Nunavut News - June 7, 2021 Edition

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖓ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓪᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓂᖅ ‘ᖁᕝᕙᖅᑎᕆᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ’ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᕈᑎᖃᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒡᓗ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᓕᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ

Inuit Action Plan on MMIWG released Plan to be ‘catalyst’ to spur actions and investments from governments to end violence toward Inuit women

Volume 76 Issue 6 MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 $.95 (plus GST)

One fish, two fish

ᐅᓇ ᑎᐊᕆᓐᔅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐃᓕᐊᒻ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐆᒐᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᐃ 21–ᒥ ᒪᐃ 23, 2021–ᒧᑦ. ᑎᐊᕆᓐᔅ ᐊᔪᕆᖅᓲᔾᔨᔪᖅ ᓄᑲᒥᓂᑦ ᓯᑯᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᓴᕐᓂᕐᒥ.

Terence, left, and William Aglukkaq outside of Gjoa Haven during the cod fishing derby from May 21 to 23. Terence is showing his younger brother some ice jigging.

Photo courtesy of Angeline Aglukkaq

Kamloops 215 honoured in Nunavut

Publication mail Contract #40012157

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71605 00200

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Made-inNunavut Mental Health Act reflects Inuit societal values

MLAs say airline financial aid a ‘missed opportunity’

“In terms of controlling maritime traffic (Resolute Bay) is in an ideal position.”

Retired Canadian Armed Forces Col. Pierre Leblanc is calling for military infrastructure in the hamlet, page 15.

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News Briefs ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᓯᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᖅ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᔫᓐᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᕆᓂᐊᖅᐸᖓ, ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓐᓇᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᑕᖃᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᒌᓂᒃ ᕿᒪᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒋᖏᑕᒥᖕᓂ. “ᐃᖅᑲᐃᒋᕗᖓ ᐱᒋᐊᒍᔪᖕᒪᑕ ᓴᓐᖏᖕᒪᑕᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ,” ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᑦᓯᐊᕆᕗᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒃᑎᑕᐅᖏᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᓗᕿᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᓐᓇᐅᒪᓇᓱᐊᖅᖢᑕ. ᐱᖅᑯᓯᕗᑦ, ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᑯᕗᓪᓗ ᐱᒋᒐᑉᑎᒍ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᒐᑦᑎᒍ. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓯᒪᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕆᒪᓱᒡᓗᑕ ᐳᐃᒍᖅᑕᐃᓕᓗᑕᓗ ᑭᖑᕚᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᒍᑎᒋᔭᑉᑎᓐᓂᒃ.” ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᖓᓂ ᐃᑭᐊᕿᕕᖓᓂ. ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᑦ ᔫᓐ 21-ᖑᓪᓗᓂ. please see National, page 12

ᑎᖕᒥᐊᑦ ᓕᕐᓕᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓ

ᓴᓪᓕᖅ ᓴᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᕖᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᑭᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᒪᕗᑦ 300-ᓂᒃ ᓕᕐᓕᕐᓂᒃ ᑎᖕᒥᐊᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒪᐃ 26-ᖑᓕᖅᐸᑦ. ᐊᖑᓇᓱᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐊᑭᓖᒍᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ $20-ᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓂ ᑎᖕᒥᐊᒧᑦ. ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᒡᔭᖅᓯᒍᒪᔪᖃᖅᐸᑦ ᖁᓕᓂᑦ ᓕᕐᓕᕐᓂᒃ ᑎᖕᒥᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᒍᒪᕗᑦ ᖁᓕᐅᖏᑉᐸᑕ ᐱᒍᒪᖏᑦᖢᓂᒋᑦ. ᓄᑖᖑᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ. ᓕᕐᓖᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᐊᑦ ᒪᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᒍᒪᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ. please see Geese, page 12

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᑕᕆᐊᑦ Agnico Eagle Mines ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑎᒍᒪᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ. ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓂᕆᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᐃ 25-ᖑᓕᖅᐸᑦ. ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕈᑎᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᑕᕆᐊᑦ ᐊᒡᓂᑯ ᐃᒍ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᓯᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑕ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑲᑉᐸᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᑕᕆᐊᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖁᑎᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᑯᖓᐅᔾᔨᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᖁᔨᒃᐸᑕ ᐃᖃᓗᓚᐅᖅᑕᒥᖕᓂᒃ. please see Agnico’s, page 12

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓ

ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᖅ ᒍᕆᑦ 2-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨ ᔨᓂ ᑖᐸᑕᐃ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ “ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᖓᓄᑦ” ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᔨᐅᕆ ᒪᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᖓ, ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᖑᖅᑎᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑖᐸᑕᐃᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ. “ᔨᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᑦᓯᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᑕᒫᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕋᓱᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᔨᐅᕆᒧᑦ ᐱᐅᒋᔭᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᖏᑦᑑᑦᓯᐊᖅᖢᓂ,” ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑎᒍᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ. ᑖᐸᑕᐃ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑕᓗᒃᑖᓂᑦ. ᐊᒃᓱᕈᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᕋᓛᒥᒃ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ. ᒪᓐᓂᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᐅᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑖᒥᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃᑕᐅᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᖑᖅᑎᑎᑉᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨᒥᓂᒃ. please see teacher, page 12

Monday, June 7, 2021 A3

Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

fact file Nunavut covid-19 situation as of June 3 Active cases: 9 Confirmed cases: 648 Recovered cases: 635 Total persons followed: 8,656 Current persons followed: 437 Completed tests in Nunavut: 16,217 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 17,247 first doses, 14,949 second doses

Confirmed cases by community Iqaluit: 244 (9 active, 235 recovered) Kinngait: 7 (0 active, 7 recovered) Rankin Inlet: 21 (0 active, 21 recovered) Arviat: 339 (338 recovered) Whale Cove: 23 (all recovered) Sanikiluaq: 2 (all recovered) Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᓂ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᕝᕕᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᓂᐅᕕᕈᑎᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᕝᕕᒃ ᑰᓕᒡᕕᖕᒦᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᔫᓐ 16-ᒥ 19-ᒧᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᓖᑦ ᖁᓕᖏᓗᐊᖅᑑᔪᑦ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓱᔪᓐᓃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖃᕐᓇᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅᑖᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑦᑐᖃᕋᓂ ᖄᖏᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᓂᒃ. ᑲᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ 15,113 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᖅᑐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᐴᑎᓲᑦ, ᑐᒡᓕᐊᒍᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᑐᓇ ᑲᐴᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᒃᑲᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ 2,199 ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ. ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᒃᑲᓐᓃᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᓯᒪᓕᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᔭᖅᑐᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓄᑦ 12-ᒥ ᐅᖓᑖᓂᓗ, ᑰᓕᒡᕕᖕᒦᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ (Curling Rink) 1:00-ᒥ ᐅᑉᓗᒃᑯᑦ 10:00-ᒧᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᔫᓐ 16-ᒥ 19-ᒧᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓᓄᑦ, ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕐᕕᖓᓄᑦ. “ᑲᐱᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑦ, ᓂᕆᕝᕕᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ. ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᓴᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐸᑕ, ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕐᕕᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᑑᕝᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓃᕋᔭᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓᑕ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᓯᖅ.

ᐱᖓᓲᔪᑦ ᐊᒧᔭᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᑭᖃᖅᑐᑦ $500-ᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕈᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖓᓯᒌᒍᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓯᓚᒥ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ; ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ ᐃᒐᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ ᓴᓗᒻᒪᖅᓴᐃᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓴᓗᒪᒍᑎᒃᓴᓪᓗ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᖅ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕈᓐᓇᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᖅ. “ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒍᑦ ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᕈᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᐃᔭᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᓂ ᐱᐅᓪ. “ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᒥᔪᒍᑦ ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᕈᒪᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᑕᒪᐅᙵᐅᓲᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᒍᑦ, ᑲᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᖁᓇᑕ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᖅᐳᓪᓗ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᖁᓇᒋᑦ, ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᕗᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ.” ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓ ᑐᓂᓯᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ $25-ᒦᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᒡᓕᐊᒍᑦ.

“Moderna ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Pfizer-BioNTech ᑲᐴᑏᑦ ᐊᑑᑎᓖᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓐᓇᓲᖅ ᑲᐴᑏᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ. “ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᑲᐴᑏᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᓕᔭᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ, ᑖᑉᑯᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᑲᐴᑏᑦ ᐱᓯᒪᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ.”

ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ -19 ᐃᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᓂ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᕝᕕᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓄᑦ 12-ᒥ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ ᑰᓕᒡᕕᖕᒦᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ 1:00–ᒥ ᐅᑉᓗᒃᑯᑦ 10:00-ᒧᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᔫᓐ 16-ᒥ 19-ᒧᑦ.

COVID-19 walk-in vaccination clinics for Iqalummiut ages 12 and older will be taking place at the curling rink from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. starting June 16 to 19. NNSL file photo

Iqaluit walk-in vaccination clinic offers prizes, vouchers Clinic to take place at curling rink from June 16 to 19

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Iqaluit’s total amount of active COVID19 cases remains at nine, with no additional recoveries or new cases reported as of June 3.

A total of 15,113 people in Nunavut, including rotational workers, have received their second dose of the Moderna vaccine and are fully vaccinated, with another 2,199 having received their first dose.

More details have also come out for the Iqaluit COVID-19 walk-in vaccination clinic for Iqalummiut ages 12 and older, it will be taking place at the curling rink from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. starting June 16 to 19.

This will be funded in-part by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), the Government of Nunavut and the City of Iqaluit, with support from the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre.

“Getting the vaccine may help re-open schools, restaurants and businesses. If most Nunavummiut are vaccinated, we may no longer need isolation hotels,” said NTI president Aluki Kotierk.

Three door prizes worth $500 each are being offered by the City, a distancing outdoors prize; a stay-at-home baking prize and a home cleaning and sanitizing prize.

Anyone attending the walk-in clinic is eligible to win.

“We are working together to protect Iqalummiut,” said Iqaluit Mayor Kenny Bell.

“We are also working together to protect Nunavummiut who travel here for medical travel. Iqaluit, we need the vaccine for the safety of ourselves, our families, our community and the territory.”

NTI will be providing a $25 voucher for each Inuk following individual doses.

“Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are effective and safe, but it’s normal to wonder about vaccine safety,” said Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq.

“By now, vaccines have been tested and given to millions of people from around the world, and those are the vaccines we have here in Nunavut.”

A4 Monday, June 7, 2021

www.nunavutnews.com

Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

Preschool graduations give hope for the future Northern News Services

UPLUKKUT IQALUKTUUTIAMIT. INUIN NAAMMAINNAQTUT. AUDLATTIVAKTUT. AUDLAAQPAKTUT QANITTUNUAMI UPINGAMI MAHALIKMAN NUNAKPUT. IPAKHANI MIKIJUT NUTAQQANNUIT QUVIAHUKTUT INIKTIKMATA OMINGMAK ILIHAKVIANIT. QUANA ILUNGNUTAKPIAQTUT INIKTIKMATA. ALIAHURALITTUT. QUANA ILIHAIJIIT IKAJUKTUT. KULLIKMILU KIILINIKMITLU INIKNAHUAT JUNI 18MI. APUTAIJAQTUTLU APQUTIN HIAMAKPIAQHUNI APIVALAAQMAN. QUANA APUTAIJAQTUT. MAKLUINAQ PIHUGIAMI. UULAPAKNAKHIJUQ ILLA. NAAMMAGPAKLUHI. ATUQPAKLURIT IVARUTITIT. UAQATTAQLURIT ALGATIT. Greetings from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, land of the Inuinnait. The spring and warmer weather has once again making the roads and land hard to walk, drive and travel on. There is still lots of snow and with melting snow and ice around town comes icy conditions and hundreds of potholes around the community. Please be careful.

