Nunavut News, April 27 edition

ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅᑕᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ, ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖃᙱᓚᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ

No sign of Covid in mine With rapid, on-site testing at Meliadine mine near Rankin Inlet, there have been no confirmed cases of disease

MONDAY, April 27, 2020

Volume 74 Issue 51

Kugluktuk gambling circle busted

$.95 (plus GST)

Communities get GN funding for Covid expenses Share your story

Lending a helping hand

Bruce Valpy Publisher and CEO of Northern News Services.

ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ/ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 75– ᖑᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ, ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐃᕙᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᓂ ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᒥ ᑲᓇᖕᓇᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ, ᕗᐊᑦ ᓕᐋᑦᒧᑦ ᓂᒋᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᖕᓇᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᕿᑎᐊᓃᑦᑐᓂ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ 1996–ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᕋᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓅᓂᖓᓂ 1999–ᒥ. ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᖃᕐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒌᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᐳᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᖃᑲᑕᖕᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑦ/ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖃᑲᑕᖕᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ. ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᒥ, ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᓂᕐᓂᒃᓴᒥ, ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᒍᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓂᑦ, ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᒍᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒥ. ᒫᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᒍᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂ. ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᔅᓯᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᓗᑎᑦ $25–ᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓛᖑᔪᒧᑦ.

News/North began 75 years ago next month when the Northwest Territories and Nunavut were one. Back then, the newspaper printed stories from Grise Fiord in the Northeast Arctic, to Fort Liard in the Southwest forest and points in between. Nunavut News was born in 1996 and documented the birth of Nunavut in 1999. In this time of Covid-19, the news of the two territories comes together again. Nunavut News will carry news from Northwest Territories, NWT News/North will carry news of Nunavut. We share the land, we share the air, we share the animals, we share the water. Now we share the news. Tell us your news and win $25 for the best story.

photo courtesy of Nicky Adam Ivalutanar

Publication mail Contract #40012157

7

71605 00200

2

"I'm not pretending this is covering off all issues in the North ... if we can help some more, we will," – Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal addresses concerns of financial assistance in the North during Covid, page 8.

2 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

communities

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Did we get it wrong?

News/North is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in News/North, call (867) 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email editorial@ nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

News Briefs

Most public health warnings issued in Beaufort Delta

Together from a distance in Deline

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 3

NWT A total of 74 warnings have been issued by public health officials in the NWT, 52 of them in the Beaufort Delta and just nine in the North Slave region.

Data released by Mike Westwick, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services, indicates a total of 391 investigations into Covid-19 related public health orders have been conducted territory-wide.

The North Slave saw the most investigations with 186, but only nine were verbal warnings.

No written warnings have been issued there. By contrast, 84 investigations have taken place in the Beaufort Delta, leading to 52 verbal warnings.

Only one written warning has been issued, in the Sahtu, where 18 investigations have taken place. Six verbal warnings have been issued there. The 16 investigations conducted in the Deh Cho yielded no warnings, while in the South Slave, six verbal warnings were issued after 87 investigations were conducted.

Westwick's data indicated 2,653 people were in self-isolation across the NWT's seven healthcare regions as of April 22, including 1,459 in Yellowknife. That number also includes 330 people self-isolating outside the territory.

A total of 65 calls were received by the 8-1-1 Covid-19 information hotline between April 15 and 21. Just one of the calls was made to register a complaint.

– Craig Gilbert

Youth charged with sharing intimate images, extortion NWT A young person who can't be named is charged with a number of serious crimes.

The RCMP is not releasing the area of jurisdiction to prevent possible identification of the youth charged April 18 with distribution of intimate images without consent, extortion, assault, voyeurism and uttering threats.

The Northwest Territories RCMP Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) laid the charges.

"We want to bring these charges to the public's attention, to show that our unit can, and will, thoroughly investigate this type of file," Cpl. Sandi Nischk said in a news release.

"We hope that these charges will both prevent this type of crime and provide hope to those who have been victims, that there may be justice."

– Craig Gilbert

Covid changes to rent support program NWT The GNWT's Transitional Rent Supplement Program (TRSP) has undergone changes to make the program "more responsive and accessible to NWT residents," according to an April 23 news release.

"There are families that are struggling to pay their rent," Paulie Chinna, minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, said in the release.

