Nunavut News - Jan. 3, 2022 Edition - Year-in-review 2021

ᐊᑉᕌᒍᒥ-ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ 2021 ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᐅᒍᒐᒃᓴᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥ Volume 76 Issue 35 MONDAY, January 3, 2022 $.95 (plus GST)

Year-in-review 2021

Nunavut News looks back on the stories that made last year unforgettable

Fun in the sun

Truth before reconciliation

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Caring community

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Monday, January 3, 2022 A3

fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Dec. 30 Vaccine uptake (over age 12): 30,484 first doses – 93 per cent 24,746 second doses – 82 per cent

Active cases: 94 Confirmed cases: 747 Recovered cases: 672 Deaths: 4

Breakdown by community: Sanirajak: 10 Iqaluit: 31 Pangnirtung: 13 Arviat: 6 Rankin Inlet: 28 Cambridge Bay: 2 Baker Lake: 1 Qikiqtarjuaq: 2 Iglulik: 1 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ‘ᑕᓯᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ’ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑎᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ; ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ ᓇᒧᙵᕈᓘᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᖅ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 17–ᒧᓪᓗᐊᖅ Northern News Services

ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ ᓇᒧᙵᕈᓘᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᖅ ᐅᖓᕙᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 17–ᒧᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᕆᐊᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ 74–ᓄᑦ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 29–ᒥ. ᓴᙱᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᒫᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᔅᖢᒍ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖃᙱᓚᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐆᒥᑯᕌᓐ ᓴᙱᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᓱᑦᑎᐊᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕖᑦ ᒪᑐᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓇᒧᙵᕈᓘᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᒃᑯᓂ. ᐱᖓᓱᓪᓗᐊᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 30,−ᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐅᓄᓛᓂ ᐱᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥ 31−ᓂ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ 28−ᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ, 13−ᓂ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ, 10−ᓂ ᓴᓂᕋᔭᖕᒥ, 6−ᓂ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ, ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐃᓘᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᓯᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ “ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ” ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ. “ᕿᓄᐊᓵᓗᓯ, (ᐋᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔨᐅᔪᑦ) ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᓕᒫᖓᓐᓂ ᑭᐅᓇᓱᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᓛᖑᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ. ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᕿᓄᐊᓵᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᓗᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᖃᓗᒡᕕᐅᔪᒧᑦ. ᐆᒥᖓ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ. “ᑎᑭᐅᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᒍᑦ ᓴᐱᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ,” ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᓂᑦ.” ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ, ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᒥ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂᐆᒃᑑᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖅᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 29–ᒥ, ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᐸᒃᓯᒪᔭᕕᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᓪᓗᒍ. “ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ, ᐄᖑᔮᖅᑐᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᐊᐃᑦᑐᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑕᑯᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓴᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐆᒥᖓ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ. “ᒪᕐᕈᓪᓗᐊᓂ (ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᓂ) ᓄᖑᕈᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᒥᓂᑦ ᐅᖓᕙᕆᐊᖅᓯᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᐅᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᓄᖅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. “ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑏᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓄᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᐅᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐅᓄᖅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ.” ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᓕ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᑎᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑐᕕᓂᕐᓄᑦ.

Healthcare system being ‘stretched to the max’ says Nunavut Premier

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᓯᒪᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᑭᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᓂᑦ. ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖅ 6-ᖓᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ 7–ᖓᓂ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᖓᑕ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᓕᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᐅᓪᓗᓂ 12 ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ 14–ᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᖃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᒍᓂ ᐅᖃᓗᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᖃᓗᒡᕕᒃᓴᐅᔪᒧᑦ (1-888-975-8601). ᐅᑯᐊ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᓯᓂᖃᔾᔮᙱᓚᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᒪᓕᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ. “ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᕈᕕᑦ ᐋᒃᑲᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᖃᓪᓗᐊᙱᓚᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᖃᖓᑕᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ “ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ”. “ᖃᓂᒪᒍᕕᑦ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓕᕇᒃᑐᒥ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ. ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᑐᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᒪᑐᐊᕐᓂ, ᐅᖓᓯᒌᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒥᓂᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ, ᐋᓐᓂᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ “ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᑲᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ.” ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᑕᒫᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕆᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓂᕿᓂᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ.

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ ᐅᓄᖅᓯᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ 7– ᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ.

Three Nunavummiut hospitalized from Covid-19; territory-wide lockdown to last till at least Jan. 17

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

A Nunavut-wide lockdown has been extended to Jan. 17 as Covid-19 cases soared up to 94 on Dec. 30. There have been no identified variants as of yet with regard to these outbreaks and all cases are being treated as the Omicron variant out of precaution.

This will mean schools will remain closed and only critical government services will be available until the lockdown ends.

There have been at least three hospitalizations in Nunavut, said Nunavut’s chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson.

As of Dec. 30, Iqaluit has the most cases at 31, Rankin Inlet has 28, there are 13 in Pangnirtung, 10 in Sanirajak, six in Arviat, two in Cambridge Bay and Qikiqtarjuaq and one each in Iglulik and Baker Lake.

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok raised concerns about the territory’s healthcare system being stretched “to the max” with multiple communities dealing with Covid-19.

“Please make sure to be patient, (healthcare workers) are doing their best to respond in a timely manner,” said Akeeagok. Patterson also urged Nunavummiut to be patient when calling the Covid-19 hotline.

To address this Akeeagok said he has been working on requesting help from the federal government.

“We are approaching a breaking point in terms of our healthcare capacity,” Akeeagok said.

“Our territory urgently needs more housing to allow every family in Nunavut to safely isolate at home.”

The premier highlighted the housing situation in Pangnirtung, which is dealing with both a Covid-19 and tuberculosis outbreak, the latter announced back in November, as just one example of communities needing more housing.

As of Dec. 29, five communities have been identified as having community transmission, however Dr. Patterson has left open the possibility of additional communities having community transmission as contact tracing efforts continue.

“In a few communities there has been more than one introduction, it appears,” said Patterson.

More Nunavummiut getting vaccinated Covid-19 spreading into so many communities has seen other side effects, namely more Nunavummiut are getting vaccinated than ever.

“At least two (health centres) used up everything that they had and others have extended their hours to meet that increased demand,” said Dr. Patterson.

“Staff in many communities are putting in incredible hours to meet that increased demand.”

The Government of Nunavut is still currently working on obtaining rapid Covid-19 testing kits for returning travellers.

More details are to be announced in the coming days. Individuals will be asked to test themselves on day six or seven of their returning isolation and again on days 12 or 14 after arriving home.

Anyone who tests positive should call the Covid hotline (1888-975-8601).

These tests will not be a replacement for isolation.

Regardless of the test result, Patterson and Akeeagok urged

Nunavut chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson noted vaccine uptake is up across the territory. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo Nunavummiut to follow the current public health measures.

“Vaccinated or not, no one should be attending home or public gatherings,” said Patterson.

Due to the amount of people flying into Nunavut from the holidays “we will see additional cases of Covid-19 introduced”.

“If you are sick, please stay home,” said Patterson, emphasising the need for layered protection against Covid-19.

Isolation, mandatory masks, physical distancing, getting tested, vaccinated and staying home “all combine to protect ourselves and our communities from Covid-19.”

At this time anyone who isn’t triple vaccinated is being asked to isolate for two weeks, with the exception of a weekly trip for groceries, to help protect communities from outbreaks.

A4 Monday, January 3, 2022

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

January ᔮᓐᓄᐊᕆ Mother dies of Covid after giving birth

A Sanikiluaq mother died of Covid-19 on Jan. 2, shortly after giving birth to her newborn daughter in a Winnipeg hospital.

“After surgery – they had removed the baby through surgery – she was tested for Covid,” said Johnnie Cookie, Silatik Qavvik’s father and mayor of Sanikiluaq on Jan. 3. “Her results were positive.”

The subsequent coronavirus symptoms and hospitalization lasted over a month. While Qavvik, a mother to five children, persevered through Covid-19, parts of her body suffered serious damage, leading to complications and her death.

“We were told by the doctor that she was Covid-free because Covid had disappeared from her,” said Cookie. “But because the Covid was a very serious illness, she had to be on a ventilator all this time and she passed away.”

The newborn girl’s health was fine, according to Cookie.

ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 14–ᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᖓᓱᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ 600–ᓂ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕕᒃᓴᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓯᕗᕐᙵᒍᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕕᖕᓂ ᒪᑐᐃᓚᐅᖅᑳᕋᑎᒃ. ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕕᖕᓂ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 14–ᒥ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᑎᐊᕋ ᒫᑭᓐᑖᔅ. ᐄᕙ ᐊᔭᓕᒃ, ᕼᐊᓚᓐ ᐳᓘᕕᑦ, ᐱᐊᓯ ᐅᒥᐅᓪᒍᐃᑦᑐᖅ. ᒥᐊᕆ ᑲᐅᑕᓗᒃ, ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ-ᒪᐃᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐹᒥᓚ ᒍᕉᔅ, ᕌᐱᓐ ᑲᓛᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᓕ ᐅ’ᒍᐊᒥᓐ.

Covid-19 vaccinations begin

Roll out of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine began in Iqaluit on Jan. 6.

Elders Centre resident Josephee Adams, 70, was injected with the first of 6,000 doses that arrived in the territory, half in the capital and half in Rankin Inlet. At the time, two doses are required per person for maximum protection. Health officials are now recommending a third booster shot.

The objective was to have 75 per cent of Nunavummiut vaccinated by the end of March.

“I ask for your patience as we work towards vaccinating as many people as possible,” said Premier Joe Savikataaq, citing the difficulty of logistics involved in vaccine distribution.

Fibre-optic project pegged at $107M

CanArctic Inuit Networks revealed details of its plan to run a 2,104 km, sub-sea fibre optic cable from Clarenville, Nfld. to Iqaluit by late 2022.

The capital cost of the backbone between Clarenville and Iqaluit was estimated at $107 million, according to the company.

There would be no requirement for the Government of Nunavut to provide capital investment in this project, a company news release stated.

Future phases of the initiative could extend the network – to be known as SednaLink – to other parts of the Qikiqtani, Kivalliq, Hudson Strait and Nunavik.

The “theoretical capacity” of the CanArctic fibre will be 48 terabits, whereas a satellite spot beam covering Nunavut has a capacity of approximately 10 gigabits, according to CanArctic Inuit Networks.

“This challenging and highly specialized sub-sea fibre deployment is backed by a proven team of sub-sea professionals with proper design, engineering and routing who will ensure project completion on time and on budget ensuring cheaper and more reliable connectivity for Nunavut and Nunatsiavut,” CanArctic Inuit Networks, an Inuit-led entity, stated in a news release.

Manslaughter nets 2.5 years incarceration

A woman from Resolute Bay was sentenced on Jan. 7 to twoand-a-half years behind bars for repeatedly stabbing and killing a Pond Inlet man in 2018.

However, due to credit for time served in jail while awaiting the completion of her court case, Alicia Manik was no longer incarcerated for manslaughter and had begun her three years of probation, which entailed a lengthy list of conditions.

Manik, a 25-year-old mother of two children, resorted to violence after Stephan Enoogoo punched her repeatedly in the head after a night of drinking. The multiple stab wounds proved fatal.

Justice Bonnie Tulloch took into consideration that Manik immediately pleaded guilty to the killing, she had no previous criminal record, she expressed remorse and she was being prevented from leaving the house by a man who was assaulting her.

“She has proven that she cannot beat her addictions on her own,” Tulloch said of Manik while imposing counselling. “You now are the one that must work hard to make sure you deal with those unresolved issues that have played a part in bringing you to court. It is you that must address your substance abuse problem … You can never make up for what happened to Stephan at your

The community hall in Cambridge Bay was a busy spot on Jan. 14 as the first of three days of vaccinations against Covid-19 got underway, where close to 600 appointments were made in advance of the clinics opening.

Among those on hand at the Cambridge Bay community hall for the Covid-19 mass vaccination clinic on Jan. 14 were, from left, Tara McIntosh, Eva Ayalik, Helen Blewett, Bessie Omilgoetok, Mary Kaotalok, then-Mayor Pamela Gross, Robyn Clarke and Shelly O’Gorman. Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Cambridge Bay

hand, but you can keep his memory alive to act as a very strong incentive to change. It will not be easy but if you work hard, anything is possible.”

Aariak named Nunavut’s commissioner

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Jan. 12 that former premier Eva Aariak will serve as Nunavut’s new commissioner.

“With her long record of service to Nunavummiut and tireless efforts to promote and preserve their culture and languages, I am confident that Ms. Aariak will excel in her new role as commissioner of Nunavut and continue to inspire others to serve their communities,” Trudeau stated.

Aariak has been “a lifelong champion for Nunavut and Inuit languages and culture,” according to a Government of Canada news release.

“Throughout her career as an educator, journalist, entrepreneur, public servant and elected official, she promoted the use and understanding of Inuktut. As the first languages commissioner of Nunavut, Ms. Aariak also helped make this a working language within the territorial government, and recommended to the Nunavut Legislative Assembly the groundbreaking Inuit Language Protection Act, which was subsequently passed into law,” the news release states.

Aariak, who succeeded Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak as commissioner, was the territory’s first female premier, with a term stretching from 2008 to 2013.

Fire destroys Iglulik Co-op

A fire raging overnight between Jan. 19-20 destroyed the Iglulik Co-op.

Calls for emergency personnel went out around 3:45 a.m. The hamlet consequently declared a state of emergency.

Iqaluit sent a fire crew to assist with extinguishing the blaze.

