Nunavut News – March 22, 2021 Edition

ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᖃᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅᖢᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌ`ᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ

Reflecting on a year of Covid The fight has been long and exhausting, but Nunavummiut continue to make great strides to protect one another MONDAY, March 22, 2021

Volume 75 Issue 46

$.95 (plus GST)

Fashion forward

Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Matilda Madekufamba models a costume called "Birds of Prey" at the For Us By Us fashion show in Iqaluit March 14. The outfit was designed by Hayden Harbin of Saldenah Carnival based in Toronto. See more photos inside.

Iqaluit music teacher nominated in national competition

Publication mail Contract #40012157

7

71605 00200

2

Vaccine campaign reaching out to youth

Dr. Michael Patterson shares his perspective on the year gone by

"I don't think we will make any progress if we just talk about the pandemic without resolving our housing crisis."

– MLA John Main hits the heart of the matter while offering condolences to the family of Luki Sammurtok, page 4.

2 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

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 ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅ ᓯᑕᒪᓂᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐄᐳᕈ 12-ᖑᓕᖅᐸᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪ 6–ᖑᖕᒪᑕ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᑉ ᑐᖏᓕᐊᓄᑦ: ᑖᓇ ᐋᑕᒻᔅ, ᐸᓂ ᐊᒡᒐᒃ, ᕼᐃᐅᕆ ᐊᒡᒐᒃ, ᑏᕕᑦ ᖁᒃᓱᒃ, ᐃᐊᕈ ᐸᒥᐅᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑖᒻ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ. ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖢᐃᓪᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ. ᑲᑎᒪᔨᙳᕋᓱᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᕼᐋᓇ ᒪᓕᑭ, ᓯᑏᕝ ᒪᑉᓴᓛᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᔮᓐ ᐃᐊᓪ ᑏᓇᔅᖢᒃ. ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᒥᓗ ᐃᓐᓄᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᖏᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᕼᐃᒪᔅ ᑕᑎ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᒐᐃ ᐃᓄᐊᐱᑦ ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᒧᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓗᓂ. ᓯᕗᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᒫᑦᓯ 29-ᖑᓕᖅᐸᑦ. please see Candidates, page 11

ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᔪᖅᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓᑦ ᓅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᖅ

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᓄᑦ ᐊᔪᖅᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅᑖᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔩᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᒃᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓂᑐᖃᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᒥᖕᓂᑦ ᓇᑎᖓᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒦᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ W.G. Brown ᐃᒡᓗᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᓄᒃᑎᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓇᑎᖓᓂ ᑐᖏᓕᐊᓂ ᒪᔪᕋᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒫᑦᓯ 22-ᒥ ᓄᒃᑎᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᒪᑐᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᒫᑦᓯ 18–ᒥ 19–ᒥᓗ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑕᑯᒍᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᖃᐃᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᒫᑦᓯ 22 ᐊᒻᒪ 23-ᒥ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓄᑖᒥ ᐃᓂᒋᓕᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ. ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᖏᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᕕᖏᓪᓗ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᐊᖏᑉᐳᑦ ᓄᑖᒧᑦ ᓄᒃᑎᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᒪᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᖓᑦ 1-867-975-6580, ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ 1-855-9756580 ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ 1-867-975-6572. please see Income, page 11

ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᒥᐅᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᖅ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᖅ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᒍᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦᓯᐊᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᔭᖅ. "ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᐊᕈᒪᓪᓗᑕ" ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓕᑉ ᐳᑐᒥᔭᖅᑐᖅ, ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᒥ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑐᓕᕆᔨᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᑉᓗᓂᓗ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᒥᐅᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᖅᑎᙳᑉᓗᓂᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᖏᑦᖢᑎᒃ ᓱᓕ. ᐅᐱᕐᙶᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ, ᐳᑐᒥᕋᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᖅᑲᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᕙᕐᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ –19 ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ "ᓄᕙᕐᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᓇᒧᐊᒃᑕᐃᓕᓂᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ "ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᖏᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᑉᑎᓐᓂ, ᐱᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᐸᕗᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑎᒃᑲᓗ." ᐊᔾᔨᒌᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᓇᔭᖑᐊᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᙱᓕᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐆᒪᔪᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᒋᐊᖁᔨᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᐊᕈᒪᒃᐸᑕ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓚᐅᖏᓐᓇᑉᑕ ᑲᔪᓯᒍᓐᓇᕐᒪᖔᑉᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᐅᓯᓗᑐᐊᕈᑉᑕ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᐸᕗᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒡᓗ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖃᕐᓗᑕ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. "ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᕐᓗᑕ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᒥᐅᑕᐅᑉᓗᑕ ᐱᓂᓗᖕᓂᐊᕋᑉᑕ. "ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦᓯᐊᖑᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᒪᓂ'ᑐᐊᒥ." please see Baker, page 11

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 3

feature news

ᓄêêêΩËîΩÇéíÇÀî á·∆¿ÖÀî

fact file Nunavut covid-19 situation as of March 18 Active cases: 2 Confirmed cases: 395 Recovered cases: 389 Total persons followed: 6,997 Current persons followed: 328 Completed tests in Nunavut: 9,548 Total deaths: 4

Total vaccine doses given: 17,811 First doses: 11,438 Second doses: 6,373 Confirmed cases by community Arviat: 339 (336 recovered) Whale Cove: 23 (all recovered) Rankin Inlet: 19 (all recovered) Sanikiluaq: 2 (all recovered) Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

Nunavut's top doc looks back at the year that was Covid By the fall of 2020, Dr. Patterson said 'there was a little too much faith in the isolation hubs'

by Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Iqaluit

In late 2019 a novel coronavirus started spreading from Wuhan, China, and by early 2020 the SARS-CoV-2 virus we now call Covid-19 had begun its spread across the world.

The headlines and outbreaks were seen with increasing concern "for about two-anda-half months" by public health officials all over Canada, including Nunavut's chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson, who watched it unfold.

"There was increasing concern from early in January, although we still felt it was relatively low-risk getting into remote communities (at the time), until after a few events that happened like northern Italy and other large outbreaks outside of China and evidence of spread in southern Canada," he said.

At this time there were still a lot of open questions about how to deal with the virus and how transmissible it was among other questions.

"There was initially significant debate about how important asymptomatic or presymptomatic transmission was – a number of things we didn't know how much they were contributing to (the) spread of the virus in the early days," Patterson said.

"There was a lot of information for everybody to pick up in a short amount of time."

At the end of April of 2020 there was a false positive in Pond Inlet, which led to a brief lockdown in that community over the following week.

"Even though it was a false positive," Patterson said, "it was the first time we did the deployment of our Rapid Response Team, the staff in the Operations department did a lot of work putting that together."

The experience they got from this helped prepare Patterson and the Department of Health to deal with future outbreaks, including improvements in public communication that came after as well.

Come summertime, there was an easing of public health measures in the territory once Health developed testing capacity in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit.

There were also two travel bubbles that had opened up during this time, one with the NWT and another with Churchill, Manitoba.

"We called that approach Nunavut's Path, every couple of weeks we moved along in the Path in easing measures to a certain point and we held steady for a while."

However there was a sense of compla-

ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐊᒥᓲᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ 2020–ᒥ.

NNSL file photo

Dr. Michael Patterson at the legislative assembly during one of the many Covid-19 press conferences held in 2020. cency, he adds, when it came to the isolation hubs in southern Canada, where anyone going to Nunavut has to stay for two weeks prior to arriving in the territory.

"By fall time I think there was a little too much faith in the isolation hubs, we even said early on that the hubs weren't perfect," said Patterson.

"I think many people started getting the idea that Covid couldn't get through the hubs. Then November started and at least in Arviat it spread very fast once it got in there.

