Nunavut News - Nov. 22, 2021 Edition

P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 17–ᒥ ᑕᑯᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔪᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖑᔪᒥ; ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ

Inside: 2021 Nunavut and NWT mining Volume 76 Issue 30 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2021 $.95 (plus GST)

P.J. Akeeagok selected as Nunavut’s premier Leadership forum held Nov. 17 saw rookie MLA take top job; three women in cabinet positions

Idlout sworn in

Taloyoak boys take hockey dreams south

Highlighting stories of hope

NTI votes to seek Inuit self-government

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Nunavut Theatre Company wraps first production

Publication mail Contract #40012157

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71605 00200

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Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

A2 Monday, November 22, 2021

ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ 6–ᖓᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂ. ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 17–ᒥ.

News North Nunavut

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www.NunavutNews.com

P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᒧᑦᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᓂᐊᖁᙴ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ; ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 7–ᓄᑦ Northern News Services

Members of the 6th legislative assembly have selected P.J. Akeeagok as Nunavut’s next premier. The leadership forum was held Nov. 17. Photo courtesy of the P.J. Akeeagok

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᒥ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ, 36, ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᖓᔪᐊᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᖄᖏᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᖓᔪᖓᓐᓂ–ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓂᑦ ᓗᐊᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᕐᒥ, ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᖓᓐᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ. ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖅ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂ 5.5–ᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐃᑯᖓ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᒥ (QIA) ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 7–ᓄᑦ, ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ, ᓄᑖᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ 10–ᖑᔪᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᕿᐊᕗᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 16-ᒥ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖓᓂ. “ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ,” ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᕆᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ “ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ.” ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒐᓚᒃ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 20-ᓄᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓱᓕ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᐳᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᑭᒃᓴᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᖕᒥᐅᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᓂ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᑐᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒡᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ; ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ; ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖑᓂᖓᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐸᐃᕆᕝᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᕐᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥ ᐱᐅᖅᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᓄᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᖁᕝᕙᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ–ᓂᐅᖁᙴᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓱᕋᑦᑎᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᑑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑐᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᖏᔪᓂ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᐊᒥᓱᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᕈᒪᕗᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᖅᑭᒍᑎᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐊᒥᓱᓗᐊᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᐃᓐᓇᒐᓚᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᖃᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖑᔪᓂᑦ. “ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ… ᐊᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᓕᒧᑦᑐᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ, ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ. ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓂᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᐸᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᐊᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᖓᓂ ᑭᒡᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᑭᐅᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᓂᕿᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᑦ. ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ. “ᐊᐃᑦᑖᖑᒐᓗᐊᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᑎᑦᑎᓗᐊᓲᖑᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐹᒥᓚ ᒍᕉᔅ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᕐᒥ. ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᒫᒡᒍᓕᑦ ᓇᑲᓱᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᕐᒥ. ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᑑᓂ ᐊᑯᐊᒃ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ.

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Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 674 Recovered cases: 670 Deaths: 4

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑰᒡᔪᐊᒧᑦ

ᑰᒡᔪᐊᖅ, ᒫᓂᑑᐸ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔨ ᑕᒃᑐ ᒪᐃᑯ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᓴᓇᑦᑕᐃᓕᐅᕌᓂᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 15-ᒥ, ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᒻᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᒃᑲᓐᓂᖁᔨᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᑰᒡᔪᐊᓕᐊᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ. ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᖅᑕᖃᖏᑉᐸᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᖅᑖᖅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᓄᑦ 14-ᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᒋᐊᖃᖏᑦᖢᑎᒃ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᑕᑕᑎᕆᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᑎᓗᒋᑦ cphotravelrequests@gov.nu.ca, ᒪᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔭᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑎᕈᑎᒡᓗ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔭᓚᐅᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᒪᓕᒋᖃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓪᓗ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᑐᖁᔪᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑰᒡᔪᐊᒥ ᐅᑎᕆᐊᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᑕᑎᕆᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᒪᓕᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᖁᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖏᓐᓂᕐᒥᖕᓂ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖃᑦᑕᖏᑉᐳᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖃᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕈᒪᔪᓂᒃ. please see Churchill, page 12

Vaccine uptake: 26,649 first doses – 91 per cent over age 12 23,473 second doses – 80 per cent over age 12 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ.

ᓴᖅᐱᓇᖅ ᑯᓅᑉ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ NFBᑯᑦ ᐃᑭᐊᕿᕕᖓᓂ

ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ ᓴᖅᐱᓇᖅ ᑭᐊᕈ ᑯᓅᑉ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖓ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᓂᖅ, ᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ 10-ᒥᓂᑦ ᑕᑭᑎᒋᔪᖅ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᒐᒃᓴᖅ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᒐᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑎᔨᓄᑦ National Film Board (NFB) ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᑭᐊᕿᕕᖓᒍᑦ. ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑰᓄᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᖃᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓗ, ᐆᒃᑑᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᓂᒃᑰᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᕐ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᓪᓗ ᓄᑕᖃᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᓴᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᖅᐸᓗᒃᖢᑎᒃ. ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ, ᐃᑭᐊᕿᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ, ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑦᑐᖅ, ᐱᑕᖃᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ NFB. please see Saqpinaq, page 12

2021ᒥ ᑲᓃᑎᔭᓐ ᓄᐊᒃᑯᑦ Canadian North ᓄᑕᖃᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᐃᓕᖅᐳᑦ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᓕᕐᒥᑎᓪᓗᒍ Canadian North Airlines ᐱᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᖅᓯᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᓄᑕᖃᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᒐᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᐃᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᕼᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᓱᒑᐱᖕᒥᐅᑦ, ᑭᒻᒥᕈᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᒡᔭᖅᑐᐃᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᓱᓕ ᓄᕙᒡᓇᕐᔪᐊᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᒥ, Canadian North ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓄᑕᖃᓄᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ Mastermind Toys, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᑉᐸᓂᐅᔪᖅ. ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 16–ᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ,.Canadian North GoFundMe ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᐃᔨᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᐊᕈᔾᔨᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ $5,000 ᑲᑎᑦᓯᓇᓱᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ $10,000–ᓂᒃ. ᐊᕐᕌᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ Canadian North ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᐅᑐᐃᑦᑐᒥᐅᓂᒃ, ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓗᒃᓴᖅᑑᒥᐅᓂᒡᓗ. please see 2021, page 12

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒥᒥᒍᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐊᓛᑦ ᕼᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒫᓐᓇ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᒍᒪᕗᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᑖᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓂ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐄᐳᕈ 1, 2022–ᒥ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᑦᓯ 31, 2027-ᒧᑦ. ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᑕᑎᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᕼᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᔪᒥᑦ. ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᕕᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ 5-ᒧᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᕐᒥ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 17. ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᔪᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒥᒥᒍᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᒧᑦ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑖ 867-645-2895 ext. 2006 ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ wellness@rankininlet.ca. please see Wellness, page 12

Steven Carleton speaks to the crowd during his Hope Gathering meeting in Rankin Inlet in September. Photo courtesy of Steven Carleton

ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖕᓂᑯᒥ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ Northern News Services

ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᓱᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᑖᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᖁᓄᔪᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᑦᑕ ᐅᐸᒃᐸᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖑᔪᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᕙᒃᑕᖓᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 16–ᒥ. “ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓇᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᑯᓅᓇ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᒥᖅᐸᓚᐅᕐᓂᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᙵᐅᒪᕐᔪᐊᓚᕐᓂᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓗᓕᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᖓ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓚᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᓐᓂ.” ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ, ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔨᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖑᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑎᕆᖅᑯᐊᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓂᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ. ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᐊᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ. ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ 100–ᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ 50–ᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᐅᐸᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓂᑦ. “ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕈᓐᓇᕈᑦᑕ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕆᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓂᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᕐᔪᐊᖑᕗᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᑉ ᕿᑎᐊᓃᑉᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᕐᔪᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥᑦ. “ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓲᖑᕗᒍᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐳᕙᖕᓂ ᐊᓂᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᓕᒫᖕᓂᑦ, ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ.” ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. “ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐱᐅᒋᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐸᕋ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᖁᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐱᐅᒋᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐸᕋ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ.” ᐊᓈᓇᖓ ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᕋᓛᒥ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ 1959–ᒥ. ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ – ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᒻᒪᑕ, ᖁᑭᖅᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᓕᒫᓂᑦ, ᓅᑎᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕋᑦᑎᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᕐᒪᖏᓐᓂ. “ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ, ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᓂᐱᖓᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅᖢᓂ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖕᓂᑯᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᑐᑭᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑎᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓂ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᕐᔪᐊᖑᕗᖅ ᓴᐅᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᑎᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᕗᑦ. ᓱᖏᐅᓐᓇᖅᓯᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ.” ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᑕᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᑐᐃᕋᒥ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᓛᕆᔭᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖏᓐᓄᑦ. “ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐅᖃᐅᑎᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᕐᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᓂ. ᐃᓅᓯᖅ ᓇᐃᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᓴᐅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓᓕᒫᖅ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᑦᑎᓐᓃᑦᑐᓂ.” ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ, ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᐅᓗᑎᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒡᕕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ. ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᔪᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᕙᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᓂᖃᙱᑦᑐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᑦ ᑕᑖᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥ. ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑯᐊᐸᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂ. ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒋᔭᖓ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ, ᓇᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 2014–ᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ.

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News North Nunavut

Monday, November 22, 2021 A5

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Covid, population NTI seeks to create growth add to Inuit Self-Government housing challenges in in Nunavut Resolution passed at AGM Nov. 16; Nunavut: CMHC Nunavut government has focused too

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

High population growth and the Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated the housing crisis in Nunavut, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) 2021 Northern Housing Report.

Affordability remains as one of the most pressing concerns in the territory, particularly among young people and seniors, CMHC stated.

The average monthly mortgage in Nunavut is $1,886 compared to $1,602 in Yellowknife and $1,539 in Yukon.

The rental market in Iqaluit is also extremely tight with a vacancy rate of 0.7 per cent. In Yellowknife, the vacancy rate is 3.6 per cent.

In Whitehorse, it’s 2.1 per cent.

The average monthly rental rate for a two-bedroom unit in Iqaluit is $2,785. In Yellowknife, it’s $1,769. In Whitehorse, it’s $1,296.

Construction was affected by the pandemic, which led to labour challenges and the sky-

rocketing cost of supplies.

“The closure of Canadian lumber mills, as a Covid-19 preventative measure, caused disruption in supply and volatility in the price of lumber,” the report reads. “This combined with the high costs of land and labour in the North, put downward pressure on the creation of new housing supply over the last year, further exacerbating persistent housing supply and housing affordability challenges.”

The supply and affordability challenges in the three territories are the reasons why the North “is a strong priority” under Canada’s first National Housing Strategy and why “significant” federal and territorial investments were made in housing in Budget 2021, according to the CMHC. As of June 30, through the National Housing Strategy, the federal government has invested $331 million to help 2,962 households access safe and secure housing in Nunavut, $312 million to help 4,828 households in Northwest Territories, and $178 million to help 2,973 households in Yukon. the CMHC stated.

much on non-Inuit, says NTI

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) will be pursuing Inuit Self-Government in Nunavut, following a resolution at its annual general meeting on Nov. 16.

The resolution will seek a negotiation mandate with the Government of Canada to exercise their inherent right to Inuit Self-Government.

In a release by the Inuit Organization, NTI is asserting that the Government of Nunavut has resisted the development of policies, programs and services which meet the needs of Inuit, who make up the vast majority of people in the territory, instead focusing on “the non-Inuit minority.” The release also decries the decline in the quality of life for

Nunavut Inuit, as well as the loss of language and culture seen in Inuit communities.

On Oct. 13, NTI announced it will be taking the Government of Nunavut to court over a failure to create a full Inuit-language K-12 education over the course of the past 22 years.

“At NTI, we wholeheartedly understand how difficult it will be to continue to struggle under a regime that does not support us nor wants us to succeed in fulfilling the vision of a prosperous and thriving Nunavut envisioned by young, bold Inuit leaders in the 1970s,” stated Aluki Kotierk, President of NTI. With the passing of this resolution, NTI will be actively looking toward developing an Inuit self-government with the federal government.

“We owe it to Inuit to represent their full potential,” said Kotierk.

A6 Monday, November 22, 2021

News North Nunavut

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ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᕗᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ.

Hope Gathering attendees pose for a group photo during their meeting in Baker Lake. Photo courtesy of Steven Carleton

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Finding hope in Baker Lake

Abuse survivor uses personal experiences to let youth know they are not alone

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake

Steven Carleton’s mission in life is helping Inuit find hope through their darkest moments.

He knows the struggle well, having been sexually abused as a teen by a member of the church his family attended.

That’s one of many stories he tells at his Hope Gathering meetings, the latest of which was held in Baker Lake on Nov. 16.

“I talked about how I was able to find a way through that,” said Carleton. “I talked about how I drank, and I was extremely angry and confused. I didn’t know what was going on in my life.”

Prayer, finding a counsellor and reconnecting with Inuit ways of life was how he turned a corner and found hope.

Carleton held a similar meeting in Rankin Inlet in September.

More than 100 people attended that meeting, and roughly 50 came to the Baker Lake event. What particularly thrilled Carleton was the number of young men present.

“If we’re able to tell stories of other Inuit, other First Nations men and women who have had experiences similar to some of the people in our meetings, and how they’ve been able to overcome them and find a way through, then I think that’s worth its weight in gold,” said Carleton.

The meetings centre on storytelling, sharing the real lived experiences of people who have survived abuse, addiction and trauma.

“We tell stories of hope, that it’s possible to overcome these things,” said Carleton. “And as long as you’ve got breath in your lungs, there’s real potential for our lives to improve.”

He’s well aware of the mental health challenge in Nunavut.

“I hate alcohol for what it does to my people,” said Carleton. “I hate that Inuit have gone through the things we’ve gone through.”