"We need to continue to take steps to support vulnerable residents maintain housing stability."

The TRSP provides rent supplement to residents renting in the private market. If residents have low-to-modest income and their shelter costs are unaffordable, they may be eligible for assistance under the program.

Among the charges are the removal of requirements to be arrears-free or to take a financial counselling course in order to apply.

The benefit will be worth between $100 and $500 per month.

Call 1-844-698-4463 (1-844-NWT-HOME) for more information.

– Craig Gilbert

photo courtesy of Tim Tutcho

The sun shines through the top of a teepee in Deline. The pandemic has provided an opportunity for some residents to reconnect with traditional practices.

Some residents look to reconnect with customs, according to Leeroy Andre

by Nick Pearce

Northern News Services

Deline

Spare time spent social distancing may have an upside for Deline residents looking to reconnect with their traditions.

For them, the pandemic has offered an opportunity to return to traditions and customs while staying home from work, according to Leeroy Andre, who holds the title ?ek'wahtıd in the community. It means "highest honest leader" in the Deline Got'ine dialect.

"We've lost base with our traditional upbringings, which in the old days was taught to a lot of us by our grandparents and our parents. Our language, our way of life, and life on the land," Andre said.

"I think now's a great time to (bring) that back to our kids, especially when they're not in school."

He suggested this was a time to learn traditional skills and find new ways to teach them while socially distancing. Personally, he's taken to teaching his granddaughter his language with the newfound spare time.

"What a great opportunity," he said.

"You (used to) come home from work, dead

tired, have food, watch a movie and then you go to bed. Now you have all day. We never had that before."

Other elements require more tact, however. On Friday morning, for example, he was considering how the community could complete a fire feeding ceremony without putting any members at risk.

There were a few options. For one, drummers could stand two meters apart, and Elders could also have their offerings delivered instead of going in person, he said.

In other cases, he hopes to encourage Elders to pick up traditional tools again, including making snowshoes and drums, while passing those skills onto future generations.

Alternatively, he said, time could also be spent ice fishing or going on the land. As proof of the former's returning popularity, he said he recently noticed more shacks appearing on the lake.

And for those members going out on the land, the first nation has subsidized their supplies, he said.

Beyond those supports, he said the community has spent almost $1 million in various Covid-19 response efforts during the crisis, including individual payouts to

Community

Report

beneficiaries.

Outside of relief efforts, Deline has also placed protective restrictions on the community. Regular shipments of mail and groceries are allowed, but passenger flights have largely been cancelled.

As a self-governing community, it also moved to prohibit all drugs and alcohol in the community. Before that order, liquor was allowed in the community, but in controlled quantities.

This is part of the process of taking the proper precautions during the pandemic, according to Andre.

For some community members, though, that risk still appears to be a far-off threat.

"I think for the most part right now, it's not really a big reality for a lot of people," he said. "They haven't taken it too seriously for a lot of our Elders and some of our community members."

Part of the challenge is learning how to keep social networks alive while respecting social distancing rules, he said. That can be difficult in a close-knit community. "(Staying) social is such a big part of our traditional upbringing," Andre said. "To not associate, to not say 'hi,' or shake each others hand, is a big impact on our social structure in the community."

4 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

news

ᓄĪØflî

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Nunavut municipalities receive $2 million in funds from GN Territorial funds for daycares stop as GN encourages applying for federal support programs

by Rajnesh Sharma

Northern News Services

Iqaluit

In order to cover expenses incurred responding to Covid-19, $2 million in funding will be allocated to municipalities, announced Premier Joe Savikataaq during a press conference on April 20.

The money will help cover costs for Covid-19 related signage, information and translations.

Expenses incurred due to additional janitorial and custodial staff, increased bylaw and enforcement patrols, lost revenues from facility closures, and increased water delivery and garbage pickup services will also be covered with this funding.

Such expenses should not burden the hamlets, said Savikataaq.

"This funding will help ensure that they are able to cover off these unforeseen costs, without having to make sacrifices in other areas," he said.

While funds are being provided for municipalities, territorial government money

is drying up for daycares.

April 20 is the last day for territorial funding for daycares in the Nunavut, said Savikataaq during the press conference. As of press time, almost $900,000 has been given to daycares in the territory amid Covid-19, said the premier.