It was a very special week for the community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Our little wee ones who attended preschool held their graduation ceremonies at Omingmak Preschool Program. Over 30 toddlers graduated their first year and second years. The second year students are now moving up to kindergarten and are now going to attend their first-ever grade school at Kullik Ilihakvik in Cambridge Bay. The first year wee ones are now ready to attend their second year at preschool.

This was very special to happen as these beautiful children got to celebrate in their own home with their own families and community. This graduation was so special as it happened when our country found kids 215 little souls who never got to graduate. It was a celebration that we all want to see forever. The tiny graduates are so lucky and happy and proud and safe from harm; we are so happy for these little ones. Congratulations to each of you and may you enjoy the rest of your life educating yourselves with your own families, mom and dads, grandparents and Elders and community with you.

Seeing the beautiful smiles, hearing kids laughing, being excited and running around celebrating with joy makes our hearts at peace and joy and knowing they are safe.

It was very emotional for me to see the photographs of the preschool kids, as I was their age when I was sent away to residential school. I am so happy to see this happening, it gave me peace, forgivenesss and healing to see this. Many of the wee graduates are related to me and I am very grateful to see this happening as an Elder.

It seemed to be at the right time that our community celebrated, not so much with this pandemic still happening, though the little ones continued their education. Without the dedication and commitment of the educators including Madeline Poodlat, preschool co-ordinator and Tia Adams plus teachers Angela Siksik, Ali Gutierrez and Shan Lacap. No matter what was happening around the world, these kids and their instructors kept on, sending homework packages home during health restrictions from the COVID19 pandemic, they still carried on.

We want to send our special thank-yous to each of the preschool teachers and co-ordinators and program sponsors - Wellness Centre for believing and supporting our wee ones to get their lifetime experience of first entering into the world of learning and how to be in a safe environment and learning how to prepare them for school.

Many of us who are now Grandparents never had that chance as we were taken away on an airplane and sent to a hostel and school many, many miles away, without seeing our parents and grandparents for 10 months of each year. We came home in the summer for 2 months, coming home end of June and once again back on that plane long weekend in September.

Today our little ones can have school at home. Keep your children safe and do not let the governments or authorities send them away ever again. God bless our children. Let us be grateful no one will force our little ones to be taken away.

God Be With You Son.

Cambridge Bay Tea Talk with Navalik Tologanak email: helent@qiniq.com

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᒋᕙᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᑕᒪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᐃᔅᒥ ᑭᓐᒥᒃ ᑲᐃᐊᒻᐸᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐅᖅᓴᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ.

Congratulations to 4-year-old Esmae Kinmik Kyambadde for graduating her first year at Omingmak Preschool in Cambridge Bay. Photo courtesy of Chanese Nakoyak

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᕆᔭᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᖕᓄᑦ Northern News Services

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᒥᒃ, ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᒪᐃ 31-ᒥ, ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑐᐃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ. “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᕋᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᐊ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓖᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᒐᔪᖕᒪᑕ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᔪᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᓕᐅᖅᑲᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᒐᔪᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕝᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓇᑎᒃ ᐅᑎᖅᑕᖅᑑᔭᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᕋᑉᑕ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓖᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓄᑦ – ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒧᓪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᑳᑎ ᑕᐅᑐᙱ. “ᐅᓇ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᑦ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓚᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ.” ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᖁᐊᓴ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᑕᙳᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᓐᓇᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖅᓴᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᐱᓯᕙᒃᑐᑦ. ᐃᓗᓕᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᖠᕈᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᒃᓴᒥᒃ – ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᑉᓗᓂ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ – ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᖢᒍ ᐃᓱᒪᒥᒍᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᖠᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥ ᐃᖕᒥᓄᑦ. ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ “ᓇᐅᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖕᒪᖔᑕ, ᐆᒃᑑᑎᒋᓗᒍ, ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᐱᓯᔪᖃᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ. ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖃᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒍ ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᖕᓂᒃ – ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᓐᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᑉᓗᒍ – ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᖃᕌᖓᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

ᓄᑖᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᖅ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᒃ “ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓕᖅᐸᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑎᒥᒥᒍᓪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᓯᒪᔪᖃᖅᐸᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᑕᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.” “ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᒌᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓚᒥᓂᒃ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᑦᑎᐊᕌᖓᑕ ᐊᔪᓕᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᓪᓗ,” ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᖅ ᐱᔪᒪᙱᑦᑲᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᑖᒥ ᐱᖁᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᓂᖅᓴᒃᑯᑦ.” ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᑕᐃᑉᑯᓂᙵ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒦᖃᑦᑕᓴᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐅᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐄᖅᑲᐃᑦᑎᐊᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᕙᒡᓗᑎᒃ. ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᕈᑎᒃᑯᑦ. ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᑕᐃᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᒃ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᕕᒃᑐᐊᕆᔭ ᒪᑦᓴᓐ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᖏᓕᕆᔭᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᖕᒪᑕᑦᑕᐅᕉᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᑦ, ᐆᒃᑑᑎᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ. “ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ, ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑎ, ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᔭᐸᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᔭᐸᓕᐅᖃᑎᖃᕈᒪᑉᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᔭᐸᒃᓴᐅᑉ ᐃᓚᒃᓴᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᕐᓂᕆᔭᖅᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᑎᒥᒥᑐᓪᓗ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕙᒻᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᖅᓱᖃᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᓅᑉᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᒋᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ

ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒦᓇᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᐅᑕᐅᔪᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᖁᑉᓗᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᑦᓴᓐ. ᐱᖁᔭᒃᓴᖅ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᖓ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓗᒃᑖᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᒍᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᐅᖓᑕᐅᔾᔨᓗᓂ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᒍᑦ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒥᓂᒃ. ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᒋᖃᑕᐅᔭᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓲᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᑦ, ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ. ᒫᑦᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᓱᖕᒪᑕ ᐱᑕᖃᖁᑉᓗᖑ “ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᖃᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᑕᕐᒥᒃ” ᐊᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓖᑦ ᐳᑭᖅᑕᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖁᓇᒋᑦ. ᔪᐃᓕ ᖃᐅᓂᖅ, ᐊᒥᑦᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᕋᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᙵ ᓄᑖᒥᒃ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᒥᒃ. “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᒋᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᕙᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕋᔪᒃᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᑉᑎᓐᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ. ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᖅ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᑦᑖᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᑉᓱᒪ ᓄᑕᐅᙱᑦᑑᑉ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖓ, ᓄᓇᑦᑎᐊᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᙶᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ, 1960-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

News of B.C. mass grave strikes chord in Nunavut www.nunavutnews.com

Monday, June 7, 2021 A5

Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

‘Each one of those 215 children had a family who loved them,’ says president of Makivik

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Hamlets and individuals across Nunavut are lowering their flags to half-mast and are leaving children’s shoes at their local Catholic churches following a news release by the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation pertaining to the remains of 215 children found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

The residential school was funded

by Canada’s Department of Indian Affairs and largely operated by the Catholic church. The news struck a chord with Indigenous people all over Canada, and Nunavut was no exception.

Businesses and government institutions also lowered their flags and issued statements on the development.

“The devastating news of the discovery of 215 children in a mass grave at the Kamloops Indian Residential School leaves all Indigenous people in this country heartbroken and grieving with the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation Community,” wrote Premier Joe Savikataaq in a statement May 30.

The Government of Nunavut will lower its flags to half-mast for nine days starting May 31, marking 215 hours in honour of the 215 children who perished – “in remembrance of these beautiful souls, taken, disregarded and dishonoured by a system meant to break them,” said Savikataaq.

“The legacy of Canada’s residential schools is one of deep intergenerational trauma, rooted in attempted cultural genocide and assimilation,” the Premier said. “This isn’t simply a dark chapter in Canadian history, it continues to be a very painful reality for all First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

In order to move forward, all Canadians must face these horrors, learn the truth, demand justice and work toward meaningful reconciliation on our terms.”

“We stand together, unwavering in our cultures and languages, determined to heal,” he said.

Pita Aatami, president of Nunavik’s Makivik Corporation, stated, “Each one of those 215 children had a family who loved them. Each one of them had been ripped away from those families because they were Indigenous.”

From the late 19th century to the

ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᑲᒫᓗᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᑕ ᓯᓚᑖᓄ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎ 215 ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᑎᒥᑯᓗᖏᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓵᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᑳᒻᓘᑉᔅ, ᐳᕆᑎᔅ ᑲᓚᒻᐱᔭᒥ. ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓪᓚᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ.

Children’s shoes were placed at the Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish in Iqaluit over the weekend, a symbolic statement after the remains of 215 children were recently found at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. The Catholic church played a prominent role in running the institutions. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo 1990s, the Government of Canada helped operate residential schools in association with churches. In those institutions, children suffered many atrocities, including physical and sexual abuse, and loss of language and culture after being taken from their parents’ care by either church or state.

The system was expanded into the Canadian Arctic during the 1950s, an experience many Nunavimmuit still feel the effects of today.

Thirteen residential schools operated in what is now Nunavut: in Chesterfield Inlet, Kugluktuk (then Coppermine), Baker Lake, on the Belcher Islands, Qikiqtarjuaq, Cambridge Bay, Kinngait, Arviat, Iqaluit, Iglulik, along with schools in Kimmirut, Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet, according to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

“The losses we experienced were to

be permanent. The impact on all of us – my family, my friends and many of us who are now seem to be leaders of our people – was traumatic,” wrote former Nunavut commissioner and residential school survivor Piita Irniq.

“Many of us have spent our lives trying, in many ways, to bring ‘meaning’ back into lives that were emptied of ideas, beliefs and relationships that for thousands of years brought meaning and purpose to Inuit.”

Inuit-owned companies also issued statements over the past few days, including Canadian North Airline’s president and CEO Chris Avery, who stated, “As an Inuit-owned company, we grieve with the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation community and with all residential school survivors – sending thoughts of strength and love as we are also gripped with the ongoing trauma wrought by the

ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑏᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ Hᐊᒻᓚᖓᑕ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐊᑦᑎᒃᓯᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐅᕌᓂᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᒪᐃ 31-ᒥ.

The flags at the Hamlet of Arviat were placed at half-mast on Monday, May 31. Photo sourced from Hamlet of Arviat/Facebook

residential school system in Canada.”

The Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM) proposed that all communities of Nunavut lower their flags to half-mast for 215 hours, for each one of the victims found, starting May 31, for a total of nine days.

Children’s shoes were left outside the Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish in Iqaluit as well as the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.

“Hundreds of thousands of Indigenous families live with the inter-generational impacts of the legacy of the Indian residential schools in Canada. My thoughts are with the survivors and our families. I hold all those that we have lost in my heart,” Iqaluit deputy mayor Janet Brewster wrote in a statement.

Iqaluit Coun. John Fawcett stated: “My heart goes out to all people who grieve over and continue to be

ᓖᔾᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑎᒃᓯᒋᐊᖅᓯᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᐃ 31-ᒥ.

The Royal Canadian Legion in Iqaluit was among government offices and businesses all over the capital to fly their flags at half-mast beginning on May 31. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

affected by the atrocity that is the residential school system. As Canadians, we need to combine our efforts to demand action and reparations for all Indigenous people affected by these tragedies.”

Carolyn Bennett, minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and Marc Miller, minister of Indigenous Services issued a joint statement.

“The TRC revealed the heartbreaking details of the role that residential schools played in the history of Canada and the tragic legacy that continues today,” the ministers wrote.

“It is said once you know the truth, you cannot unknow it.”

Savikataaq added that, on behalf of all Nunavummiut, he sends love and support to the families of the victims and to all survivors and those affected by residential schools.

