Nunavut News - June 28, 2021 Edition - Developing a university of Inuit Nunangat

ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ Mastercard ᑐᙵᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ‘ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᓱᓕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᖅᓱᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ’

Volume 76 Issue 9 MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 $.95 (plus GST)

Premier sends open letter on Elder care facilities

Developing a university for Inuit Nunangat ITK partners with Mastercard Foundation to create a ‘new reality of self-determination in education’

Special edition celebrating our grads Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Nunavut’s Arctic education task force member feels optimistic Publication mail Contract #40012157

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Grise Fiord’s lone grad aims for the sky

Nunavut senator critical of UNDRIP Bill C-15 as it gains assent

“There is a very clear need for an improvement to mental health services so it becomes clear that there’s so many options to life besides suicide.”

– Newly elected National Inuit Youth Council president Brian Pottle wants to focus on mental health resources during his term, page 17.

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News Briefs ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒥ ᑕᖕᒫᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᓕᒫᒥ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒥ ᑕᖕᒫᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᔪᓚᐃ 2–ᒥ. ᑕᖕᒫᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᓪᓗ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂ 15–ᒥ 29–ᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᖃᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒥ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓂᑦ. ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ, ᐃᓚᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᑯᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᒥᖅᓱᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖏᓐᓂ, ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᒥᐅᑕᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᓂᕿᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᐸᑦᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂᑦ. ᒪᒥᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᐊᕆᕗᖅ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓗᐃᓪᓕᕿᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓂᕐᒥ. ᐱᔪᒪᔪᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓂ, ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᒃᑲᐅᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᓅᓗᓂ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓗᓂ ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᒻᒥ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᖃᖓᑦᑕᐅᑎᖓ, ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᖏᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ. please see Traditional, page 15

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᒧᑦ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᔫᓂ 21–ᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ (NTF), ᐅᕘᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ (NTI), ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ $92,000 ᐅᖓᑖᓂ ᓴᓂᕐᕙᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᑎᓴᒪᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ 2021–ᒥ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᔪᒥ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ: - ᓄᓇᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ, ᓛᓴᓘᓯ ᐃᓱᓪᓗᑕᖅ, ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᖅ; - ᓴᐸᖓᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒥᖅᓱᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ, ᑯᕆᔅᑕ ᓴᕙᑦᔅᑭ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᒃ; - ᓄᓇᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ, ᐃᓕᓴᐱ ᓂᖏᐅᙵᓐ, ᓴᓪᓖᑦ; - ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ, ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᓂ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᒥ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅ. ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᔪᓚᐃ 1–ᒥ ᐋᒍᔅᑎ 1–ᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᒧᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑕᑕᑎᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒋᐊᓕᖏᑦ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ www.tunngavik.com ᐅᖃᓗᒡᓗᓂᓘᓐᓃᑦ 1-888-236-5400–ᒧᑦ. please see NTI, page 15

ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᓐᓂ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔩᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᐳᑦ 2021–ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓂ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᓐᓂ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔩᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᑯᐃᖅᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᐳᖅ CCGS Terry Fox–ᒥ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᖢᓂ St. John’s NL–ᒥ ᔫᓂ 17–ᒥ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᒥᐊᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ SARSmart ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ, ᑐᓂᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐳᑦᑕᖅᑯᑎᓂᑦ ᑎᓴᒪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ - ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ, ᓴᓪᓖᑦ, ᓇᐅᔮᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᔫᓂ 24–ᒥ CCGS Des Groseilliers ᐊᐅᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ Quebec City, QC–ᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᓄᑦ, ᐅᖅᓴᒃᓴᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᓪᓕᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ Eureka ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᓂᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᓯᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒫᓗᖕᓂᑦ. ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕐᓂᐊᕆᕗᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᓲᕐᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᖅᓴᒃᓴᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐸᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ. please see Canadian, page 18

Monday, June 28, 2021 A3

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fact FILE NWT COVID-19 SITUATION AS OF june 24 Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 657 Recovered cases: 653 Completed tests in Nunavut: 17,826 Deaths: 4 Vaccine uptake: 20,602 first doses 15,933 second doses

Confirmed cases by community Iqaluit: 253 (0 active, 253 recovered) Kinngait: 7 (all recovered) Rankin Inlet: 21 (all recovered) Arviat: 339 (338 recovered) Whale Cove: 23 (all recovered) Sanikiluaq: 2 (all recovered) Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer

Nunavut member of Arctic education task force optimistic for future High dropout rate in high schools one gap Peesee Pitsiulak hopes to address

ᐲᓯ ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᖅ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᑐᖁᔨᓇᔭᖅᑐᓕᐅᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓂ ᑕᑯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ.

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Peesee Pitsiulak, Nunavut Arctic College’s Nunatta Campus dean, is optimistic about being a part of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework’s (ANPF) Task Force on Northern Post-Secondary Education.

She is one of three Nunavummiut on the task force alongside Rebecca Mearns, acting president of Nunavut Arctic College and James Takkiruq, who is in his final year at the Nunavut Law Program.

The objectives of the ANPF which will inform the Task Force include closing gaps in education outcomes as well as providing ongoing learning and skills development opportunities including Indigenous-based knowledge and skills.

The Task Force will be uniquely positioned to provide a better understanding of the challenges faced by Northerners in pursuing post-secondary education.

“My hope is for Northerners like Nunavummiut to discuss through our engagements and consultations of what they (students) think should be a part of here, what their concerns are about gaps, what they would like to see,” said Pitsiulak.

One of the challenges faced by Nunavummiut with regard to post-secondary education is the high dropout rate in Nunavut high schools, which Pitsiulak says affects them when they want to enter post-secondary institutions.

She adds there are very few Inuit students who take academic streams in high schools, instead getting general high school diplomas, which impacts their entry into post-secondary education institutions.

Another problem in education in Nunavut she hopes to address is getting more Nunavummiut to become tradespeople so they can find work in the territory.

“The other one I usually hear about is there is not enough trades training for Nunavummiut so they can have jobs in their communities,” said Pitsiulak, adding there are also not enough Inuit teachers in Nunavut.

The federal budget from 2019 proposed a number of new measures to help strengthen Arctic communities, including $40 million over five

ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒧᑦᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒥ–ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ.

The Task Force on Northern Post-Secondary Education will help address post-secondary education challenges in the North. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Peesee Pitsiulak is one of the Nunavut members of the Task Force on Northern Post-Secondary Education, which will make recommendations to help Northerners see greater success in post-secondary institutions and the trades.

Photo via northernpse.ca years to support options for post-secondary education in the North. The $1 million investment to establish this task force comes from this fund.

Pitsiulak hopes to help gain more insight into Northern education gaps through the consultation process.

“We are going to make recommendations we hope that helps Northerners such as Nunavummiut succeed better in post-secondary institutions.”

She brings decades of experience to the table, having worked in the Northern education system prior to Nunavut’s inception in 1999. While she has seen improvements, it could be better, she says.

“I have been in the education system since ‘75, I’ve seen what it was like when I first started working, to what it is now. There has been a great improvement since 1975, when I started there were hardly any Inuit teachers back then. Today we have way more Inuit teachers, we have more Inuit working in the government or the private sector.”

The curriculum, Pitsiulak says, is more culturally relevant to Nunavummiut than it was before.

“It certainly has room for improvement, it can certainly be better.

We are graduating a lot more people, a lot more Inuit, a lot more Nunavummiut in high schools. In the college system, we are graduating Nunavummiut into workforces that still need a lot of Northerners.”

“It is working, but not to its fullest capacity,” she said, noting there are still too many high school dropouts despite the graduation rate growing.

There will be engagement sessions for individuals and general engagement sessions for the next while going forward.

“I encourage people to take part,” Pitsiulak says, if the opportunity presents itself.

People can also provide input online on the Task Force on Northern Post-Secondary Education website.

Responding to the recommendations of the Task Force will be a priority for the Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal according to a release by the Government of Canada.

The first draft of these recommendations is expected to be completed in winter 2021.

A4 Monday, June 28, 2021

Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

www.nunavutnews.com

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᖅ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᖃᓱᑎᓐᓇᓱᐊᓲᕆᕙᖏᑦ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᔩᓇ ᒥᖅᑯᓵᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ

Northern News Services

ᔩᓇ ᒥᖅᑯᓵᕐᒧᑦ, ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᖃᓱᖓᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ. ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖓᑕ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ-ᑎᓴᒪᓄᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. “ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᖃᓱᕚᓪᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑳᖓᒪ … ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒡᕕᐊᕈᑎᖃᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᖏᓛᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᖁᔭᓕᓐᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐅᕙᓐᓄᑦ ᓱᖏᐅᓐᓇᑲᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᑐᓵᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐅᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ.” ᒥᖅᑯᓵᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᐃᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᖑᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᒐᒥ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᓄᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑲᔭᖅᑐᒥ. 11-ᓂ-ᐅᑭᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥ 6–ᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓂ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. “ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᓕᒫᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ… ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᑲᒪᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ,” ᐃᖅᑲᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ ᐅᖃᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕙᕋ. ᐅᕙᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓚᐅᖅᐸᕋ, ᐄᖑᖅᑰᖅᑐᖅ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᒐᓚᒃ: ‘ᐄ, ᖃᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑎᑦ, ᐱᔪᒪᒍᕕᑦ. ᓇᒡᓕᒍᑦᑕᐅᕗᑎᑦ. ᐱᐅᓂᖃᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᒥᒃ. ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᒃᑯᕕᑦ ᐅᓇ ᐱᔪᒪᓇᔭᖅᑕᕐᓂ, ᐆᒃᑐᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑎᑦ. ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐹᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᕙᓐᓄᑦ … ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖃᑦᑕᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᐅᓂᓐᓂ ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓕᕈᒪ.” ᐅᐸᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᖑᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᖅᓯᕐᕕᓄᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᖃᓂᑦᑐᒦᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᒪᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔫᓂ 25–ᒧᑦ ᑎᓴᒪᓄᑦ 2021–ᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ. ᒥᖅᑯᓵᖅ, ᐱᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᐅᓯᐊᖓᓐᓂ, ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᑎᑕᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᓄᑦ 15–ᓄᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓱᖏᐅᔾᔨᓴᕋᐃᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒥᒃᖠᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐊᒡᕕᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ. ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᖁᕝᕙᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᐅᒪᓂᖅ ᓱᓪᓗᑯᑖᑉ ᐃᓱᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᒃᑰᕈᑎᑯᑖᖑᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ “ᓯᕿᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.” ᒥᖅᑯᓵᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖑᔪᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓛᓐᓂᓚᐅᓱᖓᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐸᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒦᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔭᖓᓂ “ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ.” “ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᓐᓂ. ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ–ᐸᖅᑭᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᓱᓕ. ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᓕᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᓱᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᓚᖓ — ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓯᕘᕋᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᓪᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᕿᓄᐊᓵᕐᓂᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕗᖅ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ “ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ.” ᓱᓕ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔪᕆᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᓕᒃᐸᒡᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᖅᑯᓵᕐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᓕᐊᖕᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖅ ᐱᒋᐅᖅᓴᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᒥᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖓᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ.