"It is money we did not have that we are spending," he said, adding this funding had not been budgeted.

On March 17, all Nunavut daycares were closed due to Covid-19 concerns. Two days later, the GN announced funding for daycares. At that time, federal programs providing financial support to daycares were not available.

Now there are federal programs like the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy that are available for funds.

The premier encourages daycares to apply for those federal programs.

Finance Minister George Hickes explained that if daycares were to receive territorial funding support, it would not allow them to be

$900,000–ᑲᓴᖕᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐸᐃᕆᕝᕕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᕿᑎᐊᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19,–ᒥ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ.

Rajnesh Sharma/NNSL photo

Almost $900,000 has been spent on daycares in the territory amid Covid-19, said Premier Joe Savikataaq during April 20 conference. qualified for federal funding.

"One of the concerns that we had by funding the day-

cares, the 100 per cent of the parental fees, (it) excludes them for applying for fed-

eral funding ... because they won't be showing the losses that would be needed to

qualify for the wage funding subsidy, as an example," said Hickes.

Several illegal card games busted in Kugluktuk Up to forty people may have been involved

by Rita Pigalak

Northern News Services/ Local Journalism Initiative

Kugluktuk

Over the past week four illegal card games were broken up in Kugluktuk by local bylaw officers, three of them taking place on Saturday.

The games were taking place despite constant warnings from the hamlet.

"Myself and Mayor David Nivingalok advised the community three weeks ago via local radio and advised the community that card games, public gatherings in homes, etc. are prohibitive, which is a recorded message and plays six times a day," said hamlet senior administrative officer Ron Ladd.

Bylaw officers Bob Appatok and Tim St. Croix, after receiving phone calls from concerned citizens, broke up three separate card games on April 18. The first card game broken up that week took place on the evening of April 16.

"We entered one dwelling but there was no one to be seen except for all the many shoes in the porch," St. Croix said. "We went outside, they thought we left and card game was again set up. It was apparent that everyone was hiding

ᒪᓕᒐᕋᓛᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓂᖅᑎᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᒥ ᐸᑎᖕᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᑲᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑑᓂᖓᓂ–ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19–ᒥ.

Pixabay photo

Bylaw officers in Kugluktuk issued warnings to participants in recent card games that are temporarily banned due to the Covid-19 pandemic. in the bedrooms. About 30 to 40 people were involved in each of the card games that we stopped."

Debra Kotulak, manager with the housing authority, said, "Local housing authorities were sent a letter by (Housing) Minister (Patterk) Netser to share and disperse among the community members in regards to gambling and public gatherings.

"According to section 46 of the Tenant Relations agreement, there should be no illegal activities or gambling in the premises."

"We need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and it seems people are not getting the social or physical distancing. My family in the south are totally self-distancing because we want everyone healthy and safe from the virus," she said.

Everyone involved has been given a warning about gatherings and gambling and that a second infraction it will result in fines and or eviction.

The hamlet is urging residents to follow the rules and the need to keep the community safe from Covid-19.

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 5

Dominion Diamond granted protection from creditors

photo courtesy of Dominion Diamond Corp.

"We knew that this downturn in the economy and downturn in the market sales for diamonds, along with the effects of the pandemic, could lead to this," NWT MP Michael McLeod said.

Disappointment, surprise and fear for jobs as Ekati's future hangs in the balance

by Simon Whitehouse

Northern News Services

Somba K'e/Yellowknife

Dominion Diamond Mines, operator of the Ekati diamond mine and a minority owner of Diavik, has been granted creditor protection, leaving many in the NWT worried about jobs in an economy already ravaged by Covid-19.

On April 22, the heavilyindebted mining company cited the pandemic as being a primary reason for having to fend off insolvency. Ekati had been on care and maintenance status since March 19.

Dominion stated that it cannot generate sufficient revenue to support ongoing financial obligations because, despite its strong diamond inventory, sorting houses and diamond markets are closed.

"The company believes that filing for protection ... is the most prudent course of action," its new release reads.

The diamond miner, owned by the U.S.-based Washington Companies, indicated that it's considering a financing proposal from its parent company that would get it through the creditor process. Pending court approval, it would entail a possible sale of assets to an affiliate of the Washington Companies and bidding procedures for competing offers to an asset sale. If the Wash-

ington Companies' affiliate is the successful purchaser, it would pay what's owed to employees, the government – including reclamation – and fulfill obligations under the company's agreements with Indigenous groups.