The retail outlet employed 36 people — 23 part-time. The Co-op later expanded its convenience store into a mini grocery store.

The Northern store, the community’s other location to purchase groceries, arranged to bring in extra supplies.

The RCMP initially stated that the fire was not suspicious in

nature, but arrested and charged two youths in August in relation to the incident.

Uvagut TV debuts

Canada’s first all-Inuktut television channel, Uvagut TV (“Our” TV), launched by Nunavut Independent Television (NITV) and IsumaTV, made its debut on Jan. 18.

“For me Uvagut TV is a dream come true – to see Inuit culture and to hear our language full time on TV,” said Lucy Tulugarjuk, NITV chair and executive director as well as the director of the Inuit-language children’s film, Tia and Piujuq. “As our Elders pass away, we are fighting against time to keep Inuit culture and language alive for our children and grandchildren. TV in Inuktut all day every day is a powerful way to keep a living language for future generations.”

Manitok Thompson, CEO of IBC, added, “I believe that Inuit deserve to see these programs. They have a right to hear Inuktitut in their homes and learn more about their ancestors. Television is a tool parents and caregivers can use to help pass on the legacy their relatives left to them. Seeing their grandparents and great grandparents on television will help our young people connect to their culture and language.”

RCMP take another run at recruitment

The second intake of a four-month recruitment program aimed at increasing the number of Inuit officers within the ranks of the Nunavut RCMP was held in Rankin Inlet, starting in late January.

There hasn’t been an Inuk RCMP officer go through the force’s Depot training program in Regina since 2003, and the number of Inuit officers currently on the Nunavut force has dwindled to just a few.

Const. David Aglukark said the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. initiative with the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corp. was to enhance the preparedness of Inuit for employment.

Aglukark said the new program would see the applicants receive literacy and numeracy training, exposure to various police skills, and workshops on mental wellness and coping skills.

February ᕖᕝᕗᐊᕆ Derogatory article panned

An RCMP officer’s spouse described Arviat residents as “simple” and “primitive,” among other disparaging adjectives, in a translated article that appeared in the online publication Canadian Days, an Arabic and English language publication that caters to the Canadian-Syrian community.

“They are a people who refuse to develop and learn … They do not know about science and knowledge, even the simplest thing, which is sex … and they have the largest percentage of women at the age of 14 who become mothers without knowing how!” stated Jenny Polo-Egeileh, the wife of Anthony Egeileh, who served as a corporal at the Arviat RCMP detachment.

That tone continued throughout the interview, in regards to housing, security and a lack of local services, including shopping for basic goods and health-care delivery.

A concerned reader asked Nunavut News to make Nunavummiut aware of the article, writing: “This kind of rhetoric causes harm,” and “the fact that people across Canada will read this false depiction of Inuit is concerning.”

Post office woes spark frustration

Acknowledging substandard service, Canada Post was in discussions with the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay on how to improve service.

The postal outlet was plagued by issues since mid-December due to staff resignations and turnover, internet problems and a broken window.

Mail delivery was behind schedule, sometimes by weeks, others say by months.

Business hours were reduced and, at times, in flux from one day to the next with periodic temporary closures.

The post office was operating with limited staff, but Canada Post intended to hire permanent employees, stated Valerie Chartrand, a spokesperson for the Crown corporation, who added that Covid19 was causing delays across the delivery network.

Ottawa commits to fund shelters

Facing pressure from Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, the federal government announced that it would provide funding for the construction and operation of shelters for Inuit women

and children across Inuit Nunangat as well as in urban centres.

The money was to come from the Government of Canada’s $724.1-million Violence Prevention Strategy.

Inuit women face violence at a rate 14 times greater than other Canadian women and “unfortunately, the majority of them do not have safe places to go to,” the federal government acknowledged in a news release.

More than 70 per cent of Canada’s 51 Inuit communities do not have access to an emergency shelter.

At its 2020 annual general meeting, Pauktuutit called for the construction of five new emergency shelters – in Nunavut, the NWT, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and one in Ottawa.

Judge denounces mental health services

A Nunavut judge condemned the lack of mental health services in Gjoa Haven by stating that a resident’s fatal stabbing of his stepfather may have been prevented if he had had access to professional help.

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

Continued on Page A5

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Monday, January 3, 2022 A5

Kotierk re-elected

ᐊᖏᖅᑎᑕᐅᓵᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑲᒥᓴᓇ ᐄᕙ ᖃᒪᓂᖅ ᐋᕆᐊᖅ ᐅᐱᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐹᓪ ᖁᐊᓴᒧᑦ ᕕᕈᐊᕆ 3–ᒥ.

Newly sworn-in Nunavut commissioner Eva Qamaniq Aariak is congratulated by thenSpeaker of the House Paul Quassa Feb. 3. Michel Albert photo courtesy of Government of Nunavut

From Page A4 Qirqqut suffers from mental health issues. On the day of the killing in the family home, he told relatives that his stepfather tried to poison him in his ear.

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

An Ontario psychiatrist later found that the offender was suffering from an acute psychotic disorder and was unfit to stand trial.

Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak had repeatedly called for more mental health resources but he never saw it materialize.

“There’s no improvements in the system that’s supposed to help out there,” said Akoak.

Qaqqaq says feds don’t care about Inuit

Then-MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq berated the federal government for the limited medical services available in Nunavut, asserting that it’s evidence that Ottawa doesn’t care about Inuit.

This sharp criticism came on the heels of the Government of Canada making an assurance that Inuit and other Indigenous people would “receive first-class medical care, without fear of discrimination and maltreatment.”

Qaqqaq said: “Inuit and the North does not matter to the fed-

eral government as much as other communities, 100 per cent, otherwise we would see equal access. That’s exactly what we saw from the beginning of the relationship between Inuit and the federal institution. It’s a lack of any kind of respect.”

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson also acknowledged concerns over a lack of health services in the territory.

“The complaints I’m getting about healthcare are about access to healthcare more than about discrimination … (it’s) the shortage of resources in notable areas like mental health,” said Patterson.

Buscemi receives accolades

Annie Buscemi’s uplifting and life-affirming messages delivered via TikTok videos helped her earn Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada’s first Young Inuk Woman of the Year award.

Buscemi’s videos became a daily must-see ritual for some of her online followers, numbering more than 25,000.

An Iqaluit resident who was born in Kimmirut, she regularly greets her fans with an enthusiastic: “Ullaakkut! Good morning!”

Because Buscemi knows some Inuit youth are struggling with their identity, she seizes the opportunity to “point out aspects of our culture that we can find strength in.”

“Buscemi’s engaging and encouraging manner incorporates aspects of Inuit culture into her daily affirmations,” Pauktuutit wrote.

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

Kotierk was the preferred candidate in every community.

She was the choice among 69 per cent of those who cast ballots.

Voter turnout was 17.5 per cent overall — from a high of 42 per cent in Grise Fiord to a low of 7.1 per cent in Arviat, where “no-contact polling” was offered over extra days due to another outbreak of Covid-19.

Blockade ends at Mary River mine

A group of demonstrators known as the Nuluujaat Land Guardians ended a blockade at Baffinland Iron Mines’ Mary River mine on Feb. 11.

About a dozen individuals from Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay blocked the airstrip and the the tote road at the site for a week.

Naujaat Elder Donat Milortok expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.

“Our concern is for the land and for future generations to enjoy the relationship we know with wildlife, animals and the oceans.

All Inuit understand this,” said Milortok, former president of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut, the Inuit organization that negotiated the Nunavut land claim during the 1970s and ‘80s.

Among the terms that brought an end to the protest was a firm commitment from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association to share a greater portion of royalties and revenues from Baffinland’s activities.

Various environmental, social and cultural concerns, including traditional sources of food, were also communicated.

4.5 year sentence for manslaughter

A Sanikiluaq man who pleaded guilty to a 2018 manslaughter had only several months left to serve of his four-and-a-half year sentence.

Josie Takatak stabbed and killed Billy Arrangutainaq on June 18, 2018.

Takatak had previous convictions for assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement in 2011, in addition to assault with a weapon and uttering threats in 2013. There were also eight violations of court orders from 2011 to 2014.

Justice Bonnie Tulloch stated admonished Takatak for his bootlegging, even though that wasn’t among his charges.

“Josie not only chose to ignore the wishes of his community to keep Sanikiluaq free from alcohol, but he benefitted financially from that decision,” she stated. “All the ingredients for serious trouble were present: an illegal business operation, a drunk businessman, some vulnerable customers (many perhaps seriously addicted to alcohol) and the use of a weapon.”

A6 Monday, January 3, 2022

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March ᒫᑦᓯ

ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᓵᓚᒪᓐ ᐊᕙ ᓴᓇᕗᖅ ᖃᒡᒋᕐᒥ ᑕᓯᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᖅᓯᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᖃᒡᒋᐊᕘᑦ ᖃᒡᒋᖅ 2021–ᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 20–ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ 21–ᒥ.

Master iglu builder Solomon Awa works on the qaggiq in Sylvia Grinnel Territorial Park for Qaggiavuut’s Qaggiq 2021 festival held March 20 and 21.

NNSL file photo

Arviat declares state of emergency

The Hamlet of Arviat declared a state of emergency due to a severe outbreak of Covid-19 that stretched into March.

Among the measures put in place were a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; all retail and food service establishments/ businesses were to be closed; nobody was to leave their property during this time unless it was an emergency or they were an essential worker going to and from work.

Four additional officers were hired to enforce the curfew, in addition to hamlet public safety officers.

Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main later raised concerns in the Legislative Assembly because he said he was receiving calls from constituents asking how they can isolate in their

crowded homes.

“The lack of housing has caused a lot more problems,” said Main. “They have been calling me and asking me, ‘Where can I go sleep? I can’t stay at my house. I don’t want to pass on the Covid-19 to my family, so where do I go now? Where can I go sleep?’ As an MLA, I have not had an answer to that, which is unfortunate.”

GN dodges deficit

Close to $130 million in Covid-19 financial aid from the federal government helped offset an expected large deficit in the 2021-22 territorial budget.

Mandatory 14-day isolation in southern hubs for those entering Nunavut, support for airlines, testing for Covid-19, vaccine delivery equipment and other public health measures cost the GN a great deal of money over 2020 and early 2021.

Another $78 million in funding from Ottawa covered a share of medical travel expenses under the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, which “brings the federal government closer to acknowledging the actual costs of delivering this important medical travel program on their behalf,” said then-Finance Minister George Hickes.

Artist earns prestigious award

A lifetime of artwork earned Inuk artist Germaine Arnaktauyok a 2021 Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts and an associated $25,000 prize.

“Germaine Arnaktauyok has charted her own course and created her own unique visual language, and her lifelong interest in her own unique Inuit culture has been an inspiration to many younger artists,” stated Darlene Coward Wight, curator of Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, who nominated Arnaktauyok.

The eight award winners, who were selected by a committee of their peers, were to receive a special-edition bronze medallion in recognition of their body of work.

In addition, each artist was featured in a video portrait.

“I was always drawing since I was little and I never questioned it and just kept going,” Arnaktauyok said in her video. “I’m 74 years old and I’m still at it.”

Born near Iglulik and now a resident of Yellowknife, much of her work depicts Inuit legends in pen and ink drawings.

MLA alleges racism, nepotism

Some “high-level” government officials are making staffing decisions and inappropriate comments towards Inuit “driven by racism and nepotism,” said then-MLA Cathy Towtongie.

“There are many Inuit who are experienced and qualified to do jobs, but are not being hired into positions. Instead of recognizing the skills and abilities of Inuit who can do the work, senior managers are hiring people from outside of the territory who often leave after a couple of years,” Towtongie, who represented Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, said in the legislative assembly on March 2.

“A number of my constituents have come to me, to my home a number of times to complain about racist treatment they have experienced, some of it in the health field … There should be no tolerance for racism in our health-care system. We need more Inuit working within our health care-system. If our government continues to tolerate racist attitudes, we will not achieve this goal,” she said.

Then-Health Minister Lorne Kusugak urged any public servant who is subjected to racism or harassment to file a complaint, even if done anonymously.

Meth warning in Pangnirtung

A former police officer warned residents of Pangnirtung that

meth was being dealt in their community, and he said the drug almost killed a young relative.

“I am writing this to plead with you that if the people selling these drugs are not stopped right away that the situation is going to get really bad. If you thought drinking was bad, if you thought coke and speed were bad, just wait until you see the effects of meth will do to the community. It is destroying whole communities in the south,” David Lawson wrote on the Pangnirtung News and Announcements Facebook page. “It’s one of the cheapest drugs out there but it’s also the hardest drug to hit the body and mind and one of the hardest drugs to treat once you are hooked.”

Pangnirtung Mayor Eric Lawlor also expressed his concern about the situation.

“It was shocking to hear,” he said. “This is concerning because it’s one of the harder drugs that has actually shown up. The drug situation seems to be kind of getting worse, a little bit. We’re starting to see a little bit more harder and harder things up here.”

QIA withdraws support for mine expansion

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s board of directors announced on March 5 that it would not support Baffinland Iron Mines’ phase two expansion proposal for the Mary River project.

Then-QIA President P.J. Akeeagok said potential effects on caribou, narwhal, seal and fish from increased shipping and dust and the low rate of Inuit employment at the mine site are factors too serious to overlook.

“The fundamental questions that are still there, a lot of them weren’t being answered right at the impact review board … there’s already existing impacts that I think were being disputed at the hearings in terms of the baseline data and the … incorporation of Inuit qaujimajatuqangit (traditional knowledge),” Akeeagok said, adding that the proposal to double production to 12 million tonnes per year from six million tonnes at the mine exacerbated matters because the pace is too great.

Baffinland officials warned that the mine wasn’t expected to remain viable without the expansion.

