Nunavut News - Jan. 24, 2022 Edition

ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕆᕗᑦ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᕗᖅ; ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᕆᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ Volume 76 Issue 38 MONDAY, JAnuary 24, 2022 $.95 (plus GST)

Teachers association, GN sign new collective agreement Seasonal cultural leave introduced; Inuit language allowances made easier to access for instructors

Putting the seal in reconciliation

Financial, emotional strain on businesses ‘tremendous’: Baffin chamber president

Uvagut TV celebrates one year on air

Cambridge Bay woman recounts struggles with Covid infection

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Water woes resurface in Iqaluit Publication mail Contract #40012157

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Aija Komagapik on a hunt for grey seal. She, along with her father Ruben Komangapik and Yoanis Menge are part of a cultural exchange project between the Magdalen Islands and the Inuit community of Ottawa aiming to celebrate seal hunting traditions. Photo courtesy of Yoanis Menge

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ï·∆¿Í´ ≤áflúòî ÖÚÊéÔÒπØflî Ç≤úõ¿Ö≤ú Ö±Ø ÖéÍ≤ú áîéÖ≤Í´ú. íØêØ Äƒù‚ ÖÚÊéÔÒπØ≤Ò Ä¿íÒπÕ‰ÖÔÍ≤Í´ú í±ØÒíÇÀ≤ú Ö±Ø ÜÒïùÖÒπ¿Í≤Ò. íò∏≤Ê›î í±ØÒπØÀ´ú ï·∆¿Ò ≤áfl≤, ÇÔ¬∆¬éî Çflˆ (867) 645-3223 Ö±Ø ÇÔÍ›ùÀجü ÜÒïúªÄ«, Ç„·√∏≥î Ô‰íÇÕúòî ééËͬéî Çflˆ kivalliqnews@nnsl.com. ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Ç„·√∏≥î ∂¬∂ĉÖͬü áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí.

News Briefs ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥ

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 7, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ 12–ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᑐᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐱᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓐᖑᐊᕈᑎᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᐴᑎᓂᒃ, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᔭᓐᓄᐊᕆ 17-ᒥ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ 12-ᓄᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᒫᑦᓯ 31. ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒡᓗ ᐳᓛᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᒋᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᒍᑎᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᒥᒃ ᐃᓯᕐᓂᐊᖅᐸᑕ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐱᖁᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᐃᑦ ᐱᓯᒪᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑕᑯᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓯᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᖏᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ. ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓱᓕᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᓴᐳᒻᒥᒍᑎᒃᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᖏᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, “ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᑦ ᓴᐳᒻᒥᒍᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ.

Please see Vaccine, page 11

ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᖅ ᐅᒋᐊᕆᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᑦ ᑐᖁᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ

ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᖅ ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᖅ ᐅᒋᐊᕆᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᕐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒡᓗ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᑦ ᑐᖁᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓇᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᑎᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᑦ ᐅᒋᐊᕆᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ. “ᐱᖦᖤᙱᓴᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᒧᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᑐᑦᓯᐊᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᕐᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᙱᖦᖢᓂ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑮᔭᐅᒃᐸᑦ ᕿᑦᓱᒃᑕᐅᒃᐸᓪᓗ ᑎᕆᒐᓐᓂᐊᒧᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᑲᐅᑎᒋᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᓗᒍᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᖔᑕ. ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔭᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᓪᓗ ᐱᖦᖤᙱᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑐᖁᒍᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓄᓪᓗ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᐱᖦᖤᙱᓴᓕᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ – ᐊᔾᔨᐅᖏᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᕆᙱᑕᒥᖕᓂᒃ, ᐅᕐᕈᔮᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ, ᖃᐳᐊᕿᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᖃᓂᖓᒍᑦ, ᑐᐱᓯᒪᔪᔮᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᓂᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ – ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐃᓕᒪᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᐅᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐊᕙᑎᒥᐅᑕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᖓᑦ 867-645-6660 ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ 867-975-1104. please see Fox, page 11

ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ

ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᔭᓐᓄᐊᕆ 17-ᒥ, ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᑕᑎᕆᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥᐅᓂᒃ – ᓂᕿᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᒍᒪᒍᑎᒃ (QUIPFS). ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᑖᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ $500-ᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ. ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ 16-ᓂᒃ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ ᒫᑦᓯ 31, 2022-ᒥ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᑦᓰᖅᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒥᓱᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖏᑉᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖏᑉᐳᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ QUIP-FS ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᓂᕿᑖᕈᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ $500,000-ᓂᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᑦ. ᑎᑎᖅᑲᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᕐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔪᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂᒥᐅᑕᐅᒍᕕᑦ ᐃᓅᓪᓗᑎᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂᒥᐅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐃᑭᐊᖅᑭᕕᖕᒥ COVID-19@qia.ca ᐅᖄᓚᓗᓯᓘᓐᓃᑦ 1-800-975-8383. please see Food, page 11

Monday, January 24, 2022 A3

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fact file Nunavut COVID-19 situation as of Jan. 21 Active cases: 195 Confirmed cases: 1,297 Recovered cases: 1,097 Deaths: 5 Vaccine uptake: 31,623 first doses/ 88 per cent 25,197 second doses/ 72 per cent

Breakdown by community: Kugaaruk: 0 Arviat: 38 Naujaat: 12 Baker Lake: 36 Cambridge Bay: 17 Pangnirtung: 0 Chesterfield Inlet: 1 Pond Inlet: 0 Rankin Inlet: 17 Coral Harbour: 4 Sanikiluaq: 14 Iqaluit: 24 Sanirajak: 5 Gjoa Haven: 1 Taloyoak: 5 Kinngait: 17 Whale Cove: 3 Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᐸᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᒃᓴᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓄᑦ Northern News Services

ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒧᑦ, ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 18, 2021–ᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ (NITV). ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ– ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᕐᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, APTN–ᑯᓐᓂ, ᒪᕐᕈᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒧᑦ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ 762–ᖑᔪᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. “ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᓐᓂ, ᐅᓇ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖃᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᙱᒃᑯᔅᓯ. ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐅᐱᐅᖅᑲᕗᑦ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓘᓯ ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒻᒥᖅᑐᐃᔨᖓ. ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᒥ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂ (NIRB) ᑐᓵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓᓂ ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓂ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᓘᔭᕐᓂ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 25, 2021–ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᓕᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕᒥ. ᓄᕕᐱᕆᒥ, ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᑐᓵᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᖕᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖏᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᑐᓵᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ, ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, “ᓇᖏᖃᑎᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ

ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᑭᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᓗᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂ.” ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐅᐱᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓯᒪᓂᕆᕙᕗᑦ ᐅᕙᒍᒃᑯᓐᓂ – ᑕᖅᑭᑦ 6 ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓂᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᐊᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑯᐃᑉ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑎᖓᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒥᐊᕆ ᓴᐃᒪᓐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓱᓕᓂᖅᓴᐅᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ. “ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᐸᑦᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᒻᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓂᑦ, ᑲᓱᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ-ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒧᑦ, ᓯᐊᒻᒪᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ, ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ — ᐊᒻᒪ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒥᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 17–ᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ. ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓲᖑᕗᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᖅᓯᖅ, ᑭᖑᓪᓕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᖅᑯᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᓕᔪᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓪᓚᕆᒃᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔮᕈᑎᓂᑦ. “ᑲᑎᙵᓪᓗᑕ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᒍᑦ ᑭᓇᐅᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ.

Baker Lake artist shares inspiration ᕿᓯᖕᒥ ᖁᖓᓯᕈᖅ, ᑕᓕᐊᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᐅᑎᕈᑎᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᐃᑦᓕᓐ ᐊᒥᑦᓇᒃ ᓂᐊᐃᒍᒧᑦ.

A seal skin collar, bracelet and earrings are some of the recent creations of Baker Lake artist Kaytlyn Amitnak Niego. Photo courtesy of Kaytlyn Amitnak Niego

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake

Baker Lake’s Kaytlyn Amitnak Niego can just about do it all.

The artist mainly focuses on oil paintings and bead work, but she also sews parkas, adds sealskin accents to clothing, can make sealskin shoes and even knows metal work.

“I started drawing when I was a kid,” said Niego.

“It was always a hobby I enjoyed a lot. I’ve been creating art basically my whole life, but only recently did I start to monetize it.”

One subject she loves to focus on in her work is shamanism and spirit helpers. Her favourite piece is a portrait oil painting she made of Serenity, her baby sister. Her second-favourite is a mural in British Columbia she made in 2014.

“I find the Inuit culture very artistic,” said Niego.

“I love seeing other young artists emerging. The art community is a very rich and loving one.”

She hopes to see more territory-wide workshops and gatherings for craftspeople, and once the pandemic calms down, she plans to host some of her own.

“I eventually want to become a full-time artist,” said Niego.

Her work can be found on social media under her name.

A4 Monday, January 24, 2022

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

Cambridge Bay woman describes battle to recuperate from Covid-19 ‘Biggest struggle’ is not being able to see and hug kids and mother, says Caroline Robinson

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

Sometimes the aches are worse than childbirth.

Cambridge Bay’s Caroline Robinson has suffered through high fever, cold sweats, weakness, bad congestion and she’s been short of breath, making her feel light-headed.

“The pain that I feel is awful,” she said during her eighth day since being diagnosed with Covid-19. “I am finally getting some energy back but it is still hard to breathe, just getting up to use the bathroom or get a drink of water, I get puffed out … It’s really hard to put into words. One minute I feel OK, but it’s like a wave or something just hits my body and I feel like I’m going to die.”

It started with a tickle in her throat and a fever.

She called the health centre with a request to be tested for the coronavirus. The rapid test came back positive.

Isolating in her home became a necessity, one that left her deprived of life’s usual pleasures, such as being able to see her mother and her kids and give them hugs. She calls that the “biggest struggle” and said she cries while thinking about her three adult children.

“I am scared to leave my house. I don’t want to spread this virus,” she said, adding that she had a list of 12 people that she had been in recent contact with and all of them thankfully tested negative.

She heaps praise on the community’s healthcare workers.

“The nursing staff in Cambridge Bay are amazing and I am so thankful for the work and long hours they do. People don’t give them enough credit,” she said. “I have called the (health centre) a few times and have had no problems with reaching a nurse. The nurses have been very supportive and as informative as they can be … I have not felt like I was alone in this and they have done everything they can to help me feel supported and comfortable.”

Robinson, who is double vaccinated and has received her booster shot, has needed some

additional advice from the health professionals as she’s in remission from Grave’s Disease, a thyroid condition, after radiation treatments.

