Nunavut News - March 14, 2022 Edition

ᐱᐅᒃᓴᙱᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓂ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᐃᐊᒻᐸᓯ ᐱᓇᖕᓇᕐᒥ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᒥ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒧᑦ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ; ᐊᔭᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᓂᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ, ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᓂ

101 new homes promised to six communities Volume 76 Issue 45

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 $.95 (plus GST)

Scathing call issued for improved treatment of Elders at Ottawa’s Embassy West Open letter to health minister sheds light on cultural incompetency; urges action beyond proposals, strategies

A rock and a hard place

Publication mail Contract #40012157

7

Curling Canada/Michael Burns photo

Aid coming to Clyde River amid state of emergency

New councillors in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet

71605 00200

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Legislative Assembly talks housing, budget, appointments, integrity

A2 Monday, March 14, 2022

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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) 873-4031 Ö±Ø ÇÔÍ›ùÀجü ÜÒïúªÄ«, Ç„·√∏≥î Ô‰íÇÕúòî ééËͬéî Çflˆ editor@nunavutnews.com.ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Ç„·√∏≥î ∂¬∂ĉÖͬü áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí.

News Briefs ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ $25,000–ᓂᒃ ᕇᑦ ᑯᕌᔅᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᔪᑯᕋᐃᓐᒥᐅᓄᑦ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ $25,000– ᓂᒃ ᕇᑦ ᑯᕌᔅᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᓇᑕᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᔪᑯᕋᐃᓐᒥᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᕋᓴᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᓕᖅᑐᓄᑦ. “ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᓂᑯᕕᖓᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᔪᑯᕋᐃᓐᒥᒃ ᔪᑯᕋᐃᓐᒥᐅᓂᒡᓗ ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕗᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᐲᔭᐃ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓇᒡᒐᔭᐅᒥ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᒋᐊᙵᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ 6–ᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᔪᑳᓐᒥᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᒍᑎᒋᔭᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓴᐳᒻᒥᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᓪᓗᒍ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᒧᑦ ᔭᔅᑕᓐ ᑐᕉᑑᒧᑦ. “ᕋᓴᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᖏᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᔪᑯᕋᐃᓐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᓕᒫᓄᑦ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓄᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕ`ᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᑦᓯᐊᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ. “ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᓂᒃ ᓯᖁᒥᑦᓯᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᒐᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᕋᓴᒥᐅᓄᑦ.”

Monday, March 14, 2022 A3

fact file

Nunavut Covid-19 situation as of March 11 Active (total) cases by community: Active cases: 401 Confirmed cases: 3,265 Recovered cases: 2,859 Deaths: 5 Vaccine uptake: 33,260 first doses/ 94 per cent 28,244 second doses/ 79 per cent 13,890 third doses/ 46 per cent

Arctic Bay: 2 (4) Arviat: 2 (136) Baker Lake: 8 (156) Cambridge Bay: 7 (146) Chesterfield Inlet: 1 (8) Clyde River: 5 (8) Coral Harbour: 5 (74) Iglulik: 12 (221) Iqaluit: 96 (652) Gjoa Haven: 42 (69) Kinngait: 3 (99)

Source: Government of Nunavut Department of Health

ᐋᑐᕚ ᓴᓂᕐᕙᐃᕗᑦ $45 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ 101ᓄᑦ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᓂ 6–ᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᒥᑦ ᕼᐊᓯᓐ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᖑᒐᔪᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᓄᑦ 12-ᖑᒐᔪᒃᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓇᒦᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ 101 ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ.

please see GN, page 14

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓘᔭᕐᓄᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᖅᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ

ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᑲᑎᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓘᔭᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓄᑦ ᒫᔾᔨ 7–ᒥ. ᐅᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᓂ ᐊᑯᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᑎᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓘᔭᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᒍᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒫᔾᔨ 4-ᒥ. ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑎᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒧᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒋᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑕᖅᑭᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ Omicron ᓯᐊᒻᒪᒃᑎᑲᑕᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ. “ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑎᓪᓗ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᐊᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᓗ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᐱᖓᔪᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᓯᔨᑦ. ᑲᒻᐸᓂ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ “ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᖃᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ” ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᒃ. please see Nunavummiut, page 11

ᓇᐃᐆᒥ ᑕᑎ ᐊᑦᓯᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᒍᓯᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓇᐃᐆᒥ ᑕᑎᒥᒃ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒡᓗ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᐃᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᐃᓄᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ. ᓂᕈᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒥᕐᒥ. ᑕᑎ, ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᓪᓗ, ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ “ᑕᖃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᔮᖏᖦᖢᓂ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᖏᖦᖢᓂᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᒌᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᖅᓴᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᖃᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᖏᑦᓯᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ,” ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᐃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔭᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓗᕕᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂᒡᓗ ᑐᖁᔪᖃᕌᖓᑦ. “ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᓯ ᐅᐱᒋᑦᓯᐊᕐᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᓯ,” ᑕᑎ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓯᒥᓂᒃ. ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᓇᐃᑎᐊᓐ ᓄᐊᑦᑯᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᓕᕆᔨᖏᓐᓂ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖁᔨᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᒥᖅᓱᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᖅᑭᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ. ᐃᒥᓕᐊ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᐃᓂ, ᓛᐸᑐᐊᒥ, ᐊᑦᓯᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐸᐅᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ. please see Naomi, page 11

Kugaaruk: 32 (101) Kugluktuk: 43 (65) Naujaat: 35 (90) Pangnirtung: 10 (77) Pond Inlet: 30 (93) Qikiqtarjuaq: 12 (39) Rankin Inlet: 51 (278) Resolute Bay: 0 (16) Sanrajak: 5 (77) Sanikiluaq: 0 (56) Taloyoak: 2 (104)

Ahmed Hussen, federal minister of housing says the usual turnaround time for Rapid Housing Initiative homes is 12 months, however, due to logistical challenges the 101 units being built across Nunavut may take longer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Andrew Vaughan

ᑭᒻᒥᕈᑦ, ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ, ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒪ ᓇᐅᔮᑦ, ᓴᓂᕋᔭᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ Northern News Services

ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ $45 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ 101–ᓂ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᓂ 6–ᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒫᔾᔨ 4–ᒥ. ᓄᑖᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᒻᒥᕈᑦ, ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ, ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒪ ᓇᐅᔮᑦ, ᓴᓂᕋᔭᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᔫᒥ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ Tundra Ridge ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓴᕋᐃᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐋᒥᑦ ᕼᐊᓯᓐ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑖᓂᐅᓪ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᓗᐊᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᓕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᖓ ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᓴᖑᒐᔪᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᓄᑦ 12-ᖑᒐᔪᒃᐳᖅ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕼᐊᓯᓐ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓇᒦᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕼᐊᓯᓐ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᖢᓂ ᑐᕌᓐᑐᒥ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ.

“ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᕗᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ 670–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᕘᓇ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ– ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ.” “ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓇᒍ ᓇᒥᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕚᓐᑎᐊᓪ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᖢᓂ ᐅᐃᓂᐱᐊᒡᒥ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᕆᕗᑦ $30 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ, ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᓪᓗᒍ $75 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓄᑦ. ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. “ᑕᐃᒪᑐᖅ ᐅᓇ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ. ‘ᐅᓇ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᑭᓖᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᖏᓐᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ 101–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ.” ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓇ ᓄᑖᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᓂᖓᓂ.

“ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓯᔪᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑖᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ 3,000–ᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ. ᒪᓕᒃᑐᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 4–ᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᙱᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ. “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᕝᕕᒋᔭᓐᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕆᐊᖃᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᐸᖕᒥᐅᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᓱᕐᕋᑰᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐊᑭᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓇᒍ ᓕᐳᕈᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 6 ᐊᓂᒍᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕐᓂᕐᒦᙱᓚᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ. ᒫᔾᔨ 8–ᒥ, ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ ᐊᑭᖓᓐᓂ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ, “ᐊᑭᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᓕᐊᓐᑲᓴᖕᓂ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᒥ. ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᖅᑐᐊᓗᒃ ᒫᓐᓇ. ᐊᒥᓱᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓯᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᒡᓗᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᒻᒪᕆᑯᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᕈᓯᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ.”

A4 Monday, March 14, 2022

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

Pairijait Tigummivik calls for better treatment of Embassy West residents ‘Currently the decisions made for Elders in the government are not adequate and need to be improved’: letter

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Pairijait Tigummivik, or the Iqaluit Elders Society – the former operators of the Iqaluit Elders Home, has published an open letter to Nunavut Health Minister John Main criticizing the treatment of Inuit Elders from Nunavut at Ottawa’s Embassy West, saying they have been padlocked in their rooms, given limited access to liquids other than water, unable to access country food and are

dealing with a staff who won’t even learn their names.

A recent increase of people from Nunavut spending more time at the facility prompted a probe into concerning observations brought to the society’s attention at its March 2 board meeting.

The letter lists off a number of concerns about Elders not receiving culturally appropriate care, such as some Embassy West staff calling men “ataataa” and women “anaanaa”, with family being told this is ‘simpler for staff because learning Inuit names is hard.’