BCC fire displaces prisoners

Thirty prisoners from Baffin Correctional Centre (BCC) were moved to the Joyceville Institution in Kingston, Ont. after a fire damaged BCC on March 18.

The remaining 30 inmates from BCC were transferred to other correctional facilities within Nunavut.

No injuries were reported as a result of the BCC fire.

GN workforce grows, salaries up modestly

The territorial government’s workforce expanded by 132 positions in 2019-20 and the average salary reached $95,984, up by $384 from a year earlier, according to the 2019-20 Public Service Annual Report, released in March.

The average annual salary for Nunavut Inuit, who continue to comprise half of the public service, was $86,478. For non-Inuit it was $106,997.

Female employees, who make up 65 per cent of the territorial government’s staff, earned an average of $94,841 while male employees were paid $98,634 per year, on average.

“The differences between salaries can be attributed to employment categories, because Nunavut Inuit and female employees hold fewer professional and management positions than their non-Inuit and male counterparts. The GN is making every effort to ensure this imbalance is addressed through various career development training programs targeted at Inuit employees,” the report stated.

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Monday, January 3, 2022 A7

April ᐄᐳᕆ Qaumajuq Inuit Art Centre opens

The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) celebrated the opening of the Qaumajuq Inuit Art Centre in Winnipeg with a virtual celebration and free days at WAG. Qaumajuq’s inaugural exhibition was INUA (Inuit Nunangat Ungammaktut Atautikkut), meaning “life force” in a number of dialects and “Inuit moving forward together.” The exhibit featured works of arts from all regions of Inuit Nunangat — Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

The new 40,000 square-foot Qaumajuq building’s central feature is a three storey glass vault, which showcases thousands of carvings. Holding close to 14,000 pieces of Inuit art, Qaumajuq is Inuit-led and sits in the heart of downtown Winnipeg.

‘Inhumane’ housing conditions: Qaqqaq

Nunavummiut are enduring “inhumane conditions” and their health and safety is at risk by living in homes that are overcrowded, mouldy, water damaged, drafty and have poor ventilation, said then-Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, who released a report on the troubling circumstances.

Qaqqaq once again demanded that the federal government take greater action to tackle the territory’s housing problems following “decades of severe underfunding.”

She added that “ignorance and neglect from the current and previous governments has resulted in continued cycles of trauma, intergenerational trauma and abuse.”

Judge imposes harsher sentence for ‘brutal’ assault

A Nunavut judge disallowed a Crown prosecutor’s recommended 10-month sentence and instead imposed the maximum 18 months of jail time in a case involving a “brutal” sexual assault that left the victim with fractured ribs in addition to mental trauma.

Justice Paul Bychok also issued a stern written rebuke to Crown prosecutor Alina Seagal for proposing a lighter sentence for the repeat offender from Kugluktuk, a recommendation that Bychok described as “unhinged.” Offender Joe Algiak, 56, has a criminal record that includes two prior convictions of sexual assault and 12 other assault-related convictions.

“The Crown sentence recommendation in Mr. Algiak’s case only reinforces the perception that our justice system fails to provide justice to Inuit female victims of sexual violence,” stated Bychok.

Wind turbines funded in Sanikiluaq

A one-megawatt wind project expected to offset more than half of Sanikiluaq’s use of diesel for

electricity was backed by $6.5 million in funding through Natural Resources Canada.

Ten wind turbines, each capable of generating 100 kW of energy, and 800 kWh of battery energy storage are anticipated to provide more than 4 GWh per year of clean energy for the community of close to 900 residents.

Formally known as the Sanikiluaq High Displacement Renewable Energy Demonstration Project, the initiative will be owned and operated through a regional-community ownership model, designed to keep project revenues within the community. The initiative is expected to achieve commercial operation by fall 2023.

ᐊᑎᐅᓪ ᐊᖏᓪᓕᒃ, ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᑲᖓ ᐋᓂ ᑕᐃᐸᓇ, ᑐᓄᐊᓂ ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᕿᑲᓚᐅᑲᒃᐳᑦ ᒪᑭᕝᕕᐊᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 5–ᒥ.

No laws broken in fatal police shooting

An investigation of RCMP conduct during the fatal shooting of a Clyde River man on May 5, 2020 found that officers involved did not break the law, according to the Ottawa Police Service.

The incident resulted in the death of Abraham Moses Natanine, 31.

Ottawa Police Service (OPS) sent four investigators to Clyde River to look into the series of events that led to the deadly confrontation at a residence. Police responded that day after receiving a call about a domestic disturbance.

“OPS concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with his death,” the Ontario police force stated.

Wise Women chosen

Naujaat’s Laura Panigayak was named the recipient of the 2021 Qulliit Wise Woman Award while Iqaluit’s Jukipa Kotierk was selected as the Outstanding Young Woman of the year.

Panigayak, who now resides in Taloyoak, was chosen based on her work with youth – lending a “compassionate ear” and offering advice and feedback to students, according to Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council.

Kotierk earned her award for “volunteering her free time to improve the lives of others. She consistently advocates for marginalized groups, and is a co-creator of Ivviulutit, an organization dedicated to uplifting youth ages 13 to 30 who are Inuit, Black, Indigenous or people of colour (BIPOC) and who identify within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” Qulliit stated.

Covid-19 outbreak in Iqaluit

Chief public health officer (CPHO) Dr. Michael Patterson declared an official outbreak of Covid-19 in Iqaluit on April 16.

“It is declared an outbreak as it involves multiple different households and we have not determined the source of infection at this time,” said Patterson.

The number of active Covid cases in the capital stood at 31 at the time.

Then-Premier Joe Savikataaq repeated cautions for Nunavummiut to follow the public health

ᓴᖅᑲᓕᐊᓯ ᑯᓄᒃ, ᐃᒃᓯᕚᖃᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒧᑦ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᒃᐳᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 9–ᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᑐᓵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ.

Zacharias Kunuk, who sits on the board of directors with the Nunavut Independent Television Network, felt the broadcaster was being censored by the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s April 9 decision to not allow previous Baffinland regulatory hearings to be shown again at this time. Image courtesy of Isuma TV

Adele Angidlik, right, and her sister Annie Taipana, background left, take a break during the Easter Games in Baker Lake on April 5. Photo courtesy of Karen Yip

measures in place, as the virus can spread very easily in communities. He also stressed the importance of everyone able to be vaccinated to get their shots booked.

“I know how uncertain things are right now, but I ask everyone to remain calm and stay strong,” Savikataaq said. “Let’s stay positive, kind and pay strict adherence to all the public health measures.”

Fuel spill in Baker Lake

The territorial government was rushing to clean up a 10,000 litre fuel spill in Baker Lake before it could contaminate the community’s drinking water.

Details about the leak were only made public on April 21, nearly a month after it was first detected.

The oil spill was spotted outside Baker Lake’s tank farm on March 29, but the government believed the leak started on March 5, following the rupture of a drain valve on the pipeline, according to an announcement by the Department of Community and Government Services.

It was estimated it will cost up to $1 million in cleanup efforts, considered finished by summer

2021, with monitoring and soil sampling efforts set to take place well into 2022/23.

Remembering judge Beverley Browne

Nunavut chief justice Neil Sharkey paid tribute to his former colleague, the late Beverley Browne, who was Nunavut’s first senior judge and led the Nunavut Court of Justice through its first 10 years.

Sharkey reflected on Browne’s professionalism and contributions to the community.

“Whether it was through developing a music society, raising accomplished children, spearheading a Nunavut law school, developing the law, or building a Superior Court, Justice Browne’s contributions cannot be overstated,” Sharkey stated. “Justice Browne’s commitment to advancing the law for the benefit of Nunavummiut was on display every time she presided … It was only a few months ago that Justice Browne was chairing meetings in chambers working towards revitalizing the Elders’ program in the NCJ (Nunavut Court of Justice), a program Justice Browne initiated and was committed to seeing flourish.”

A8 Monday, January 3, 2022

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ᓄᑖᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ, ᓄᑖᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑦ, ᓱᖏᐅᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ, ᐅᑯᐊ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᓂᕆᔭᕗᑦ 2022–ᒧᑦ

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ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ, ᕼᐃᓖ? ᖄᖓᓂ, ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓇᒐᓚᒃᐳᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖅᑳᕋᓂ, ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᐊᔪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖓᓂ ᓱᕋᒃᓴᕋᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᒥ. ᐅᓄᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ, ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ – ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᕈᕕᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᒐᔪᙱᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ – ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓄᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓐᓄᒃᓯᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᖑᓴᕋᐃᓐᓂᐅᒧᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᕼᐊᓐᓇᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᒥᓕᐊᓐ–ᖏᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᑭᒡᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐊᒥᓲᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ: ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 2020–ᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ (NHC) ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓂᖏᓐᓂ $265 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 9–ᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᒥᒃ, ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᒥ 700–ᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ. ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒥ 227–ᓂ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦ 2020–ᒥ 2022–ᒧᑦ. ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, 116–ᓂ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ ᓴᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ 2020-21 ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ $60.5-ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ 114–ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᔪᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᖄᖏᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓂ. ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ $3 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕆᕗᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᐸᒌᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂᑦᑕᐅᖅ.

2010–ᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑭᓪᓕᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 49 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᐃᓄᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓂ ᐸᖕᒥᐅᓗᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ ᐊᒥᒐᓗᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ 3,800–ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ. ᑕᐃᒫᒃ, ᐱᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᓯᒪᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓂᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ 230–ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ, ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓂᖓᓂᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ ᐊᙳᑎᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔾᔮᙱᓚᖅ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓱᒃᑲᐃᑎᒋᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

ᐅᓇ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᑎᒋᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᐃᒡᓕᓚᐅᓯᖅᒪᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᔪᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ? ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᒪᐃᔭᖓ ᑲᓂ ᐱᐅᓪ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐃᒡᓗᑭᒃᓴᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᑯᓘᕗᖅ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ, ᐱᑕᖃᖅᐸᒌᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᒪᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑯᕕᖅᑕᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᔪᓐᓇᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᖑᓱᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᐃᒪᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᓵᙵᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ 2005–ᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᒃᐸᑕ, ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᖅ ᑭᐅᑦᑎᐊᓪᓚᕆᒍᓐᓇᙱᓚᑦ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᐅᑉ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ. “ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᔪᓐᓇᙱᓚᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᒪᖅᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ. ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᕐᒦᑉᐳᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᐅᓪ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᓄᖅᑲᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨ ᓯᐊᕋ ᐊᔭᕈᐊᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓂ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᑯᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᙳᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ. “ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᓇᑭᙶᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᑕᐃᓐᓇ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᖁᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ.” ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓵᖅᑐᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂ 6–ᖓᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ; ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐅᒪᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᐅᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᒥᒃ; ᑲᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ; ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᓯᓂᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ, ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ; ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᓯᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ; ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ 6–ᖓᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᕕᕈᐊᕆ 21–ᒥ. ᑎᑭᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᐳᒦᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᓄᑦ. ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᐳᖅ.

New year, new government, familiar mandate

After two very tumultuous years, here are our hopes for 2022 Northern News Services

It’s been a couple of tough years, hasn’t it?

On the surface, things have stayed very much the same as they were before the pandemic arrived, threatening to cripple our fragile Northern healthcare systems.

There are still not enough jobs to go around, not enough housing – even if you were lucky enough to be hired for one of the rare GN positions outside Iqaluit – and there’s not enough trained Inuit to fill the rosters of education and health staff to help mitigate turnover and provide these essential services in the language of the territory.

We had hundreds of millions of dollars pledged at all levels of government to help solve these many issues: in September 2020, the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC) announced it had secured $265 million in funding over the next nine years from the National Housing Strategy, which translates to about 700 new housing units across the territory.

The plan was to build 227 new public residences from 2020 to

2022. As it turns out, 116 new houses were built during the 2020-21 fiscal year. NHC used a $60.5-million budget to construct 114 housing units this past year.

More than $3 million was spent on maintenance and improvement of existing housing stock in five communities as well.

A 2010 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation survey found that 49 per cent of occupied dwellings were overcrowded, with a housing shortfall of 3,800 units across the territory. So, while it’s good that NHC has stayed on track and delivered 230 units, the availability of housing will simply never catch up with demand at this pace.

This urgent need must be met with urgent action. How much longer can Nunavummiut be expected to stay on the never-shortening housing wait lists?

Of course, as Iqaluit Mayor Kenny Bell pointed out recently, housing is only a small piece of the problem, when existing water and sewage infrastructure cannot support population growth.

Unless the chronic water shortages that Iqaluit has faced since 2005 are fixed, the City won’t be

able to sufficiently address things such as much needed housing or the city’s growth.

“We can’t open land for housing because there’s not enough water for more people. We’re in a serious situation,” said Bell.

As far as education is concerned, retiring teacher Sarah Ayaruak of Rankin Inlet called for more educators from within Nunavut, saying she hopes to see more community members become educators and school supervisors.

“We need more local educators,” she said. “We understand where the students come from, and I think that connection is better for students with their own people.”

Nunavut’s newly-elected MLAs set five priorities for the sixth Legislative Assembly: implementing a comprehensive Elder care strategy; reinvesting in education; enhancing health, mental health and addictions services; expanding housing; and diversifying the economy.

The first session of the 6th Legislative Assembly is scheduled to convene on Feb. 21. The bar must be set high as these issues have been on the table for years. Progress is desperately needed.

www.NunavutNews.com

On the land

News North Nunavut

Monday, January 3, 2022 A9

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.

The on-the-land contest is now entering it’s fourth year! Here are some of our favourite entries from the past year.

