Nunavut News - Feb. 15, 2021 Edition

ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ 'ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ'

Tackling racism in healthcare MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq says the first step is addressing 'the lack of basic healthcare for Indigenous peoples' Volume 75 Issue 41 MONDAY, February 15, 2021

$.95 (plus GST)

Keeping our communities healthy photo courtesy of Johnnie Cookie

Lack of mental health GN promotes youthservices contributed to friendly sexual stabbing death: judge health education

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Advocate speaks out for Inuit midwives

"We are the heartbeat of the community."

– Pamela Gross, executive director of The Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society, speaks about the society's upcoming 25th anniversary, page 17.

2 nunavutnews.com, Monday, February 15, 2021

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nunavutnews.com, Monday, February 15, 2021 3

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Did we get it wrong?

Nunavut News is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in Nunavut News/North, call (867) 9795990 and ask to speak to an editor, or email editorial@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

News Briefs ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑎᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᒪᔪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ, ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᑦᑎᕆᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᑯᐊᓪᓚᒃᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ $5,000 ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᖃᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐅᖄᓚᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ 867-975-5400 ᐃᑭᐊᖅᑭᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᕗᖓ CGSHR@gov.nu.ca. ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᓕᕝᕕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᕐᒥ, ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 24, 2021. please see CGS, page 16

ᖃᑦᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥᒃ 295ᖑᕗᑦ

ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 9-ᒥ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥᒃ Moderna ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᑲᐱᔭᐅᒍᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ 1,000–ᓂᒃ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᒥᐅᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᔭᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 8-ᒥ. ᒪᐃᔭᖓᑦ ᔮᓂ ᑯᑭ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, 160 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, 18-ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ. "ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᐸᕗᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑎᒍᑦ. please see Community, page 16

ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᒥ

ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᐅᔪᓪᓗ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᒧᑦ. ᑎᑎᖅᑲᐅᓯᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥᑦ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 10-ᒥ, ᓇᒡᒐᑦᔭᐅᒥᑦ, ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 15 ᑕᓪᓕᒥᕐᒧᑦ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 19–ᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ, ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓇᒡᒐᔭᐅᒥ, ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 22-ᖑᓕᖅᐸᑦ. ᓱᕈᓯᑦ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᖏᓪᓗ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᒃᓴᖃᕈᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐅᖄᓚᒍᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ 867980-9921. please see Ummimak, page 14

ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ ᕿᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᕐᕕᖃᕈᒪᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ–ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᖓᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᖓᓪᓗ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ. ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ, ᑎᑎᖅᑐᒐᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᑎᑎᖅᑐᒐᖅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᓯᓚᑖᓂᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᒥᖑᐊᖅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᓂᕕᙵᑕᓂᒡᓗ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂᒃ ᕿᓂᖅᐳᑦ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᒍᒪᔪᓪᓗ ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐃᑭᐊᕿᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ hospitality@qcorp.ca ᐅᖄᓚᓗᑎᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᕗᖓ 867-979-8400. ᐃᓱᓕᕝᕕᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᒫᑦᓯ 15-ᒧᑦ. ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᐃᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᖕᒦᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥᓗ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ. please see Qikiqtaaluuk, page 16

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fact file Nunavut covid-19 situation as of Feb. 11 Active cases: 9 Confirmed cases: 303 Recovered cases: 293 Total persons followed: 6,614 Current persons followed: 335 Completed tests in Nunavut: 3,208 Total vaccine doses given: 6,185

Confirmed cases by community Arviat: 259 (249 recovered) Whale Cove: 23 (all recovered) Rankin Inlet: 19 (all recovered) Sanikiluaq: 2 (all recovered) Total deaths in Nunavut: 1 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

Clinic dates for second doses announced 'While we are not seeing a surge in cases as we did in November, household transmission is ongoing' in Arviat

by Derek Neary and Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Nunavut

Nunavut has nine active cases of Covid-19 as of Feb. 11, all located in Arviat.

"While we are not seeing a surge in cases as we did in November, household transmission is ongoing" said chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson.

"We know that overcrowding contributes to the spread of the virus, and so is visiting. I know it is not easy but if Arviammiut persevere in their efforts and follow public health measures, we will be able to curb the spread of this virus."

All infected individuals are doing well, are isolating at home and contact tracing is ongoing, the Department of Health stated.

Travel to and from Arviat remains restricted, except for emergency or essential purposes.

Vaccine clinics for the second dose are scheduled to take place in Arviat Feb. 10 to 13. Those who have not yet been vaccinated can make appointments, but those who are receiving their second shot will be given priority.

Other community clinics currently scheduled are as follows (aside from Rankin Inlet, all clinics will be taking place from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on the dates indicated below, and all clinics are by appointment): • Baker Lake: Feb. 22 to 25 second clinic, for anyone 45 or older (867-783-2816) Jonah Amitnaaq School • Cambridge Bay: Feb. 11 to 13 second clinic, community-

wide (867-983-4500) community hall • Kinngait: Mar. 3 to 5 first clinic, community-wide (867897-8820) community hall • Chesterfield Inlet: Feb. 19 to 20 second clinic, communitywide (867-898-9968) Victor Sammurtok School • Grise Fiord: Feb. 22 to 26 second clinic, communitywide (867-980-9923) Health Centre • Rankin Inlet: Feb. 15 to 18 second clinic, communitywide (867-645-8070) community hall (9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.)

• Naujaat: Feb. 15 to 16 first clinic, community-wide (867462-9916) Tusarvik School • Resolute Bay: Feb. 22 to 26 second clinic, communitywide (867-252-3844) Health

Centre • Whale Cove: Feb. 16 to 17 second clinic, communitywide (867-896-9916) Inuglak School

ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥᒃ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ.

photo courtesy of the Department of Health

Second vaccine clinics are now being held in many communities across the territory.

ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔨ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᖃᙳ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ 'ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒐᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓵᓗᖕᓄᑦ'

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔨᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᓂᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᖑᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᑦᑎᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ. "ᖁᕕᐊᓱᙱᓚᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᓂ–ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᖃᙳ. ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᓂᑦ ᐊᒥᒐᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᒍᔅᑎᒥᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. "ᑐᓴᕋᒪ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᕗᑦ ᕿᒪᐃᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒥᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᐃᑦᑖᕆᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐸᒃᑲ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ," ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᙳ. "ᐅᓇ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᕝᕕᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᓂᑦᑎᐊᕙᒻᒪᕆᐅᓇᔭᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᕈᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐅᒪᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓪᓚᕝᕕᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ."

ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓂᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦᑕᐅᖅ, ᓂᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᒃᓴᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓴᙱᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕈᓯᓂᑦ– ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ. ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᖅ ᐆᓇᔪᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. "ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᒐᓚᒃ, ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᓚᑖᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕈᓯᓂᑦ–ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ," ᖃᙳ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᒋᓪᓗᓂ 2000–ᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᕐᓂᖓᓂ "ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ (ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ) ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥ ᐆᒃᑑᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᓂᒋᓛᕆᓚᐅᕐᒪᒍ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒥ." ᓯᖓᐃᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓛᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓄᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᔭᖅᑐᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᕕᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᖓᔪᒃᖠᐅᔪᓂ

ᕿᑐᕐᙵᒥᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓇᔭᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᒧᑦ. "ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒐᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓵᓗᖕᓄᑦ," ᖃᙳ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. "ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨ/ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᑦ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᒧᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᑐᒧᑦ. ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐃᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᕐᓂᑎᓪᓗᒍ." ᖃᙳ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᑦᑎᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ. "ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐃᑦ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑏᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ, ᑲᑎᒪᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓯ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᓚᐅᖅᓯᐅᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᓯ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ– ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ." bf l A Advocate m4WZz 11

4 nunavutnews.com, Monday, February 15, 2021

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Lack of mental health services contributed to man killing stepfather: judge 'Limited resources devoted to mental health by the Government of Nunavut played the largest role' in stabbing death, says Justice Bonnie Tulloch

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven

Editor's note: The following story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers.

A Gjoa Haven man's fatal stabbing of his stepfather may have been prevented if the offender had access to adequate mental health services, a Nunavut judge says.

Clifton Qirqqut pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he caused the death of Rex Sallerina on Nov. 16, 2017.

Qirqqut suffers from mental health issues. On the day of the killing in the family home, he told relatives that his stepfather tried to poison him in his ear. A single stab wound to the chest with a steak knife followed, and Sallerina later died at the Gjoa Haven health centre.

In his statements to police, Qirqqut mentioned how he experiences hallucinations, hears voices and feels paranoia, including that his stepfather was trying to harm him.

"The record shows that Clifton went to the local health centre in Gjoa Haven himself on several occasions to report these paranoid beliefs in 2015. Nothing was done at that time," Justice Bonnie Tulloch stated in her Jan. 29 decision.

Qirqqut, who also said he didn't mean to kill Sallerina, was sent to an Ontario mental health centre for an assessment after the killing. A psychiatrist found that the offender was suffering from an acute psychotic disorder and was unfit to stand trial. However, the doctor also determined that Qirqqut would have understood that stabbing another person with a knife would have caused serious injury.