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖓ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᔩᓇ ᒥᖅᑯᓵᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓱᖏᐅᓐᓇᑲᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ – “ᑐᓵᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐅᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ.”

Nunavut Arctic College nursing graduate Jena Merkosak says connecting with patients comes naturally to her; “to really hear them out and empathize and develop a therapeutic relationship with them.” Photo courtesy of Jena Merkosak

www.nunavutnews.com

Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

Monday, June 28, 2021 A5

ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖅᐳᖅ ‘ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᕿᓚᖓᓂ’ D.J. ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖅᑎᙳᕈᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᑭᒪᕝᕕᐅᓲᓂ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖑᔪᒥ Northern News Services

ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ (D.J.) ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯ ᐱᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᖓᓂ. ᖃᖓᒃᑲᓐᓂᑭᐊᖅ, ᐃᓴᕈᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓛᕈᒪᕗᖅ. ᐃᓄᑐᐊᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑑᑉ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ, ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯ ᐃᓱᒪᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖅᑎᙳᕐᓂᖓᓂ. “ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓯᒪᕙᕋ ᐊᑯᓂᐸᓗᖕᒥ. ᑲᔾᔮᕆᕙᕋ ᓇᒧᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖅ ᐅᕙᓐᓂ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᔾᔨᓂᖓᓂ ᕿᒪᓕᕌᖓᒃᑯ ᐅᓇ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᕿᓄᐃᓵᕐᓂᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᑰᖅᐳᖓ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᕿᓚᖓᓂ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᕐᔪᐊᖅᐸᕋ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᕐᒥ. ᖁᕕᐊᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᕋ. ᐃᑭᒪᕝᕕᐅᓲᒥᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖅᑎᐅᔪᒪᓇᔭᖅᑰᖅᑐᖓ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄ Canadian North, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ Air Canada.” ᖃᖓᑕᒋᐅᖅᓴᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐋᓐᑎᐊᕆᐅᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕆᓛᕈᒪᔭᖓᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑖᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ, ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᑯᖓ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᕙᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᖓᑕᕝᕕᒋᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᖅᑕᒥᓂ, ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᒋᕗᖅ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔨᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᖓᑕᓂᕐᒥ. ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑎᑑᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ, ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯ ᖁᙱᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ. “ᑭᐱᙳᓇᒐᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑐᐊᖑᓪᓗᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᔫᓂ 4–ᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᐅᖑᔪᒻᒪᐅᙱᓚᖅ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᑐᓄᐊᓃᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒪᓲᖑᕗᖓ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᐅᓂᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ 30–ᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐅᐸᒃᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒃᑲ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᒃᑲ ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᒃᑲ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᕙᓐᓂ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᔭᕇᕐᓂᓐᓂ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᕆᔭᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ. “ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᐅᓯᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᓐᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ

ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᓚᐅᙱᓐᓇᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᒋ ᐅᓄᖅᑎᒋᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᑲᐅᖅᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐃᕐᙲᓐᓇᑲᐅᑎᒋ, ᖁᔭᓕᓂᖃᖅᖢᖓ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᒃᑲ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᓐᓄᑦ.” ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᔫᓂ 7–ᒥ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯᒥ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ. “ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖕᓂᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ, ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᒍᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᕿᑐᕐᙵᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑐᕐᙵᕗᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔭᕌᖓᑕ, ᐊᖏᔪᐊᓘᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᙳᓲᖑᕗᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ. “ᕿᑐᕐᙵᕗᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐹᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ ᓇᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑭᒡᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐅᐱᒋᕙᕋ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ.” ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᑯᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑯᓘᖏᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ, ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ “ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ,” ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐱᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓇᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᐅᔪᓂ. “ᐃᓱᒫᓗᓗᐊᓚᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ. ᐅᓇᑐᐊᖅ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᒋᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ ᐃᓱᐊᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕆᔭᕋ ᐱᐅᔪᐃᓐᓇᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᒃᑲ ᐱᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᕆᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᕆᓚᐅᖅᐸᕋ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᐸᕋ. ᖄᖏᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᔭᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᕙᓃᓕᖅᐳᖓ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᓪᓕᖅ ᐆᒻᒪᖅᑯᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᓴᓇᔨᐅᓗᓂ, ᓅᑎᕆᓂᕐᓂ ᐱᖁᑎᓂᑦ, ᓴᓗᒻᒪᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ. ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᓕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᓂ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᒥᓂᑦ.

“I sure was happy to see my parents and grandparents there to watch me finish my last year in school,” says D.J. Watsko, Grise Fiord’s sole high school graduate in 2021, who was celebrated at a June 4 graduation ceremony. Photo courtesy of D.J. Watsko

Grise Fiord grad dreams of an ‘office in the sky’ D.J. Watsko aspires to become a pilot for a commercial airline

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord

David Jr. (D.J.) Watsko has attained his high school diploma. Eventually, he’d like to earn his wings.

The sole graduate from Grise Fiord’s Umimmak School this year, Watsko is captivated by thoughts of becoming a pilot.

“It has been a thing for a while. I like views of wherever the plane takes me when I’m leaving this community,” he said. “I think I have great patience for just having an office in the sky. I like travelling, a lot. It really excites me.

I think I would like to fly commercial airlines, maybe something like Canadian North, or Air Canada.”

He has a flight school in Ontario in mind as a future education destination, but his next stop may be with Nunavut Arctic College’s environmental technology program, as he has submitted an application there. He said he’d like to learn more about the environment that he’ll be flying in, and he’s also interested in learning about the engineering and physics of aircraft and flight.

Unlike graduates in many other Nunavut communities, Watsko made it to the stage all by himself.

“I felt a little lonely being the only graduate,” he admitted.

Nevertheless, the June 4 ceremony at the school was enjoyable, even though he generally prefers not to be the centre of attention.

“But it felt nice, I’m more of a person to be in the background but the attention was nice,”

he said, adding that close to 30 people were in attendance. “I sure was happy to see my parents and grandparents there to watch me finish my last year in school.

“I didn’t (write) a speech before the ceremony because I didn’t expect so much people, but then I made one up on the spot, basically saying thank you to all the teachers and my friends and family.”

Quttiktuq MLA David Akeeagok made a statement in the legislative assembly on June 7 recognizing Watsko for his achievement.

“In Grise Fiord we have a local belief that as a smaller community, we are all responsible for raising our children, and whenever our children graduate, it becomes a very large local gathering,” said Akeeagok. “Our children are to be celebrated in any big occasions such as graduating. The doors of opportunities are opening at all levels. I congratulate the graduate and the family.”

Watsko’s educational experience wasn’t all smooth sailing. He said he found English, math and science to be “quite a challenge,” but he said he learned many great things in those classes.

“I didn’t really have doubts about graduating.

The only thing that really scared me was the exam. My studies were all good, my marks were good. It was my last year and I learned a lot from it. I overcame a lot of academic struggles, and here I am now,” he said.

He said he’s going to spend the summer working with Qulliq Energy Corporation as a labourer, moving things, cleaning up things.

He’s also going to try to squeeze in some time to go hunting and make some more memories with his friends.

“ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒃᑲ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᒃᑲ ᐊᑖᑕᑦᑎᐊᒃᑲ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᕙᓐᓂ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᔭᕇᕐᓂᓐᓂ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᕆᔭᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ,” ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ D.J. ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯ, ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᑑᓪᓗᓂ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᒥ 2021–ᒥ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᔫᓂ 4–ᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ.

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Monday, June 28, 2021 A7

Taloyoak mother attains social work diploma and aims for degree ‘Having children or being a young mother doesn’t stop you from being successful,’ says Anna Wolki

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

Nunavut Arctic College is partnering with Memorial University in Newfoundland to offer a bachelor of social work program and Taloyoak’s Anna Wolki plans to be among the first through the door.

Wolki was one of nine recent graduates of a social work diploma program in Cambridge Bay. “I really like to think that I love helping people, especially those with mental health needs,” she said, adding that her mother worked at a women’s shelter in Taloyoak while she was growing up, “so that’s what inspired me.”

Wolki said her first couple of years of courses taught her that others can handle life’s challenges in an entirely different way than she does and not to be judgmental of those who are addicts.

“I would think it would be so easy to just stop (abusing alcohol), but it really showed me how it can all lead to trauma and how intergenerational trauma was passed down to them.

It really brought me to the point of why they are doing that,” she explained.

She also has a better understanding of harm reduction, such as addicts weaning off of alcohol rather than expecting them to stop immediately, which could result in side effects such as seizures from withdrawals, she said.

Now Wolki plans to spend the next year and a half enrolled in the new social work degree program in Cambridge Bay. Depending on how that goes, she may complete the last several months of her degree studies at Memorial University. There’s behavioural and cognitive theory that she’s eager to absorb, and she also hopes to send a message to other prospective students around the territory as she furthers her education in social work.

“I really want to be a role model. I really want to encourage Nunavummiut to recognize that they can further their education and so much opportunities will be available to them,” she said. “I want to… inspire others to do it too.”

Opportunities were plentiful for Wolki just this summer. She had five job offers to consider and accepted a summer position at the mental health facility in Cambridge Bay. Her path to post-secondary learning wasn’t clear cut. She became a mother while in high school and it delayed her graduation by years. In order to enrol in the social work diploma program, she and some other students shared parenting duties with their spouses and her son also reached an age where he could attend school. Others were able to take advantage of a daycare subsidy available through the territorial government.

One of her classmates completed the program with three babies, she added.

“So having children or being a young mother doesn’t stop you from being successful,” she said.

Her cohort also had to contend with the emergence of COVID-19 in March of 2020, which meant that lessons had to move online. That was initially frustrating, Wolki admitted, but things became easier after a while.

“I think we adjusted to it really well,” she said.

By January, the students were able to resume face-to-face learning.

“It was just so good to see everyone,” said Wolki, noting that Plexiglass barriers were installed in the classroom to keep the students safe.

Because social work often entails substantial stress due to working with individuals in traumatic situations, Wolki said students learn that it’s important to practise self-care. When she’s feeling the strain, she’ll immerse herself in relaxing music or engage a close friend in conversation, she said.

GN commits $1.8 million The social work degree program is being made possible due to a three-year, $1.8 million contribution from the Government of Nunavut (GN).

“The inclusion of Elder perspectives and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in this two-year program set to be delivered in Cam-

ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐋᓇ ᐆᓪᑭ, ᐅᕙᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓗ ᑯᕆᔅᑕᕗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᕐᓂᖓ ᒪᐃᓴᓐ, ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔨᐅᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᓐᓇᑎᓂᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ. ᑕᐃᑯᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᔾᔮᙱᓚᖅ. ᐃᓯᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᒥ.