Thanks for playing along with us and please keep sending your photos and stories! The next contest will be posted Friday, Jan. 7.

ᐊᓛᓇ ᕿᔪᖅᑕᖅ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᕐᔪᐊᒥ: ᓇᓐᓄᒋᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ, ᓄᕈᐱᕆ 5–ᒥ.

Alanna Qiyuqtaq sent us this story from Qikiqtarjuaq: Caught my first polar bear, Nov. 5.

ᑲᑕᕆ ᐃᐊᑉ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᖅᑑᖅ: ᕿᒻᒥᕗᑦ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕿᓂᕐᒥ ᓂᐱᓕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᖅᑑᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ.

Cathryn Epp sent us this story from Umingmaktok/Bay Chimo: Our dog Pepper enjoying the sunset in Bay Chimo, Nunavut.

ᑳᓕᓐ ᕼᐊᓂᓕᐊᖅ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥ: ᕿᒥᕆᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᙵᕐᒥ ᐆᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᒪᓐᓂᖕᒥ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᑭᐅᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ.

Colin Hanniliaq sent us this story from Pond Inlet: Feeding a jaeger cooked egg yolks during spring seal hunting and egg season near Pond Inlet.

ᐹᓪ ᓄᖃᖅᖠᖅ ᐊᓕᒃᑎᓗᒃ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᑦ: ᓖᓴ ᐊᓕᒃᑎᓗᒃ ᐆᒐᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᔪᕐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᑦ, ᒪᐃ 23, 2021.

ᔭᔅᑎᓐ AJ ᐅᐊᑕ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᒥ: ᕌᓐᑎ ᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᖅᓴᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑖᑕᒥᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᑦᑎᑦᑕᐅᑎᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕋᓱᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

ᐴᑕ ᐳᔭᑕᖅ ᒪᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ: ᐅᑕᒃ ᐊᕚᓚ, ᓇᖏᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑎᕈᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᖕᒥ, ᐊᒪᐅᕋ (ᐅᑕᐅᑉ) ᐃᓄᒃᓱᖓᓂ. ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᐃ 22, 2021 31 ᒪᐃᔪᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ.

Bertha Pooyataq Mannik sent us this story from Baker Lake: Utak Avaala, standing by her namesake’s Inukshuk, my great grandfather (Utak’s) inukshuk. Taken May 22, 2021 about 31 miles out of Baker Lake.

Paul Jr Aliktiluk sent us this story from Arviat: Lisa Aliktiluk at the Cod and Ugly Fish (sculpin) fishing derby in Arviat, May 23, 2021.

Justin AJ Porter sent us this story from Gjoa Haven: Randy Nartok caught a loon while helping his dad check nets.

ᑎᕆᐊᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᑦ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ: ᒥᔅ ᐸᐸᓘᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓪᓕᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᖓ, ᐊᐅᓚᕼᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓇᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖓᓂ, ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᒃᓴᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᖢᓂ! ᓄᓇ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᕗᖅ Prince ᑰᖓᓂ.

Tiriaq Iqqaat sent us this story from Baker Lake: Miss Papaluut on her first fishing trip, aulahaqtuq without us knowing she knew how to, I guess she learned from watching! The land is called Prince River.

ᐳᕋᓐᑕ ᐊᑉᓴᒃᑕᐅᓐ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᑰᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ: ᒪᕐᕈᓕᐊᒃᑲ ᐸᓂᒃᑲ ᐃᖃᓪᓕᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑰᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᒪᕐᕈᓕᐊᒥ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ Shaw ᑕᕐᕆᔭᕈᓐᓇᐅᒻᒥ ᑐᐱᕐᒧᐊᖁᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

Brenda Apsaktaun sent us this story from Kugaaruk: My twin girls’ fishing trip in Kugaaruk, Nunavut. One twin wanted to go home and the other wanted a Shaw Dish on the tent.

ᓅᓪ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᒃᓴᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ: ᓱᑯᓗᒃ ᐳᕉᔅ ᑐᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᒃᓯᕚᖅᑐᖅ, ᐊᐳᒻᒥ ᓴᐅᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᒥ ᓂᒃᑯᓕᐊᖑᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ.

Noel Kaludjak sent us this story from Rankin Inlet: Sukuluk Bruce sitting on tuktu, to be buried in snow for spring dry meat making.

A10 Monday, January 3, 2022

News North Nunavut

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May ᒪᐃ B.1.1.7 Covid-19 variant identified in Iqaluit super-spreader event

During an April 26 press conference, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson said karaoke night at Iqaluit’s Chart Room Lounge on April 14 fit the description of a super-spreader event.

“Right now it appears that one night accounts for just over 20 per cent of cases in Iqaluit,” said Patterson.

Virus samples sent out for genome sequencing also came back, identifying the variant in the territorial capital as B.1.1.7, which originated in the United Kingdom.

While a specific source of origin wasn’t identified, public health officials say Covid-19 has been circulating in Iqaluit since April 10.

ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᒪᐃ 7–ᒥ 9 ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐸᑲᓪᓚᒃ ᑕᐃᒻ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓲᓛᖑᔪᒥ 60–ᓂ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ, ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ. ᐃᓚᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᓚᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓯᖅᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᖁᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᖏᑕ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓃᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ19–ᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᕆᔅᑎᓐ ᑏᐊᔅ, ᐅᕙᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᕕᒃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᑭᑑᖓᓗ ᓇᓴᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓵᓚᖃᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐊᐳᒻᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

Baffinland braces for possible shutdown, outbreak suspends operations at Mary River Mine

A shaky price forecast for iron ore and regulatory uncertainty related to its Phase Two expansion plans had Baffinland Iron Mines is saying future production at its Mary River Mine in north Baffin could be affected.

Tununiq MLA David Qamaniq said Baffinland was advised by residents not to ship equipment related to Phase Two without regulatory approval, “they didn’t listen to the people … who were warning them not to rush things.”

Conversely, Qamaniq said a shutdown would have beneficial effects on local wildlife, a concern which the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Association have raised many times.

The round of public hearings related to Phase Two taking place in mid-April in Iqaluit was suspended due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the city.

A Covid-19 outbreak also led to operations being suspended at Mary River, with 23 cases of Covid-19 at the mine announced on May 6.

Mine’s environmental protection efforts fall short: QIA

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) has pulled its support for Baffinland Iron Mines Phase Two expansion at the Mary River Mine in north Baffin.

In June of 2020 QIA entered into the Inuit Certainty Agreement with Baffinland. However the organization still had a number of unresolved questions from the Nov. 2019 expansion hearings, particularly with issues surrounding dust impacts on the animal population among other matters following community consultations.

“We haven’t seen Baffinland successfully implement adaptive management … but it’s the mitigation (measures) and protection of the environment, that’s what matters most,” said Jared Ottenhof, director of QIA’s Qikiqtani Nunalirijikkut.

QIA also cited the lack of consensus in the communities affected by the mine expansion. On Feb. 5 a number of protesters from Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay blockaded the mine’s air strip and tote road. Among the terms to end the blockade were to have QIA and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated pay more attention to the needs of environmental and wildlife concerns expressed by harvesters.

Elders Home evacuated due to Covid-19

On May 10 the Government of Nunavut announced Covid-19 was exposure in the Iqaluit Elders Home and Baffin Correctional Centre (BCC).

One staff member at the Elders Home was diagnosed with Covid-19 while 12 active cases were found in the capital’s correctional facilities, all of whom were sent to BCC. Four Elders were down south to Ottawa’s Embassy West while

Over the course of the May 7 to 9 weekend, Rankin Inlet’s Pakallak Tyme featured a record 60 racers, all from the community. Participants from other communities were not allowed and spectators were asked to stay in or near their vehicles to abide by Covid-19 public health measures. This year’s big winner was Tristen Dias, seen here hoisted up on his sled after being crowned champion of the Kivalliq Snow Challenge in the senior men’s division. Photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

two others were sent elsewhere in-territory, one with family and the other to another facility in-territory.

Staff and residents of Nunavut’s long-term care facilities were among the first in Nunavut, and Canada to get vaccinated. However not everyone chose to get vaccinated, which the chief public health officer pointed to as the cause of the outbreak.

Iqaluit port delayed until Sept. 2022

The deep-sea port in Iqaluit is a year behind schedule and the Government of Nunvut announced it won’t be completed until September 2022.

Covid-19 and the “lower than anticipated productivity from the contractor prior to Covid” are the reasons Nunavut’s Department of Community and Government Services giving for the delays.

While project costs have risen it is still expected to be covered within the existing budget.

Tower Arctic, the contractor for the port has encountered a number of obstacles in constructing this port and a small-craft harbour in Pond Inlet.

Finding experienced workers is another problem due to Covid19 related travel restrictions at the time in Nunavut.

Tower Arctic was awarded the Iqaluit contract for close to $65 million while the contract in Pond Inlet was for $24 million.

The projects are largely federally funded with the Government of Canada announcing up to $64 million toward the Iqaluit port and up to $30 million for the Pond Inlet harbour in July 2015.

Morley Hanson departs Nunavut Sivuniksavut after 31 years

On May 20, Morley Hanson, Nunavut Sivuniksavut’s (NS) Executive Director of 31 years attended his last graduation as part of the organization.

“I’m feeling all kinds of emotions, I guess. It was such a special time,” he said about this year’s NS graduation.

He started with NS in 1988, the program’s fourth year of operation. Moving from northern Saskatchewan to Ottawa. While he admits his inital knowledge on Inuit culture and history was limited at the start, he continued to learn as he worked at NS. “It was a brand new world to me,” said Hanson.

Just a few streets away from the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut (TFN), precursor to Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated in Ottawa, Hanson also witnessed revolutionary changes in the political landscape for Inuit. Hanson even got students to listen in on TFN board meetings.

He also recalls being quickly accepted by Inuit, and he learned to appreciate the “persistence, solid perseverance and patience and determination” of Inuit.

Morley’s retirement plans include finishing a kayak in his workshop and travelling more.

“It’s like starting a new phase in life,” he said. “I’m going to have to figure it out.”

ᒪᐃ–ᕿᑎᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᑲᔪᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᒥ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᒃᑯᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ. ᐆᓕ ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᓯᓚᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᓯᑭᑑᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓴᐅᑎᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐃᖃᓗᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ, ᓯᑯᒥ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᐸᑦᑕᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ–ᐅᑭᐅᓖᑦ ᒪᕐᕈᓕᐊᑦ ᑎᐊᓴ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓕᒃᓯᔅ ᐊᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᖕᓂ ᑲᓕᑯᓂ ᖁᓕᑦᑕᐅᔭᓂ, ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᓈᓇᖓᑕ ᐊᐃᓐᔪᓪ ᐅᕙᒡᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐃᐅᓪᒃᔅ ᐸᐃᓯᑰᒧᑦ ᐊᒧᔭᐅᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᒪᐃ 22–ᒥ.

In mid-May Cambridge Bay went ahead with its annual spring festival, the Omingmak Frolics. Ollie the muskox made a return along with various outdoor activities such as snowmobile races, fishing derbies, a seal hunt, ice sculpting, a poker rally and various virtual activities in-line with public health measures at the time.

Five-year-old twins Tessa and Alexis wore matching Mother Hubbard parkas, made by their mother Angel Evaglok of Cambridge Bay, at the Elks’ bicycle draw held May 22. NNSL file photo

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News North Nunavut

Monday, January 3, 2022 A11

June ᔫᓂ News of mass grave in B.C. strikes chord in Nunavut

A community vigil was held in Iqaluit on June 4 after the remains of 215 children were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residental School in B.C. in late May. Nunavummiut paid their respects across the territory, with children’s shoes being left at various churches in a number of communities.

The RCMP, Government of Nunavut and other government buildings lowered their flags to half-mast.

Then-premier Joe Savikataaq said “the legacy of Canada’s residential schools is one of deep inter-generational trauma, rooted in attempted cultural genocide and assimilation.

“This isn’t simply a dark chapter in Canadian history. It continues to be a very painful reality for all First Nations, Inuit and Metis,” Savikataaq wrote.

Thirteen residential schools operated in what is now Nunavut, according to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Government of Nunavut updates smoking legislation

On May 28, Nunavut’s legislators passed the Tobacco and Smoking Act, which will ban tenants from smoking in public housing units, prohibit the sales of flavoured vapour products and restrictions on where smoking is allowed in public spaces.

It is the first update to smoking legislation in Nunavut in 15 years, before vaping became popular.

The additional enforcement measures were wanted by Nunavummiut, noted the Health Minister at the time.

“Specifically the enforcement of smoke-free places and buffer zones,” said Lorne Kusugak, “Nunavummiut also emphasized the importance of protecting the health of children and youth.”

Tobacco use remains high in Nunavut, with an estimated 74 per cent of residents still smoking, a rate four times higher than the national average.

ITK and Pauktuutit publish National Inuit Action Plan

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada on June 3 released the National Inuit Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People.

Pauktuutit president Rebecca Kudloo said the implementation and monitoring of the plan must be at the forefront of the National Action Plan for Inuit.

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

There are 14 themes to the National Inuit Action Plan encompassing shelters and housing; infrastructure; education; economic security; health and wellness; justice and policing; children and youth; anti-racism and reconciliation; governance; Inuktut; data and research; urban Inuit; men, boys and family violence.

Government of Nunavut nixes home construction in Taloyoak

The community of Taloyoak felt ignored when the Nunavut Housing Corporation post-poned the construction of two five-plexes in the Kitikmeot community due to rapidy rising housing costs.