Qirqqut told the psychiatrist that he'd been hearing voices since age 16 and those voices instructed him to harm other people and himself.

Tulloch referenced a statement "...ᐅᓇ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᕈᑎᒃ from the victim's sister, who pointed ᓈᒻᒪᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᐸᓗᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᖃᓚᐅᕈᑎᒃ," ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨ out the lack of support available in ᐹᓂ ᑐᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖓᓐᓂ.

NNSL file photo

"...this tragic event may have been prevented if Nunavummiut were able to access more appropriate and substantial mental health assistance," Justice Bonnie Tulloch stated in her sentencing decision.

Because he believed that others could read his thoughts, he mostly stayed in his room, rarely leaving the house. His mother confirmed this behaviour and his underlying beliefs.

A second psychiatric doctor provided an evaluation and also found the offender to have a significant affliction.

Although Qirqqut told him that he stabbed Sallerina by accident, the doctor concluded that Qirqqut "would have known killing was both legally and morally wrong" and that a knife penetrates flesh and can wound or kill. He was therefore criminally responsible for his actions. This doctor decided that the

offender was fit to stand trial. The difference of opinion between the two psychiatric experts was possibly owing to the several months that the offender spent in the mental health institution, the second doctor suggested.

However, the second doctor also surmised that Qirqqut's psychotic symptoms and fear – experienced just prior to the killing – would have impacted his ability to form the intent to commit murder, which led to the manslaughter charge.

The Crown prosecutor and the defence lawyer submitted a joint recommendation that the offender's sentence should amount to time already served in custody – which is credited

at almost five years – followed by three years' probation. Tulloch said the recommendation is reasonable and noted that she's bound by law to follow the lawyer's direction in such circumstances.

Qirqqut had no criminal record he expressed remorse and apologized for his actions.

"This is a case where the state of Clifton's mental health diminishes his moral blameworthiness and his degree of responsibility," Tulloch stated. "It is clear from the evidence provided that Clifton suffers from a condition beyond his control that goes to his culpability and to a degree provides an explanation for what occurred."

Gjoa Haven.

"I agree with her position that this tragic event may have been prevented if Nunavummiut were able to access more appropriate and substantial mental health assistance," the judge stated.

"Limited resources devoted to mental health by the Government of Nunavut played the largest role in Clifton's actions and Rex's death."

Tulloch added that a pre-sentence report showed that Qirqqut "tried hard" to get help over several years for his mental illness but "received very little."

There were some counselling sessions, but his mother said it didn't help much.

"The mental health workers in the small communities of Nunavut have a very difficult job to do and often the resources needed to make a difference in people's lives are very costly and only available in the south," Tulloch wrote in her decision.

The judge noted that the mental health assessments prior to the court case and the emergence of Covid-19 caused delays in the resolution of Qirqqut's court case. She also mentioned that he spent his time in jail "wisely," attaining eight certificates, including in the Alternative to Violence program multiple times.

Tulloch imposed probation conditions that include occasional visits to the Gjoa Haven health centre for medical counselling and treatment, limiting his legal possession of a knife to times when he's eating or preparing food, a 10-year firearms prohibition and he must submit a DNA sample to the national database for convicts.

Please see related story, page 10.

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ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᙱᓚᖅ ᓱᓕᓂᕋᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ 'ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ,' ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, "ᐱᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓱᖕᓇᑎᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥ." ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᙱᓐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ. "ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᐅᙱᓚᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ, 100 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᑕᑯᓇᔭᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓇᓕᒧᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ," ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. "ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᓪᓚᕆᒃ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ. ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. "ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ," ᖃᖅᑲᖅ, ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᔪᖅ NDP–ᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓕᐳᕈᓪ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ. "ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᓯ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ." ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎ ᑕᓂᔅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᐊᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᒥᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ. "ᐅᖃᐱᓘᑎᓂᑦ ᐱᕙᒃᑕᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ... ᐊᒥᒐᓗᐊᕐᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ, ᑲᓐᓲᕕᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂ. ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᓴᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᐱᓗᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ 2020–ᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐳᓚᕋᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐆᒃᑑᑎᒋᓗᒍ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᕆᔭᖓᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᒥ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᓂ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᓚᐅᖅᐸᖓ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᕈᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᓐᓄᖓᓂ. ᐊᓈᓇᐅᑉ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᑦ ᓴᐱᓕᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᒥᓂᑦ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᐃᖅᓱᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᒪᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᖓ ᐳᕙᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᕙᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. "ᐃᒪᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ, 'ᐅᐊ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᖓᓂ. ᐊᑯᓂᐸᓗᐊᓗᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᑖᕋᓱᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐊᒥᓱᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂ... (ᓲᕐᓗ) ᐅᐃᒐ ᑳᓐᓱᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓵᓕᓚᐅᕈᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᓚᐅᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᙱᓚᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓂ. ᐃᕐᓂᕋ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᓚᐅᕈᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ (ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ), ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕋᔭᓚᐅᙱᓚᖃᐃ. ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑕᖃᖅᑐᖅ." ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ (NTI) ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᔪᒥ ᓯᓕᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ, ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ/ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕿᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑲᓐᓂᓛᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᖑᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᒧᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

The federal government has promised further dialogue this spring pertaining to post-secondary health education, cultural humility training, Indigenous approaches to health, and patient navigation.

NNSL file photo

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 10–ᓄᑦ ᓇᐃᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᓂ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂ. "ᐃᓱᐊᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᙱᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐱᓕᕆᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦᑕᐅᖅ, ᐃᓗᓕᖓᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᕆᙱᑕᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᖃᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᙱᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ," ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. 'ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ' ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᓕᐊᒥᓂᑦ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ "ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓚᑦ." "ᐊᑯᓂᓗᐊᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᒥ, ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᕆᙱᑕᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᖃᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖃᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᐃᑦ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ. ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐃᓕᓯᒪᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᓂ, ᐊᖏᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ, ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓪᓚᖓᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ," ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑲᑐᔾᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒧᑦ ᐹᑎ ᕼᐊᔾᑐ, ᑯᐃᓐᒧᑦ-ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᑳᓚᐃᓐ ᐸᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᑖᓐ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ. "ᐊᖏᐸᓗᒃᑐᒥ

ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᖃᙱᓪᓗᓂ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓵᙵᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓱᔪᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᓇᓕᒧᑎᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ." ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐆᒧᖓ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐃᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑲᓐᓂᓛᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᖑᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᙵᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᓯᒪᓗᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕆᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᓱᓕ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᓯᐅᖅᑲᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓵᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᓗᒪᔪᒥ ᐃᒥᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓄᑦ ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ. "ᑕᑯᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᑐᖃᕐᒥ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓱᐃᓛᒃ ᒪᓕᖕᓂᖓ ᒥᑭᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᔪᓐᓃᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓇᓂ," ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. bf l A Canada m4WZz 6

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Canada failing Indigenous peoples: MP 'First off, what they need to tackle is the lack of basic healthcare for Indigenous peoples,' says Mumilaaq Qaqqaq

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Nunavut/Ottawa

The federal government made a commitment in late January to ensure that Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples, "receive first-class medical care, without fear of discrimination and maltreatment."

Nunavut member of Parliament Mumilaaq Qaqqaq said the lack of medical care available in Nunavut is proof that the Government of Canada doesn't care about Inuit.

"Inuit and the North does not matter to the federal government as much as other communities, 100 per cent, otherwise we would see equal access," Qaqqaq said. "That's exactly what we saw from the beginning of the relationship between Inuit and the federal institution. It's a lack of any kind of respect.

"First off, what they need to tackle is the lack of basic healthcare for Indigenous peoples," Qaqqaq, a representative of the NDP, said of the Liberal government. "You need to provide the service first, and that's when we can start talking about racism in healthcare."

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson expressed similar thoughts about the provision of health services, or lack thereof.

"The complaints I'm getting about healthcare are about access to healthcare more than about discrimination... (it's) the shortage of resources

in notable areas like mental health," said Patterson, a Conservative.

Qaqqaq said she heard numerous complaints about healthcare from Nunavummiut while on her 2020 housing tour in the territory. One of the instances that made a lasting impression on her was a young mother in the Kitikmeot region who handed her a letter. Qaqqaq read it in her hotel room that evening. The mother's words of frustration and worry for her infant came after she said she was repeatedly turned away from the local health centre despite her baby having a build up of fluid in the lungs.

"I was like, 'Wow," said Qaqqaq.

"She knew that there was something wrong. It took quite a while for her to get healthcare. There's so many stories like that ... (such as) my husband has cancer, where they could have caught it earlier and maybe he could have been diagnosed and now he can't get treatment in his hometown. Maybe if my son was able to have resources and access to mental health (counselling), he might not have killed himself. There's just so, so many stories."