“Even before Covid-19 became a pandemic I would get sick so easily,” she said. “I think it would have been worse if I didn’t have the vaccination.”

She also suffers from sleep apnea.

“I have not been sleeping because it’s even harder to breathe,” she said of the complications from Covid. “I was told it can take up to three weeks to recover from this virus. I’m hoping it doesn’t take that long for me.”

She’s been on a regimen of cold medications and Tylenol 3s to combat the symptoms of the virus. She also drinks lots of fluids: water, tea and juice.

“My appetite is gone, I lost my sense of taste for a couple days, it came back but now I can’t smell anything,” she said. “I hope this helps to get people to understand that this virus is real and start taking it seriously.”

By and large, the response from the community has been encouraging, she noted.

“People have been supportive, I have not had any negativity,” she said.

Community support As of Jan. 18, the official count of active Covid-19 cases in Cambridge Bay was 11.

However, some residents say that the number is actually higher and the number of households in isolation exceeds that.

It has left numerous people in need of help, and community members have rallied by making and dropping off meals or by picking up groceries on their behalf.

Alan Sim has gone shopping for several people who are staying home and isolating.

“I just do it because I can and maybe next week I might need help,” he said. “Plus, I’ve had help in the past so pay it along.”

The acts of kindness have left an impression.

One resident posted an expression of gratitude on Facebook to all of the “heroes who are doing grocery shopping for us in isolation. It means so much.”

“ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ ᐅᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓇ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ,” ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᓚᐃᓐ ᕌᐱᓐᓯᓐ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐆᓇᕐᔪᐊᑲᑕᖕᓂᖓᓂ, ᐊᐅᒃᑲᖓᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᓴᙲᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓂᕐᓂᑭᓴᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ.

“I hope this helps to get people to understand that this virus is real and start taking it seriously,” says Caroline Robinson, who has been suffering from high fever, cold sweats, weakness, and shortness of breath due to Covid-19. Photo courtesy of Caroline Robinson

On the land

ᕗᕌᓐᓱᐊ ᑯᓐᓇᒃ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ

ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᑯᒥ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ, ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 3–ᒥ.

François Koonark

Pond Inlet Taken on the ice near Pond Inlet, Jan. 3. See more reader photos on page 14.

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

Monday, January 24, 2022 A5

ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓂᖅ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓯᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕐᒥ ᕉᐱᓂ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᕕᓕᑉ ᐊᖑᒑᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ.

Ruben Komangapik, left, and Philip Anguratsiaq during a hunting trip in the Magdalen Islands. Photo courtesy of Yoanis Menge

ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑯᑳᖅᑐᒥ-ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓂ ᐱᓱᒃᐳᑦ ᓯᒡᔭᒥ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ, QC–ᒥ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓯᒡᔭᒥᑦ ᓯᐊᕐᓇᓂ ᓇᑦᑎᕐᓂ ᓇᓂᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ.

The group of camo-clothed hunters walked the beach on the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, one day this past November, positioning themselves along a stretch of shore where grey seals could be found. Photo courtesy of Yoanis Menge

ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᑕᐅᖅᓰᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᕿᑎᐊᓂ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᕋᓱᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᐅᔪᓂ Northern News Services

ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑯᑳᖅᑐᒥ-ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓂ ᐱᓱᒃᐳᑦ ᓯᒡᔭᒥ ᑯᐸᐃᖕᒥ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᕐᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᓯᒡᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᓯᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕐᓂᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᒐᔪᓛᖑᔪᓂ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᖁᑭᐅᑎᓂᑦ, ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᕼᐊᑲᐱᖕᓂ. ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐊᐃᔭ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑲᓴᖕᓂ 10–ᓂ. “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖓ ᐅᕙᓃᓐᓂᓐᓂ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᑐᓕᒪᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᖁᓕᓂ

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᙱᑎᓪᓗᖓ, ᐆᒻᒪᑎᒐ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᒐᓚᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᓴᓂᐊᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, 23-ᓂ-ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᐃᓄᒃ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᔨ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ. “ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒪ ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ ᓇᑉᐸᖓᓂ ᑯᐸᐃᖕᒦᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᓗᐊᓚᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑎᓪᓗᖓ … ᑕᐃᒫᒃ. ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᖕᓇᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᓐᓂ.”

“ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖓ ᐅᕙᓃᓐᓂᓐᓂ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᑐᓕᒪᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᖁᓕᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᙱᑎᓪᓗᖓ, ᐆᒻᒪᑎᒐ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᒐᓚᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 23-ᓂ-ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᐊᐃᔭ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ.

“I’m really happy to be here to experience this because after about a decade of not doing this kind of thing, I think I was starting to get a little bit heartsick,” said 23-year-old Aija Komangapik. Photo courtesy of Yoanis Menge

ᐊᐃᔭᐅᑉ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᕆᓚᐅᕆᕙᖓ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᕼᐊᑲᐱᖕᒥ. “ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ,”ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐊᓇᐅᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᑦ ᓂᐊᖁᖓᑕ ᖁᓛᒍᑦ.” ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ, ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᒥ Reconseal ᐃᓄᒃᓯᐅᑎᒥᒃ, ᑐᕌᕋᓱᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᐅᔪᓄᑦ.. ᐊᐃᔭ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ Reconseal– ᑯᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᖓᓐᓂ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᐅᓈᕐᒥ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᕼᐊᑲᐱᖕᒥ ᑐᓄᐊᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᓯᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕐᒥ. ᐊᑖᑕᖓ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᑎ ᕉᐱᓂ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᔪᐊᓂᔅ ᒥᐊᓐᔾ, ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᑯᐸᐃᖕᒥ, ᓇᓂᓯᔨᐅᕗᑦ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ. “ᓇᖏᖅᓯᕗᒍᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓗᑕ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕘᓇ ᐆᒪᔪᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ. “ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ, ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐃᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐆᒧᖓ.” ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᐊᓐᔾ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ, ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕇᒃᑐᓂ, ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 2021 ᓄᙳᐊᓂ. ᓇᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 30–ᒥ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦᑎᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂ ᓱᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ. “ᐊᓐᓄᕋᐃᔭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᕐᓕᑲᓪᓚᒃᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒫᓄᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓂᒃᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ,” ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᕗᖅ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ. “ᓂᒃᓯᓚᐅᖅᐸᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᓯᒡᔭᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᒪᑦᑕ ᐊᐅᐸᔮᖓᔪᒥ ᐅᕕᓂᕈᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ. ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᑦᑎᖅ ᐱᓚᒃᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓚᒃᓯᓲᖑᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓲᕐᓗ ‘ᐃᕼᐄ, ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᒃᐳᒍᑦ-ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒥ,’ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᕗᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.” ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 700 ᐸᐅᓐᔅ–ᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓂᕿᓂᑦ ᑐᙵᓱᒡᕕᖓᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ. ᐃᓚᖓ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 7–ᒥ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᖅᓯᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᐱᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᔨᒥᒃ ᐋᓂ ᐳᑐᒍᕐᒥ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ. ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ, ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᕿᓯᖕᓂ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓴᕈᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓲᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓂ, ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᕐᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᕿᓯᖕᓂ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ, ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᓪᓚᕆᒃ, ᓅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑯᐸᐃᖕᒧᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᓕᖅᑐᓂ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓯᐊᒻᒪᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᒐᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ

ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᕆᔭᖓᓂ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᒐᕐᓂ.

6,000–ᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐋᑐᕚ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓃᑉᐳᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᙳᐊᖓᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᒐᔪᙱᓚᑦ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᑕᐅᖅᓰᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓂᕿᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᑭᙶᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ. “ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᐅᑉ ᓂᕿᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᑭᑐᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕿᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᑉᐹᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐅᕙᓐᓂ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᒐᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ, ᐅᕘᓇ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᓂᕆᕙᒃᑕᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐸᖕᓂᖓᓂ, ᒥᐊᓐᔾ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᒃᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑦᓛᓐᑎᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᓇᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᒥ La Fabrique culturelle, ᒥᐊᓐᔾ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᕈᖅᓴᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ–ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓱᔪᐃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᓇᑦᑎᕐᓂ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᐅᔪᓂ. ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒐᓚᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐊᖓᓂ ᕼᐊᑲᐱᒃ, ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᓄᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ. ᒥᐊᓐᔾ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓇ Reconseal’s ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᐸᖓ ᒫᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᒍ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᐳᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓛᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ. ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ Reconseal, ᒫᓐᓇ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᑎᒥᖁᑕᐅᓕᖅᑐᒥ, ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒧᑦ ᑕᐅᖅᓰᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᒪᑭᒪᔾᔪᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ. “ᐊᖏᕐᔪᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑕᐅᕙᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᐊᓐᔾ. “ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᑦᑎᓐᓃᖁᔨᕗᒍᑦ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥ.” ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ Reconseal ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ. “ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕆᔭᕋ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᐅᒋᓪᓚᕆᒃᑲᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᖓᒐᓚᒃ.”

A6 Monday, January 24, 2022

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

Teachers Association signs new collective agreement with territoral government Largest salary increase for teachers in Canada at time of signing, says NTA president

ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐹᒥᓚ ᒍᕉᔅ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐋᑕᒻ ᓚᐃᑦᔅᑑᓐ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᒫᑦᓯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᐹᖓᓂ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 19–ᒥ.

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Election season, a new government and Covid-19 delayed the signing ceremony, but on Jan. 19, the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Teachers Union (NTA) signed into effect a new four-year collective agreement starting retroactively on July 1, 2021 following September negotiations. The new agreement expires June 30, 2025.

New annual wage increases totalling a seven percent increase over four years is one of the largest salary increases teachers will be getting in Canada thus far, according to Justin Matchett, president of the Nunavut Teachers Association.

“By doing so we feel that the Government of Nunavut is recognizing the hard work that our current membership is doing and understands the need to stay competitive,” said Matchett.

The first annual wage increase will be two per cent in the first year, one and a half per cent in the second and third years and two per cent in year four. These increases will be applied on July 1 for each year of the agreement.

Matchett said one of the reasons for the pay bump is to increase retention in an increasingly competitive market for teachers.

Eighty-six per cent of NTA members voted in favor of this collective agreement.

New provisions in the collective agreement include a three-day Domestic Violence Leave, allowing for paid leave for employees who have to leave to attend appointments with professionals, legal proceedings or any other necessary activities to support health, safety or security.

“We have to recognize the rates of domestic violence here in Nunavut, how it affects our membership,” said Matchett, who adds though they hope members never have to use it, he’s glad it’s there.