His mother was born in an outpost camp outside of Pangnirtung in 1959. She lived a nomadic life as a child, the Inuit way of life – until the RCMP came, shot all the dogs, relocated people and bulldozed their summer stone homes.

“It’s injustice in its purest form,” said Carleton, the emotion in his voice clear.

He advocates that abuse survivors and those going through mental health challenges open up to people they trust.

“First thing we need to understand is it’s not your fault that this happened,” said Carleton. “And then secondly, it’s so important that we don’t bury these things in our lives. We need to talk about them. We need to normalize conversation around the things that we’re struggling with.”

Change in his life only started happening when he opened up to his close friends and parents.

“Talk to at least one person,” said Carleton. “Tell them some of the things you’re struggling and dealing with. Because life is really too short to bury all these things inside of our hearts.”

For those who are not dealing with abuse or mental health issues but who want to help, Carleton suggests being that friend others can turn to.

“Be a lifeline to at least one person,” he said. “You might not be able to travel all throughout the territory, you might not have a large Facebook following or YouTube platform – those things really don’t matter as long as you can help one person through a tough time in their life.”

He was encouraged to see the Iqaluit demonstration demanding suicide prevention.

“I really do believe that we can beat it,” said Carleton. “We can beat this suicide crisis. It’s one of the most beautiful things about my people. When people are healthy, there’s such a phenomenal sense of community and people looking out for each other.”

He wants to foster an environment where suicide does not survive, and people’s lives are full of hope.

Carleton thanked the local co-op for their support of his events.

His organization, the Arctic Hope Project, was founded in 2014 as an Inuit youth leadership development and suicide prevention program. More information is available at www.bpea. com/arctic-about.

www.NunavutNews.com

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᖅ ᐊᖏᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐋᔅᑐᕉ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥ ᐅᓪᓛᖓᓂ. ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᑭᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑲᑕᔾᔭᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᓚᐅᔾᔭᖅᑐᓂ. ᐃᓪᓚᐅᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᓪᓗᓂ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ New Democratic ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᖑᓂᖓᓂ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑭᒡᓕᐅᔪᒥ.

News North Nunavut

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Lori Idlout sworn in as MP within Nunavut

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services

On Nov. 12 Lori Idlout, elected as Nunavut’s next MP during the Sept. 20 federal election, was officially sworn in.

While swearing-in ceremonies usually take place within Ottawa, Idlout has opted for something else – to instead to have it take place within Nunavut itself at Iqaluit’s Astro Theatre.

“I thought it was a huge honour, I was so glad I was able to do it in Nunavut. I really wanted to make it not just about me, but highlighting the strengths of what Nunavut has and really highlighting the beautiful culture we have in Nunavut,” said Idlout.

The ceremony was held almost entirely in Inuktitut.

The NDP party leadership is also quite excited to have someone such as Idlout on-board.

“I’m particularly happy because Lori brings a lot to the table,” said Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, who visited Iqaluit from Nov. 15 to 17, highlighting her experience and credentials.

“To have someone like Lori, someone who’s been a longstanding

Nunavut Member of Parliament Lori Idlout’s swearing-in ceremony was held at the Astro Theatre in Iqaluit on Friday morning. The event, conducted in Inuktitut, included a qulliq lighting, throat singing and drum dancing. Idlout is the second consecutive New Democratic politician to represent the territory at the federal level. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Number of low-income households in Nunavut more than double NWT, Yukon: Statistics Canada

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Nunavut reported the highest rate of low-income households among the three territories in 2019, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

Almost one-fifth of Nunavummiut — 19.4 per cent — exist on low income, more than double the rates of the Northwest Territories (8.8 per cent) and Yukon (8.2 per cent).

Individuals are defined as having low income “if their adjusted after-tax income falls below 50 per cent of the median adjusted after-tax income” of Canadians, according to Statistics Canada.

The 2019 territorial income statistics, released Nov. 12, show that families and unattached individuals living in Nunavut reported median after-tax income of $93,800. That compares to $93,200 in the NWT and $77,800 in Yukon. Those figures were higher than any of the Canadian provinces in 2019, Statistics Canada stated.

The numbers were even higher in the capital cities in Nunavut and the NWT. In Iqaluit, the median after-tax income of families and unattached individuals was $106,100, while in Yellowknife it was $105,700. In Whitehorse, the figure matched the territorial number: $77,800.

However, among Indigenous families and unattached individuals in Nunavut, the median figured dropped to $85,500. In Yukon it was $72,600 and in the NWT it was $65,100 among those living off reserve.

Monday, November 22, 2021 A7

advocate for the people of Nunavut, someone who’s a lawyer” will be an ideal addition to the NDP caucus Singh adds.

It was more than just being proud, said Idlout, but also supporting her fellow Nunavummiut, paying the throat singers, drummers and others who performed and the Astro Theatre for the ceremony.

“It’s about more than just pride, but it’s also about following through on some of the promises I made,” she said, “which is to try and find ways to support my economy. To be able to pay local businesses and support local performers. To pay them for the services they provided, I thought, was a wonderful way to acknowledge there are ways to support our economy as well.”

Idlout’s history of advocacy as well as her credentials as a business owner and lawyer are skills she’ll bring to the table as the NDP’s critic for Indigenous issues. Singh says “it’s a very important role that Lori’s going to play on our team. And I’m absolutely confident that she’s going to be able to fulfill that role with incredible service.”

The House of Commons will resume sitting on Nov. 22, where Idlout will be representing Nunavut as MP.

A8 Monday, November 22, 2021

News North Nunavut

Editorial & Opinions

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

ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓱᒃᑲᒃᑎᑦᑎᒋᐊᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ Northern News Services

ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᔪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐋᖓᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᐅᔪᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒧᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ/ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᓱᖏᐅᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᑯᖓ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ $16 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐃᓯᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᓂ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᓄᑦ. ᑕᒪᒃᑭᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓃᓪᓗᐊᑕᖅᖢᓂ, ᐱᐊᒧᑦ ᕙᐃᓂᒧᓪᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 79 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᐴᖅᑐᒐᕐᓂ ᓱᓐᓂᕈᑕᐅᓲᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐃᓯᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂ 2020-21–ᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓛᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ. ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 11 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ (ᐊᒥᐊᒃᑯᔪᑦ 10 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᓚᐃᓴᓐᓯᖃᖅᑎᓄᐊᓲᖑᕗᑦ). ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᑯᙵᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓂᑦ ᓱᕋᐃᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᐱᕋᔭᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ – ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓴᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ – ᓱᓕ ᓯᓚᐃᕐᕆᓂᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ. ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑐᖅ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᔪᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᑭᖑᓂᐊᓂ 2018–ᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑭᓖᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐸᓗᐊᓂ. ᓂᐱᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᐊᕐᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 60 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒍᑎᒃᓴᒥ, ᐃᓱᓕᒃᑲᓗᐊᕈᑎᒃ ᐱᐅᒋᔭᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐲᖅᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᕆᔭᖓᓂ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᔾᔮᙱᓚᑦ ᐊᑖᓃᑦᑐᒥ ᓱᔪᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ

ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᐅᔪᓂᑦ. ᐸᖅᑭᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᓛᖑᕗᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᐃᓄᑦᑎᐊᕙᒃᑕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᒪᓂᕐᒧᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖑᔪᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓅᒍᓂ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐆᒪᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᔪᓕᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔨᐅᕗᖅ. ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓂᕐᓗᕐᔪᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᓂ. “ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᑐᑭᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑎᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᕈᑕᓐ. “ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓂ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᕐᔪᐊᖑᕗᖅ ᓴᐅᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᑎᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᕗᑦ. ᓱᖏᐅᓐᓇᖅᓯᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ.” ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓴᐱᓕᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᑑᔮᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓚᖅ ᓴᖑᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓗᒻᒧᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓇᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᖅᑎᓪᓗᑎᑦ, ᒪᑐᐃᕐᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐃᓕᖕᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐱᓂᕐᓗᒡᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᑎᑭᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑎᑭᒃᑯᓂ – ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ – ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂ ᑎᓴᒪᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᓂ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖃᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ. ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᓂᓪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᓚᐅᑉᐳᑦ, ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓗᐊᖅᐳᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓚᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖁᐱᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 20–ᓄᑦ. ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖅᑖᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ. ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᕗᑦ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᐃᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒧᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑐᐊᖑᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ.

Mental health crisis is catalyst to addiction Restricting problem substances often leads to more harm; spend more energy on supporting one another Northern News Services

Addictions are a crippling facet of life, whether a person struggles with alcohol, other substances, or behaviours such as gambling or video game addiction.

The trauma accompanying the last century has left many with unhealthy outlets for their pain.

Alcohol abuse is especially troubling, yet consumption is normalized in our society to the point that the territorial government has brought in more than $16 million of revenue from liquor sales in each of the past three years.

Most of this is centralized in Iqaluit, the beer and wine store there generated 79 per cent of Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission sales revenues in 2020-21, according to the commission’s most recent annual report.

Sales to other Nunavut communities accounted for only 11 per cent of sales (the remaining 10 per cent goes to licensees).

Of course, we know not all alcohol that reaches the smaller centres gets there legally. Bootlegging – and all the social and economic ills that come with it – is yet another exploitative piece of the problem.

Kugluktuk is the most recent community to announce its intentions to

hold a plebiscite to further restrict alcohol after the 2018 vote that saw restrictions loosened. Baker Lake held one earlier this year. Though there was vocal support, the motion to review sales through an alcohol education committee narrowly missed the 60 per cent threshold required to pass.

These frequent votes among multiple communities show the will to find a solution, even if they end up being unpopular and ultimately fail.

Restrictions may remove the catalyst of the problem, but they will not solve the underlying harms that influence addictive behaviours.

Taking care of our mental health and the crises that Nunavummiut are experiencing is the surest way forward, and there are plenty of good people on the ground doing the work to help others out of the darkness.

Stories of hope are being spread, whether by our youth who are protesting the lack of resources for mental health or by survivors of abuse who have overcome their difficulties and want to see others succeed.

Steven Carleton is one such advocate. He has held meetings in Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake centring on storytelling and sharing the experiences of people who have sur-

vived abuse, addiction and trauma.

“First thing we need to understand is it’s not your fault that this happened,” says Carleton. “And then secondly, it’s so important that we don’t bury these things in our lives. We need to talk about them. We need to normalize conversation around the things that we’re struggling with.”

When people feel helpless and alone, it is easy to turn inward, but as scary as it can be to talk to someone when you are struggling, opening up is a first step in opening yourself to new possibilities.

The trauma and addictions treatment centre coming to Iqaluit will be a help when it arrives in – hopefully – four more years, but more supports must also be built up outside the capital.

The protesters who spoke up this week in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and other communities are right, it is not soon enough, and it is not enough.

Not when people continue to fall through the cracks because they have been given the same lack of options for more than 20 years.

A new territorial government has just come to power. Our premier, cabinet and MLAs must roll up their sleeves and work diligently with Nunavut Tunngavik and the federal government to achieve more than a single treatment centre.

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Lots to see at this year’s Christmas Bazaar

Monday, November 22, 2021 A9

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

ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ! ᐅᓇ ᐱᐊᓯ ᕼᐊᐅᒥᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᕈᓘᔭᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒡᒐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ, ᐱᐅᔪᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᒧᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒧᑦ !

So beautiful! Here is Bessie Haomik at the Christmas Bazaar in Cambridge Bay with a variety of handmade items for sale, great for someone special for Christmas! Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

ᐊᒥᓱᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᑕᑯᔭᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ Northern News Services

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒋᔅᓯ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ! ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕖᖕᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᑐᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ. ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᑯᓂᖓᓗᒃᑖᖅ ᐊᒡᒐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂ ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑎᕗᑦ, ᓂᖅᖠᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᓕᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ. ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᒪᒪᓛᑦᑎᐊᒥᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥ ᓂᕿᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥ ᕌᓂ ᐅᕼᐅᑲᓐᓄᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ. ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐊᔪᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᓴᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐳᐊᓗᓂᑦ, ᖁᓕᑦᑕᐅᔭᓂᑦ, ᑕᑯᒥᓴᐅᑏᑦ, ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂ. ᖁᐊᓇ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓇᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᒪᓕᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓯᕙᑖᕐᕕᒃ,

ᐅᐊᑲᓪᓚᖔ ! ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑎ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ, ᐅᓇ ᔨᐊᓐ ᐊᖑᕼᐃᐊᑐᒃ ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑕᓕᒫᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 4–ᒧᑦ. ᖁᐊᓇ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᑕᐃᓯ ᐃᔨᒋᑐᒃᒧᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ.

Merry Christmas Cambridge Bay, Nunavut! The community held a Christmas Bazaar after being closed for the last couple of years due to the pandemic. It was another successful community event which all ages very much enjoyed.

It was so wonderful to see all those handmade crafts and how busy our seamstresses, cooks and more talented individuals of Cambridge Bay. Every year residents have the most delicious Arctic char antipasto made by Roni Ohokannoak and her family. It is very encouraging to see all the talented seamstresses who made beautiful products such as mitts, parkas, jewellery, crafts and more.

Quana to the volunteers who made all their hard work possible to have a successful Christmas Bazaar.

The next bazaar is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4. Quana everyone, and special thank you goes to Daisy Eyegetok who always makes sure the bazaar is well organized.

Wow! A young and talented seamstress in Cambridge Bay, here is Jen Angohiatok with all her sewings for sale at the Christmas Bazaar. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

ᕼᐊᓘ ! ᐅᓇ ᕼᐊᓚᓐ ᑯᐊᕼᐊ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᖓᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᕙᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᕈᓘᔭᖅᑐᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᒃᓴᑦᑎᐊᕙᒃᓴᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ. ᐊᔪᙱ ᕼᐊᓚᓐ !

ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᑦ ᓱᓖᑲ ᒪᓂᔪᔩᓇ ᑭᐳᖓ ᑕᑖᑦᑎᐊᓲᖅ ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᒡᒐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ. ᐃᓚᒌᓕᒫᑦ ᐊᕙᒃ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᔪᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒥᖅᓱᖅᑎᐅᕗᑦ. ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᖓᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᖕᓇᐅᔭᖅᑎᑐᑦ. ᐱᐅᔪᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᕙᒃ !