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) submitted a statement indicating that broader social conditions affect the health of Inuit in Nunavut, such as income, education, adequate housing, stress/trauma and food security. Inuit life expectancy is 10 years shorter than the average Canadian, according

to Statistics Canada.

"Ultimately, the continued marginalization of Inuit affects our health and our health outcomes. When working on health issues the structural determinants need to be recognized also, the context of history of colonialism and the resultant continued marginalization," NTI stated.

Among the actions that NTI is endorsing are a "concerted effort to close the social and economic gaps between Inuit and Canada and deal with systemic racism within the health system (including correctional facilities where so many indigenous people receive healthcare)." Nunavut Tunngavik is also calling upon the GN to carry out a commission on racism in the health system to review laws, policies and practices "that entrench racist systems, to review actions and experiences of staff, and the public, to find out the extent of the problem, to seek targeted redress."

NTI also expressed support for the Canadian Public Health Association's recommendations to adopt a formal statement condemning racism; undertake system-wide reviews of regulations, policies, processes and practices to identify and remove any racist systems and approaches; identify and remove racist laws, regulations, procedures and practices; provide mandatory, rigorous and system-wide anti-racism and anti-oppression train Please see Qaqqaq, page 12

ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ: "ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᐅᙱᓚᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ, 100 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᑕᑯᓇᔭᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓇᓕᒧᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ."

photo courtesy of the NDP

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq: "Inuit and the North does not matter to the federal government as much as other communities, 100 per cent, otherwise we would see equal access."

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Youth-friendly care: it's your right Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week in Nunavut aims to educate, remove stigma

by Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Nunavut

The week from Feb. 10 to 14 was Nunavut's Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week.

This year's theme for this week is "Youth-friendly care: it's your right."

Tavva, the National Inuit Sexual Health Strategy published by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada in March 2017 layed out a strategy to help reduce STBBIs (Sexually Transmitted and Bloodborne Infections).

"Before sustained contact with Europeans, and in particular, the Christian churches, Inuit attitudes toward sexuallity were much more open and tolerant," Tavva, the National Inuit Sexual Health Strategy reads.

"Parents and grandparents shared information that children and youth needed to live well. Distinctions between sex and gender were recognized in traditional pre-contact Inuit life."

The introduction of European ideas of men being dominant and women being submissive brought Chirstianity's repressive views of sex according to the the National

Inuit Health Strategy.

Contact also brought previously unknown STBBIs and other diseases to Inuit, including epidemics such as syphilis and tuberculosis.

More alcohol becoming available to Inuit has also brought increased risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which "among Inuit is thought to contribute to impulsivity, risk taking and/or vulnerability to sexual coercion/violence."

In the strategy it also notes "victims of child sexual abuse, adult sexual violence and family violence may find it difficult to view sexuality in a positive light" and those who have experienced it may have trouble talking to their children about sexuality and relationships.

In the Government of Canada's 2017 Report on sexually transmitted infections in Canada, the rates of STBBIs such as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia among others in Nunavut are some of the highest in Canada. The territory had a rate of 3,887.9 cases per 100,000, nearly twice that of the second highest (NWT, 1,942.9 per 100,000) and more than three times that of the third (Yukon, 757.0 per

Kotierk re-elected president of NTI Election had 17.5 per cent overall voter turnout

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Nunavut

Aluki Kotierk earned a convincing majority of votes to turn back a challenge from contender Andrew Nakashuk in a two-way race for president of land claims organization Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. on Feb. 8.

Kotierk was the preferred candidate in every community. She unofficially garnered 2,602 votes, or 69 per cent, compared to 1,172 for Nakashuk, or 31 per cent of the votes.

Voter turnout was 17.5 per cent overall, from a high of 42 per cent in Grise Fiord to a low of 7.1 per cent in Arviat, where "no contact polling" was offered over extra days due to another outbreak of Covid-19. A polling clerk would drop the ballot box off at homes upon request and pick it up afterwards.

In her role as president, Kotierk will serve on NTI's board of directors, executive committee, Inuit Social and Cultural Development Advisory Committee and as a chair of NTI's affiliate organizations Makigiaqta Inuit Train-

ing Corporation, Nunavut Inuit Resource Revenue Trust and Nunavut Tunngavik Foundation, according to NTI. The president of the land claims organization also represents Nunavut Inuit on the board of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Inuit to Crown Partnership Committee and is co-chair of the Land Claims Agreements Coalition.

Prior to the election, Kotierk told Nunavut News that her priorities for her next four-year term would be: "rooted in what I envision for Nunavut.

"I envision a Nunavut where Nunavut Inuit are able to live their daily lives with pride and dignity, feeling supported to achieve their dreams, while being able to access programs and services that recognize Inuit culture and language.

"To live a good and empowered life, we need to have our basic needs met. We need to take good aspects from Inuit ways and marry them with good aspects of the modern world.

"We need to reclaim our pride as Inuit and live with dignity in our own homeland."

100,000).

The Department of Health recommends people visit www.irespectmyself.ca for sexual health resources which are provided by the department.

One of the recommendations the site gives is to use condoms and dental dams while having sex for protection against STBBIs, as it gives "the best protection from STIs" with condoms providing some protection from unwanted pregnancies as well.

People can also visit the CheckUpProject Facebook page for posts and information on sexual health and testing.

One of the recommendations the Department of Health gives to help avoid sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies is to use condoms while having sex.

Pixabay photo

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑐᓕᖁᔭᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓕᐊᒃᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖁᐱᕐᕆᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔪᒪᔭᐅᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓯᖓᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓲᑉ ᐴᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓕᐊᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

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kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, =}KxE 15, 2021

Editorial & Opinions wh mK5

Published Mondays Office: 626 Tumiit Plaza, Iqaluit, NU Box 28, X0A 0H0 Reporters: Trevor Wright, Derek Neary Advertising: Phone: (867) 979-5990 Fax: (867) 979-6010 Toll free: (855) 447-2584 Email: editor@nunavutnews.com Website: www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews Kivalliq office: Box 657, Rankin Inlet, NU, X0C 0GO Darrell Greer – Bureau Chief Phone: (867) 645-3223 Fax: (867) 645-3225 Email: kivalliqnews@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews Production facilities: Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1 Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 Email: editorial@nnsl.com advertising@nunavutnews.com circulation@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com

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Comments and views from NUNAVUT NEWS/north and letters to the editor

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᕐᓂᔭᕆᐊᒃᓯᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᐳᖅ, ᐅᑎᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᕿᑐᕐᙵᒃᓴᖃᖅᖢᓂ, ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᔪᑦᑎᐊᒻᒪᕆᒃᖢᑎᑦ. ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒐᓚᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᙳᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᑕᐅᑦᑐᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᖅᑖᓵᖓ ᐃᓅᒍᓂ, ᓂᐅᕕᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᓱᓇᒃᑯᑖᓂᑦ, ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᒃᓴᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᒦᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᒥ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒡᕕᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᖄᖏᐅᔾᔨᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᕿᑐᕐᙵᒃᑖᓵᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᐊᒃᑯᖓᓂ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ – ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒐᓚᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒋᐊᖃᕆᕗᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᕼᐊᓐᓇᓚᓂ ᑭᓛᒥᑐᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᔭᖅᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᓄᓇᓕᑐᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐃᕐᓂᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᒃᓴᒥᓂᑦ, ᐅᖓᓯᖕᓂᖅᓴᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝᒧᑦ ᐅᐃᓂᐱᐊᒡᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖓ ᐃᓂᒃᓯᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ. ᐃᓚᓗᒍ ᓇᓗᓇᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐊᓈᓇᙳᕋᑖᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᓚᐅᖅᑳᕋᑎᒃ. ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᐅᓪᓈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖅᓵᖅᓯᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒌᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᙳᓵᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᕿᑐᕐᙵᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖓᔪᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᕈᓂ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕗᖅ ᐆᒥᖓ 2008-2014–ᒧᑦ ᓯᖓᐃᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᕋᑖᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᖓᓂ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᓄᖅ "ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᖅ

ᐊᕐᓇᐅᑉ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᑕ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᑕ ᓯᓚᑖᓄᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᔭᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔪᒥᓇᖅᑑᙱᓚᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕌᖓᒥᒃ, ᒪᓕᒃᑎᖃᒐᔪᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓱᕋᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᑖᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᐊᒃᑯᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔫᔮᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᕐᓂᐊᖑᓂᖓᓄᑦ." ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐃᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᕐᓂᔭᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐋᒍᔅᑎ 2020–ᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᐅᑉ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᖏᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᒪᑕ, ᐱᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ. ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔩᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᓯᖓᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᕐᓂᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᕐᓂᕋᑖᕕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᓇᒃᓴᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᖅᑭᒡᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᔪᓄᑦ. ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐹᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᒃᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᒥ. ᐊᕐᓇᒃᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᑦᑎᐊᕙᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ ᐃᓚᓕᐅᔾᔨᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᖓᓄᑦ (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂ) ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᒥᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᕐᓂᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᓂᑦ.