Mayor Chuck Pizzo-Lyall said there haven’t been any new public housing units built in the community in almost four years. With more than 100 applicants in the community, the mayor knows of a three-bedroom home in Taloyoak where 18 people are living.

“Even just getting a piece of land (in Nunavut) is ridiculous,” he said. Netsilik MLA Emiliano Qirngnuq spent day after day at the Legislative Assembly trying to get commitments from Housing Minister Margaret Nakashuk.

Nakashuk said the united in Talotoak are “not cancelled” just that they are not able to move ahead on this for this year.

ᔫᓂ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓂ. ᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᖑᓚᓕᒃ, ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 12 ᐊᓂᒍᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᒥ, ᖃᐃᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 2021–ᒥ ᑭᓕᓂᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᓯᕙᑖᕐᕕᒃ, ᔫᓂ 19, 2021–ᒥ. ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ 6–ᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᓯᐊᕋ ᐃᕕᑕᓕᒐᖅ, ᔭᐃᑎᓐ ᒪᒃᓴᒐᖅ, ᕇᐊ ᓇᑲᓱᒃ, ᒪᑲᓐᓯ ᐅᑐᑭᐊᒃ, ᐊᐃᔅᓕᓐ ᐅᒥᐅᓪᒍᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑏᐋᓇ ᑕᐃᓗᕐ.

Iqaluit’s Mary Piercey-Lewis is MusiCounts 2021 Teacher of the Year

On June 6, MusiCounts named Iqaluit’s Mary Piercey-Lewis as their 2021 Teacher of the Year.

The Inuksuk High School teacher was nominated for the award along with five other instructors back in March. Now Piercey-Lewis’ hard has paid off, with the annoucement made during the 2021 JUNO awards.

Piercey-Lewis has been a teacher in Nunavut for two decades, first in Arviat before she settled down in Iqaluit, developing the Inuit Inngiusingit to help further music education in Nunavut.

The Inuksuk music room will be getting $15,000 in new band equipment, something which is badly needed says Piercey-Lewis.

operators in Nunavut since the Nunavut Traffic Safety Act was updated in 2019. Rankin Inlet’s bylaws also state people on ATVs, motorcycles and UTVs must also wear a protective helmet.

“Inevitably, we’ll have a few accidents this year and we have a lot of younger kids who think it’s a game,” said Wyatt.

Changes made to Nunavut’s Path; vaccines approved for youth aged 12 to 17

Partnership forms to begin work on Inuit Nunangat University

Nunavut’s Path, the Government of Nunavut’s strategy for moving forward during the Covid19 pandemic, will follow the youth vaccination clinics in each community.

Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine doses were approved for youth ages 12 to 17 and clinics were underway in Nunavut’s communities starting June 16.

Nunavut’s chief public health officer encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and to speak to youth about the vaccines so they could make informed choices on their health.

The Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus was also identified at the Mary River Mine outbreak.

Rankin Inlet begins enforcing ATV bylaws

The Rankin Inlet Fire Department initiated its annual ATV enforcement campaign and started enforcing ATV laws on June 7. Warnings were issued to first time offenders up until June 16.

“I would just as soon not write a single ticket.

I’d rather see people driving around with helmets and obeying the speed limits,” said fire chief Mark Wyatt, adding this was a matter of keeping the community safe.

Helmets have been made mandatory for ATV

ᐃᓄᑐᖃᖅ ᐃᓕᓯᕗᖅ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᓯᒐᐅᔭᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᔫᓂ 4–ᒥ 215–ᓄᑦ ᑳᒻᓘᑉᔅᒥ ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ.

An Elder lays down a pair of children’s shoes at the community vigil held June 4 for the 215 Kamloops Indian Residential School victims. NNSL file photo

In late June students from all over Nunavut celebrated high school graduation. Emily Angulalik, who was the graduates’ kindergarten teacher 12 years ago, was a very special guest speaker at the 2021 Kiilinik High school graduation ceremonies held Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Cambridge Bay’s six grads were, from left, Sarah Evetalegak, Jaiden Maksagak, Rhea Nakashook, Mackenzie Otokiak, Aislyn Omilgoetok and Deanna Taylor. NNSL file photo

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and the Master-

Card Foundation on June 16 announced a partnership to form a university in Inuit Nunangat.

ITK president Natan Obed said the the partnership is an exciting next step towards developing a university for Inuit.

Work on the university will involve consultation with Indigenous educators, program development partners and research experts within Inuit Nunangat.

This was a part of ITK’s National Strategy on Inuit Education, which was published in 2011, the partnership announced on June 16 came on the 10th anniversary of the Strategy’s publication.

A12 Monday, January 3, 2022

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July ᔪᓚᐃ Covid restrictions saw stockpile of frozen for subsidized staff housing. fish in Pangnirtung The mid-April closure of Canadian North’s cargo office in Nunavut MP calls for special prosecutor Iqaluit significantly slowed down the sale of Pangnirtung’s fish. to investigate residential schools As of June 24 there were approximately 232,000 pounds of fish remaining in the plant from turbot season. The Pangnirtung Fisheries fell behind in shipping its products due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in Iqaluit, a regional travel hub.

The problems Pangnirtung Fisheries faced were largely related to transportation woes and the longer the fish sit the more the value of the turbot drop.

Ensuring the fish doesn’t spoil “caused us a lot of headaches this year,” said Peter Kilabuk, chairperson of Cumberland Sound Fisheries, which holds a majority stake in Pangnirtung Fisheries.

Nunavut celebrates Canada’s first Inuk Governor General

On July 6, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Mary Simon, former president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Inuit Circumpolar Council, as Canada’s next governor general.

An advocate for Inuit rights for four decades, she is the nation’s 30th governor general since Confederation.

Leaders from across Nunavut celebrated her appointment.

“Her outstanding career advancing Indigenous and Inuit rights make her an ideal choice for the role of governor general,” said then-Qikiqtani Inuit Association president P.J Akeeagok.

“This is a momentous day for all of us - Inuit, Indigenous peoples and Canadians alike,” said Aluki Kotierk, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

“I am proud to see an Inuk as the head of state in Canada in my lifetime,” said Rebecca Kudloo, president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada.

Government of Nunavut tackles staff housing crunch

As of July 23, there were close to 500 priority positions to fill within the Government of Nunavut (GN) with approximately 60 vacant staff houses. Then-Human Resources minister David Akeeagok stated the GN was facing “dire straits” when it comes to offering accommodations for employees.

The Nunavut Teachers Union is also concerned about the lack of staff housing, it “certainly limits the pool of potential employees for our schools,” said president Justin Matchett.

Matchett added some teachers have left the territory because of poor or shared housing options available to them.

Grant McMichael, assistant deputy minister of operations with the Department of Human Resources, said the GN’s staff housing stock is comprised of 1,729 units.

Pat Angnakak, then-MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu questioned why GN employees who get paid close to $200,000 still qualify

During a July 8 news conference, then-Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq and Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus called for Attorney General David Lametti to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate crimes against Indigenous children in residential schools and similar institutions.

The two argued there has been a lack on action on fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action and a lack of adequate compensation from the Indian Residential School Settlement.

Qaqqaq opened the press conference by speaking about Johannes Rivoire, one of multiple alleged pedophile priests who held positions of power in various residential schools in Nunavut and the NWT. He is accused of sexual assault against children at Sir Joseph Bernier Federal Day School in Chesterfield Inlet.

The legacy of residential schools is plain and clear for Inuit and all Indigenous people, said Qaqqaq, citing the higher rates of sexual violence, alcohol abuse and suicide among Inuit in Nunavut.

Iqaluit has optometrist once more with opening of Inuulisautinut Niuvirvik

The opening of Inuulisautinut Niuvirvik has brought new businesses and services to the territorial capital, including a pharmacy, Booster Juice and a new optometry clinic, where visiting Nunavummiut will be able to get new glasses in-territory once more.

Iqaluit’s new optometrist Gayle Harrison was excited to bring a much-needed service to the territory. She’s heard there’s around 800 people on the waiting list.

Exams started on July 14.

Health centres in Nunavut reduce services amid summer staff shortages

From July to August health centres in Sanikiluaq, Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, Clyde River and Naujaat moved to emergency only services, while those in Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay had to close altogether temporarily in mid-August.

This was due to staff shortages, according to the Department of Health.

The Government of Nunavut arranged for online appointments for Nunavummiut unable to directly access health services. The Nunavut government signed a deal with contractor Bayshore Healthcare Agency back in March to prevent more health centre closures.

“The Covid-19 pandemic and a nationwide shortage of health care staff have made the recruitment of nurses very difficult,” said Health minister Lorne Kusugak.

ᐊᓴᓕᐊ ᒪᓂᔪᔩᓇ, 7, ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔪᓚᐃ–ᒥ ᐅᓐᓄᖓᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᓴᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᑕᕆᐅᑉ ᓯᑯᖓ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᐊᐸᖃᕐᕕᖕᒥ.

Azalea Maniyogina, 7, of Cambridge Bay enjoyed a July evening jigging for Arctic char as the sea ice disappeared at Gravel Pit. NNSL file photo

Coral Harbour harvests bowhead whale

“That’s a lot of maktaaq. Enough for most community members,” said Greg Ningeocheak, one of a crew of 16 hunters from Coral Harbour who harvested a 10-metre bowhead whale on July 10.

Captained by Coral Harbour Mayor Willie Nakoolak, they headed south along the coast along with other hunters following on land, setting up 40 kilometres south of Coral Harbour.

Hundreds of people came down to greet the crew as they returned with the whale.

It was a particularly memorable hunt for Ningeocheak, who brought along his 10-year-old son along for his first hunt.

Nunavummiut among latest appointees to Nutrition North Canada

Beth Kotierk and Brenda Jancke, both Nunavummiut, have been appointed to the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board.

Jancke is a regional director for the Department of Family Services in Cambridge Bay while Kotierk is a lawyer who serves as a board member for the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre in Iqaluit.

The goal of Nutrition North is to make more essential items more affordable to those in remote communities.

The 2021 federal budget proposed $163.4 million over three years to expand the Nutrition North Canada program.

August ᐋᒡᒌᓯ Multiple federal funding announcements in lead-up to 2021 federal election

In late July and early August multiple federal ministers stopped

by Iqaluit to making various funding announcements.

Indigenous Services minister Marc Miller promised Nunavut would get part of a $724 million pie meant for Indigenous-led and operated shelters across Canada for those facing gender-based violence.

Ahmed Hussen, the federal minister responsible for the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, announced on Aug. 3 Iqaluit, Gjoa Haven and Kugluktuk would get $10 million toward housing, $5 million of which went to Iqaluit.

Catherine McKenna, minister of Infrastructure and communities announced a $40 million investment toward a deep-water port in Qikiqtarjuaq on Aug. 4.

Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal dropped down in Iqaluit on Aug. 12 and announced $517.8 million to be available for shovel-ready infrastructure projects across Inuit Nunangat.

A specific amount for Nunavut was not earmarked at that time.

On Aug. 13, Vandal also announced a $41.7 million contribution agreement with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to go toward the construction of the Nunavut Recovery Centre.

Hussen, in his capacity as minister of families, children and social development made another $10 million announcement Aug. 13, this time towards extending the Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

On Aug. 15 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a request to governor general Mary Simon to dissolve parliament and called an election for Sept. 20.

Nunavummiut tired of boiling drinking water

Over the course of this summer various Nunavut communities faced boil water advisories. Baker Lake experienced four boil water advisories between July 2020 and June 2021.

On July 12 Whale Cove, Iglulik and Resolute Bay saw boil water advisories go out. Most advisories outside of Iqaluit were due to cloudy water, also known as turbidity.

The Kugluktuk water treatment plant was upgraded in 2017, however residents were surprised to receive a boil water advisory due to turbidity. The Department of Health introduced new turbidity standards in 2019.

While turbidity itself isn’t a health concern according to the Department of Community and Government Services (CGS), it is indicative of further risk associated with the water quality.

Over the past five years CGS has spent close to $90 million building new water treatment plants all over Nunavut.

During a trip to Iqaluit, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Canada will continue to invest in better water quality.

Paul Quassa resigns as Aggu MLA

Veteran politician Paul Quassa announced his resignation as Aggu MLA officially as of Aug. 13.

Quassa has represented his riding which consists of much of Iglulik since 2013 and was the Premier of Nunavut from Nov. 2017 to June 2018. He is also the former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

“Earlier this year, I advised my constituents that I will not be seeking re-election as the member of the Legislative Assembly,” said Quassa. “I look forward to continuing to make contributions to our territory in other forums.”

Sanikiluaq holds ceremonial opening of new health centre

On Aug. 11 there was a special ceremonial celebration marking the opening of the new 1,775 square-metre Sanikiluaq Health Centre. Health Minister Lorne Kusugak, Minister of Community and Government Services Jeannie Ehaloak, Hudson Bay MLA Allan Rumbolt and Sanikuluaq Mayor Johnnie Cookie cut a ribbon to celebration the ocassion.

“Today, we celebrate the opening of a vital piece of community infrastructure,” said Ehaloak.

Late night fire destroys Baker Lake daycare

Baker Lake is reeling after a fire destroyed the community’s daycare on the eve of the first day of school.

Police and firefighters in Baker Lake were called at 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 17.

At the time RCMP said the incident was under investigation.

Despite pandemic, Iqaluit finds itself in good financial shape

On Aug. 18, the City of Iqaluit some details about the munic-

ipality’s 2020 consolidated financial statements.

Despite the onset of Covid-19 in late 2019, the City of Iqaluit has managed to find itself in an overall positive financial position, having increased its net asset position by $10 million from 2018, presenting cash and financial assets and fewer liabilities. This was the result of capital infrastructure projects such as upgrade to the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, planning for a new solid waste facility as well as equipment purchases and City Hall improvements.