"In June or July at one of the press conferences I told one of the reporters that I was surprised that Covid hadn't gotten here already."

The bubble bursts In the latter half of 2020 the first cases of Covid-19 started to appear in Nunavut, first in Sanikiluaq where it was successfully contained to just one household.

"Sanikiluaq was definitely the first time Covid was introduced into Nunavut, but there was no transmission outside of the house," said Patterson, "The first time we had actual transmission outside of the house

in the community itself was Arviat."

Active cases appeared in Sanikiluaq, Whale Cove, Rankin Inlet and Arviat, the last of which saw community transmission. Dealing with the various communities, often at the same time started to push Health's resources to respond.

"We had extra staff available within 24 hours of the positive results coming back, at that point (with cases) in four communities there was a stretch on everything, a stretch on all of our resources," said Patterson.

Getting more health workers to respond and help remotely was one element that helped the Rapid Response Teams going to the affected communities to deal with active cases.

Three of the four affected communities – Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Sanikiluaq – successfully contained the virus with help from the Department of Health.

"In three communities we were able to keep it from transmitting much and were able to get control of it very quickly," he said, "obviously in Arviat it (has taken) a lot Please see I think, page 14

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

4 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

news

ĪØflî

Remembering Luki Sammurtok

ᓘᑭ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 19–ᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑖᓚᐳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧ, "ᑐᙵᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᒥᑭᑏᓐᓇᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᖓᓂ," ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᔭᖓ ᓯᓰᓕᐊ ᒪᑲᓚᒻ.

Arviat man's death from Covid-19 can help spur governments to make necessary improvements, MLA says

of Observance for Covid-19, the flags outside Nunavut's legislative Arviat assembly flew at half-mast. Inside, In a short time, Covid-19 took territorial politicians held a sombre Luki Sammurtok away from his moment of silence for the thousands family forever. of Canadians who perished from the The 59-year-old Arviat resident coronavirus, including Sammurtok. died on Dec. 19, a little John Main, MLA more than two weeks for Arviat North-Whale after being diagnosed Cove, offered his condolences to the survivwith the dreaded virus. ing family members: "It was very difficult Sammurtok's wife and for all of us as we were his four sisters and two hoping to see him get brothers among them. better," said his sister, "Now, the difficulCecilia MacCallum. ties of going through "He was very kind and this pandemic is humble person all his obvious, and when you life ... he was the kind of person who would – Cecilia MacCallum think of his widow now, Diane Sammurgive someone the shirt tok, she contributed a off his back. He was lot. Even though her caring, loving and husband Luki had humble man, he didn't judge people. He was always help- passed away and although she was ful, smiling and had to be doing obviously grieving and her heart something, whether cleaning up or was also causing her issues, she changing furniture around at his continued to comply with the measplace. He loved his wife dearly ures and publicly asked her fellow and all his brothers, sisters, their residents to faithfully follow these health measures enacted by the spouses, nieces and nephews."

On March 11, the National Day chief medical officer," Main said,

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

"He was very kind and humble person all his life."

adding that Diane also encouraged Arviammiut and Nunavummiut to get vaccinated.

MacCallum told Nunavut News that there certainly are there are helpful words that others can heed in light of her brother's death.

"I would like to quote what my daughter Naomi MacCallum said on Facebook: 'I know what my late Uncle Luki would want his death from Covid to be an example to all.

He would tell people how dangerous this virus is and ask that everyone stay home and stay safe,'" stated MacCallum.

Main told his peers in the legislative assembly that the crisis Covid created has deep roots that lie in a number of areas, and they must be addressed.

"I don't think we will make any progress if we just talk about the pandemic without resolving our housing crisis that impacts our health, and economic development, as our governments have to implement these improvements," he said.

"Without tangible improvements, it will not result in any changes, but I really wanted to remember (Sammurtok) when this day arrived."

photo courtesy of Cecilia MacCallum

Luki Sammurtok, who died on Dec. 19 after being stricken with Covid-19, was a "very kind and humble person all his life," says his sister, Cecilia MacCallum.

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 5

news

ĪØflî

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᖓᓱᓂ ᑐᖁᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᓇᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᒫᔾᔨ 17–ᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ (GN) ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᕗᑦ 12–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓱᖅᑯᐃᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ. ᐅᓇ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᖓᓱᓂ ᑐᖁᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐱᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᕿᑎᐊᓂ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 2020–ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 2021–ᒧᑦ. "ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᓕᒫᖓᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓗᒃᑖᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᕐᓂᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ. "ᐅᓇ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᒎᖅᑐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᙱᑎᑦᑎᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓗᑎᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ." ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒥ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓂ ᑐᖁᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐃᑭᐊᖅᑭᕕᖓᓂ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑐᐊᒥ ᑐᖁᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ. ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᖓ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔭᐅᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᖓᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓱᖅᑯᐃᖅᑕᐅᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂ. ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒐᓚᒃ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᐸᒡᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᕆᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒥ ᑐᖁᓂᐅᔪᑦ "ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᕐᕕᒋᔭᖓᓂ." ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ–ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᑐᒥ. ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓈᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ

ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᐊᖅᐳᓯ, ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᑖᖑᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖃᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. ᐱᔭᕆᑐᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᓱᐊᖏᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᑐᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒻᒪᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ. "ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᓴᖑᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᐅᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ. "ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᓕᒫᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᓱᐊᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᒥᓂᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᑦᑎᓐᓃᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᓯ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ," ᒫᔾᔨ 16–ᒥ, ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᓂᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ. "ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᙱᓚᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᕈᓘᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. "ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᓂᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ." bf l A Nunavut m4WZz 12

"ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᓕᒫᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᓱᐊᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᒥᓂᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᑦᑎᓐᓃᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᓯ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ.

NNSL file photo

"We will always do our very best to ensure the safety and well-being of Nunavummiut who have lost loved ones to Covid-19, and you are in our hearts and thoughts," said Premier Joe Savikataaq.

ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒧᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ 'ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓇᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᖓ ᑲᑎᙵᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦᑕ, ᖃᓄᐃᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ' ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐋᓂ ᐳᓴᒥ ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᕇᐱᑲ ᑲᓪᓗ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑕᒥ ᐃᑭᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᓂᐱᖃᙱᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓯᓚᑎᒃ ᖃᕝᕕᖕᒥ, ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᒥ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆᐅᑉ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ.

image courtesy of Pauktuutit

Pauktuutit President Rebecca Kudloo lights a candle during a moment of silence in memory of Silatik Qavvik, a Sanikiluaq mother who died in early January from complications related to Covid-19.

ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐱᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᒥ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᒥ ᓯᐊᒻᒪᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᔨᐅᔪᒥ. ᐋᓂ ᐳᓴᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᐅᓯᐊᒃᓴᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᕕᕈᐊᕆᒥ, ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑖᒥᒃ–ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓵᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ ᐱᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓕᑐᐊᖅᐸᑦ. "ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᖓ (ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎ) ᐃᑲᔪᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᐃᓄᑐᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ," ᐳᓴᒥ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ 41-ᓴᑲᓐᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ. "ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓇᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᖓ ᑲᑎᙵᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦᑕ, ᖃᓄᐃᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ." ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓯᐊᒻᒪᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᒫᔾᔨ 17–ᒥ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ "ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓄᑦ" ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ 5,000–ᓂ ᒪᑐᐊᕐᓂ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᓄᑦ. ᕇᐱᑲ ᑲᓪᓗ, ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᑑᕐᓇ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ. ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐅᑭᐅᓖᑦ 18–ᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓂ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ. "ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓗᐊᕋᔭᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᑖᕋᓗᐊᕈᑎᒃ," ᑲᓪᓗ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. "ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᓛᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ, ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᓂ ᐊᔾᔪᒥᒋᔭᕐᒥ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᐋᓂ ᐳᓴᒥᒥ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑑᖃᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥᑦᑕᐅᖅ, ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᒃᑲᑦᑕ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᒪᑦᑕ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒥᑦᑐᓐᓃᕈᑦᑕ." ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑲᓪᓗ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑕᒥ ᐃᑭᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᐱᖃᙱᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᑲᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᒧᑦ ᓯᓚᑎᒃ ᖃᕝᕕᖕᒧᑦ, 35-ᓂ-ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ,

ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᐃᓂᐱᐊᒡᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 3–ᒥ ᐱᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ. "ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᕙᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗᒍᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᐊᕙᓐ,ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓᑕ ᑐᒡᓕᐊ ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖃᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᙱᓐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᔪᒪᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓛᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ "ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᖓᒃᑲᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ." ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᑎᒃᑯᐊᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᒋᕗᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᓴᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᑭᐸᓗᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐋᑕᒻᔅ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᐅᔪᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᒋᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ. "ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᔪᒪᕗᖓ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᐅᑦᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᒥ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. "ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ … ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᕗᖅ." ᐳᓴᒥ 12,000 ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᒪᓕᒃᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ TikTok–ᑯᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᒃᐳᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ. "ᐊᔭᐅᕆᔪᒪᓗᐊᖅᐳᖓ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐱᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓂᒎᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. bf l A Vaccine m4WZz 12

6 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 7

news

ĪØflî

Legislative Assembly briefs with Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Department of Education adding 42 student support assistants for $4 million There will be an additional 42 student support assistant positions to fill for the 2021-22 school year as the Department of Education has approval to spend $4 million to create the jobs.

It's the first step in a three-year initiative for the department to ensure the student-educator ratio remains on target.

The Nunavut Education Act compels the minister to keep the territory's ratio lower than the most recently published national student-educator ratio, which was 13.8 to 1.

The territory's existing ratio is 13.4 students to one educator, according to the Department of Education. The community with the highest ratio is Iglulik at 13.7 to 1 while the lowest is Grise Fiord at 5.4 to 1.

MLAs were complimentary of the endeavour.

"I guess I would like to first begin with saying how excellent it is to see an additional investment being placed in our education system, and I really look forward to seeing some improvements as they gradually roll out over the years," said Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone.

Pat Angnakak, chair of the standing committee on social wellness, noted that the department will need to improve its recruitment efforts to achieve its goal. There have been dozens of teaching vacancies as the school year has started for the past few years.

"Members (of the legislative assembly) encourage the minister and his officials to increase their efforts to attract more Nunavummiut to the teaching professions with an emphasis on recruiting high school graduates to pursue careers in education," said Angnakak, adding that additional language specialists will need to be trained and hired to meet the department's legislated timelines for bilingual education.

Education Minister David Joanasie referred to his department's 10-year recruitment strategy, which he hopes to have finalized in 2021-22.

MLAs encourage Inuit associations to do more for their beneficiaries A pair of Kivalliq MLAs are calling on Inuit land claim organizations to be more open with their beneficiaries and to do more to build infrastructure.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the regional Inuit associations, as the Government of Nunavut's partners, "need to also make substantive and tangible contributions," Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak said in the legislative assembly on March 13 while discussing the territory's infrastructure deficit.

"In reading Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated's recently released report on Nunavut's infrastructure gap, I noted a lot of detailed information about the gaps that continue to exist. However, I was disappointed that the organization seems to see its role as being limited to 'advocating for meaningful solutions to our infrastructure challenges,'" said Simailak. "I do recognize that our regional Inuit organizations are not the government and they are not responsible for delivering public services and programs. However, as we have recently witnessed in relation to the Baffinland project, there is clear public dissatisfaction among many ordinary Inuit with how the significant financial benefits and royalties from natural resource extraction projects are being used.

"I do not advocate for dividends or direct cash payments to individuals. That is a short-sighted approach. However, I do support a fresh look at how the wealth that has flowed from mining and other projects can be more effectively used to address the serious infrastructure needs that exist in all of our communities," he said.

Aivilik MLA Patterk Netser later commended the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) for the help it provided to impacted communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, but he called for greater transparency and accountability from the organization.

"We need to see more openness, in respect to the agreements that it enters into with such entities as airlines and the natural resource sector extraction companies," said Netser. "We have not heard much reporting in terms of the Inuit impact benefit agreement from our organization and it is time to open the books to the people."

He asked the KIA to make its salaries and benefits known to the public, as the legislative assembly does, and he advocated for greater support for Arctic College students.

Netser calls changes to federal assistance in dying law a 'slippery slope' Patterk Netser is "profoundly opposed" to changes the Government of Canada is enacting in its medical assistance in dying legislation and he made his feelings clear in the legislative assembly on March 11. The government will allow people with incurable and unbearable mental illness to be eligible for legally ending their own lives.

"I am deeply concerned that our federal government is heading on a slippery slope to a society where we tell people

who suffer from these conditions that the answer is death," said Netser, the MLA for the Aivilik riding. "Those suffering mental anguish usually have room to improve, and this is a dangerous slope and deeply concerning because many people who are already depressed are finding openings. They feel that death is the only release from their suffering. This is becoming a very alarming mental health challenge ... our suicide rate is already far too high, and I firmly reject the idea that people in crisis should be at risk of making a terrible decision that cannot be undone."

He added that he's also worried about Elders – many of whom are unilingual Inuktitut speakers – being sent out of territory for care may be put in situations where medical assistance in dying is presented as an option.

"It's unthinkable," Netser said. "This is not acceptable to me."

Although the legislation is federal responsibility, he argued that it's worthwhile for territorial politicians to speak firmly on such matters.

"I do believe that we have the duty and responsibility as elected members to express our position on an issue that impacts every citizen of the country," he said. "I want to conclude by calling on our government to make its voice clearly heard on this issue, which is literally one of life and death."

Lack of staff housing in small communities a barrier to hiring, Savikataaq says After reciting a dozen vacant wildlife conservation positions across Nunavut on March 12, Environment Minister Joe Savikataaq said the limited number of staff houses is a factor in some cases, especially in small communities.

"Our biggest barrier to recruiting officers in the communities is housing. When there is no housing, we generally are not very successful in filling a vacancy for our conservation officers," he said.

Other departments have been raising similar issues, said John Main, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA.

"I don't understand why you are not able to secure housing for those conservation officer positions. My understanding is they are the top of the priority list, along with health professionals," he said. "Are there any solutions to this in terms of the staff housing crunch?"

"I don't have a ready solution other than building more staff houses," Savikataaq replied. "We need more staff housing, but we also need more public housing. So, it is always a battle every year. They have to decide how many staff houses and how many public houses, and both of those needs are real, and the needs are way greater than what can be produced, so I don't have a ready solution.

"Some of the positions have been vacant for a while ... we find that when we advertise positions that are more technical or that you need more education on, it's hard to get a suitable candidate without providing housing."

Adam Arreak Lightstone, MLA for Iqaluit-Manirajak, said he believes the crux of the issue is the number of years that government workers spend in staff homes.

"We know there are employees who reside in staff housing for decades, and in fact there are a number of employees who retire in staff housing every year," he said. "Further, the Nunavut Housing Corporation's income eligibility requirements exclude many employees that are in staff housing that could get out of staff housing, but have the income to sustain homeownership.

"I know this doesn't exactly relate to the Department of Environment's budgets and business plan but I just wanted to put that out there on the record to provide a solution to the minister's problem."

Savikataaq said he took Arreak Lightstone's point, but the comments should be directed at the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

"We're not in charge of housing," the environment minister said. "We ask for housing and when we allocate it, the person is entitled to stay in that staff housing until he or she leaves their employment. So the member can take up that fight with the appropriate department."