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ, ᑭᖑᓂᐊᒍᑦ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᒐᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ. ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᑉᐳᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖅ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᑦ ᖃᓂᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓴᕋᐃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᕋᑖᕕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᑉᐳᖅ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᐸ ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑐᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒧᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ? ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓛᖑᔪᓂ ᓈᓴᐅᑎᓂᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᓛᖓᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ 22.6–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᓂ 1,000–ᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᖓᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒐᔪᖕᓂᕆᔭᖓᓂ. ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ 840–ᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᓂ ᐃᓅᔪᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᓄᑦ 2019–ᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 2019–ᒥ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ–ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᔪᒥ ᓯᖓᐃᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᕋᑖᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᑭᐊᕈᓪ ᒍᕆᕕᓐ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᑲᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓚᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᕕᖃᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐃᕐᓂᓂᕐᒥ ᕿᑐᕐᙵᒥᓂᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᓱᓕᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᕆᙱᑕᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᖃᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓪᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ.

Support traditional birthing practices Medical travel in late-term pregnancy is expensive and stressful, bring midwifery back to Nunavut Northern News Services

When expecting a child, there are many things you can prepare yourself for and some that you simply cannot.

Most parents-to-be spend time planning how their lives will look when their new addition arrives, buying needed supplies, crafting special treasures, and spending time with family in anticipation of what is almost always a joyful change.

However, women in Nunavut have one more hurdle to overcome before they can continue their lives with their newborns and the rest of their families – most must also plan to travel hundreds of kilometres from their home communities to give birth in Iqaluit, the only community in Nunavut currently equipped to deliver babies, or further still to Yellowknife or Winnipeg, should Qikiqtani General Hospital run out of room.

Add the complications of our ongoing pandemic, and these new mothers must also isolate for weeks before returning home.

All of this travel and isolation takes away from bonding time between the new parents, their child and any siblings they may have.

The Government of Nunavut acknowledges this in its 2008-2014 Maternal and Newborn Healthcare Strategy, saying how "travel outside

The issue:

Birthing services

We say:

Bring them home

the woman's home community for the birthing process is not an ideal situation. When women leave, often without an escort, for extended periods of time, the family connection can deteriorate. As a consequence, it can often be difficult for the father and the rest of the family to feel involved with the child and its birth."

Rankin Inlet was a hub for childbirth for many years, until August 2020, when the community's two longtime midwives quit, causing the birthing centre to suspend services.

A news report at the time pointed to a lack of support along with an incredibly heavy workload for the two women. Midwives assist with many facets of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care, they bring an incredible range of skills and knowledge to a care team.

Former Health Minister Pat Angnagak says she truly believes in this issue and she wonders why community birthing is not in place and used as part of the system.

Angnakak says midwifery in com-

munities is a great opportunity to intertwine the cultural side (Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit) of midwifery with today's way of delivering babies.

Nunavut Arctic College used to offer a midwifery program based in Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet and, later, Iqaluit, until it lost funding.

The need is there, and the desire to keep women close to their families when they are vulnerable postpartum is there, so how can there be any justification for such a loss of funding?

The most recent figures from Statistics Canada show that Nunavut has the highest birth rate in Canada at 22.6 live births per 1,000 people, which is more than double the national average. Some 840 babies were born to Nunavut mothers in 2019, and a 2019 interview with then-territorial coordinator of maternal newborn health services Carol Griffin indicated that approximately half those births would have taken place out-of-territory.

It is unacceptable that communities go without birthing centres to safely deliver their children.

It is up to Nunavut Arctic College and the GN to work together to find solutions that will end what is yet another colonial holdover causing undue stress to Nunavummiut.

nunavutnews.com, Monday, February 15, 2021 9

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editorial – opinions

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Needle naysayers need to grow up, take threat seriously Northern News Services

Just like pretty much everyone else, I suffer big time from Covid-19 fatigue and wish the darn thing would just go away or had never been released upon the world to begin with.

But wishing is for romantics and penny fountains and all the wishing in the world won't change reality.

Make no mistake about it – we are at war with this virus and, although we are making progress against it, the war is far from over.

Reports on certain variants spreading more than 50 per cent quicker and showing resistance to the available vaccines are especially disconcerting.

They are already talking about the need for an annual booster shot becoming a very real possibility in the United Kingdom. And the voice of fear over one of the variants eventually having a much higher mortality rate if we don't soon get this thing under control is rising in volume on a weekly basis. That truly is of utmost concern.

Covid is at the roulette wheel of human life and every spin it's allowed to take increases the odds of it hitting its number and the world becoming a much darker and very, very dangerous place for the human race.

We have become, very much, a desensitized society and it angers me the number of people out there who still think the entire pandemic is some kind of government-contrived hoax.

Grow up! Time to put your adult pants on.

Yes, it took considerably longer to develop, test and distribute a flu shot than it did a vaccine against Covid-19. That speaks to the urgency of our race fighting back successfully against this virus, nothing more, nothing less.

In a perfect world, under ideal circumstances, the world's leading laboratories world have had years to develop effective vaccines. But, sadly, our world is far from perfect.

Time is a luxury we just didn't have under the very real set of circumstances we found ourselves dealing with.

And those numbers you see on the TV screen each day aren't from some battle-themed video game.

They are real deaths, real people around the world who lost their lives to a very real threat.

They are not contrived, inflated numbers pumped up by doctors or health institutions looking to

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ/street talk with Katie Way at Sam Pudlat School Kinngait

their reaction and subsequent thoughts on the make a fast buck on the back of the great panfollowing statement – the vampire's greatest demic hoax. strength is disbelief.

To those who still question the validity of this I have been reminded of that exercise a viral threat, how many deaths does it take for you number of times during the years to follow, but to shake the cobwebs of denial from your eyes? none were as poignant as what I've Two million? Five million? Or is the felt watching those who guffaw and real answer someone in your life who contravene health guidelines, protest you love? lockdowns, mask wearing and curfews, One of my university professors – refuse the vaccine on baseless if not back when I was taking a smattering moronic grounds and deny the very of courses at Ottawa University while existence of a pandemic at all. serving in the Armed Forces and staIf not for the horrendous body count tioned at CFB Rockcliffe in the 1970s that most surely would follow, I would – divided the 30 or so students in the almost look forward to a more dangerclass into groups and asked each group Darrell ous variant of the virus just to see what to agree on the greatest strength of Greer lie beneath the veil of false bravado on a vampire, from Bram Stoker's depicthose who now project pandemic distion in his Gothic horror masterpiece dain and disbelief.

Dracula, to everything Hollywood added during I apologize if that offends anyone, but consider the following century. this. Like millions of others, I am firmly in the A while later, one person from each group high-risk zone when it comes to Covid-19's potenstood and announced their answer, which were tial to hospitalize me, or worse, should I ever conwhat most people would expect in immortality, strength, speed, shape shifting, mind control, etc. tract the virus.

So yes, I have reached the point where I take it When the final group had responded, with somewhat personally each time someone downnone giving the answer he was looking for, he plays or denies the situation we are currently in. told us he wanted everyone to write a paper on

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓚᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔨᖓ ᑎᐊᕈᓪ ᒍᕆᐅᕐ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᔅᓯᓂ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᕐᓂᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᑕᐃᓯᔪᒥ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᓱᓕᙱᓐᓂᐅᓂᖓᓂ 'ᐲᔭᕐᓗᒍ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᕋᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ' ᐃᔨᖏᓐᓂ.

Kivalliq News editor Darrell Greer questions how many deaths it will take before those calling this pandemic a hoax 'shake the cobwebs of denial' from their eyes.

Pixabay photo

ᑭᓱ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕆᕕᐅᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖅ?

ᐃᓚᐃ ᓯᒥᒐᖅ, ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 5 "ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᕋ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᕆᓂᖅ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ STEM Club."

Eli Simigak, Grade 5 "I like to learn Math, Science and STEM Club."

What is your favourite class? ᐊᑲᓚᔪᒃ ᖃᕙᕙᐅ, ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 3 "ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕋ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒻᒪᑦ!"

Akalayok Qavavau, Grade 3 "My favourite class is Math because it's fun!"

ᑮᑦ ᐊᓚᕆᐊᖅ, ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 6 "ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕋ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᔪᙱᕐᔪᐊᕋᒪ."

Keith Alariaq, Grade 6 "My favourite subject is Math because I'm really good at it."

ᒫᑎᐅᓯ ᐋᓯᕙᒃ, ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 4 "ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᒐᒃᑯ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐲᔭᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ times tables."

Maatiusi Ashevak, Grade 4 "Math because I like to learn about adding and subtracting and times tables."

ᓚᐅ ᐱᓱᒃᑎ, ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 6 "ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᒥᐊᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᒐᒃᑯ! ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓂᖅᑕᐅᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᕋ."

Lau Pishuktie, Grade 6 "Art because I love to paint! I also like writing." ᕿᓐᓄᐊᔪᐊᖅ ᓂᖏᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 2 "ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕈᒪᓲᖑᕗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓂᖅᐹᕋ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖅ Frozen–ᖑᕗᖅ."