– with files from Derek Neary

A6 Monday, June 7, 2021

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Pauktuutit identifies 14 themes in National Inuit Action Plan

Main focus on ending domestic violence toward Inuit women

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

On June 3, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), released the National Inuit Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, encompassing the 51 communities across Inuit Nunangat and Inuit living in urban centres.

The National Inuit Action Plan was developed by the National Inuit Working Group on Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The 10-person working group consisted of representatives from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivik Corporation, the Nunatsiavut Government as well as representatives from four community-based organizations: The Family and Survivors Circle, Tungasuvvingat Inuit, AnanauKatiget Tumingit and the Saturviit Inuit Women’s Association of Nunavik, with ITK and Pauktuutit serving as co-chairs.

“If we are to end the tragedy of gendered violence, Inuit women must be at the forefront of implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan for Inuit,” said Rebecca Kudloo, president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada.

Inuit women suffer the highest violence rates in Canada, at 14 times the national average, according to Pauktuutit. This problem is compounded by the fact that only 13 of the 51 communities across Inuit Nunangat have emergency shelters for women fleeing violence.

Solutions by the various organizational representatives were laid out in documents that Pauktuutit published.

Additionally, “Urban Inuit women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people face challenges and threats to their safety that are unique to the circumstances of living in urban centres, including challenges in relation to policing, access to services, and being targeted for violence, abduction and trafficking,” states the action plan.

Under the wider umbrella of the 58-page action plan there are 14 themes under the National Inuit Action Plan with 46 Inuit-specific calls to action, and a total of 187 specific named actions, further subdivided into federal-led actions, provincial/territorial-led actions and Inuit-led actions across Inuit Nunangat.

The plan calls for “sustained and genuine collaborative action between all governments (federal, provincial and territorial) and Inuit,” but also states that implementation is “contingent on governments respecting and supporting the right of Inuit to self-determination,” as well as Inuit land claims organizations exercising that right.

“This National Inuit Action Plan is the product of intense collaboration by Inuit to identify the measures required to creation conditions of safety, security and well-being for Inuit women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People,” said Natan Obed, president of ITK.

fact FILE The 14 themes of The June 3 National Inuit Action Plan Shelters and housing: Actions must address needs for more effective mechanisms to fund shelters and housing and improve access to permanent housing, shelters and second-stage transition housing.

Infrastructure: Prioritize measures to improve broadband connectivity; enable Inuit to access justice and mental health services.

Education: Improve access to Inuit early learning and childcare programs; ensure Inuit with disabilities are diagnosed and have access to needed supports; support the provision of school-based, trauma-informed mental health services for children and youth as well as in urban centres.

Economic security: Measures to improve food security; reduce cost of living; support access to employment among Inuit women.

Health and wellness: Improve availability of services in Inuktut; focus on long-term solutions for improving the delivery of health; improve co-ordination across government departments; improve existing health and wellness services; enable Inuit self-determination in the delivery of health services.

Justice and policing: Improve access to justice and police services; improve Inuit recruitment into the RCMP; improve availability of Inuktut interpretation.

Children and youth: Improve transparency in child welfare systems; support the need to implement evidence-based preventative health measures that enable healing and positive lifelong outcomes; strengthen advocacy for Inuit children and youth in all regions across Inuit Nunangat.

Anti-racism and reconciliation: Improve effectiveness of the civil service; improve representation in the civil service; build on the 2019 apology for forced relocations and dog killings; help end violence against Inuit women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Governance: Support capacity-building and skills development among Inuit; improve monitoring of InuitCrown land claims agreements; implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; hold governments accountable for Canada’s human rights obligations.

Inuktut: Improve support for Inuktut; including the establishment of new programs and arrangements between Inuit and governments; improve federal access to Inuktut; amend Nunavut’s 2020 Education Act with NTI to enable a fully bilingual education system.

Data and research: Inuit land claims organizations must focus on prioritizing research on violence against women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; improve effectiveness of policing policies; research focused on violence prevention solutions.

Urban Inuit: Improve support for urban Inuit organizations; enable quality, consistent; long-term programs for Inuit women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; determine accurate population counts of urban Inuit.

Men and boys: Engage Inuit men in Inuit child-rearing practices; foster cultural reclamation; improve corrections systems’ approaches to case management.

Family violence: Ensure equitable access to family violence prevention programs, services and funding; expand eligibility for Indigenous services to include distinctions for Inuit; de-normalize domestic violence and promote healthy families and relationships.

Source: National Inuit Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People

Naujaat student organizes MMIWG march www.nunavutnews.com

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Hᐊᑕ ᐳᑐᓕᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓱᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓵᑯᓗᖕᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᑉᓗᓂ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᒪᐃ 25-ᒥ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᕆᔭᒥᒍᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥ 11-ᒥ.

30 ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 40 ᐊᑯᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᓖᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᓱᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓵᖑᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᒪᐃ 25-ᒥ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥᒃ 11-ᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒧᑦ Hᐊᑕ ᐳᑐᓕᖕᒧᑦ.

Between 30 and 40 Naujaatmiut showed up to march in support of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on May 25. The march was organized by Grade 11 student Heather Putulik. Photo courtesy of Simon Wake

Nearly 40 people attended event Heather Putulik arranged for social studies course

By Cody Punter Northern News Services Naujaat

A Grade 11 student in Naujaat organized a march to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) last week.

“I’m doing this because I’ve seen a lot of Indigenous women and girls go missing, get murdered and face sexual violence and abuse and I want it to stop,” wrote Heather Putulik in a Facebook announcement about the march. “We really need our culture back.”

Despite unseasonably cold weather with heavy winds, 30

to 40 people turned out on May 25 to march in support of MMIWG. According to her teacher Simon Wake, Putulik arranged the March as part of a year-end project for her social studies class.

“They had to make the plan for something that touches on one of the issues we talked about in class,” said Wake.

“Current news was part of the class and Black Lives Matter was a big part of the discussion. Obviously, being in Nunavut we made a connection between that movement and what is happening with Indigenous people in Canada. She was really passionate about that.”

Putulik said she was inspired to organize the march after seeing so many Indigenous people posting about MMIWG on Facebook and TikTok. “I’ve seen a lot of posts on Facebook about Indigenous women gone missing,” she said.

One of the hardest parts of organizing the march was doing the public promotion, said Putulik.

“The scariest part was going on the radio,” she said.

“I posted on Facebook so my friends in the community would know.”

As part of the assignment, students had to go through the process of applying for a

grant to support their ideas.

Although they didn’t have to actually submit applications, several of them did, including Putulik, who ended up getting $250 from Youth Rising.

That money ended up going toward materials for the march, including banners.

It also helped pay for some country food. Most importantly, it allowed Putulik to hire Elder Elizabeth Haqpi to talk about healing and the history of violence against women.

By the end of the march it was too cold to stay outside, so the talk was rescheduled to be held during a community feast on May 29.

Heather Putulik arranged a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls march in Naujaat on May 25 as part of a school project for her Grade 11 social studies course. Photo courtesy of Simon Wake After the march, Putulik arranged for people to gather for a healing activity around a bonfire, where participants wrote about experiences that they want to let go of and threw them into the fire.

“During the bonfire I went to my late grandfather’s graveyard to say thank you to him and I talked him a little bit,” said Putulik.

Wake said he was extremely proud of the effort that Putulik put into organizing the march. She ended up get-

ting a final grade of 99 per cent on her project.

“She really went above and beyond,” he said. “Some other projects were good but not nearly as ambitious or challenging.”

Academics aside, Wake said the march also left a positive mark on the community.

“A lot of people were really moved,” he said. “I saw lots of people posting on social media saying they were happy to see this happening in Naujaat.”

Made-in-Nunavut Mental Health Act adopted MLAs supportive of Inuit-based approaches and role of support person for patients

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

MLAs hailed a made-in-Nunavut Mental Health Act, passed in the legislative assembly May 31, that emphasizes Inuit-based approaches.

“I also support this bill because those with mental illness are often confronted and treated like criminals and many others who are mentally distraught are often just taken to jail or dealt with through corrections without any kind of support and we seem to be going in circles when it comes to people with mental health issues,” said Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Cathy Towtongie. “This bill is a new bill and IQ (Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit) is very much a part of this.”

Health Minister Lorne Kusugak said the new act opens the door to greater involvement of family and friends as it better reflects Inuit societal values and aims to reduce suicides. There will be provision for the selection of a representative – known as a tikkuaqtaujuq – who makes decisions on behalf of a patient unable to choose treatment options for himself or herself. There is also a requirement to consult the tikkuaqtaujuq “at various points during the client’s mental health care journey and to notify them that certain events have taken place, for example,

following a suicide attempt,” said Kusugak.

There will also be efforts made to have a support person accompany peace officers – when safe and practicable – during the apprehension of an individual in serious mental distress.

The new legislation will allow for early intervention, whereas the former act required that a person be at “imminent risk of causing bodily harm before the health-care system could intervene against their wish.”

“This led to situations where family members had to watch their loved one who declined care deteriorate until they are so ill that harm was imminent,” the Health minister said. “The committal criteria for involuntary admission have been broadened in the new act to allow health professionals to intervene sooner.”

The Nunavut Mental Health Act is also intended to enable some of those who have previously been hospitalized to receive treatment and support in their own community. Some individuals will be required to take their medications and be monitored.

MLAs questioned the sufficiency of existing resources in communities to act as mental health supports. Kusugak pointed to men’s groups and women’s groups. Victoria Madsen, acting assistant deputy minister of Health, added that there are also teen groups and she spoke of the value of a women’s sewing group,

for example.

“Our paraprofessional, who is an outreach worker, spoke to the women about sewing this parka together and thinking of the parka pieces as pieces of their soul and of their life and of their body, and that to me, and to the group in the room, is Inuit counselling. It is Inuit culturally-safe services, and that is what we need to increase our paraprofessional group to be able to extend and we will,” said Madsen.

Even though the act has passed, the work is not done. The GN is committing to put together a mental health strategy after assessing the needs of Nunavummiut in regards to mental health and addictions. Kusugak said that objective will likely take a year or longer, exceeding the term of the current government.

Also in the offing will be training for tikkuaqtaujuqs so they are familiar with their rights and responsibilities. The department’s professionals and paraprofessionals who work in the mental health field will also get more training, including cultural sensitivity training in some cases, Kusugak said.

Madsen added that the GN is striving to have a dedicated “safe room” in each community health centre, which would prevent individuals suffering from psychotic episodes from necessarily having to be placed in RCMP jail cells.

Joelie Kaernerk, Ammituq MLA, expressed

“ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᖁᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓖᑦ, ᖃᑕᙳᑎᒌᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᖁᐊᓴ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ.

”The new Mental Health Act will result in safer care for patients, families, and communities,” says Health Minister Lorne Kusugak. Photo courtesy of the legislative assembly his support for the new act.

“Inuit counselling practices will now be in the forefront and we are constantly raising the issue of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and the issue of working together,” he said.

Kusugak noted that replacement legislation was the best option because parts of the former mental health act, adopted from the Northwest Territories, dated back to the 1960s.

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

ᒪᒥᐊᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔾᔮᙱᓚᑦ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᑦ 215–ᓂ ᑎᒡᓕᒃᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑳᒻᓘᑉᔅᒥ ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᒪᐃ 27–ᒥ. ᐅᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᓇ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᙱᓚᖅ. ᐅᕙᓂ, ᐃᓗᐃᓪᓕᐅᕿᕗᒍᑦ ᓄᑕᕋᑯᓗᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖅᓵᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑭᓱᓕᒫᑦᑎᐊᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᒥᓂᑦ, ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᒥᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔨᒥᓂᑦ. ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓇᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᖓ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᐃᓐᓇᔪᒍᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᑯᓗᒋᓂᖓᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐅᒪᔪᒥ ᓱᓕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓪᓚᖓᔪᓄᑦ ᐆᒪᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐆᒪᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔫᓂ 2–ᒥ: “ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᓂ ᑳᒻᓘᑉᔅᒥ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᓕᓵᙱᓚᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᑐᐊᖑᙱᖦᖢᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᓱᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ (TRC) ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅᓯᐅᑎᑲᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖅ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᓯᐅᖅᑲᔪᓄᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓗᕕᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐃᓅᓪᓗᑕ, ᐊᑐᕆᕙᕗᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑉᐸᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓪᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᑦ ᕿᒪᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᑎᒃ.”