NWT MP Michael McLeod said it was hoped that such unfortunate circumstances could have been avoided.

"We knew that this downturn in the economy and downturn in the market sales for diamonds, along with the effects of the pandemic, could lead to this," McLeod said. "I think a lot of people are going to lose jobs if we're not able to turn the situation around and if the markets and the industry doesn't allow for it to turn around."

Asked whether the federal government has a role to bailout or financially support the mineral industry, McLeod said several departments have been in contact with the Dominion Diamond Mines to find resolutions, but he was non-committal on funding assistance.

"I think for this mine, the future is going to be dependent on whether it (will) restructure or sell. We also have to wait and see how well the diamond sales resume after we get through the pandemic," he said.

Of the mine's 1,625

employees in 2018, 715 were Northerners.

Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty said the news is very disappointing given the company's vital role in the territory.

'It hurts' "It's such an important part of our economy and it creates a lot of jobs in Yellowknife and a lot of business (is done) here. Anytime you see news like this it hurts. I hope it is the pause they need to restructure and coming out of the Covid-19 restrictions, they will be up and running again," said Alty, acknowledging the hardship created by the pandemic.

"With (Dominion Diamond's) India and Antwerp offices still closed, they do have their diamonds but they just can't sell them, so they can't make their debts."

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) and who represents more than 400 workers with the company, said the news came as a surprise.

"We had no indication prior to being advised by the employer that there were any concerns around solvency for the company, so we were caught off guard," he said.

The mining company's struggles add "another extra

layer of stress" to union members who have been dealing with the impacts of Covid-19, Parsons said, adding that the biggest priority is to ensure members have job security as the company works through its restructuring while avoiding bankruptcy.

"For the union, we are going to continue to protect our members and all of their benefits and their rights that are under the current collective agreement and labour law in general," he said.

Katrina Nokleby, Minis-

ter of Industry, Tourism and Investment, said she was "disheartened.

"The mining sector is the biggest source of private-sector jobs and income for our residents and has been part of our landscape for almost 100 years," Nokleby wrote in a statement. "Despite the economic challenges faced during this pandemic, I remain committed to ensuring this sector has the tools it needs to endure and rebound. All sectors of the global economy are suffering from the

impacts of Covid-19. Many are being forced to make difficult decisions like the one Dominion had to make today, but the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to collaborate with industry to overcome the challenges ahead."

Ekati spent $302 million with Northern businesses in 2018. Half of that money went to Indigenous enterprises.

Located about 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, Ekati has been in production since 1998.

6 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

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 Nicky Adam Ivalutanar.

Congratulations!

ᐊᑭᓯᔪᖅ: ᓂᑭ ᐋᑕᒻ ᐃᕙᓗᑕᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᐸᓂ-ᕉᔅ ᐃᕙᓗᑕᓐᓇᖅ, 7, ᓇᐅᔮᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᒥᓂ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᒥ.

amazing on-the-land stories

ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ

ᔭᓇᕗ ᕆᖕᕉᔅ

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ

ᔭᓇᕗ ᕆᖕᕉᔅ, ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ Jane's ᑰᕋᓛᖓᓂ, ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 8, 2020. ᐅᓐᓄᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᒦᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐅᐃᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᕐᓂᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ, ᐱᓱᔪᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕈᑎ ᖃᖓᑕᑎᓚᐅᖅᐸᕋ ᐅᕙᓐᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᑲᔾᔭᐅᓴᒃᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᖃᖅᑲᓂᑦ.

ᓇᐅᔮᑦ

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅ

Jennifer Ringrose

Pond Inlet

Jennifer Ringrose, outside Pond Inlet near Jane's Creek, April 8, 2020. I spent the afternoon on the land with my husband and son and, while they were taking a walk, I took the drone for a spin to get a picture of me enjoying our beautiful mountains.

ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᓴᐅᓪᓗᐊᐱᒃ

ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᖅ

WINNER: Nicky adam Ivalutanar

Naujaat

Ebony-Rose Ivalutanar, 7, from Naujaat helping grandma walking out on the land.

ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᓚᐳᖅᑕᕋ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᑉ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒐᖓᓂ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

David Sowdluapik

Pangnirtung

Took this photo in Pang Fiord last spring.