8 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 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

Founder (1934-2018):

J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason PUBLISHER, CEO: Bruce Valpy – valpy@nnsl.com Chief Financial Officer: Judy Triffo COORDINATING EDITOR: Craig Gilbert – craig@nnsl.com ACCOUNTING: nnsladmin@nnsl.com Florie Mariano • Salleah Wagas Editorial board: Bruce Valpy • Craig Gilbert• Emily McInnis NEWS EDITOR Emily McInnis Editorial Production: editorial@nnsl.com Sports: James McCarthy – sports@nnsl.com Arts: entertainment@nnsl.com Business: business@nnsl.com Advertising production Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes Randy Hiebert • Joshua Uson ADVERTISING Laura Whittle advertising@nunavutnews.com All departments: advertising@nnsl.com National: James Boylan Classified Advertising: classifieds@nnsl.com CIRCULATION – circulation@nnsl.com Circulation Director: Amy Yang Subscriptions: One year mail $75 Online (entire content) $50/year

NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated Publishers of: Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North Member of: Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association Manitoba Community Newspapers Association Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Contents copyright – printed in the North

by Canarctic Graphics Limited We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

Member of the Ontario Press Council. The Ontario Press Council was created to defend freedom of the press on behalf of the public and press alike and to consider specific, unsatisfied complaints from readers about the conduct of the press in gathering and publishing news, opinion and advertising.

Complaints should go to: The Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1706 Toronto, Ont., M5B 1J3 Email: Info@ontpress.com Fax: 1-416-340-8724 www.ontpress.com

Send us your comments

Email us at: editorial@nnsl.com; mail to Box 28, Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0; or drop your letter off at our office at 102 Tumiit Plaza. All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so that we can confirm it came from you.

Not all letters will necessarily be published. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern. Letters of more than 200 words, open letters and those published elsewhere are seldom used.

We reserve the right to edit for length or taste and to eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements.

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

ᑕᖃᔫᒐᓗᐊᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓇᔪᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕᒫᒥ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᑕᖃᕗᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᓴᙱᔫᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᒫᔾᔨ 18–ᒥ, ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕᒫᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᖓᕙᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᖏᓐᓇᖃᑕᒃᖢᓂ. ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᒥ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ, ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᔫᔮᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᓱᐃᓛᒃ. ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᓛᒥ ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ, ᐅᓪᓗᓂ 118–ᓂ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᕼᐋᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ19–ᒥ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᑭᒡᓕᒋᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᐊᒥᓲᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᕐᔪᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ. ᓂᐅ ᓰᓚᓐ, ᐅᐱᒋᔭᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᓂᑎᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓂ – ᐅᓪᓗᓂ 49–ᓂ ᕿᑎᐊᓂ ᒫᔾᔨ 25–ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᐃ 13, 2020–ᒧᑦ. ᑕᐃᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓴᖑᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ 5 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᑲᓴᖕᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔪᓂ 2,000 ᐅᖓᑎᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 26–ᓂ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᒫᔾᔨ 2020–ᒥ. ᒪᓕᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᕐᔪᐊᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᑕᖃᓇᖅᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᖅ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᑉᐳᖅ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ.

395–ᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 18,

ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐸᓗᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ, 339, ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᐊᒎᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ. ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ, ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᖁᑦᑎᓛᖓ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ, ᐅᖃᑦᑎᐊᓛᕆᕙᖓ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, "ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᒥ." ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑕᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ. ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᖁᔭᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᑎᒍᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᑦ ᓇᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᓪᓘᔪᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ. ᐃᒐᓛᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓗᓪᓕᖅᓱᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᑦᑕᓂᑦ ᐊᓇᐅᓕᖅᓯᕙᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖁᔭᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᙱᓐᓂᐊᔪᒥ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᕐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑎᑦᑏᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᐳᓚᕋᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᕙᓗᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᒐᓛᑎᒍᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑮᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᒥᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᕐᕕᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᒡᒍᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᖑᖓᓂᖓ ᑐᑭᓕᐊᖅᑏᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐸᖓ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒡᒐᒥᓂᑦ ᐅᐊᓴᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᒪᑐᐊᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓱᓕ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ. ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖕᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ

ᓇᐅᑦᑎᖅᓱᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᒐᓚᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᓯᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖃᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ. "ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᒥ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖕᓂᖃᓕᓗᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖕᓂ; ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᒻᒪᕆᒃᐳᒍᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᐅᕐᔪᐊᓪᓚᕆᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. "ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐊᓂᒎᑎᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐊᓱᐃᓛᒃ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᑕᐃᑯᙵᑐᐊᕋᒥ." ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᒪᓂᖅᓴᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒧᑦ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᓪᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᑭᑉᐳᖅ: ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᖅᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒧᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕕᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᒫᔾᔨᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ – ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᑎᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᑎᕈᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᖁᔭᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂ. ᑕᖃᓇᕐᔪᐊᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᒐᓚᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑑᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᓯᖓᓂᓪᓗ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒧᑦ-ᑕᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓇᕈᑦᑕ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑯᓂᒃᑲᓐᓂᒐᓚᖕᒥ ᑕᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ, ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᓐᓂ, ᐅᑎᕋᔮᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒐᔪᖕᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

Stretched thin, but persevering After a full year of pandemic restrictions, people are justifiably tired Northern News Services

To say that Nunavummiut are a resilient bunch would be an understatement in most cases.

As of March 18, we've had a full year of public health emergency declarations being repeatedly extended.

While it isn't expected that routine should come to an end anytime soon, things are starting to feel a little more positive once again.

Arviat endured one of the most gruelling lockdowns of anywhere on the planet, clocking in 118 days of strict restrictions as part of the hamlet's efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 within its bounds.

Not many places can claim to have put up with such a complete lockdown. New Zealand, which has been widely praised for its efforts in fighting the virus, only locked down for half that stretch at one time – at 49 days between March 25 and May 13, 2020. That drastic measure put the island nation safely ahead of the curve of viral spread. It has worked wonders, with the population of nearly five million reporting just over 2,000 cases and 26 deaths since March 2020.

Adherence to these strict protocols is draining, but the proof is there, just as it is here.

There have now been 395 con-

health measures still in effect.

The use of isolation hubs set up 365 days of Covid by the GN monitored the status of those on medical and business We say: travel, largely keeping Covid outside The fight isn't over yet the territory.

"By fall time I think there was a firmed cases of Covid-19 in Nunavut little too much faith in the isolation as of March 18, the bulk of which, hubs; we even said early on that 339, were concentrated in Arviat the hubs weren't perfect," said Patover two separate outbreaks. terson. "I think many people started Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut's getting the idea that Covid couldn't top doc, puts it best when he says, get through the hubs. Then Novem"It's been a busy and trying year for ber started and at least in Arviat a lot of people, not just in Nunavut it spread very fast once it got in but all over the country and all over there." the globe."

Hope for a brighter year ahead At the beginning, community spir- comes twofold: reaching herd it was palpable, stay-at-home orders immunity through a well-orchestratwere met with general cheer and ed vaccination campaign that will individuals and communities found have seen mass vaccination clinics ways to pass the time together held in every Nunavut community online. They filled their windows with by the end of March – and by those messages of hope and banged pots who must travel outside the territory and pans in thanks for the selflessdoing their part to keep others safe ness of essential workers who kept by continuing to isolate upon return services running amid the uncerwhile following public health recomtainty. They visited their Elders often mendations. by waving through windows, knowWhile it has been exhausting, and ing it was in everyone's best interest most people are experiencing some that beloved family members not be form or another of Covid-fatigue, if exposed to the devastating illness. we keep up the fight against this Nunavut kept the curve planked in virus a while longer we may finally the early days with increased hand see, as Patterson says, a gradual washing, mask use and other public return to normal.

The issue:

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 9

editorial – opinions

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ/street talk with Jennifer Loder and Shawna Prout at Quluaq School Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

ᖃᖓ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕆᕕᐅᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ?