3,200–ᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᑐᖁᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑕᖅᑑᓪᓗᓂ ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ – ᓇᐃᓴᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᙱᓚᑦ “ᐃᓕᐊᕐᔪᒃᑯᕕᖕᓄᑦ,” ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑐᖁᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᓂ “ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕖᑦ.” ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃ ᓱᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᐃᑭᐊᖅᑭᕕᖕᒥ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ 4,118–ᓂ ᐊᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂ. ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ 4 ᓱᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᕆᓪᓚᕆᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ: “ᐅᑯᐊ ᐆᒃᑑᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᕆᓂᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ: ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᓚᑦ. ᐊᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑐᖁᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ–ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔭᐅᒐᔪᓚᐅᙱᓚᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᖁᓂᖓᓐᓂ. ᐃᓗᕕᖅᑕᐅᒐᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᙱᑕᒥᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒥ–ᐃᒃᓯᓐᓇᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᕐᓂ. ᓇᐃᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᓚᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᓂ ᑐᖁᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᓇᒥ ᐃᓗᕕᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ.”

2009–ᒥ, ᓱᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ $1.5 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᕐᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ; ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ. ᐊᖏᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒥ,

ᓱᔪᐃᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐆᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᖅ. ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᓕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᔫᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᕗᓂ ᓄᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᓇᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᓗᒪᔪᒥ ᐃᒪᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ, ᓂᕿᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᓯᓂᕐᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᓱᔪᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐅᒪᔪᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᓯᒪᔪᒥ “ᐲᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᓪᓚᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᔪᒥ.” ᐅᓇ ᐊᑐᖅᓂᑯᑐᖃᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓚᖅ. ᐅᓇ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑲᙳᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᑯᒋᕙᖓ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᐊᕈᓂ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᓂᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᓂᖃᕐᓂᕈᓂ ᓇᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᓱᔪᐃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᐅᙱᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᒃᓴᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᔪᓄᑦ – “ᐅᑯᐊ ᑕᕐᓂᑯᓗᐃᑦ, ᐱᔭᐅᔪᑦ, ᐃᒃᓯᓐᓇᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒃᑕᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᓱᕋᑦᑎᕆᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ. ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓚᖅ. ᒪᒥᐊᓐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑎᒃᓯᒋᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓚᖅ. ᑯᐃᓐᒧᑦ-ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑳᓚᐃᓐ ᐸᓂᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ: “ᓱᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ 72-76–ᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᖅᑲᔪᓂ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᓯᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐃᓗᕕᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. “ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc ᐊᓪᓚᐃᑦ ᓇᓂᓯᓯᒪᕗᑦ 215–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᖅᑲᔪᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᖏᓐᓂ. ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᔪᐊᕆᐊᖃᕆᕗᑦ ᓱᓕ ᑲᑎᙵᓗᑕ ᐱᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᖅᑯᒻᒥ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ.” ᓇᓂᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑎᑕᐅᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ – ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᒥᖏᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓪᓗᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᑦ – ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓯᓇᔭᖅᐳᖅ. ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᑐᖁᕋᐃᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖅᑯᒻᒥ ᒪᑐᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓗᐊᓃᓪᓚᕆᒍᓐᓇᕈᓂ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᒻᒪᖅᑕᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ. “ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc ᐊᓪᓚᐃᑦ ᓇᓂᓯᓯᒪᕗᑦ 215–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᖅᑲᔪᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᖏᓐᓂ. ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᔪᐊᕆᐊᖃᕆᕗᑦ ᓱᓕ ᑲᑎᙵᓗᑕ ᐱᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᖅᑯᒻᒥ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ.” ᓇᓂᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐃᓗᕕᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑎᑕᐅᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ – ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᒥᖏᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓪᓗᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᑦ – ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓯᓇᔭᖅᐳᖅ. ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᑐᖁᕋᐃᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖅᑯᒻᒥ ᒪᑐᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓗᐊᓃᓪᓚᕆᒍᓐᓇᕈᓂ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᒻᒪᖅᑕᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ.

Apologies and reports will never be enough Northern News Services

The remains of 215 stolen Indigenous children were uncovered at the site of a former Kamloops Indian Residential School on May 27.

To say this is an atrocity does not even begin to cover it. Here, we mourn the loss of young lives that had no say in whether they wanted to be part of a system that tore them away from everything they knew, loved and were loved by.

The most heartbreaking part is we know this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to uncovering the full truth of the residential school system and its effects on Inuit, Indigenous and Metis survivors, their families and families of those who did not survive.

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president Aluki Kotierk stated June 2: “The evidence of remains in Kamloops is not news to Indigenous Peoples and is not an isolated incident. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Final Report has several unimplemented Calls to Action including with respect to missing children and burials. As Inuit, we share this history. Residential schools and day schools left violent legacies that need answers and redress.”

At least 3,200 deaths took place at residential schools, and that is a conservative estimate – it doesn’t count any of the “orphanages,” or deaths at sanatoriums or “In-

dian hospitals.”

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation maintains a website that memorializes children that never returned home. It presently has 4,118 names on its registry.

Volume 4 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s official report states: “These examples point to a larger picture: many students who went to residential school never returned. They were lost to their families. They died at rates that were far higher than those experienced by the general school-aged population. Their parents were often uninformed of their sickness and death. They were buried away from their families in long-neglected graves. No one took care to count how many died or to record where they were buried.”

In 2009, the TRC requested $1.5 million to investigate grave sites across Canada; however, the request was denied by the government of Canada.

To deny that request points to a larger, more insidious problem with our federal government’s reaction to the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples.

The underfunding of Indigenous needs is a chronic issue in this country, whether it’s fighting for clean water, housing, food security, or for adequate reparations relating to harms caused by a government that gave its all to “remove the Indian from the child.”

This is not just our past. This is Canada’s shameful present, and the sooner the federal

government accepts this and starts taking more expedient steps to meaningful reparations, the sooner real healing can begin.

If this sort of discovery had occurred anywhere else in the world, the federal government would be decrying the appalling, unfathomable treatment of these children – “these beautiful souls, taken, disregarded and dishonoured by a system meant to break them,” as Premier Joe Savikataaq said.

Reports are not enough. Saying sorry and lowering flags is not enough.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett stated: “The Truth and Reconciliation Commission included Calls To Action 72-76 to ensure Canada worked with Indigenous communities to locate their missing loved ones and the unmarked burial places in a culturally informed way.

“After decades of work, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation has found 215 of their missing children. Much more work remains as we collectively walk the path of reconciliation.”

Nothing short of uncovering all places where children were buried without the knowledge of their families – and making sure their remains are given the respect they deserve – will be enough. Perhaps that will give every person affected by this attempted genocide a path to closure, if that can ever truly be within the grips of people so tragically wronged.

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Racism continues to handcuff hockey – and Canada

Monday, June 7, 2021 A9

ᐃᑕᓐ ᐱᐊᕐ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᐅᕕᓂᖃᑎᒋᙱᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᖅᑐᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ Hᐊᑭᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᖓ ᑯᑎ ᐸᓐᑐᕐ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᑖᖑᙱᒻᒪᑦ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖅ ᔪᐊᑕᓐ ᑐᑐᒥᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᕿᐸᒋᔭᐅᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑏᑦ, ᐃᑭᙳᑎᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Hᐊᑭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᐅᑐᒍᒪᒃᑲᐅᔪᓄᑦ.

Northern News Services

It’s that time of year again. With the NHL playoffs underway, families across the Kivalliq have once again been divided by their allegiances to professional teams.

For the past few weeks, Facebook feeds in the region have been alive with banter, bets and insults. I can only imagine the lively situation inside the homes of those who are separated into Leafs and Habs’ camps, especially since this is the first time they have met in the playoffs since 1979.

Surprisingly though, it was fans of the redhot second-seeded Edmonton Oilers who were the first to face the devastation of being eliminated with an embarrassing 4-0 sweep by the Winnipeg Jets. But the depth of those wounds pale in comparison to the attacks which the team’s up-and-coming defenceman Ethan Bear experienced following the Oilers’ early exit.

Bear, who is from Saskatchewan’s Ochapowace First Nation, was the target of vile racist comments following the team’s final loss after he made a mistake on one of Winnipeg’s goals.

Aside from the occasional smashed TV screen in the heat of the moment, most of us realize that professional hockey is just a game, and all the jesting and jeering is all in fun, or it should be.

The fact that such an ugly incident occurred shows once again that Canada and its national game have a glaring racism problem.

This is nothing new. Anyone who knows Jordin Tootoo, or has followed his career, knows just how much hate is directed at Indigenous players, both by their peers and fans.

It would be one thing if these were isolated incidents but that’s not the case.

Ask any Nunavummiuq who has gone down south to play hockey against pre-

CODY PUNTER

dominately white kids in small towns and they will tell you how ugly it can get.

What is truly upsetting is that any time an incident like this happens, the onus for denouncing this racism falls to Indigenous, Inuit and Metis people.

Look no further than Naujaat, where Grade 11 student Heather Putulik organized a march to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls last week.

Putulik’s initiative is just another sign that young Indigenous people are fed up with being subjected to physical and lateral violence.

It’s a sign of bravery that young people who have been touched by racism are willing to speak up, but why are those in positions of power such cowards in comparison?

It was shocking, but not surprising, to see how few active players came to the aid of Bear following the attacks against him.

Other than the team’s former captain

ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᖅᑰᖅᐸ?

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ/Iqaluit street talk with Trevor Wright

The Ethan Bear incident shows racism continues to handcuff hockey and Canada. Kivalliq News editor Cody Punter argues this is nothing new. Anyone who knows Jordin Tootoo, or has followed his career, knows just how much hate is directed at Indigenous players, both by their peers and fans. Wikimedia Commons photo

Do you feel the lockdown in Iqaluit is working?

ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᕗᑦ “ᐄᖑᖅᑰᖅᑐᖅ. ᐊᐃᑦᑐᖅᓴᕋᐃᖦᖢᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᑉᐸᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐅᐸᒃᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᒧᑦ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑐᑭᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ.”

Michael Foote “I think so yeah. It’s a pretty transmissable disease and not having people collecting in large groups and having multiple contacts spread it from point to point logically makes sense that it would decrease the transmission.”

ᒪᐃᔭ ᕋᐃᓐᑐᕐᔅ “ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ, ᒫᓐᓇ 9–ᖏᓐᓇᐅᖅᑰᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᕕᐊᑉᐳᖓ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᓛᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ.”

Maya Reynders “The lockdown’s working, there’s only nine cases I think in Iqaluit right now and I’m looking forward to when we can travel again.”

Andrew Ference, and its current one Connor McDavid, there were almost no personal statements denouncing the league’s racist fans.

Meanwhile, media outlets reached out to Indigenous players to comment in Bears’ defence rather than asking hard questions of the league’s predominately white players.

Why was no one asking Winnipeg players about the incident? Where were the Maple Leafs, the Canadiens? Anyone who is not a person of colour?

What’s so embarrassing about the lack of support for Bear is that hockey is a game which prides itself so much on an unwritten code based on honour. In theory, the code is about sticking up for your teammates, especially when someone takes a cheap shot at them.

While Tootoo remains the only Nunavummiut player to ever make it to the NHL, there’s a new batch of young Inuit players knocking on the door.

That includes Brayden Uluqsi, who was recently signed by the Bradford Rattlers to play Junior A hockey in Ontario. Uluqsi said he looks up to Bear for paving the way for young Indigenous players like Tootoo did before him and Fred Sasakamoose long before that.