Qinnuajuaq Ningeochiaq, Grade 2 "I like to do Inuktitut Writing and reading. My favourite book is Frozen."

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Gjoa Haven political leaders have made repeated calls for mental health support 'No improvements in the system that's supposed to help,' says MLA Tony Akoak

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven

On multiple occasions over years, Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak rose in the legislative assembly and demanded better mental health services for his community.

First elected in 2013, Akoak said he remains just as

concerned about the situation today.

"There's no improvements in the system that's supposed to help out there," said Akoak.

"We have a lot of people that do need help in this community. There's still not enough services to help them out. I'm still very concerned of their well-being. I've been trying to

bring it up a lot of times and it still seems to be on deaf ears."

A mental health specialist occasionally comes into the community, he said. There was a very good counsellor who was appreciated by local residents, but he transferred to Cambridge Bay. The lack of continuity is a drawback, he acknowledged, adding that

the small number of mental health professionals is another impediment.

"We have people here who help out when needed, but they're so short-staffed. They get tired too, just like the nurses," said Akoak.

The MLA still wants a mental health and addictions treatment centre to be based

in Gjoa Haven that would also serve Kugaaruk and Taloyoak.

An Oct. 18, 2018 letter from then-Gjoa Haven mayor Joanni Sallerina to members of territorial cabinet referenced a related letter sent several months earlier. The correspondence again emphasized the need for a regional mental health and addictions centre to be located in the community.

'An unbreakable hold' "Sometimes it feels like the accumulative effects have an unbreakable hold on our (residents), especially the mentally ill, who struggle to find the ability to fight back," the letter reads. "If nothing is done, these types of addictions will significantly contribute to a vicious cycle of poverty for future generations as they will not be given the right environment to develop properly into good contributing citizens."

The hamlet's correspondence cites the dangers of addictions to alcohol, cannabis, gambling, cigarettes and poor food choices, particularly as those issues directly affect youth. This contributes to low attendance rates in schools, according to the letter.

"We also believe that the accumulation of all these types of health issues contribute significantly to the high rate of suicides of our loved ones," the 2018 letter states.

"If we consider (mental health and addictions) as the root of a lot of our other social problems, then we should want to focus our resources on solving these issues as opposed to spending money trying to solve the symptoms that will never go away if the root problems never get resolved."

Nunavut News asked the Department of Health to list the mental health resources available to residents of Gjoa Haven and also for comment on a recent court decision whereby the judge stated that "limited resources devoted to mental health by the Government of Nunavut played the largest role" in a 2017 stabbing death in Gjoa Haven. No response came before press deadline.

An addictions treatment centre – a project with commitment from the federal government, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut – is expected to open in Iqaluit in 2025.

Remote help The GN has a couple of active requests for contractor services pertaining to the well-being of Nunavummiut.

One is for Inuit and Indigenous support addiction treatment programs, the other for remotely delivered counsel-

ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖓ ᑑᓂ ᐊᑯᐊᒃ: "ᐊᒥᓱᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᕙᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥᔭ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ."

Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak: "We have a lot of people that do need help in this community. There's still not enough services to help them out." ling/therapy and clinical supervision services.

The former seeks recovery and treatment services that are "grounded in traditional Inuit or Indigenous cultural practices or ways of knowing and being."

"At present Nunavummiut have limited access to addictions treatment which is founded on Inuit and/or Indigenous culture. This (request for proposals) seeks to rectify this gap..." the document states.

High cost, limited services The GN acknowledges that its existing focus is on highcost acute services, "which is driven by the need to respond to acute issues such as suicidality and unmanaged psychosis." However, the territorial government expresses its long-term aspiration to develop "community-based service capacity ... with a focus on prevention and early intervention programming.

A current timeline for the development of specific community-based capacity increases does not exist at this time. It is recognized that it is necessary to continue to use out of territory service arrangements while service capacity within the territory is established."

In regards to remote counselling, the GN states, "there is a need to contract for services in order to establish the necessary capacity to address the significant burden of mental health and addictions pressures within the territory.

"It is expected that OOT (out-of-territory) mental health and addictions services will remain a necessary part of the Nunavut system of care for some time."

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Advocate for Inuit midwives hopes to see more support from GN, NTI Focus needed on supports that could 'easily be delivered in communities'

by Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Nunavut

An advocate for traditional Inuit and registered midwives currently living in Arctic Bay is hoping the Government of Nunavut will reverse the decision made to suspend birthing services in Kivalliq, as well as helping better support midwives all over the territory.

"I am not too happy with the state of child-birthing services in Nunavut," said Natsiq Kango.

Birthing services were suspended in Kivalliq due to a shortage of midwives the Department of Health announced back in August.

"When I heard our midwives left their job in Rankin Inlet, I felt so disappointed in our Government of Nunavut," says Kango.

"This birthing centre, and midwifery attendants for the Iqaluit hospital and

Cambridge Bay could have been ideal hubs for birthing, if Nunavut's Government provides full support financially and administratively."

She also took part in the panel to ensure gender parity among the MLAs with this most recently elected territorial government as well, something she hopes will bring stronger support for midwives and child-birthing services in-territory.

Midwifery has had lukewarm support over recent years in Nunavut.

"Rankin Inlet had a pilot project for five years or so, to prove to Nunavut and abroad on Inuit resiliency in birthing and child-rearing in all of Nunavut," Kango said, also noting an early 2000s "training program for (Nunavut) Arctic College with a Manitoba model because it was the closest way (to what) Inuit use in birthing."

Pregnant women are

frequently sent out of their home communities and even the territory itself for several weeks at a time to give birth. This separates them from their families, including potential older children and can cause undue stress on mothers and infants.

"Inuit midwifery was very normal in all families for years and years," Kango said. "A midwife/midwives were more or less the best supporters for (a) woman in labour. Midwives and husbands had attended births for the mother."

Kango called on government ministers and representatives, as well Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to better support these issues.

"Ministers, MLA's, NTI, get your agenda clear and focus more on social issues that could easily be delivered in communities, with Inuit ways and knowledge on birthing and child-rearing."

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᓇᑦᓯᖅ ᖃᙳ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ""ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒐᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓵᓗᖕᓄᑦ."

photo courtesy of Natsiq Kango

Advocate Natsiq Kango says that "Inuit midwifery was very normal in all families for years and years."

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Qaqqaq wary of federal promises Canada, from page 6

ing for all staff and volunteers within their organizations; enhance public health surveillance systems by collecting and analyzing race and ethnicity data in an appropriate and sensitive manner; and monitor organizations for stereotyping, discrimination, and racist actions and take corrective actions.

In its January announcement, the federal government admitted that there's "abundant evidence that the Can-

adian health-care systems are failing Indigenous peoples."

"For far too long, Canada's history of colonialism has driven racist practices, behaviours and policies against Indigenous Peoples.

"Systemic racism remains embedded in our country's healthcare systems, with catastrophic effects for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities," reads a statement issued jointly by Health Minister Patty Hajdu, CrownIndigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and

Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.

"Without significant change, Indigenous Peoples will continue to face harmful and persistent inequities in their health and social outcomes because of inadequate access to appropriate health services."

Past commitments The federal government noted that meetings on this topic have been held with Indigenous leaders across the country and the ministers

promised further dialogue this spring pertaining to postsecondary health education, cultural humility training, Indigenous approaches to health, and patient navigation.

A list of several planned reforms has been drafted to address the overarching issues.

Qaqqaq pointed to other government promises that have yet to come to fruition long after they were initially made, such as a national action plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous

Women and Girls and providing clean drinking water to all First Nations communities.

"We've seen historically things get announced

and then the follow-through is usually a letdown or it's something completely different, or it's something that is never followed-up on," Qaqqaq said.

fact file government of canada steps to address racism in healthcare •Launching an engagement process for the codevelopment of Indigenous health legislation to deliver high-quality healthcare for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. This work is supported by $15.6 million over two years from the Fall Economic Statement.

•Continuing the implementation of the recommendations from key reports. This includes the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the Viens Commission report.

•Increasing access to care that is culturally safe and free from discrimination by providing $4 million to the National Consortium of Indigenous Medical Education. Their work will focus on improving the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in medical school admissions, education and medical practice in six priority areas, including better assessment of Indigenous studies, cultural safety and anti-racism during medical school admissions, the addition of anti-racism learning modules, improving Indigenous faculty recruitment and retention as well as increasing admissions of Indigenous students into medical school.

•Continuing work to implement the United Nations Declaration the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Canada, including Article 24 which states that Indigenous Peoples "have the rights to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices, including the conservations of their vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals." Indigenous individuals also have "the right to access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services" and that "Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."

•Increasing Indigenous representation in the health-care field by supporting Indigenous-led health organizations. This will allow development of new health governance models that will increase Indigenous control and responsibility over delivery and management of federally funded health services.

•Supporting national and regional health organizations for targeted measures and tools to address racism, encourage cultural humility and promote trauma-informed practices.

•Supporting the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health to create a one-stop shop for cultural safety and anti-racism tools and resources.

•Working with partners to support better progress measurements including indicators, data collection tools and regular public reporting.