Teachers who enter into Inuktut language instruction are also facing more immediate incentives to be hired into positions including curricular instruction in Inuktut, with level three Inuit language allowances to be provided immediately until teachers’ proficiency can be assessed.

“That was a top priority for us, to secure that and make the language allowances easily accessible. It’s always been there but

Left to right, Nunavut Education Minister Pamela Gross, Human Resources Minister Adam Lightstone, Nunavut Teachers Association president Justin Matchett and Premier P.J. Akeeagok at the signing of the new collective agreement Jan. 19. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo it’s been a burden for our members to apply for and to build that.

Now the government has agreed to that as an automatic bonus upon hiring,” said Matchett.

Nunavut education minister Pamela Gross said the pandemic has been tough on everyone and she hopes this new agreement will help Nunavut teachers who have gone above and beyond the last few years.

“These past few years has been strenuous on everyone across the world and we have hurdles and challenges. I think our teachers have gone the extra mile over the past few years to ensure they’re able to cope through the challenges we see in our territory,” said Gross.

Substitute teachers are paid on a scale based on their qualifications, unqualified subs will receive a pay increase to $175 per day, up from $150.

Also among the provisions is a new seasonal Inuit cultural leave which will be replacing the fishing, hunting and harvesting leave.

It allows for one day of special leave and another without pay for a wider net of Inuit cultural activities in addition to harvesting.

These include sewing, berry-picking, camping and whatever else is considered an Inuit cultural pursuit.

“It was a very underused provision we had, we were very excited to see the government saw the importance of expanding that,” said Matchett, “I think it’s exciting for our southern teachers who can now do something with a co-worker and not feel the financial burden while learning a cultural activity.”

Other provisions include an extended special leave of up to five days upon the death of an immdiate family member and a half-day leave to attend the funeral of an aunt or uncle.

Foster children are now also considered to be a part of someone’s immediate family.

Parental leave will also align with changes made to federal employment insurance, which will help employees to take extended leave and to receive the Parental Extended Benefit.

“We do hope this agreement goes that extra step to helping retain some of our membership. In my opinion we do have a ways to go in ensuring we recruit and maintain more teachers,” said Matchett.

Bulldozer operator goes through ice, dies on Sabina Gold and Silver’s property D6 ᐳᐊᕐᕆᓯᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖁᑎᖓ ᓯᑯᒃᑰᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 17–ᒥ ᓴᐲᓇ ᒎᓗᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᑯᓪᓕᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᓚᒃᑕᕐᕕᖓᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓᓂ ᐅᒃᑯᓯᒃᓴᓕᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ, 400 ᑭᓛᒥᑐᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᓂᒋᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᖕᓇᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ.

Mine inspectors to investigate incident

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Kitikmeot

A D6 dozer and its operator went through the ice and the individual died on Jan. 17 near Sabina Gold and Silver’s port facility at the Back River project, approximately 400 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay. Photo courtesy of Sabina Gold and Silver

A worker driving a D6 dozer at Sabina Gold and Silver’s Back River project plunged through the ice near the company’s port facility at Bathurst Inlet and died on the afternoon of Jan. 17.

The company became aware of the tragic accident when it was reported that the piece of heavy equipment and its operator — who is employed by a contractor — were missing.

All personnel were called back to the camp and accounted for with the exception of the one individual, according to Nicole Hoeller, Sabina’s vice-president of communications and corporate secretary.

“Our president and CEO is on his way up to site to provide support to our team while we get to the cause of this tragic accident. At this point, we simply don’t know the pertinent details to comment any further,” Hoeller stated

on Jan. 18.

The deceased employee’s family has been notified and Sabina committed to providing support and assistance to them.

“On behalf of Sabina, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the individual’s family, friends and colleagues,” said Bruce McLeod, Sabina’s president and CEO. The company also said it would offer counselling and support to staff at the Back River site, approximately 400 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay. The RCMP, the Workers Safety and Compensation Commission and the mines inspector have also been notified, Hoeller added. The RCMP will help coordinate a recovery effort.

Mine inspectors are expected to begin an investigation as early as Jan. 19.

A spill report has also been filed with environmental authorities.

All activities near the port have been suspended until further notice, according to Hoeller.

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

Silu’s Taxi sees huge growth Rankin Inlet company will soon celebrate one-year anniversary

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

“Don’t even,” laughed Silu Autut when asked how many calls he was getting in the second week of January.

On top of starting grocery deliveries, his Rankin Inlet cab company was also distributing the Kivalliq Inuit Association’s Covid gift cards to just about everyone in town.

His phone was ringing off the hook and Facebook filling with messages, but he still found a few minutes to debrief with Kivalliq News on how the current lockdown and first year in business for Silu’s Taxi was going.

“KIA approached us on Thursday. They wanted everything distributed for Friday. I was like, holy smokes.”

He got up at 6 a.m. the next day and wasn’t done until 3 a.m.

“It was overwhelming,” said Autut. “It was challenging. But we got it.”

He started Silu’s Taxi last February with two drivers. Now he’s up to seven and a mechanic.

“Business is really good,” said Autut. “Our first lockdown, we really didn’t have any clue

of what to do, so everything was limited.”

But the second time, he had a much better understanding of the landscape. The major players and stores in town needed his delivery services, so he picked up lots of new business, from grocery deliveries to gift cards.

He has 14 vehicles in total now, with 10 running.

“I’m extremely happy of what we could give to our community,” said Autut. “Everybody needs our service, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

The only thing he’s lacking is his own shop, which is his next goal for the business.

Staying open every single day and keeping the vehicles maintained and ready for the road has been the most challenging part of the venture, and it’s taken a huge bite out of his personal life.

“I miss hunting. I miss camping. I miss my friends too,” he said.

Autut is thankful for the community’s support of his company, and he tries to give back with draws and prizes.

“We appreciate doing business for the whole community,” said Autut. “I want to thank our community and especially our staff for working this hard with me.”

Monday, January 24, 2022 A7

ᓯᓗ ᐊᐅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ ᒫᒋ ᑭᖕᒥᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᓯᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖁᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐅᓐᓄᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᕿᑲᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓴᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓴᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᓖᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

Silu Autut and partner Maggie Kingmeatok snapped this photo when they took over driving one night late last year to give their staff a night off. Photo courtesy of Silu Autut

‘It’s really, really tough,’ Baffin chamber president says of current economic conditions Supply chain issues and challenges with specialized labour add to Covid-19 burdens for Nunavut ventures, says Clarence Synard “ᑮᓴᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᕗᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᖕᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᓖᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᑭᓕᐊᕆᓐᔅ ᓴᐃᓈᑦ, ᕿᓂᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒍᑎᒃᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19−ᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ. ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐃᒋᕗᖅ

“The financial and mental strain on these business owners is tremendous,” says Baffin Chamber of Commerce president Clarence Synard, who’s seeking more solutions to economic pressures created by the Covid-19 pandemic. He’s also encouraging all businesses to reach out to the chamber for help. Photo courtesy of Clarence Synard

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

Nunavut business owners have withstood another Covid-19 lockdown but nearly two years of pandemic disruptions has left them reeling, says Clarence Synard, president of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“I certainly hope that we can see the end of this pandemic come sooner rather than later because it’s certainly taken a toll on all aspects of individuals and businesses,” he said. “I just worry about Covid fatigue and how much more people and businesses can handle.”

The forced closure of businesses during Covid outbreaks has cost owners a great deal of revenue, and Synard is sure some are using money out of their own pockets to keep ventures afloat.

“It’s really, really tough. The financial and mental strain on these business owners is tremendous,” he said. “I can imagine those who are suffering in silence and it’s got to be scary times.”

But he doesn’t want business owners to feel that they are alone. He’s encouraging them to contact the chamber of commerce, even if they’re not members.

“We at the chamber encourage all businesses that are having struggles and issues to reach out to us and we’ll see what we can do on their behalf. Sometimes I find when we’re going in with a unified voice from the chamber of commerce … we seem to get more response from it,” he said, adding that the Baffin chamber has been working with its counterparts in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.

The Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development announced a fourth round of Small Business Support Program funding earlier this month.

The initiative provides grants of up to $5,000.

Synard said he appreciates the government’s aid and putting small businesses “first in line” for financial assistance makes sense because they often have the smallest reserves.

However, the $5,000 limit “is much lower than what businesses need at this time,” he said.

He credited the Department of Economic Development for being accommodating by setting up weekly calls since last April to get a better understanding of business challenges and to answer urgent questions, particularly relating to the pandemic.

“It’s been very productive so far,” said Synard.

“They’ve certainly been committed to hearing our

concerns.”

At the federal level, wage and rent subsidies are still available. There’s the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program and the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program. The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit are available for employees in need.

Yet not all businesses qualify for federal support programs and others cannot afford to take on the additional debt because some of the federal benefits must be repaid, Synard noted. In addition, he questioned Ottawa’s understanding of logistical hurdles and the shortage of specialized labour that Nunavut businesses face.

“I don’t think on the federal level that that’s always recognized,” he said.

He predicted that recovery for the territory’s hard-hit tourism industry may take years and that widespread supply chain issues will likely persist throughout 2022, meaning that some critical goods and supplies will be unavailable.

“We’re looking at items now that, even if we were ordered today which people are nervous to make those orders, there’s no guarantee that they’re going to be able to make the 2022 sealift because of procurement time,” he said.

At least the easing of public health restrictions announced on Jan. 13 “offered some hope” to business owners, said Synard.

“Many businesses are happy to have the ability to reopen their doors, to be able to travel within the territory and this does help in many different sectors,” he said.

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson submitted a lengthy list of pre-budget recommendations to the federal government last year to bring relief to businesses, among improvements to many other aspects of life in the territory.

“We also are aware that, not just in Nunavut but throughout all of Canada, businesses are struggling with the constant cycle of lockdowns and slow reopenings.

Artists and gig workers are also suffering,” Patterson stated. “There’s a lot that must be done to support Nunavummiut as Covid continues to devastate the economy and even more will be required to help restart the economy once we can safely get back to ‘normal.’”

There was no reply to questions Nunavut News sent to Nunavut MP Lori Idlout on the topic of Covid-related challenges facing businesses.

The Department of Economic Development was unable provide additional detail on the overall amount allotted through the Small Business Support Program by press time.