ᒑᕗᓪ ᑲᐅᑐᖅ "ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕋ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ ᓯᑭᑑᑲᑕᒍᓐᓇᕋᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑖᑕᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐊᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᖓ."

Gayel Kautuq "Winter is my favourite season because I can Ski-Doo around and go out on the land with my dad."

What is your favourite time of the year? ᑕᐃᓯ ᐸᓪᓗᖅ "ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕋ ᐸᐃᓯᑰᕈᓐᓇᕋᑦᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕕᙵᕋᓱᐊᕈᓐᓇᕋᑦᑕ."

ᑲᕙᓐ ᐊᐃᐱᓕ "ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᑎᓕᖕᒥ ᐸᐃᓯᑰᕈᓐᓇᕋᒪ!"

Kevin Aipellee "Summer because I can ride my motor bike!"

whmK5

ᐳᕉᔅ ᕿᓕᖅᑎ "ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕋ ᐊᓃᕋᔭᒍᓐᓇᕋᒪ ᐸᐃᓯᑰᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᐅᕐᙵᖅᑕᕆᐊᕈᓐᓇᕋᑦᑕ. ᐸᐅᕐᙵᐃᑦ ᒪᒪᕆᓛᕆᔭᒃᑲ."

Daisy Palluq "Summer is my favourite because we can ride a bike and we can try and catch a lemming."

Bruce Killiktee "Summer is my favourite because I can play with my bike and we get to pick berries. I like black berries the best."

amazing on-the-land stories

ᑎᒃᓯ ᕿᓕᖅᑎ "ᐅᐱᕐᙶᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕆᔭᕋ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ. ᐃᒪᓕᐊᕈᓐᓇᕋᒪ, ᐳᐃᔾᔪᕋᕋᓱᒡᓗᖓ. ᐃᓚᒃᑲᓂ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᓐᓂᓗ ᐊᓂᖃᑎᖃᕈᒪᓲᖑᕗᖓ."

Dixie Killiktee "Spring is my favourite season.

I can go on the water, trying to swim. I like to go with my family and my grandma." ᔫᓴᐃᔭ ᔭᐃᐴᑎ "ᐅᑭᐅᖅ, ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᒋᐊᕈᒪᓲᖑᒐᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓃᕋᔭᒡᓗᖓ."

Josiah Jaypoody "Winter, because I like to hunt seals and play outside."

ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ

ᐊᑭᓯᔪᖅ: ᐱᐊᕆ ᐃᑲᒃᕼᐃᒃ

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ

ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ Landing ᑕᓯᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᓇ ᐅᑲᓕᕐᒥ ᐱᖓᔪᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᑳᕈᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ.

WINNER: Pierre Ikakhik First picture taken at Landing Lake and the one with rabbit, at right, at our 3rd Bridge.

Arviat

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 Pierre Ikakhik. Congratulations!

ᒥᐊᕆ ᑲᓪᓗᓐ

ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑐᖅ

ᐱᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᖃᓕᕈᓯᖅ ᐅᐃᔾᔮᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᕕᕈᐊᕆ 12–ᒥ ᐃᓗᑐᓂᕋᓛᒥᑦ ᖃᓕᕈᓯᕐᒥ.

ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᕿᔪᐊᕐᔪᒃ

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ

ᐅᓇ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᕕᕈᐊᕆ 28–ᒥ.

Marye Kadlun Qiyuayuk Qiyuaryuk Arviat

This photo was taken near Arviat on Feb. 28.

Kugluktuk

Walking near Kugluktuk Feb. 12 in a little cave around the hill.

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

10 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

photo story ᓄphoto stories

'ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ' ᕙᐃᑦ ᕋᓱᓪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓱᒡᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᔭᐃᑲᖕᒥ ᕕᒃᑐᐊᕆᐊᐅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᓕᐊᖏᓐᓂ.

ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ, ᔅᑕᕙᓂ ᐱᕐᓈᑦ, ᐊᑐᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᕆᕕᒡᔪᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 2021–ᒥ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᖓᓂ ᐱᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᕈᓘᔭᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᓂᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᑦᑎᐊᕆᒃᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖅᓴᒃᓃᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᒫᔾᔨ 14–ᒥ. ᒪᑐᐃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕕᕈᐊᕆ 7–ᒥ Sankofa ᓵᓚᖃᐅᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᓂᐅᖅᑲᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ. ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᔅᑐᕉ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᕐᕕᖓᓂ, ᔪᕉᓴᓚᒻᒥ ᒧᒥᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᕕᕈᐊᕆᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᔾᔨᒥ.

ᒫᔭ ᕙᑦᒪ ᔨᓚᓕ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᖅ ᔭᐃᑲᖕᒥ ᕕᒃᑐᐊᕆᐊ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᓕᐊᓂ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ.

Faith Russell dominates the catwalk wearing a jacket from Victoria's Arctic Fashion.

fashion Feature

ᑕᑯᔭᒃᓴᐃᑦ

by Trevor Wright Iqaluit

President of the Nunavut Black History Society, Stephanie Bernard, sporting her gala finest during the community fashion show.

'For Us By Us' Northern News Services

ᐃᒫᓄᐃᐊᓪ ᕗᕋᓐᓱᐊ ᐊᑎᕗᖅ Jesiwa B ᑭᐊᑎᒥᒃ ᒑᓇᒥ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓂᓕᖕᒥ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ.

Maya Fatma Jelali sporting a jacket from Victoria's Arctic Fashion based in Rankin Inlet.

The Nunavut Black History Society concluded 2021's Black History Month with a bang as various Northern and southern fashions were showcased during a black tie gala event at the Aqsarniit Hotel in Iqaluit on March 14.

Opening ceremonies for Black His-

tory Month started on Feb. 7 with the Sankofa Awards being given out to notable community members.

Other activities such as the Black History Month Film Festival at the Astro Theatre, the Jerusalema dance challenge and others took place throughout February and March.

ᕼᐋᓇ ᐅᒐᓐᑎᒧ ᐊᑐᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖓᓂ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᖓᓐᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᓂᖕᒥ Cuttieesglam ᓇᐃᔨᐅᕆᐊᒥᐅᑕᖅ.

ᕼᐃᐅᐳᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᔅᑏᕙᓐ ᐅᐊᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐳᑦ ᕿᓯᖕᓂ ᐊᐃᖅᑲᕙᖕᓂ, ᑎᕆᒃᓯᐅᑎᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᖓᓯᕈᕐᓂ ᓂᐊᖁᙴᒥᐅᑕᒧᑦ ᕌᓐᕙ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᖏᓐᓂ.

Emmanuel Francois puts on a Jesiwa B top from Ghana, the brand has a store located in Ottawa.

Hubert, left, and Steven White wearing sealskin vests, belts and bow ties by Apex's Rannva Design.

Hanna Ogundimu wears one of her own designs from her own label Cuttieesglam from Nigeria.

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 11

Around Nunavut ∂´êÄ∏∂Ò ¥∂fl±´

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

ᓴᓇᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 18–ᒥ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᕐᒥ 700-ᑭᑉᐹᕆᒃᑐᒥ-ᐃᓯᒐᓪᓗᐊᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᕕᒐᕐᒥ ᑕᓯᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᖅᓯᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᒡᒋᐊᕘᑦ ᖃᒡᒋᖓᓂ 2021–ᒥ.

The Income Assistance office may be contacted at 1-867975-6580, toll-free at 1-855-975-6580 or via fax at 1-867-9756572.

– Trevor Wright

Candidates in place for KIA elections

Master builders at work

Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Builders are hard at work March 18 constructing the 700-square-foot iglu in Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park that will host Qaggiavuut!'s Qaggiq 2021.

Qaggiq 2021 takes place over weekend Iqaluit On March 16, Qaggiavuut!!, in partnership with the Alianait Arts Festival and Tukisigiarvik, announced Qaggiq 2021. This arts and culture festival will take place inside a 700-square foot iglu being built in Sylvia Grinnel Territorial Park by a team of "master iglu builders" led by Solomon Awa and Jacopoosie Tiglik.