The society is also reporting a lack of interpretive services.

Despite the Government of Nunavut’s assertion that there are

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐸᐃᕆᔭᐃᑦ ᑎᒍᒻᒥᕕᖕᒥ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᒥ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᒥ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᐃᐊᒻᐸᓯ ᐱᓇᖕᓇᕐᒥ ᐸᐃᕆᔭᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᒧᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᒧᓂ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᓵᔨᓄᑦ, ᐋᔩᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓂ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᐊᑎᖏᓐᓂ .

The Iqaluit Elders Society published an open letter calling for improvements in treatment of Nunavut Elders in Ottawa’s Embassy West Retirement Home, citing problems including access to interpreters, communication with families and staff who won’t learn their names. Pixabay photo

three interpreters at Embassy West, visitors often don’t find any around, particularly on night shifts and the weekends.

On the top of the list of concerns is Elders having a lack of an interpreter or companion when it comes to hospital visits when needing emergency or medical care, as well as being giving “childlike” sewing projects of paper and gluing stickers to people who in many cases have been lifelong seamstresses.

The board stated members have personally sent sealskins, patterns and sewing supplies to residents as an interim solution.

Visitors dropping off country food are also saying they are not confident Elders are receiving these packages. People from Pairijait Tigummivik who visit regularly are also being told they are volunteers for Embassy West or not to visit long, saying the new rules have been created by Nunavut Long Term Care.

Communication with families has also been a struggle, with the letter stating “during Covid families were told not to call as the nurses were too busy to operate the phone system” showing a lack of modernization. The board added “phone calls, face-time or other communications should be easy for every resident.”

“The (Nunavut) government is continuing its policy of sending people out to Ottawa who are living and dying there,” the letter, written by Pairijait Tigummivik president Aimo Mackpa and vice-president Annie Nattaq reads.

When families want residents to come back to Nunavut they are being told the government (of Nunavut) “is discouraging” and unhelpful.

“We hear that family are asked to sign papers that they will not ask for more medical services if they bring residents home,” the letter reads.

“Currently the decisions made for Elders in the government are not adequate and need to be improved. We count on you to be a voice for Elders who cannot speak for themselves. We are all growing old (and) cannot wait for proposals and strategies.

We ask you to listen now.”

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᕕᒃᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 11–ᒧᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ Northern News Services

ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19– ᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 11–ᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ, ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐃᑉᐹᓂ, ᒫᔾᔨ 8–ᒥ. ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐊᓂᒍᕌᖓᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ 6–ᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 11–ᒥ. ᐅᓇ ᒪᓕᖕᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖓ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᐊᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥ ᖃᓱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. “ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᐅᕙᓃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᐳᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓯᕗᖅ ᓅᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᓴᖑᑎᑦᑎᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐃᓚᓕᐅᔾᔨᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᑭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒐᔪᒃᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖓᓐᓂ.” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. “ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᒥ, ᓯᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᖃᓱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓱᒃᑲᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ–ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᑦᑎᓐᓂ.” ᒪᓕᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᖃᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᕕᒃᓴᐅᑕᐅᑎᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒫᔾᔨ 14–ᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᐱᖃᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᓱᓕ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖕᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 87 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓂ ᑲᐱᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥᒃ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᖢᓂᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖃᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ. “ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᓕᒫᓂᑦ, ᐃᓅᓕᓴᐅᑎᓂ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ. ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐹᑐᓴᓐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᖏᓐᓂ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑐᓵᔨᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓖᐱᑲ ᐃᑭᓪᓗᐊᕐᒥ ᖃᓪᓗᓇᐅᔭᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ. “(ᐹᑐᓴᓐ) ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓂᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ– ᑐᙵᕕᓕᖕᒥ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ. ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅ ᒫᔾᔨ 14–ᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒥ ᐱᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᔪᒥ.

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔨᐅᔪᓂ.

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok thanked the efforts of Dr. Patterson and the territory’s healthcare workers.

Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

ᒫᔾᔨ 28–ᖑᓕᖅᐸᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓱᒋᐊᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ. ᑕᐃᑲᓂᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᑭᕕᒃᓯᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ

ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᒥ–ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᖃᙱᒃᑯᑎᒃ.

www.NunavutNews.com

News North Nunavut

Monday, March 14, 2022 A5

Integrity commissioner will review acting deputy minister appointment Premier says situation occurred over five days in December 2021

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

A former premier and a minister of his cabinet demanded answers from Premier P.J. Akeeagok in the Legislative Assembly on March 7

regarding the appointment of an acting deputy minister that may have posed a conflict of interest.

Joe Savikataaq, now a regular MLA representing Arviat South, and George Hickes, MLA for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, repeatedly asked Akeeagok whether he appointed an acting deputy

“ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᔪᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᓕᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑕᐅᔪᒥ. ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒐᒪ ᐱᑕᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᓘᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔾᔪᑎᒋᓇᓱᐊᕐᓗᒍ, ᐱᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᓕᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐲᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ , ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ. ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᑐᓂᓯᒪᕙᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓱᓕᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒥᓴᓇᐅᔪᒧᑦ .

minister who resides in the same household as the minister responsible for a territorial government department.

“I was shocked to recently learn that a member of the household of the responsible minister was appointed as an acting deputy minister. Mr. Speaker, I was floored,” Hickes said. “I have never heard of that happening in any other jurisdiction and was quite taken aback on that practice being practised here in Nunavut.”

Hickes added that human resource policies are “very clear on reporting practices to avoid conflict of interest liabilities.”

Akeeagok said his office keeps a list of candidates who are capable and qualified to act as deputy ministers.

“We haven’t broken any policies or regulations,” he said.

Savikataaq followed up by asking the same question multiple times, but he too was met with a denial from Akeeagok that anything improper occurred.

“I’m having a tough time getting a straight answer out of the premier. This is a simple question,” said Savikataaq, asking it for the third time.

“I would like to confirm that I did not endorse the acting assignment in question. When I learned of the potential appearance of conflict of interest, I took steps to ensure that the acting assignment was retracted and another staff member assumed day-to-day responsibilities,” said Premier P.J. Akeeagok, at left in the foreground. The premier has referred the matter to the GN’s integrity commissioner. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Akeeagok replied, “I will look further into his concern. When we’re going to make appointments, we’re always looking at the policies to ensure there are no problems.”

The following day, the premier revealed that he will have the territorial government’s integrity commissioner review the appointment of the acting deputy minister in question.

Akeeagok said the situation occurred over five days in December 2021 — Dec. 16 to 20 — but he couldn’t discuss the individuals involved due to privacy issues.

“I would like to confirm that I did not endorse the acting assignment in question. When I learned of the potential appearance of conflict of interest, I took steps to ensure that the acting assignment was retracted and another staff member assumed day-to-day responsibilities on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021,” the premier said.

In addition to involving the integrity commissioner, “we will take immediate steps to eliminate any gaps in the policies around the deputy minister acting assignments that may have been in place.

“We have had this ambiguity for many years and I am very thankful for the work of my colleagues for bringing this to the Legislative Assembly’s attention,” said Akeeagok.

On March 8, Savikataaq probed some more about the fitness of Akeeagok’s selections among senior staff, asking whether the premier can confirm that all of his new appointments to the public service have successfully passed the screening requirements for designated positions of trust.

Akeeagok answered in the affirmative.

Paul Quassa and Ookalik Curley join Iqaluit city council Existing councillors choose two new colleagues from seven applicants

ᐅᑲᓕᖅ ᑰᓕ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐹᓪ ᖁᐊᓴ, ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒥ, ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᒫᔾᔨ 8 –ᒥ , ᐊᔾᔨᖃᖃᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᒪᐃᔭ ᑲᓂ ᐱᐅᓪᒥ .

Empowering Nunavummiut, while Serving Nunavummiut and Honouring Nunavummiut Customs and Laws.

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

Former Nunavut premier Paul Quassa and Ookalik Curley have been appointed to Iqaluit City Council following a vote among councillors on March 8.

Seven Iqalummiut put forward their names to fill two vacant seats.

“I think public-private partnership is a very good idea, we have a lot of corporations here right in our city. We have mining companies, if they want to be good corporate citizens, I think we can work with them,” said Quassa, who brings his political experience on the territorial level, as former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated as well as municipal experience while serving as Iglulik mayor for six years. He also was once the community’s senior administrative officer.

Quassa stepped down as Aggu MLA on Aug. 13, 2021. He was announced as a senior adviser to Baffinland Iron Mines in late October.

Curley, who was born in Iqaluit, is a longtime Government of Nunavut employee who worked for the municipality for more than eight years. She has served with the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal, the Labour Stan-

ᓴᙱᓂᖅᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ, ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐱᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖏᓪᓗ.

Ookalik Curley, left, along with Paul Quassa, right, were appointed to Iqaluit city council March 8, they are pictured with mayor Kenny Bell. Photo courtesy of the City of Iqaluit dards Board and the Tukisigiarvik Society, which aids residential school survivors and disadvantaged and marginalized individuals.

“Congratulations to Ookalik Curley and Paul Quassa on their appointment to City of Iqaluit Council,” Iqaluit Mayor Kenny Bell wrote on Twitter.

The new councillors will be sworn in during the next city council meeting on March 22.