Uluqsi told Kivalliq News he has also encountered small amounts of racism in his time playing down south but that he tried to not let it get to him.

“It’s unfortunate and disgusting. There shouldn’t be any racism in hockey at all,” he said in response to the news about Bear, whom he admires.

It’s incredible to see such a young and talented Inuk speak with such poise and maturity on such a difficult issue.

Which begs the question: if a 19-yearold with a bright future ahead of him can speak up, why can’t a white man making millions of dollars to play the game think of anything worthwhile to say?

ᕆᑭ ᒪᐃᒐᐅᑦ “ᐄ, ᑕᒪᐃᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᖅᑰᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ.”

ᒫᒡᒍᓕᑦ ᓗᐊᕆᓐᔅ “ᐄᖑᖅᑰᖅᑐᖅ, ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᓐᓃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᒍᑦ, ᐱᐅᓪᓚᕆᐊᓗᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᐳᑦ.”

Rikki Maegaard “I do, I think in general people are staying home and it helps decrease the spread and I think we see that in our numbers.”

ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᐳᐊᐃᓗ “ᐄᖑᔮᖅᑐᖅ, ᐅᓄᖅᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᒐᓚᒃ. ᓄᖅᑲᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᐳᖅ, ᖃᐅᔨᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ.”

David Boileau “It appears to be, the numbers aren’t going up and stuff. It’s getting steady, we’ll see how it goes the next couple of weeks.”

Margaret Lawerence “I think so, we’re getting better, it’s not perfect but people are trying.”

ᒫᒋ ᐊᖅᐱᒃ “ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᖅᑰᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᓱᑦᑎᐊᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᒌᒋᐊᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕌᖓᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᒪᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᑲᑕᓕᖅᑐᑦ.”

Maggie Aqpik “I think it’s working, people are taking precautions and socially distancing when they need to and everyone’s wearing their masks.”

A10 Monday, June 7, 2021

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Legislative Assembly briefs with Derek Neary

Dozens of new homes won’t be built in Nunavut due to rising construction costs: minister

In a territory facing a desperate housing shortage, the Nunavut Housing Corporation is scaling back construction of new residences due to climbing costs of construction, Minister Margaret Nakashuk acknowledged in the legislative assembly on May 28.

A total of 31 homes previously planned in 2020-21 will no longer be built, along with a five-plex for staff residences in Pangnirtung, according to Nakashuk. The other affected communities are Iqaluit, Taloyoak and Rankin Inlet, although the latter was at least partly due to a lack of building lots, the housing minister said.

In Iqaluit, the bid to build four four-plexes was over the Government of Nunavut’s budget by $3.3 million.

The GN had previously announced plans to deliver 114 new residential and staff homes in 2021-22.

Responding to a query from Netsilik MLA Emiliano Qirngnuq, who wanted to know why the tender for two new five-plexes scheduled for Taloyoak has been cancelled, Nakashuk acknowledged the reversal of plans.

“Across Canada the cost has gone up a lot and because the cost of lumber has increased exponentially, the company that was going to do the construction is no longer able to proceed with the work for this coming year,” the minister said. “What I can state is that none of these projects are being abandoned, just that they will not go ahead in this construction season,” The Government of Nunavut estimates that it’s paying 30 per cent more for lumber than a year ago. The costs of steel, drywall and insulation have also escalated.

On June 1, as MLAs revisited the topic to express their concern, Nakashuk noted that the average price per new home has climbed to $908,000, up from $641,000 in 2019-20.

Iqaluit Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone again encouraged the GN to look at using structurally insulated panels or other alternative approaches to home construction, as opposed to lumber or “stick built,” which he described as producing a “tremendous amount of waste; is lengthy; produces inefficient units; is extremely costly, at almost $1 million a unit now; and most importantly, is prone to mould.”

Some Nunavummiut vow never to return to isolation hubs due to bad food, Keyootak says

“ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᒥᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔭᕌᖓᑕ ᓂᕿᓪᓚᑦᑖᖑᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᓗᒃᑖᖅᑲᔭᑦ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᑦ ᐃᒋᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᓲᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᑐᕕᓂᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓄᒃᓯᐅᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᖅᑯᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖓ ᐸᐅᓗᓯ ᕿᔫᑦᑕᖅ.

Food options at an Ottawa isolation hub are so bad that some constituents have said they will never go back, no matter if their health is at stake, Uqqummiut MLA Pauloosie Keyootak said in the legislative assembly on June 1.

Many Inuit were raised on a diet of primarily meat, particularly meat from marine mammals, said Keyootak, adding that they don’t want to be served things like frozen vegetables.

“When Elders are provided meals that are not based on meat, most of the foodstuff is thrown directly into the garbage since it is agrarian food, “When Elders are provided meals not Inuit carnivore foods,” he that are not based on meat, said. “This act of throwing most of the foodstuff is thrown away edible foods is antithesis directly into the garbage since it is to older Inuit who have expe- agrarian food, not Inuit carnivore rienced starvation and hunger, foods,” says Uqqummiut MLA so this ought not to be even an Pauloosie Keyootak. Photo courissue. Inuit going to medical tesy of the legislative assembly establishments ought not to be forced to experience that.”

He said he has heard complaints from many medical travel patients who had to stay at the isolation hub and some have said if they had a choice to live or die by attending future medical appointments, they said they would prefer a shortened life instead.

“I was told by one patient that next time, he will not be going back for medical travel as long as the isolation program is in effect. He cited the nature of the food provided,” said Keyootak, who called upon Health Minister Lorne Kusugak to address the issue.

Kusugak offered a polar opposite point of view, refuting that food from the isolation hub is being tossed in the garbage.

“Many people have told me that the catering service is great.

When meals are provided, it is obvious that we all have different tastes. We all have our own preferences,” the minister

responded. “Yes, of course I can acknowledge that there are some individuals who may not like the meals provided, however not everyone is dissatisfied, and those who are dissatisfied often make it known to the caterer. I believe it is the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation that has the catering contract, and they are informed what meals are not so popular.”

Regardless, Kusugak said he would look into the matter to see what people would prefer to see on the menu and “ensure that proper meals are provided.”

ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᐱ ᐅᑦᑐᕙᒃ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓄᑦ ᕿᒃᓵᒍᑕᐅᔪᖅ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᓄᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᑕᐃᕕᑎ ᖃᒪᓂᖅ.

Minister won’t press ahead with paid sick leave legislation

Introducing paid sick leave legislation would likely not be an effective way to address concerns for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Justice Minister George Hickes said as the Nunavut legislative assembly’s spring sitting got underway on May 27.

“If we were to put legislation forward, it wouldn’t be available until September … realistically, the light at the end of the tunnel is going to be occurring in the next few months as vaccination numbers increase, as restrictions get eased, as there is less opportunity for COVID-19 to be impacted in our communities,” Hickes said. “At this time I’m not looking at bringing forward temporary legislation that may be outdated by the time it gets tabled in the House.”

Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak, who raised the issue, replied, “Let’s just hope that we don’t have any more pandemics where it will have to be addressed.”

She added that at least one other Canadian jurisdiction has addressed this issue by providing a rebate to businesses so that they can afford to provide paid sick leave to their workers. She asked Hickes to explain whether he’s had any such discussions with employers.

The minister said he doesn’t have “direct links all the time” with the numerous industries affected by COVID-19. However, he committed to speaking with the minister of Economic Development and Transportation to see whether there are concerns that would warrant a further look at it.

On May 13, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) urged the Government of Nunavut to put measures in place to ensure that mandatory paid sick leave is offered to all workers in Nunavut.

“NTI is concerned by the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the territory and their potential links to essential workers. Nunavut does not have mandatory paid sick leave, paid sick leave is limited or not available to many private-sector essential workers, and this could be a factor in the spread of the virus,” NTI stated. “Essential workers, regardless of their place of work, deserve adequate benefits such as paid sick leave so that they can stay home when sick or need to self-isolate.”

GN should offer prizes to encourage vaccinations, Main says

Offering prizes to improve Nunavut’s COVID-19 vaccination rate would be a worthwhile endeavour, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main said in the legislative assembly on May 28.

“It is surprising to see the numbers of residents who are loathe to get vaccinated within Nunavut,” Main said, adding that Arviat and Whale Cove have introduced prizes to entice more residents to get their Moderna doses. He would like to see the Government of Nunavut take a similar approach.

Premier Joe Savikataaq noted that 60 per cent of people in Nunavut ages 18 and up have received both shots.

“There have been 17,000 Nunavummiut vaccinated and 15,000 who have received their second vaccinations. The numbers are continually increasing, but when it comes to a stall, we can consider other options,” the Premier said. “We’re not opposed to any new ideas. There’s going to be a new round of vaccinations for people between the ages of 12 and 18 and we will look at that number of people who are getting vaccinated.”

Main asked whether the GN would consider the donations of assets or money from entities outside of government and use those donations to hold a “Nunavut sweepstakes” or “Nunavut lottery.”

Savikataaq replied, “We haven’t reached that point yet whether we’re going to be holding lotteries. We have to work with the minister of Health before we think of things like that, but we haven’t reached that point yet.”

Qamaniq pays tribute to the late Elisapee Ootova

Tununiq MLA David Qamaniq used his member’s statement in the legislative assembly on May 27 to pay tribute to Elder Elisapee Ootova, who recently passed away.

Referring to her as “one of my most distinguished constituents,” Qamaniq said all of Pond Inlet is in mourning over her death.

He noted that Ootova was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for her many contributions to the community and the territory.

Among those distinctions was the Order of Canada in 2002. He read aloud the official citation that came with that particular award: “For over 30 years, Elisapee Ootova

Pond Inlet Elder Elisapee Ootova’s recent death has left the entire community in mourning, says Tununiq MLA David Qamaniq. Photo courtesy of Parks Canada has been committed to helping the community of Pond Inlet adapt to changes to their traditional society. She has an extensive record of voluntary service in areas such as education, health care, counselling and restorative justice where her leadership and encouragement have been of great benefit. Also highly regarded as a language specialist, she is the co-author of an encyclopedia of Inuit traditional knowledge and an Inuktitut dictionary. She is a role model for all those seeking to preserve and reinforce Inuit heritage and culture within a modern society.”

Qamaniq summed up: “I was very proud to have known the late Elisapee Ootova, and I want to conclude by saying that her contributions will be with us for many years.”

Royal Bank opening outlet in Kinngait

The Royal Bank is opening an outlet in Kinngait, Finance Minister George Hickes announced in the legislative assembly on Monday.

Kinngait residents will have access to Royal Bank community banking services at West Baffin Co-operative.

“I believe this partnership benefits the residents of Kinngait as they now can bank in-person in their community.

The Government of Nunavut will continue working with our banking partner to provide these much-needed banking services to Nunavummiut,” Hickes said.

The Royal Bank has a branch in Iqaluit and also has outlets in Arviat, Pangnirtung and Cambridge Bay. “These efforts were a result of the Government of Nunavut’s 2016 request for proposal for banking services. The proposal focuses on expanding and improving banking services available to Nunavummiut, especially in communities where there are currently no physical banking operations,” the Finance minister said.

Kinngait’s population is approximately 1,450 residents.

Minister says he’s optimistic binding arbitration with union can be avoided

Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak pushed for an explanation why the Government of Nunavut has not entered binding arbitration with the Nunavut Employees Union (NEU), which has been working under an expired collective agreement since September 2018.

Human Resources Minister David Akeeagok replied in the legislative assembly on May 27, “Arbitration is one tool, but both parties have to agree. From our perspective, I still see that there is room to negotiate for this agreement with the Nunavut Employees Union and I stand firm to see that agreement being negotiated in good faith by both parties.”

The NEU recently encouraged its membership to contact every MLA to urge the territorial government to return to the bargaining table in good faith.

Akeeagok pointed out that the NEU has filed a statement of claim through the Nunavut Court of Justice accusing the GN of negotiating in bad faith, “and we disagree with that,” the minister said.

“It is before the courts on that, but that should not stop these ongoing negotiations and I would encourage both our collective bargaining negotiators and the Nunavut Employees Union to go back to the table,” he said.