ᐊᓈᓇ ᑕᑯᒍᒃ ! ᐸᓚᐅᒑᖅ ᒪᒪᕆᔮᓗᒐ ! ᐅᓇ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᑕᐃᒥᐊᓐ ᒥᑦᑯᐃᓐᓂᖅ ᒪᑐᒥᐊᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ, ᐊᑖᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᒥᐊᓐ ᒪᒪᑕᒃᑐᑦ ᐸᓚᐅᒑᓕᐊᒥᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 13 –ᒥ .

Hello! Here is Helen Koaha and her beautiful smile all set for the annual Christmas Bazaar held in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut with a variety of gift items for sale. Awesome Helen! Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Every year Zuleika Maniyogina has her table full of beautiful handmade crafts for sale. The whole family on Avaks side of the family are such talented seamstresses. Just like her Grandmother Angnaoyok. Nice Avak!

Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Look Mom! I love bannock! Here is 2-year-old Damian Mitkoenik Matomiak and his dad Damian enjoying fresh bannock at the Christmas Bazaar held Nov. 13. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

A10 Monday, November 22, 2021

News North Nunavut

A challenging chain of events Northern News Services

Although the chain of events has been difficult and challenging, this has not dampened my awareness and will to continue adA chain of events has left me in a place of vocating for social justice. It is evident after the unknown so-to-speak. I have lived long situations and circumstances have evolved, enough to have gained experience in various circumstances and situations as most have. society in general falls back into complaMy sister passed away after a drawn-out cency. Our caregivers and social agencies battle with cancer, then a short three weeks resume a reactive attitude and the needy are later my son was stabbed and succumbed left to fend for themselves again. to the fatal injuries. He was one of our twin I heard rumblings from the last legislative boys. assembly that human resources and the On Oct. 16, 2020 Nunavut Housing I retired from the Corporation were Government of Nuntalking about planavut in the Departning ahead for more ment of Economic added staff housing Harry Maksagak is a Cambridge Development and while our locals Bay resident, former underground Transportation’s are added to an alminer at the Lupin gold mine, now retired from the Government of mineral and petroready long waitlist.

Nunavut. He has been married for leum resources diviI caution these two 50 years and has five children and sion. I had worked entities in hiring numerous grand- and great-grandchildren. underground at the as we have seen an Lupin Gold Mine influx of foreigners for ten years and who have no clue then seven years in the office as Community what the IQ Principles are. These are eight Mining Advisor. Maybe I shouldn’t have resimple principles that are the pillars and tired because my Old Age Security has been foundation in the governance of Nunavut. calculated at $40.70 per month. I am still An urgent review of the point system and paying a mortgage and all related costs in the rent scales has to take place as soon as the scheme of home ownership. I put this out for new members of the Nunavut Legislature advise or guidance. assume office.

We often speak of resilience and confiPerhaps I should rephrase my opening dence and when it seems all odds are against line to renewed fire for social justice in all us someone speaks words of encouragement. areas including housing, family services, My community certainly has lived up to this justice, education and for all agencies to and continue to do so today. work together for a common cause.

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street talk with Doreen Hannak at Peter Pitseolak High in Kinngait ᔭᐃᒥᓯ ᐊᓲᓇ “ᐹᔅᑭᑦᐹᓪ, ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒻᒪᑦ.”

James Ashoona “Basketball, because it’s fun.”

ᔮᓱᐊ ᐅᐊᑦᒥᓐ “ᕼᐋᑭ – ᐊᐳᖅᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᖕᒪᑦ.”

In my View

Joshua Wortman “Hockey – it’s a contact sport.”

ᓵᓐ ᐅᖂᑕᖅ “Table tennis ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖓ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᖅᑎᑑᕐᒪᑦ.”

Shawn Oqutaq “Table tennis because the movement is like hunting.”

ᑭᓱ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕆᕕᐅᒃ?

What is your favorite sport? ᓯᐊᓯ ᒥᒃᑭᒐᖅ “ᐹᔅᑭᑦᐹᓪ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕆᕙᕋ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᒃᑲ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑎᒋᓪᓗᒋᑦ.”

Siasie Mikkigak “Basketball. I like it the most when we play with friends.” ᑯᓄ ᐊᓪᓚ “ᐹᔅᑭᑦᐹᓪ, ᐊᖅᓴᓂ ᐴᖅᓯᓇᓱᐊᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ.”

Koonoo Adla “Basketball, because you shoot balls.” ᔩᓂ ᓵᓕ “ᕼᐋᑭ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕋᒪ ᐊᓄᓪᓚᒃᓯᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐱᙳᐊᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.”

Jeannie Charlie “Hockey. The first time I played I went in the penalty box.”

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P.J. Akeeagok chosen as Nunavut’s next premier Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA a newcomer to the legislative assembly; led Qikiqtani Inuit Association for seven years

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Nunavut’s new legislators have chosen to go with youth by making P.J. Akeeagok the territory’s next premier.

Akeeagok, 36, was selected during Wednesday’s leadership forum, topping third-term Kivalliq MLAs Lorne Kusugak and Joe Savikataaq, the latter having served as premier during the 5th legislative assembly.

The forum lasted about 5.5 hours to that point and the selection was made by secret ballot.

Having led the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) for seven years, Akeeagok, a newcomer to the legislative assembly as are 10 of his peers, said the territory is in a crisis and youth are crying out to be heard. Some young people in Iqaluit literally did that on Nov. 16, staging a demonstration at the legislative assembly, raising issues such as Nunavut’s high suicide rate.

“Nunavut is ready for new leadership,” Akeeagok said during his introductory speech, adding that the territory “is at a crossroads.”

He acknowledged that much has been accomplished over the past two decades, such as establishing Nunavut Arctic College, which is producing Nunavummiut in professional capacities. Yet he said many systemic challenges remain, like a lack of housing and overcrowded homes. He said tangible solutions are needed for issues such as addictions, trauma and mental health; providing Elder care at home; and accessible and affordable childcare.

During his time as president of the QIA, he helped implement daycare subsidy programs in the Qikiqtani region, released children’s books in Inuktitut, created marine conservation areas, generated employment opportunities, bolstered fisheries and played a role in the creation of the men’s transitional home in Iqaluit.

Akeeagok, MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, said it’s necessary to break down silos and build partnerships with other governments to tackle major issues, such as housing.

Many Inuit who are working want to own their own homes and solutions must be found to make that possible, he said.

“Too many people go through hardship due to a lack of housing,” he said.

Speaking primarily in Inuktitut, he emphasized fisheries as a means to create jobs for communities that aren’t benefitting from mining or government occupations.

“We have to focus on other opportunities… each community

Nunavut cabinet comprises three women, two rookie MLAs ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᒫᒡᒍᓕᑦ ᓇᑲᓱᒃ, ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᑎᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᖓᔪᐊᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖓᓂ.

Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk, who served as minister of Culture and Heritage as well as minister of the Nunavut Housing Corporation in the last legislative assembly, will return to cabinet, it was decided during the Nov. 17 leadership forum.

Photo courtesy of the Government of Nunavut

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

The eight members of the sixth Government of Nunavut cabinet will comprise two rookie MLAs, both women.

Of the 16 MLAs who allowed their names to stand for a cabinet post, the successful nominees were Quttiktuq MLA David Akeeagok, Cambridge Bay MLA Pamela Gross, South Baffin MLA David Joanasie, Rankin Inlet South MLA Lorne Kusugak, Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Lightstone, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main, Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk and Aggu MLA Joanna Quassa, who required a fifth round of voting to break what started out as an nine-way tie.

Quassa and Gross are the only newly-elected MLAs to be selected for a cabinet seat.

The choices were made during Wednesday’s leadership forum by secret ballot. The eventful day wrapped up at 10 p.m.

Premier-elect P.J. Akeeagok, chosen as government leader during the afternoon, will assign portfolios to his cabinet.

The first sitting of the legislative assembly will be held on Friday.

had the right to be treated equally,” said Akeeagok, who grew up in Grise Fiord.

The Covid-19 pandemic proved that the government can mobilize very quickly and provide support to Nunavummiut. Akeeagok said he views suicide similarly and he thinks the same level of action is needed to make improvements to mental health.

He also addressed food insecurity, noting that the QIA introduced a program to aid in the harvest of traditional foods. He added that Nunavut’s government will have to advocate for the Nutrition North program to be more transparent.

“It’s very unfortunate that some stores do gouge Nunavummiut,” he said.

Cambridge Bay MLA Pamela Gross nominated Akeeagok.

Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk nominated Savikataaq.

Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak was named as Speaker by acclaimation.

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ - ᓂᐊᖁᙴ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᙳᖅᐳᖅ. ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕿᐊᕈ ᕐᒥ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 17 –ᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᓗᐊᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᕐᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᕐᒥ, ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖏᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ .

Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA P.J. Akeeagok is Nunavut’s next premier.

More of his colleagues in the legislative assembly selected Akeeagok during the Nov. 17 leadership forum than either Lorne Kusugak or Joe Savikataaq, the other two candidates to lead the territorial government. Image courtesy of the Government of Nunavut

A12 Monday, November 22, 2021

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

Churchill travel bubble reopens Churchill, Man. Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer has, as of Monday, Nov. 15, re-opened the Common Travel Area with the town of Churchill.

Unvaccinated travellers who are in a Covid-free community in Nunavut for at least 14 days will be able to travel to and from the community without having to isolate.

Those traveling and unvaccinated will still have to complete a Common Area Traveller’s Declaration form and email it to cphotravelrequests@gov.nu.ca, mask must also been worn in public places during the duration of their return trip, and will also be subject to the new federal rules for the unvaccinated.

Unvaccinated Nunavummiut who live, work, study or for compassionate reasons live in Churchill and wish to return to Nunavut must also complete this same form.

Nunavummiut will also be subject to regional public health measures and will have to get tested prior or after arrival, the Government of Nunavut does not provide testing for travel purposes.

– Trevor Wright

Alianait Arts Festival hosts hybrid festival Iqaluit The Alianait Arts Festival on Nov. 20 and 21 hosted a hybrid virtual/physical festival to take place online and in Iqaluit.

Artists were featured from across Nunavut, including Terry Uyarak and Silla, live from the Frobisher Inn’s Koojesse Room.

“It is more important than ever to have new ways to connect artists and audiences right here in the North. The Alianait Arts Festival has been at the forefront of this effort for many years, and Northwestel is so proud to be a supporter for over nine years,” said Curtis Shaw, President of Northwestel.

Nunavummiut will be able to tune in from YouTube and Facebook as well as a special broadcast from Northwestel Community TV in partnership with the company of the same name.

Tickets for the physical event will be available both online and at Arctic Ventures.

– Trevor Wright

Rabid fox in contact with two dogs Iqaluit A fox in the Iqaluit area has tested positive for rabies and it was in contact with at least two sled dogs, according to the Department of Health.The dogs have been isolated and are being monitored for symptoms.

The department advises residents to be on the lookout for foxes. If bitten or scratched, people should go to the health centre immediately and report the incident.

“Rabies can be passed onto people when an infected animal bites, scratches or licks them. A person can also get rabies when handling or skinning infected animals if they have cuts on their skin,” the Department of Health stated on Tuesday afternoon.

Contact a conservation officer if you see an animal behaving strangely, staggering, frothing at the mouth, choking or making

Email: editor@nunavutnews.com

strange noises.

The regional environmental health officer in Iqaluit can be reached at 867-975-1163. The after-hours Iqaluit city dispatch call line is 867-979-5650.

– Derek Neary

Wellness plan seeks proposals Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet The Community Wellness Committee and Hamlet of Rankin Inlet are currently accepting applications for health and wellness projects to be included in the new Community Wellness Plan, which is set to begin April 1, 2022 and run through March 31, 2027.

Project applications are available at the hamlet office or through the Community Wellness Co-ordinator.

The deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17. For more information, contact the Community Wellness Co-ordinator at 867-645-2895 ext. 2006 or email wellness@rankininlet.ca.

– Stewart Burnett

Saqpinaq Kunnuk’s film on NFB website

Fax: (867) 979-6010

On the land

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

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

This week's winner is Alanna Qiyuqtaq.

Congratulations!

ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᖅ: ᐊᓛᓇ ᕿᔪᒃᑖᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓇᓐᓄᒋᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 5–ᒥ.

Iglulik Saqpinaq Carol Kunnuk’s short film Being Prepared, a documentary with a runtime just under 10 minutes, has now been uploaded to the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada’s website.

It documents unfamiliar new protocols from the global pandemic which affects Kunnuk and her community, juxtaposing local radio broadcasts and public health advisories in English and Inuktitut with sounds of children playing.

Only available in Canada, it is available for free, online, now and in perpetuity according to NFB. – Trevor Wright

New song from Tanya Tagaq released Nunavut Singer and artist Tanya Tagaq released another pair of new tracks from her upcoming album Tongues recently, Colonizer and Colonizer (Tundra remix).

The first appeared spontaneously during one of her live shows, on stage in New York City as an “unambiguous response to visiting visibly colonial spaces,” according to a news release from Six Shooter Records.

The Tundra remix brings a differently hitting tune and is the product of collaboration with producers Saul Williams and Gonjasufi.

The next chance for fans to catch Tagaq live will be on March 30, 2022 at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ont. For more details visit the Six Shooter Records website.

– Trevor Wright

2021 Canadian North Toy Drive underway Nunavut As the holiday season comes closer Canadian North Airlines is starting up it’s annual toy drive once again. This year the company is partnering up with the Hamlets of Clyde River, Kimmirut and

Winner: Alanna Qiyuqtaq

Qikiqtarjuaq Caught my first polar bear, Nov. 5.

Taloyoak to deliver toys for Christmas to those communities.

With the global Covid-19 pandemic still underway, Canadian North is once again opting to raise money to buy toys in partnership with Mastermind Toys, a Canadian-based company.

As of the evening of Nov. 16, the Canadian North GoFundMe page has surpassed the halfway point, raising over $5,000 toward its $10,000 goal.