They are filling seats left vacant by the departures of Janet Brewster and John Fawcett.

Lori Idlout, MP Nunavut Main Office – Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 Telephone: 1-866-267-7701 Email: lori.idlout@parl.gc.ca

ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓ ᑐᕌᖅᑕᕐᕕᒃ ᐅᕙᓃᑦᑐᖅ – ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ X0A 0H0 ᐅᖃᓘᑖ: 1-866-267-7701 ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᕈᑎᖓ: lori.idlout@parl.gc.ca

A6 Monday, March 14, 2022

News North Nunavut

www.NunavutNews.com

GN plans flight to Clyde River to aid community in state of emergency

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒥᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱᖕᒧᑦ ᖃᓱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓄᑦ ᐱᖅᓯᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᑦ ᐊᑐᒐᒃᓴᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᓱᕋᒃᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ .

The Government of Nunavut is sending a plane to Clyde River to bring relief as the community has struggled with numerous blizzards and heavy equipment that has been inoperable due to fuel issues and broken parts. Photo courtesy of Nikita Hainnu

Baffinland sends 32 drums of fuel to assist

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee is seeking support for Clyde River, which declared a state of local emergency on Feb. 10 after a series of blizzards and an inability to keep up with snow clearing due to malfunctioning heavy equipment.

In the Legislative Assembly on March 7, Minister of Community and Government Services David Joanasie replied that an airplane will be going to Clyde River to help, but didn’t specify what that assistance will entail.

Clyde River senior administrative officer Jerry Natanine later said the incoming flight will be carrying diesel fuel and it should arrive on the weekend.

Joanasie also mentioned that the territorial government has lent some equipment to the community.

“One of the things that we’re looking at is potentially modifying the existing fuel storage

in Clyde River to accommodate multiple fuel types,” Joanasie said of the lack of diesel storage in the community.

Clyde River has historically used jet A fuel for many of its needs.

Killiktee asked how the Department of Community and Government Services is working with the Municipal Training Organization to provide training and courses that will increase the capacity of smaller communities to maintain their equipment fleets.

Joanasie said there are opportunities for communities to be trained on operations and maintenance of their equipment fleets.

“If they need further supports in different areas, we’re happy to work with them in this manner,” he said, adding that the issue could be discussed directly with the hamlet when he’s able to visit, which could be as soon as the conclusion of this session of the Legislative Assembly.

Killiktee, who resides in Qikiqtarjuaq, said she’s been unable to get into Clyde River recently due to bad weather.

“I’m still planning to try to go up there with

RCMP lay a dozen sex charges against Iqaluit man

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Iqaluit

A 64-year-old Iqaluit man has been charged with 12 sex crimes, the RCMP announced on Friday afternoon.

Robert Sheaves is facing six counts of sexual assault and six counts of sexual interference following several police investigations relating to incidents between November 2021 and February 2022, allegedly involving girls under the age of 16.

Sheaves was arrested without incident after police searched his residence, with permission from a warrant. On Friday, a judge allowed his release under numerous conditions, including not to have contact with any of the alleged victims,

witnesses or anyone under 18 years of age; he must remain inside his residence from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.; not have anyone in his residence; and not leave Nunavut.

The Mounties noted that the investigations are ongoing and they believe there may be other potential victims. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Iqaluit RCMP at 9790123.

The RCMP’s Specialized Investigations Team (SIT) is conducting the investigations with assistance from the Iqaluit RCMP Detachment and its General Investigation Section, Major Crimes Unit and Digital Forensic Services.

“SIT would like to thank all of their community partners who assisted with the investigation and with keeping these girls safe,” the RCMP stated.

the minister of Community and Government Services at the same time,” she said.

Corporate aid In response to Clyde River’s declaration of a state of local emergency, Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation donated 32 drums of diesel fuel to the north Baffin community during the week of February 21.

“We reached out to the community to offer our support,” wrote Stuart Weinberg, manager of stakeholder relations at Baffinland.

“This is similar to what we have done, and what we will continue to do, when there is a need in north Baffin communities.”

– with files from Trevor Wright

Employees of Baffinland local to Clyde River unload diesel fuel given to the community by the company.

Photo courtesy of Baffinland Iron Mines

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑏᑦ ᐹᕙᓐᓛᓐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱᖕᒥ ᐅᓯᖐᔭᐃᕗᑦ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒃᑯᓐᓂ .

Woman dies in Pangnirtung after snowmobile crashes into parked vehicle

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

A 27-year-old woman died in Pangnirtung after the snowmobile she was operating collided with a parked vehicle at a high rate of speed on the afternoon of March 2, according to the RCMP following a preliminary investigation.

The woman was not wearing at helmet when the incident occurred at around 2:40 p.m., the police stated.

She was taken to the health centre, where she was pronounced deceased a short while later.

The woman’s identity was not revealed.

“Our thoughts are with the family and the community during this difficult time,” the Mounties stated.

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Monday, March 14, 2022 A7

GN takes steps to lift Covid public health emergency by April 11

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᒥᓂ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 –ᒥ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ .

Territorial health minister John Main said Nunavut has done its part to reduce the risk of Covid-19 over the past two years. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

“ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ -19 ᐅᕙᓃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᐳᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓯᕗᖅ ᓅᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖏᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ, ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ .

“Covid-19 is here to stay, and it is time to move away from life under public health measures,” says Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief public health officer. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Mask mandate will remain in many situations

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

The public health emergency caused by Covid-19 that has impacted the lives of Nunavummiut for more than two years could be over by April 11, the territory’s health minister, John Main, announced Tuesday, March 8.

Every two weeks for the next six weeks, the Government of Nunavut will continue to ease measures and restrictions in preparation to end the public health emergency by April 11. This is dependent on evidence that the health system will be able to manage Covid-

19 during each phase of eased restrictions, as it would any other condition.

“Covid-19 is here to stay, and it is time to move away from life under public health measures. These changes will allow the Government of Nunavut to shift resources to integrating Covid-19 response into the regular healthcare system.” said chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson. “As in the past, we will move forward with easing measures in a gradual and evidence-informed approach that will help reduce the risk of Covid-19 in our communities.”

There will continue to be a mandate for wearing masks in many situations.

The first phase is set to begin on March 14 with the exceptions of Kugaaruk and Gjoa Haven, where Covid-19 case counts are still considered to pose too great of a risk.

Patterson made note that 87 per cent of Nunavummiut over the age of five have had a chance to receive their two doses of vaccine, while speaking to how better prepared the territory is to deal with Covid infections than it was at the start of the pandemic.

“We have testing in all communities, we have treatments available in all communities,” said Patterson.

Premier P.J. Akeeagok thanked the efforts of Patterson and his team, along with interpreter

Ooleepika Ikkidluak, for keeping unilingual Nunavummiut informed during the pandemic. “(Patterson) has offered sound advice and an evidence-based approach to dealing with the Covid pandemic,” said Akeeagok.

As of Monday March 14, the GN will reduce its public reporting of Covid-19 case data to once per week.

Come March 28, the Government of Nunavut will be looking at easing measures once again in communities. During that same week they will be lifting the isolation requirements for those who are considered high-risk contacts if one does not have Covid-19 symptoms.

– with files from Trevor Wright

MLAs issue requests for updates to water infrastructure No dedicated funding for Iqaluit water crisis in CGS budget: minister

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

There’s no funding earmarked to address Iqaluit’s water crisis in the Department of Community and Government Service’s capital budget, which will be presented Tuesday, Minister David Joanasie said Monday.

Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Brewster pointed out that a long-term solution to the city’s water and sewage infrastructure needs is estimated at more than $100 million.

“It’s widely understood that our ability to grow as a capital and address such issues as the housing shortage is under threat by the constraints imposed by this infrastructure crisis,” said Brewster.

She asked Joanasie when his department will submit a request for federal financial assistance to bring an end to Iqaluit’s water woes once and for all.

The minister replied that the territory’s infrastructure deficit is widespread and other Nunavut communities also face boil water advisories periodically.

“We are working with the city (of Iqaluit) as well as other partners federally to try to address the city’s challenges around the aging infrastructure and we also have Rankin Inlet, for example, my colleague brought up and there are many others,” he said, adding that the City of Iqaluit receives $4 million in block funding as a tax-based municipality as well as a share of the federal gas tax fund.

Brewster asked when the GN will be releasing its proposed Drinking Water Strategic Framework, which was supposed to be ready in 20202021.

Joanasie noted that the study involves multiple departments and he wouldn’t commit to having it ready before the end of this sitting, “but at the earliest opportunity.”

Sanikiluaq, Rankin Inlet requests That same day, Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik reminded his colleagues that Sanikiluaq “has experienced serious issues with its drinking water supply for a number of years now.”

Joanasie explained that a new water treatment plant is required in Sanikiluaq and the project is in the planning stage.

“The community’s water infrastructure is not capable of treating the unique water quality situation and their water source. The treatment technology that’s being proposed there is for the new treatment plant to have reverse osmosis and this is due to the high salinity,” said Joanasie.

Qavvik noted that a 2019 GN report estimated the cost of a new water treatment plant at close to $8.8 million while it would cost a projected $32.5 million to instead obtain water from a new source that is eight kilometres from the community.

Joanasie said the government hasn’t yet decided which route it will go.

Also on March 7, Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok inquired about the status of a new water treatment plant for Rankin Inlet.