A8 Monday, January 24, 2022

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ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕉᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ; ᐃᓱᓕᕝᕕᒃᓴᖓ ᐱᐅᙱᓚᖅ Northern News Services

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ (GN) ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑖᕋᓱᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ ᑎᓯᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᕿᓂᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᑐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᓛᖦᖠᐅᑉ ᓄᓈᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓛᔅᑲᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ, “ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᓴᖑᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ–ᐆᒻᒪᖅᑯᑎᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒐᔪᒃᑐᒥ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕙᑎᒧᑦ.” ᐊᑯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᖓ, ᓇᐃᓈᕆᔪᒥ, ᐊᖏᓛᖓᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᐃᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓯᒪᓇᑎᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᑕ–ᐃᓱᐊᓂ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᖃᓕᕇᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᖏᓂᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 2014–ᒥ “ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐊᒃᑕᕐᕖᑦ ᑕᑖᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᒥ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑐᖅᑯᐃᓂᖃᙱᓚᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ, ᐃᔅᓴᒃᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓱᕈᔪᖕᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᑰᒍᔾᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᖃᙱᓚᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ. ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕙᑎᒧᑦ.” ᐅᓇ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕋᓱᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᓱᕈᐃᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐳᔪᖅ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᓂ ᐃᑭᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓴᓂᕐᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᒐᔪᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑕᐅᕗᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓱᕈᖅᑎᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒥᖅᑕᕐᕕᖕᓂ ᐊᓄᕆᒧᑦ–ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔪᓄᑦ ᓴᓂᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓱᕈᖅᑎᕆᓂᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒪᕐᒧᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᓄᖅᑭᐅᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒡᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᒫᔾᔨ 23–ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᒫᓗᖕᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᐃᓂᖅᑎᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑎᓯᔪᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᕐᕕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑯᕕᖅᑕᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᑕᓯᕐᓂ ᐊᖅᑭᒃᓯᒪᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓚᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᑐᖅᑯᐃᕙᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᖏᒡᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᐊᙱᓚᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᖓ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓚᑰᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᒫᓗᖕᒥ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᔫᔮᖅᐳᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᖓᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᓕᒫᒥ 2040–

ᖑᕋᓱᖕᓂᖓᓂ. ᐱᓕᕆᓂᑐᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᐊᖏᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᒐᒃᓴᕐᒥ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᖅᑐᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᒥᒃ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓱᓇᒃᑯᑖᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᓕᒫᖏᓐᓂ. ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᑦᑑᔮᖅᐳᖅ, ᐸᐃᑉᐹᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐴᖅᑲᖅᓯᒪᕙᒌᖅᑐᓂ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᓄᐊᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂ ᖁᓕᕈᐊᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᓱᓕᒫᑲᓴᑦ ᐅᓕᒃᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᒃᑕᔫᒥᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᕿᑐᑦᑐᒐᐅᔭᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓯᔪᒥ ᐸᓯᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑭᒡᓕᐅᔪᒥ, ᐸᓯᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᓪᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ. ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᒫᓗᖕᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖓᕙᕆᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐱᖁᑎᓄᑦ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒋᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᖃᓄᐃᓗᐊᕋᔭᙱᓚᖅ, ᑕᐃᓐᓇ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐅᑎᕐᔭᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᑯᖓ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥᓂ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑭᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᓂᖅᓴᐅᕙᒌᖅᑐᓂ ᓇᒥᓕᒫᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ. ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ. “ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᕋᔭᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᐅᒪᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᐃᑦᑕᑑᖅᖢᓂ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑭᐅᓗᒃᑲᔭᖅᐳᖓ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨ ᔭᓇᕗ ᑖᒻᑉᓯᓐ, ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᕐᒪᖅᑕᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᕈᓯᖓ ᐃᓗᓪᓕᖅᓱᐃᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᒃᑰᕈᑎᒥ ᐴᕐᒥ 27,000–ᓂ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᖕᓂ ᐴᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ. ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕙᑎᒧᑦ ᐱᒪᑐᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂ ᑐᙵᕕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖁᑎᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᕕᐊᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᒧᒥ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᑦ. ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐱᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ $35 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᑖᙳᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᓯᔪᓂ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓᓂ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖁᒃᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᒥᙶᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᕈᖅᓯᐊᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ 2020–ᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ 2023–ᒧᑦ. ᐃᓱᓕᕝᕕᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ–ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓕᖕᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ ᑎᓯᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑕᑯᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑕᑯᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ.

Recycling ideas to get tough on trash GN seeks a territorial waste reduction strategy; deadline stinks Northern News Services

The Government of Nunavut (GN) has put out a tender inviting contractors to formulate a plan for a territory-wide solid waste management approach, mainly looking at innovations in Greenland and Alaska and how to apply them, to “increase opportunity for waste diversion and waste-to-energy production, and implement regular backhauling of hazardous waste to protect public health and the environment.”

The long-term goal, in short, is an efficiency that has been sorely lacking, in communities that were told how to sort and handle garbage but not given appropriate infrastructure to complete the end-of-life for these piles of varying degrees of hazardous waste.

The GN stated in 2014 that “Many dumpsites are at capacity, do not have proper segregation or storage of hazardous waste, have no leachate or runoff management, and have no means to control public access to the dumpsite.

The lack of past proper management and appropriate infrastructure at these sites is posing a threat to the health and safety of Nunavummiut and the environment.”

This is urgent work for the health of our communities and a problem that only continues to grow as we study best practices.

Pollution and smoke from open burn-

ing of garbage are common worries, as well as potential contamination of water sources by wind-blown litter and the impact that contamination could have on aquatic ecosystems and hunting grounds.

A March 23 Oceans North report warned that local solid waste landfills and wastewater lagoons are ill-equipped to handle the volume and toxicity of the waste they store. They can’t keep getting bigger, either, when the additional land they would occupy is needed for housing and other infrastructure deficits.

Oceans North suggests governments set a goal of reducing waste by half across the North by 2040.

The only way such a lofty objective can be achieved is through a comprehensive strategy that includes recycling and reusing materials as much as possible.

Reducing waste sounds easy, on paper, but when you take into account the huge amount of pre-packaged goods making their ways to store shelves and that almost anything affordable comes wrapped in plastic or a box it adds blame to the consumer level, which isn’t where the blame really lies, particularly in remote Nunavut.

The Oceans North report states the private sector should implement extended producer responsibility programs to products, making companies responsible for the environmental costs associated with proper disposal of their

products.

This would be reasonable, as long as that responsibility doesn’t trickle back down to the consumer in the form of even higher prices on goods already more expensive than elsewhere in the country.

Recycling is also something that can be led by community members.

“Some would say that comprehensive recycling in the North is a wide-eyed, naïve, impossible dream but I would argue that we just need more cooperation, transparency, and determination,” said teacher Jennifer Thompson, who started Qarmartalik School’s recycling program in Resolute Bay and whose class stuffed a seacan with 27,000 cans last summer to be recycled in the south.

She spoke of environmental stewardship being an IQ principle we teach our youth and reflected on the community involvement and enthusiasm that can drive a recycling program forward.

Iqaluit received $35 million in funding to replace and upgrade its solid waste facilities, including recycling and composting capabilities, a project intended to be finished in 2020, but delayed now to 2023.

With a deadline of end-of-year for the possible outline of a territory-wide solid waste management plan to be delivered, we have to wonder how much longer it will take for communities to see their concerns addressed.

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

Warm heart, warm hands in Cambridge Bay

Monday, January 24, 2022 A9

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

Resident sews mitts for children in need Northern News Services

HALUQQURUT. INUIN IQALUKTUUTIAMI NAAMMAINNAQTUT. TAMNA AANIARUT TIKINMAN INUIN NUTAQQATLU AIHIMAVAKTUT. QUANA NIQIHANIK TUNIJAUJUT TUNNGAVIKKUNNIT. TUHAQPAKLUGIT DAKTIITLU MUNAQHIITLU. NAUNAIRUMARUVIT AANIAQTUNIK HIVAJAKLUGIT MUNAQHIVIK. IKAJUQTAUNIAQPUHI. IHUMALUKPALAAKHIMAITTUMIK. ILAGNIT HAVAGIALIKMATA ATUKPAKLUGIT IVYARUTIT UAQATTAQLUGIT ALGATIT. QUANAQPIAQ TAPKUAT IKAJUQPAKTUT NIUVIQVIMUNGNAUVAKTUT. HAMLATKUTLU UPLAPKAIVAKTUTLU QARITAUJAKKUT ALIANAQ. AITUHIANIK ALIANAQ TAPKUAT AKIMAJUT. BINGOKPAKTUTLU IQALUKTUUTIAMI. QUUJAKPIARUMAJUGUTLU TAKLIK KANIAKMUN TUNIQHAIJUK PUALUKHANIK NUTAQQANUN. INMINIK MIQHUKTAIT PUALUIT. QUANA TAKLIK PUALUKHANIKMIJUT NUTAQQAT. NAAMMAGALITPAKLUHI ILLA. The sun is back and it sure gives a beautiful feeling that the sun returned to give us brighter daylight hours in the middle of cold winters on the land of the Inuinnait.

It sure helps since Cambridge Bay has been under strict rules to stay home with the arrival of Covid-19. During the outbreak, the Hamlet’s recreation and wellness departments have been holding virtual contests with many great prizes. They even have bingo games with cards being sent to residents’ post office mail boxes. I have seen many handmade products made by seamstresses in Cambridge Bay that are so beautiful and warm, especial-

ly during the lockdown, pandemic, staying home isolation, no school, no work.

Keeping busy is important and so is receiving food hampers.

School homework packages have been made for students. Kiilinik High School has put out a notice with a schedule for its students. Please make note of your children’s class schedules. Quana to parents and grandparents who make sure their children are doing their homework. Big thanks again to all our hunters and fishers who continually supply country food to families in our community.

Warm heart! Warm hands! A big thank you to Junna Ehaloak and her grandchildren Etokana and Ehaloak for providing nice, warm, handmade sealskin mitts for children in Cambridge Bay. It was so exciting to watch a video they made to do a draw with all names submitted on the Cambridge Bay news Facebook page. The gifts went to children of single parents and unemployed parents. The mitts were all made with scrap leftover material that Junna had saved from other sewing projects. As she gathered her scraps, she kept thinking of parents who could not afford to buy warm mitts for their children during the cold winter season. Junna had enough to make five pairs of sealskin mitts for children.

She was short on material for inside liners, so she went and bought some at the store with her own money. She found enough fur for the cuffs around her house. She started making mitts on Thursday or Friday and was done on Monday, sewing all weekend. She grew up in Umingmaktok, Nunavut, also known as Bay Chimo. Her late father Joseph Kaniak was always her inspiration. She watched her father always helping others any way he could.

She recalls his words: “Remember, always help people out if you have more than enough

Warm heart, warm hands! Here is Junna Taklik Ehaloak with her granddaughter Andrea Etokana Ehaloak, 7, in Cambridge Bay, all set to give away handmade sealskin mitts to children in need. Photo courtesy of Junna Ehaloak

food or clothing for yourself and your family.