Early in the week the builders started out on the land cutting out ice blocks.

Dozens of Inuit artists ranging from dancers, singers, storytellers and playwrights from across Nunavut will be gathering together to celebrate Inuit culture.

Qaggiavuut!! hopes this will help bring attention to the need of a dedicated performing arts centre in the territory.

"Qaggiavuut!'s ultimate goal is to build a permanent performing arts centre, under the principles of a traditional qaggiq: a magnificent space where people gather to celebrate life in song and story," said Pitseolak Pfeifer, Qaggiavuut!'s executive director.

The schedule for Qaggiq 2021 includes the premiere of Tuninuq Theatre's play Akia, as well as musical performances and children's workshops.

"Qaggiq 2021 will be a taste of the performing arts centre

Qaggiavuut! has been pursuing," said Looee Arreak, the artistic director.

In early 2020, a feasibility study was commissioned by Qaggiavuut!!, regarding a proposed performing arts centre in Iqaluit.

It shows that a centre in Iqaluit would support up to 408 full-time jobs and help inject an estimated $1 million into Nunavut's economy over its first five years.

"I am looking forward to this festival to relive the amazing, ancient, unique culture performances that have been passed down to many generations by our ancestors," said Arreak.

– Trevor Wright

Income Assistance office relocates Iqaluit The Department of Family Services Income Assistance, Career Development and Apprenticeship offices have relocated from the first floor of the W.G. Browne building in Iqaluit, to its second floor as of March 22.

The offices were closed on March 18 and 19, any appointments that were scheduled for those dates will be rescheduled, with appointments booked on March 22 to 23 remaining the same.

Contact numbers remain the same at the new location.

Kivalliq Two of four Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) scheduled elections will take place April 12.

There are six people seeking the office of vice-president: Donna Adams, Barnie Aggark, Harry Aggark, David Kuksuk, Airo Pameolik and Tom Sammurtok.

Also being contested is the seat for a director in Naujaat.

Seeking that role are Helena Malliki, Steve Mapsalak and John Ell Tinashlu.

The KIA directors in Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove were acclaimed.

Hamish Tatty will serve in Rankin Inlet while Guy Enuapik will represent Whale Cove.

Advance polls are set for March 29.

– Derek Neary

Baker Lake planning first community bowhead hunt Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake The Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) plans to host its very first bowhead whale hunt this upcoming summer.

"We want to try and get a bowhead whale hunt going," said Phillip Putumiraqtuq, a board member with the Baker Lake HTO who has been appointed to look after Baker Lake's bowhead whale hunt.

With Baker Lake being Nunavut's only inland community it was the only community that hasn't yet had a community bowhead whale hunt.

There were plans being laid out last spring, Putumiraqtuq said, however it was interrupted by the onset of Covid-19.

"It did change (it), it took a while, most of the time we were having technical meetings. Once the pandemic (lockdown) was lifted in our community, we started to push it from there with our HTO board members."

With various public health measures in and around Nunavut being eased, the Kivalliq Wildlife Board gave the go ahead for the community's plan to begin a hunt.

"We weren't too sure it was going to go ahead but as soon as we got the OK from the regional board, we started to work fast from there, fundraising, preparing," he said. "A bit of hard work in the beginning but it's surprising that an inland community is trying something like this.

"It's a very first for Baker Lake."

– Trevor Wright

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

12 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

news

ĪØflî

Nunavut Covid case counts transferred This includes the three deaths not previously tallied by either GN or Government of Manitoba

by Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Nunavut

As of March 17, the Government of Nunavut (GN) is reporting 12 cases of Covid-19 that were previously diagnosed in Manitoba. These new case counts will be reflected in Nunavut's statistic reporting.

This includes three deaths of Nunavummiut that occurred between Dec. 2020 and Jan. 2021.

"The Government of Nunavut's commitment has always been to be as transparent as possible in all aspects of its response to Covid19," said Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut's chief public health officer.

"This includes proper reporting of cases by jurisdiction, as well as a duty to report in the federal data set to ensure cases are not miscounted or lost."

In January Patterson stated that southern deaths of Nunavummiut will be counted going forward on the GN Covid website statistics.

Currently only one death that occurred in Arviat has been recorded on the department of Health's Covid-19 dashboard.

Previously the GN position was that those cases and statistics will be reported in the respective jurisdictions where they are diagnosed in. The Government of Manitoba, where the majority of medical travel appointments take place, had stated in January that deaths

"would be reported by the jurisdiction of residence."

The attribution of cases of Covid-19 acquired by residents of Nunavut outside of Nunavut will continue to occur on a case-bycase basis. Differences in reporting processes across Canada may cause delays in Nunavut's case count online.

"Rest assured, these are not new cases and are not linked to current or past outbreaks of Covid-19 in-territory," said Patterson.

The GN stated they continue to strive for the timely and accurate reporting of data.

"As we continue to navigate the pandemic, we know there will be shifts in several areas of our response, including new ways of reporting

cases," said Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq.

"We will always do our very best to ensure the safety and well-being of Nunavummiut who have lost loved ones to Covid-19, and you are in our hearts and thoughts."

On March 16, Patterson said that there's a lot of time and work involved for southern epidemiologists to do the work to change case attribution.

"Some of the cases in the south may not be able to be attributed to Nunavut for a variety of reasons," said Patterson.

"We're hopeful within the next few days we'll be able to change a number of attributions for a number of cases in the south, not just cases where people have passed."

Vaccine promotion campaign targets youth 'Although this is such a scary time, I believe that if we stick together, we will be OK,' says Annie Buscemi

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Nunavut

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada has been encouraging Nunavummiut to get the Covid-19 vaccine, and to get that message through to youth, the organization has enlisted a social media influencer.

Annie Buscemi of Iqaluit, who Pauktuutit named as its Young Inuk Woman of the Year Award winner in February, appears in a newlyreleased video stating that she intends to get the vaccine as soon as it's available to her.

"I believe (the vaccine) will tremendously help us protect our communities, our Elders and ourselves," Buscemi says in the 41-second video.

"Although this is such a

scary time, I believe that if we stick together, we will be OK." Pauktuutit held a press conference with several federal ministers and national media on March 17 to promote its ongoing "For My Community" public health safety and inoculation campaign, which has included the distribution of 5,000 masks over the past several months.

Rebecca Kudloo, the organization's president, said she has received both doses of the Moderna vaccine, as have many residents in her community of Baker Lake. Those ages 18 and over are eligible to receive shots, but priority groups, including Elders, were first in line.

"Many youths think they are invincible, and that they

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐋᓂ ᐳᓴᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᒦᑉᐳᖅ 41-ᓴᑲᓐᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ19–ᒥ.

Iqaluit's Annie Buscemi stars in a 41-second video produced by Pauktuutit to encourage Nunavut youth to get vaccinated against Covid-19. image courtesy of Pauktuutit

won't get very sick even if they get Covid-19," Kudloo said. "Since Inuit youth will soon be able to get the Covid19 vaccine, Pauktuutit felt

it was important to engage young women role models, like Annie Buscemi, who can speak directly to their peers and possibly other youth

across Canada too, because none of us are safe until all of us are safe."

During her presentation, Kudloo lit a candle and held a moment of silence in tribute to Sanikiluaq's Silatik Qavvik, a 35-year-old mother of five, who died in Winnipeg on Jan. 3 after contracting Covid-19.

"We acknowledge her and offer strength for her family," she said.

Dr. Evan Adams, deputy chief medical officer with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch headquarters in Ottawa, said Inuit are among the targetted population to receive the vaccine because higher prevalence of the virus and because it's harder to access health services in geographically isolated Northern communities.

He admitted that there is a distrust and hesitation to get inoculated among some Indigenous people due to sometimes not having "the best relationship with research or with the medical system, where they've had difficult, painful experiences in the past."