The minister responded that a business case for upgrades to Rankin Inlet’s aging water infrastructure should be complete by the end of this month.

“The capital funding which we will be requesting as CGS for Rankin Inlet may not be in the 2022-23 budget, but as the planning is near

ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓚᑰᓂᖓ ᓇᒦᕈᓘᔭᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᑦ ᓵᙵᕗᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒥ ᖃᓛᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓛᓐᓂᓚᐅᓱᖓᖅ. ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ - ᓯᓈ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᒥ ᔮᓂᑦ ᐳᕉᔅᑕᒧᑦ ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅᒥ .

Nunavut’s infrastructure deficit is widespread and other communities also face boil water advisories periodically, Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie said in response to questions from IqaluitSinaa MLA Janet Brewster on Monday. Photo courtesy of David Joanasie completion, requests for capital funding will be made for the water treatment facility in Rankin Inlet,” said Joanasie, who added that planning for a new wastewater treatment solution for the

community is almost complete as well.

Once the business cases are done, then “we will try to proceed with the funding applications and secure funding where we can,” he said.

A8 Monday, March 14, 2022

News North Nunavut

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ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᐱᐅᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᑯᓯᒪᓪᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓵᓗᖕᓂ

Northern News Services

ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᕆᔭᖓᓂ ᓴᓂᓕᕗᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᕙᙱᑕᖏᓐᓂ. ᐃᔨᕋᖅᑑᑕᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒐᓚᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓚᑰᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ–ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᒐᔪᒃᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓚᑰᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ, ᐱᔭᕇᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐅᒃᑐᐱᕆ 2020–ᒥ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᔪᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᒥ ᓱᓕᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓛᖑᔪᒥ 8–ᖏᖅᓱᖅᑐᒥ ᓱᒃᑲᐃᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒐᔪᖕᓂᖓᓂ. ᐅᓇ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᓱᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓪᓚᑲᐅᔭᕐᓂᐅᙱᓚᖅ. ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᑎᒍᑦ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᖃᖅᐸᖕᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᒥ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ. ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᓯᓲᖑᕗᑦ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᖕᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᓂᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ, ᖃᓄᖅ ᑎᑭᓴᐃᕙᖕᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᖁᑎᓂ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑲᐅᑎᒋᙱᑦᑐᓂ. ᓄᐊᑦᕕᐊᔅᑎᐅᓪ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ “ᐊᖏᐸᓗᒃᑐᒥ ᓴᖑᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥᒃ,” ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᑕᐅᑦᑎᒃᑯᑦ. ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖓᓂ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᕿᒥᕐᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᖓ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᖓᑦᑕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐊᖏᔪᒥ ᐱᐅᓯᒋᐊᕐᔪᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓱᓕ ᓱᒃᑲᐃᐸᓗᒃᐳᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᑐᕐᔪᐊᐸᓗᒃᖢᓂ.

SSi ᑲᓇᑕ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖃᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᕿᓂᕐᒥ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐆᒧᖓ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ $100 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ 2005–ᒥ. ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒥ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᐃᓱᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᒥ ᖃᖓᑦᑕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᖓᓄᑦ. ᐊᖏᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓱᓕ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓚᖅ, ᐅᑯᓄᖓᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᑏᓐ ᐳᕌᒃᑐᕐᒧᑦ. “ᓈᒻᒪᒃᐹ? ᐋᒃᑲ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐳᕌᒃᑐᕐ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᓱᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ.” ᐊᐃᑦᑖᖑᒐᓗᐊᖅ SSi–ᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓘᒻᒥ ᑭᐅᓯᑲᑕᒍᓐᓃᖅᑑᔮᖅᐳᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ fiber-optic ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᓐ, ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑭᑐᔪᕐᔪᐊᕌᓗᖕᓂ. ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᕙᐃᐸᒧᑦ ᑲᓱᕐᕕᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ 2018-‘19–ᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᑕᐅᓛᕐᓂᖓᓂ 2025-‘26–ᒥ ᓇᓚᐅᑦᑖᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ $209.5-ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑭᒋᓇᔭᖅᑕᖓᓂ. ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᖅᑐᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᓇᔭᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᑰᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᕿᑎᐊᓂ $150 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ

ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ $17.5 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᓐᓂ. ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐊᑭᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂ – ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᓯᒪᔭᖓᓂ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐊᙱᖦᖢᓂ – ᐲᖅᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᓂ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ (NIC) ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 1995–ᒥ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᐊᑐᖁᔭᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐃᓂᖅᑎᕆᓚᐅᕆᕗᑦ: “ᐊᑭᖓ ᐃᓯᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᕆᐊᖅᑐᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙲᓐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓵᙵᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ.” ᐊᐃᑦᑖᖑᒐᓗᐊᖅ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᓯᕗᒻᒧᑦ– ᐃᓱᒪᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓈᓚᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 27–ᖑᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂ. ᒫᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒥᐊᒃᑯᖓᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑭᐅᔪᓂᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᕋᓗᐊᕈᑎᒃ ᐆᒥᖓ fiber-optic ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ, ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

Connection isn’t an option

Sub-par internet services across the territory are being worked on, but should have seen investment decades ago Northern News Services

Internet connectivity is something our neighbours to the south take for granted.

It’s no secret that most infrastructure in the territory is seriously lacking — as highlighted in the oft-referenced Nunavut Infrastructure Gap Report, completed by Nunavut Tunngavik in October 2020.

One of the highlights in that report was the fact that Nunavummiut are accessing the internet at a fastest possible speed that’s eight times slower than the Canada-wide average.

This affects everything in our modern society, and that’s not an exaggeration.

The internet is how many of us communicate on a day-to-day basis. It’s how students complete remote coursework, how we do our jobs from home during lockdowns, how we order goods that aren’t otherwise readily available.

Northwestel confirmed to Kivalliq News that there have been “significant shifts in internet use as more people are working and studying from home,” with more devices connecting at once, which impacts customer experience.

Right now, the backbone of Nunavut’s internet services is based off satellite, which has improved in leaps and bounds over the past few years,

but is still relatively slow and prohibitively expensive.

SSi Canada, the parent company of Qiniq, is primarily responsible for this network, and it has invested more than $100 million in internet infrastructure in the territory since 2005. In January, the company raised data caps after increasing the network’s capacity by acquiring access to a dedicated satellite for Canada’s North. A great step, but still not enough, even in the eyes of chief development officer Dean Proctor.

“Is that enough? No,” said Proctor.

“But it’s much better than it was, and we’re still working to get more done.”

Unfortunately for SSi, the federal government appears to have stopped picking up the phone, with an apparent focus on fiber-optic projects, three of which are in talks and all of which come with impressive price tags.

The Department of Community and Government Services is responsible for managing the design and construction of the Government of Nunavut’s fiber link to southern Canada, approved in the 2018-‘19 fiscal year and expected to be completed in 2025-‘26 with a projected $209.5-million overall price tag.

At this point in time, the infrastructure would be completely owned by the GN, but the crux of the issue is the

gap between the $150 million provided by the Government of Canada and the $17.5 million GN has earmarked.

Any additional costs incurred – which MLA John Main has raised concerns over more than once – could take away from other much-needed programming.

The Nunavut Implementation Committee (NIC) stated in 1995 that a state-of-the-art electronic communications network was critical to Nunavut’s success, and urged that the network be built up as soon as possible as an investment in the territory’s future and ability to operate in what was already becoming a more digital world. Those recommendations fell on deaf ears.

NIC also warned: “The price of entrance into the electronic marketplace will be higher the longer the basic infrastructure remains absent, and the social and economic penalties of an inability to participate will be that much greater.”

It’s a shame those forward-thinkers weren’t listened to 27 years ago. Now Nunavummiut must make do with less than the rest of the country in this arena while bearing higher costs. Even if the GN can pull off this fiber-optic project, it will still take several more years of hoping you can get your email to send before the network drops after school.

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ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ/Iqaluit street talk at Joamie School with Scott MacDonald

ᔫᒪᐃᓐ ᓈᑕᓇᐃᓐ , ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 3 “ ᑎᓱᕋᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᒧᑦ ᐃᓯᖅᖢᓂ ᐆᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᑯᑯᒃᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ .”

ᑭᓱ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒋᓛᕆᕕᐅᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ?

What is your favourite thing about this time of the year? ᓂᕙᐃᔭ ᐳᕌᓐ , ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 3 “ ᑎᓱᕋᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓪᓗᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᔪᕋᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᐳᒻᒥ ᓴᓇᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᖃᖅᑲᓂ .”

Jermaine Natanine, Grade 3 “Going sledding and coming inside for hot chocolate.”

Nevaeh Braun, Grade 3 “Sliding and climbing snow mountains with my cousin.”

Monday, March 14, 2022 A9

ᑭᓕᐊᕋ ᒪᒃᑖᓄᑦ , ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 1 “ ᐊᖁᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᒍ ᓄᑲᑯᓗᒐ GT ᑯᑦ .”

Clare MacDonald, Grade 1 “Driving my snowmobile and pulling my little sister on a GT.” ᓂᑭ ᑕᐃᕕᑎ , ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 5 “ ᓯᑭᑑᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᑖᑕᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓪᓗᓐᓂᑦ ᓂᐊᖁᙴᒥ .”