Never just watch people in need; someday you may need their help.” Wise words to learn from. This is my story as sent to me by Taklik. I wanted to write about it as it made me think to help others in need. A feel-good story while we are in this pandemic and to be together as a community to help one another.

Stay well, be safe and stay home if you are not feeling well. You will get better and be healthy and happy.

God Be With You Son.

Hamlet opens joy ride loop Arviat’s Nuvuk ice road provides opportunity to get out of town

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Arviat

It doesn’t go anywhere, but if you need to get out of town for a break, Arviat now has an ice road loop residents can take for a pleasure cruise.

Funding from the federal government circled down through Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Kivalliq Inuit Association and finally the Hamlet of Arviat to clear roads in town.

“Part of that funding was to clear roads so that people can go out and about and drive around, so they’re not always holed up in their homes,” said Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. The Nuvuk ice road loop is about 10 kilometres long, leaving town from one part, circling the point and coming back in another part of town.

The goal of the road is to provide an opportunity for residents to get out of town, ease their minds and take a joy ride, “rather than just driving around and around in town,” said Savikataaq Jr. The hamlet will be maintaining it this winter for as long as the maintenance funding lasts.

“It’s quite expensive to maintain these roads,” said Savikataaq Jr., saying storms are the biggest factor in how long the road will be open, as they take a lot of resources to clear afterward.

The hamlet is also about halfway finished making an ice road to Wolf Creek south of town.

“Quite a few people pick up ice from that (creek),” said Savikataaq Jr. Wolf Creek is about 10 km from town as well, and that road will also be temporary and dependent

on funding.

The hamlet will be announcing when it is finished and ready to drive on.

Savikataaq Jr. went to check out the Nuvuk ice road loop in person the day it opened on Jan. 14 and said a few cars were already out and enjoying the road.

ᓄᕗᒃ ᓯᑯᒥ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᖓ ᐊᖕᒪᓗᖅᓯᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᓂᒋᕐᒥ ᑲᓇᖕᓇᒥ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᕿᒪᒃᓯᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔭᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

ᕼᐋᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᓄᕗᒃ ᓯᑯᒥ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᖓ ᐊᖕᒪᓗᖅᓯᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐳᐊᕐᕆᔭᖅᑕᐅᖏᓐᓇᖅᓯᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᑮᓴᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖓᓂ.

Hamlet staff are keeping the Nuvuk ice road loop clear so long as funding allows.

Photo courtesy of Joe Savikataaq Jr.

The Nuvuk ice road loop just southeast of Arviat provides residents a chance to get out of town for a joy ride. Photo courtesy of Joe Savikataaq Jr.

A10 Monday, January 24, 2022

News North Nunavut

Rankin Inlet woman battles brain cancer at home Viral TikTok, cooking and family keep Alexandra Rudd’s spirits up in face of prognosis

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

Once thought to be in remission, Alexandra Rudd’s brain cancer became more severe in the past year, but one would hardly know it watching her charming – and viral – TikTok cooking videos.

Now home in Rankin inlet, Rudd is staying as positive as she can in the face of a prognosis in November that gave her one to two months to live.

“Their prognostic guesses are only guesses due to the tumour of where it is, the size and going by other patients’ outcomes,” said Rudd, who is now on an IV chemotherapy.

Despite that news, Rudd has continued updating her TikTok account, where a macaroni cooking video she filmed in December went viral and received more than 130,000 views.

“I made a family dish my grandma taught me to make,” said Rudd. “It’s comfort food, which is why I believe it went viral. I made the video for my family, for something for them to look back on and follow along with if they chose to, and it went viral on me. I wasn’t expecting it to go viral. I was amazed and shocked that it did.”

She films all sorts of cooking videos, even one from a hospital bed. She also uses the platform to discuss her health conditions with viewers. Her account’s bio says it all: “a Nunavut girl legally blind and brain cancer fighter badass.”

As a baby, Rudd was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a condition that can lead to tumours on nerve endings and wreak havoc on the body.

Rudd underwent two years of chemotherapy as a toddler to treat optic nerve gliomas, but due to the tumours, she became legally blind.

In 2016 and 2017, she began having major headaches. An MRI in the summer of 2017

showed a shadow in her brain, and another MRI in December identified a growing mass.

In March 2018, she had a biopsy. Because of the location of the tumour, only a small amount was taken, and it showed stage 2 brain cancer.

The tumour was growing so quickly that doctors treated it as stage 3 brain cancer and Rudd began a regime of radiation and chemotherapy.

In the summer of 2019, she was considered in remission.

Regular MRIs every three months began to show minor changes, starting in January 2021.

By April, it showed the tumour was clearly growing again, and in June, she was diagnosed with glioblastoma stage 4 brain cancer.

Rudd started on an experimental chemotherapy treatment that attacks certain genes that allow for tumours to grow quickly. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

“I thought it was working, but an MRI confirmed that it wasn’t,” said Rudd. “It made me very tired.”

That’s when she received the prognosis in November. According to The Brain Tumour Charity, only 25 per cent of glioblastoma patients survive more than one year, and only five per cent survive more than five years.

Rudd’s treatment switched to Avastin, a chemotherapy drug that blocks blood flow to the tumour, allowing for some relief of its effects, which she is also on steroids to help with.

“I am weaker and have low energy,” said Rudd about how she’s feeling now. “I need help for my daily living.”

Cooking has become difficult, as her energy drains so quickly now. She still cooks as much as she can with breaks and help from her family.

“It is very hard to stay positive all the time,” said Rudd. “It’s very hard to do so and it’s all I can do to stay strong. My family has helped in a lot of ways, so that helps me tremendously to stay positive.”

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ᐋᓕᒃᓵᓐᑐᕋ ᕋᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᖓᓂ ᑳᓐᓱᒧᑦ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᐆᒃᑐᕋᐅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ, ᕋᑦ ᓘᒃᑖᖓ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᖅᑭᓂ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ ᐆᒪᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2021–ᒥ.

Alexandra Rudd is back at home in Rankin Inlet while taking IV chemotherapy for brain cancer. After an experimental treatment failed last year, Rudd’s doctor gave her one to two months to live in November 2021. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Rudd For anyone else going through a difficult situation of their own, Rudd has this advice: don’t keep your feelings bottled up when you are overwhelmed, and keep doing what you enjoy doing as much as possible.

In a recent video, she thanked the doctors and nurses that have allowed her to take chemotherapy in her home of Rankin Inlet. She

also thanked Rankin Inlet Fire Department for transportation between her home and health centre to receive treatment.

She encourages people to donate to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada or Cancer Care Manitoba.

Her TikTok can also be found under the account alexandra.rudd.

Nunavut records fifth Covid-19 death; catching up on vaccination and testing Funding rolled out for harvesters, community radio

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Iqaluit’s microbiology lab is closed following the departure of several lab technicians in late November and early December of 2021, with managers and directors at Qikiqtani General Hospital still looking for a qualified replacement.

“A number of the staff who left are people who had the specialized skills in keeping a number of the microbiology tests going,” said Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson.

As a result testing samples are being sent down south.

The federal government is providing three additional nurses and nine contact tracers to assist in Nunavut’s latest wave of Covid-19, announced Premier P.J. Akeeagok, during a Government of Nunavut Covid-19 update on Jan. 18. The nurses are expected to arrive in the near future, while the additional contact tracing staff are already working remotely down south.

While all help is appreciated, it still doesn’t get to the root of the problem says Akeeagok, namely the overcrowded housing which continues to be a problem Inuit face in the territory.

With various communities facing decreased health services over the holidays and some Nunavummiut being unable to get vaccinated, the Department of Health is organizing various mass vaccination clinics across the territory to catch up.

“Starting (this) week you should see our plans rolling our across Nunavut,” said John Main, Nunavut’s health minister.

The GN is also initiating a final round of supports for Nunavummiut with $625,000 being rolled out to all 25 hunters and trappers associations across the territory. This will be used to support harvesters in providing country food to their communities. Each hunters and trappers association will be getting $25,000, the funds can be used for fuel, ammunition and supplies for community hunts or to buy and bring in country food from other communities.

“All we ask the HTOs, is they distribute the country foods in the communities,” said David Akeeagok, Nunavut’s environment minister.

The Department of Culture and Heritage also revealed the latest Government of Nunavut initiative to provide $375,000 in Covid-19 supports to support community radios during the pandemic. Each station will be eligible for $15,000.

“Community radios are a lifeline in our territory helping, disseminating and providing essential health information,” said Akeeagok.

People can contact the Dept. of Culture and Heritage for more information.

Elder’s facilities John Main, Nunavut’s minister of health, announced that two staff members at the Gjoa Haven continuing care centre tested positive for Covid-19 on Jan. 13.

“So far none of the nine Elders there have tested positive and have not shown signs of symptoms,” said Main.

All Nunavummiut Elders at Ottawa’s Embassy West retirement home have fully recovered from Covid-19. Four Nunavut caregivers are present at Embassy West, with another from the territory expected

to arrive later this week.

The Elders at the Arviat continuing care facility are still Covid-free with no new infections introduced among the staff. Additional personal protective equipment such as visors and N95 masks have been sent.

There have been 10 hospitalizations and one death in this outbreak thus far.

Expired tests still good to use; antiviral drug approved Despite some rapid antigen tests being given out past the labeled expiration date, it is still a reliable test said Dr. Patterson.

“Health Canada has been monitoring those tests and has officially extended their shelf-life. So even though the tests are printed as having expired they are still reliable and perfectly acceptable for Nunavummiut to use,” said Patterson.

The Government of Canada has approved an antiviral pill by Pfizer to treat patients with Covid-19, announced Jan. 17, and it is expected to ship all over Canada, including to Nunavut.

“Our understanding is as shipments arrive it will be distributed to each jurisdiction in proportion to the size of the population,” Patterson said, “initially the size is going to be small.”

The pill is for people who already have Covid-19 and is meant to mitigate and reduce the chances of severe complications such as death and hospitalizations.

Nunavut has 175 confirmed active cases of Covid-19 with active cases in 19 communities. There have been 10 hospitalizations and one death, Jan 17. Patterson stated the deceased individual was over 70 years old and not fully vaccinated.

News North Nunavut

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Monday, January 24, 2022 A11

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

Vaccine mandate coming for all municipal facilities

Iqaluit Effective Feb. 7, all individuals 12 and older who wish to use City of Iqaluit facilities, including recreational, will have to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a Health Canada approved vaccine, announced the City on Jan. 17. The same will go for individuals aged five to 12, effective March 31.

All visitors will be required to provide proof of their vaccination status with either a vaccination card or Proof of Vaccination Certificate to gain entry to a City facility. Vaccination cards or certificates will not be kept on file, they must be shown every time.