“The city was able to adapt to changing priorities to support our community during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Iqaluit Mayor Kenny Bell.

“The city is on the right track to financial stability to be able to make improvements to our services, with the help of our partners.”

Baker Lake hunters nab community’s first bowhead whale

A group of Baker Lake hunters made local history on Aug. 15, harvesting the community’s first bowhead whale. Hunters from the inland Kivalliq community took off from Chesterfield Inlet on July 27 and on Aug. 16, made the announcement on social media of the successful harvest of a 40-foot bowhead whale around 9 p.m. the previous day.

Baker Lake mayor Richard Aksawnee called it a historic day for the community.

The hunters spent most of the previous three weeks camped out at Harbour Island, near Naujaat.

One of the hunters, David Simailak, said the next hard part was butchering the whale, a task Naujaat hunters assisted with.

“We are all extremely proud of all of our bowhead whalers,” said Simailak.

RCMP officer charged with assault in Sanirajak

An RCMP officer working in Sanirajak has been charged with assault, which allegedly occurred while the officer was on-duty and responding to a call in summer 2020.

Cpl. Ian Crowe was formally charged on Aug. 24.

“The criminal charge laid is very serious. This allegation does not reflect the integrity of our individual members nor does it represent what we stand for as a police service,” said Amanda Jones, the RCMP’s V Division Commanding Officer.

No other details were released.

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Monday, January 3, 2022 A13

September ᓯᑎᐱᕆ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᖃᕙᕙᐅ ᒪᓄᒥ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᒥᓂᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 40–ᓄᑦ. ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕗᖅ ᐅᖅᓱᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᐊᒐᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᔨᒧᑦ ᐅᓘᓯ ᓴᐃᓚᒧᑦ. ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ 22 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑭᙵᕐᓂ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᔨᓐᓂᙶᖅᐳᑦ.

Printmaker Qavavau Manumie has been honing his craft for over 40 years. Here he works on an oil print of a work by artist Ooloosie Saila. An estimated 22 per cent of labour in Kinngait is from artists. NNSL file photo

Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility opens

The Department of Justice provided a media tour of the new $89.5-million Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility in Iqaluit on Aug. 26.

Aaqqigiarvik means “a place for help to make progress in life.”

The 96-bed building includes five separate living units organized into minimum, medium and maximum security, a new gymnasium, nursing station as well as an Elders’ space.

Planning for the new correctional centre goes back to 2015, after the Office of the Auditor General issued a report concluding there was not sufficient planning to house or manage inmates with proper reintegration and rehabilitation requirements.

The Government of Canada announced $57 million in new funding in February 2017 while the Government of Nunavut contributed $32.5 million toward the new correctional facility.

An official opening ceremony was held Sept. 8.

Prime minister visits Iqaluit

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau touched down in Iqaluit on Aug. 30 to give his support to Nunavut candidate Pat Angnakak.

Among the campaign promises were investments of hundreds of millions of dollars more towards housing in the coming years and towards Indigenous mental health, which would include an Inuit-specific approach. Trudeau stated there was “so much more we have to do … on so many partnerships.”

Celebration as new health centre opens in Kinngait

Kinngait’s new health centre opened to patients on Aug. 3 and a special opening ceremony was held Sept. 7.

The new 1,792-square-metre, $33-million building boasts dental, emergency, X-ray, prenatal and mental healthcare facilities, along with improved clinic space in comparison to the old health centre, which was built in 1982.

The expanded emergency services also include a new ambulance service.

New “calming rooms,” designed as a therapeutic space for clients who may feel overwhelmed or agitated, are among the additional mental health spaces for clients.

There is room to grow in this new building, a benefit noted by many for the fast-growing community.

Kinngait Mayor Timoon Toonoo said, “It’s a lot more than we need right now. We will have good services for a long time.”

Rankin Inlet arena becomes territory’s largest independent power producer

Rankin Inlet is expected to become the largest independent power producer in Nunavut thanks to the installation of solar panels on the community’s new arena.

The hamlet planned to develop the system as part of Qulliq Energy Corporation’s new Commercial and Institutional Power Producer program (CIPP), which is designed to allow existing commercial and institutional customers to generate electricity using renewable energy systems and sell it to the corporation.

The system will be capable of generating a total of 110 kilowatts.

Electricity generated by the panels will be sold to QEC, which the hamlet estimates will be close to $40,000-worth of power annually.

Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada covered the majority of the more than $500,000 price tag for the solar panels through a grant, with the hamlet picking up a small fraction of the remaining costs.

Justice anticipated to have positive effects on the inmate and staff environment.

Cambridge Bay art studio opens

Red Fish Studios in Cambridge Bay opened its doors Sept. 7 after years of planning and close to $700,000 in funding from all levels of government.

One half of the building is devoted to the arts, such as painting, sewing, candle-making and macrame, while the other half has space for welding and carpentry projects.

Premier P.J. Akeeagok gifted a piece of art from Red Fish Studios to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while on an official visit Dec. 14.

Hope Bay worker dies in accident

An employee of a contractor was involved in a fatal accident near the Hope Bay mine on Sept. 14 around 3 p.m. A helicopter rolled on landing, killing the man.

Operations were suspended for 24 hours. An investigation involving the Transportation Safety Board was to determine how the accident occurred.

Lori Idlout successfully defends NDP seat

The federal election on Sept. 20 saw the NDP’s Lori Idlout assume Nunavut’s seat. She was elected with 48 per cent of the vote.

Liberal candidate Pat Angnakak came in second with 36 per cent while Conservative Laura Mackenzie took the remaining 1,205 votes.

Tunngavik threatens court action Fuel and coolant spill on all-weather access Nunavut over tax legislation road to Meadowbank mine On Sept. 15, the Government of Nunavut passed legislation alEmergency spill measures were implemented by Agnico Eagle Mines after a tractor-trailer owned and operated by Arctic Fuel rolled onto its side along the all-weather access road from Baker Lake on Sept. 8, approximately 5 km south of the Meadowbank Complex.

The truck was carrying two sea containers, resulting in a spill of coolant fluid, along with an oil spill and a fuel spill. The exact volume of the spills was not provided.

Covid reaches four communities

Over the course of September, Covid-19 infections reached four Nunavut communities.

Iqaluit saw one case Sept. 13, Kinngait had three beginning Sept.

19, one arose in Kugluktuk Sept. 21 and Coral Harbour saw the largest cluster at 11 cases beginning Sept. 29. All cases were resolved.

Follow-up report finds corrections still lacking

A follow-up to a 2015 report from Canada’s Auditor General on corrections in Nunavut found the Government of Nunavut still lagging in fixing deficiencies in the system, including rehabilitation and reintegration services for inmates, mental health services, overcrowding at many facilities, safety and staff burnout.

Then-Justice Minister George Hickes stated that while Covid-19 delays over the past two years had played some part in setbacks, the department was on track to make significant improvements.

The report was completed before Nunavut’s new Corrections Act had come into force, as well as the opening of the Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility in Iqaluit, which the Department of

lowing taxation of Inuit-owned lands, which Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated was concerned left Inuit organizations vulnerable and liable for unpaid property taxes if a mining company should become insolvent or fail to pay.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association called the bill a “lose-lose proposal for Inuit and Nunavut.”

MLA Adam Lightstone stated, “There remains one true point of contention: the fact that if a mine fails to pay its property taxes, the liability would fall on the designated Inuit organization … As a voting beneficiary, I am confident that our regional Inuit organizations are very capable of ensuring that their lease agreements with the mining companies are drafted in such a way to ensure that the risks and rewards of private land ownership are balanced.”

Privacy commissioner says GN still withholding too much information

Nunavut’s information and privacy commissioner suspects there is significant under-reporting of privacy breaches in Nunavut.

“I think it more likely … that there are many privacy breaches that should be reported … but are not,” wrote commissioner Graham Steele in his office’s 2020-21 annual report.

Another area the commissioner says needs to improve is the GN withholding information when the reasons don’t fit any of the exceptions under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. “The problem is that, in the cases we see, the GN almost never exercises its discretion. If the conditions for the exception are met, the GN treats it as ‘case closed,’” Steele wrote. “That is legally wrong, but the GN keeps doing it.”

A14 Monday, January 3, 2022

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October ᐅᑐᐱᕆ Outgoing union president makes appeal for deal

The Nunavut Employees Union (NEU) wanted its members to pressure MLA candidates for a new collective agreement, as the last one expired three years ago as of Sept. 30.

The next step after that would be a strike vote, said then-union president Bill Fennell.

The NEU, which represents close to 5,000 workers, hasn’t gone on strike during the Covid-19 pandemic despite enduring the longest period without a negotiated agreement in the organization’s history.

The NEU and the GN are separated by approximately one per cent in wages, according to Fennell. What the union also wants is equality in Northern allowance, which hasn’t increased in 12 years and a “calculation error” saw the GN change its Northern allowance offer to $16.5 million in total, far less than the $33.8 million proposed prior to mediation in 2019. The NEU would also like to see five paid days off for government employees who suffer from incidents of domestic violence. The GN currently offers up to 17 weeks of leave in such circumstances, but all unpaid.

The GN and NEU continued to butt heads throughout October, with newly-elected president Jason Rochon and the assistant deputy minister of operations with the Department of Human Resources both stating they would welcome the opportunity to return to the bargaining table, but Rochon reiterated the potential for a strike vote.

Sexual offender sentenced to more than two years custody

A 31-year-old Nunavut man, who remains anonymous to protect victims and complainants, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual interference, one charge of indecent exposure, one charge of sexual assault and one charge of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 845 days in jail, followed by a year of probation and other restrictions.

The offences occurred between September 2018 and June 2020.

The guilty party’s 434 days in jail as of his Aug. 19 sentencing earned him 651 days credit for being in pretrial custody.

Qaqqaq accuses premier of ‘major intimidation tactics’

Outgoing Nunavut member of Parliament Mumilaaq Qaqqaq accused Premier Joe Savikataaq of using “major intimidation tactics” in a Facebook post on Sept. 26. Savikataaq said he was shocked at the allegation, which he denied.

In a separate post, Qaqqaq revisited a battle she had with Labrador Liberal MP Yvonne Jones, whom she accused of not being an Inuk. That dispute seemingly ended on April 22 when Qaqqaq apologized to Jones after demanding that Jones “validate your Inukness.”

Qaqqaq took two mental health breaks while serving as Nunavut’s MP: once for several weeks in late 2020 and later for a couple of weeks in late April, following the controversy with Jones.

“I didn’t run again for many reasons. Mostly because I didn’t feel safe,” Qaqqaq wrote in her Sept. 26 Facebook post.

Search and rescue revived in Gjoa Haven

Amber Eleehetook has been catalyst in rebuilding the search and rescue team in Gjoa Haven over the past year, inspiring regular volunteers now numbering almost a dozen and raising $21,000 through bingos since March. The funds allowed the group to purchase a new snowmobile in late September.

The organization tries to meet at least once a month. The other regular committee members are Clayton Keknek, Paul Kayuqtuq, Marnie Ekelik, Martha Porter, Brandon Qirqqut, Susie Niaqunnuaq, Sharon Takkiruq, Gibson Porter and Jack Skillings.

Iqaluit water supply contaminated by fuel, deemed unsafe for consumption

The City of Iqaluit declared a state of emergency Oct. 12, after complaints of a fuel odour coming from residential tap water led to the discovery of hydrocarbon contamination of the water supply.

Businesses and schools closed temporarily while an alternate water source was sought. Donations of bottled water were flown in, with aid coming from mine operators, Inuit organizations and the federal government. Senator Dennis Patterson organized a donation of ready-to-feed baby formula and safe-to-swallow toothpaste for Iqaluit residents.

Water distribution centres were set up at the Arnaitok Arena parking lot and the Arctic Winter Games Complex parking lot.

The operating room at Qikiqtani General Hospital was briefly on limited capacity due to sterilization concerns.

NTI taking GN to court over incomplete Inuit language education

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) is taking the Government of Nunavut to court over a failure to make full Inuit language education from kindergarten to Grade 12 a reality in the territory.

The land claims organization is giving the territorial government five years to meet the goal and six months to come up with a plan, in consultation with NTI, after the GN delayed the target date for delivering a full Inuktitut curriculum to 2039.

NTI is calling on the Nunavut Court of Justice to declare that “the minimization and postponement of Inuit language education across all grades in Nunavut causes unjustified discrimination and is therefore unconstitutional.”

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒪᓂᕋᔭᖕᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐊᑯᒪᓕᒃ ᑭᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᔪᖅᓴᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᒃᑐᐱᕆ 18–ᒥ. ᖃᔪᖅᑐᕐᕕᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᔪᖅᓴᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 12–ᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐅᒃᑐᐱᕆ 25–ᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

Iqaluit-Manirajak candidate Joanasie Akumalik answers questions posed by the Food Centre on Oct. 18. The Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre hosted the 12 Iqaluit candidates ahead of the Oct. 25 territorial election. NNSL file photo

The GN had 30 days from being served the statement of claim to file a defence or make an appearance in court.

Man charged with first-degree murder in death of Emerald MacDonald

Scott Hala, who was arrested on Oct. 15, was charged with first-degree murder following the death of Kugluktuk’s Emerald MacDonald. He also faces a charge of attempted murder in relation to another woman.

Hala was being held in custody.

MacDonald was found deceased at a cabin near Kugluktuk on May 3. She was 24 years old and was well known for her starring role in the 2018 film The Grizzlies, which celebrated a lacrosse program that provided a major boost to youth in Kugluktuk.