Source: Government of Canada

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Creativity in entrepreneurship Kivalliqmiut participants helping design international course

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

Her enthusiasm is obvious as Dorothy Tootoo talks about helping to head up a new pilot program currently taking place in Rankin Inlet.

Tootoo, of the Arctic Buying Co., is coleading creativity for entrepreneurship, a five-

week cross-cultural, international entrepreneurship course which is being piloted by the University of Minnesota.

The youth who make up the class taking part in the program are as near as Arviat, Rankin Inlet and Manitoba and as far away as different cities in the U.S. and India.

The class, which began on Feb. 3, is a combination of self-directed study with live

ᑐᐊᕋᑎ ᑑᑑ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ.

ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂ–ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ

ᐃᓱᒪᑐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

photo courtesy of Dorothy Tootoo

Dorothy Tootoo is currently co-leading a five-week creativity for entrepreneurship program in Rankin Inlet.

Zoom videoconferences in English and Inuktitut.

One of the numerous special attributes of the class is that the University of Minnesota actually encourages families to register for the course together.

That has led to entire families signing up with kids, their parents, and even some grandparents joining in with the learning and creativity the course has to offer.

Creativity for entrepreneurship is being touted as a terrific experimental approach to new educational opportunities by those involved with the project, paid for with funding from both the University of Minnesota and the United States National Science Foundation.

The university cites the objectives of the course as diagnosing personal creative capabilities by performing activities in the virtual and physical world, learning through practice and reflecting the blocks that inhibit creativity, developing self-directed learning capabilities and making cross-cultural connections.

Inclusivity, diversity and equity Tootoo said the process began with an invitation to participate in a project involving Global Dignity Day, which then went to ArcticNet – a network of Canadian centres of excellence that brings together scientists, engineers and managers in the fields of natural, human health and social sciences with their partners from Inuit organizations, Northern communities, federal and provincial agencies and the private sector to study the impacts of climate change in the Canadian North.

She said everything kind of grew from that into what it is today.

"It's so true that when you become involved with different organizations and people, and you kind of gel with their way of thinking, everything quickly becomes about inclusivity, diversity, equity in people and all of that," said Tootoo.

"It has kind of evolved to where we also have space with the University of Minnesota and two professors in particular, Dr. Aparna

Katre and Dr. Olaf Kuhlke, who has already spent a lot of time doing research in Arviat over the past number of years.

"He was telling Jamie Bell (formerly of Nunavut Arctic College and the Nunavut Research Institute in Arviat) and I about this project where they wanted to experiment and create an entrepreneurship program that included different ways of learning, while looking at ways to make the process easy for people to understand and participate in while having a voice.

"They've actually created another new experimental approach to exploring our cultural entrepreneurship, so, with that in mind, they're also introducing us to an international audience to explore what that means and how people can learn to be entrepreneurs."

Tootoo said there are some in the class who don't have access to social media and they're ironing out everything as they go along on how to communicate, still be connected and various other topics.

She said it's been a challenge but it's also a really good learning experience for everyone involved, including herself.

"Whenever we have problems, we just submit them back to Dr. Katre and Dr. Kuhlke and they say they'll set us up to have a chat in the university's chat room. It's been just incredible.

"I am stunned at how much help there has been through all this program and how it connects us. They're making every effort to try and keep us connected and they're always there to help when things are screwed up.

"The experimental approach to exploring this entrepreneurship course is terrific because, really, it's centred around families coming together and learning in this digital environment and I don't think this will be the last of it because it's so exciting.

"Those in the course will take away a real sense of inclusion and we will all come away from this with a new appreciation of creativity. The message we keep getting is that we are shaping this course, so we are really codesigning, or co-developing across, really, an international audience."

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Around Nunavut ∂´êÄ∏∂Ò ¥∂fl±´

Phone: (867) 979-5990 Email: editor@nunavutnews.com Fax: (867) 979-6010

ᒪᐃᔭ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥ ᔮᓂ ᑯᑭ, ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥ ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᓂ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᑳᓐᕈᐊᐃ, ᑯᑭᐅᑉ ᑐᓄᐊᓂ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᕗᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᓂ ᐊᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᓂᑦ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖓᓂ, ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓱᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᑑᕐᓇ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒧᑦ.

295 and going strong

photo courtesy of Johnnie Cookie

The Mayor of Sankiluaq Johnnie Cookie, far left, and head nurse David Conroy, behind Cookie, takes a group picture with community members who got vaccinated and healthcare workers at the Sanikiluaq Health Centre, following the end of the community clinics for the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.

Umimmak School closed this week Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord Parents and guardians in the community are advised that Umimmak School will be closed for the duration of this week.

In a memo from the school published Feb. 10, they announced that from Monday, Feb. 15 to Friday, Feb. 19 staff will be taking part in professional development (PD), during this time the school will be closed to the students, with doors

opening back up the following Monday. On Feb. 22.

Guardians and parents who have questions about this are advised to call 867-980-9921.

– Trevor Wright

Iqaluit moves to new City Hall Iqaluit The City of Iqaluit on Feb. 9 announced they are moving its

City Offices and council chambers from 901 Nunavut Drive to 1085 Mivvik Street.

The new office space is expected to provide modern facilities for five city departments including administration, finance, corporate services, human resources and economic development, according to a release by the city.

Please see Community, page 16

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news

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Blockades end at Mary River mine after tense week 'Our concern is for the land and for future generations to enjoy the relationship we know with wildlife, animals and the oceans'

by Derek Neary and Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Nuluujaak

The blockades at Baffinland Iron Mines' Mary River mine have been lifted, the company stated early afternoon on Feb. 11.

Baffinland is in the process of restoring operations at the airstrip and tote road, which were previously blocked by protesters from Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay for a week.

Support came to the protesters from many sources including Naujaat Elder Donat Milortok.

"We have to support our fellow Inuit who are protesting at Nuluujaak (Mary River Mine) while they are struggling to express serious concerns," said Milortok, a former president of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut, the Inuit organization that negotiated the Nunavut land claim during the 1970s and 80s.

"Our concern is for the land and for future generations to enjoy the relationship we know with wildlife, animals and the oceans. All Inuit understand this."

Pond Inlet Mayor Joshua Arreak presented terms Feb. 10 that would allow protesters at the Mary River iron mine to stand down that included: • A firm commitment from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) to share a greater portion of royalties an revenues from Baffinland's activities. "We want more support for communitybased economic development and resources for meeting the social needs of our communities. We are not satisified with the benefits we are currently receiving.

This is an important issue for our protesters."

• Making clear to the QIA and NTI the protesters' environment-

al, social and cultural concerns, including traditional sources of food.

• Having the QIA and NTI acknowledge those concerns and confirm that "they are understood and appreciated."

• Obtaining NTI and QIA support for North Baffin communities and organizations in moving toward the completion of regulatory hearings for Baffinland's phase two expansion plans at the Mary River mine.

"We are not supportive of the phase two proposal in its current forum," the Hamlet of Pond Inlet's letter states.

The letter expresses concern that because Baffinland is applying for a court injunction, there's a possibility that the RCMP are "likely to move quickly to end the blockade. This (proposal) is in the interests of protecting protesters and making sure that no harm comes to them."

With the end to the blockade there is hope that tensions can be reduced and communications between all parties can resume.

"The blockade ended last night (Feb. 10) and they slept in the MHTO (Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization) cabin last night," Marie Naqitarvik told Nunavut News, speaking on behalf of the protesters. "I'm not sure when they are going home."

Employee and contractor transfers, food and supply flights, search and rescue flights, and other North Baffin air traffic support services that use the Mary River airstrip are expected to resume soon.

Mine production is also in the process of ramping up again.

Brian Penney, CEO of Baffinland, expressed his gratitude to the mine's 700 personnel at the site, 160 kilometres south of Pond Inlet, and

ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓄᓘᔭᕐᓂ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᓕᒫᒥ ᐃᓯᖅᑎᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᒃᒧᑦ ᐊᓂᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓂᒃ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕕᕈᐊᕆ 11–ᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

Hark Nijjar Photography

Work at Baffinland Iron Mines' Mary River mine in Nunavut. After a week-long blockade by protesters from Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay ended Feb. 11 the mine is in the process of ramping up production once again. the workers' families for their "support and patience during what was a challenging time.

"The health and safety of everyone on our property remains our top priority," Penney said. "We welcome the move to a constructive dialogue and hope to work in collaboration with our community partners to find mutually agreeable solutions to the issues that have been raised."

Concerns over NIRB hearings Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) President P.J. Akeeagok on Feb. 9 addressed the controversy over the regulatory hearings for Baffinland's

proposal for expansion at its Mary River iron mine.

"At QIA's January board meeting and during the NIRB (Nunavut Impact Review Board) hearings in Pond Inlet, I heard concerns from Qikiqtani Inuit and Mittimatalingmiut that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (traditional knowledge) was not being honoured throughout this process," Akeeagok stated in a news release.

"I heard from Elders that we should speak about what we see and experience. I have heard from hunters that the project needs to slow down. I have heard impacted com-

munities speak strongly about their concerns regarding phase two.

