actually break a democracy, transforming it into oligarchy, as has arguably already transpired in the United States.

3. Opportunity for all

Inequality makes a mockery of the cherished aspiration of equal opportunity. To take one particularly egregious exam-

ple, the poorest residents of Chicago today face a life expectancy 30 years shorter than their richer neighbours down the street.

High redistributive taxes could reverse this most brutal of disparities.

We also know that countries with more equality tend to have greater social mobility too.

Richard Wilkinson, the famous British epidemiologist and inequalities scholar, likes to quip that if Americans want to live the American dream and not just dream it, they should move to high-tax Denmark.

4. Reduced xenophobia and racism

Though right-wing populism has many complex causes, research clearly demonstrates that one of its main drivers is economic insecurity. That’s likely because insecurity increases fear that one’s already precarious position will be worsened by competition from “immigrants” and “others.”

The evidence shows that right-wing populism can be effectively reduced by enhancing economic security — for instance by taxing the rich to fund free public services — a stronger safety net and perhaps even a guaranteed basic income.

As neo-Nazis once again march in the streets, hate crimes rise, far-right political parties receive more public support than any time since the 1930s, the benefits of reducing such terrifying threats are hard to overstate.

5. Reduced social friction

Reducing inequality also builds community health and cohesion.

It encourages greater levels of agreeableness and tolerance, better mental health and reduces crime.

All in all, the costs of high taxes and low inequality are likely to be only moderate. But the benefits are truly enormous — a different order of magnitude entirely.

— Tom Malleson has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.

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