Angnakak noted that the GN’s collective agreement with the Nunavut Teachers Association expires on June 30 and the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s collective agreement with the NEU lapsed on Dec. 31. She asked for an update on those negotiations.

Akeeagok said initial points of contact have been made, such as introducing negotiating teams.

“I think this is the first time where we see three of our unions being negotiated all at the same time. We hoped and anticipated that the NEU collective agreement would have been done by now, as you indicated and as we all want to see, but it’s in this situation right now,” he said. “As a government, we’re prepared to negotiate for all three collective agreements.”

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GN updates smoking legislation Bans smoking in public housing, flavoured vaping with Bill 57

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

Nunavut’s legislators passed the Tobacco and Smoking Act on May 28, which will ban public housing tenants from smoking in their rented homes and will prohibit the sales of flavoured vaping products, among other restrictions aimed at reducing smoking in the territory.

It’s the first update on smoking legislation in Nunavut in 15 years.

Vaping wasn’t nearly as popular when the previous act was passed.

The new law takes aim at flavoured vapes because they are thought to attract young people to pick up the habit. Other limitations on vaping will include the making 19 the minimum age to purchase and setting a maximum concentration of nicotine.

The Tobacco and Smoking Act will make it illegal to smoke in residences that are publicly funded and in Government of Nunavut staff housing. Smoking in vehicles while minors are present will also be prohibited.

“Nunavummiut noted that they want a stronger emphasis on enforce-

ment, specifically the enforcement of smoke-free places and buffer zones,” Health Minister Lorne Kusugak said of public consultations on Bill 57.

“Nunavummiut also emphasized the importance of protecting the health of children and youth.”

In terms of enforcement, Kusugak spoke of having up to half a dozen enforcement officers in the regions, in addition to providing training for bylaw officers so they can clamp down on infractions.

“I think what’s key here at this time is to go through an education process so that the vendors and people

On the land

ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ

ᒪᕐᕈᓕᐊᒃᑲ ᐸᓂᒃᑲ ᐃᖃᓪᓕᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᒪᕐᕈᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ Shaw–ᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔪᕈᓐᓇᐅᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓯᖁᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᐱᕐᒥ.

Brenda Apsaktaun

ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ

ᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᖃᓐᓈᓐᓄᑦ ᑖᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 23, 2021–ᒥ.

Kugaaruk My twin girls’ fishing trip in Kugaaruk, Nunavut. One twin wanted to go home and the other wanted a Shaw Dish on the tent.

ᑭᐊᓂᑦ ᕿᐸᓐᓂᖅ

ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ

ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ. ᐅᓇ ᓂᓯᑕᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᕙᔾᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ.

Kenneth Kripanik

Iglulik Beautiful Iglulik. This is at the lookout, nasittarvik overlooking Avvajja.

Winner: Belinda Atagootak

Pond Inlet Seal pup, photo taken by my boyfriend Donald Innualuk on April 23, 2021.

difficult.

Kusugak responded: “If people want to conduct themselves in illegal matters, that would have to be dealt with by the proper authorities.”

The Health minister encapsulated how tobacco use in Nunavut remains troubling, with 74 per cent of residents still smoking, a rate four times the Canadian average. In addition, 51 per cent of 12 to 19-year-olds in the territory indulge in smoking, which is known to vastly increase rates of cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and coronary heart disease, among other ailments.

ᐳᕋᓐᑕ ᐊᑉᓴᒃᑕᐅᓐ

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 Belinda Attagootak.

Congratulations!

ᐸᓕᓐᑕ ᐊᑕᒍᑦᑕᒃ

who sell tobacco products and other products but would like to get into selling tobacco products know what the rules and laws are regarding it and the kind of penalties that would be enforced if vendors and the retail outlets don’t follow the rules,” the minister said. “I think the key at this time is to educate the public and the private sector and the public sector in terms of what the laws are and what the penalties hold.”

Tununiq MLA David Qamaniq pointed out that Nunavummiut are able to order vaping products online from the south, making enforcement

A12 Monday, June 7, 2021

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Around Nunavut ∂´êÄ∏∂Ò ¥∂fl±´ Phone: (867) 979-5990

Plans underway for new Environment Canada office building

Iqaluit The investigation into the fire that engulfed the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Upper Air Weather station in Iqaluit is still ongoing.

“Environment and Climate Change Canada expects to receive the final report in a couple of weeks, however with the conclusion of the on-site component of the investigation, ECCC can now begin the clean-up process,” said Samantha Bayard, spokesperson for ECC Media Relations.

A temporary office area was set up to resume normal operations in Iqaluit on the evening of May 11. Plans are underway for a new office building to be in place and operational by the end of August.

– Trevor Wright

Email: editor@nunavutnews.com

Fax: (867) 979-6010

ᑲᓇᐃᑎᔭᓐ ᓄᐊᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐃᒃᖠᕐᕕᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᑦᑕᖅᑐᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᕌᖓᔾᔮᕈᓐᓃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑐᕚᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᐃ 27-ᒥ.

Teacher wins award

Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake Grade 2 teacher Jeannie Tapatai was recently given the “Thank you for Making a Difference” award by the local education authority.

Gerry Mannik, one of her students, nominated Tapatai for the award.

“Jeannie works hard every day to make a difference in the lives of her students and Gerry must think she’s really special,” reads a press release.

Tapatai was chosen as the winner for the entire Kivalliq region. Her efforts were recognized with a brand new iPad. Mannik also won a new iPad for writing the nomination for his teacher.

– Cody Punter

Canadian North lifts shipping embargo

Ottawa/Iqaluit Effective May 27, Canadian North Airlines will be operating at regular cargo office hours and will no longer be limiting items to just essentials at the Ottawa and Iqaluit offices.

Shortly after an outbreak of COVID-19 in Iqaluit on April 14 Canadian North limited cargo shipments and office hours to these two locations.

A number of Canadian North staff were initially affected

by COVID-19 near the start of the outbreak.

– Trevor Wright

National Indigenous History Month begins

Nunavut June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, this year it is dedicated to the missing children, families left behind and the survivors of residential schools.

“I’m reminded how innovative and strong Inuit are,” wrote Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq.

“But I’m also very aware of the inequities, hardships and traumas we’ve had to survive. Our culture, our well-being and our successes are our rights. Let’s celebrate our history with pride and never forget what our ancestors taught.”

Resources on Indigenous history can be found on the Government of Canada’s National Indigenous History Month web page.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is on June 21.

– Trevor Wright

Fire razes two shacks, damages two others

Iqaluit Two shacks in Iqaluit were destroyed by fire on May 27 and two others were damaged.

Six Iqaluit Emergency Services staff responded to the incident behind Northmart around 9 p.m.

One fire engine was used to extinguished the initial shack fire but wind conditions and the nature of the shack construction led to the “fast growth” of the flames reaching nearby shacks.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“Fuel and gas stored in shacks pose a high risk of danger when there is a fire. It is important that people clear the area if they see a shack on fire,” the City of Iqaluit stated in a news release on May 28.

– Derek Neary

Agnico’s fish monitoring program displayed to public

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet Agnico Eagle Mines is undertaking a fish monitoring program and wants residents to learn about what the company is doing.

Agnico Eagle invited residents of Rankin Inlet to participate in its first fish sampling activity on May 25. During the presentation, Agnico Eagle was expected to show residents how it monitors fish for an environmental monitoring program, according to a news release from the company. Agnico Eagle also asked resident to share ideas on other ways local fish populations can be monitored.

The company even asked residents to bring their own fish

Canadian North Airlines will be operating at regular cargo office hours and will no longer be limiting items to just essentials at the Ottawa and Iqaluit offices as of May 27. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo in to have it examined.

– Cody Punter

ITK announces Inuit Nunangat research program funding recipients

Nunavut On June 1 the first 11 projects that will receive funding from the newly-established Inuit Nunangat Research Program (INRP) were announced. The INRP is supported in part by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Canada, ArcticNet and in partnership with several post-secondary institutions.

The announced projects include projects in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, as well as projects in Nunavut itself such as the Arviat’s Aqqiumavvik Society’s assessment of the viability of goose harvesting as a response to food sovereignty.

The projects also include studying the health of Arctic char near Kugluktuk, led by Eric Hitkolok.

Other communities listed include water sampling near Naujaat, acoustic ocean monitoring at Clyde River and documentation of environmental terms in Inuinnaqtun by the Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society (PI/KHS).

“Congratulations to all funding recipients recognized in this round of proposals,” said ITK president Natan Obed.

“Your work benefits us all by increasing the availability of Inuit-led research and contributing to better decision-making on issues that affect us.”

– Trevor Wright

Nominations open for Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award

Kivalliq The Inuit Art Foundation has opened nominations for the 2021 Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award (KAMA). The award is open to mid-career and established Inuit artists working in visual and performance-based practices.

The biannual accolade was established in 2014 to honour the life and work of the late Kenojuak Ashevak. The winner will receive a prize of $10,000, while three shortlisted artists will each receive $3,000.

The IAF invites nominations from artists directly, as well as from professional acquaintances including curators, gallery owners and operators, writers, critics, fellow artists and others in relevant fields, in support of an Inuit artist’s practice.

All KAMA applications will be assessed by an external jury of Inuit arts professionals.

The deadline to apply is midnight on June 25.

– Cody Punter

Kitikmeot observes moment of silence for Kamloops Residential School victims

Kitikmeot Communities across the Kitikmeot observed a moment of silence the even of May 31, for Indigenous families impacted by the residential school system in Canada.

People were asked to wear orange and place teddy bears on their steps as a makeshift memorial to those lost to the residential school system.

“Please find your path for healing from the intergenerational traumas and impacts that the systems have plagued our society with,” said Stanley Anablak, president of the Kitikmeot

Inuit Association.

“Love each other, be kind, compassionate and we can be strong enough to make it through these hard times. You have the right to seek help, you do not need to suffer through pain alone.”

– Trevor Wright

Geese collection ongoing

Salliq/Coral Harbour Coral Harbour’s Aiviit Hunters and Trappers Organization was looking to buy 300 geese from community members as of May 26.

Harvesters will be offered $20 for each goose they submit.

The HTO is requesting that harvesters bring in at least 10 geese at a time and will not accept less than that.

The geese must be fresh. There will also be a request for goose eggs in the near future.

– Cody Punter

Hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq pleads guilty to 2019 safety violation

Qikiqtarjuaq The Hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq has been placed on 18 months “corporate probation” following a 2019 violation of the Nunavut Safety Act. The punishment was handed out in the Nunavut Court of Justice after the municipality pleaded guilty to a single count of failing to comply with several directives from the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC). The May 2019 incident involved a failure to inspect, maintain and have a qualified individual recertify an aerial lifting device.

Workers for the hamlet were seen unlawfully operating an aerial device lifting unit, defying a stop-use order, according to the WSCC. It was also alleged that the municipality failed to comply with directives pertaining to training of employees, labelling of hazardous substances and the storage of compressed gas cylinders.

The probation will compel the hamlet to report to the chief safety officer “about compliance with safety legislation and to develop and implement an ongoing training program for employees of the municipality that includes mandated fall prevention training and supervisor familiarization training.

This sentence permits the WSCC to monitor the hamlet’s progress over an extended period of time and is an alternative to a monetary fine,” the WSCC stated in a May 31 news release.

– Derek Neary

Amphetamines, $37,000 in cash seized from Pangnirtung home

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung RCMP seized approximately 436 grams of amphetamines and $37,000 in cash from a residence in Pangnirtung after executing a search warrant on May 25.

Jenna, Nora and Ken Papatsie as well as one young person were arrested and charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (CDSA) with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, the Mounties stated in a May 28 news release.

All parties are set to appear in the Nunavut Court of Justice in Pangnirtung on Aug. 16 for their first appearance.

Amphetamines are commonly known on the street as “speed” or “uppers” because they stimulate the nervous system.

– Trevor Wright

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Airline’s cargo woes made worse by few local hires, MLA says Canadian North is targetting southern workers for jobs, Arreak Lightstone insists

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone remains critical of Canadian North’s hiring practices for cargo staff, which he says target southern workers instead of Nunavummiut.