Last year’s toy drive saw Canadian North partner with Grise Fiord, Kugluktuk and Ulukhaktok, NWT. – Trevor Wright

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Nunavut Theatre Company says first play a success Debut production Artifice wrapped Nov. 13; Iqaluitbased company has more projects in the works

ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒧᑦ, Artifice ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᕕᓐ, ᒫᓕ ᑭᖕ, ᓕᐅᔾ ᐹᓂᑦ, ᐳᕆᔾᔨᑦ ᑳᒻᐳᓪ, ᐲᐱ ᐱᓗᑑ, ᕼᐃᓗᕆ ᑲᐃᓯ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓗᑲ ᐅᐃᔨᓲᕆᕙ.

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

From Nov. 11 to 13 the Nunavut Theatre Company, an Iqaluit-based theatre company, launched its debut production, Artifice by playwright Anne Flanagan, at the Aqsarniit Hotel.

Artifice is about an artist who gets his big break after being assumed dead, with his estranged wife having to sell the now valuable collection to avoid bankruptcy.

When the artist returns home, comedy and chaos ensue.

As the company’s first play, it was a challenging experience for the cast and crew that ultimately paid off, according to the play’s director.

“I think it went great, there were a lot of things we had to figure out, it being our first production but overall the end product was just amazing,” said Alex Michaud, director of Artifice and vice-president of the Nunavut Theatre Company. “The cast was great and doing their best and the stage the crew, as well, was working a lot to make sure that it happened and they turned out a great show.”

All of the cast and crew were there for each other to make this play a reality said one of its actors.

“The level of support that was there both in the cast and the crew, that really shined through in the week leading up to the performance,” said Aloka Wijesooriya, who played Rachel in Artifice. “It was great that everyone was able to support one another during that stressful time period.”

While the main character of Rachel in the original version of the play was written as Richard, there was a certain flexibility with many of the characters in the play, particularly when it came to the casting.

“We were always ready to genderbend the character, so she came in for Richard and the second she came in, it was Aloka and no one else, through and through, she was always prepared,” said Michaud.

“Through the conversations with the creative team and also with myself some of us suggested Rachel as a name, and that’s the character that became the star of the show, so to speak,” added Wijesooriya.

Wijesooriya adds the casting was more based on the energy that each actor brought to a particular character rather than their gender or other factors.

“That, I really appreciated about the experience,” she said, “and the level of teamwork.”

While the play is a comedy, the emotional core of the play, Michaud said, came from characters Maggie and Payne Showers played by Mollie King and David Venn respectively.

“There’s so much history from before and it’s such a complicated moment (when they meet). I wanted to make sure when those characters are on-(stage) people could be with them.”

While this is his first time directing, Michaud said he’s no stranger to community theatre, having acted in local plays before.

This was a similar experience he said, however, “it felt like the first time, in terms of the sheer amount of things” he had to do in directing.

Wijesooriya has also acted in community theatre before, however playing Rachel was her largest role to date, saying “it was a daunting, but at the same time a challenging experience” for her.

“I’m very grateful because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and this character Richard/Rachel was very much out of my comfort zone,” she added.

While the first Thursday night show was a bit slower, Michaud said there were lots of people who came out to support community theatre on Friday and Saturday.

“Thank you to the whole community for coming to see our show and coming to help us, we have more projects in the pipe coming up,” said Michaud.

ᒫᓕ ᑭᖕ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓗᑲ ᐅᐃᔨᓲᕆᕙ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᑦ Artifice–ᒥ.

Mollie King, left, and Aloka Wijesooriya share a scene in Artifice. Dustin Patar photo courtesy of Nunavut Theatre Company

Left to right, Artifice cast members David Venn, Mollie King, Jill Bonnet, Bridget Campbell, Bibi Bilodeau, Hillary Casey and Aloka Wijesooriya. Dustin Patar photo courtesy of Nunavut Theatre Company

A14 Monday, November 22, 2021

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Young woman sentenced to 12 months of custody and supervision in fatal beating case Age 17 at the time of the ‘brutal assault,’ the offender shows ‘high chance of rehabilitation’

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

Editor’s note: This story contains graphic and disturbing details.

A 21-year-old woman who beat a 46-year-old woman to death four years ago has been sentenced to 12 months of custody and supervision after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Justice Bonnie Tulloch described the assault as a “brutal and senseless act” that occurred after both women had been drinking at the victim’s home.

The offender — age 17 at the time — left and returned when she realized she was missing her cellphone. She suspected the victim had taken it.

Shortly thereafter, she repeatedly punched the victim in the face and head and continued the beating even after the woman was bloodied and stopped moving.

“Hearing the family describe their loved one and the tremendous loss suffered at the hands of (the offender) was heartbreaking,” Tulloch stat-

ed in her Nov. 10 sentencing decision.

“There is no doubt that this brutal and senseless act has changed their lives forever. It has interfered with their feelings of safety and their grief is a life sentence. It is never-ending and palpable even after waiting over four years to talk about the hole (the victim’s) death has left in their lives.”

The offender followed the beating by stealing items from the victim’s home and then took her vehicle, which she “ditched” on the road. She never sought medical help for the victim.

“This young person’s behaviour can only be described as shocking … serious bodily harm was easily foreseeable in these circumstances,” Tulloch stated. “The accused presented as callous and uncaring to the extreme.”

Initially charged with second-degree murder, the offender pleaded guilty to manslaughter a two years after the incident.

The maximum sentence, set by Parliament, that could be given under the Youth Criminal Justice Act for manslaughter is three years of combined

custody and conditional community supervision from the date the crime was committed.

Tulloch noted that the victim’s death was “difficult to predict” and her high level of intoxication — five times the legal limit — was a contributing factor.

After serving 67 days in a young offender’s facility, the offender was released on bail to live with her parents in March 2020 while her court case was still in progress. She reportedly abided by all conditions placed on her.

Since the tragic incident, the offender says she quit consuming alcohol and drugs and has been “concentrating on making a good life for her daughter,” according to the court transcript.

A psychiatrist found that the offender, who didn’t have a prior criminal record, poses a low to moderate risk of reoffending and a high chance of rehabilitation.

The first six months of her sentence will be served in secure custody.

That will be followed by supervision in the community. A year of

probation will follow.

The Crown prosecutor sought 12 to 15 months of secure custody for the offender, then six months of supervision and 12 months of probation.

The defence lawyer recommended a custody and supervision order of 12 to 18 months with one day of open custody and the remainder under a conditional supervision order.

The offender’s home life was disrupted as a child when social services took her away at age 10 due to ongoing drinking and violence between her adoptive parents. She told a probation officer that she saw her father beat up her mother every five or six days.

The psychiatrist determined that the offender should participate in one-on-one counselling that focuses on community reintegration “in coming to terms with the guilt of the offence and to increase her interpersonal skills. This intervention should focus on relapse prevention which in the doctor’s opinion, could be achieved by a local community mental health service,” the sentencing decision reads.

“ᐆᒪ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑑᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓅᑉ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᓯᖓ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔭᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᒃᓴᓪᓚᖕᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ… ᑎᒥᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᕆᔭᐅᓴᕋᐃᑦᑐᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ,” ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᐹᓂ ᑐᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐳᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ 17-ᓂ-ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ 46–ᓂ–ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᒥᒃ ᑭᖑᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

“This young person’s behaviour can only be described as shocking… serious bodily harm was easily foreseeable in these circumstances,” Justice Bonnie Tulloch stated in regards to a case where a 17-year-old girl assaulted a 46-year-old woman who later died. NNSL file photo

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Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh visits Iqaluit

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᒪᐃᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᓂ ᐱᐅᓪ ᑕᓯᐅᖃᑦᑖᖅᐳᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ NDP–ᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᔮᒡᒦᑦ ᓯᖕᒥ. ᓯᖕ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒪᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ.

Singh speaks with mayor, MP on issues including water crisis, housing, Elder care

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh touched down in Iqaluit on the evening of Nov. 15 and set off on a flurry of stops the following day, first at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum to call on the federal government to deliver the funding needed to address Iqaluit’s water crisis, following conversations with Mayor Kenny Bell and the Government of Nunavut.

“Today we’re making our commitment in that we’re demanding the federal government provide full funding, a

full $180 million at least to fix this water crisis,” said Singh.

He adds if this was any large city in the south, this matter would have already been settled.

“We’re making that demand here in Iqaluit and we’ll go back to Ottawa to apply pressure to the government and deliver the funding as necessary,” he said.

Singh later added he has previously raised this concern around the Iqaluit water crisis to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as his ministers, and is making a renewed specific demand since arriving in the North.

ᒐᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ NDP ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᔮᒡᒦᑦ ᓯᖕ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖓᓐᓂ ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᑦᑕ ᓱᓇᒃᑯᑖᖓᓂ ᑕᑯᔭᒐᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥ.

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks with Nunavut MP Lori Idlout in the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

“Imagine if in Ottawa, the capital of the country, Montreal, Vancouver, in any major city if there was a problem with the water, if there were hydrocarbons in the water, what would the federal government do?

They would act immediately to fix the problem,” said Singh, who says fixing the problem and providing clean drinking water “has to be a starting point for justice and fairness.”

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout has welcomed Singh’s arrival with open arms, saying it’s an opportunity for him to “hear directly from Nunavummiut here what the important issues are” within the territory, such as the Nunavut housing crisis and mental health among youth.

“This is a question of infrastructure … having the infrastructure to respond to the needs of housing and water,” said Singh. “Nunavut has been ignored, Iqaluit has been ignored and people are paying the price of negligence.”

The NDP leader says people cannot have access to good housing if there’s not even access to clean drinking water, remarking that “water and housing are directly connected.”

“If there’s a problem with the drinking water in the capital, what about the other communities?” Singh asked.

“The fact that the capital of the territory doesn’t have clean drinking water, really draws and highlights a problem that people are faced with. We are

Iqaluit Mayor Kenny Bell shakes hands with Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Singh was on hand to help distribute water to residents. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo one of the world’s wealthiest nations, there is no excuse that any community continues to not have access to clean drinking water.”

Another issue Idlout raised was the matter of bringing back Elders sent down to Ottawa when there was a case of Covid-19 in the Iqaluit Elders Hostel among the staff in May. Idlout says the work won’t stop when she’s in Ottawa, she’ll be working with different critics to inform them of the traumas involved in sending Elders to the south and the cultural links being broken between Elders and youth.

“There’s always been an important link to be established … educating them about our culture, our heritage and our strength that Inuit have,” said Idlout.

On the matter, Singh says the ongoing situation of homing Elders in Ottawa’s Embassy West is unacceptable.

“What we’re advocating for is that there’s got to be a better way to care for people in communities. That means doubling down on home care, enhanced home care so that the seniors can live in their homes, in the communities.”

Later on the same morning,

Singh and Idlout met up with Mayor Bell to discuss the city’s water crisis as well as to help hand out water by the Curling Rink.

“Having Jagmeet Singh, a leader of a national party, come to Iqaluit and not only meet with people on the ground, but also to help hand out water during lunch in minus 17 weather is a real boost to morale – not only for citizens, but to our City workers that have been working tirelessly throughout this crisis,” Bell said. “Seeing smiles on peoples face’s 34 days in was priceless.”

A16 Monday, November 22, 2021

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

Taloyoak pair take hockey dreams south

By James McCarthy Northern News Services Gravenhurst, Ont.

Jonathan Eetoolook has dreams of following in the footsteps of Jordin Tootoo. Darius Aleekee wants to use hockey as a way to get an education.

They both love hockey and they’ll get a chance to take a big step toward their goals this season in Ontario.

The pair from Taloyoak are in Gravenhurst, Ont., – roughly a two-hour drive north of Toronto – with the South Muskoka Shield Jr. A squad of the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League, which counts teams from Ontario, Quebec and Alberta among its ranks. They arrived at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Troy Kahler is the team’s president and director of player development and he said the boys approached the organization to see what options were available.

“We talked about what they wanted to do with hockey and so I put them in touch with Scott Wallace, one of our players who comes from Nunavut,” he said.

Wallace hails from Rankin Inlet and has already spent one season with the Shield.

“They had a conversation between each other and (Scott) talked about what it takes to be here and the differences between living in Ontario and Nunavut,” said Kahler. “Jonathan has dreams, Darius has dreams, I had dreams of being a hockey player but there’s lots of learning curves. I wanted the boys to get a good idea of what being here would look like and hearing it from someone from Nunavut who’s been here and can relate.”

Eetoolook originally wanted to go to Toronto and see if he could play there this season but those plans dried up due to a problem a lot of people from the North face.

“It cost too much money and I couldn’t afford it,” he said. “I just stopped thinking about it but I found a sponsorship and that helped me get here (to Gravenhurst).”

That sponsorship consisted of grants for both Eetoolook and Aleekee

from the Indigenous Kids Network and the Inuit Child First Initiative, the latter of which is operated by the Government of Canada. That gives Inuit youth up to the age of 18 the chance to access social, educational and health programs with help from the federal government.

“We helped the boys get letters written up so they could apply for those grants,” said Kahler.

The boys aren’t part of the main roster just yet – they’ll be on the development squad to start off, which they’ll suit up for beginning this coming week, and will have the chance to work their way into the line-up, said Kahler.

Off the ice, Aleekee said he’s enjoyed what he’s seen so far.

“There’s lots of nice people down here and a lot more stores,” he said.

“It’s a bit more strict with the masks than it was back home but that’s OK. The people we live with have been really nice, also.”

Eetoolook said he’s ready for the challenge.

“I’m looking for a way to try and be like Jordin Tootoo,” he said. “I want to play in the National Hockey League one day and this is a good chance for me to do that.”

Aleekee isn’t dreaming of a professional hockey career. He wants to become a doctor and is hoping hockey can help him get there.

“I’d like to go to university in Ottawa and be able to play there also,” he said.

Being so far away from home isn’t too bad yet, he added.

“I call my family every day to say hi,” he said. “I don’t miss home yet.”

Kahler said he knows this is a big move for Eetoolook and Aleekee but he wants to make sure they have every chance to be successful because, as he put it, every player matters.

“Both sides are taking a chance here,” he said. “They’re taking a chance on their life goals and we’ve taken a chance on these boys but that’s how good things happen. We want to give them that chance to experience life in a different place. We have players from all different backgrounds: players of African descent, players of French descent and now players of Inuit descent. There’s always good stories to be told out there and if they have that dedication to get better every day, it’s going to be a happy ending for them.”