At this time there are no requirements for Iqalummiut to receive their booster shot, although it is recommended, “as the Booster appears to be assisting in limiting both the impacts and the transmission of Covid-19,” stated the City.

– Trevor Wright

Fox attacks two dogs, all three animals dead

Salliq/Coral Harbour A fox attack against two dogs resulted in the death of all three animals and the incident has spurred a warning to Coral Harbour residents about aggressive foxes in the community.

“Due to the danger of rabies, we advise all residents to be on the lookout for foxes in the area,” the Department of Health stated on Wednesday, but revealed no other details about the violent encounter between the animals.

Anyone bitten or scratched by a fox or a dog is urged to go to the health centre and report it immediately.

Quick treatment is essential because rabies infections are commonly fatal, according to the Department of Health.

Animals that exhibit signs of rabies – such as strange behaviour, staggering, frothing at the mouth, choking or making strange noises – should be avoided and reported to the regional environmental health officer at 867-645-6660 or a conservation

Email: editor@nunavutnews.com

officer at 867-975-1104.

– Derek Neary

Fuel efficiency to be determined

Igluligaarjuk/Chesterfield Inlet Following a story in last week’s Nunavut News (Jan. 17, 2021) about Qulliq Energy Corporation’s plans for a new power plant in Chesterfield Inlet, Kivalliq News reached out to QEC for clarification on just how much more “fuel efficient” the new power plant would be, as quoted by Rick Hunt, president of and CEO of QEC. In response, QEC’s Sandy Lewis told Kivalliq News that fuel efficiency is based on several parameters, such as operational philosophy, weather, demand and supply of power.

“When our new power plant is operational, we will be able to determine the percentage of fuel efficiency based on the data collected,” stated Lewis in an email.

“However, in general terms, the new generator sets are much more fuel efficient than the old units they are replacing.”

– Stewart Burnett

Kitchen fire quickly extinguished

Iqaluit On Jan. 16 around 4:30 p.m., Iqaluit Emergency Services responded to a kitchen fire in the 900 neighbourhood. Firefighters arrived and soon located the fire, extinguishing it. There was no spread to neighbouring units.

In a release by the City of Iqaluit, it says a functioning fire alarm and a working sprinkler system prevented this fire from escalating while notifying its residents and their neighbours of the fire. Two residents were displaced due to the incident.

Iqaluit Emergency Services would like to remind residents to evacuate their building when they hear a fire alarm, to call 867979-4422 to report this occurrence once outside and to leave doors unlocked to allow firefighters to intervene quickly in an emergency.

– Trevor Wright

A death-defying caribou story

Fax: (867) 979-6010

Aggravated assault charge laid after apparent stabbing

Iqaluit An Iqaluit man has been charged with assault and aggravated assault after police found another man with an apparent stab wound to his chest.

The incident occurred on Jan. 9 when the police responded to a report of an assault at a residence in the city. The victim, who was sitting on a couch, along with a second victim – a female – were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. Both are expected to make a full recovery.

Markoosie Peter, 26, was subsequently charged. Peter’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 21.

– Derek Neary

Food support available for Qikiqtani Inuit living out-of-territory

Qikiqtani On Jan. 17, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) announced they will once again be accepting applications for the Qikiqtani Urban Inuit Programs - Food Security (QUIP-FS).

This program is for Qikiqtani Inuit who do not live in Nunavut and provides a one-time payment of $500 per household. It will be available for Qikiqtani Inuit 16 years of age and older as of March 31, 2022. Multiple applications from the same household will not be processed.

The QUIP-FS is an expansion of previous food security initiatives by QIA and funding was provided by the Indigenous Community Support Fund with a budget of $500,000. The money will be mailed via Canada Post and will be delivered on a firstcome first serve basis.

If you are a Qikiqtani Inuk living down south you can reach out to QIA for more information by emailing COVID-19@qia. ca or calling 1-800-975-8383.

– Trevor Wright

ᑎᒻ ᑐᙳᐊᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᒐᒃᓴᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᑐᒃᑐᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐃᖕᒥᓂᒃ ᕿᒫᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ.

Tim Tunguaq has his fair share of caribou stories, and one on the land near Baker Lake sent him running. Photo courtesy of Tim Tunguaq

Baker Lake hunter recounts amusing tale from the land

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake

Hunters from across the North took to social media earlier this month to share humorous caribou stories.

For Baker Lake’s Tim Tunguaq, it made him recall an early summer day in July some years ago when he and his boys were chasing a caribou herd near town.

He headed up the water to Mihaluk by boat and saw a small herd on the north side of Agiutit on the Aniguq River.

“We were scoping, watching, trying to figure out where they were heading,” recalled Tunguaq.

After a while, the group noticed the caribou were settling down to take a rest.

The older guys headed up to Agiutit to see if they could get closer to the herd.

They landed their boat on the river’s edge below the herd and began creeping up the hill.

The caribou were still laying down when Tunguaq was close enough to take aim.

“We formed a line and started shooting at the same time,” wrote Tunguaq. “I had told the boys that we were going to get only one caribou per person, as the river was kind of shallow, as most people around Baker Lake knows.”

The caribou didn’t even have a chance to stand up when the hunters started shooting.

“We all got ourselves caribou,” wrote Tunguaq, adding that the harvesters started walking towards the slain animals.

When he got closer, he noticed there were more dead caribou on the ground than there were people hunting, meaning someone must have shot more than one.

He yelled out, “There are seven caribou and there’s only six of us. Who caught two?”

They began checking out the caribou on the ground and came up to the final one.

To the group’s surprise, it raised its head, slowly opened its eyes and realized it was being approached by humans, prompting it to start charging right toward the group.

“Instead of being a real man, I turned around and started running away with rifle in hand,” wrote Tunguaq. “So did the other person beside me, both yelling.

The other guys were watching us and laughing.”

When they finally looked back, they saw the caribou had turned and run away in the other direction.

“Damn thing slept right through all that shooting, wasn’t shot and didn’t have a single wound on it,” wrote Tunguaq.

That’s when he found out caribou can sleep very soundly despite a whole lot of noise.

“I might have been a faster runner than Atanarjuat at that time,” wrote Tunguaq, referring to the namesake of 2001 Inuit-directed film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner.

ᑐᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᑦᑐᑦ Hᐊᕝᕙᖅᑑᕐᒥ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ.

A herd of caribou gather at the Kazan River near Baker Lake. Photo courtesy of Tim Tunguaq

A12 Monday, January 24, 2022

News North Nunavut

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Promoting reconciliation through the grey seal New cultural exchange project between the Magdalen Islands and the Inuit community of Ottawa aims to celebrate seal hunting traditions

By Ezra Black Northern News Services Ottawa

A group of camo-clothed hunters roamed along a beach on Quebec’s Magdalen Islands one day this past November, settling themselves along a stretch of shore where grey seals were most active. Some carried rifles, another had a hakapik, which is a club used for harvesting seals.

That was how Aija Komangapik took part in seal hunting for the first time in almost 10 years.

“I’m really happy to be here to experience this because after about a decade of not doing this kind of thing, I think I was starting to get a little bit heartsick,” she said.

Aside from a few trips she took as a child, the 23-year-old Inuk artist has had few chances to participate in the tradition of seal hunting.

“I spent half my life in Iqaluit and then the other half I spent in the province of Quebec,” she said. “I didn’t have much opportunity to hunt when I was very young … so I did appreciate this opportunity because it just felt like something I needed.”

It was also Aija’s first time using a hakapik.

“It went pretty well,” she said. “All you do is you hit it over the head.”

The trip was part of a new cultural exchange project between the Magdalen Islands and the Inuit community of Ottawa, called Reconseal Inuksiuti, which aims to promote reconciliation by celebrating both Indigenous and non-Indigenous seal hunting traditions.

Aija herself designed Reconseal’s logo, which depicts a harpoon crossed with a hakapik behind the image of a grey seal.

Her father, Nunavut sculptor Ruben Komangapik, and Yoanis Menge, an author and photographer from Quebec, are the founders of the new project.

“We are stepping up to the plate and doing a real reconciliation through this animal,” said Komangapik. “Hopefully, everyone else in this country could get inspired by that.”

The idea for the project was hatched while Menge and Komangapik, who are longtime friends, were on a hunting trip on the Magdalen

Islands in late September 2021.

They killed a seal on Sept. 30, the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“He even took all his clothes off to his underwear and went in with a gaff,” recalled Komangapik. “He gaffed it and pulled it to shore, and we all had our orange shirts. He took a picture of us with the seal open like the way they do here, so it started off like ‘hey, we’re really recon-sealing reconciliation,’ so that’s how our company got its name.”

They donated about 700 pounds of harvested meat to Tungasuvvingat Inuit, a resource centre for urban Inuit based in Ottawa.

Some of it was served at a ceremony on Nov. 7 when an Ottawa park was renamed in honour of Inuk artist Annie Pootoogook, said Komangapik.

In addition, harvested seal skins were donated to Isaruit Inuit Arts, a centre in Ottawa that promotes Inuit arts and culture, where they’ll be used to teach traditional preparation of seal skins, he said.

Komangapik, originally from Pond Inlet, moved to Quebec several years ago. He has long been known for his mixed media sculptures and for mentoring young Inuit people by sharing his vast knowledge of carving.

There are about 6,000 Inuit living in the Ottawa area, according to the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. Many don’t have regular access to traditional food, said Komangapik, which is how the idea of a cultural exchange with the Magdalen Islands really took hold.

Komangapik said the project will help fight food insecurity by providing a source of traditional food to urban Inuit, which will improve their health and well-being.

“Exporting seal meat from Nunavut is way more expensive and plus there is food insecurity up there,” he said. “It kind of pushed me to start this.”

In addition, after seeing the excitement and engagement in his daughter Aija, and their friend Philip Anguratsiaq, who also came on the trip, Komangapik said, “It seems like both these two people that we have brought here are really enjoying it and feel more refreshed after being in the city situation.”

ᐊᐃᔭ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᕆᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᐸᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᖁᓕᓄᑦ: “ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᓗᐊᕌᓗᙱᓚᖓ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᑕᕋᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ… ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ. ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒃᐱᖕᓇᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᓐᓂ.”

Aija Komangapik said it was her first time hunting in about a decade: “I didn’t have much opportunity to hunt and when I was very young… and so, I did appreciate this opportunity, because it just felt like something I needed.” Photo courtesy of Yoanis Menge

ᔪᐊᓂᔅ ᒥᐊᓐᔾ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᕉᐱᓂ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑯᐸᐃᖕᒥ ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ. ᐃᓅᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓂ ᓄᑖᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ, ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᒥ Reconseal ᐃᓄᒃᓯᐅᑎ, ᑕᕌᕋᓱᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᐅᔪᓄᑦ.

Yoanis Menge, left, and Ruben Komangapik posing with a grey seal following a hunting trip on Quebec’s Magdalen Islands. They are the people behind a new project, called Reconseal Inuksiuti, which aims to celebrate both non-Indigenous and Indigenous seal hunting traditions. Photo courtesy of Yoanis Menge Anguratsiaq, a former municipal councillor from Sanirajak, recently moved to Ottawa where it’s well-nigh impossible to participate in seal hunting.

“Luckily they found me and I’m here now,” he said.

“They introduced me to this amazing experience. Where I grew up our main hunting animal was walrus so when I told them about my background, they decided to bring me here to the Magdalen Islands and it’s been a blast.”

Hunting practices differ between Nunavut and the Magdalen Islands, he noted.

In addition to warmer temperatures and much less ice, and grey seals, though extremely abundant around the Magdalen Islands, are rarely seen in Nunavut, he noted.

Also, “the way we cut and the way they cut, it’s very similar,” he said. “But in Inuit culture, we don’t take the tenderloin and when I got here, I learned that they take the tenderloin.

It’s been an exciting experience.”

In addition, to ensure seals are harvested humanely, the group was obeying the three-step process for harvesting seals, as outlined by Fisheries and Oceans Canada: shooting or striking the seal with a club, checking the cranium to make sure it’s deceased and then bleeding the animal.

Through his ongoing photography and writing, Menge has charted the lives of commercial seal-

ers in Atlantic Canada, in addition to Nunavik and Nunavut.

In a short film published by La Fabrique culturelle, Menge explained that seal hunting was an integral part of the local culture and economy while growing up in the Magdalen Islands.

However, he felt antagonized as global anti-sealing campaigns harmed both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities thanks to the boycotting of seal products.

Since then, much of his work, including a recent book Hakapik, has been devoted to humanizing the seal hunt and the people who rely on it.

Menge said this was Reconseal’s first trip so far, but he said he hopes there will be more in the future. He also said Reconseal, now a registered corporation, will involve both cultural exchange and the promotion of awareness of the sealing industry’s sustainability.

“It’s a very big resources that we have here around the islands,” said Menge. “In the future, we want to make work for people so they can get paid. And we want to have people on our team from the Magdalen Islands, from other parts of the North and from the city.”

Komangapik agreed that Reconseal and the grey sealing industry of the Magdalen Islands could have greater commercial potential in the future.

“The reason why I know that is because us Inuit love the stuff.”

ᓇᖕᒪᒃᑐᖅ ᕼᐊᑲᐱᖕᒥ, ᐊᐃᔭ ᖁᒪᖔᐱᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᓯᒡᔭᒥ ᐱᓱᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕕᓕᑉ ᐊᖑᒑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2021–ᒥ.

Shouldering a hakapik, Aija Komangapik, left, walked the beach with Philip Anguratsiaq during a seal hunting trip in November 2021. Photo courtesy of Yoanis Menge

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Monday, January 24, 2022 A13

Uvagut TV celebrates first year on air

ᓴᖅᑲᓕᐊᓯ ᑯᓄᒃ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓘᓯ ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ , ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒻᒥᖅᑐᐃᔨ. ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐆᒧᖓ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓂ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ” ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐅᐱᐅᖅᑲᕗᑦ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ .”

First all-Inuktitut channel celebrates bringing language to Inuit Nunangat

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Zacharias Kunuk, director and Lucy Tulugarjuk, NITV Chair and Executive Director. Tulugarjuk thanked supporters for this first year, adding “Elders are proud to see our language being represented.” Photo courtesy of Isuma Distribution International

Uvagut (Our) TV is celebrating its first year of bringing all-Inuktitut television to Inuit all over Canada, after its Jan. 18, 2021 launch under Nunavut Independent Television (NITV).

It is the first all Indigenous–language channel and, with APTN, only the second Indigenous television network service among 762 broadcasting in Canada.

“Thank you to everyone who have supported Uvagut TV, this first year would not have been so successful without your help. Elders are proud to see our language being represented,” said Lucy Tulugarjuk, NITV chairperson and executive director.

Highlights of the year include airing a live broadcast of the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) hearings on Phase

Two of Baffinland’s proposed expansion to Mary River Mine on Jan. 25, 2021 and again in April.

In November, as public hearings into Baffinland’s proposed mine expansion resumed in Iqaluit and Pond Inlet, NITV filed a court challenge against the NIRB for its refusal to grant Uvagut TV the right to rebroadcast the public hearings.

Tulugardjuk, at the time, stated, “We are continuing to stand for Inuit rights to participate in the NIRB process and to be meaningfully informed about what is happening on Inuit lands.”

Building live production capacity in communities across Inuit Nunangat has been a proud achievement for Uvagut – after six months on air it enabled filmmaking teams to locally produce and share their stories with each other and a national audience.

Another milestone was the live cover-

age of several national events in Inuktitut, including the installation of Governor-General Mary Simon and the Federal Leadership debate.

“NITV is dedicated to the enhancement and preservation of Inuktut and Inuit culture through the creation and exhibition of Inuit video art, linking Nunavut communities through Internet television channels, local access internet-TV, media training and digital literacy initiatives, the production and distribution of Inuktut video and film — and now broadcast television,” states a Jan. 17 release from Uvagut TV. Uvagut broadcasts programs by Arnait Video, Artcirq, Kingulliiy and Taqqut Productions as well as Inuktut movies and documentaries.

“Together we are restoring part of our identity,” said Tulugarjuk on bringing more Inuktitut content to Inuit.

Marijuana still comes with stigma for some Despite legalization, cannabis use often done in the dark

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq

Though cannabis has been legal in Nunavut and across the country since 2018, perceptions around its use still push some smokers to partake in secret.

“Too many people still frown down the fact that people smoke marijuana,” said one Kivalliq resident who wanted to remain anonymous because of the judgment she feels still exists.

“Yet people are more than OK with the beer and wine store (in Rankin Inlet). There are still people in the community who are against (cannabis),” she said.

She’s been smoking cannabis for 20 years, but legalization didn’t change her habits regarding how much she smokes. It hasn’t

changed how much she smokes cigarettes, either.

“The only major change I saw was that sales of it dropped from $50 to $20 for a gram of weed,” the resident said.

She thinks some people are stubborn and won’t ever accept that cannabis can be used as medicine.

Despite cannabis being legally available now, the resident said there are still plenty of local dealers, many of whom are just average people who buy legally online and mark up sales in town.

She added that it’s sad there are pills and cocaine in town as well. However, she contended that marijuana is not a gateway drug, as she has never taken up an offer to do anything other than smoke weed.

Weichien Chan, manager of communications

with the Department of Finance, said that since legalization, the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission has run campaigns providing information on the law around cannabis and operating boats and motor vehicles under the influence.

Chan would not reveal the volume or value of legal cannabis sales in the territory.

“While we do collect information on legal cannabis sales, because we only have one legal cannabis retailer in Nunavut, releasing this information would reveal details that could affect their business interests,” Chan wrote in an email.

Details for cannabis use from Statistics Canada in Nunavut are scant and based on low numbers, but self-reported use over the last three years tended to show about 30 per cent of the territory were smoking.

ᓱᐴᖅᑐᒐᑦ ᓱᓐᓂᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓂ ᓱᖃᐃᓂᖃᙱᓚᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᙱᓚᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ, ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᓱᐴᖅᑐᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᐃᕆᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑎᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Cannabis is legal in Nunavut, but not everyone supports its use, leading some smokers to keep their habit quiet. Pixabay photo

A14 Monday, January 24, 2022

On the land

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

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

This week’s winner is Manasie Naullaq. Congratulations!

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ᐄᓇ ᓯᐊᑯᓗᒃ

ᓴᓂᕋᔭᒃ ᐅᓇ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓂᕋᔭᖕᒥ ᑑᓚᐃᓐ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ 8:36 ᐅᓐᓄᖓᓂ ᓈᑦᑎᖑᔭᖅ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 9–ᒥ.

www.NunavutNews.com

ᐋᓂ ᖃᒧᒃᑳᖅ

ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᖅ ᑎᐊᑎ ᖃᒧᒃᑳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᕙᖓ ᐋᒍᔅᑎ 2–ᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᒥ. ᐃᖃᓗᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᑐᓄᐊᓂ.

ᒫᓇᓯ ᓇᐅᓪᓚᖅ

ᓴᓂᕋᔭᒃ ᓯᓈᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂ ᓯᕿᓂᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓴᓂᕋᔭᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ, ᓇᑦᑎᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᒃᓯᖅᑐᖅ.

Ena Siakuluk

Sanirajak This pic was taken in Sanirajak near the radars at 8:36 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9.

ᕋᐃᔭᓐ ᐅᔭᕐᕋᐃ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ ᐅᓇ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᒥ.

Annie Qamukkaq

Gjoa Haven Teddy Qamukkaq and I at the Aug. 2 rod derby in Gjoa Haven. Char was caught with a rod behind the airport.

ᑯᕆᔅᑎ ᐋᕆᐊᖅ

ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱᒃ ᐅᓇ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑕᕋ ᓄᐊᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᕐᒥ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ.

Winner: Manasie Naullaq

Sanirajak At the edge on the day sun came out near Sanirajak, retrieving seal.

Ryan Uyarrai

Rankin Inlet This is outside Rankin in December.

Kristy Arreak

Clyde River I took this picture of my niece last summer on our day trip around Clyde River.

ᐱᔾᔭᒥᓂ ᐳᐊᑕ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ

ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᖅ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᐅᒃᑐᐱᕆ 31, 2021–ᒥ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ: ᕉᒪᓂ ᐳᐊᑕ.

Benjamin Porter Jr.

Gjoa Haven Northern lights on Oct. 31, 2021 near Gjoa Haven, photo credit: Romanie Porter.

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Monday, January 24, 2022 A15

Breach detected in Iqaluit water treatment plant tanks, bypass started Precautionary boil water advisory issued Jan. 19

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

A precautionary boil water advisory has been issued as of 4:00 p.m. in Iqaluit following the identification of a breach in the city’s water treatment plant – the suspected cause of the most recent instance of fuel entering the city water supply, announced the City on Jan. 19.

Residual hydrocarbons from the historic fuel tank, removed in the fall, entered into the distribution system and was noted on the real-time monitoring station established at the water treatment plant after the first discovery of hydrocarbons in the water supply.

The water treatment plant has been shut down and a broad flushing of the reservoir has started.

As part of an established process to to respond to contamination events, the City of Iqaluit is implementing a multi-tank bypass, which is a piped system that allows raw, untreated water from Lake Geraldine to avoid contact with all concrete tankage

at the water treatment plant. This water is screened and goes through chlorine disinfection, however it does not go through a normal filtration process.