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 7

Ft. Simpson councillor quits

During the Feb. 10 regular village council meeting, Coun.

Michael Rowe, left, whose day job is operations manager with PR Contracting, sat next to his father, Pat Rowe, who runs the company. The senior Rowe was a delegate seeking a maintenance program with the village. Council determined that the councillor violated the NWT Conflict of Interest Act and is taking him to territorial court.

YouTube screenshot

Mike Rowe's colleagues on Fort Simpson council voted to take legal action against him

by Simon Whitehouse

Northern News Services

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson

Michael Rowe has resigned as a village councillor in Fort Simpson, accused by his colleagues of running afoul of the rules governing elected officials in the territory.

Council accepted a legal opinion that said they should take Rowe to territorial court over the alleged contravention of the NWT Conflict of Interest Act with a vote April 9.

Rowe submitted a letter of resignation to the village SAO April 22, according to Mayor Sean Whelly. He said the letter indicated Rowe's resignation was "effective immediately."

It all began at a regular council meeting held Feb. 10.

Rowe's day job is operations manager with PR Contracting Ltd., the PR standing for Pat Rowe, his father.

At the meeting, Rowe pushed his wheeled office chair around the table from its usual position during council meetings until he was next to father, who as the owner of the construction company is also his boss, and was at the meeting to ask for an exclusive contract to maintain all of the village's heavy equipment and vehicles.

Michael Rowe also addressed council as a member of the PR Contracting delegation.

Council voted against that proposal in March. The vil-

lage alleges that Rowe contravened the NWT Conflict of Interest Act when he joined his father's delegation at the Feb. 10 meeting.

Whelly said Rowe should have declared a pecuniary interest and left the room.

"If you look at the Conflict of Interest Act, which shows how you could possibly get yourself into conflict ... if you work for a company that has a financial interest in an issue that you're discussing you can't as a councillor try to influence the rest of council in any way to help make the decision," Whelly said.

Whelly said that the content of Rowe's very brief resignation letter did not directly refer to the conflict of interest issue.

Rowe said he was disappointed to have to quit, but felt that he generally didn't like the direction the local government was going in numerous matters.

"I think there were a lot of reasons that went into my resignation and I think that the path that the Village of Fort Simpson and council were taking was just not something I wanted my name to be a part of," Rowe said in an interview April 23.

Didn't feel comfortable "I didn't feel comfortable with the decisions they were making and I didn't feel their decisions encompassed the best interest of the village."

Rowe declined comment about the conflict of interest

Pandemic ptarmigan

situation when asked, stating that it is a legal matter.

Whelly stated he was unsure if the resignation would "negate" the action to take the councillor to NWT Supreme Court, but that the NWT Conflict of Interest Act states if a resignation takes place before a motion is filed, the case is declared null.

The potential punishment for a conviction under the Conflict of Interest Act is a fine of up to $5,000 fine, plus being barred for five years from sitting on any board agency or council, Whelly said.

The resignation now leaves a hole in village council during a state of emergency in the Northwest Territories due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

These ptarmigan spotted in Yellowknife are clearly are taking the NWT chief public health officer's social distancing orders seriously.

Whelly said council will discuss the issue next week, but it appears the options based on the CTVA are to either have the village council appoint the person who received the next largest number of votes in the election or hold a fresh byelection.

"I think the option to have an election might be tricky because of the fact that we are in this Covid-19 situation right now," The mayor said. "Public gatherings including polling booths might be an issue."

Whelly said he may be in favour of asking Caroline Cochrane, Minister of MACA, if she would be willing to leave the seat vacant due to the state of emergency, even if that would contravene the legislation.

photo courtesy of Bill Braden

news

8 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

ᓄĪØflî

'If we can help more, we will,' minister commits Federal government continues to monitor needs in the North as Covid crisis persists

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Ottawa

The federal government has doled out more than $100 million dollars in Covid-19 aid for the North over the past few weeks and there could be more to come.

"I know there's great needs. I'm not pretending this is covering off all issues in the North... if we can help some more, we will," said Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.

"We're going to continue talking to the premiers and to the Inuit leaders and the Indigenous leaders to talk about how things are progressing.

We're going to make it through this crisis in partnership."