However, he pointed out that support from medical personnel has also led to many positive outcomes in many lives. Side effects related to the vaccine have been few and mostly mild, said Adams, who added that the medical community is will-

ing to respond to the public's questions about the vaccine.

"I just want to assure everyone that our safety monitoring of this particular vaccine around the world is unprecedented internationally," he said. "I think that that scrutiny by us ... is a very good thing."

Minister Mona Fortier, who oversees the federal portfolio of Middle Class Prosperity, acknowledged that Covid-19 has affected certain communities more than others, including Inuit, First Nations and Metis.

The federal government has provided millions of dollars in financial aid to Nunavut during the pandemic and is sponsoring Pauktuutit's vaccine education campaign.

Fortier also spoke of the Government of Canada's commitment to build five emergency shelters for Inuit women and children who have been displaced by family trauma during the pandemic, to help them "regain an independent and self-determined life."

Buscemi, who has close to 12,000 followers on TikTok, said she's honoured to be part of the vaccine promotion campaign.

"I especially want to encourage Inuit youth to get the vaccine and feel proud that we are doing our part to help everyone get through the pandemic," she said.

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 13

news

ĪØflî

Iqaluit music teacher up for award Mary Piercey-Lewis one of five nominees for MusiCounts Teacher of the Year

by Trevor Wright

Northern News Services

Iqaluit

Iqaluit's Mary Piercey-Lewis is going to the JUNOs. As one of five nominees for the 2021 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Piercey-Lewis has received an invitation to the awards show and if she wins this award she will be the recipient of a $10,000 donation towards the Inuksuk High School's music program.

Piercey-Lewis has been a teacher in Nunavut since 2001, starting out in Arviat and moving to Iqaluit in 2008, where she currently teaches at Inuksuk High School.

She published her first textbook in 2016, helping to collect Inuit music for this project titled Inuit Inngiusingit: A Collection of Inuit Choral Music.

"I think it's fantastic, I'm very excited to be recognized," she said.

"For me to be nominated after being here for so long running a program here, it's very exciting."

She hopes this exposure will highlight some of the needs Nunavut has with regards to having a dedicated music program for classrooms in the territory.

"There's no music curriculum in

Nunavut and I'm one of the only full-time music teachers in the territory," Piercey-Lewis said. "I'm also hoping it'll open doors for just getting it out there, that there should really be music programs in all the schools and make them more aware that there can be fantastic music programs (here)."

With a Ph.D.. in ethnomusicology (study of music within cultures), she noticed shortly after coming to Nunavut in 2001, that the territory lacked a music curriculum that reflects Inuit.

"I just became very, very aware ... that there should be music from Nunavut within the curriculum, that the curriculum had to honour Inuit music."

She hopes the promotion of Inuit music will also help language preservation.

"One of the best ways to learn a language or to keep a language alive is through music," Piercey-Lewis said.

"It's really important for all kids, not just Inuit kids but any kids living in Nunavut to be doing Inuit music."

Her work on Inuit Inngiusingit is just one step she hopes will help music education in Nunavut.

Arranged for choir, guitar and other

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᑐᙵᕕᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨ ᒥᐊᕆ ᐱᐅᕐᓯ– ᓘᕕᔅ ᑎᑎᕋᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓂᔾᔭᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᙱᐅᓯᖏᑦ: A Collection of Inuit Choral Music, 2016–ᒥ.

Iqaluit based teacher Mary Piercey-Lewis published her first textbook of Inuit music, Inuit Inngiusingit: A Collection of Inuit Choral Music, in 2016. photo courtesy of MusiCounts

ᒥᐊᕆ ᐱᐅᕐᓯ– ᓘᕕᔅ, ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᒥ.

Mary PierceyLewis, front left, with some of her students on the land. photo courtesy of Mary Piercey-Lewis

instruments, it includes one CD that she helped create with her choir a number of years ago and it has since been distributed to other communities.

In her own classroom, PierceyLewis also has a larger music program surrounding Inuit music, as well as Inuksuk School's band program.

"It all begins with Inuit music, the songs that we are learning are songs from here originally."

Universal appeal Piercey-Lewis is also Vice-President of the Iqaluit Music Society, which recently won the $1-million Arctic Inspiration Prize. The Society hopes to use the prize money to help bring music to Nunavut communities.

Whether it's Nunavut or anywhere else, Piercey-Lewis says music has a universal appeal that comes from the inside.

"Music is just something that comes in naturally to us, whether you're singing (or) playing and it's very personal. It's a true gift of sharing and it takes a lot of courage

from anybody to share that deep emotional side."

Over the years she has seen that herself in the classroom.

"The students here have shared so much with me over the past 20 years, that there's a strong connection within the classrooms, the support the kids give each other and the relationship we all have together in coming together to create something."

It's something that makes her excited to go to school each day, and to help develop musical skills in her students.

"It's amazing to watch that process in someone that's never played before or sung before, then over the few months of going to the program developing skills, then of course they stick with the program," she said. "By the time they graduate they're really fine musicians."

That is one of elements of her job she looks forward to, to see the confidence grow in her students as they go through the school's music program.

"With all of that comes confidence, you can see them glowing and

being able to give up themselves.

"For them to get up on stage and give themselves that way, seeing them grow with their pose and see them stand, keep themselves and become really strong, confident individuals."

Work has also continued on a number of other textbooks, one of which is near the end of its production.

"It's almost finished, we've done two CDs and the third one is in the process for this year, but the second CD is finished and the textbook that will go with it is almost done and that's through Inhabit Media.

They're excellent."

Whenever she's not quite as busy being a teacher she eventually hopes to help develop the music curriculum for Nunavut.

"It would be really nice to help develop that and to help create more resources for classroom teachers.

"That's definitely one of my dreams. It would be really nice to see a systematic program to go from K to 12 if possible that promotes Inuktitut so there's also language acquisition."

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

14 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

'I think it'll be a more gradual return to normal' news

ĪØflî

to get as many people vaccinated as possible

Nunavut's, from page 3

ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᓂ over the next little while." ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᑭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ more work and a lot longer time to get it under "I think the vaccines and the progress we're seeing is cause for optimism but I don't think ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᓯᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ. control."

With the Government of Canada first approving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, and subsequently the Moderna vaccine, the Government of Nunavut started its vaccination rollout first focusing on Kivalliq which had been particularly impacted by Covid. By mid-March the majority of Nunavut communities had held a mass vaccination clinic to cover whole communities at once, with priority age group clinics taking place in the capital of Iqaluit and Baker Lake.

"Over the next two weeks every community will have had at least one mass vaccination clinic except for Iqaluit where we've now opened up to everyone over 18," said Patterson.

Compared to back in the fall the territory now sits in a much better position to deal with Covid-19.

"That puts us in a good situation, it's been a lot of hard work by the staff who have been photo courtesy of Johnnie Cookie doing the vaccinations and supporting it, hats Dr. Michael Patterson recognized the hard work of all department staff off to them for what they have accomplished." in managing the territory's response to Covid-19 as well as the vaccination It's not over, however, he wanted to add.

"It's certainly encouraging but we'll want teams.

it's going to be what (a lot of people) think like flipping a switch, "I think it'll be a more gradual return to normal, kind of like what happened in June or July where we eased away from restrictions. We may see something like that once the mass vaccination clinics are complete."

When looking back at the past year, it's been a difficult one for many Patterson said, "it's been a busy and trying year for a lot of people, not just in Nunavut but all over the country and all over the globe."

According to the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network, Dr. Patterson completed his family practice residency in 2001 and worked in the Kivalliq and northern Manitoba with the JH Hildes Northern Medical Unit.

In 2005 he entered a private practice in Nova Scotia before returning to Nunavut in 2012.