ᔫᓇᑕᓂ ᐃᑦᑐᓗᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᑎᐊᕆᐊᔅ ᐊᓖᑭ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᕈᐊᐃ ᑲᐃᓗᕐ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᒋᕐᒧᑦ Muskoka Shield–ᑐᓐᓂ Greater Metro Jr. A ᕼᐋᑭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᑎᐊᕆᐅᒥ, ᓇᖏᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐱᐅᓯᓐ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑐᕌᓐᑐᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 14–ᒥ. ᐃᑦᑐᓗᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓖᑭ ᑕᐃᑯᖓ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᓂ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 14–ᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ.

Jonathan Eetoolook, left, Darius Aleekee and Troy Kahler, president and director of player development for the South Muskoka Shield of the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League in Ontario, pose for a photo in the parking lot of Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Eetoolook and Aleekee arrived there from Taloyoak on Nov. 14 to join the program for this season. Photo courtesy of Troy Kahler

Zac Stacy video would end his NFL career, if he still had an NFL career You’ll read later on in this column about how you shouldn’t can be heard crying in the background. The cherry on top was the assailant leaving her in a heap on the floor and leaving rush to judgment but there are exceptions to every rule. Like while telling his son he loved him. this one involving Zac Stacy, formerly of the New York Jets What a vile human being. Absolutely and St. Louis Rams of the National vile. I’ve seen domestic violence up Football League. close and personal and I made sure my There are several ways to describe dad regretted it afterward but that’s my what Stacy did but I’m going to stick situation. The smart thing for Stacy to with disgusting, mainly because Black James McCarthy is the sports editor do is to simply turn himself in. It’s not Press won’t let me swear. There was at NNSL Media. Reach him at sports@ like he has a defence unless the video a video released by TMZ on Nov. 17 nnsl.com has been doctored in some way. showing what appears to be Stacy Lock him up. punching and throwing his (I hope now ex-) girlfriend around her apartment. That’s as far as I’ll go. If you want to see it, check it What we’re really thinking out but you’ve been warned. No idea when this happened – The New York City Marathon is something I would never not like it matters – but what made this even worse is Stacy even imagine doing and anyone who thinks they can do a allegedly did this in front of their five-month-old son, who marathon has obviously never done one. You don’t just wake

SPorts Talk

up one morning and think to yourself, ‘Hey, this seems like a great idea to waste four or five hours.’

The good ones will do it in around two-and-a-half to three hours, sometimes less, and by the time you’ve finished, you’re pining for something to drink or you really have to go.

This year’s edition happened on Nov. 7 in the Big Apple and a particular sign drew my attention. It would have also drawn the attention of many passing by because there’s a very good chance it’s true. You want to know what it said? OK: “Never trust a fart after mile 18.”

It’s being held up by a kid who either has a mind like I do or a parent who thought it would get some attention. Honestly, if you’ve been hacking it for 18 miles, would you second-guess a bodily function? It might not be sweat running down your leg…

And finally …

Good Idea: Running back down court after missing a shot.

Bad Idea: Running back down court after missing a shot but stopping to slug an opposing player.

Yeah, this happened during a youth basketball game in California earlier this month and it’s pretty nasty.

A player on one team wearing black missed a three-point attempt and fell backward. A player from the opposition wearing white also fell backward. The player in black began to jog back but then stopped and delivered a half-punch, half-clothesline to the player in white, flooring her and doing some obvious physical damage. Needless to say, the cheapshot got the player in black tossed.

Alice Ham, the injured player’s mother, posted on Instagram that the attack was intentional, alleging that the other player’s mother told her to “go and hit her.” I listened to the audio more than once and you can make out someone saying, “You gotta hit that …”. Now, you can take that two ways: it either meant that someone was telling the player who missed the shot that they had to hit the shot or it was a directive for that player to go and re-arrange the jaw of the opposing player.

In any case, the punch-thrower’s family released a statement through an attorney claiming that it was a bad mistake and how sorry they were that it happened. There is professed genuine remorse and pleas not to judge the offender based on one bad action. What was missing was any mention of the girls being ordered to hit the other player. Does it make her guilty? No, because there’s always the presumption of innocence – contrary to how people see things in this day and age – but I can’t be the only one smelling a lawsuit in the water.

Until next time, folks …

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Understand Indigenous values: industry vet Former Ekati worker Fiona Blondin on board of Ontario exploration firm

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Yellowknife’s Fiona Blondin has taken her leadership skills to KWG Resources as the Ontario-based exploration company attempts to advance its projects in the Ring of Fire.

Blondin worked at the Ekati mine for three years when it was owned by BHP and still in its early stages of development. Filling a role in the securities division, she witnessed the mine progress from the construction phase to becoming operational.

“I look back at that period of time as being foundational in my career and in my approach,” says Blondin, who was in her early 20s during that period. “I really felt that it opened up a lot of opportunities for our people around employment and I really learned a lot from that experience … I learned a lot about the impact of policies within the organization for Indigenous people. I learned a lot about how Indigenous people can play a greater role.

“Twenty-five years ago, our role within mining was really surrounding employment … 25 years later, our whole sector and our participation within mining companies has really dramatically evolved.”

It is with that mindset that she accepted an appointment as a director on KWG Resource’s board in September. She says boards are starting to become more diverse and inclusive.

“I feel that it’s important to have representation (from Indigenous communities)… the companies that we work with should understand our values around the environment, should understand why we’re taking the approach that we are,” she says. “I think that Indigenous communities have an expectation that the people they work with reflect their own populations.”

She points to various examples around the country where Indigenous groups have taken an ownership stake in mining projects, such as the Tahltan First Nation partnering with Skeena Resources on a gold project in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle.

“The Tahltan are really taking a leadership role in their approach to working with mining companies and their approach to the Golden Triangle, and their personal investment as a nation in ownership as Indigenous businesses, as a nation and even potential owners and investors within mining,” she says. “(Indigenous people) are making a huge impact on the Canadian economy at this point. I really believe that we have strong connections to the land. We have strong connections to each other, and we strong we respect for each other… I’m also starting to see a greater change in strategic alliances that are building with Indigenous communities, when you’re starting to have more than one community – sometimes more than five communities – work together to create… business

alliances or alliances for the region.”

After working with BHP, Blondin was hired by Sheila Copps, then-minister of Canadian Heritage, which exposed her to the distribution of core funding for off-reserve First Nations as well as “powers shaping the country” while in Ottawa.

From there, she took a position with Ishkonigan, a consulting firm owned by Phil Fontaine, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. She referred to Fontaine as an “inspiring leader nationally,” and the role she took on as “really transformative.”

“This was so valuable in refining my approach to the work that I do to this day with Indigenous communities,” she recalls.

‘Support that vision’ Blondin emphasized that the key to moving forward for industry is to truly understand the goals that Indigenous groups set for themselves: “Letting the communities lead the way and what we can do to support that vision,” she says. “Each nation has different concerns. Whether you’re Indigenous or non-Indigenous, I think that we all have a huge investment in the environment. Even sitting on the board of directors for a mining company, I feel highly invested in the environment. I feel highly invested in our approach and what we plan to still have seven generations from now.”

Earlier this year, she became director of Indigneous Strategy with Cormorant Utility Services, based in Cambridge, Ont., about 90 minutes outside of Toronto. She was thoroughly impressed with John Risley, a major shareholder in Cormorant, who sold half of Clearwater Seafoods to Indigenous ownership in 2020.

“When I came to Cormorant Utility, I knew I was in the right place,” says Blondin.

KWG Resources is exploring chromite deposits in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario, part of mineral-rich area known as the Ring of Fire. Chromite is integral in the making of stainless steel.

The board of directors’ “focal point” will be working with Indigenous communities, she says.

“I feel highly invested in the outcome of communities and the work that they’re doing with mining. I feel invested in seeing our people create opportunities for our own nation. I feel like those key pieces of my experience and approach is what I’m bringing to KWG Resources,” says Blondin, now a 49-year-old grandmother. “I feel strongly about Indigenous ownership and the opportunity should always be for all the Indigenous communities to have the first chance to own all project-related infrastructure and, potentially, mine sites themselves and I bring that strong vision with me to the work that I do with boards of directors.”

Blondin spent the early part of her childhood in Yellowknife.

“ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᔫᐊᖅᐳᖓ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓗᒃᑖᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦ–ᐱᔾᔪᑎᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᓛᖅᑐᒥ, ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᕕᐅᓇ ᐸᓛᓐᑎᓐ.

“I feel strongly about Indigenous ownership and the opportunity should always be for all the Indigenous communities to have the first chance to own all project-related infrastructure and, potentially, mine sites themselves,” says Fiona Blondin. Photo courtesy of Cormorant Utility Services Her mom, Georgina, attended the University of Alberta to attain her teaching degree, bringing Fiona with her while she was in elementary school. Her aunt Ethel Blondin-Andrew also earned a teaching degree.

All three of them then moved to Fort Providence where her mom and Ethel worked as teachers.

Her mother later moved to Vancouver to pursue her master’s degree.

Although Fiona has been living in Ontario for the past two decades, she still feels a strong connection to the NWT. “When I wake up in the morning I think about home, I think about home, about the North,” she says.

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Analyzing Nunavut diamonds

Monday, November 22, 2021 B3

ᓂᒋᖅᐸᓯᖕᒧᑦ ᑕᐅᕗᖓ North Arrow Minerals’ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓄᑦ 2,000-ᑕᓐᓂ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓇᐅᔮᑦ ᓯᒡᔭᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᓯᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᕐᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ 10 ᑭᓛᒥᑐᑲᓴᖕᒥ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑎᒋᕗᖅ.

ᐆᒃᑐᕋᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᐴᖑᔪᒥ Q1-4 ᑕᐃᒪᓐ ᐃᓂᒋᒐᔪᒃᑖᓂ 2,000-ᑕᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᒃᑯᐊᒥ ᐆᒃᑐᒐᕐᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ. ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᑕᓂᔅ ᖃᐅᓐᓇᖅ, ᔪᐊᔾ ᐳᑐᓕᒃ, ᐊᓖᓴ ᑲᓐᓇᑕ, ᔨᐊᕋᒥ ᐃᑦᑭᓕᒃ, ᔮᓐ ᑲᑦᔪᒃ, ᑖᓐ ᒐᐃᓄᕐ, ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᑲᑦᔪᒃ, ᑎᐊᕆ ᒑᑦᕗᕆ, ᑲᓇᑦ ᑲᑐᖅᑲ, ᑮᑦ ᕕᐅᓪᑦᕼᐊᒻ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐹᓂ ᓯᐅᑎᓐᓄᐊᕐ.

Looking south towards the North Arrow Minerals’ laydown area after the 2,000-tonne sampling program was complete and awaiting transport to Naujaat’s beach to be loaded on the sealift. The community of Naujaat is less than 10 kilometres away. Photo courtesy of Dave Pickston

North Arrow Minerals takes 2,000-tonne bulk sample from Naujaat diamond project

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

North Arrow Minerals mobilized at the Naujaat Diamond Project site over the

summer to collect a 2,000-tonne bulk sample.

The analysis will help determine whether fancy yellow to orange yellow diamonds present at the site are worth mining.

ᒪᕐᕉᒃ North Arrow–ᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ, ᓖ ᐋᓐ ᑐᖏᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᔮᓐ ᑲᑦᔪᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᕗᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ ᖃᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑭᕕᒃᑕᐅᒻᒥ ᐊᖁᑎᒥᒃ Desgagn–s Transarctik Inc.–ᑯᓐᓂ ᐅᓯᓕᐅᔾᔨᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐆᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐴᕐᓂ ᓯᑲᐅᒧᑦ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ.

Two of North Arrow’s local employees, Lee Ann Tungilik and John Kadjuk, work through a September snowfall helping a forklift operator from Desgagnés Transarctik Inc. load sample bags onto a barge to be towed out with sealift. Photo courtesy of North Arrow Minerals

The laydown site for the samples is less than 10 kilometres from the community of Naujaat. From there, the ore samples will be loaded to be sealifted south for analysis.

North Arrow Minerals’ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᒻᒪᕆᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᐊᓐ ᐋᒻᔅᑐᕌᖕ ᖃᓂᒡᓕᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᒐᒃᓴᒥ Q1-4 ᑕᐃᒪᓐ ᐃᓂᒋᒐᔪᒃᑖᓂ.

North Arrow Minerals’ president, CEO and pit sampler Ken Armstrong gets up close and personal with the mineralogy of Q1-4 kimberlite.

Photo courtesy of North Arrow Minerals

MMG IS A MID-TIER, GLOBAL PRODUCER OF BASE METALS INCLUDING COPPER AND ZINC. A LONG-TERM OUTLOOK, OUR PRIDE IN MINING, OUR COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND OUR RESPECT FOR PEOPLE, LAND AND CULTURE UNDERPIN OUR SUCCESS.

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The sampling crew celebrate the last bag from the Q1-4 kimberlite 2,000-tonne bulk sample at the Naujaat project. From left, Dennis Quanaq, Geroge Putilik, Alicia Cannata, Jeremy Itqiliq, John Kadjuk, Dan Gainer, David Kadjuk, Terry Godfrey, Kenneth Katokra, Keith Feltham and Barney Siutinaur. Photo courtesy of North Arrow Minerals

ᖃᐅᓪᓗᖅᑕᖅ ᐴᑦ ᑕᑖᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒥ – 2,500–ᖑᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ– ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᒥ ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᔪᒥ North Arrow Minerals ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ Q1-4 ᑕᐃᒪᓐ ᐃᓂᒋᒐᔪᒃᑖᓂ.

White bags filled with ore – 2,500 of them in total – dotted the landscape at the Naujaat project this summer as North Arrow Minerals further examines the potential of the Q1-4 kimberlite. Photo courtesy of North Arrow Minerals

B4 Monday, November 22, 2021

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Gary Vivian has survived planes going down, aggressive bears and hordes of mosquitoes

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Geology has landed Gary Vivian in some extremely remote Northern locations, and a few of those landings had his heart in his throat.