Taloyoak’s Anna Wolki, seen here with her common-law Christopher and son Mason, is a graduate of the Nunavut Arctic College social work diploma program in Cambridge Bay. She’s not stopping there. She will enter the social work degree program in the fall. Photo courtesy of Anna Wolki

bridge Bay also means future Inuit social workers graduates will be well prepared to incorporate Inuit societal values in their future social work practice,” said David Joanasie, minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College (NAC).

The GN noted that expansion of the social work degree program to other Nunavut communities remains a possibility for the future, as does the goal of having NAC offer its own independent, accredited bachelor program in social work.

A8 Monday, June 28, 2021

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ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑕᑉᐸᐅᙵᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᒃᑰᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓇᐅᒃᑯᓕᒫᖅ Northern News Services

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖏᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᑯᕙᒃᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓂ, ᐃᕿᑦᑎᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᔅᓯᓐᓂ, ᓇᓂᓗᒍ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᕐᔪᐊᖅᑕᔅᓯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᕐᓂ ᐅᕙᓂ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ. ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑯᓘᙱᓚᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᒥᓲᔪᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓵᙵᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑏᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖃᕈᑎᒃ, ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

2011–ᒥ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (ITK) ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᒃᓴᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓐᓄᑦ. ᐆᒧᖓ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᖁᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᖁᓕᓂᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᖏᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᓂ, ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 2016–ᒥ 41 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐱᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᖓᓐᓂ. ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ, 28.2 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒥ–ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᑕ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ 53.3 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ. “ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᑕᑦᑐᒥ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥ,” ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐲᓯ ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᑦᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᒥ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒧᑦ–ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑉᐸᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ-ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᑭᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ. ᐱᖁᔭᒃᓴᖅ 25 ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 2019–ᒥ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓐᓄᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ–ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓂᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ – ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᑕᑖᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᕈᓘᔭᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ. “ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ, ᑕᒪᐃᑎᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ, ᑕᒪᐃᑎᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ. “ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ. ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᓂ ᐅᐸᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖓᓂ. ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᑐᖃᖅ ᐃᓗᓕᖏᓐᓂ, ᐅᓇ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᑭᐅᖏᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᕿᑐᕐᙵᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕈᒪᖃᑦᑕᖁᕙᕗᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᖃᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᑕᐃᓐᓇ ᐊᐅᓚᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔭᐅᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ, ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᓪᓗᑕ, ᒐᕙᒪᐅᓪᓗᑕ, ᐃᓂᖃᕈᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕙᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᖃᕈᒪᓂᖃᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ.” ᐊᓯᖓ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᐅᕗᖅ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓯᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᖅ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᕐᕕᒃᓴᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᑰᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᐱᖅᑯᓯᒋᙱᑕᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᖃᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐲᔭᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ–ᐊᑑᑎᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᑐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᕐᔪᐊᖑᒋᕗᖅᑕᐅᖅ, ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒥᓂᒃ ᓂᔾᔮᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓄᑦ. ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, “ᐅᕙᖓ, ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᒃᖠᓵᕆᔪᒪᕗᖓ, ᐊᔭᐅᖅᓯᓗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓱᖃᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ. ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑯᕕᐅᒃ ᓲᕐᓗ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᑯᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑎᓂᓰᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᕐᓂᑦ – ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᓕᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᐳᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᓕᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᕐᔪᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᑦ.” ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᐳᓯ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᑦ 2021–ᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᔅᓯᓐᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᒍ, ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓪᓗᓯ ᕿᑎᐊᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᑯᓘᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᙱᓚᖅ! ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕆᔭᓯ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᓯ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᕆᔭᔅᓯᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᔅᓯᓐᓄᑦ.

Education on an upward path

While relationships with schooling in the territory are complicated, there has been much improvement across the board Northern News Services

One of the biggest themes we see this time of year, when we celebrate high school and post-secondary graduates, is to embrace your future, find your passions and your place in this world.

It isn’t always easy to do this when we consider the many challenges facing students in the North, but Nunavummiut students continue to prove that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

In 2011, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) released the National Strategy on Inuit Education. With this document as a framework, the past decade of hard work has resulted in many improvements in education outcomes.

High school graduation rates continue to improve, and more Inuit students are attending college, university and trade schools than ever.

Statistics Canada reported as of 2016 that 41 per cent of Inuit had attained their high school diploma.

Among Inuit living within Inuit Nunangat, 28.2 per cent reported a post-secondary qualification compared with Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat at 53.3 per cent.

“It is working, but not to its fullest capacity,” says Peesee Pitsiulak, Nunavut Arctic College’s Nunatta Campus dean and a member of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework’s Task Force on Northern Post-Sec-

ondary Education.

She also says Nunavut’s curriculum is more culturally relevant to Nunavummiut than ever before.

Inuit-language education has been recognized as a priority, and over the next five years curricula will be developed to implement Inuit language arts classes in schools across the territory. Bill 25 has been widely panned as not being enough, nor soon enough, but Education Minister David Joanasie noted in a 2019 interview that Nunavut must still build capacity with Inuktut-speaking teachers, along with a host of other complications, including revising curricula further and even developing more infrastructure – space in which to teach the growing population.

Schooling in the territory, however, is fraught with mixed feelings.

“I think this is where we need to challenge Nunavummiut, in general, and society, in general,” said Joanasie. “The pursuit of education.

Looking at our attendance rate.

Looking at the historical context, this is an issue we need to continue to address.

“We want our children and students to want to go to school, to have that determination, that drive and motivation. I think this is where, as a department, as a government, we want to have that space and environment for them for the learning to occur.”

The other issue is choice. Nunavummiut and Northern students deserve to have programs they can enrol in that offer them personal and professional development, without the focus being solely on preparing them to enter government or industry workforces. Hopefully the new university in development by ITK will help address some of these gaps.

Decolonizing education by ensuring students have access to culturally-relevant studies in Inuktut and English will help students find deeper meaning in their learning and set them up for success.

Education in the arts is important as well, allowing youth and adults chances to connect with themselves and their culture through music, traditional and contemporary art and crafting.

Joanasie said, “I, as a leader, and the government, want to entice, motivate and tell Nunavummiut that education is boundless. If you look at it in a way that it’s a gift that keeps on giving, or something that will help you for the rest of your life – I think this is where people can take ownership of it, and follow their passions.”

Congratulations to the class of 2021 on your successes so far, graduating in the midst of a pandemic is no small feat! May the next steps you take help you fulfill your goals for yourselves and your communities.

www.nunavutnews.com

ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓄᑦ. ᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᖑᓚᓕᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 12ᕝᖑᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᖃᐃᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 2021–ᒥ ᑭᓕᓂᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᓯᕙᑖᕐᕕᖕᒥ, ᔫᓂ 19, 2021–ᒥ. ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ 6–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᓯᐊᕋ ᐃᔨᑕᓕᒐᖅ, ᔭᐃᑕᓐ ᒪᒃᓴᒐᖅ, ᕇᐊ ᓇᑲᓱᒃ, ᒪᑲᓐᓯ ᐅᑐᕿᐊᖅ, ᐊᐃᔅᓕᓐ ᐅᒥᐅᓪᒍᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑏᐋᓇ ᑕᐃᓗᕐ. ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᐳᓯ!

with Navalik Tologanak email: helent@qiniq.com

Uplukkut. Ikaluktuutiamiutat naamainnaqtut. Hila alianaqhijuq. Hikuiliqmat quana. Inuin aullativaktut kuvjaliqqijutlu.

Aullariami hikumi kihimi. Aputaikmat nunakput kinitpiaqmijuk apqutitlu nunamilu. Maakluinnaq nipaliqpakman. Inuin aullalugaktut quana. Inuuhat iniktiktut ilihaktut ipakhani. Ikaluktutiakmiutat quviahuktut ipakhani. Katimajut hilami.

Mikijutlu nutaqqat taimaakmijut unaguikhiknahuat aujami. Utiknahuat augusimi.

Ilihaijiitlu quanaqhivaktut havaktut. Naamaktumik tamaita ilihaijiitlu tapkuatllu ikajuqpaktut ilihakvikmi unaguikhijavuhi.

To my kindergarten students who are now graduating today. Emily Angulalik of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut who was the graduates’ kindergarten teacher 12 years ago was a very special guest speaker at the 2021 Kiilinik High school graduation ceremonies held Saturday, June 19, 2021. This year’s six grads are, from left, Sarah Evetalegak, Jaiden Maksagak, Rhea Nakashook, Mackenzie Otokiak, Aislyn Omilgoetok and Deanna Taylor. Congratulations! Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Congratulations to our grads

Cambridge Bay Tea Talk

Northern News Services

Monday, June 28, 2021 A9

Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

Ayuknakman tamna aaniarut pijuk huli.

Inuin naamainnaqtut. Qiniqpaklugit nutaqqatit uunugagnat. Hikuilgumilu.

Welcome to the land of the Inuinnait Kiilinikmiutat. It is summertime now on the Island and a lot of the snow has melted. The lakes, ocean, river are quickly melting. People are still traveling out on the land being safe and careful as there is still a bit of thickness on the ice, not much longer the ice will be gone. People are busy ice fishing and geese, duck and egg hunting. It has been raining so the ice and snow will go faster. Families are busy heading out camping close by and opening up their cabins for the summer months at

gravel pit, Mount Pelly and the mainland.

Waking up to peace and quiet and listening to all kinds of birds all day and night and talking to other campers, family, communities in the area on their land orange radios. Time to make piffi and stock up on fish for the winter. Soon the Arctic char ice fishing and netting will run down to the river and gravel pit. Best time of year for everyone. Be safe when ice-hopping out on the ocean.

We have 6 high school graduates we want to congratulate : Sarah Evetalegak, Rhea Nakashook, Jaiden Maksagak, Mackenzie Otokiak, Aislyn Omilgoetok and Deanna Taylor. This years’ ceremony was held

outdoors at the Heritage Park due to the pandemic. It was a special day for all in attendance: parents, families, grandparents and community members and teachers, principal and vice-principal. We wish each of you the very best in your future plans, wherever they will take you, as you live your dreams. It is the best time of your lives and may each of you live a good life and have a successful one as your ancestors would want you to, just like them, looking after yourselves. Life is not easy, but make the best of it and make your parents, family and community proud.

Keep wearing your masks and be safe.

God be with you son.

ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂ ᑐᑭᓯᓂᕐᓗᒃᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ In response to ᐃᓄᑐᖃᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖁᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ misinformation ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖃᙱᓪᓚᕆᒃᐳᑦ ᒪᑐᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᐸᒌᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᔫᓂ 23–ᒥ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᒥ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ.

Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq writes that the Government of Nunavut has “absolutely no plan to close any existing Elders’ centre in the territory” in a June 23 open letter to Nunavummiut. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓕᒫᓄᑦ: ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᑎᓪᓗᖓ, ᐅᖃᕈᒪᔪᖓ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐊᕐᓗᖓ ᐃᓘᓐᓇᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᑦᓯᒪᖏᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᑐᓯᑎᑦᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕕᓐᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓪᓚᕆᙱᑦᑐᖓ ᓇᑭᙵᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᓪᓗᑦᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᐅᖃᕈᒪᑦᓱᖓᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᒐᕙᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒻᒥᓂᑦ ᑐᕌᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᑦᓴᖅ ᐃᑉᐱᒍᓱᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖃᖅᑎᑦᓱᒋᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔨᖏᓐᓇᖅᑕᕗᑦ. ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᖃᑎᒌᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᐊᑦᓱᕈᑦᓱᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ 2017-ᒥᓂᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᓯᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐱᕕᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕗᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᒫᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᓄᑦ ᓄᑖᓄᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕕᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂᑦ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᑦᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᓪᓗ. ᑕᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕖᑦ ᐱᕕᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓇᓪᓕᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓂᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᑦᑐᒥᑦ, ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᖏᖔᕐᓗᒋᑦ

ᐅᖓᓯᑦᑐᒦᑎᑦᓯᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓪᓚᕆᑦᑐᕐᓕ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᑖᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕖᑦ ᐱᕕᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓂᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᑦᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᑦᑕᕐᓇᖏᓐᓂᖅᓴᒥ, ᓈᒻᒪᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᓂᓪᓗ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕕᓐᓂᑦ, ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᓂᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑦᓴᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐅᖃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᖓ, ᓄᑖᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᒪᑐᓚᖓᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᖅᒥ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃᒥ, ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅᒥ, ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂᓪᓗ. ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᐃᓐᓇᖁᑦᓱᒋᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᖏᓐᓇᑎᑦᓯᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ. ᓂᕆᐅᑉᐳᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᖁᑦᓱᒍ, ᐃᓘᓐᓈᒍᑦ, ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ. ᐃᓘᓐᓇᑕ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᒦᖁᔨᒐᑦᑕ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᖅᑎᓐᓂᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᕕᒋᕙᒋᓪᓗ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑲᑦᑕ ᓂᕆᐅᓐᓂᖃᑦᓯᐊᖁᑦᓱᒋᑦ, ᖃᓂᓪᓕᒋᐊᖁᑦᓱᒋᓪᓗ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᓇᓪᓕᒋᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᐅᕙᙶᖅᑐᖅ, ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᑦ

on Elders’ facilities

To all Nunavummiut, As Premier, I want to state once and for all that the Government of Nunavut has absolutely no plan to close any existing Elders’ centre in the territory. I am really not sure where this misinformation has come from, and I want to formally state that this is not the case. Our government has said since the start of our Turaaqtavut mandate that caring for our Elders and bringing them closer to home is our priority.

Our cabinet has worked hard since 2017 to plan for and create opportunities to ensure the advanced care needs of our Elders can be addressed right here in Nunavut. That is why we have planned for three new longterm care facilities in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay. These facilities will allow us to bring back our

beloved Elders with higher needs, rather than sending and keeping them further away from their families.

The simple fact is, these new facilities will allow us to serve Elders with higher needs, in safer, more appropriate facilities, with better resources. To re-state, the new planned facilities will not close those in Gjoa Haven, Iglulik, Cambridge Bay, Arviat and Iqaluit. We are committed to keeping them open and operational.

I hope that this puts to rest, once and for all, any inaccurate information. We all want the best for our Elders and I assure you, we are doing everything we can to bring them hope, and bring them closer to family, their communities and the life they love.

Regards, Joe Savikataaq Premier of Nunavut

A10 Monday, June 28, 2021

Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

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Congratulations to grads across Nunavut!

2021 –ᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᐊᑕᒍᔪᒃ ᐃᓕᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᓂᒃ ᑭᓴ, ᑎᐊᕆᓐᔅ ᒪᓐᓂᐊᐱᒃ, ᕕᒃᑐᕐ ᑲᓇᔪᖅ, ᒪᐃᒋᓐ ᑕᐅᔭ, ᐊᐃᕇᓐ ᐃᑦᑐᐊᙵᑦ, ᒪᕆᑕ ᑎᐊᓚ, ᕼᐊᐃᓕ ᐃᓱᓪᓗᑕᖅ, ᑕᓃᔅ ᐃᓱᓪᓗᑕᖅ, ᒪᐃᑲ ᐊᕐᓇᒃᑲᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐊᐃᓐ ᓛᓴᓐ .

The 2021 graduates from Pangnirtung’s Attagoyuk Ilisavik are, from left, Nick Kisa, Terence Maniapik, Victor Kanayuk, Megan Tauya, Irene Etuangat, Maritha Dialla, Hailey Ishulutak, Denise Ishulutak, Mika Angnakak and Wayne Lawson. Photo courtesy of Maritha Dialla

ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖅ 2020–ᒥ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᖅᐹᖅ ᓄᐊᐴᒡ, ᑭᒻᐳᓕ ᕼᐅᑲᓇᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓖᓴ ᐲᑐᓴᓐ.

ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᑑᒑᓕᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐋᓐᑐᓃᔅ ᒪᑉᓕᒃ, ᓴᐃᓐ ᒪᑉᓴᓚᒃ, ᔮᔅ ᐳᕉᔅ, ᔭᒫᓪ ᓯᐅᓴᕐᓈᖅ, ᑖᓇᕙᓐ ᑯᐸᒃ, ᐋᓐᔨᓖᓇ ᓯᐅᓴᕐᓈᖅ, ᐋᓐᑐᓴᓐ ᐳᑐᓕᒃ, ᐳᕆᔾᔨᑦ ᒪᓕᑭ, ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅ ᑲᑉᐱ ᕼᐊᖅᐱ, ᐃᒪᓕ ᕉᔅ ᖃᐅᓐᓇᖅ, ᕕᒃᑐᕐ ᕿᕐᓗᐊᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ, ᐃᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐊᒥ ᒪᒃᓚᐅᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ.

Kugluktuk’s class of 2020 consisted of, from left, Aqpaaq Norberg, Kimberley Hokanak and Alycia Pedersen. Photo courtesy of Kugluktuk High School/ Department of Education

Naujaat’s Tuugaalik High School’s graduation class. From left, Anthonese Mablik, Shane Mapsalak, Josh Bruce, Jamal Siusangnark, Donovan Kopak , Angelina Siusangnark, Anderson Putulik, Bridgette Malliki, Tigumiak Kappi Haqpi, Emily Rose Qaunaq, Victor Kridluar, missing from picture Macleod Arnatsiaq. Robert Babic photo

ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᖁᓗᐊᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱᖕᒥ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐃᒥᖕᒥ, ᓵᓇᓐ ᐸᓂᐸᒃ, ᑕᓂᐅᓪ ᓯᕗᒐᑦ, ᐊᓖᓇ ᐱᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᓖᓇ ᕿᓪᓚᖅ, ᔨᓃᓐ ᑲᐅᑐᖅ, ᐳᕉᔅ ᖃᔮᖅ, ᔨᒥ ᐸᓪᓗᖅ, ᐋᓐᑐᕆᐊ ᐃᓄᐊᕋᖅ, ᓴᐃᓇ ᐅᓛᔪᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕉᓴᓖᓐ ᐸᓖᑦᑐᖅ.

ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ ᐅᐊᑦᔅᑯ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ–ᐊᖑᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ.

The graduates from Quluaq School in Clyde River are, from left, Shannon Panipak, Tanill Sivugat, Aleena Piungituq, Lina Qillaq, Jenine Kautuq, Bruce Qayaq, Jimmy Palluq, Andrea Enuaraq, Shana Ulayok and Rosaleen Palituq. Photo courtesy of Quluaq School/Department of Education

David Jr. Watsko was the one-man graduating class from Umimmak School in Grise Fiord. Richard Dinnen photo

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Monday, June 28, 2021 A11

ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᐳᓯ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ! ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖅ 2021–ᒥ ᑰᒑᕐᔫᑉ ᐊᕐᕕᓕᖅᕈᐊᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᔫᓕ ᐋᓐ ᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᕗᕌᓂᑲ ᐊᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᔮᑭ ᓴᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ, ᕕᒃᑐᐊᕆᐊ ᓂᑉᑕᔪᒃ, ᓰᓇ ᑲᔭᓴᖅ, ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᕋᐃᓕ ᕿᔪᓇᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐃᕼᐊᒃᑲᖅ.

ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᖃᖅᑲᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑭᒻᒥᕈᒻᒥ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐃᓅᓯ ᐋᓚᓐ, ᔭᐃᑯᑉ ᐊᖅᐱᒃ, ᔭᓇᕗ ᑯᐊᑯᐊᕋᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᐊᕋ ᓵᒋᐊᖅᑐᖅ.

The graduates from Qaqqalik School in Kimmirut are, from left, Enoosie Allen, Jacob Akpik, Jennifer Corcoran and Sarah Sagiaktuk. Photo courtesy of Qaqqalik School, Department of Education

2021 ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᑮᓕᓂᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᖠᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᒋᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᓇᓴᒥᓄᑦ ᖁᒻᒧᑦ. ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᓯᐊᕋ ᐃᔨᑕᓕᒐᖅ, ᔭᐃᑕᓐ ᒪᒃᓴᒐᖅ, ᕇᐊ ᓇᑲᓱᒃ, ᒪᑲᓐᓯ ᐅᑐᕿᐊᖅ, ᐊᐃᔅᓕᓐ ᐅᒥᐅᓪᒍᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑏᐋᓇ ᑕᐃᓗᕐ.

The class of 2021 at Kugaaruk’s Arviligruaq Ilinniarvik are, from left, Julie Ann Anaittuq, Veronica Anaittuq, Jackie Sanertanut, Victoria Niptayuk, Sheena Kayasark, David Riley Krejunark and Michael Ihakkaq. Lance Chatman photo

ᐃᒋᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᓇᓴᒥᓂᑦ ᑕᑉᐸᐅᖓ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ 2021–ᒥ ᔮᓐ ᐊᕐᓇᓗᒃᔪᐊᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ. ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᑎᑎᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ, ᒥᐅᓪᕕᓐ ᐊᒪᒃ, ᓗᐊᕇᓐ ᐊᑲᒻᒪᒃ, ᐱᐊᑦᓕ ᐊᓚᕆᐊᖅ, ᐃᓄᒃᔪᐊᖅ ᐊᓕᒃᑎᓕᒃ, ᓚᒃᓯ ᐊᓄᒑᖅ, ᒫᓰᐊ ᐊᖓᓕᒃ, ᔫᓯᐸ ᐊᓇᐅᑕᓕᒃ, ᐃᓕᓴᐱ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᔪᑦ, ᑖᓄᑦ ᐸᐃᑲ ᓯᐸᓐᔅ, ᓈᑕᓕ ᐸᐃᑲ, ᒃᓚᐃᑕᓐ ᕼᐊᓪᓚᐅᒃ, ᓴᐃᓚ ᐃᑲᒃᕼᐃᒃ, ᔭᐃᑕᓐ ᐃᓪᓂᒃ, ᑎᕋᓐᑎᐊ ᐃᓪᓗᖏᐊᔪᒃ, ᕉᓚᓐ ᐄᓴᓗᒃ, ᐃᐊᕆᓐ ᐃᓴᖅᑭᐊᖅ, ᐅᐊᓃᑕ ᐃᓴᖅᑭᐊᖅ, ᐋᒪᓐ ᐃᕗᓂᕆᔪᒃ, ᑲᐃᔪᓪ ᖃᑉᓗᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᒪᐃᒋᓐ ᑲᓪᓗᐊᒃ, ᐲᑕ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ, ᐳᕋᐃᑕᓐ ᑲᕕᐅᖅ, ᐆᓴᓐ ᑭᓪᓛᐱᒃ, ᓯᐳᕋ ᑭᒍᓯᐅᑦᓇᖅ, ᑏᕕᐅᓪ ᑭᓇᒃ, ᐃᒪᓕ-ᐋᓐ ᑰᒪᒃ, ᒫᓂᑲ ᑰᒪᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᕆᔅᑎᓐ ᖁᒃᓱᒃ.