For this reason, a boil water advisory has been issued for Iqaluit by the Government of Nunavut for water used for consumption, cooking and tooth brushing. Residents may experience odours, the taste may not be what residents are used to and there may be discolouration or sediments in the water.

Some sediment may also build up for those with water tanks.

A water pick-up depot is ongoing at the Elders Qammaq from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, this water must also be boiled.

That afternoon Nunavut MP Lori Idlout called upon the federal government to follow up on a 2015 promise to end water crises in Indigenous and Northern communities and restated the City’s $180 million request to fix ageing infrastructure.

“We cannot wait any longer,” wrote Idlout in a statement. “The people of Iqaluit deserve safe drinking water. I’m urging the Liberal Government to act now and help fix this ongoing crisis.”

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐃᒃᓯᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᒪᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᑦ ᖃᕐᒪᖓᓂ. ᐃᒡᓘᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐃᒪᕐᒥ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᓴᐃᕝᕕᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

A resident of Iqaluit picks up some water at the Elders Qammaq, where an indoor water distribution station was set up. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

x0p31Axy N4ystdJxl4

A16 Monday, January 24, 2022

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Developing men’s programming from the ground up Atii Angutiit seeks to provide more options for young men

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kivalliq

What should programming for young men look like in the Kivalliq?

That’s the question Atii Angutiit posed during community tours in December.

Though the group made it to only three communities before blizzards and Covid-19 interrupted travel plans, the suggestions had already tallied into the triple digits.

“We came to the communities with an open mind,” said Sam Tutanuak, senior adviser with the Department of Health, musician and one of the hosts of the Atii Angutiit tours. “We had no idea what was going to be said. It was truly an experience that we did not anticipate.”

His department is working with the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre to gather feedback from young men in the Kivalliq about the type of programming they would like to see. The Atii Angutiit gatherings featured workshops, discussions and music. Inuk rapper Hyper-T, Nelson Tagoona and others contributed to the upbeat energy at the meetings.

Community members had more ideas than anyone expected, ranging from traditional hunting practices and tool-making to self-defence classes, public speaking and photography.

“It’s from the community level up, not from the top down,” said Tutanuak.

Once the tours are completed, Pulaarvik will draft a report about the ideas and ways to make them a reality.

Tutanuak was glad to see youth come out to the gatherings and have their voices heard. Though he’s not a youth anymore, the Kivalliq musician said he could relate to the need for programming in the territory for young men.

“Men do need time to talk to another male counterpart and be able to express their feelings and all the different emotions we go through every day,” he said. “To be able to have a father figure

for the ones that have lost or don’t have father figures in their homes, it’s needed.”

Tutanuak lost his father in his teens.

“I feel as if I lost a lot of my culture, my traditional survival skills and traditional tool-making, because I didn’t have that father figure,” he said.

“I had older siblings, but they were busy with their own families.”

He is also a recovering addict, which adds to his inspiration to assist his colleagues, friends and community members in finding a better life and not falling into the same trap he did.

“There was this individual (at the gatherings) that said it would be good to have these programs run on the weekends so we can stay off of the substances,” said Tutanuak. “How profound is that?”

The group is looking to continue its community tours in February and March, dependent on travel restrictions.

Tutanuak suggested young men keep an eye on Pulaarvik’s Facebook page for job opportunities as coordinators for some of these future programs.

ᐃᓄᒃ ᐃᒻᖏᖅᑎ Hyper-T ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ.

Inuk rapper Hyper-T speaks during the Rankin Inlet gathering to discuss the development of programming for young men. Photo courtesy of Atii Angutiit

ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᖃᒪᓂ’ᑐᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑎᖃᖅᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖏᑦᑕ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥ.

Youth in Baker Lake mug for the camera after an engaging meeting about men’s programming in their community. Photo courtesy of Atii Angutiit

ᓵᒻ ᑐᑕᓐᓄᐊᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᖅᑲᑎᒌᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᑏ ᐊᖑᑏᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

Sam Tutanuak speaks to community members at an Atii Angutiit gathering in Chesterfield Inlet last December. Photo courtesy of Atii Angutiit

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Monday, January 24, 2022 A17

Winter camp to be more flexible Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut tweaks Winter Youth Program based on eased restrictions

By James McCarthy Northern News Services Nunavut

With lockdowns and gathering limits being eased somewhat, that means a bit more can be done in person.

The Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut (RPAN) is hoping it will be able to offer more face-to-face activities and has tweaked its Winter Youth Program to reflect that.

The program is underway in some communities, such as Kugluktuk, which started on Jan. 19 with a scavenger hunt. Pond Inlet began the following day.

It’s going to be a mixture of home-based and in-person activities, according to Dawn Currie MacKinnon, RPAN’s executive director.

She said the approach will allow for more flexibility in planning but there are some rules that will apply.

“We met with all of the participating communities on (Jan. 19) and talked about that,” she said. “Some of the restrictions have been lifted but the final decision on what goes on still lies with each community. All of our communities will have something in-person, though.”

What that looks like is still to be determined but one thing Currie MacKinnon said she hopes will get up and running is the After-School Program.

“The limit will probably be 20 kids and staff together and we’ll probably get the kids to register for alternating days,” she said. “That’s so we can allow as many kids to participate.”

The Winter Camp Program, similar to the Get Happy Summer Day Camp program, is scheduled to go ahead in February and will have rules in place as well, she added.

“We’ll have to do it within the regulations as laid out in each community and that will probably mean one session in the mornings and another in the afternoons,” she said. “It’s just good to get back at it because people have been living with restrictions for a while now.”

The at-home option was originally meant to be the programming offered by RPAN until the territory’s easing of restrictions earlier this month. That will still happen with several activities planned, including craft kits being delivered to homes, a kids radio bingo, a Valentine’s colouring contest, a kids fitness challenge and a family walking challenge.

Currie MacKinnon said what each of those activities will be is up to the program leaders in the communities.

“For example, the family walking challenge is something that families can do together outside,” she said. “We won’t get several families walking together because the numbers wouldn’t allow for it but families are allowed to walk together.

We want people to get outside and get active and

ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᑦᑕᒋᑦᑎ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᕐᒥ ᑕᖕᒫᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐋᒍᔅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᐹᐱᑭᐅᖑᔪᒥ ᑕᖕᒫᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑰᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ. ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᖅᓯᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ (RPAN) ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᖕᒫᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᐊᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᖕᒫᕐᕕᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓛᖅᑐᒥ .

The final day of the Get Happy Summer Day Camp program in August featured a barbecue for the campers in Kugaaruk. The Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut (RPAN) will be hosting a winter camp similar to the summer camp beginning next month. Photo courtesy of Glenda Anaittuq do something and walking is a perfect activity.”

And if a community has an idea for another challenge, Currie MacKinnon said they’re more than welcome to do so.

“I know some communities are planning on doing a traditional clothing competition,” she said. “It’s basically do what you can because we have to adjust to things. We’re lucky that a lot of our communities have leaders that have worked in the summer day camp program or

another one of our programs. They know how to change things up on the fly and adjust to what’s happening.”

Making adjustments is something people have had to do for the past two years now, she added.

“We may not like it but we’ve had to,” she said. “It’s all about being flexible and in recreation, you have to be flexible at times. The alternative is doing absolutely nothing and we don’t want that.”

How an NBA investor can make himself, his team and the league look bad Northern News Services

in the contest where things took a hard turn as a rubberized object which aids in the pleasurable emotions of the female The Uyghur minority in China is being subjected to horrible libido made an appearance in the end zone following Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne hauling in a touchdown pass. atrocities, the extent to which we don’t really know because Bourne spotted the fake wedding tackle after scoring the China says it’s not happening, even though we all know it’s major and began remonstrating with happening. There are stories coming the nearest official. Why? The ref out of Xinjiang that around one mildidn’t throw it out, though it would lion people are being forcibly detained have made for some unintentional and being “re-educated,” among other comedy had he thrown it instead of a things. penalty flag. I could make a joke there But it should come as no surprise that James McCarthy is the sports editor at NNSL Media. Reach him at sports@ but I do have standards, low as they a part-owner of a NBA franchise says nnsl.com may be, but even I can’t write what I he doesn’t care. His name is Chamath want to.

Palihapitiya and he owns a piece of the At least the octopus in Detroit has Golden State Warriors. He went on a a legend behind it. The person who first threw it figured the podcast called All In earlier this month and stated the followeight tentacles represented the eight wins needed to win the ing: Stanley Cup when the National Hockey League was still a “Nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs, OK? You bring it up because you care and I think it’s nice that six-team funfest. I don’t know what the legend behind this Buffalo incident is but then again, we are talking about Buffayou care. The rest of us don’t care. I’m just telling you a very hard, ugly truth. Of all the things that I care about, yes, it is below my line.”

You could hear others on the podcast audibly shocked at what Palihapitiya uttered and good on them for calling him out. It’s one thing to brush it off but this is an investor in the NBA, which has been cashing cheque after cheque from a country which treats democracy and freedom as punchlines.

Now, is Canada perfect? Far from it. We have our problems — and they are plentiful — but to say no one cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs and other ethnic Muslims in northwestern China is pathetic. The Warriors rushed out a cover-your-butt statement hours after Palihapitiya’s comments were made public, stating that Palihapitiya is “a limited investor who has no day-to-day operating functions with the Warriors” and “does not speak on behalf of our franchise.”

Palihapitiya tried to do his own PR by saying his comments came across as “lacking empathy” and that he believes human rights matter anywhere … full stop. Cool. Late, but cool.

For a league that values social justice, equality and tolerance as heavily as it says it does, it’s not a very good look for the NBA. Had this guy been a Trump supporter and uttered those words, he’d have been out on his ass by suppertime.

SPorts Talk

All hail the Buffalildo!

If you’ve ever been to Buffalo, you’ll know what I mean when I say the best part of the city is Niagara Falls because it means you aren’t in Buffalo anymore.

New York State’s version of Hamilton, Ont., was at it again during the wild-card game between the Bills and New England Patriots on Jan. 15, which the Bills won. But it was late

lo so it doesn’t have to make sense.

And finally …

Good Idea: Motivating your players.

Bad Idea: Kicking your players.

As much as some coaches want to, it’s not a good idea to give players a hoof in the ribs to try to get them to do what they need to do.

Such was the case earlier this month during a Junior Hockey League game in Russia. The JHL is the Russian version of the Canadian Hockey League. Vladimir Gromilin, the now-former coach of Sarmaty Orenburg, was trying to get his point across to Jegor Razumnjak while on the bench and to make sure the point was hammered home, Gromilin followed it up with a swift boot to Razumnjak’s hip.

The team frowned on that and terminated the coach’s contract afterward with immediate effect. Yeah, I can see the problem with that and while I’m sure the intentions were good, it’s never a wise idea to assault those under your employ.

Until next time, folks …