Nikki Davidee, Grade 5 “Ski-Dooing with my dad and cousins in Apex.”

Helping hands from Kivalliq hunters Northern News Services

HALLU INUIT. HILA QANIINALIQMAN MAUJAINNAQ NUNAKPUT. QAUMAHAINNALIQMAN UPLANNUAMI. HIQINIQLU ALIANAHIJUQ. INUIN AUDLAALUGAKTUT TUKTUHIUKTUTLU, NANUQHIUTUTLU, UMINGMAKHIUKTUTLU QUANA. IPAKHANI INUIN TUKTUHANIKLU, UMINGMAKHANIKLU, MAKTAAQHANIKLLU AIKHIKPAKKAMIK QUANAA IILA. AKUIKTUKMATA KIVALIQMIT ANGUNIAQTIITKUNI. QUANA AMIHUMIK. INUIN NAAMAINNAQTUT IQALUKTUUTIAMI. NUTAQQATLU ILIHARIALIQMATA NAGUJUQ. ITQAUMAJAVUT TAPKUAT ILAIJAQHIMAJUN. NAAMAKPAKJAVUHI. Welcome to land of the Inuinnait, where the snow never stops blowing, making lots of ice fog and snow drifts everywhere.

The daylight hours are longer and this time of year there is many snow storms, blizzards and rabbits everywhere. Many residents continue to travel out on the land to harvest country food for their families and community.

Everyone was so excited on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 when the Ekaluktutiak Hunters & Trappers Organization (EHTO) received their shipment of country food to distribute to community members. The country food ordered from Kivalliq Foods in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut certainly put alot of happy

hearts and smiles in Cambridge Bay. It is part of food security program that has been on since this pandemic started couple of years ago. Caribou has been very scarce here in our area, so ordering from a different region/community is a good idea, especially for our Elders, those infirmed, and those who are unable to go hunting for their families.

We have been so fortunate to have such reliable HTO in our community who makes sure that residents are given country food. Quana to Kivalliq hunters for sharing your harvest to us in the Kitikmeot. We are very thankful.

Congratulations to all our polar bear hunters who harvested nanuit hunting with tags that were issued from our EHTO. Polar bear meat is welcome to many households and to our Elders. It is important that we look after our Elders who crave their country food from time to time and it is just at the right time during this difficult time of our lives up here.

Please continue to take care of your community members by keep hunting and fishing, and to teach the youth your traditional and cultural skills.

Welcome back to our in-residence Elders at the Kitikmeot Heritage Society who are back sewing and teaching. It is nice to see photographs and updates on what the society is up to. Quana to Angulalik, Pihoak, Panak, Pongok, Anakanerk, Navalik, Tigiklok, Tammy and Pam. The tea is always on at the centre or come and talk to a Grandmother. Stay well everyone.

God Be With You Son.

ᑐᙵᓱᕝᕕᖓᑕ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖃᕐᕕᖓ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ. ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ 35 –ᓂ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᑎᐊᕆᐅᒥ .

ᑎᐊᔅᒪᓐ ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ , ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 5 “ ᓯᑭᑑᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᖕᒫᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓚᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᔭᒃᑲᓗ .”

Dezmand Amagoalik, Grade 5 “Ski-Dooing and camping with my family and friends.”

ᑏᒐᓐ ᓛᕙᓖ , ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᒃ 1 “ ᖁᖅᓱᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᑭᑑᒃᑰᕐᓂᖅ ᑕᐅᓄᖓ ᖃᓕᕈᓯᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ .”

Teagan Lavallee, Grade 1 “Going on my yellow Ski-Doo down the big hill.”

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

ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᕐᔪᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᐃᒃᓯᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᒥᑭᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂᑦ. ᐅᓇ ᔫᓯᐱ ᕿᔪᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᕼᐊᐅᕗᑦ ᒍᕇᓐᓕ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᓴᐃᔪᑦ ᑐᒃᑐᒥ, ᐅᒥᖕᒪᖕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᑯᖅᑕᖅ ᕿᓚᓗᒐᐅᑉ ᒪᒃᑖᖓᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᑕᐅᕙᙵᓕᒫᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅ ᓂᕿᓂᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᖁᐊᓇ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑏᑦ! ᐅᓪᓗᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ! ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᓂᕿᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᓴᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ .

Residents were so excited to pick up country food at the local Ekaluktutiak Hunter’s & Trapper’s Organization.

Here is Joseph Keyok, left, and Howard Greenley distributing caribou, muskox and beluga maktaaq to residents of Cambridge Bay shipped all the way from Kivalliq Foods in Rankin Inlet. Quana Kivalliqmiut hunters! Made our day! All part of food security programs during the pandemic that Federal Government is distributing across Canada. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Tungasuvvingat celebrates over three decades of helping Ontario Inuit Ottawa-based organization reflects on 35 years of history

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Ottawa

Tungasuvvingat’s headquarters in Ottawa. The organization is celebrating 35 years of representing urban Inuit in Ontario. Photo courtesy of Tungasuvvingat

Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI) is celebrated 35 years of supporting Ontario Inuit, the organization announced March 10.

Since first setting up shop in Ottawa in 1987, Tungasuvvingat started off with a mandate to help provide community and recreational programs, assist families facing difficulties, helping with addictions and generally help Inuit adjust to the south.

“In reflecting on the 35th anniversary of Tungasuvvingat Inuit I think of how TI has grown alongside the community,” said Tungasuvvingat president Kaajuk Kablalik.

The group now offers more than 20 programs and services to urban Inuit in Ontario, has four building locations in Ottawa and

conducts satellite operations around the Greater Toronto Area.

While the organzation began with just a couple of employees in 1987, it now employs more than a hundred staff delivering services including Elders programming, child care, education and employment services.

To celebrate the occasion TI is hosting games and social media contests open to urban Inuit from March 14 to 18, with 35 prizes to be awarded throughout the week. There is also a community barbeque planned for sometime later this year.

“TI started out as a small group,” said Kablalik, “who saw a need and organized at the grassroots level. Our history shows our values in action. Inuuqatigiitsiarniq, tunnganarrniq, pijitsirniq and ikajuqtigiinniq. It’s our wisdom, passed down from the sivuliurtiit, that has sustained us since time immemorial.”

A10 Monday, March 14, 2022

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Ottawa allocates $45 million for 101 new homes Six communities to benefit: Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Pond Inlet, Naujaat, Sanirajak and Iqaluit

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᓗᐊᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᖁᓛᓂ ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑖᓂᐅᓪ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ, ᖁᓛᓂ–ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐋᒥᑦ ᕼᐊᓯᓐ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂ ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᒫᔾᔨ 4 –ᒥ .

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

The federal government is committing $45 million to build 101 new homes in six Nunavut communities through the Rapid Housing Initiative, it was announced March 4.

The new units will be built in Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Pond Inlet, Naujaat, Sanirajak and in Iqaluit’s Joamie Court and Tundra Ridge areas. Homes will be prioritized for vulnerable women and children, as well as those who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless Federal Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen, Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal and the territorial minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation Lorne Kusugak made the announcement.

In terms of when these new homes will be built, the usual turnaround time for Rapid Housing Initiative homes is 12 months, said Hussen. However, due to Nunavut’s logistical challenges it could be longer than that.

“These projects will do a lot of good,” said Hussen, speaking from Toronto, noting the benefits it will bring to families in particular. “These projects also built on our recent investments to support 670 homes and households in Nunavut through the Canada-Nunavut Housing Benefit.”

“Everyone in Canada deserves a place to call home, no matter where they live,” said Vandal, speaking virtually from Winnipeg.

The Nunavut Housing Corporation is also contributing $30 million, which will build the fund up for these houses up to a total of $75 million.

Kusugak thanked the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for its continued support for housing in the territory.

“We hope this funding signifies Canada’s continued support for Nunavummiut,” said Kusugak. ‘This new funding will help

Territoral Minister for the Nunavut Housing Corporation Lorne Kusugak, top-left, Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal, top-right, and federal Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen deliver news of additional funding for Nunavut housing on March 4. Vimeo screen capture cover or share the costs to provide 101 units.”

Kusugak added that the Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on construction projects in the territory, and this new funding will help overcome that.

“The Government of Nunavut intends to put these funds to good use during our construction season,” he said.

While the minister is happy to see new funding, Kusugak estimates Nunavut would need about 3,000 new houses to address the territory’s housing crisis.

Following the March 4 announcement, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout said the federal announcement doesn’t go far enough in addressing

the housing needs of Nunavummiut.

“People in my riding of Nunavut are often forced to live in overcrowded dilapidated houses because of a lack of supply and high cost of rent. Despite the Liberal’s promises to address this housing crisis, six years later and Nunavummiut are no better off,” said Idlout.

On March 8, Kusugak noted the high cost to build housing in the Legislative Assembly, “it costs almost a million dollars to build one unit. That’s too much now. Many of us have entered these housing that have tiny rooms and it costs a million dollars to build.”

GN continues to review housing allocation process Netsilik MLA says some communities are waiting too long for units “ ᐃᓛᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᕙᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᑖᓂᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᑦ ᐲᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂ ,” ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᓗᐊᓐ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᕈᓯᓕ`ᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ $1- ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᐊᑐᓂ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ 6– ᖑᔪᓂ - ᑲᑎᙵᔪᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᑦ .

“There are occasions where some communities wait a very long time for new allocations of housing, while other communities are always getting new housing,” Housing Minister Lorne Kusugak said, adding that one-bedroom units can now cost $1-million apiece to build as part of a six-plex. Government of Nunavut screen capture

By Derek Neary Northern News Services Nunavut

The way the Government of Nunavut manages housing remains under review, Lorne Kusugak, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, said in the Legislative Assembly on March 8.

Kusugak faced multiple questions about the territory’s housing crisis over the first couple of days of the legislature’s winter sitting, including from Netsilik MLA Inagayuk Quqqiaq.

Despite what he called an “urgent need” for more houses in Taloyoak and Kugaaruk, Quqqiaq said, “My constituents in Taloyoak were very disappointed to learn last year that the planned new units for the community had been delayed.”

Kusugak replied that last year’s delays were unfortunate but “for the summer, we don’t have any more delays. We have been informed that they are going to go ahead.”

Quqqiaq said he understands that the housing corp. doesn’t have unlimited resources and he recognizes the need to allocate new housing units fairly. However, he encouraged the minister to “take a look at the current point rating system that local housing organizations use to review applications in order to ensure that it is as fair as possible.”

Kusugak acknowledged that there has been a uneven distribution of new homes across the territory.

“There are occasions where some communities wait a very long time for new allocations of housing, while other communities are always getting new housing,” the minister said. “We have to keep reviewing it to see new allocations for Nunavut and how they are managed and how that management can be improved.”

The 5th Legislative Assembly did its own reviews of housing allocations and construction options.

Kusugak, who pitched the possibility to importing modular homes when he vied for the premiership during November’s leadership selection, also spoke to the ever-rising expense of building new residences. It can sometimes cost $1 million to construct a new unit, he said.

“That’s too much now. Many of us have entered these houses that have tiny rooms and it costs a million dollars to build. If it’s a six-plex, it can be $6 million for little one-bedroom units,” he said.

“We really need to take a look at how we deal with housing and where we want to go with that because, at that rate, we will never make housing affordable. We are taking a look at that — one of many things we are looking at in the housing envelope, and I look forward to tackling that issue with my colleagues.”

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ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 9 –ᒥ , ᐱᖓᓱᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂ ᑭᒻᒥᕉᑉ ᖃᖅᑲᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐆᒐᕋᓱᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐊᐅᓛᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᖅᑲᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒻᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ. ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓲᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕉᓴᒃᑯᑎᒃ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᓐᓂ. ᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᖃᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᕗᑦ: ᓲᕖᐊ ᓚᐃᑕ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᔪᐊᔾ ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓖᐊᒻ ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᖅ, Soaper ᑕᓯᖓᓃᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒻᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᒪᑮ ᐋᑲᕚᒃᒥ .

On Feb. 9, three students from Kimmirut’s Qaqqalik School enjoyed spending time out on the land cod fishing. This was part of a new Land Day Trip program offered by Qaqqalik’s Ilinniarvimmi Inuusiliriji. They are members of the school team who support students’ social and emotional well-being, particularly if students are dealing with struggles in their lives. Pictured are: Sophie Lyta, left, George Pitsiulak and Liam Pitsulak while out at Soaper Lake with Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit member Kamikee Akavak. Photo courtesy of the Department of Education

Cellular access in arena now

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet The new Agnico Eagle Arena finally offers cell reception inside the building, thanks to new cell boosters installed atop the structure.

David Clark, recreation director for the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, posted that the cell reception “will improve safety, enhance our community hosting large events like the Kivalliq Trade Show and so much more.”

He thanked the Kivalliq office of Economic Development and Transportation for supporting the project.

– Stewart Burnett

Nunavummiut to return to Baffinland’s iron mine

Qikiqtani Nunavummiut workers and contractors have begun to reintegrate at Baffinland’s Mary River iron mine as of March 7.

The return-to-work will be a phased-in process that will take several weeks, according to Baffinland, who announced the change March 4.

All returning staff will be double vaccinated against Covid-19, at a minimum, as are mine

employees who continued working over the past few months while Nunavummiut were sent home to keep communities safe as the Omicron variant posed a new threat.

“Many employees and contractors have also taken their booster shots, which are provided at site, and the company is strongly encouraging all of its personnel to get their third shot,” Baffinland stated.

The company added that it will maintain “rigorous” Covid-19 testing protocols.

“Throughout the pandemic, Baffinland, in regular consultation with infectious disease experts, has been applying rigorous controls at its operations which have proven to be very effective in reducing the spread of Covid-19,” said Brian Penney, Baffinland’s CEO. “As we learn to manage Covid-19 and Nunavut begins to open up again, we believe the time is right to bring our Nunavummiut employees back to site. They are valued members of our team whose presence significantly enhances our operation. We look forward to welcoming them back.”

Mary River is located 160 km south of Pond Inlet.

– Derek Neary

Monday, March 14, 2022 A11

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Inuit Circumpolar Council pauses meetings

Arctic Canada The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) announced on March 7 they have agreed to a request in a joint statement from various Arctic officials in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the United States, Norway and Iceland, calling for a temporary pause to all meetings of the Arctic Council. Russia holds the chair until May 2023.

In a statement by the ICC regarding recent political developments, they say they are “concerned about the future of the Arctic Council” having been based on peace and mutual respect.

The organization states, “Inuit are committed to the Arctic remaining a zone of peace,” and notes the Utqiagvik Declaration of 2018 as one of its most recent efforts toward this goal.

On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine.

Various nations, organizations and groups have reacted to the new circumstances, including this most recent joint statement by western Arctic Council member nations.

ICC is one of the original founding groups of the Arctic Council and has membership in Canada, Greenland, Russia’s Chukotka region and Alaska (United States), working to promote Inuit rights, protect and promote the Inuit way of life and safeguard the Arctic environment.

– Trevor Wright

Naomi Tatty named Inuk Woman of the Year

Iqaluit Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada has chosen Naomi Tatty, a community advocate and altruistic fundraiser from Iqaluit, as its Inuk Woman of the Year.

The selection, made by Pauktuutit’s board of directors, was announced on Friday afternoon.

Tatty, who is fluent in Inuktitut and English, was nominated because of her “tireless volunteer work assisting Inuit families in need across Canada and advocacy for Inuit culture and wellbeing,” Pauktuutit stated, adding that she’s also a strong advocate on the issue of tuberculosis in Inuit communities.

She’s come to the aid of many Nunavummiut by raising funds to cover the cost of travel and funeral expenses when a loved one dies.

“Always give a helping hand and treat people with respect,” Tatty urged others.

A customer service agent at Canadian North, she helps reinforce the Inuit culture by sharing her sewing skills and promoting Inuktitut.

Emelia Angnatok, a high school student and aspiring nurse from Nain, Labrador, was named Pauktuutit’s Young Inuk Woman of the Year.

Gerri Sharpe, interim president of Pauktuutit, said the annual awards celebrate the achievements of Inuit women and all of their contributions to communities and culture.

“The winners for this year have demonstrated strength, resilience, and compassion during an incredibly challenging year as our community continues to battle outbreaks of Covid-19. They inspire us and deserve to be recognized,” said Sharpe.

– Derek Neary

Pizzo-Lyall replaces Karlik

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet Rankin Inlet’s newest council member comes with some diverse political experience.

Megan Pizzo-Lyall will be replacing Gabriel Karlik, who resigned at the Feb. 14 council meeting, for the remainder of the term until October 2023.

Pizzo-Lyall was a former city councillor in Iqaluit and ran for the Liberal Party in the 2019 federal election, finishing second to the NDP’s Mumilaaq Qaqqaq.

“The team that’s there with council now, they’re doing great things, and I want to be part of that to be able to serve the community. I love Rankin,” said Pizzo-Lyall, manager of operations at Atuqtuarvik Corporation.

Following Karlik’s resignation, council decided to appoint a replacement and solicited candidates. Four emerged, with Pizzo-Lyall edging out Patrick Tagoona, Bernard Krako and Simon Okpatauyak in council’s vote at the Feb. 28 meeting.

Pizzo-Lyall said she wants to help advance capital projects and infrastructure needs in the community, such as the water system, as well as strengthening relationships with other organizations and businesses.

In Iqaluit, Pizzo-Lyall was proud to help work towards eliminating the city’s deficit while maintaining services. She found campaigning for the MP role an entirely different experience from being on council, with the challenge being to reach people in every community.

“Something that stuck out from that experience was that no matter what party you’re running in, or what you’re representing, at the end of the day, we all want to make Nunavut a better place,” said Pizzo-Lyall. “And at the end of the day, that’s what everyone on council is there to do.”

– Stewart Burnett

A12 Monday, March 14, 2022

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Bridging gaps between communities

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 1 ᐊᒻᒪ 2 −ᒥ .

The Kivalliq Inuit Association’s board of directors meet in Rankin Inlet March 1 and 2. Stewart Burnett/NNSL Photo

KIA board meeting talks hydro-fibre link, land use plan

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

With loosening restrictions, the Kivalliq Inuit Association’s board of directors got to meet in person again March 1 and 2 in Rankin Inlet, the first time since August 2021 in Naujaat.