He also says that approach has hampered the airline during the latest COVID-19 lockdown in Iqaluit because southern rotational workers have been forced to isolate for 14 days, which contributed to the backlog of cargo.

Arreak Lightstone pointed out in the legislative assembly on May 27 that Canadian North is advertising

for nine full-time cargo assistants and that the jobs are described as rotational positions that come into the community on a three-week on, three-week off basis. The airline also offers transient housing, another indicator that it’s pursuing workers from the south, said the Iqaluit MLA, who raised similar concerns in November.

“I noted that many of these jobs can and should be filled by local residents,” he said Thursday.

David Akeeagok, minister of Economic Development and Transportation, reinforced Arreak Lightstone’s point.

“Any business or any activities that are taking place in Nunavut, we highly encourage them that they

do hire local and that they do hire Inuit as much as they can,” the minister said. “That’s the stance that this government has taken and it includes our government taking that initiative too.”

Arreak Lightstone noted that the Government of Nunavut has provided millions of dollars in direct funding to keep Canadian North flying during the pandemic, which gives the territorial government “some leverage” in setting terms and conditions. He asked what requirements are in place for Inuit employment at the airline.

Akeeagok said the government’s main objective is to have the airlines continue serving the communities during the pandemic,

including medical and duty travel for Inuit and other Nunavummiut, when COVID conditions permit it.

The minister also noted that discussions are ongoing between Transport Canada and the airlines to help local applicants obtain identity cards to access restricted areas of airports, which is a requirement for hiring with some positions.

“There has to be a fine balance between safety of the airport and the airside and the workers in terms of how to continue to address that,” said Akeeagok. “We need to balance it on all fronts and these barriers do get highlighted, and try to get some resolutions around that.”

Monday, June 7, 2021 A13

“ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ (ᑎᖕᒥᓲᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔩᑦ) ᓴᓇᔭᒃᓴᑦ ᐃᓐᓄᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓐᓄᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕᓗ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓄᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓄᑦ – ᒪᓂᕋᔭᖕᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᑕᒻ ᐋᕆᐊᒃ ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑐᓐ.

“I noted that many of these (airline cargo) jobs can and should be filled by local residents,” says Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone. Photo courtesy of the legislative assembly

GN ‘missed opportunity’ MLAs say Arreak Lightstone stated not taking ownership in airlines during bailout ‘likely $100 million wasted’

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

The Government of Nunavut should have partial ownership in Canadian North and Calm Air after close to $100 million in government financial aid was provided during the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep the airlines in business, MLAs John Main and Adam Arreak Lightstone agreed.

“This was a missed opportunity and likely $100 million wasted,” Arreak Lightstone said in the legislative assembly on June 1.

Main acknowledged that the territorial government’s money did some good because many flights continued to be offered that otherwise would have been cancelled by the airlines, “but I do feel that it would be appropriate for the government to receive an equity stake in the airlines in question, Canadian North and Calm Air, in return for this support.

“I’m a bit disappointed that we find ourselves more than a year into the pandemic and we are still putting money towards the airlines, of which some of that money does come from the Nunavut government’s own budget, and we are not receiving equity stake or recognition of that contribution in return,” said Main.

Arreak Lightstone added: “Canadian North has been profiteering off of the Government of Nunavut for decades, for quite a considerable amount of time and it would have been ideal if the Government of Nunavut had taken advantage of the opportunity and used this $100 million to buy in to the corporation and allow the corporation to then reinvest those funds to support its operations.”

He said he understood that the GN’s recently signed duty

and medical travel contract forced the airlines to provide a minimum number of flights and that the airlines would have been liable by not fulfilling those terms and ran the risk of becoming defunct.

Finance Minister George Hickes said the possibility of the airlines becoming insolvent was the GN’s foremost concern.

“If they were to fold it up and walked away, we calculate that it would have taken at least two weeks to put measures in place to get people and cargo moving again.

When you look at the opportunity that has been alluded to as being a missed opportunity, by providing this funding as the bare-bones operational requirements, we would have had to provide excess funding if we were looking at purchasing portions of the airline,” Hickes said.

“We didn’t know at that time, and in some respects, we are still figuring out what the impact of COVID is on our fiscal situation. We weren’t willing to put Nunavut’s money again in jeopardy with a contracted entity that we have arrangements with.

“We do our due diligence in these types of negotiations to do what’s best for Nunavummiut. The decision was made by cabinet and FMB (the Financial Management Board) at different stages of the discussions on how to provide that minimal level of service for transportation of cargo and people within the territory and to the first points of exit, being like the Ottawa, Winnipeg and Yellowknife.

“We had to take all those factors into consideration and our unknown fiscal situation in a lot of respects. We didn’t know how much assistance the federal government was willing to provide at that time.

We had to do what’s best for Nunavummiut,” said Hickes.

“ᐊᐃᑦᑖᕈᓱᕐᓚᒃᑐᖓ ᐅᑭᐅᑉ ᐅᖓᑖᓂᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᐅᖅᑲᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᖏᓐᓇᕋᑉᑕ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑕᒡᕙᙵᑦ ᐃᓚᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᙶᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒃᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓇᑕ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᓇᑕᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᓯᐊᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ.

“I’m a bit disappointed that we find ourselves more than a year into the pandemic and we are still putting money towards the airlines, of which some of that money does come from the Nunavut government’s own budget, and we are not receiving equity stake or recognition of that contribution in return,” says MLA John Main. Photo courtesy of Canadian North

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GN puts Sakku School renovations on hold ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᕆᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓪᓕᓂ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑐᐊᖅ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕈᒪᔪᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᓕᖓᔪᒃᑯᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᖓᑕᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᒡᕘᓇ.

Plans to renovate Coral Harbour’s Sakku School have been put on hold indefinitely after the a single bid on the tender for the contract was more than double the government’s budget for the project. Photo courtesy of GN

Lone bid for project was more than double the government’s $27-million budget

By Cody Punter Northern News Services Salliq/Coral Harbour

Plans to renovate Coral Harbour’s Sakku School have been put on hold due to the price being too high from the lone bidder on the project.

Patterk Netser, MLA for Aivilik, raised the issue in the legislative assembly on May 27 when he asked the education minister for an update on the project.

“We were just informed today that the contract was cancelled, and I wonder what the reasoning for that cancellation is. We were highly anticipating the commencement of the construction to our school, so we would like to know what the reasons are for the cancellation,” Netser said.

Education Minister David Joanasie told MLAs that the tender for the project was cancelled because it was over budget.

Joanasie said the tender was made public in March and it closed on April 13, at which point there was only a single bidder. The government decided not to award the contract because the bidder’s quote was more

than double the government’s allocated budget, he said.

“We set aside $27 million for these improvements for the Sakku School. However, the sole bidder submitted a tender proposal over $55 million for improvements listed for that particular school.”

Construction was originally scheduled to begin after the first 2021 sealift in the community. Joanasie said the government will now consider alternative options to get the work completed.

“We have not given up on these proposed improvements to the Sakku School, as these improvements are required, but we need to be innovative to determine how best to move forward with our plans,” Joanasie said.

According to the Department of Community and Government Services, the scope of the project included major life-cycle renovations to the school as well as the addition of approximately 14,600 square-feet of new floor area, and the partial demolition of the existing structure.

Following the cancellation, Netser asked Joanasie whether the government plans

to renovate the existing school or build a new one.

“I went to that school when I was young and there is an urgent need to do something about improving the school. Can the minister agree to that?” Netser asked.

Joanasie would not commit to a solution.

He said he would arrange a meeting with the district education authority to find a way to move forward with the project for the kindergarten to Grade 12 educational facility.

“I agree to hold a meeting with the district education authority and the hamlet council so that we can give them an update about the plans for the future.”

The Coral Harbour District Education Authority could not be reached for comment by press time.

“We have not given up on these proposed improvements to the Sakku School, as these improvements are required, but we need to be innovative to determine how best to move forward with our plans,” said Education Minister David Joanasie.

Photo courtesy of GN

“ᖁᔭᓈᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᙵ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓪᓚᕆᒋᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᓗᑕ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᐊᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑉᑕ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑎ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ.

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Johnny Meeko to get new trial for sex crimes against children Appellant was found guilty of dozens of charges in 2018 for crimes against students in Sanikiluaq

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Sanikiluaq

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

A Sanikiluaq teacher convicted of numerous sex crimes against students has been granted an appeal and will get a new trial.

Johnny Meeko was found guilty of 27 charges in March 2018 relating to offences against eight victims, most of them ages eight and nine, between 1972 and 2007.

He was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison the following month.

A trio of appeal judges determined that the trial judge, Neil Sharkey, erred in admitting Meeko’s confession during his trial, believing that Meeko did not make the statement to police under duress.

“The Crown concedes the error tainted the convictions concerning two of the complainants,” the judges wrote in their appeal decision, released June 3.

However, the Crown tried to argue that a conviction still would have occurred regardless of “the tainted police statement.”

The justices overseeing the appeal were unconvinced.

“We are not satisfied that, absent reliance on the police

statement, the appellant’s evidence inevitably would have been rejected and inevitably would not have contributed to a reasonable doubt,” stated appeal judges Shannon Smallwood, Jolaine Antonio and Kevin Feehan.

The charges against Meeko included indecent assault, unlawful confinement, rape, sexual interference and sexual assault.

In his 2018 written decision, Sharkey stated, “Year in and year out, Johnny Meeko remained confident that none of his young victims would dare to complain – or, if they did, he was confident that they would not be believed … and throughout all this time, Johnny Meeko suffered no repercussion for this behaviour.”

A Canadian Ranger instructor and church warden in addition to being a longtime teacher at Nuiyak School, Meeko pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He called his confession bogus and said it was made under duress.

Sharkey was critical of the offender’s refusal to accept the court’s findings in 2018, saying it does not “bode well for his rehabilitation and the health of the community upon his return after he has served his time.” ​

ᔭᓂ ᒥᑯ, ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ 2018ᒥ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥ, ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

Johnny Meeko, found guilty of dozens of charges in 2018 for sex crimes against students in Sanikiluaq, has won his appeal and will get a new trial. contributed photo

Retired Canadian Army brass calls for military infrastructure in Resolute Bay ‘In terms of controlling maritime traffic (it) is in an ideal position,’ says Pierre Leblanc

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Qausuittuq/Resolute

A retired Canadian Armed Forces colonel thinks Resolute Bay is in a prime position for strengthening Canada’s presence in the Arctic.

The community already hosts the Canadian Air Force (CAF) Arctic Training Centre in the hamlet, as well as the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT).

The onset of global climate change, according to the World Wildlife fund, is warming the Arctic faster, which is bringing rising sea levels, and increasing severe weather events.

It’s also resulting in less Arctic sea ice each year which is opening the path for an increased commercial shipping season, with the Northwest Passage being ideal for shipping between Asia and Europe.

This path from East Asia to Western Europe would take about 13,600 km while the Panama Canal would take about 24,000 km going along a similar route and it would be one third the distance of going through the Suez Canal in Egypt.

“In terms of controlling maritime traffic (Resolute Bay) is in an ideal position. It’s also a choke-point for submersibles if they wanted to transit from one end to the other of the Northwest Passage,” with surveillance being more easily done at Resolute Bay says Pierre Leblanc, Canadian Armed Forces Colonel (Ret’d), now with Arctic Security Consultants during a virtual speaking event hosted by the Policy Insights Forum on May 26.

The shorter route to popular shipping destinations will be bringing an increased amount of international shipping from a number of countries across the Canadian Arctic, most notably China.

“It is going to get very, very busy and this is where China will also want to be active and present,” said Charles Sullivan, Managing Director of Boeing Canada at the same event.

From a search and rescue perspective Leblanc adds, the hamlet is positioned to “act quickly either going west, east or even north.”

“If I was a fighter pilot, I would love to have a paved runway in Resolute Bay,” said Leblanc as a way to react more quickly. “Especially now that the Canadian Armed Forces have extended the identification all the way to the northern tip of Ellesmere Island.”