"It is abundantly clear to me that the phase two proposal before the Nunavut Impact Review Board has not been adequately developed. QIA believes success can be achieved when parties have time to work together to advance a common vision," said Akeeagok.

The news release added that QIA continues to support the extension of NIRB's community round table and anticipates further open engagement with impacted communities, especially oral questions, and comments vital to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.

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around Nunavut Iqaluit, from page 14

There will also be an improved video streaming system for the public as well as an integrated audio-visual system for translation, interpretation and presentations.

"The opening of the new City Hall is a highly anticipated milestone for the city," said Mayor Kenny Bell.

"The new office space will invest in our current and future staff by ensuring staff have positive and healthy work spaces, as well as the tools they need to succeed in providing high quality services to residents."

During the move which is set to take in phases in Feb. to allow for the move of staff in-person city business operations may be closed to the public for a short period of time. In the event of this, the city will issue a public service announcement.

The city will announce a public open house event when the move is completed.

– Trevor Wright

Community vaccination clinics end with 295 receiving doses Sanikiluaq The community clinics in Sanikiluaq ended last week on Feb. 9 as eligible residents were able to get the Moderna Covid19 vaccine.

The community of under 1,000 people came out to the shot starting on Feb. 8.

According to the Mayor of Sanikiluaq Johnnie Cookie, 160 people, 18 and older got vaccinated on the first day alone.

"Thank you everyone who got vaccinated," he said on social media.

– Trevor Wright

Qikiqtaaluuk searching for submissions of Inuit artwork Iqaluit The Qikiqtaaluk Corporation is calling for submissions of Inuit artwork to help showcase its new Inuit-owned Aqsarniit Hotel & Conference Centre in Iqaluit.

Qikiqtaaluk will be looking to purchase or commission

ᓄkᓴNKusi

carvings, prints, murals, tapestries, photography or other art types for this.

Those who are interested or are looking for more information can contact hospitality@qcorp.ca or call 867-979-8400.

The deadline for this is Mar. 15.

The items will be featured in the hotel's guest rooms and public areas as well.

– Trevor Wright

ᓅᓪ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ

ᒥᐊᕆ ᐃᖅᑯᑎ ᑐᒃᑑᑉ ᓂᐊᖁᖏᓐᓂ ᐆᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᔪᒧᑦ, ᓂᕿᓕᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᖓᑕ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓈᓇᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓂ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ.

CGS offering scholarships Nunavut The Government of Nunavut's Department of Community and Government Services is offering technical, and professional scholarships in the fields of engineering, informatics, community planning, business studies, as well as firefighting, fire prevention and land administration as part of a college program.

Successful applicants can receive up to $5,000 under this program depending on their year of study.

Information on how to apply for this can be obtained by calling 867-975-5400 or emailing CGSHR@gov.nu.ca.

The deadline to submit an application for a scholarship in these fields is Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.

– Trevor Wright

On the land

Do you have an amazing story from your adventures on the land? Tell us your story and show us your photos for a chance to win $100. Submit your story and photo to our Nunavut News Facebook page, editor@nunavutnews.com, or by mail to Nunavut News, PO Box 28, Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0.

Entries will be placed on our Facebook page. They may also appear in this newspaper and other Northern News Services publications. The story and photo with the most combined likes and shares at the end of the week wins.

This week's winner is Noel Kaludjak, right. Congratulations!

Noel Kaludjak Rankin Inlet

Mary Ikorktee, cooking tuktu heads for anyone who wants to have some, cooking near her cabin in memory of her late mother to encourage family gatherings.

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¥∂¿ú

Kitikmeot Heritage Society nears 25 years ᐱᑦᖁᕼᐃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᕼᐅᑎᓂᖅ/ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᓂ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 25–ᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᒥ, ᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᙳᐊᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑎᖏᓐᓂ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ ᓄᓇᒦᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᒥ 1997–ᒥ ᑰᔨᔪᐊᕐᒥ. ᑐᓄᐊᓂ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ: ᓴᒥ ᐊᕼᐃᒎᓇ ᐊᒥᒐᐃᓂᒃ, ᐄᕙ ᓇᑯᔭᒃ, ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᐳᑐᒥᒐᒃᑐᒃ ᑲᐅᓲᓂ, ᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᖑᓛᓕᒃᑳᒃ ᐊᖑᓚᓕᒃ ᐊᒫᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᐅᑕᕐᒥ, ᒫᑕ ᒪᑯᒃ ᐊᖑᓚᓕᒃ, ᓵᒻ ᐃᑦᑭᓕᒃ, ᒫᑭ ᑲᐅᓲᓂ, ᑕᓂᔅ ᒪᕝᕕᐊᒃᔪᒃ ᑲᐅᓲᓂ, ᐋᓂ ᐊᓪᒍᒃᓇᓗᒃ, ᔨᐊᕆᑦ ᒥᑦᑯᐃᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᓚᓕᒃ, ᑎᐊᔅᒪᓐ ᑲᐅᓲᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒥᐊᕆ ᐊᓇᑲᒃᓂᒃ ᑲᐅᑕᓗᒃ. ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ: ᓄᐊᒪ ᐃᕙᓕᒃ, ᓖᓇ ᐅᑐᑕᒃ ᐃᕙᓕᒃ, ᑲᕼᐊᒃ ᐅᓕᑲᑕᒃ, ᐲᑕ ᐊᐱᐊᓇ, ᓲᓯ ᐊᓇᐃᔭᒃ ᐊᐱᐊᓇ, ᐋᓂ ᐊᖑᓛᓕᒃ ᒪᒐᒃᓇᒃ, ᒫᑕ ᑯᕖᒃ, ᑖᓄᑦ ᑯᕖᒃ, ᔭᐃᒥᓯ ᒥᑎᒃ ᐸᓂᐅᔭᒃ, ᐸᓯ ᑭᖕᒥᒍᑦ, ᐃᒪᓕ ᕼᐊᓪᒋᐅᕼᐃ ᕼᐊᓗᒃᑕᓕᒃ, ᑲᐃᔪᓪ ᑯᐊᕼᐊ ᐊᒥᒐᐃᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᓂᔅ ᒪᕼᐃᒃ ᑲᐅᒪᔪᒃ.

photos courtesy of Kitikmeot Heritage Society

The Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society over the last 25 years took part in a number of projects on the land, ranging from archaeological trips to mapping out traditional place names, such as this on-the-land group photo from 1997 at Kuugjuaq. Back row, from left: Sammy Ahegona Amegainik, Eva Nakoyak, David Potomegaktok Kaosoni, Emily Angulaalikkaak Angulalik, packing Kaotak, Martha Makok Angulalik, Sam Itkilik, Mackie Kaosoni, Dennis Maffiakyuk Kaosoni, Annie Algoknalok Kaosoni, Jared Metkoenek Angulalik, Desmond Kaosoni and Mary Anakaknek Kaotalok. Front row, from left: Norma Evalik, Lena Ototak Evalik, Kahak Ulikatak, Peter Apiana, Susie Anaijak Apiana, Annie Angulaalik Magaknak, Martha Kogvik, Donald Kogvik, James Taipana, Mabel Ekvana Angulalik, James Mitik Panioyak, Bessie Kingmigot, Emily Halgiohi Haloktalik, Kyle Koaha Amegainik and Dennis Mahik Kaomayok.

Addressing revival of Inuinnaqtun still one of society's goals

by Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

The Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society (PI/KHS) is set to enter its 25th year next month.

The society was incorporated on Mar. 6, 1996, and there is much to celebrate and to look back upon from the past quarter-century.

The mission of the society is to preserve and renew Inuinnait knowledge, language and culture for the benefit of all Inuit.

"We address projects of critical importance to the revival of Inuit culture, language and history. We focus on the needs of Inuinnait,"

said Lyndsey Friesen, Philanthropy and Communications Manager with the Kitikmeot Heritage Society.

The PI/KHS, based out of the May Hakongak Community Library and Cultural Centre in Cambridge Bay, has worked on a number of projects over the years seeking to help safeguard the region's heritage.

A key component of preserving the culture of the central Arctic are its Elders who hold the knowledge to pass onto younger generations of Inuinnait.

"Our Elders have always been a keystone to Inuinnait culture, and have always held high honour (and) respect that we still hold today," wrote

ᐄᕙ ᐊᒃᓇᐅᒃ (ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ) ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᓂᖓ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓐ ᐅᕙᙵᑦ PI/KHS–ᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓂ–ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᒥ (ᕿᑎᐊᓂ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒧᑦ) ᒥᐊᕆ ᐊᕙᓚᒃ, ᐋᓂ ᐊᑎᒡᕼᐃᐅᔭᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᐃᐳᓪ ᐃᑎᒋᖕᒥ 2018–ᒥ.

Eva Akhok, left, and her daughter learn Inuinnaqtun from PI/KHS's Elders-In-Residence, centre to right, Mary Avalak, Annie Atighioyak and Mabel Etegik in 2018.

Pamela Gross, executive director of PI/KHS. "Having them be able to share and pass on our age-old knowledge is critical, and our Elders know this and we are blessed to have them up into their late 80s still contributing and sharing their wisdom with our younger generations."