By December of 2018 he became the chief public health officer of Nunavut, while also working occasional weekends in the emergency room in Iqaluit.

x0p31Axy N4ystdJxl4

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 15

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

Learning the finer points on the ice Top: ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑏᑦ 13-ᓂ-17–ᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ "chalk talk" ᕿᑲᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᐃᓕᔅ ᕼᐋᑭᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᓄᓂᕈᓯᖅ ᐊᓐᓂᑭᑕᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 4–ᒥ. Bottom: ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᕐᓂᐅᕗᖅ 12-ᓂ-ᐊᑖᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᐃᓕᔅ ᕼᐋᑭᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᓄᓂᕈᓯᖅ ᐊᓐᓂᑭᑕᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 5–ᒥ.

photos courtesy of Rex Willie

Top: Players in the 13-to-17 age group gather to have some "chalk talk" during a break in the action of the Willies Hockey Clinic at the Tununirusiq Arena in Arctic Bay on March 4. Bottom: It's scrimmage time for the 12-and-under age group during the Willies Hockey Clinic at the Tununirusiq Arena in Arctic Bay on March 5.

Annual Willies Hockey Clinic takes over Tununirusiq Arena in Arctic Bay

by James McCarthy

Northern News Services

Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay

People all over the North have been looking for anything to do to stay active in times of Covid-19.

Hockey is one of those things people have been doing and a group of young players in Arctic Bay got the chance to hit the ice and get better at the game earlier this month.

More than two dozen players were part of the annual Willies Hockey Clinic at the Tununirusiq Arena from March 1 to 5. The players were split into two groups based on age – 12 and under and 13 to 17 – and were put through their paces.

Rex Willie was one of the coaches for the week and he said the goal is to get Andy Nowicki into the community each year, as he's done in years past, but that wasn't possible this year.

"He's been here before but we just continued his training this year," he said. "I've done the coaches' clinic Andy has had here and I have my certificate so I taught the kids like Andy would.

The arena opened late this season, he added,

but the players were just happy to get on the ice and play and learn.

"We did mostly skating drills and working on the stance, which is the most important thing a hockey player needs to learn," he said. "We did teamwork and teaching respect and having fun. Having fun is the big thing."

Willie's brother and nephew, Tagoona Willie and Lionel Willie, helped with the coaching duties and he said that was a big help.

"Tagoona likes to coach and work with the older players," he said. "He does one hour with the midgets every Tuesday and Thursday before the senior men's ice time. Senior men's starts at 8 p.m. but we have the ice from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. so he doesn't want the ice time to go to waste."

The amount of players this year is about average, said Willie, but the number of people allowed in to watch was down because of capacity limits inside the arena due to the pandemic.

"We were allowed 50 people inside the arena and all the parents came in to watch their kids," he said. "They were really happy to see their kids out there and playing and being happy."

The plan is to do this again next year, he added, and for as many years as he can.

16 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

kNKu kNKu W?9oxJ5, W?9oxJ5,N[Z/su, N[Z/su, ᒫµ55µ yy 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, N[Z/su, 5µ ᒫµy5y 22, 2021 kNKu

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 17

18 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

kNKu kNKu W?9oxJ5, W?9oxJ5,N[Z/su, N[Z/su, ᒫµ55µ yy 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, N[Z/su, 5µ ᒫµy5y 22, 2021 kNKu

nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021 19

sports & recreation

Sensible and not so sensible decisions Îé¯≤ú & ÄÎÖ∏ÙÄÕÍ≤Ò

Northern News Services inside the bubble in Calgary, where everything has been hapLook, if you don't agree with the rules, there are other ways pening for curling over the past month. to go about showing your displeasure than what this prime You'll recall that the World Curling Federation cancelled the specimen did at Disney World in Florida. original version, which was supposed to happen in Switzerland Kelly McKin was at the (allegedly) Happithis month but for reasons only known by just est Place on Earth earlier this month and went about everyone who's still drawing breath, it got without a mask. Now, it's Disney's rules so you canned. have to wear a mask. If you don't want to, you The World Men's Curling Championship was can simply not go, as I would do. But McKin already set to happen inside the bubble so it only decided it would be prudent to not only refuse made sense for the women's version to be held. with James McCarthy to put one on but proceed to load up and spit They couldn't honestly hold the men's event and on the guard that reminded him. That's battery not host the women. That wouldn't have been in the state of Florida and he was rightfully fair and I would have raised a stink about it. charged with a crime. Not only is it a crime but it's just disgustBesides, there's Olympic qualification on the line and no ing, no matter what age we're living in. I would have dealt with event for the women would have made things awfully tough to it differently but you knew that already. determine who would have the right to go to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Anyway: For once, international sport bureauIt's a card collection, dude ᑕᒥᐅᕐ ᓱᒻᕼᐅᕐ ᕿᒪᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ crats got something right.

Darren Rovell is an analyst in the ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑎᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ And finally ... world of sports betting and sports busiᒪᒃᓯᑯᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᑉ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐸᓗᐊᓂ. ness. He's also a pure dingbat of the Good Idea: off the tennis ᕿᒪᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᑳᕋᓂ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ court in protestWalking highest order as evidenced by his latest over something serious. ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᓯᐅᑎᓂᑦ Bad Idea: Walking off the tennis misadventure. ᓈᓚᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

Rovell was tagged by a gentleman court over one call. by the name of Frankie Everiette on I have seen outbursts like this before Twitter on March 13 with a photo of and only in tennis can one player his late father's card collection. There become so agitated to the point where are all sorts of cards: Topps, Donruss, they end up acting worse than my fiveUpper Deck, Fleer etc. Anyone who year-old when her iPad gets taken away. collected cards like I did in the 1990s Damir Dzumhur was playing in the will know those names because they ATP 500 event in Acapulco, Mexico were the card companies you wanted, earlier this month in men's singles versus Botic van de Zandschulp. It's 5-5 if you ever wanted to sell. in the opening set, 11 th game, deuce.

Now, card collecting has taken a Van de Zandschulp hits a forehand slice nosedive in recent years and judging which the line judge felt caught enough from Everiette's collection, he wouldn't of the back service line and called it in. exactly set off the jackpot bell with Dzumhur didn't think so and wanted the what's there but that wasn't good photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons umpire to overrule. It didn't happen. enough for Rovell. No, Rovell decided Damir Dzumhur walked off the court You know what's coming next, right? the entire collection was junk. That's during a match in Mexico earlier this Dzumhur did what most professional right – Mr. Everiette goes through his month. Before he left, he had some tennis players do when they don't get late father's cards and Rovell is worried about the monetary value of it all. words for the chair umpire which their way: go to the umpire, complain, tell them how horrible they are and Which, by the way, wasn't even caused a few ears to perk up. continue to do so for the rest of the mentioned in Everiette's tag to Rovell match. Dzumhur must've said the magic and was pointed out by a few people who word because he was given a court violation and a warning in responded to Rovell. Rovell tried to puff his chest out and convince people that the reason he was tagged was to get a price between games. on it and everyone knew he was full of high-grade horse fertilAfter winning a point in the next game, Dzumhur kept it up izer by that point. This is what Rovell's modus operandi is. He's and was given another court violation, which was a point penalty. someone who once got mad at another sportswriter about the Well, that was enough for Dzumhur, who fist-bumped van grab bag during a Super Bowl media week so I wouldn't expect de Zandschulp and walked off but not before giving the chair anything less. It's Rovell's job to write about the business end of umpire one last parting shot. sports but Everiette didn't want to monetize things. He simply If you watch the video and listen close, you'll hear Dzumhur showed Rovell his collection and that's it. tell the umpire something which sounded close to how he was Someone needs to learn to just take the L. going to kill him. It's not totally clear but it sure sounds like it.

Now, it looked like the ball was out and if Dzumhur wants A sensible decision to ask about it, he's well within his rights to. But this does nothing to convince people that tennis players are sulky and spoiled.

So the World Women's Curling Championship will be happening after all. Curling Canada announced it will happen I'll say this, though: he's no Viktor Troicki.

Sports Talk

20 nunavutnews.com, Monday, March 22, 2021

kNKu W?9oxJ5, N[Z/su, ᒫµ5y 22, 2021