The 2021 graduates of Kiilinik High School in Cambridge Bay gleefully throw their caps skyward. From left, Sarah Evetalegak, Jaiden Maksagak, Rhea Nakashook, Mackenzie Otokiak, Aislyn Omilgoetok and Deanna Taylor. Photo courtesy of Deanna Taylor

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᔫᓇ ᐊᒥᑦᓈᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ 2020 ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᒍᔅᑎ 27, 2020–ᒥ. ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᓴᓇᐃᐊ ᑑᑯᒥ, ᑕᐱᓴ ᑯᒃ, ᕋᐃᑦᓱᓪ ᑕᒍᕐᓈ, ᔭᐃᓖᓐ ᐅᒃᐸᑎᒃᑯ, ᓯᑦᓂ ᐊᐅᐸᓗᒃᑐᖅ, ᕆᒥ ᐅᒃᐸᑎᒃᑯ, ᐸᑎᖅ ᖃᑉᓗᑦᓯᐊᖅ, ᓵᓕ ᐸᐅᕐᙵᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᓕᓐ ᒪᓐᓂᒃ.

Tossing their caps into the air are the class of 2021 at John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat. The graduates are, alphabetically, Melvin Ahmak, Laureen Akammak, Bedley Alareak, Inukjuak Aliktiluk, Lexie Anawak, Marcia Angalik, Josepha Anowtalik, Elizabeth Aulatjut, Donald Baker Spence, Natalie Baker, Clayton Hallauk, Shayla Ikakhik, Jaden Illnik, Terentia Illungiayok, Roland Ishalook, Aaron Issakiark, Juanita Issakiark, Armand Ivunirjuk, Kyle Kablutsiak, Megan Kalluak, Peter Kaludjak, Brayden Kaviok, Ocean Kidlapik, Sephra Kigusiutnak, Theophile Kinak, Emily-Anne Koomak, Monica Koomak and Tristan Kuksuk. Photo courtesy of John Arnalujuak High School/Department of Education

Baker Lake’s Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School’s 2020 graduating class celebrated on Aug. 27, 2020. From left, Shania Tookoome, Tabitha Cook, Rachel Tagoona, Jaylene Ukpatiku, Sydney Aupaluktuk, Remi Ukpatiku, Patterk Kablutsiak, Sally Paungrat and Dylan Mannik. photo courtesy of Jonah Amitnaaq School

ᐅᑯᐊ ᒫᓂ ᐅᓗᔪᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖅ 2021–ᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ: ᔪᓕᐊ ᐊᖒ, ᑳᑦᓖᓐ ᑕᑎ ᑳᓂᓕ–ᑲᓛᒃ, ᓂᐅᓪᓯᓐ ᐃᑦᑐᐊᙵᑦ, ᐹᑲ ᕚᓪᒃᓄᕐ, ᒥᐊᕆ ᒋᐱᓐᔅ, ᐋᒻᐳᕐ ᒍᕋᐃᐊᒻ, ᐃᐊᑦᕗᑦ ᖃᑉᓗᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᓖᐅ ᖃᓴᓗᐊᖅ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ, ᓴᕕᐅᕐ ᖃᑉᓗᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᑎᓕᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ, ᕋᐃᓕ ᓚᓵᓐᔅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᑎ–ᐱᐅᓪ ᓕᓐᑎᐅᓪ. ᑐᓄᐊᓂ,, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ: ᐃᔅᕆᐃᐅᓪ ᒪᒃᑖᖅ, ᑏᐊ ᒪᒃᑖᖅ, ᐅᐃᓐᑎ ᒪᓂᓚᒃ, ᓴᓃᓴ ᓇᑯᓛᖅ, ᔫᓪ ᓇᑦᓱᕐ, ᕋᐃᑦᓱᓪ ᐆᓗᔪᒃ, ᔭᓯ ᕿᔪᒃ, ᑲᑕᕆ ᖁᐃᓇᖕᓇᖅ, ᕇᐱᑲ ᓴᙳᐃᓐ, ᔅᑳᑦ ᓯᒍᑦᓴᓐ, ᓅᓚᓐ ᑕᑦᑐᐃᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᒃᑲᑖᖅ ᓴᕙᑖᔅᑭ.

Here is the Maani Ulujuk High School class of 2021 in Rankin Inlet. Front row, from left: Julia Angoo, Kathleen Tati Connelly-Clark, Nelson Etuangat, Parker Faulkner, Mary Gibbons, Amber Graham, Edward Kabluitok, Leo Qasaluaq Kaludjak, Xzavier Kubluitok, Dylan Kusugak, Riley Lachance and Addy-Belle Lindell. Back row, from left, Israel Maktar, Tia Maktar, Wendy Manilak, Sanisha Nakoolak, Joel Netser, Rachel Oolooyuk, Jesse Qiyuk, Catherine Quinangnaq, Rebekka Sanguin, Scott Sigurdson, Nolan Tattuinee and Sakkataaq Zawadski. Sunisha Rakesh photo

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Monday, June 28, 2021 A13

Partnership forms to develop Inuit Nunangat University Nunavut News kNKu W?9oxJ5

ITK and Mastercard Foundation ‘ready to … set in motion the process of creating a new reality of Inuit self-determination in education’

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

The Mastercard Foundation and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) on June 16 announced a partnership to help support the planning and envisioning of a university in Inuit Nunangat, with Inuit values and customs in mind.

With Yukon University officially reorganized as a university in February 2020 and Aurora College working to transition to a polytechnic university in the Northwest Territories, the time is ripe for a university in Inuit Nunangat.

“This partnership is an exciting next step towards achieving our goal to create an Inuit Nunangat University. The support of the Mastercard Foundation will allow Inuit the space, time and resources to determine how best to lead and plan for a new reality of higher education in Inuit Nunangat,”

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ (ITK) ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᓇᐃᑕᓐ ᐆᐱᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᐳᖅ ᓯᐊᒻᒪᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓯᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖓᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓂ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᔫᓂ 16–ᒥ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᖅ Mastercard ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᒪᓕᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᒃᓴᒧᑦ.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) President Natan Obed addresses media in the foyer outside the House of Commons in Ottawa. Obed on June 16 said the partnership with Mastercard Foundation is the next step towards an Inuit Nunangat University. Canadian Press photo said Natan Obed, President of ITK. The partnership will help support engagement with

Inuit regional leaders, educators, youth and experts for the next two years and beyond, according to a June 16 news

release from ITK. “This project led by ITK is truly visionary and holds tremendous potential to trans-

form higher education opportunities for Inuit youth and students across the North,” said Jennifer Brennan, head of Canada programs at the Mastercard Foundation.

“Inuit youth are powerful agents of change for their communities and Canada as a whole. The Mastercard Foundation is both humbled and proud to support this innovative approach to higher education founded in the vision values and languages of the Inuit,” she adds.

It will involve consultation with Indigenous educators, education program development partners and research experts within Inuit Nunangat and internationally.

On the same day in 2011 ITK introduced the National Strategy on Inuit Education, a blueprint for an education system for Inuit.

“The Strategy is a blueprint for a new era in Inuit education. Implementing its recommendations will necessitate a collective determination to identify new resources, and

strengthen the capacity in Inuit regions to transform our education systems. This will not happen overnight,” wrote Mary Simon, Chairperson for the National Committee on Inuit Education back in June 2011 when the Strategy was first introduced.

The three key areas the strategy focused on were supporting children to help them stay in school; providing a bilingual curriculum with learning resources relevant to Inuit culture, history and world-view; and increasing the number of education leaders and bilingual educators in schools and early childhood programs.

This new partnership announced earlier this month comes on the 10th anniversary of the release of the Strategy.

“ITK and the Mastercard Foundation are ready to advance this work and set in motion the process of creating a new reality of Inuit self-determination in education,” added Obed.

A14 Monday, June 28, 2021

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ITK praises adoption of UNDRIP bill; Nunavut senator still has concerns ‘I believe it was born out of a consultation process that was rife with ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒪᓕᕋᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎ missteps,’ says Dennis Patterson

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

On June 21 the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Act (Bill C-15) received Royal Assent and came into force. The act will work to create a legislative framework to implement the declaration in Canada.

This was met with varied responses

by Inuit and Northern leaders.

“ITK (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) celebrates the passage of this legislation as a step towards bringing federal laws and policies into alignment with the rights affirmed by the UN Declaration, and ending discrimination against Inuit. We look forward to working in collaboration on implementation, including development of an action plan and measures related to monitoring, oversight and ensuring effective enforcement of the legislation,” said Natan Obed, President of ITK. It requires the Government of Canada, in consultation and collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to develop an action plan to achieve the declaration’s objectives and to take measures to align federal laws with the declaration.

The action plan, which must be developed with Indigenous peoples in the next two years will include measures to: Address injustices, combat prejudice and eliminate all forms of violence, racism and discrimination against Indigenous peoples; promote mutual respect and understanding, as well as good relations, including through human rights education; and ensure Canada is held accountable on progress through regular reporting and oversight.

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson, the chosen opposition critic for the bill however feels there isn’t enough consultation with First Nations and Inuit leaders, and that it erodes existing Treaty obligations the Government of Canada has with Indigenous peoples, as he explained in his speech to the Senate on June 16.

“I find myself critic of a bill I find difficult to support, not because I’m against the spirit and intent of the bill, but because how the bill is written,” said Patterson, “and in some cases, because of who and what the bill leaves out.”

“Parliament has not taken the steps it has taken in the case of other international instruments and their instrumentation into Canadian domestic law is very concerning to the Indigenous Bar Association.”

Patterson later on June 24 went into more detail about the consultation process went around the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) principle under UNDRIP. With much of Bill C-15 being built on the bones of a similar legislation, Bill C-262 introduced by former NDP MP Romeo Saganash, Patterson has concerns around a rushed consultation process surrounding C-15 and having it built around work largely done for a separate bill.

“This is a new bill, this is a government bill, the Crown has a solemn duty here. We have to examine carefully here whether the Crown discharged their duty. My conclusion very clearly was no, the Crown did a botched job at consultation,” he said.