Judge calls out alcohol abuse, lack of treatment in manslaughter sentencing

Albert Napayok pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Manasie Thompson – who Napayok stabbed during a drunken argument – and also entered guilty pleas to charges of assault and breach of probation for a separate incident involving a woman.

On Oct. 8, chief justice Neil Sharkey imposed a sentence of five years and nine months for the manslaughter and two

months for the assault.

“Alcohol abuse is tearing apart the fabric of our society,” Sharkey stated. “It fills our criminal and family dockets as well as our jails … The frequency of crime fueled by alcohol is matched only by the paucity of treatment options.”

Napayok had already served 963 days in custody prior to sentencing, which was credited at 48.2 months. That means the 22.8 months he had left to serve would be at the Baffin Correctional Centre, which his defence lawyer sought on his behalf.

Oct. 25 territorial election results

The Oct. 25 territorial election saw five acclamations, two recounts for the Amittuq and Cambridge Bay ridings and a handful of new MLAs join Nunavut’s legislative assembly.

Incumbents Cathy Towtongie, Patterk Netser, David Qamaniq, Emiliano Qirngnuq and Calvin Pedersen were defeated.

Orientation was held Nov. 8 to 10 in Iqaluit and a leadership forum was held in Cambridge Bay Nov. 17, where P.J. Akeeagok – newly elected MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu – was selected premier by his colleagues.

Akeeagok said tangible solutions are needed for issues such as addictions, trauma and mental health; providing Elder care at home; and accessible and affordable childcare. He added it’s necessary to break down silos and build partnerships with other governments to tackle major issues, such as housing.

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November ᓄᕕᐱᕆ Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association in disarray

ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᒪᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐴᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐃᒪᕐᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᓄᑦ. ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᐃᐅᒫ ᓇᐅᓪᓚᖅ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓇᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎ ᐆᑕᑲ ᓇᐅᓪᓚᖅ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓱᓇᒃᑯᑖᓂ.

The Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (NACA), formed in October 1998 to promote and work on behalf of the territory’s visual artists, found itself heavily indebted and near-defunct.

Then-Economic Development and Transportation Minister David Akeeagok told the House in 2020 that the organization was not in compliance with the terms and conditions of its GN contribution agreement, putting NACA in limbo.

Quassa takes on senior adviser role with Baffinland

Paul Quassa, who stepped down as Aggu MLA in August, took a role with Baffinland Iron Mines, the company announced Oct. 29.

Quassa will serve as senior adviser to CEO Brian Penney.

He noted he was pleased to join the team at Baffinland and that mining and mineral development across Nunavut is a foundation of the Nunavut Agreement.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) helped out during Iqaluit’s water crisis by flying in bottled water for Iqalummiut.

QIA staff member Iola Nowdluk, left, and volunteer Ootaka Nowdluk were on hand to distribute supplies. NNSL file photo

Rapper Jocelyn Arreak, known as Aocelyn, releases first album

Inuk rapper Jocelyn Arreak, who performs under the name Aocelyn, released her first album Lovely on Nov. 5 through record label Hitmakerz.

The 22-year-old Pond Inlet musician wrote most of the lyrics for the album, which was arranged and mixed by Hitmakerz CEO Thor Simonsen. He called Aocelyn a “unique artist, not only in Nunavut but in Canada.”

New ambulance arrives on sealift for Sanikiluaq

Sanikiluaq finally has an ambulance, with a used 2014 diesel model arriving via sealift to the community.

“My understanding is the community has been wanting to do this the last few years,” said Ronald Ladd, senior administrative officer for the Municipality of Sanikiluaq.

Previously, residents of the Belcher Island community had to rely on the generosity of others for lifts to the health centre or airport for medevacs.

“It was kind of a scattered approach,” Ladd said.

NIRB hearings resume after April interruption

The welfare of narwhal and other marine life once again arose as a major concern during the resumption of regulatory hearings for the proposed Mary River iron mine phase two expansion in Iqaluit Nov. 1 to 6.

Upon completion of the regulatory process, the Nunavut Impact Review Board was to forward its recommendation on Baffinland’s phase two to the federal minister of Northern Affairs for review.

Baffin fisheries announces plan to build largest Canadian-owned fishing vessel

On Oct. 29, Baffin Fisheries announced the company has secured funding and signed a contract to build the largest fishing vessel

in Canada, which is expected to be delivered in February 2024.

The nearly $72-million vessel is expected to have a capacity of up to 1,320 tonnes of Greenland turbot or 930 tonnes of cold-water shrimp as well as room for 34 crew.

Baffin Fisheries board member David Alexander said, “The new vessel will allow us to immediately increase benefits to Nunavut communities and improve employment opportunities and working conditions for our Inuit fishermen.”

Armed Rankin Inlet man killed in shooting incident with RCMP

A 22-year-old Rankin Inlet man died in a standoff with police on Nov. 6.

RCMP responded to a disturbance involving intoxicated men in Area 6 of the community at 2:15 p.m.

One man obtained a rifle and was seen walking in town. The Mounties allege that he shot toward the police officers. He then took a truck at gunpoint and drove the vehicle outside of municipal limits, according to the RCMP. The Mounties contained him in that area for several hours and called in the Emergency Response Team from Manitoba, who arrived and were involved in a fatal shooting incident.

The man was later pronounced dead.

Ottawa Police Service will conduct an investigation into this matter.

Resolution passed to create Inuit SelfGovernment at NTI AGM

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 negoti-

ations mandate with the Government of Canada to exercise the inherent right to Inuit Self-Government.

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

Lori Idlout sworn in as MP in unique ceremony

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 opted for something else – to instead to have it take place within Nunavut, 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 conducted almost entirely in Inuktitut.

Young woman sentenced to 12 months custody and supervision in fatal beating case

A 21-year-old woman who beat a 46-year-old woman to death four years ago was 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 – was initially charged with second-degree murder and pleaded guilty to manslaughter two years after the incident.

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From Page A15

ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓯᐊᒎᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᒥ. ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᖅᓯᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐅᖓᓯᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᖃᕐᕕᖓᓂ, ᐃᓄᒋᐊᑦ ᑲᑎᑉᐳᑦ ᐅᐱᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓅᓪᓗᓂ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᔨᒥ ᐋᓂ ᐳᑐᒍᕐᒥ, ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᖅᓯᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 7–ᒥ. ᐳᑐᒍᖅ, ᑭᙵᕐᒥᐅᑕᒃᓴᔭᖅ, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ 2016–ᒥ. ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᒪᕼᐊᓴ ᓇᑏᓚ, ᐊᓖᓴ ᑎᒡᓕᒃ, ᑕᒪᕇᓯ ᓄᑕᕋᓱᖕᓂᒃ, ᓯᐅᓪᐱ ᐊᖓᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒪᓕ ᕿᑦᓱᐊᓕᒃ.

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.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh visits Iqaluit

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh touched down in Iqaluit on the evening of Nov. 15 to call on the federal government to deliver “a full $180 million, at least, to fix this water crisis.” He added that if this were a southern city then the issue would have been settled already as Nunavut’s capital reached 34 days without potable water due to fuel contamination.

The NDP leader said 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.

First regional Qimuksiqtiit gathering held in Iqaluit

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) welcomed dog teamers from across the Qikiqtani region at the first ever Qimuksiqtiit Regional Gathering, which took place in Iqaluit from Nov. 16 to 18.

From the High Arctic to south Baffin, Inuit dog mushers gathered at the Frobisher Inn to discuss bringing dog teaming back to the territory after facing numerous hardships over the past seven decades.

While QIA doesn’t plan to make this an annual gathering, they hope to keep hosting Qimuksiqtiit at least every two or three years. This first gathering, they say, has given a much clearer approach on how to help out Qikiqtani dog teams.

Rankin Inlet youth rally on heels of Iqaluit suicide protest

International Inuit Day included a special ceremony in Ottawa in November. At a city park several blocks from the Ottawa Art Gallery, a crowd gathered in honour of late Inuk artist Annie Pootoogook, in whose memory the park was renamed on Nov. 7. Pootoogook, who hailed from Kinngait, died in Ottawa in 2016. Among those present for the commemoration ceremony were Nunavut Sivuniksavut students, from left, Mahasi Nateela, Alesha Tiglik, Damaris Nutarasungnik, Shelby Angalik and Emily Qitsualik. Photo courtesy of Nunavut Sivuniksavut

Upward of 100 youth marched through Iqaluit demanding suicide prevention and mental health programs on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

Kim Canlas, an organizer of the rally, said the group ran a survey in the high school and middle school in Iqaluit asking students if they or friends experienced mental health issues. The majority of respondents affirmed that they did.

“That speaks about the disease going on here,” said Canlas.

In Rankin Inlet, a sister event was held Nov. 28.

“Mental health care in Nunavut is very poor,” said Meagan Akumalik Netser, one of the organizers of the Rankin Inlet rally.

“I’ve experienced it myself. Trying to speak with a mental health nurse is hard because the mental health nurses are always so transient. There’s always a new one coming in,” she said. “We have to retell our heartbreaking story over and over again. And the suicide rate in Nunavut is so high … I’m just tired of our people dying.”

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December ᑎᓯᐱᕆ Rankin Inlet mandates proof of vaccination

Hamlet council unanimously passed a proof-of-vaccination bylaw Oct. 25. The policy became effective at all municipal buildings in Rankin Inlet – from the arena to the community hall – as of Nov. 30.

“We’re trying to protect people,” said senior administrative officer Darren Flynn, adding that the hamlet is also hoping to raise indoor capacity limits with this move.

“If we have a building of fully-vaccinated people that are wearing masks, then we should be able to raise our limits,” he said.

ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 27–ᒥ. ᕋᒦᓴ ᕿᓚᐅᔾᔭᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖓᓂ, ᓇᒃᓴᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐳᕋᓐᑎᐊᓐ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᕿᓚᐅᔾᔭᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥ. ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑕᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐅᐸᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ. ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᕋᒦᓴ ᕿᓚᐅᔾᔭᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᔅᒪᐃᔪᓪ ᑎᑯᕆᔪ, ᔭᓐ ᒪᕆ ᐱᐋᓂ ᑎᓱᑯᐸᒋᕋ, ᐴᑐᕋᓐ ᐸᕆᕼᐃᓐᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᑎᒧ ᐳᑐᔨ ᕿᓚᐅᔾᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᓂᐊᖁᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

On Nov. 27. the Remesha Drummers performed in Iqaluit’s Aqsarniit Hotel, bringing Burundian Sacred Ceremonial drumming to residents of the city. The event was organized by the Nunavut Black History Society and was met with acclaim by those attending. From left, Remesha drummers Ismail Ndikuriyo, Jean Marie Vianney Ntezukobagira, Bertrand Barihenda and Arthemo Butoyi play with the Burundian drums on their heads at the start of the performance. NNSL file photo

Cambridge Bay mayor addresses complaints about his appointment

A firestorm of social media comments from frustrated individuals and talk of a petition circulating to force a byelection took aim at recently-appointed Cambridge Bay mayor Angulalik Pedersen, who has served on council since late 2018 and was deputy mayor.

A municipal byelection to choose a successor for now-MLA Pam Gross would have meant waiting until late February to have the next mayor-elect sworn in.

Council met on Dec. 10 to review the public complaint. Councillors determined that they were within their rights under the Nunavut Elections Act to make the appointment and that Pedersen meets the criteria to serve as mayor.

Reopening of Iqaluit Elders Home continues to stall

In May, the Iqaluit Elders Home had to close due to a staff member testing positive for Covid-19. As a result, two residents were sent elsewhere within Nunavut while four others were transported to Ottawa’s Embassy West seniors home.

The Department of Health stated ongoing renovations at the Iqaluit Elders Home are expected to be completed by mid-December. Delays in reopening the Elders Home have been attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to modernize the facility and the delayed delivery of supplies.

Pimakslirvik Corporation will be taking on the contract for the facility. The date the facility will be reopened will be dependent on Pimakslirvik being able to hire sufficient staff.

Elders who have been sent down south will be given the option to return to Iqaluit, although the ability for some to return will also be based on the complexity of care needed.

Monument dedicated to Inuit Special Constables and their sled dogs

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) and the RCMP unveiled a new monument dedicated to the RCMP’s Inuit Special Constables and their Qimmiit (sled dogs) in front of the RCMP’s V Division Headquarters in Iqaluit on Dec. 2.

Featuring an Inuit special constable and a sled dog, the lifesized statue in front of the RCMP building was carved by Inuit artists Looty Pijaamini and Paul Maliki.

QIA president Olayuk Akesuk praised the monument as another step towards reconciliation as outlined in the Qikiqtani Truth Commission report, saying, “QIA is proud of the work of Inuit carvers in bringing this era to life through their art.”

From the early to mid-20th century, Inuit special constables accompanied RCMP members serving as translators, guides and generally helping southern RCMP survive in the Arctic.

ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ 25–ᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓂ, ᐱᑦᑯᕼᐃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᕼᐅᑎᓂᖅ/ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᖅᐳᑦ $250,000–ᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂ, ᒫᓐᓇ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒧᑦ. ᖄᖏᐅᑎᓯᒫᓂᒃᐳᖅ $192,000–ᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᖓᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᔾᔨ 6–ᒥ. 83–ᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᓯᒪᕗᑦ. ᐄᕙᐊᔭᓕᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᒥ ᔪᐊᔾ ᐊᖑᕼᐃᐊᑐᖕᒥ ᑖᒥ ᐅᒥᐅᓪᒍᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᓈᓚᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

As the organization is in its 25th year, the Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society is striving to raise $250,000 to help fund its various programs, now and into the future. It has already passed the $192,000 mark since the campaign kicked off on March 6. Eighty-three donors from across the country have made contributions. Eva Ayalik, left, interviews Elder George Angohiatok while Tammy Omilgoetok listens. Inuinnaqtun podcasts involving Elders, known as Inuinnaujugut, are available through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Photo courtesy of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society

Later formation of sea ice adding to polar bear problem, says Kinngait mayor

Kinngait residents terrified by polar bears repeatedly coming into the community since early December, including one incident where children were hurried away from a large predator, were hopeful to get a break as a dozen polar bear hunting tags were made available for distribution.