On the agenda were board and department reports, appointments and discussion of KIA’s Legacy Fund – monies stored away for the future – but what stole the show as expected for the organization was the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project.

President Kono Tattuinee called it a nation-building investment, and was “out of words” when it appeared on the federal budget last spring.

“That’s a big one for us,” he said after the meeting.

The Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link would be a 230kV electric

transmission system extending from Manitoba into the Kivalliq, delivering reliable renewable energy and broadband internet service.

KIA is working with consultants and staff on the project daily, and some of the work now is negotiating with the Dene and Cree nations in Northern Manitoba about the fibre link passing through their land.

“We have to go through their territory, so we’re still working on baseline studies and making sure we have MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) made up so we can understand each other a little more,” said Tattuinee.

As health regulations ease and gatherings are more freely permitted, KIA also aims to tour the communities to discuss the Nunavut Land Use Plan.

“We have a lot on the go,” said Tattuinee.

He hopes to see the board meet two or three more times this year.

ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨ ᒐᐃ ᐃᓄᐊᐱᒃ ᓈᓚᒃᐳᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒫᔾᔨ 2 −ᒥ .

Whale Cove director Guy Enuapik listens during the Kivalliq Inuit Association board meeting March 2. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᑯᓄ ᑕᑦᑐᐃᓂ, ᑕᐃᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐃᒪᕐᒧᑦ−ᕙᐃᐸᒧᑦ ᑲᓱᕐᕕᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ ‘ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ - ᐱᕈᖅᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ’ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐸᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂ .

Kivalliq Inuit Association president Kono Tattuinee called the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project a ‘nation-building investment’ and was beyond words when it appeared in the most recent federal budget. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᕼᐃᓕᓇ ᒪᓕᑭ, ᓇᐅᔮᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨ, ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅ .

Helena Maliki, Naujaat director, takes in the board meeting. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

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ᑯᕆᔅᑏᓐ ᓈᑕᓇᐃᓐ KINDLY SPONSORED BY

INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

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, sponsored by NCC Investment Group Inc., visit www.nccig.ca today.

Submit your story and photo to our Nunavut News Facebook page, or by email to editor@nunavutnews.com.

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 reactions by noon each Thursday wins.

This week’s winner is Tim Nuqingaq. Congratulations!

ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱᒃ ᐊᕙᓗᐊᕈᑕᑦᑎᐊᕙᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱ ᖕᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᒫᔾᔨ 1, 2022 –ᒥ .

Monday, March 14, 2022 A13

ᒍᕋᒡ ᓴᑐᓚᓐ

ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ , ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 28, 2022.

Christine Natanine

Clyde River Nice sun dog in Clyde River taken on March 1.

ᑎᒻ ᓄᑭᙵᖅ

ᕿᑭᖅᑕᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᓐᓄᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᒃᑐᓕᐊᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ ᒥ , ᐃᑲᕐᕋᐸᓗᑦ 6–ᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᕐᔪᐊ ᕐᒥ .

ᕼᐊᓚᓐ ᓯᒃᑯᐊᖅ ᓂᑉᑕᔪᒃ

ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ ᐅᓇ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᒫᔾᔨ 3, 2022 –ᒥ ᑰᒑᕐᔪᒃ ᑰᖓᓂ .

Winner: Tim Nuqingaq

Qikiqtarjuaq Photo taken using night mode when we were caribou hunting in February, about six hours away from Qikiqtarjuaq.

Greg Sutherland

Taloyoak Here are the aqsarniit taken near Taloyoak, February 28, 2022.

ᐊᐃᕝᒐᒃ ᐲᑐᓴᓐ

ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊ ᕐᒥ ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑕ ᓱᕋᒃᓴᕋᐃᙱᑦᑐᒥ 1986 Indy Trail 488 –ᒥ . ᑕᖅᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐅᓐᓄᖓᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᐃᑦ !

Aivgak Pedersen

Helen Sikkuark Niptayok

Kugaaruk This was taken March 3, 2022 on Kugaaruk River.

Cambridge Bay Traveling from Cambridge Bay to Kugluktuk with old reliable 1986 Indy Trail 488. No moonlight this night but the northern lights were great!

A14 Monday, March 14, 2022

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Legislative Assembly briefs with Derek Neary

Community and Government Services $58.2-million capital budget approved Northern News Services

The Department of Community and Government Services’ (CGS) capital budget for 2022-‘23 rings in at $58.2 million and includes $17.2 million to continue with the design and construction of an undersea fibre link between Iqaluit and southern Canada.

Other major expenditures built into the budget are: • $10.5 million for water and wastewater treatment facility projects in Arviat, Baker Lake, Kugluktuk, and Rankin Inlet; • $5.5 million ongoing annual block funding for non-tax-based municipalities towards the Municipal Mobile Equipment Program; • $4.5 million to begin construction of a new hamlet office in Sanikiluaq; • $4 million for Iqaluit towards infrastructure improvements in water, wastewater, roads and general operations — marking the final year of a five-year block funding agreement with the city; • $2 million in municipal capital block funding for non-tax-based municipalities to plan and manage their capital upgrades and improvements; • $2 million to launch a Municipal Parking Garage Program; • $1 million to implement year four of the Municipal Green Infrastructure Fund that was introduced in 2019.

An anticipated $30 million in capital funding towards the design and construction of a new tank farm in Arviat has been postponed by a year because the community needs more time to determine an appropriate site, according to CGS Minister David Joanasie.

The undersea fibre link project, with a projected $209.5-million overall price tag, elicited many questions and much discussion.

As it stands, the initiative would be owned and controlled solely by the Government of Nunavut. MLAs asked about the possibility of partnering with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, which wrote a letter to the GN broaching the prospect, or with a private entity like CanArctic.

“At this time we are proceeding with this project and anticipate that if there are any partnership opportunities with Inuit organizations or other interested parties, it will be on this project that we’re presenting here today,” Joanasie said, refusing to provide details on the route or terminus point of the link in southern Canada, only saying that it’s “undersea.”

The project is expected to be complete in 2025.

The minister also explained why the CGS capital budget has risen drastically compared to last year.

“We are seeing a huge increase to our capital spending for this department and, as was noted by the standing committee’s opening comments, by over 119 percent. We are trying to progress on our capital needs, from the planning through to construction and completion,” said Joanasie.

GN pledges $25,000 to Red Cross to assist Ukraine

The Government of Nunavut is donating $25,000 to the Red Cross to help war-ravaged Ukrainians, who have been under attack by Russia for nearly two weeks.

ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ $30 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᐊᑭᑐᔫᑎᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖃᐅᑎᓄᑦ ᖃᑦᑖᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ .

An anticipated $30 million in capital funding towards the design and construction of a new tank farm in Arviat has been postponed by a year because the community needs more time to determine an appropriate site, according to CGS Minister David Joanasie. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo “Nunavut stands with the people of Ukraine and Ukrainians lative Assembly on March 9.

“This is the largest number of units that we have done in a around the world,” Premier P.J. Akeeagok said on March 7, the single year since we began these extensive remediation efforts first day of the first sitting of the Sixth Legislative Assembly.

Akeeagok said he and the premiers of the Northwest Territories in 2016,” he said.

If that target is reached, it will represent a 33 per cent increase and Yukon have expressed their concerns over Arctic defence and in the number of remediated units. Since 2016, the housing corp. security to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine is a threat has serviced 152 units in 14 communities for mould. to global security, the stability of Arctic communities and the “These remediation programs represent considerable effort continuity of Arctic cooperation,” said Akeeagok. “Nunavut to work more efficiently to cut costs and move more quickly,” condemns this unjustified violation of international law and said Kusugak. “Still, prevention remains the cheaper and better supports the strong sanctions Canada has imposed on Russia.” solution. If caught early, the most common mould problems – Trevor Wright can be solved by washing with soap and water… that is why I call on public housing tenants to help us stop mould right in its tracks. Anyone who sees mould in their public housing unit Mould clean-up target set for 2022-‘23 should contact their local housing organization and discuss the The Nunavut Housing Corporation is planning to clean up options available to remediate the issue.” the mould in 52 housing units in 11 communities in 2022-‘23, Minister Lorne Kusugak informed his colleagues in the Legis-

Concern over staff housing in Pond Inlet

Pond Inlet has 183 territorial government positions but more than 70 of them — or close to 40 per cent — are vacant.

This led to Tununiq MLA Karen Nutarak asking on March 9 why some of the advertised GN jobs come with staff housing while others do not.

Human Resources Minister Adam Lightstone replied in the Legislative Assembly that “the issue of staff housing is highly correlated to the overall housing crisis that we have in the territory … we have a very limited amount of staff housing units which are available and move-in ready.”

With such an acute shortage of staff residences, the Staff Housing Allocation Committee has, over the past few months, only been making staff housing available for positions related to public safety, Lightstone explained.

Nutarak followed up by stating that there are concerns in her community over staff housing units having remained vacant for extended periods of time. She asked Lightstone to provide details on that front.

He responded that there are currently eight staff housing units that are available and move-in ready, and those have been allocated to specific GN staff positions that are in the process of being filled.

There are also four housing units in Pond Inlet that require some renovations, he added.

Nutarak pointed out that Pond Inlet is a decentralized community with dozens of vacant GN jobs. She asked which department is responsible for deciding where new staff housing units are constructed.

Lightstone said the Nunavut Housing Corporation makes those decisions.