However “not with the Inuit, I made it clear the Inuit were well-organized in terms of the consultation processes on C-262.” It was when it came to consultation process around

those under the Numbered Treaties and other groups in Canada he had worries about.

In dealing with the Assembly of First Nations before speaking to Treaty governments beforehand, Patterson believes it has already contributed to this erosion in his June 16 speech to the Senate.

“Bill C-15 has already taken away from nations whose Treaties required direct consultation with the Federal Government, this erosion of Treaty obligations to deal bilaterally with Treaty holders began when the Government decided to deal with the Assembly of First Nations in June of 2020 many months before the Government purportedly reached out to Treaty holders,” said Patterson.

He wanted to make it clear that he does support UNDRIP, but not the bill which is meant to implement it.

“Of course I support Indigenous rights, and my family has personally been hit hard by the residential school legacy,” Patterson said.

“Let me be clear, I support UNDRIP, I supported it when it was adopted by the Harper Government in 2010 and I support it today. However I do not think C-15 accomplishes all it promises to and I believe it was born out of a consultation process that was rife with missteps.”

Bill C-15 was adopted by the Senate with 61 Yea votes, 10 Nays and nine abstentions, with Senator Patterson abstaining.

In explaining why he abstained, it was largely to signal and register his concerns for those who were left out of the bill.

“I knew full-well the bill would pass, there was no question that it had strong support,” said Patterson.

ᑕᓂᔅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔫᓂ 16 –ᒥ , “ ᐅᕙᓐᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᕗᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᒍᓱᙱᓐᓂᓐᓂ ᐱᖁᔭᒃᓴᕐᒥ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕆᔭᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᕐᓇᖓ ᑕᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᐱᖁᔭᒃᓴᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᖁᔭᒃᓴᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᑭᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᓱᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᔭᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᒃᓯᓐᓇᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂ .”

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson said June 16, “I find myself critic of a bill I find difficult to support, not because I’m against the spirit and intent of the bill, but because how the bill is written and, in some cases, because of who and what the bill leaves out.”

Senate/live screen capture.

“My abstention was not designed to block the bill from being passed. I thought it was important to register my concerns about the voices that were left out, the voices that were not heard in the all-important consultation process.”

“The consultation that was done by the Crown was rushed and incomplete, it left lots of voices out,” he adds.

Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq voted Yea for Bill C-15, request for comment was made by Nunavut News, however Qaqqaq was unable to respond as of press time.

In April, Qaqqaq said she thinks the Government of Canada is “scared” to truly implement the UN declaration on Indigenous rights.

“It has the ability to demolish the Indian Act and aspects of land claims agreements so that Indigenous people can fulfill their human rights,” she said. “It will cost (the federal government) a lot of money to give us what we already should have.”

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the declaration in Sept. 2007 with support from the majority of member states. It is the result of almost 25 years of collaboration between UN Member States and Indigenous peoples from around the world, with Indigenous leaders from Canada playing a significant role in the development of UNDRIP. In 2016, the Government of Canada endorsed the declaration and committed to its implementation.

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Email: editor@nunavutnews.com

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ 6–ᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐹᐱᑭᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᔫᓂ 21–ᒥ. ᒪᕐᕈᒃᑲᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᓚᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ.

Fax: (867) 979-6010 up distribution of 700 picnic packs with fixings for s’mores and hot dogs.

“We are also entering those in a draw for $5,400 in gift cards,” said SAO Darren Flynn. “With COVID restrictions at 100 for outdoor gatherings we really have no ability to hold other activities.”

– Cody Punter

NTI funds culture and healing programs for summer

Nunavut On June 21 the Nunavut Tunngavik Foundation (NTF), under Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), announced more than $92,000 has been allocated to four Cultural and Healing Programs in five communities set to take place during the 2021 summer season.

There are the following programs: • On-the-Land Program, Lasalusi Ishulutak, Pangnirtung; • Beading and Sewing Group, Krista Zawadski, Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet; • On-the-Land Program, Elizabeth Ningeongan, Coral Harbour; • Youth On-the-Land Program, Kitikmeot Friendship Society, Cambridge Bay. “These four programs will contribute to the strengthening and revitalization of our culture and allow for healing from the direct and intergenerational harms of residential schools,” said NTI president Aluki Kotierk.

The next call for applications runs from July 1 to August 1 for programs running from Sept. to Dec. Application forms, program policy and program guides can be found at www.tunngavik.com or by calling 1-888-236-5400.

– Trevor Wright Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Iqaluit RCMP detachment was one of six in the territory that hosted a free public barbeque on June 21. Two others were unable to take place due to poor weather. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Traditional culture camp

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet The Kivalliq Inuit Association will run a week-long culture camp for youth in the region in Rankin Inlet starting July 2.

The camp is open to Inuit women and men between the ages of 15 and 29 who are interested in learning traditional and cultural skills first hand on the land with Elders.

During the Pijunnaqsiniq Program, participants will be shown how to sew traditional Inuit clothing, prepare and use marine and land mammal skins and traditional food preparation and preservation, among other skills. There will also be a healing workshop to learn how to better cope with grief and loss.

Interested applicants should have a passion for learning about Inuit culture, a desire to make a difference and be an active and responsible person.

The ability to speak and understand at least some Inuktitut is an asset as it will be the language of instruction.

All travel, accommodation and meals will be provided to successful applicants within the Kivalliq region.

– Cody Punter

Over 800 Qikiqtani Inuit access Emergency Land Initiative

Qikiqtani The federal Indigenous Community Support Fund used by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) to initiate the Emergency Land Access Initiative (ELAI) was completed June 18.

Over 800 Qikiqtani Inuit accessed the ELAI funding that

allowed eligible households to receive a one-time $1,500 grant to help self-isolate on the land during the recent outbreaks in Iqaluit and Kinngait. A total of $1,235,000 was provided by the Government of Canada.

Funds received by the households were eligible for the purchase of fuel, ammunition, food and other supplies needed while out on the land. With the spring thaw in Iqaluit, it was also eligible for the upcoming boating season.

– Trevor Wright

Rankin Inlet Fire Department cancels Canada Day parade

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet The Rankin Inlet Fire Department has announced it will not hold its annual Canada Day parade this year.

The decision came following the discovery of 215 children buried at a former residential school in British Columbia.

“The discovery of 215 Indigenous children’s remains at the Kamloops Residential School is the tip of the iceberg that has brought widespread grief and anger to the surface across the country and has touched every member of our fire department. Until the federal government takes some serious action, we don’t feel that now is the time to celebrate Canada,” reads a statement from the department.

The fire department did commit to leading parades for National Indigenous People’s Day and Nunavut Day. It will also be hosting its second annual house decorating competition for Nunavut Day. Meanwhile, the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet plans to do a drive-

Video released for Joey Nowyuk’s single Pray

^

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung Pangnirtung recording artist Joey Nowyuk has released his latest video, for a single titled Pray, or Tussiaq in Inuktitut.

The song features backing vocals from Baker Lake’s Shauna Seeteenak.

Pray, produced by Thor Simonsen and Dale Penner, is one of the tracks that comes in advance of Nowyuk’s debut album Tumitit, which was released July 16 through Hitmakerz.

“Tumitit is the Inuktitut word for ‘footsteps’ in English and, as the title suggests, I want others to walk in my footsteps by continuing to improve their lives and reach for their goals,” says Nowyuk. “At their root, many of my songs are very personal, and Nunavummiut often tell me they can relate; I touch on a lot of topics such as growing up an Inuk, mental health and suicide awareness, as well as living in the North.”

Qattuu Evic of the JUNO Award nominees Silla + Rise also makes an appearance on Tumitit to inject some Inuit throat singing.

Nowyuk reached the number one spot on the Indigenous Music Countdown with his previous single Nalligigakku (Because I Love Her).

Publicist Eric Alper describes Nowyuk as “a talented multi-instrumentalist on guitar and drums” with “powerhouse vocals” and an “extensive songwriting repertoire.”

“Joey Nowyuk’s beat-heavy, guitar-driven songs have beamed beyond Northern borders like the rays of optimism and hope they espouse – including translations across Inuktitut, English, French, and Japanese,” writes Alper.

The Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Film Development Continued on Page A18

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Nunavummiuq nursing grad strives to put patients at ease Pond Inlet’s Jena Merkosak says ability to speak Inuktitut can make a world of difference

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet

For Jena Merkosak, an essential part of nursing is helping patients to relax.

The recent graduate of Nunavut Arctic College’s four-year nursing program was able to do exactly that by speaking the Inuit language to some unilingual individuals who came in for assessment or treatment during her clinical placements in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

“I would see relief in their faces when I spoke Inuktitut to them … they could emotionally express themselves without having to go through a barrier. That was the biggest reward,” she said. “To me it was very natural to connect with patients, to really hear them out and empathize and develop a therapeutic relationship with them.”

Merkosak can recall the

influential day when she realized nursing would be a career that suits her. She was an 11-year-old Grade 6 student in her home community of Pond Inlet, and the new health centre was just opening.

“Everyone in the whole community was so excited … (about) how we’ll have more nurses and increased accessibility to health care. I was so fascinated,” she recalled. “I told my teacher at the time.

What she said really stood out to me, I guess. She said something like: ‘Yeah, you could be a nurse one day, if you wanted. You are caring. You have the qualities of a nurse.

If you feel that this is something you’re interested in, you can go for it. That’s when I feel like the door opened for me. I was like, OK, I want to be a nurse … I really started imagining that I’d be a nurse as an adult.”

Along the way, she enrolled

in the Nunavut Sivuniksavut college preparatory program and she later worked for Parks Canada, but the lure of nursing was never far.

A virtual grad ceremony was set for June 25 for the four 2021 graduates of the program. Merkosak, who earned the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated Leadership Award, wrote the valedictory address. In light of all the complications that COVID19 posed to learning and completing clinical practicums over the past 15 months, she credited her peers for proving how adaptable they are.

Classroom learning was replaced by online meetings.

Many scheduling revisions occurred. Socialization was reduced to a minimum.

“We have endured many obstacles. Despite these challenges, we have risen to the occasion,” she said, adding that the light at the end of the tunnel was not a train, but “a

ray of sunshine.”

Even though Merkosak excelled in meeting the academic demands to qualify for the profession, she admits that she periodically wrestled with doubts when in a clinical setting, something she describes as “imposter syndrome.”

“I felt like I didn’t belong in the hospital. I’m not a healthcare professional yet, I’m only a nursing student and I don’t know all the answers yet — so those times where I feel very nervous and not feeling like I quite belong in the institution,” she explained.

However, she’s learning to be patient with her own development and to “trust the process.”

There’s still a residency mentorship component to come, and that will help Merkosak determine which area of nursing she will specialize in, she said.

She added that she’s grateful

“ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐊᒡᕕᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ. ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᖁᕝᕙᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ,” ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᔩᓇ ᒥᖅᑯᓵᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓗᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᖃᑎᒋᔭᒥᓂᑦ, ᐊᓂᒍᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒡᕕᐊᕈᑎᑕᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ.