One initiative that’s underway to strengthen Canada’s naval presence in the Arctic is the current construction of the Nanisivik Naval Facility at Nanisivik in north Qikiqtani, west of Arctic Bay. It is expected to operate during the navigable season of the year between July through October, with refueling and replenishing services for vessels, such as the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Arctic and Offshore Patrol ships, which will be able to operate in medium first-year ice.

Construction of the Nanisivik Naval Facility is anticipated to be completed by Sept. 2021 with initial operation capability targeted for summer 2022.

Other military infrastructure work in the Arctic ongoing in the Canadian Arctic are runway repairs to the 5 Wing’s airfield near Happy Valley Goose Bay in Labrador and the runway extension and modernization in Inuvik.

Leblanc also adds that there’s a logistical gap where ships in bad weather would be able to find shelter, having a port in the region around Resolute Bay would also help maritime traffic.

“Right now there’s a huge area, it’s the size of Europe,” said Leblanc “and having to transit that kind of space without any support

ᑎᖕᒥᓲᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᓂ ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒧᑦ 112 ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᐃᑦ 38-ᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 13, 2016-ᒥ. ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓅᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᒥ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᒃ.

A CC-177 Globemaster arrives in Resolute Bay with 112 members from 38 Canadian Brigade Group participating in Exercise Arctic Ram on Feb. 13, 2016. The community currently hosts the Canadian Air Force (CAF) Arctic Training Centre in the hamlet, as well as the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT). MCpl Louis Brunet photo courtesy of Canadian Army Public Affairs whether it’s commercial or military, is in my book a lacking we have in the Arctic.”

Currently the only deep-water port under construction in Nunavut is in Iqaluit along with the Nanisivik facility, with a number of smaller harbors planned by the Federal Government, with COVID-19 related delays taking place in 2020.

The CAF’s Arctic presence is anchored by Joint Task Force North (JTFN), headquar-

tered in Yellowknife with detachments in Iqaluit and Whitehorse. The CAF maintains the 440 Transport Squadron based in Yellowknife. There is also Canadian Forces Station in Alert, the northernmost outpost in Canada and the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, which according to National Defence under the Government of Canada has about 1,380 Rangers across the Arctic along with 1,400 Junior Canadian Rangers.

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Ottawa announces $7 million to improve internet affordability, connectivity Northwestel customer bills to drop by $20 in four communities

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Iqaluit

On May 28, the federal government announced an additional $7 million to improve high-speed internet in Nunavut.

SSi Micro will receive almost $5 million while Northwestel will get close to $2 million.

This investment will enhance internet connectivity and affordability for more than 9,800 households in all Nunavut communities, according to the Government of Canada.

Northwestel residential internet customers in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Arviat will see their bill go down by $20 a month starting this month, said Paul Gillard, Northwestel’s vice-president of business markets.

The federal government stated that it has now committed more than $208 million to four internet connectivity projects in the territory.

“While more work will need to be done, this is another key step to close the digital divide for the thousands of Nunavummiut who rely on QINIQ broadband.

“We are committed to

accomplishing this and to delivering on Canada’s Connectivity Strategy to further improve broadband services in the North,” Dean Proctor, SSi Canada’s chief development officer, said of the an-

nouncement.

Canada’s Connectivity Strategy, a federal government initiative, aims to provide all Canadians with access to internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second

(Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload.

“Affordable, reliable, highspeed internet service is an essential part of the daily lives of Nunavummiut and all Canadians and it critical to

their success,” said Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.

“We will continue to make investments like these to help connect every Canadian to the high-speed Internet they need.”

ᓄᐊᑦᕕᔅᑎᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓘᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑮᑦᑐᖏᑦ $20-ᒥᒃ ᒥᑭᓪᓕᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᑕᒡᕙᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᕐᒥ $7 ᒥᓕᔭᒥᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᐃ 28-ᒥ.

Northwestel customers in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Arviat will see their bills reduced by $20 as of this month following a $7 million investment from the Government of Canada, announced on May 28. NNSL file photo

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Sports & Recreation

Monday, June 7, 2021 A17

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

Rankin Inlet D-man signs with Jr. A Bradford Rattlers Brayden Uluqsi, 19, headed to Ontario after playing in P.E.I.

By Cody Punter Northern News Services Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet’s Brayden Uluqsi is set to take the next step in his hockey career in Ontario after signing with the Bradford Rattlers Jr. A team.

“I think I’ll fit in really well with the organization and the league,” Uluqsi told Kivalliq News.

“I’ve been developing a lot and working extra hard and my coaches believe in me.”

The six-foot, 170-pound defenceman is a product of the Mount Academy Saints U18 prep program in the CSSHL, where has played for the past three seasons.

He got his start with the Prince Edward Island team following a standout performance at the annual Andrews showcase, where prospects from all over the world come to play in front of junior and college teams across North America.

“I was lucky enough to get chosen by the Mount. It’s been awesome. I love it here, it’s like my second home,” he said.

Uluqsi told Kivalliq News that Bradford’s general manager reached out to him at the beginning of this season to say they were interested in him.

“We’ve been talking throughout the year.

When the season was almost over that’s when they reached out, and a few weeks later I signed on,” he said.

Uluqsi, 19, officially signed his one-year contract on March 29. He said he was worried he

wouldn’t find a team to play for next year until Bradford expressed interest in him.

“It motivated me to work harder and keep grinding,” he said.

Rattlers’ general manager Sean Werth said Uluqsi was recommended to him by a contact in Nunavut.

“This summer when we started putting together he was one of the names at the top of our short list,” said Werth. “He has a two-way game. He’s a great skater. He’s lean but he’s strong. He makes a good first pass and he doesn’t take big risks.”

Werth said the team has been interested in players from the territory ever since they signed Baker Lake’s Terrence McLean, who went on to become the team’s captain a few years ago.

“We’re pretty excited to have him and to continue this being a path for Nunavut players coming south,” he said.

Since signing his contract, Uluqsi said he has upped his training regimen. He has also made efforts to improve his diet.

“Right now I’m training every day, two times a day, and I cut out having junk food: candy, soda and chips.”

This year has been unusual for Uluqsi and his team due to COVID-19. Their league normally sees them compete against teams across Canada and the United States. However, due to health restrictions, they were limited to playing against three other teams on the island.

“We didn’t travel that much because of

COVID. That ruined our season,” he said.

Uluqsi’s Mount Academy Saints ended up winning the league title in 2020. In addition to playing in PEI, Uluqsi was also a member of Team Nunavut at the 2019 Canada Winter Games tournament. He said that experience was one of the most positive of his career so far.

“That was my first-ever Nunavut team. That was exciting stuff. It was one of the best tournaments I’ve ever been to,” he said.

In addition to his skill set, Werth said he was impressed by Uluqsi’s maturity and experience in big games.

“We like players who have been faced with deep-pressure situations,” he said. “He already carries himself as a professional.”

Uluqsi grew up playing hockey in Rankin. His last big tournament there was in 2018, when his team captured the Polar Bear Plate. He credits his dad Jordy and Pujjuut Kusugak with helping him develop as a player.

“When he lived in Iqaluit, I worked out with (Kusugak). We talked and he gave me lots of advice,” he said. “It helps you a lot and gives you confidence and reminds you to keep working hard.”

The NHL player Uluqsi looks up to most is Ethan Bear, the Edmonton Oilers’ player from Ochapowace First Nation. Like Bear, Uluqsi is a defenceman that likes create plays and take the body.

“He’s broken so many barriers and he works

ᐳᕆᑕᓐ ᐅᓗᖅᓯ, ᑕᑯᔭᓯ 2019-ᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᕆᑦ ᑎᐅ, ᐃᐅᐳᑕᒥ, Hᐊᑭᖃᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑐᖅ Bradford Rattlers ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᕐᔪᐊᑦ Hᐊᑭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᓐᑎᐅᕆᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖅ.

Brayden Uluqsi, seen during the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., will be playing with the Bradford Rattlers junior A club in Ontario this upcoming season after signing a deal earlier this year.

Vincent Theriault/Canada Winter Games photo. hard,” he said.

He said his idol growing up was Jordin Tootoo and he hopes to follow in his footsteps by making the NHL. “That’s what I want to do one day. I want to make it to the big leagues.”

When the game isn’t a game anymore long time in order to do it.

West has been on MLB umpiring crews since 1973 and has had his share of great moments and controversy and because There is one group that burns my backside more than any other: the trillionaire leftists. The cadre of Learjet liberals who he’s an umpire, almost no one likes him. One of my favourite ejections was the time he ejected Mike Rizzo, general manager claim that they’ll change the world even if means spending of the Washington Nationals, while Rizzo was watching a every last buck of your money and mine to do it. game from the upper deck of his home stadium. That’s a trick But then there are the keyboard warriors, that brave bunch I never got to do while I umpired but sounds like I would toof trolls who most likely eat Hot Pockets while sitting around tally do if given the chance. their parents’ house at the age of 28 or so and acting tough on In any event, well done, Joe. Very well done. social media with a handle resembling something And finally … like FirstNameBunchofNumbers and giving us Good Idea: Getting the third out to end an their incredibly crappy opinions. inning.

Some of these drill bits thought it would be cool Bad Idea: Absolutely botching the third out to to take shots at Ethan Bear of the Edmonton end an inning.

Oilers after the Oilers were swept out of the NHL with James McCarthy If you haven’t seen this yet, you must because playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets. Yes, it sucked for email: sports@nnsl.com it is perhaps the greatest example of why fundaus Oilers fans but there is absolutely no need for mentals need to be taught at a very young age. people to head on over to their device or their We take you to Pittsburgh where the Pirates keyboard and regale us with bigoted vernacular are taking on the Chicago Cubs on May 27. Javy Baez of the all because they think Bear was the reason the Oilers lost.

Cubs is up with one on and two out. He hits a ground ball to Here’s a hint: he isn’t. short and it’s an easy play to end the inning as the throw goes Bear released a video through the team to call out what was to first, right? Well, not so fast. said and he shouldn’t have had to do that. Good on him for Baez stopped short of first base and ran back toward home doing so because there’s absolutely no place for this – you’d plate. For some reason, Pirates first baseman Will Craig decidthink we’d all have a handle on this racism horse fertilizer by ed to chase Baez back toward home plate and not simply go now and that it’s wrong – and everyone who has half a functioning brain cell is on his side. There will come a day when we back to first base and touch the bag, which would have been the third out. won’t have to watch people like Ethan Bear deliver statements You all know where this is going, right? Wilson Contreras, like the one he did and there will also come a day when the racist keyboard warriors of the world will do us all a favour by who was on third, is now heading for home and beats the soft implanting their head within their own personal colonic cavity. toss from Craig to Pirates catcher Michael Perez. Now, Baez sees first base empty and sprints down the line. He beats the Cowboy Joe is the king throw from Perez, who was charged with an error in trying to Joe West is one of the most recognizable people in baseball gun Baez down at first as his throw went into right field. Baez mainly because he’s been around the game for so long. He is gets up and heads for second and is safe. the longest-serving active umpire in Major League Baseball What a absolute dog pile of errors from the Pirates but all but he now has a rather lofty goal to put in his ball bag. of this was legal. You see, Baez was entitled to backpedal to West is now the all-time games worked leader for umpires in home because there was no force on at any other bag. But MLB history when he stood in for his 5,376th regular-season Contreras’ run would not have counted had Craig simply gone game on May 25. He broke the long-time record held by Bill back to first and tagged the bag like he should have all along.

Klem, who had the set the mark in 1941. In speaking about And yes, for those of you wondering, the umpires got it all the new record, West said he was the luckiest guy in baseball right. to have worked for as long as he has. It is an impressive feat Until next time, folks … when you think about it because you have to stay healthy for a Northern News Services

ᔫ ᐅᐃᔅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᐹᓂᒃ ᐊᓇᐅᓕᒑᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

Sports Talk

Joe West is now the all-time leader in games umpired in Major League Baseball after setting the new mark last month. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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