With a career that has spanned more than 40 years, he’s climbed aboard planes and helicopters thousands of times, bound for destinations that many Northerners have never seen.

One trip made him fear for his life when the Beaver he was flying in lost engine power due to a frozen fuel line while outside of Rankin Inlet. “(The pilot) called mayday a couple of times going down. Although you sort of sh*t your

pants, I didn’t really think that we were going to hit that hard because those Beavers glide pretty well,” he recalls.

The plane was on wheel-skis and bounced off a frozen lake, coming to a stop without tragedy.

“He did a good job,” Vivian said of the pilot.

He’s also saved people from helicopter crashes on different occasions. But he was sure to praise the safety records of Northern airlines as the vast majority of his trips went without a hitch.

There have been multiple harrowing wildlife encounters, too. Vivian has awoken to the terrifying sound of his tent being ripped open by a bear’s claws more than once.

“We yelled and screamed and slammed some

ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑎ ᒋᐊᕆ ᕕᕕᐊᓐ ᓄᓇᒥ ᕿᒻᒥᖓᓗ ᕚᓐᓯ. ᑕᑯᔭᐅᒐᔪᒃᐳᖅ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᒍᐊᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᕿᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂᑦ. “ᑲᒪᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓲᖑᓂᕐᓂ ᐃᓄᑑᑎᓪᓗᑎᑦ,” ᐃᓪᓚᖅᐳᖅ.

Geologist Gary Vivian in the field with his dog Fonzie. He’s often been accompanied by faithful pets while doing exploration work at remote Northern locations. “Amazing how much you talk to your dog when you are alone,” he laughs. Photo courtesy of Gary Vivian

pots, but he was still coming through,” he recalls of one of the incidents. “Unfortunately, we had to shoot it.”

The caribou south of Diavik and Ekati didn’t pose risk to life and limb, but they wreaked havoc on surveying efforts at times.

“The caribou would walk between myself and the transmitter guy, right over the cable and then we’d spend an hour trying to fix the cable because they cut it up in many places,” he says of their sharp hooves. “They weren’t afraid of us at all.”

Vivian has encountered more than his share of parasitic flying insects on the land as well, but one particular trip still leaves him itchy at the thought: Fox Lake camp, south of Baker Lake, in 1978-79.

“You were wishing for a wind just to get the bugs to be at your back and not at your face.

They were unbelievable,” he said, adding that he relied on bug spray to provide some relief from the mosquitoes. “They drive the caribou and the animals absolutely nuts.”

While he was building his reputation as a geologist, he remembers routinely spending three to four months in the field at a time in all seasons — about 80 per cent of his working life at the time. Those were the days when cellphones and other satellite communications devices were not part of the adventure. Four members of the geology team would bunk down in two tents, and they mostly saw eye-to-eye, according to Vivian.

“There weren’t very many times when we didn’t get along, and if we didn’t it was straightened out pretty quick,” he says. “I can’t think of a small camp I was ever in that we had any serious issues where we had to bring a plane to get somebody out.”

Meals commonly consisted of canned meat like Klik that “would last forever,” he recalls.

There were also times when they ate canned whole chicken.

His days would be spent doing geophysics,

line cutting, mapping, staking, surveying and building camps. He remembers the excitement of being involved in the Kennady North diamonds discovery near Gahcho Kue. “It was probably the most rewarding experience I ever felt because we took that project from nothing, basically grassroots with a couple of tiny, little kimberlite hits and turned it into a 9-million-tonne resource,” he says.

There have been other times when he’s walked away from exploration sites that never resulted in a significant find, although he felt that there was potential. Sometimes companies quickly run out of money, he explains. There have been periodic opportunities to return with other clients who explore more extensively and wind up with the results that the first company was looking for, Vivian says.

“That’s why we’ve always been about telling clients that you need to explore systematically.

Yes, it might be a bit slower, but at least you’re going to get a proper answer. Whereas if you walk away, somebody else comes back 20 years later and finds something,” he says.

The North, he adds, is still a “frontier” ripe for more mineral and metals discoveries.

These days, Vivian spends most of his time mentoring junior geologists and administering programs as a senior project manager and chairman of Aurora Geosciences in Yellowknife.

He has worked in most of Canada’s provinces and all three territories, but it’s the North where he decided to stay.

“I love the people. I love the Indigenous people,” he says. “They’ve been great to work with, and I’m a believer that they are the resource rulers. We tell all of our clients when they come here that you reach out to the communities first before you do any project or anything on the land — you go talk to the land owners first. Whether they’re Inuit or Dene, Métis, you go to the communities first and you introduce yourself.”

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Monday, November 22, 2021 B5

Building skills and shovelling money

Indigenous miners of the 1980s and ’90s recount their memorable experiences at remote sites

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Ted Tsetta spent close to 30 years working at various Northern mines.

He was employed by Subarctic Welding when he heard from a recruiter at the Polaris zinc mine on Little Cornwallis Island, approximately 100 kilometres north of Resolute Bay, in what is now Nunavut (it was still the Northwest Territories at the time).

“I got a call and I said, ‘Sure, I’ll go,’ I’m not going to hesitate in the mining industry,” Tsetta says. “I took that chance right off the bat.”

He remembers his first day of work as a labourer at Polaris was Oct. 5, 1981. He was 19 and pulling in more than $3,000 every two weeks.

“I got so interested because I grew up in the mines,” Tsetta recalls, referring to the Discovery gold mine, about 85 km northeast of Yellowknife, in an area where his father used to hunt, fish and trap.

In the early 1980s, Tsetta embarked on a mining career with little related training but plenty of ambition. These days, employees require a wealth of safety certifications.

“Back then you were just given a shovel and ‘Here you go. Go dig,’” he says, laughing.

Several years later, he moved over to Con Mine, where he toiled in the assay lab and helped pour gold.

“I was home every day at 4 o’clock,” he says of the site’s close proximity to Yellowknife.

From there, he went to Treminco Resources’ Ptarmigan underground gold mine.

But then his voice grows sombre as he tells of an accident that took the life of a co-worker.

A pump caught fire 137 metres below the surface and the carbon monoxide overwhelmed the miner.

“We lost a good friend of ours,” he recalls. “It was never the same after that.”

Tsetta then ventured back up to the High Arctic, taking a job at the Nanisivik lead-zinc mine near Arctic Bay from 1991 to ‘95. He drove a truck and worked as an underground blaster. While at Nanisivik, he attained rescue certification.

“Working at different mines, you get to know underground, surface and the whole operation of the mining industry,” he says. “The best part of mining back then was hands-on experience.

You could do your practical (testing) after that because once you know what you’re doing underground or surface, writing your exam is easy, it’s just so easy.”

In 1996, he got another call from Polaris asking him to return. He did, until the mine shut down in 2002.

He wasn’t alone. He says 34 other members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation also worked at the mine.

“We kept hiring our friends,” he recalls. “I went there first and then I got my colleague (hired)… It’s opportunity that the company gave us and we took advantage of it… It was like a family operation. It was the best mine in the world.”

In a 1994 paper titled Participation of the Aboriginal Community in the Canadian Minerals Industry, author D.L. Johnston notes that the workforce at Polaris mine comprised 10 to 15 per cent Indigenous employees over the life of the mine.

“More Northerners than southerners have been hired, but most cannot tolerate the family separation and do not stay long. One exception which both surprises and gratifies me is that a contingent of Yellowknife Indians have remained on the payroll for many years,” Johnston wrote.

Tsetta didn’t have a wife or children to raise, so the burden of being away from home wasn’t as great. He witnessed the effects of such sacrifices on other miners, however.

“I seen lots of marriage breaking up at Nanisivik and Polaris,” he says, pointing out that it was sometimes 10 to 13 weeks of straight work at the remote sites – 12-hour shifts, six days a week. “So a lot of people got divorced from their spouses. It was a long, long contract.

The reason why it was like that was because of the cost to fly up North… back when we were mining, it was so expensive. We used to fly up with PWA, Pacific Western Airlines.”

For Tsetta, his co-workers at these remote locations were essentially his family. He felt welcomed and respected, he says.

“We were like brothers and sisters up there.

You have no choice. You gotta work with them,” he says, acknowledging that there was the occasional “oddball,” but those who caused fights or abused alcohol were sent home.

Others departed by choice.

“Some people didn’t even last a week or two weeks. It was quite hard on them. They couldn’t do it,” Tsetta recalls. “They said, no, get me back on a plane. I seen a lot of stuff like that.”

He later wound up at the Diavik diamond mine for eight years, where he attained his underground common COR safety certification while working in cementation.

“You go as far as you can,” he says of his ongoing learning.

He added that he’s happy that the NWT Mine Training Society exists now to provide training for young residents of the territory.

‘Learning skills and making good money’ Joanasie Akumalik, an Iqaluit resident, worked at Nanisivik in the mid-1980s while he was living in Arctic Bay, a half-hour’s drive away from the industrial site.

He started out as a labourer and then left for a couple of years to upgrade his skills at a Winnipeg college. He became a welder. Then he returned to Nansivik in his new role as a tradesperson.

He grew up watching his father follow a similar upward trajectory. His dad was a janitor at Nanisivik and when he became a senior employee, he was able to go through a certification program to be recognized as a custodial engineer, according to Akumalik.

“That allowed him to do his job better and earn more money,” he recalls, adding that several of his family members worked at Nanisivik since the 1950s.

Mine life agreed with Akumalik, too.

“I enjoyed it because I was earning income, and the income was really good,” he recalls.

“They provided good benefits like free cargo and free trips to southern Canada, so it was all good. They fed us. They gave us accommodation, recreation.”

If he were approached today by young people with interest in pursuing a mining career, he knows what he would tell them.

“I would encourage them because nowadays, having income is more important to some young people,” he says. “I would encourage them to further their education and learn a skill, like a trade.”

The mine’s workforce comprised approximately 70 per cent southerners and 30 per cent Northerners, he estimates.

“The working relationship was really good because we just worked together,” says Akumalik.

“You put in hours, you work and then after hours you have recreation. It was a good community.”

Staff from Arctic Bay had the privilege of choosing whether to be driven back and forth

ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐊᑯᒪᓕᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓇᓂᓯᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᕿᑦᑐᔮᖅ–ᓯᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔫᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ 1980–ᖏᓐᓂ–ᕿᑎᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂ “ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓚᐅᕋᒪ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕋᒪ,” ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᕗᖅ.

Joanasie Akumalik worked at the Nanisivik lead-zinc mine near Arctic Bay in the mid-1980s. “I enjoyed it because I was earning income, and the income was really good,” he recalls. Photo courtesy of Joanasie Akumalik

Ted Tsetta, right, and a co-worker load a shipment from Cominco’s Polaris mine in the early 1980s. “I got so interested because I grew up in the mines,” Tsetta says of his career choice and his proximity of the Discovery gold mine to Ndilǫ.

“Working at different mines, you get to know underground, surface and the whole operation of the mining industry,” says Ted Tsetta, who expanded his skills in the industry for more than 30 years. Photo courtesy of Ted Tsetta

to the job site each day or to stay at camp.

Akumalik, who was living on his own back then, preferred the latter.

“And I don’t have to get up too early,” he says of the perks of remaining on site.

Like Tsetta, Akumalik was aware of a few miners losing their lives on the job. However, he says there were messages regularly posted on bulletin boards about the number of days since the last accident and other reminders about proper procedures.

“I felt safe there because they gave us the proper equipment and resources,” he says. “It felt like every month we had to go through a drill… and it was mandatory that we take St. John (Ambulance) certification every now and then. They were really good on safety.”

The community was generally accepting of the

mine while it was operational as it was pumping about $1.3 million in payroll earnings into the community, Akumalik estimates.

“People were learning skills and making good money. That allowed them to buy houses or boats or Ski-Doos, ATVs, things like that. It was a good trade-off,” he says.

When it came time for closure, the story changed, Akumalik remembers. Environmentally, he and others became painfully aware of the hazards that a mine can pose when it’s neglected upon shutdown. Garbage was left lying around and there were fuel spills.

“It was unfortunate,” he says, adding that Inuit were not in control of any aspect of Nanisivik other than being hired as workers, whereas today, Inuit organizations have a much greater say in setting mining policy.

B6 Monday, November 22, 2021

News North Nunavut

Mining for data

Churning through figures from industry players in the North

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

By the numbers: Facts and figures about mining and exploration in the NWT and Nunavut The amount of money that companies planned to allocate for mineral exploration in Nun-

avut and the NWT rebounded in 2021 compared to preliminary estimates from 2020.

In Nunavut, there was $85.4 million of projected exploration to be done this year. If it goes as planned, that would be an increase of 20.3 per cent from $71 million the previous year. However, both figures pale in comparison to 2019, when $116.4

million was expended.

In the NWT, the jump is to $47.7 million in anticipated spending in 2021 from $35.4 million in preliminary exploration work in 2020, a difference of 34.7 per cent. Like Nunavut, the NWT showed more robust interest in 2019 when exploration attracted $79.8 million in investment.

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Quebec was the runaway leader nationally in enticing companies to commit exploration dollars in 2021, projected at $988.2 million.

The figure for Canada this year is expected to hit $2.9 billion, up from $2.1 billion a year earlier.

- A total of 100 new claims were staked in the NWT in 2020, encompassing a total area of 75,440.5 hectares, according to the NWT Geological Survey.

The GNWT disbursed $1 million through the Mining Incentive Program in 2019-20 to nine prospectors and eight companies.

In 2020-21, another $1 million

went to 13 prospectors and seven companies.

- There were 129 prospecting permits issued in Nunavut in 2020, down from 137 in 2019.

Claims totalled 2,454 in 2020, a reduction from 2,588 the previous year. The number of leases was identical in both years, at 519. In total, that accounts for approximately 18,530 square km in the Kivalliq region, 18,460 square km in the Kitikmeot region and 12,000 square km in the Qikiqtani region.

- De Beers and Mountain Province Diamonds, owners of

the Gahcho Kue diamond mine, spent close to $193 million with NWT-based companies in 2020.

Of that total, $85 million went to Indigenous companies. Since 2015, those figures rise to $1.25 billion spent with Northern businesses, while $442 million of that went to Indigenous enterprises in the NWT. - Gahcho Kue mine employed 296 NWT residents in 2020, representing half of the workforce. Of that total, 57 per cent self-identified as Indigenous, accounting for 28 per cent of all mine workers. Women comprised 19 per cent of employees.