“We have endured many obstacles. Despite these challenges, we have risen to the occasion,” Pond Inlet’s Jena Merkosak said of her fellow nursing graduates, who succeeded despite hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of Jena Merkosak for the practicum placement opportunities to date and how helpful public health and the

Qikiqtani General Hospital staff were in accommodating the nursing students.

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New NIYC president to focus on mental health of Inuit youth ᓄᑖᖑᔪᖅ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖑᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐳᕋᐃᔭᓐ ᐹᑐᓪ, ᓂᕆᐅᒃᐳᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ.

Brian Pottle settling into new role

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

On Friday, June 15, the National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC) welcomed its new president Brian Pottle, who follows outgoing president Crystal Martin-Lapenskie.

The role includes public ambassadorship, leadership, and advocacy for issues surrounding Inuit youth across Inuit Nunangat, and serves as the national voice for Inuit youth.

The NIYC President serves for the duration of the two-year term and presidents must be a beneficiary of an Inuit Nunangat land claims agreement.

Pottle is 29 years-old and resides in St. John’s, Newfoundland and

Labrador and works in electrical engineering.

While he has just started in the role, he sees how important the work the NIYC president is involved in.

“The importance of the role is kind of becoming manifest in the engagements the president is looked to participate in. It’s been a very interesting challenge for sure,” said Pottle.

“Things are going good so far I think.”

One of the major goals Pottle has is for improved mental health resources for Inuit youth. He has previously co-led an engineering outreach program on suicide prevention at the 2017 National Inuit Youth Summit.

“Mental health and access to services surrounding healing is obviously something (needed) since inter-generational trauma and other types of trauma are so prevalent in the communities,” said Pottle.

Suicide prevention is something that hits close to home for Pottle, having lost his own family members to suicide.

“I experienced some (inter-generational trauma) myself. I personally lost my brother to suicide, the need is plenty,” he said. “I don’t know a single person in an Inuit community who hasn’t been affected by suicide.

“There is a very clear need for an improvement to mental health services so it becomes clear that there’s so many options to life besides suicide.”

Education is another matter he feels could use improvement across Inuit Nunangat.

“From my personal experience I lived in a very poor education system growing up. In more major centres the student has an opportunity to choose their courses and mold their future. When resources are limited, students often need to fit whatever pre-existing mold that a school can construct with the resources that they have,” he explained.

“It tends to lower interest and lower engagement, it creates a problem in the sense that education becomes so unengaging it just furthers any disinterest people may be inclined to have towards pursuing post-secondary education.”

New president of the National Inuit Youth Council, Brian Pottle, hopes to help make progress on the mental well-being of Inuit youth in Inuit Nunangat. ITK/ website

College celebrates two years’ worth of graduates Rankin Inlet campus invites 2020 grads to attend ceremony with 2021 cohort

By Cody Punter Northern News Services Nunavut

Nunavut Arctic College’s Rankin Inlet campus celebrated two years’ worth of graduates at special back-toback ceremonies last week.

After the pandemic cancelled last year’s celebration for the 2020 grads, the college decided to invite them back for a ceremony with the current cohort on June 7.

The college also extended an invitation to local residents who completed programs based in Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay. Matthew Ayres, vice-president of the college’s Kivalliq campus, said it was fitting that both years graduated together as they both had to overcome significant challenges to adapt during the pandemic.

“It shows great persever-

ance on the part of our students to be able to not only succeed, but excel, when facing a blended version of online and in-person delivery and jurisdictions due to public health measures,” he said. “Post-secondary education usually involves lots of teamwork and presentations, so our students had to come to terms with a new kind of learning.”

There were a total of 25 grads across the two years in courses including social work, teaching, management studies, as well as a variety of skilled trades.

Due to public health measures, the campus had to hold to separate back-to-back ceremonies.

The two groups spent the Sunday afternoon before the graduation decorating the hall.

“That was an impromptu celebration where they all

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖓ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ 2020 ᐊᒻᒪ 2021 –ᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᐊᒎᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᔫᓂ 7 –ᒥ .

Nealson Mautaritnaak won the Perseverance Award in Trades, sponsored

by Colleen and Sandy Napier, in addition to making honour roll. Photo courtesy of Nealson Mautaritnaak

came together to decorate the venue. I was very proud of that teamwork and to see everyone get together for a common goal that had been missing all year,” said Ayres.

In addition to several students ending up on honour roll, several bursaries were handed out.

Gail Angootealuk, who earned a management studies certificate in 2020 and a diploma this year, won both the Lester Landau Financial Award for the highest grade in accounting and the Illagiikut Limited Award for the highest academic standing in both the certificate and diploma management studies programs.

“Gail actually cleaned up,” said Ayres.

Another notable graduate is Nealson Mautaritnaak, who won the Perseverance Award in Trades, sponsored

by Colleen and Sandy Na-

ᓂᐅᓪᓯᓐ ᒪᐅᑕᕆᑦᓈᖅ ᓵᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓇᔪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓵᓚᖃᐅᓯᐊᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑳᓖᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓵᓐᑎ ᓇᐃᐱᐅᕐᒧᑦ, ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᓛᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ.

Nunavut Arctic College’s Rankin Inlet campus celebrated both 2020 and 2021 grads in a special ceremony held on June 7. Photo courtesy of Nealson Mautaritnaak pier, in addition to making honour roll.

“I wasn’t expecting to get the perseverance award and honour roll,” said Mautaritnaak. “There were a few students that were really good in the pre-apprentice classes as well. I was pushing myself really hard at the time because I knew how talented they were. I always kept in mind what my dad told me:

he said, ‘Innikuluk, do the best you can in everything you do.’”

The last two years of school have been challenging, Mautaritnaak admitted. When the pandemic first hit, he returned home to study remotely in Baker Lake. He eventually returned to Rankin Inlet to live with his girlfriend.

“We are currently staying

at my girlfriend’s parent’s place,” he said.

Mautaritnaak’s hard work has paid off. Just a week after finishing the final class of his housing maintainer diploma in early May, Mautaritnaak was offered a summer student position at Sakku Properties.

“I’m actually doing a job in my field of trades, which is housing maintainer,” he said.

A18 Monday, June 28, 2021

From Page A15 Corporation and the MVP Project – a partnership between RBCxMusic and the Prism Prize – provided funding for the album and the music video.

– Derek Neary

Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated across the territory

Nunavut The territory was out June 21, celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day at various locations from the capital, all the way west to Kugluktuk.

The City of Iqaluit hosted various events throughout the day with a Virtual Fun Run, pop-ups giving away country food and activities such as swimming, skating and turfing taking place later in the evening.

RCMP detachments in Iqaluit, Sanirajak, Resolute Bay, Kimmirut, Taloyoak and Kugluktuk also hosted various barbeques.

Barbeques were also planned in Kinngait and Sanikiluaq, however due to bad weather these were unable to take place.

A community parade also took place in Arviat on June 21, bringing the community together to celebrate being Indigenous.

– Trevor Wright

Canadian Coast Guard begins 2021 Arctic Season

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Nunavut The Canadian Coast Guard’s annual Arctic icebreaking season has started with the CCGS Terry Fox departing St. John’s NL on June 17, to support the Canadian Safe Boating Council’s SARSmart program, delivering lifejackets to four Nunavut communities - Arviat, Coral Harbour, Naujaat and Rankin Inlet.

On June 24 the CCGS Des Groseilliers departed Quebec City, QC for Aids to Navigation, refueling the Killiniq and Eureka Stations, and Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) charting.

Other ships will also depart for missions as well such as community resupply, search and rescue, support for scientific research, marine communications and traffic services, aids to navigation and marine environmental response.

These are as follows: June 30: The CCGS Jean Goodwill will be departing Dartmouth, NS for it’s maiden Arctic voyage, which includes icebreaking and Operation Pacer Goose, the resupply of the US Air Force Base in Thule, Greenland.

June 30: CCGS Amundsen will be departing Quebec City, QC for science missions led by Amundsen Science.

July 7: CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier will be departing Victoria, B.C., for icebreaking, aids to navigation, CHS and science programming.

ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎ ᐊᓄᕆᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᕗᖅ ᓴᓂᓕᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᕐᒥ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓᓂ. ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᒻᒥ ᔫᓂ 24–ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᔫᓂ 30–ᖑᕋᓱᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᖓᓂ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᓲᒥ ᔫᓂᐅᓕᕌᖓᑦ. ᖁᕝᕙᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᔭᒍᑕᖕᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᒻᒥ ᑲᑎᑎᕆᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓇᐅᖃᑎᒥᓂ, ᐊᖑᑕᐃᓐᓇᖃᑎᒥᓂ, ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐅᒪᔪᓂ, ᐊᖑᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᑕᕐᓂᓕᖕᓂ (LGBTQ2S+) ᐅᐱᒍᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ LGBTQ2S+ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᕐᒥ.

The Pride flag flows with the wind alongside the Nunavut flag at City Hall. The City of Iqaluit has raised the Pride flag at City Hall on June 24 and it will remain up until June 30 to observe Pride month, celebrated each June. The raising of the Pride, or rainbow flag brings Iqalummiut together to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer or Questioning, and Two Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) pride and LGBTQ2S+ social movements according to a release by the City. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo July 23: The CCGS Louis S. St.-Laurent will be departing St. John’s, NL for icebreaking, CHS, and the international Joint Ocean Ice Study mission.

July 25: CCGS Pierre Radisson will be departing from Quebec City, QC for icebreaking, CHS, and participation in the Operation

Nanook-Tatigiit maritime emergency exercise in Baffin Bay. Sept. 8: CCGS Henry Larsen will be departing from St. John’s, NL for icebreaking, CHS, and closing the Killiniq station for the end of the season.

– Trevor Wright

Young volunteers bake goods for Elders in Rankin Inlet Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council program encourages youth to give back to the community

By Cody Punter Northern News Services Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

A group of youths in Rankin Inlet have been taking part in a baking program dedicated to feeding Elders in the community over the last few months.

Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council received federal funding to run the program, which seeks to encourage teens and pre-teens to give back to the community.

“Because COVID restrictions are in Rankin

and high school students are only going to school twice a week, we thought we should come up with a way to keep them busy … just to give them that warm fuzzy feeling of giving back to the community. During that time we have started talking about doing a baking program,” said Ilitaqsiniq program manager Kelly Clark-Lindell.

There are currently 10 youth between the ages of 12 and 18 enrolled in the program.

For the past two-and-a-half months, they have been getting together several times a week to bake 15 to 20 trays worth of food a day.

Once it is ready, the youths then go around and hand out the baked goods to Elders in the community.

“It’s nice for kids to be in that situation where they are giving. The Elders that we have been delivering to have been so appreciative,” said Clark-Lindell.

Twelve-year-old Makayla Kaludjak, one of the program participants, said she signed up because she loves baking.

She said she has learned new recipes, such as cinnamon buns and peanut blossom cookies.

She has also enjoyed meeting new Elders in

town.

“It’s very fun to bring the baked goods to Elders. They are so happy to receive them,” she said.

Now that the current baking program has wrapped up, Clark-Lindell said Ilitaqsiniq is getting ready to do a new round of volunteering.

Out of the 10 youth in the current program, nine are planning to do more work throughout the summer.