The community’s conservation officer left his position in October, according to Mayor Timoon Toonoo. The consequent disruption in communication resulted in the Aiviq Hunters and Trappers Association being unaware that 12 polar bear tags were accessible, said Toonoo. The community was under the impression that all the tags had been used.

He attributes the increasing interactions with polar bears to climate change.

“Global warming is affecting us,” Toonoo said. “Normally, this time of the year, we would have access to the ice all the way down to probably 15 miles, 16 (miles). We would see polar bears out there hunting for seals … but they’ve got nowhere to hunt.”

Renowned fiddler, jigger and square dancer Colin Adjun dies at 77

Northern fiddling legend Colin Adjun, known as the Fiddler of the Arctic, died on Dec. 3, but his legacy will live on in his home community of Kugluktuk in many ways.

Kugluktuk Hamlet Council decided to name the local community hall after Adjun and also chose to award him the honorary key to the community shortly before his death, said Mayor Simon Kuliktana.

In the coming months, a day will be set aside to pay tribute to the beloved entertainer, he added.

“It is a big loss to our community,” Kuliktana said.

Iqaluit water crisis closes a chapter

On Dec. 10, Nunavut’s chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson lifted the do-not-consume order on Iqaluit’s tap water, ending a local emergency that endured for two months.

Iqaluit’s chief administrative officer Amy Elgersma initially said the city was expecting to find cracks in the north clear well

tank where the fuel was seeping through. It was later discovered to be trapped fuel vapours from a fuel tank that had been buried nearby and was believed to have been installed as a part of the original water treatment plant in 1962.

The GN and the City of Iqaluit are now awaiting the results of a full-investigation into Iqaluit’s water emergency.

In addition to lingering questions as to how fuel got into the water supply, Iqaluit is facing another kind of water crisis, one with a $184-million price tag needed to fix it.

For years Lake Geraldine, the city’s water supply, has been facing shortages.

Mayor Kenny Bell said while there’s nothing good about this water emergency, “it did bring to light our overall water crisis, the six years of not having enough water for the community and no real ability to grow.

“We can’t open land for housing because there’s not enough water for more people. We’re in a serious situation,” said Bell.

Sabina negotiating funds to put Nunavut’s fifth mine into production

Sabina Gold and Silver is striving to conclude a $500-million financing deal that could soon make the Kitikmeot’s Goose gold project Nunavut’s fifth operating mine. The company hopes to have terms finalized by January, said Matthew Pickard, Sabina’s vice-president of environment and sustainability.

GN outlines five priorities at caucus retreat

MLAs met in Cambridge Bay Dec. 6 to 10 and identified five priorities for the 6th Legislative Assembly: implementing a comprehensive Elder care strategy; reinvesting in education; enhancing health, mental health and addictions services; expanding housing; and diversifying the economy.

Territorial legislators also confirmed that an electoral boundaries commission will be established in 2022 to review whether changes should be made to existing ridings.

The first session of the 6th Legislative Assembly is scheduled to convene on Feb. 21.

A18 Monday, January 3, 2022

News North Nunavut

Sports & Recreation

www.NunavutNews.com

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

A busier 2021 for sports More travel, more tournaments and more events highlight the year that was

By James McCarthy Northern News Services Nunavut

It’s year three of the pandemic … how you holding up? I know things are kinda going south for some of you and I hope you pull through. In the meantime, let’s try and make things a wee bit warmer by looking back at what happened sports-wise in 2021. ‘Twas a trifle busier than 2020 was so here goes nothing:

January

Peter Mackey and his Iqaluit Curling Club rink of Jeff Nadeau, Greg Howard and Jeff Chown became the first team from anywhere in the country to qualify for the Tim Hortons Brier through a proper playdown. Mackey took on Wade Kingdon in a best-of-five series in the capital for Nunavut’s place at the Canadian men’s curling championship and won, 3-2 in games.

He took the final contest by a score of 10-6 and overcame a 2-0 deficit in games in the process.

The Nunavut Recreation and Sport Awards went virtual in January as the best and brightest of the athletic world got their just due. Some of the winners from the 12 months prior included Ipeelie Ootoova of Cambridge Bay winning Official of the Year for his work in futsal, Eekeeluak Avalak of Cambridge Bay getting Male Athlete of the Year for his wrestling exploits, Shanti Dias of Rankin Inlet winning Female Athlete of the Year for her volleyball work and Chris Crooks of Cambridge Bay winning Coach of the Year.

February

Hockeytown, Nunavut would have to wait a while before it would be able to live up to its name as the Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association cancelled its tournament schedule owing to the ongoing pandemic. That included all local and regional tournaments including the Arctic Atoms, Powerful Peewees, Polar Bear Plate and Bantam Rock events.

But before the cancellation took over, the Fun Cup took over the arena with the youngest players getting their chance to hit the ice. The Penguins beat the Bruins to win the A division title while the U7 Wolverines won the B division crown.

Minor hockey players in Naujaat got some help with their hockey equipment needs courtesy of the Naujaat RCMP and the National Hockey League Players Association. A total of 25 young players got brand new gear from the NHLPA’s Goals and Dreams Fund with some help from Brittany Holm, a mental health and addictions worker in the community and the Naujaat Minor Hockey Association.

March

Even with no official tournaments happening in Rankin Inlet, that didn’t stop folks such as Robert Kabvitok and Pujjuut Kusugak from putting together a tournament for the U10 and U13 divisions.

Following the younger players, it was the adults’ turn to hit the ice for a tournament. It was the Rankin Inlet Hometown Hockey Tournament with eight teams in action, made up of players from the senior men’s hockey league, oldtimers league as well as the U18 and U21 divisions. Each team was named after well-respected people in the community and it would be Team Jose Kusugak that would come out on top thanks to a 6-5 win over Team Kowmuk in the A division final. Team Misherelak defeated Team Tattuinee in the B division decider.

The Arctic Winter Games International Committee released a statement in early March about the 2022 edition of the Games, scheduled for Wood Buffalo, Alta. Everyone held their collective breath as the international committee

ᑖᒥᔅ ᓕᕙᐃ, ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨ, ᑕᑯᖅᑯᔾᔨᕗᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᓯᑯᒧᑦ NV ᐅᐊᔭᒨᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᓯᑯᓕᐅᕈᑎᖓᓂ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᒥ. ᐸᕐᓇᖕᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ ᓯᑯᓕᖅᑕᐅᒍᓂ.

announced that the Games would be delayed for one year, owing to concerns about Covid-19. The new dates are now late January 2023 with a oneyear extension given for all age categories. That means those athletes who would have aged out in 2022 will get the chance to take part in 2023.

Arctic Bay got into the hockey swing of things with the annual Willies Hockey Camp in March.

April

The Iqaluit Hockey League got into tournament mode in April as the Iqaluit Cup brought together five teams of players in a four-on-four format at the Arctic Winter Games Arena. The team names were fashioned after the goaltender for each squad and Team Paul would emerge as winners thanks to a win over Team Matt in the final.

The league was also in the midst of crowning its champions as the league championship series began in mid-April but it ended up being cancelled after one game of the best-of-five had been played due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the city. Canadrill beat Tower Arctic, 9-4, in the opener and that’s as far as it would go. Players hoped there would be some sort of compromise but the city wouldn’t allow it to continue. It was the second straight year that a league champion wasn’t crowned.

Hockey also returned to Arviat following a six-month layoff as Covid-19 restrictions eased up enough to allow people to play again. The first senior men’s hockey game took place on April 13 and they all came dressed up in their gear, one of the rules put in place for the return of the game.

May

Tristen Dias of Rankin Inlet once again captured the Kivalliq Snow Challenge race after crossing the finish line first during Pakallak Tyme festivities in Rankin Inlet. That was one of multiple divisions, which included a veterans’ race, won by Ross Tatty, and a women’s race that saw Iris Tatty-Tanuyak emerge as the winner.

Lisa Otokiak snagged the biggest fish of them all during the Ambrose Aknavigak Fishing Derby in Cambridge Bay in May. Otokiak’s catch weighed in at 30.4 lbs. and scored her the winners’ cheque of $7,500. George Angohiatok had the heaviest fish in the elders category at 11.7 lbs. and won $750 while Brooklyn Peterson won $500 in the youth category for her eight lb. catch.

June

Baker Lake hosted its own snow racing event in June — the Philip Tagoona Memorial Ice Drag Races — and Mark Tunguaq was the winner of the whole thing. The event was held in a bestof-three format with two racers going head to head at one time. Tunguaq ended up as the top seed following the heats and won in the final over Bryon Ikoe while Carlos Simailak finished in third.

The Iqaluit Taekwondo Society had two of its members move up the ladder and a new level in June. Nicholas McDermott and Daniela Calamayan are now second-degree black belts after being promoted during a virtual grading session on June 30. Both were awarded black belt status back in 2018.

July

A new territorial sports organization started up in July and it’s one which makes plenty of sense, considering the sport it’s looking after. The Nunavut Arctic Sports Association was incorporated in July and Andrew Bell of Arviat, one of the territory’s best Arctic sports athletes, was one of those involved in getting it off the ground.

The second annual Swing Flames slopitch tournament happened in Baker Lake. The tour-

Thomas Levi, Arctic Bay’s recreation co-ordinator, shows off the new Ice NV electric ice resurfacing vehicle which arrived in the community in September. The plan was to get it into operation for the beginning of this season when the ice goes in. Photo courtesy of Thomas Levi

nament is held in honour of the late Solomon Tulurialik, who drowned in 2019. Organizers invited teams from around the Kivalliq region to enter and play.

Youth softball was the name of the game in Rankin Inlet as the community played host to the annual U16 softball tournament. The Rankin Inlet Stealers successfully defended their title on home turf as they beat out Baker Lake in a rematch of the 2020 final. Baker Lake actually beat the Stealers in the round-robin but the Stealers righted the ship and won convincingly in the final, 17-2.

the hamlet’s senior administrative officer. To celebrate the day, the hamlet gave away more than $30,000 in prizes and hosted a community barbecue.

The Iqaluit Amateur Hockey Association joined in with dozens of other hockey organizations around the world for World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend in October. They were able to do it on ice this year; the 2020 edition saw the event happen at the Inuksuk High School gymnasium. All of the girls in the association were split into three groups for a day of drills and skill development.

August

November

Rankin Inlet returned from the Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship in Saskatchewan with a top-four finish in their pocket.

They very nearly made it to the final but dropped a 2-1 decision to Eagle Lake First Nation in the semifinal round. The result was an improvement on their quarter-final result from 2020.

The Freaks from Rankin Inlet are your Calm Air Cup slopitch champions after taking down the Salliq Invaders from Coral Harbour in a wet and windy final in August. The tournament is a qualifier for the Slo Pitch National Canadian Championships, whenever they happen to take place again.

September

Five young Kivalliq hockey players were set to take their talents to the south for the 202122 hockey season. The Rankin Inlet quartet of Justin Issakiark, Kadin Eetuk, Kobe Tanuyak and Koby Connelly, along with Coral Harbour’s Prime Paniyuk, all made the roster of the Norman AAA Northstars in Manitoba. Sandy Tattuinee of Rankin Inlet also went to try his luck but broke his ankle during tryouts.

Arctic Bay played host to its annual Terry Fox Golf Tournament, which was held in conjunction with the community run in September. Players had to pay $10 to enter but some paid more and when that was added to funds raised by players, a total of $226 was sent to the Terry Fox Foundation. Tagoona Willie won the tournament with Dominic Qaqqasiq coming in second.

October

Rankin Inlet’s new arena finally had a proper dedication and grand opening, which included a new name. It’s now known as the Agnico Eagle Arena and will be in operation for around 11 months of the year, according to Darren Flynn,

Nunavut’s venture to the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in Canmore, Alta., ended on a winless note as the Iqaluit Curling Club foursome of Peter Van Strien, Meridith Penner, Greg Howard and Lena Chown couldn’t find the win column in any of their games.

Two young hockey players from Taloyoak left home and moved to Ontario in the hopes of making it big in hockey. Jonathan Eetoolook and Darius Aleekee are in Gravenhurst, Ont., with the South Muskoka Shield Jr. A team which plays in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League. They aren’t on the main roster but they are practicing with the team on the development roster and will be given every chance to make the main roster.

December

The next national curling adventure for Nunavut saw the Iqaluit Curling Club send a men’s and women’s rink each to the Canadian Curling Club Championships in Ottawa. Wade Kingdon and his rink of Peter Van Strien, Hunter Tootoo and Justin McDonell couldn’t crack the win column on the men’s side but Denise Hutchings and her rink of Aloka Wijesooriya, Alison Taylor and Megan Ingram did win one game. That came against Prince Edward Island by a score of 11-2.

The following week saw the Canadian Senior Curling Championships in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., with Peter Mackey skipping a three-man outfit of himself, Jeff Nadeau and Greg Howard. They managed a couple of wins by beating Prince Edward Island, 7-2, and the NWT, 4-3. Geneva Chislett and her rink of Hutchings, Diane North and Robyn Mackey also found the win column once thanks to a 6-5 win over the NWT. And there you have it. 2021 seemed like it was back to normal somewhat but at least people were able to do something. Hope 2022 sees more things happening. Happy New Year, gang.