- De Beers and Mountain Province Diamonds have invested $3.1 million in community social development projects since Gahcho Kue began operations ($748,000 in 2020 alone). This includes realms such as culture and heritage, education and training, health and safety and sport.

- Rio Tinto’s majority owned Diavik diamond mine employed 486 Northerners within its 1,100-person workforce in 2020. Women make up 14 per cent of all staff.

- Since 2000, Diavik has been responsible for injecting $6.4 billion in spending into the Northern economy. In 2020, $189 million was directed to Northern non-Indigenous businesses while another $132.6 million went to Northern Indigenous-owned ventures.

- Diavik designated more than $700,000 toward Covid-19 community initiatives in 2020.

- More than $120 million has been invested in the Nechalacho rare earths project, 100 km southeast of Yellowknife, since inception. Of the 60 employees working on rotation earlier in 2020, 85 per cent were Northerners and 70 per cent were Indigenous.

- Total income paid to Agnico Eagle’s 378 full-time equivalent Inuit employees in 2020 amounted to $26.8 million. More than half of that went Nunavummiut workers who were sent home for safety reasons as the Covid19 pandemic emerged. Those employees retained 75 per cent of their base pay throughout the remainder of 2020.

- Agnico Eagle spent $630 million with Inuit businesses in 2020, an increase of 26 per cent over to 2019. “The proportion of expenditures going to Inuit businesses has almost continually risen over the last decade,” the mining company stated.

- Since the beginning of its operations in the Kivalliq region, Agnico Eagle has contributed $2.6 million toward education-based initiatives.

- Agnico Eagle’s remittance of taxes, royalties and other payments to the Government of Nunavut, Government of Canada, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporate and the Kivalliq Inuit Association rose to $115 million in 2020 from $89 million in 2019.

- Since the development of Baffinland Iron Mines’ Mary River project, approximately $1.1 billion worth of contracts have been awarded to Inuit-owned businesses and joint ventures.

Baffinland added $724 million to the territory’s gross domestic product in 2019, or 23 per cent of the economy.

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Monday, November 22, 2021 B7

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Looking for clues among the rocks Exploration companies and prospectors on the hunt for Northern metals and minerals

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Complications from Covid-19 put a damper on some companies’ exploration plans over the past 18 months, but others have pushed on despite having to incorporate new safety protocols.

Below is a round up of projects that could one day lead to the next mine in the NWT or Nunavut.

Solstice Goldᕝᑯᑦ ᖃᐃᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᖏᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ 866 ᑭᑉᐹᕆᒃᑐᓂ ᑭᓛᒥᑐᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒧᑦ.

2022. That document will reveal cost reductions based on dewatering volume estimates and a new 3D hydrogeological model. The 2020 PEA indicated a cost of $550 million to get the mine into production, which would result in more than 327 million pounds of zinc per year – a total of 39.1 million tonnes of mined resource – making Pine Point the eighth largest zinc producer globally.

The mine life is projected at 10 years, but could be extended by continued drilling.

NWT Project: Yellowknife City Gold Owner: Gold Terra Resource: Gold Location: 10 km northeast of Yellowknife Status: Gold Terra reported 5.07 grams of gold per tonne over 8.35 metres, including 11.87 g/t of gold over 3.08 metres at the Campbell Shear, south of Con Mine, during the company’s 10,000-metre phase two drilling program.

“Our drilling results continue to confirm and extend the potential of the Yellorex zone to add to our current resource of 1.2 million inferred ounces,” president and CEO David Suda stated in mid-October.

Project: Pine Point Owner: Osisko Metals Resource: Lead, zinc Location: 42 km east of Hay River Status: Osisko announced in October its intentions to release an updated preliminary economic assessment (PEA) during the first quarter of

Fortune Minerals ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 3,000 ᒦᑕᓂ ᐃᑰᑕᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᑉ NICO gold, bismuth, cobalt ᐊᒻᒪ copper ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ, 50 ᑭᓛᒥᑐᒥ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᒥ ᑲᓇᖕᓇᒥ Whati–ᒥ, ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ.

Fortune Minerals began 3,000 metres of drilling at the company’s NICO gold, bismuth, cobalt and copper deposit, 50 kilometres northeast of Whati, in September. Photo courtesy of Fortune Minerals

Project: Kennady North Owner: Mountain Province Diamonds/Kennady Diamonds Resource: Diamonds Location: 280 km northeast of Yellowknife Status: Hundreds of till samples from the eastern and western claims were collected during summer 2021. Those samples were to be shipped to a lab in Saskatoon for testing to detect kimberlite indicator minerals. The results are expected in early 2022, prior to the winter exploration season getting underway. Mountain Province holds a 100-per-cent interest in Kennady North, which covers more than 1,000 square km around the Gahcho Kue Mine. The Kelvin kimberlite contains an indicated 13.6 million carats while the Faraday 2 kimberlite contains an estimated 5.45 million carats.

Project: NICO Owner: Fortune Minerals Resource: Gold, bismuth, cobalt, copper Location: 50 km northeast of Whati Status: Fortune Minerals announced a 3,000metre drill program to begin at the NICO deposit in late September. In early November, company president Robin Goad extended congratulations to the Tłı̨ chǫ people on the pending opening of the Tłı̨ chǫ All-Season Highway to Whati, which is expected to be accessible to the public on Nov. 30. Fortune Minerals has approvals to build a 50-km spur road from Whati to the NICO mine site.

Project: Indin Lake Gold Owner: Nighthawk Gold Corp.

Resource: Gold Location: 200 km north of Yellowknife Status: Nighthawk completed an ambitious 72,325-metre drill program over 272 drill holes in mid-October. Some of the drilling is intended to expand known mineralized zones while other targets were in greenfield areas of the 930-square-km property within the Indin Lake Greenstone Belt. Indin Lake contains an inferred 2.25 million ounces of indicated gold and 0.79 million ounces of inferred gold.

Solstice Gold’s Qaiqtuq property sprawls over 866 square kilometres between Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet. Photo courtesy of Solstice Gold Project: Prairie Creek Owner: NorZinc Resource: Zinc, lead, silver Location: 90 km northwest of Nahanni Butte Status: NorZinc’s mid-October preliminary economic assessment for the Prairie Creek project is based on a mine life of 20.3 years at 2,400 tonnes of ore per day. With $368 million required to get the mine started, it’s estimated that 261 million pounds of payable zinc equivalent production – including 2.6 million ounces of silver – is achievable annually, which would provide payback after 4.8 years. Over the life of the mine, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization are estimated at $2.5 billion cumulatively. The Prairie Creek mine is home to 9.8 million tonnes of measured and indicated resource at 22.7 per cent zinc equivalent. There’s potential for 6.4 million tonnes of inferred resources at 24.1 per cent zinc equivalent.

Project: Diagras Owner: Arctic Star Exploration/Margaret Lake Diamonds Resource: Diamonds Location: 22 km northeast of Diavik diamond mine

Status: Arctic Star’s $2.1 million spring drilling program found five new kimberlites: Birch, Sequoia, Alder, Cedar and Black Spruce. Sequoia has the largest diamond count and the results “hint at a coarser diamond size distribution, as does the diamond indicator chemistry,” Arctic Star stated in late September. The company hired geophysical crews to fly close to 6,000 line kilometres by helicopter for surveying to identify more exploration targets for undiscovered kimberlites. Arctic Star also expanded its claims this year, broadening Diagras to 483 square km.

NUNAVUT Project: Chidliak Owner: De Beers Resource: Diamonds Location: 120 km northeast of Iqaluit Status: The project has an inferred resource of more than 22 million carats from two kimberlites, but there are 41 kimberlites that have tested positive for the presence of diamonds. De Beers conducted a modest summer program at the site in 2021, maintaining the camp and data collection from sensors in the field.

Continued on Page B9

B8 Monday, November 22, 2021

News North Nunavut

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Tough year for mineral exploration and mining Stability slowly returning as resilient mines find ways to cope with Covid

story. The Northwest Territories experienced a Providing a simple guest editorial on mining significant drop of nearly $400 million in value, in two territories is becoming increasingly chalwhich was expected with one mine closed and lenging as Nunavut and the Northwest Territories develop their own character, regulations and terrible diamond prices. Nunavut, however, saw an increase of almost $500 million due primarily approaches to mineral resource development. to strong markets.

That being said, the common denominator In either case, the losses and the gains are sigfor virtually everyone in the country, and also nificant and will have their effects on the econoin both territories this past year, has been the mies of both territories. effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the exploration side, dealing with Covid They have been significant. was more difficult. Exploration In the NWT, one diamond was not declared essential, nor mine closed for several months, were any federal Covid relief prowhile the other two mines grams provided. Covid protocols managed to sustain reduced opfor small tent camps needed to erations in what may have been be developed. Because of their the worst diamond market ever. nearness to communities, several Sales and prices slumped while companies postponed their work downstream factories and retail to reduce the risk posed by the stores struggled to stay open. virus. Only those located in the On the other hand, Nunavut most distant and remote regions mines faced a much more falike Nighthawk’s gold project in vourable situation as gold and the NWT and Sabina’s gold projiron markets remained strong. ect in Nunavut, were able to reHowever, all mines still faced start. Thankfully, by summer this the significant challenges of year, the Covid concerns had been dealing with Covid to protect Ken Armstrong is president addressed successfully with public their workers and local comof the NWT and Nunavut health officials, and most exploramunities. Given its economic Chamber of Mines. tion was again underway. importance in the North, the So where do we find ourselves governments declared mining today? an essential service, provided that the industry All of our mines continue to operate this year. could demonstrate strong health protection sysWith their stringent health protection procetems. The mines’ strong efforts were successful. dures, they are experiencing relatively minor Workers from small and vulnerable Northern Covid outbreaks in comparison to some comcommunities were sent home to protect them munities and even provinces. In regards to sales, from the virus, and most continued to be paid. market prices for diamonds are strengthening, Some of our mines became the first employers and gold is still strong. Iron prices are questionin Canada to install their own Covid testing labs. able.

All in, their careful actions satisfied public health On the exploration front, while it is again unofficials to allow them to keep operating, which derway, much work is required to return it to the they managed with reduced workforces, stringent healthy levels required to sustain a strong and testing, and by flying workers to the mine sites beneficial mining industry. socially distanced on chartered aircraft.

Both the NWT and Nunavut have lost signifiMineral production statistics tell an interesting

cant position and are being outcompeted for investment by most provinces and other countries.

Remember, exploration is mostly unsuccessful. We need much more exploration today to increase the odds of making the discoveries that will replace the mines 15-20 years from now. To that end, work is needed to attract investment back to Nunavut and the NWT. On the positive side, we do have several projects advancing closer to mining decisions. They would produce gold, which continues to provide strong prices, and/or critical minerals like rare earths, zinc, and cobalt. These are the very

important metals required to address climate change with electric vehicle and alternative energy components. Exploration for critical minerals should get a boost, given that the recently elected federal government promised special exploration tax credits for critical mineral projects.

We can’t take increased investment for granted though. It won’t just fall into our laps.

To that end, our Chamber of Mines will continue to identify actions that all levels of governments can take to help support and to strengthen the North’s number one industry, and to the benefit of Northerners.

ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᐸᓗᒃᑐᒥ ᑲᑕᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ $400 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᑲᓴᖕᓂ ᐱᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᒪᑐᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᐅᙱᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑭᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᑕᑯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ $500 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᑲᓴᖕᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᓪᓗᐊᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓴᙱᔪᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐅᔭᖅᑐᖅᐸᕐᑐᓄᑦ.

The Northwest Territories experienced a significant drop of nearly $400 million in value in mining production, which was expected with one mine closed and terrible diamond prices. Nunavut, however, saw an increase of almost $500 million due primarily to strong markets. Image courtesy of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines

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Exploring on the land Continued from Page B7

Project: Back River Owner: Sabina Gold and Silver Resource: Gold Location: 364 km southwest of Cambridge Bay Status: Sabina is plowing ahead with pre-construction activities for the proposed Goose Mine, with work proceeding on the port facility and camp. Winter ice road construction and an exploration ramp at Umwelt are also on the agenda.

“For the first time at Back River, site operations will continue yearround,” Bruce McLeod, Sabina’s president and CEO, said in early November.

Sabina announced on Oct. 1 that it had raised $13.5 million through the markets. The money is needed for exploration expenses, according to the company. The company’s overall Back River mineral estimate is 6.32 million ounces of measured and indicated gold as well as 2.86 million ounces of inferred gold.

An updated feasibility study released in March estimated $2 billion in post-tax net cash flow on gross revenues of $7 billion over the 15year life of the mine.

Project: Hood River, Ulu Gold Owner: Blue Star Gold Corp.

Resource: Gold Location: 125 km west of Bathurst Inlet Status: Blue Star’s 5,000-metre summer drill campaign over 25 holes produced 11.06 grams of gold per tonne over 2.18 m from a hole in the Gnu zone that previously turned up 52.7 g/t of gold over two metres. Another target returned 5.53 g/t of gold over 1.54 metres.

Results from another 18 holes were still pending as of Oct. 28.

“Continued strong results from the Gnu zone area drilling, located only 750 metres from the Flood zone deposit, and the new realization that multiple near-surface high grade gold zones may exist in this region is very encouraging,” CEO Grant Ewing stated. “Our technical team will continue to evaluate the results of the program as they become available over the coming weeks and update the geology models which will lead to prioritization of untested target zones in preparation for the next drill program.”

The 9.5-square-km Ulu property lies 50 km north of the Arctic Circle in the Kitikmeot region. Based on past work, the Ulu boasts 605,000 ounces of measured and indicated gold and 226,000 ounces of inferred gold.

Project: Sundog Gold Owner: New Break Resources Resource: Gold Location: 235 km west of Arviat Status: New Break is a new player in the Kivalliq region, reaching agreement with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) in October to explore 94 square km of Inuit-owned lands. The project is known as Sundog. The Kivalliq Inuit Association will manage surface rights while NTI will administer mineral rights. Terms of the deal stipulate that if New Break formally files a discovery of one million estimated ounces of gold, then NTI will get a $1 million bonus payment, or $5 million for five million ounces. A Sundog feasibility study would be worth $3 million to NTI, while commercial production would result in a payment of $5 million to Nunavut Tunngavik.