“We’ve been having little brainstorming sessions with what they would like to see, what they’d be interested in,” said Clark-Lindell.

ᒪᕐᓯᔭ ᑯᕈᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖅᖠᕐᒦᑦᑐᖅ, ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓗᐃ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ, ᐊᑐᕆ ᕗᕆᑦᓚᓐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᔅᑎᓂ ᐊᓇᕈᐊᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ. ᕗᕆᑦᓚᓐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓇᕈᐊᖅ ᐃᒐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑕᐅᖕᒪᑎᒃ ᓂᕆᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᖄᖏᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

Marcia Kurok, left, Elder Louie Inukshuk, Audry Fredlund and Destiny Anawak pose for a photo.

Fredlund and Anawak have been taking part in a baking program dedicated to feeding Elders in the community over the last few months. photo courtesy of Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council

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

Rankin Inlet sending team to national Indigenous hockey tournament Team hoping to advance past quarter finals after finishing among top 8 teams in 2019

By Cody Punter Northern News Services Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet will send a team to the Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship in Saskatchewan this August.

A squad from the community travelled to the tournament in 2019 and made it to the quarter-finals before being eliminated. This year, the team has its sights set on emerging as the champs.

“Rankin doesn’t send teams away just to do good. If we go, we’re in it to win it,” team manager Roger Tagoona told Kivalliq News.

The national Indigenous men’s hockey tournament is named in honour of the late Fred Sasakamoose, who is considered the first Indigenous person to play in the National Hockey League.

Sasakamoose was given the name Chief Thunderstick by representatives of the Kamloops Indian Band when he played senior men’s hockey in B.C. during the late 1950s.

Tagoona, who has competed in

various national Indigenous tournaments, said getting to compete against all-Indigenous teams adds a layer of camaraderie among the players.

“It’s nice to just play hockey. You don’t have to worry about any racists words in the game,” he said. “It’s just a bunch of guys playing hard.”

Unlike most senior men’s hockey, the Chief Thunderstick event is full body contact, which plays in Rankin’s favour.

“It’s big boy hockey,” said Tagoona.

The invite-only tournament will include 32 teams from Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia and Nunavut.

Past editions of the event have attracted former pros, including former NHLer Dwight King.

“The first thing you notice is how high the level of play is,” said Tagoona. “You have all these great players from these reserves and they’re representing their communities, so the effort is there.”

There were only 20 teams originally scheduled to play this year but

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᖓ ᕌᔾᔪᕐ ᑕᒍᕐᓈ ᐅᕙᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᕗᑦ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥ ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅᓯᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ Chief Thunderstick ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᕼᐋᑭᒧᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ 2019– ᒥ. ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Rankin Inlet team manager Roger Tagoona is seen far left in a quarterfinal match-up at the Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship in 2019. The team will be returning to compete in this year’s tournament with hopes of winning it all. Photo courtesy of Ron Bonnetrouge thanks to the relaxing of pandemic restrictions in the province it was expanded to 32.

Rankin ended up being the last of the 32 teams to register. Because the Kivalliq entry finished in the top eight during the last tournament, the team will be seeded in a bracket that guarantees it won’t play against the highest-ranked teams until the playoffs.

Tagoona said he’s still finalizing the roster for the upcoming action.

For the most part, the squad will be made up of players who went in 2019.

However, this year Rankin plans to bring more players to account for the injuries that add up over the course of a full-contact tournament.

“We were kind of understaffed last time – with the hitting and all the games, you end up with a few inju-

ries,” he said. “That was our downfall last time – by the end we didn’t have enough legs.”

This year’s tournament is scheduled to go ahead in August. Organizers are awaiting a decision on whether fans will be able to attend the games.

“It looks very promising based on Saskatchewan’s reopening plan,” reads a statement from tournament organizers.

What really defines a professional?

Northern News Services

How bad could this order at Starbucks have been?

Some dunce in Miami Gardens, Florida pulled a gun on a barista on June 18. Why? He claimed the cream cheese was missing on his bagel that he had ordered. Omar Wright is this tool bag’s name and pulled the stunt on June 18 but what he didn’t know is that he just

ᐅᓴᐃᓐ ᐴᓪᑦ 2016 –ᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ . ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᓱᒃᑲᓛᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᖑᑎ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐃᓅᕋᑖᖅᑐᓂ ᒪᕐᕈᓕᐊᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᐃᓐᑦ ᓖᐅᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᓐᑐᕐᒥ .

Usain Bolt at the 2016 Olympics. The world’s fastest man and his partner have named their newborn twins St. Leo and Thunder. Wikimedia Commons photo

didn’t pull a gun on any random person. He did it to the daughter of Delma Noel-Pratt, the chief of the Miami Gardens Police Department. Wright was charged and was being held on $10,000 bond, proving yet again that criminals really are just that stupid.

Anyway: Of course they are Usain Bolt is perhaps the greatest sprinter of all time. Hard to argue with what he’s done in his career - he certainly has my vote - and he will be the benchmark for anyone else coming through.

The world’s fastest man - he still holds the men’s 100-metre and 200-metre world records - is now a father after his partner gave birth to twins earlier this month. And with a name like Bolt, you had to know there would be a bit of creativity involved. I’m proud to announce that Bolt’s children are named Saint Leo and Thunder. Are you as shocked as I aren’t that he would name one of his kids Thunder Bolt? What else would he name one of his kids?

Here’s the problem now: those kids are going to grow up in the shadow of their great father and I just hope they aren’t pressured into doing it. I’m fairly certain there are plenty of parents who won’t expect their kids to jump into the family business and keep on breaking world records. Bolt seems like the kind of guy who would encourage his weeyins to follow whatever path they decide to embark upon. Let’s just hope no one tries to stick silly ideas into their heads about how they could be as great as their old man.

But it makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

It’s finally official College athletes in the U.S. have been used as pawns to make billions for the NCAA for decades. It’s no secret - just take a look at how much money gets funneled into scholastic sport down south. It’s ridiculous and the players don’t see a dime of it, even though they’re the ones making it happen.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided enough was enough and unanimously ruled on June 21 that colleges and the NCAA itself can no longer put limits on education-related benefits that schools give athletes.

Basically, the ruling says that if a school wants to give a student a laptop so they can do work or give a paid internship to a student-athlete, it can do so and not have to worry about ruining the amateur status of a player.

Look, I’m not saying that studies shouldn’t come first. The key word in the compound word student-athlete is student. You’re there to study and you may be there to play a sport as well, if you’re lucky to make a team. But the amount of money schools and the NCAA make off the backs of these kids is ridiculous.

Before this ruling, student-athletes wouldn’t even be able to accept a free hamburger because it may be deemed a “gift.” Coaches, athletic directors, college presidents - they all make money off of it. The student-athletes?

Well, thanks for your efforts is what they got.

These people aren’t looking for millions of dollars. They just want a piece of the action and they’re owed that much.

And finally …

Good Idea: Joey Votto playing baseball.

SPorts Talk James McCarthy is the sports editor at NNSL Media. Reach him at sports@ nnsl.com

Bad Idea: Joey Votto getting tossed again.

Honestly, Etobicoke’s answer to constipation is becoming a tired act.

What is it about Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds that makes him want to yell at everyone around him every time he gets ejected?

You got tossed, yes, so you run around, puff out the chest and act the stiff one. It’s almost like every time you see Votto, he’s running his mouth about something or he’s jawing with an umpire because the umpire did something he didn’t like.

Votto was in fine form earlier this month against San Diego Padres, getting rung up, turning to the home plate umpire and imitating that schoolyard punk who acts all big and tough when he’s being held back. Here’s the even worse part: A young girl by the name of Abigail (last name unknown) was at the ball park and Votto is her favourite player. Now that’s how you make a fan for life, eh? Anyway, she was so upset that Votto lasted one inning but Votto heard about it and sent her a signed ball, followed by a photo with her after the game.

Sure, that’s nice and Abigail was happy, which is the important thing. Joey Votto? Still a jerk.

Until next time, folks …

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Monday, June 28, 2021 A23

Black Press Media pens deal with Google

By Ashley Wadhwani Black Press

Black Press Media has announced a major agreement with Google Canada, marking an initiative that will allow the community news network to reach wider audiences while ensuring the resilience of digital community journalism.

The newspaper legacy media company is one of seven Canadian publishers to sign an agreement with the multinational technology company, in line with the launch of Google News Showcase, a new product and licensing program that provides a customizable space for news content in Google News and Discover.

It’s not just about content licensing but also an agreement that will help Black Press Media thrive in the digital space, said CEO Rick O’Connor.

“Most of the communities that we operate in, [the journalists] are the only connection to journalism in their communities – the only people telling stories … So without our team, there is no lifeline to professional journalism coverage, and I think that’s critical and important ” O’Connor said, adding that the COVID19 pandemic has proven how integral the sharing of accurate information is.

At this time, 27 of Black Press Media’s roughly 80 publications will be part of the initiative – a majority of which are operations of one to two journalists.

Black Press Media publications include Abbotsford News, Chilliwack Progress, Red Deer Advocate, Nanaimo News Bulletin, as well as Yukon News and the recently acquired NNSL Media – both located in areas of the country where viable journalism is very scarce, O’Connor said.

“To me, what’s really good for our papers is that people will be able to go onto Google News Showcase and see a feed that is really wide-ranging and not something they’ll get anywhere else.”

Thursday’s announcement builds on News Showcase deals signed by more than 700 news publications around the

A pedestrian walks past signage at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. (Bloomberg photo by David Paul Morris) world, of which more than 90 per cent represent local news.

“We’ve never relied on high-quality journalism – especially when it’s created in our own communities – more than we have during the COVID crisis,” said Sabrina Geremia, Vice-President and Country Head at Google Canada.

“The work of Canadian journalists has been a lifeline, keeping us connected with essential information like changes to stay-at-home orders and where and when to get vaccinated. As we move out of this crisis, Google Canada is stepping up our role in supporting a sustainable news ecosystem in Canada, just as we have in countries all over the world. The need has never been greater, and our commitment has never been stronger.”

Part of the commitment by Google Canada includes further funding to the Google News Initiative with a focus on training journalists of tomorrow to find success in the digital age of storytelling.

Over the next three years, Google will train 5,000 Canadian journalists and journalism students on strengthening digital skills in the newsrooms – a fivetimes increase from the 1,000 journalists the mega-company has already trained

to date.

Google Canada will also be expanding support for small and mid-sized news organizations, as well as launching boot camps for aspiring Canadian news entrepreneurs starting a business or non-profit journalism project.

O’Connor said part of the investment

by Google Canada will go directly to supporting Black Press Media’s bootson-the-ground news publications, from recruitment to training.

“I really do believe that the quality of our journalism and how we present it is directly related to the overall success of our business,” O’Connor said.

The federal government is currently considering legislation, similar to Australia and France, that could force tech companies to not only pay for news on their platforms but also regulate problematic content.

In May, Facebook announced similar content agreements with 14 publishers.

Under a news innovation test program, the various deals with the California-based tech giant included the National Observer, the Tyee, Village Media, Daily Hive and Discourse Media for undisclosed amounts.

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