Gross adds that during typical non-Covid years "we have had upward of 24,000 to 33,000 people coming through the centre's doors, whether to use the library, see the Cultural Centre's exhibits or to purchase in-house resources or traditional garments.

"We are the heartbeat of the community."

In terms of the projects

headed by PI/KHS over the years, it's those that are onthe-land and those that help preserve the Inuinnaqtun language that come to mind.

"The projects that happen on the land, or sparking the excitement to pass and learn Inuinnaqtun through our online platform: Uqarluta Inuinnaqtun," Gross said.

"Engaging Elders and youth in projects like archaeology, interviewing Elders and knowledge holders or building Inuinnait objects stand out the most."

Building towards a solid financial foundation for the PI/KHS's future is also one of the goals the Society has been building towards, namely that of free enterprise.

One enterprise that is helping support PI/KHS is Kaapittiaq, meaning "Good Coffee" in Inuinnaqtun, 75 percent of Kaapittiaq's profits go towards supporting Inuinnaqtun as well as Inuinnait cultural programming and it's "a good source of ethical, directly traded coffee that's on a good mission."

The company sources green beans from Indigenous farmers in Peru according to Kaapittiaq's website, while being an Inuit-owned and operated business.

"There are many things we hope to accomplish, however, passing on Inuinnaqtun is our first priority and we are working to create opportun-

ities for more immersion. Any program that passes on Inuinnaqtun knowledge is a key way to strengthen our people and transmit our worldview."

Gross and board president Emily Angulalik hope to build toward making a new cultural centre in Cambridge Bay to work towards the goal of passing on Inuinnaqtun.

What they have accomplished during the last 25 years has grown beyond their own expectations and "I am very proud of it," Gross wrote.

"I am proud of how much work everyone has dedicated to create a space to make for the growth of one's learning and knowledge/ihuma (thought)."

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Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: sports@nnsl.com • Fax: (867) 873-8507

Tournament hockey takes over ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑑᕗᖅ ᐃᓯᖅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᔨᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᓕᐅ ᔩᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐅᐱᒋᕐᔪᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂ, ᐊᒃᑲᖓ ᔭᐃᒥᓯ ᒥᐊᕆᑦ.

ᑐᕋᐃᑕᓐ ᕗᐊᓯ ᖁᖓᔮᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᒻᒧᒃᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓂᐊᖁᖓᑕ ᖁᓛᒍᑦ A ᐊᕕᒃᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᐅᓯᐊᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᐃᕐᙳᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᕼᐋᑭᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᕕᕈᐊᕆ 7–ᒥ.

photo courtesy Alfred Voisey

photo courtesy Joycelyn Merritt

It's a proud moment for goalie Leo Gee knowing the person he really looks up to, his uncle James Merritt.

Draden Voisey is all smiles while raising the A Division championship trophy over his head at the Fun Cup hockey tournament in Rankin Inlet on Feb. 7.

Penguins nip Bruins to take Fun Cup in Rankin Inlet

by Darrell Greer

Northern News Services

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

No travel tournaments this year but if you thought that would stop Rankin Inlet from hosting a hockey tournament of some kind, you thought wrong.

It was the young players who took the spotlight as local tournament hockey play returned to Rankin Inlet on Feb. 7, in the form of the Fun Cup. And the young ones provided a great tournament, with the Penguins nipping the Bruins 4-3 to take the A Division title in overtime and earn local bragging rights this time around.

Alfred Voisey had two sons playing in the Fun Cup and they each brought home gold with Draden Voisey, 7, playing on the A Division's top team and Mikkittuq Voisey, 6, being part of the B Division champs.

Alfred said it was an exciting tournament and all the kids were amazing to watch.

He said they were all talented little hockey

me do while watching me play, they're going players who played hard all weekend.

"This was the second tournament ever to try in their hockey games. It excites me when I hear that kind of talk for both of my boys and they from the boys. That's probably were really excited about it," said the best thing I hear out of them.

Alfred.

"I'm very excited to look "They were both pumped up forward to watching them go to be playing in this tournament through the Rankin program but we went out for awhile after over the years. their first game and got home a "I'm very happy to be Rankinlittle late, so we didn't have any miut so my kids get the opporproblems with them being too tunity to play in these kinds of excited to sleep." programs."

Alfred said the two boys are James Merritt has been an very big fans of hockey. all-star calibre goalie in Rankin He said they're growing up Inlet for many years and he gets pretty much eating, drinking and a tremendous kick out of cheersleeping the game. ing on his nephew, Leo Gee, as "Kids get very excited for – Alfred Voisey he blocks shot after shot in goal, hockey each year here because as well. we have a very good hockey program in Rankin that gets them Leo's mom, Jocelyn, said her started at a very early age and they get a great son only choose to play goalie so he could deal of support from the program, as well. be just like his Uncle (angak) James, and his "The boys tell me all the things they see sister's statement isn't lost on Merritt.

"I'm very happy to be Rankinmiut so my kids get the opportunity to play in these kinds of programs."

"It's pretty awesome watching him play and I got a lot of comments from people saying that he's just like a little me, I guess, when I was at that age," said Merritt.

"He really improved a lot from the last time I watched him.

"The championship was a really good game and he played awesome in the roundrobin game against that same team, winning 1-0."

Merritt said his nephew is fully aware of his uncle's play in goal over the years and looks up to him big time.

He said it means a lot to him to have his nephew see him the way he does.

"I found the game more exciting watching him play like that, and I was cheering all out for him and his team to win that final game.

It was awesome.

"I'm looking forward to watching him go through the Rankin hockey system because you can see the joy in him playing and it brings back memories of myself playing at those levels."

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OK, fine: Brady is the NFL's GOAT Northern News Services sure as hell not Dan Marino. What the hell did Marino ever win?

So Tom Brady has himself another Super No, John Elway was the king of the twoBowl ring and he made it look like a walk in minute drill and led his team to more fourth-quarthe park. After taking care of Kansas City's ter comebacks than any other pivot there was. defence and leading his Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 win in Super Bowl LV, the And he won two Super Bowls ... he lost only drama left was wondering the first three he played in but whether that guy in the pink still won two so you can all get thong would get into the end stuffed good and tight. zone.

Alas, I must give credit Wasn't that hilarious? Oh, where it's due and anoint Tom that's right – the TV cameras Brady as gridiron football's with James McCarthy GOAT. didn't bother to show it because they don't like to show things Championships aside, the which may make you laugh. amount of records Brady either Honestly, people were going to be tuning out, shares or holds outright is sickening: most anyway. Showing Hot Pink Borat would've at career games started, played and won by a least kept them glued for another few minutes. quarterback; most combined passing yards (By the way, if you're looking for some (playoff and regular season; most game-winning drives; most fourth-quarter comebacks super entertainment, be sure and check out Kevin Harlan's radio play-by-play of the entire (these last two were Elway's for the longest time) and countless others. streaker segment ... well worth your two minutes.)

It really is an impressive list and when Anyway, Brady has seven Super Bowl Brady is ready to retire – if he ever retires – he rings to his credit and I am now grudgingly should get the Wayne Gretzky/Mario Lemieux admitting this here and now: Tom Brady is the treatment and be shipped right into the Pro greatest quarterback of all time. I can't keep Football Hall of Fame. putting it off anymore.

I say all this because I've had a lot of fun For years and years, John Albert Elway, Jr., reading online about how other athletes are was my greatest of all time. Not Terry Bradthe GOAT. My personal favourite are those shaw, not Steve Young, not Joe Montana and comparing Serena Williams to Tom Brady.

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Comparing someone who plays in a solo sport to someone who plays in a team sport? Sure ... there's no issue there, is there?

Serena Williams gets my vote for the GOAT in women's tennis and I would put her up against dudes like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for the GOAT in tennis all-time. But you seriously cannot compare someone who's made a living in a sport where the largest on-field team you can have is two.

Is Brady the GOAT for team sports overall?

He's definitely up there with seven rings but you would have hockey people tell you Wayne Gretzky is the GOAT or basketball people will have you say it's Michael Jordan or even Bill Russell. In baseball, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays ... take your pick.

It's foolish to compare any one athlete to another in a sport one of them doesn't play. It's such a false equivalency.

You mean to tell me Michael Jordan is a better football player than Tom Brady would be in basketball? Of course not. And Wayne Gretzky is not a better baseball player than Hank Aaron and vice versa.

Tom Brady is the GOAT in football and that's that. Any conversation about football greats has to include Brady because it wouldn't be a real conversation without Brady. What he's done is so impressive and will stand the test of time.

And you can bet he'll be back to try for an

ᑖᒻ ᐳᕋᐃᑎ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅ Tampa Bay Buccaneers–ᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑲᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᐸᖏᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ Super Bowl LV–ᒥ.

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Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season and promptly led them to victory in Super Bowl LV. eighth ring. Age is just a number and as long as he keeps with his diet where all he eats is seemingly leaves off a tree, grass off of the ground and drinks nothing but 500 lbs. of water per day, Brady should be on course to be playing until about 115.

Even better? Covid-19 regulations should start to ease up by that time with Covid-20 right around the corner.