“We look forward to a productive working relationship, built on respect and our sincere desire to see the Sundog Project benefit the Inuit and New Break shareholders alike,” said Michael Farrant, president and CEO of New Break.

New Break other Kivalliq exploration properties consist of Sy, Noomut/Esker and Angikuni Lake, which cover 220 square km in total.

ᐃᓕᒃᑯᐊᓄᑦ ᓯᕐᓗᐊᖓ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ Nighthawk Gold’s Indin Lake ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖓᓐᓂ, ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ 72,325-ᒦᑕᒥ ᐃᑰᑕᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ 272 ᐅᖓᑖᓂ ᐃᑰᑕᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᖕᒪᔪᓂ ᐱᔭᕇᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᒃᑐᐱᕆᐅᑉ–ᕿᑎᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂ.

The core shack has been a busy place at Nighthawk Gold’s Indin Lake property, where an industrious 72,325-metre drill program over 272 drill holes wrapped up in mid-October. Photo courtesy of Nighthawk Gold

Project: Naujaat Owner: North Arrow Minerals Resource: Diamonds Location: Nine km northeast of Naujaat Status: Processing of a 2,000-tonne bulk sample from the Naujaat Diamond Project was started in late October. Partner Burgundy Diamond Mines funded the $5.6-million initiative for the rights to earn a 40 per cent interest in the Naujaat Diamond Project. The purpose of this sample is to confirm that a unique population of fancy yellow to orange yellow diamonds extend into coarser diamond sizes. “The quality of these diamonds will also be very important as we believe these fancy coloured diamonds will be a key value driver for potential future development of the Q1-4 deposit,” said Ken Armstrong, president and CEO of North Arrow.

Project: Meadowbank Owner: Western Atlas Resources Resource: Gold Location: Adjacent to Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank mine Status: Although the Meadowbank property garnered interest for its gold potential, Western Atlas Resources announced in April that it found nickel and polymetallic mineralization near the surface. One hole intersected 0.14 per cent nickel, 0.01 per cent cobalt, 0.28 per cent chromium, 9.11 per cent iron and 0.8 per cent sulfur over 95 metres from a depth of 18.73 metres. In September, the company served notice that it had amended its permits to allow it to drill up to 20,000 metres per year and enlarge the camp to a maximum of 40 people.

Meadowbank covers 580 square km.

Project: Committee Bay Owner: Fury Gold Mines Resource: Gold Location: 130 km southwest of Kugaaruk Status: Fury Gold announced in September that a five-hole, 2,587 metre drill program was complete. The focus was on an eight kilometre shear zone where the Raven prospect is located. In the past, Raven has yielded 31.1 grams of gold per tonne over 2.8 metres and 9.49 g/t gold over 7.57 metres. Results from this summer’s drill program had not been released publicly as of the first week of November. The overall property encompasses 270 square km along the Committee Bay Greenstone Belt.

Project: Mel Owner: North Arrow Minerals Resource: Diamonds Location: 140 km south of Hall Beach Status: The last update regarding the Mel property came in February when North Arrow announced a data-sharing agreement with StrategX Elements Corp, which acquired the non-diamond mineral rights in the area. However, North Arrow retains a per cent royalty on non-diamond production. The Mel property encompasses 560 square kilometres.

Project: CSI Owner: North Arrow Minerals Resource: Diamonds Location: West of the Jericho and Muskox kimberlites

Monday, November 22, 2021 B9

ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᕿᓪᓕᒐᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒎᓗᒥ ᐃᒪᕐᒥ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᓂ New Break Resources’ Sundog ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖓᓂ, 235 ᑭᓛᒥᑐᒥ ᐱᓇᖕᓇᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᑦ.

Visible flecks of gold panned from New Break Resources’ Sundog property, 235 kilometres west of Arviat. Photo courtesy of New Break Resources Status: CSI is a newly-staked project where North Arrow undertook a modest till sampling program in June. The property covers an area that “could potentially host a bedrock source for regionally anomalous kimberlite indicator mineral samples reported by earlier workers,” according to North Arrow.

Project: Seal/Storm Owner: Aston Bay Holdings Resource: Copper, zinc, silver Location: 120 km south of Resolute Bay Status: Aston Bay Holdings’ partner American West Metals Limited spent three weeks performing a ground electromagnetic geophysical survey at the Storm copper project on Somerset Island over the summer. The work was intended to find extensions of the known mineralization along strike and at depth. A drilling campaign is anticipated in 2022. Storm encompasses a staggering 3000-sq-km area, including the Seal zinc and silver project.

Project: South Kitikmeot Gold Owner: Silver Range Resources Resource: Gold Location: 276 to 432 km south of Kugluktuk Status: Silver Range revealed in August that it optioned the South Kitikmeot Gold Project to Australian company Viridis Mining. The property covers “known gold occurrences along a 200 km long package of metasedimentary rocks which host the Lupin Mine (3.4 million ounces gold production to date) and the Back River Project (5.3 million ounces gold measured and indicated resources) currently being advanced to production by Sabina Gold and Silver Ltd.,” Silver Range stated.

Project: Greyhound Owner: Gold 79 Resources/Agnico Eagle Resource: Gold/silver Location: 40 km northeast of Baker Lake Status: Agnico Eagle is the operating partner at the 13.6-squarekm Greyhound property, which lies 32 km south of Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank gold mine. Gold 79 Resources, formerly known as Aura Resources, holds a 37 per cent interest. Agnico Eagle was expected to undertake an 1,100-metre, eight hole drill program in May, but no results were announced as of early November.

B10 Monday, November 22, 2021

News North Nunavut

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Rebounding from a rocky year

www.NunavutNews.com

Some of the North’s eight operating mines show signs of recovery after pandemic slowdown

By Derek Neary Northern News Services

Below is a summary of developments from operating mines in the NWT and Nunavut.

Northwest Territories Mine: Gahcho Kue Owner: De Beers Canada (51 per cent) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49 per cent) Resource: Diamonds Location: 280 km northeast of Yellowknife

Update: Quarter three 2021 saw 1.56 million carats extracted at Gahcho Kue, a 13 per cent decline from the third quarter in 2020 and an 11 per cent reduction from the 1.76 million carats recovered in quarter two 2021.

However, with 4.7 million carats in hand year to date, Gahcho Kue remains on pace to hit its target of 6.3 million to 6.5 million carats for the full year. In 2020, a total of 6.5 million carats were mined.

The average grade of diamonds recovered in quarter three 2021 was 1.88 carats per tonne, down 14 per cent from 2.19 carats per tonne a year earlier.

Mountain Province Diamonds’ share of diamond sales in the third quarter of 2021 was one million carats for $93.9 million. De Beers, as a private company, is not obligated to report its sales figures.

Mine: Diavik Owner: Rio Tinto Resource: Diamonds Location: 300 km northeast of Yellowknife Update: On Nov. 18, Rio Tinto officially acquired the 40 per cent share previously held by Dominion Diamond Mines, making Diavik the sole owner of the diamond mine.

Rio Tinto’s share of third quarter 2021 diamonds at Diavik amounted to 834,000 carats, which was down 17 per cent from the third quarter a year earlier and a two per cent decrease from quarter two of 2021.

Over the first nine months of 2021, Rio Tinto yielded 2.69 million carats, which was five per cent off from the first nine months of 2021.

Rio Tinto attributed the year over year decrease in the third quarter to lower grades of diamonds and a smaller volume of processed ore.

Diavik recovered 6.2 million carats in 2020 compared to 6.7 million carats in 2019, according to the NWT Geological Survey.

Diavik is scheduled to close in 2025.

Mine: Ekati Owner: Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Resource: Diamonds Location: 310 km northeast of Yellowknife Update: The past 18 months have been more tumultuous at Ekati than either of the other NWT diamond mines. Ekati was placed on care and maintenance status for most of 2020 due to Covid-19. Dominion Diamond Mines, the former owner of Ekati, subsequently sought creditor protection. A sale of the company’s assets to Arctic Canadian Diamond Company followed in the first several weeks of 2021. That deal entailed an $85 million commitment of working capital and honouring $70 million in outstanding debt.

Mining resumed in January.

Over the past few months, Arctic Canadian Diamond Company has been pushing for regulatory permission to drain Point Lake – 73.5 acres – for an open-pit project that the company argues is essential to keep Ekati viable. The Mackenzie Valley Review Board stated in October that an environmental assessment for the project will not be required. However, a public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22-26 and a final decision is expected in March 2022.

Mine: Nechalacho Owner: Avalon Advanced Materials Resource: Rare earths Location: 100 km southeast of Yellowknife Update: Cheetah Resources’ decision to purchase the rights to near-surface resources in Nechalacho’s T-zone and Tardiff zone at Thor Lake for $5 million in 2019 paid off in 600,000 tonnes of ore being shipped for processing after several months of mining this year. The Australian company, the Canadian subsidiary to Vital Metals, announced growing demand for its product in October as Norwegian firm REEtec AS agreed to purchase 50 per cent more rare earths than in its original deal. As well, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Ucore Rare Metals for a supply of mixed rare earth carbonate beginning in the first half of 2024.

Continued on Page B11

ᔅᑕᕙᓂ ᐳᐊᑐᕋᔅ, ᐅᔭᕋᐅᔭᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᒃ, ᕼᐊᓐᑐᕆᒃ ᕚᓪᒃ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᓂᖏᖅᑕᕐᓂᓂ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᕋᐃ ᐊᖑᓚᕝ, ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᖅ Cheetah Resource–ᑯᓐᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᕗᑦ ᐴᕐᒥ ᓯᖃᓪᓕᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᒐᔪᙱᕕᒃᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᒥ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥ ᐅᓯᑲᑦᑕᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᕼᐊᐃ ᕆᕗᕐᒥ, ᐅᒃᑐᐱᕆ 25–ᒥ.

GNWT mineral resource specialist Stephane Poitras, left, GNWT manager of resource royalty policy Hendrik Falck and Cheetah Resources’ operations manager Ray Anguelov stand with an open a bag of crushed rare earths from Nechalacho. The product was shipped to the Marine Transportation Services site in Hay River in October. Simon Whitehouse/ NNSL photo

www.NunavutNews.com

News North Nunavut

Monday, November 22, 2021 B11

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Gahcho Kue ᑕᐃᒪᓐᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓ Hearne ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓ, ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ 5034 ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓ, ᕿᑎᐊᓂ, ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

The Gahcho Kue diamond mine’s Hearne pit, foreground, and 5034 pit, centre, as seen from the air. Photo courtesy of De Beers Group

Baffinland awaits minister’s decision Continued from Page B10 Det’on Cho Nahanni Construction, which is owned by the Yellowknives Dene, benefitted from this year’s mining through an $8-million agreement to provide mining and equipment services at the site.

The Nechalacho Mine is a high-grade, rare earths project with a world-class resource of 94.7 million tonnes at 1.46 per centTREO, in the measured, indicated and inferred categories.

NUNAVUT Project: Mary River Owner: Baffinland Iron Mines Resource: Iron Location: 160 km south of Pond Inlet Status: Baffinland is awaiting a decision from Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal on the fate of its proposed phase two expansion project, which the company insists is essential to keeping the mine economically viable. The Nunavut Impact Review Board, after concluding public hearings in Iqaluit on Nov. 6, was to make a recommendation to Vandal.

Baffinland is seeking to increase production at Mary River to 12 million tonnes of iron ore per year from the existing limit of six million tonnes annually. That would entail a 110-km railway and increased shipping, which has elicited repeated concerns from community members and organizations about potential impacts on terrestrial animals and marine life. Many Inuit still hunt some of those animals for sustenance.

Baffinland shipped 5.45 million tonnes of iron ore from Mary River in 2020, a decrease from 5.93 million tonnes in 2019.

Project: Meliadine Owner: Agnico Eagle Mines Resource: Gold Location: 25 km north of Rankin Inlet Status: Meliadine achieved a record quarter by producing 97,024 ounces of gold during July, August and September of 2021.

Agnico Eagle is striving to extract 370,000 ounces of gold from the project in 2021.

Meliadine produced 318,889 ounces of gold and 27,016 ounces of silver in 2020.

It cost the company $786 to mine each ounce of gold in 2020. Agnico Eagle is aiming to reduce that cost per ounce to $736 this year.

The site has gold reserves of four million ounces with a mine life projected to 2032.

In addition, Nunavummiut workers were fully returned to work as of October after having been sent home in March 2020 due to the safety risks posed by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Project: Amaruq Owner: Agnico Eagle Mines Resource: Gold Location: 160 km northwest of Baker Lake Status: Amaruq churned out 89,076 ounces of gold during the third quarter of 2021.

Agnico Eagle has a target of 370,000 ounces of gold at Amaruq this year.

Amaruq yielded 209,413 ounces of gold and 62,679 ounces of silver in 2020.

The company spent $1,436 per ounce of gold in 2020. The goal in 2021 is to lower those expenditures to $917 per ounce.

The mine has gold reserves of 2.9 million ounces and is expected to remain in production until 2026.

“Nunavut has the potential to be a strategic operating platform for the company with the ability to generate strong gold production and cash flows over several decades,” Agnico Eagle stated of its existing

operations and the prospect of extending the mine life at all of its sites via exploration.

Project: Hope Bay Owner: Agnico Eagle Mines Resource: Gold Location: 125 km southwest of Cambridge Bay Status: Agnico Eagle chose to ramp down production at Hope Bay in October due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the site and an increasing number of cases of the virus in Alberta, which is the primary location

for transporting crews to the mine.

Because Agnico Eagle acquired Hope Bay and its Doris North gold mine from TMAC Resources in February, the project isn’t yet included in Agnico Eagle’s “cost or capital expenditure guidance for 2021, nor included in its year-end 2020 mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates,” according to the company.

However, Agnico Eagle budgeted $16.2 million for 69,600 metres of drilling in the area in 2021. Sitting on a 80-km by 20-km Archean greenstone belt, Hope Bay – where 17,957 ounces of gold was extracted in the third quarter of 2021 – is considered to have vast exploration potential.

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