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Sports & Recreation

Monday, March 14, 2022 A15

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

Nunavut takes on the Brier Curling Feature with Michael Burns Lethbridge, Alta.

The 2022 Tim Hortons Brier is over for another year and Nunavut was once again part of the show.

Peter Mackey and his rink of Mark Pillsworth, Jeff Nadeau, Greg Howard and Peter

ᔭᕝ ᓇᑑ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐲᑕ ᒪᑲᐃ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᒌᒃᐳᑦ ᐃᒋᑦᑎᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ .

Jeff Nadeau, left and Peter Mackey talk things over in between shots. Curling Canada/Michael Burns photo

Van Strien out of the Iqaluit Curling Club had eight games of pool play at this year’s event in Lethbridge, Alta., but weren’t able to find the win column in any of them. It included a loss to Jamie Koe and the NWT in their final pool game on March 10.

Here’s some of the action from the ice in Lethbridge.

– text by James McCarthy

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑎᒻ ᕼᐅᐊᑎᓐᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᕆᔭᖓ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᔪᒥ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ, ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐲᑕ ᒪᑲᐃ, ᒫᒃ ᐱᐅᓪᔅᕘᑦ, ᔭᕝ ᓇᑑ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒍᕋᒡ ᕼᐊᐅᕗᑦ. ᑐᓄᐊᓂ ᐲᑕ ᕚᓐ ᔅᑐᕇᐊᓐ .

ᐲᑕ ᒪᑲᐃ ᖁᙱᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᑭᓕᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑯᐸᐃᖕᒧᑦ .

Peter Mackey watches the line during action versus Quebec. Curling Canada/Michael Burns photo

Team Nunavut at the Tim Hortons Brier this year consisted of, front row from left, Peter Mackey, Mark Pillsworth, Jeff Nadeau and Greg Howard. In back is Peter Van Strien. Curling Canada/Michael Burns photo

Brittney Griner is in some kind of trouble and may not be out of it fast enough Northern News Services

shocked if Russia decides to dangle Griner like a carrot with “Hey, look! We have one of your star female players! Be a shame if anything happened to her.” And don’t expect Griner to be simply freed as a gesture of goodwill because diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Russia are about as good as a mongoose negotiating with a python for its life.

With all that’s going on with Russia, it should be noted that not many people are willing to do business with the country … except if you play professional basketball.

Several players in the WNBA have made the trip overseas during the winter months to play and one of those places is Russia.

That’s where you’ll Requiem for a spinner find Brittney Griner, If I mentioned the who has played with name Shane Warne, James McCarthy is the sports editor UMMC Ekaterinburg you’d wonder who at NNSL Media. Reach him at sports@ since 2015. When he was and was he nnsl.com she’s not in Russia, someone who once she’s been the centre played in the National for the Phoenix MerHockey League? The answer is no. cury. But Griner is in hot water — allegedly No, Shane Warne is considered to be one of — after she was detained by authorities in the greatest cricket players to ever grace the Russia following what’s being labeled as a pitch. The Australian legend died on vacadrug bust.

Russia’s Federal Customs Service released tion in Thailand on March 4 through natural a video late last month of someone who looks causes, according to the official autopsy. The like Griner going through airport security and outpouring of emotion and memories was inputting her bags through the X-ray machine. stantaneous with players, commentators and The video then shows someone taking somefans all paying tribute to a man who brought thing out of what’s alleged to be Griner’s back the leg-spin bowl. If you’ve never seen bag and inspecting it. Russian authorities are a leg-spinner do their thing, go watch videos alleging that the stuff in question were vape of Warne and see what he could do with a cricket ball. Amazing stuff, especially considcartridges that contained oil derived from cannabis. ering leg-spinners were as good as obsolete Now, if you’ve ever travelled, you’ll know when fast bowlers became more popular in many countries don’t think highly of people the 1970s and 1980s. importing narcotics across its borders and During his career, Warne took 708 wickets reports are that there is now an investigation (outs) in 145 test matches, second-most of all into “large-scale transportation of drugs” time. A test match is held across as many as and Griner is facing up to 10 years in prison. five days and games go until everyone is out What makes this doubly tricky is that Griner with two innings played. Some of his wickets is a gay woman and we all know how Russia were mind-boggling, such as his bowling out takes a rather dim view toward gay people. of England’s Mike Gatting in 1993, one that Here’s what I think: Russia is looking for was called the Ball of the Century, but my something — anything — to gain leverage personal favourite was the one he delivered to on the sanctions front with the U.S. Don’t be Saeed Anwar of Pakistan during a test match

SPorts Talk

Seattle Storm –ᑯᑦ ᐃᐱᕕᓂ ᐳᕆᓐᔅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓯ ᒪᒡᐱᒍᕐ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᐳᑦ Phoenix Mercury – ᑯᑦ ᐳᕆᑦ ᒍᕋᐃᓄᒥ ᐊᖅᓴᒧᑦ ᒪᕐᕈᖓᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐲᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ Angel of the Winds ᐊᓐᓂᑭᑕᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ. ᒍᕋᐃᓄᕐ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᕋᓴᒥ ᐸᓯᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓱᓐᓂᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᓇᒃᓴᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓂᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ .

Seattle Storm’s Epiphanny Prince and Ezi Magbegor fight Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner for the ball during the second round single elimination playoff game at Angel of the Winds Arena last September.

Griner is being held by authorities in Russia on alleged drug importation and it won’t be easy to get her out. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)

and a similar one to Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies. Both kicked back several feet toward the wicket and both took out legstump.

Warne’s family accepted the offer of a state funeral from Dan Andrews, premier of the state of Victoria, and I’m sure it will be one of the biggest funerals in the country’s history. He’s earned it. Rest well, Warnie.

And finally …

Ivan Kuliak is a prat.

Kuliak wore the letter Z on the podium at the Gymnastics World Cup event in Qatar

earlier this month. The letter Z has become the official symbol used by the Russians as they continue to romp through Ukraine like the goons they are. What’s worse is he did so beside a Ukranian, Illia Kovtun, who won gold in the parallel bars apparatus. Kuliak was unrepentant, saying afterward that he would do it again if given the chance.

The good idea would be to pretzel Kuliak to a set of parallel bars but the bad idea is he would probably find a way out. In any event, Ivan Kuliak, and anyone who thinks like him, sucks.

Until next time, folks …

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Team Yamal responds to Arctic Winter Games suspension Assistant chef de mission says team ‘understands’ decision of AWG International Committee to suspend Yamal over Russia’s actions in Ukraine

ᔭᒫᓪᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᒥᒃᕼᐊᐃᔪᓪ ᑯᔅᕼᐃᒃᓂᑳᕝ ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓂ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ 6 ᑭᓛᒥᑐᒥ ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᑯᑖᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ 2018 –ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᕼᐊᐃ ᕆᕗᕐᒥ ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᑯᑖᓕᖕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐊᓂ. ᔮᓇ ᕗᕈᑉᓕᔅᑲᔭ, ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᔭᒫᓪᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖓ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑏᑦ ” ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᕗᑦ ” ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ .

Yamal’s Mikhail Kozheknikov takes aim at a target during the junior male 6-km biathlon sprint at the 2018 Arctic Winter Games at the Hay River Ski Club. Yana Vrublevskaya, Team Yamal’s assistant chef de mission, said the team “understands” why the decision was made to suspend the Russian contingent from the Games. NNSL file photo

By James McCarthy Northern News Services

With the Arctic Winter Games International Committee suspending Team Yamal from all activities earlier this month, the future of the Russian delegation’s participation is still uncertain.

The Games’ international committee officially barred Yamal from the AWG program on March 1 with immediate effect, citing the “attacks unfolding in Ukraine.”

The suspension was announced through a press release issued by Moira Lassen, the international committee’s operations co-ordinator.

“The Arctic Winter Games International Committee is deeply concerned regarding the ongoing events in Ukraine and the grave impacts on human life,” stated John Flynn, president of the international committee.

“We join our global partners in calling for peace.”

The news release did not make clear how long the suspension would last, but presently it means that Yamal will not be part of the 2023 AWG in Fort McMurray, Alta., in January. There was also no indication as to the status of Yamal’s scheduled hosting of the AWG in 2026 after the international committee awarded it to the Russian region in fall 2020.

Lassen said the international committee was unable to comment on either the timeline or the status of Ya-

mal’s hosting.

Nunavut News reached out to Yana Vrublevskaya, Team Yamal’s assistant chef de mission, more than a week ago and she replied to questions in an e-mail on Thursday morning.

“Team Yamal does understand the decision of the (international committee),” she said when asked about the team’s official position on the suspension. “We sincerely hope the current international situation will be settled and relations between our countries will be restored.”

Yamal has been a part of the AWG since 2004 and has competed in events such as as figure skating, biathlon and Arctic sports over that time.

Vrublevskaya said the team has made plenty of friends with every jurisdiction and is hopeful those friendships can continue.

“We shared our experience and learnt a lot from each other,” she wrote. “We are open for further cooperation with the (international committee) and the AWG contingents. We believe we are still united in our intentions to develop sport in the remote northern communities, to encourage healthy way of living among the youth and to save the heritage of Indigenous peoples of the Arctic.”

Vrublevskaya did not directly address the question about the future of Yamal’s scheduled hosting of the AWG in 2026, nor did she mention the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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