Financial assistance has been designated for Northern health care, food security, businesses and transportation recently. There are also national pots of money that Northerners can access such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for those who lost work, the 75 per cent wage subsidy for employers and aid for students and the homeless.

"During the last five, six weeks Covid has actually seized the actions of our government and it's seized the nation," said Vandal. "We need to take decisive action to help the North, who are facing a unique hardship as a result of this outbreak."

Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq told Nunavut News earlier this

month that the federal government needs to move "more quickly" and that a lot of announcements have been "patchwork fixes for the shortcomings of earlier announcements."

Vandal noted that these emergency programs are being developed over the course of just days or weeks, whereas they'd normally take many months.

"We realize they're not perfect. We realize we're not covering everybody" he said. "But we've built in a certain amount of flexibility that when we need to make amendments and changes that we do that based on our consultations with Canadians and other leaders."

Responding to Qaqqaq's criticism, Vandal said, "This is the time of a crisis, it's a pandemic. It's not the time to try to score political points."

He added, "If Mumilaaq has suggestions to make it better then we're all ears and we want to hear that."

Housing and health care Other areas where Qaqqaq said the government must do better is in regards to limited health services and overcrowded homes, problems that have persisted for decades and which could result in devastation if Covid-19 gets a foothold in Nunavut.

Vandal said the federal government had already begun to address the housing shortage through its National Housing Strategy and

10-year, $400-million agreement with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, signed in 2018.

"There's been some progress made. The problem is that the gaps are so huge that it's going to take several years to catch up... there is no magic bullets when you have a deficit as significant as housing in the North," he conceded.

On April 14, the federal government pledged $30.8 million for Nunavut and $23.4 million to the NWT to bolster health and social services during the pandemic.

Vandal said some of that money can be used to construct isolation units to keep Covid cases or potential cases separated from the general populace. That could entail converting existing structures, building new temporary structures, even tents, if needed.

"We're prepared to work in partnership with the territorial governments in helping the treatment of the virus should it come up there, he said. "The minster of Defence is prepared to intervene and offer help if it becomes necessary. The minister of Public Safety, Bill Blair, is very engaged in the issues of the North as well... we're carefully monitoring the situation."

He also commended the Government of Nunavut for doing "an excellent job" and taking "bold measures" to prevent the virus from reaching the territory.

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

"ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᖏᔪᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ. ᐱᙳᐊᙱᑦᑐᖓ ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ," ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑖᓐ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ.

NNSL file photo

"I know there's great needs. I'm not pretending this is covering off all issues in the North," says Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal in regards to federal aid.

'ᐃᑲᔪᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕈᑦᑕ, ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ,' ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᖁᐊᖅᓵᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᕼᐊᓐᓇᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19–ᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ. "ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕗᖓ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ. ᐱᙳᐊᙱᑦᑐᖓ ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ... ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᕈᑦᑕ, ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑖᓐ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ. "ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᓂᒎᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐆᒥᖓ ᖁᐊᖅᓵᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒡᓗᑕ." ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ, ᓂᕿᒃᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓯᑲᑦᑕᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒥ. ᑲᓇᑕᒥᓗ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᖃᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᒥᑦ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᓄᑦ, 75 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖁᑎᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ. "ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᖄᖏᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓄᑦ, ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐊᑦᑐᖏᖅᓯᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒐᕙᒪᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑦᑐᖏᖅᓯᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑦᑎᓐᓂ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ. "ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ, ᓵᙵᔪᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕉᓴᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ." ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ

ᑕᖅᑭᐅᑉ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐸᓗᐊᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ "ᓱᒃᑲᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ" ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒥᓱᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐅᔪᑦ "ᐃᓛᖅᑐᐃᓂᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓂᐅᕗᑦ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᓗᐊᒥ ᐅᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ." ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᑯᐊ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᓪᓗᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᓂᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᑕᖅᑭᐸᓗᖕᓂᐅᒐᔪᓪᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᕐᒧᑦ. "ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒃᐳᒍᑦ ᐱᐅᓪᓚᕆᙱᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ. ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒃᐳᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᙱᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ" ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. "ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐊᖏᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓴᖑᓴᕋᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᒃᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ." ᑭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᖅᑲᐅᑉ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᙱᓐᓂᕆᔭᖓᓂ, ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, "ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᖁᐊᖅᓵᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᕗᖅ. ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᓐᓇᙱᓚᖅ." ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, "ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᐊᑐᖁᔨᓂᖃᕋᔭᕈᓂ ᐱᐅᓯᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᓚᒃᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓴᕈᒪᕙᕗᑦ." ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐸᖅᑭᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᖕᒥᐅᓗᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂ, ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓵᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᒡᒍᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ-19 ᑎᑭᐅᑎᔪᐊᓘᓐᓂᕈᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ. ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕌᓂᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑭᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᑭᒃᓴᓗᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᕘᓇ

ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ–10ᓄᑦ, $400-ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ 2018–ᒥ. "ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ. ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᑰᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᖏᔪᕐᔪᐊᖑᖕᒪᑕ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᐊᙳᑎᓂᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ... ᑲᒪᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᓱᓇᒐᖃᙱᓚᖅ ᐃᓚᑰᓂᖃᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᖏᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ," ᐅᖃᕆᐊᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 14–ᒥ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᐃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ $30.8 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ $23.4 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒻᒪᓐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᓇᑉᐸᖅᑎᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᕐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᓯᒪᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᒪᐃᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᖏᓐᓂ. ᐅᓇ ᐃᓚᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᖑᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᐸᒌᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᓂ, ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᑐᐱᕐᓂᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᑕ. "ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᑳᓪᓚᖕᓂᖅᐸᑦ ᑕᑉᐸᐅᖓ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. "ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᓯᑲᓪᓚᒃᐸᑦ. ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐱᐅᓪ ᐱᓕᐊᕐ, ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᕐᔪᐊᕆᕗᖅ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᑦᑕᐅᖅ... ᓇᐅᑦᑎᖅᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ." ᐅᐱᒋᓚᐅᕆᕙᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ "ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ" ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ "ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ" ᐱᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᑎᑭᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ.

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 9

Elimination of diesel should be 'emergency,' study says

photo courtesy of Andrew Robinson

If the government can respond so drastically to Covid-19, it can do likewise to address the climate crisis, says Andrew Robinson, a co-author of a report on alternatives to using diesel.

Study authors take inspiration from pandemic response for climate change efforts

by Nick Pearce

Northern News Services

NWT

Treating climate change like an emergency can cut emissions in half, if the territorial government shows the will, according to a recent study from Alternatives North.

Released Wednesday, the report lays out a raft of emissions proposals for the GNWT. These include buying carbon offsets, investing in renewable diesel and expanding district heating.

Study co-author Andrew Robinson, a renewable energy consultant in Yellowknife, said the Covid-19 pandemic response could provide a model for investing in these efforts to combat climate change, which many people also consider a crisis.

"It might cost a bit more, (but) the government sure found some money for this emergency, so we could find some for another one," he said.

To do that, the study urges the NWT government to revise its current energy strategy of cutting a third of emissions to 2005 levels by 2030. The authors think that can be done

sooner and more effectively by investing more -- a strategy that's also drawn the ire of some and knocking emissions down by half. regular MLAs. They argue that spending $15 million yearly "Despite analyzing two of the best poson environmental projects to balance out emis- sible business cases, neither Taltson hydrosions, known as carbon offsetting, could cleave based pathways could achieve (50 per cent) of off half of emissions, accordemissions reductions and are by ing to the study. far the most expensive ways of They also want the terrireducing emissions," the authors tory to embrace biomass diswrite. trict heating and diesel coIn an interview, Robinson generation to cut emissions added the potential response to and potentially earn back a net climate change was less drastic $80 million over 20 years. Biothan the response to the panmass district heating is where demic. a single boiler burns fuel like "We, as a society, can all wood chips to heat multiple do something together," he said. buildings.

"When we need it most, we've In conjunction, the authors all stepped up and done some suggest subsidizing renewable really surprising things. When diesel – which uses material this blows over, we should Dave lovekin like vegetable oil – to the tune remember that when it comes to of roughly $65 million every other urgent issues like climate year. change."

Despite those high costs, the study argues Dave Lovekin, director of energy think that the suggestions compare favourably with tank Pembina Institute's work on renewables in a key GNWT plan to expand Taltson Dam remote communities, said the study has some

strong ideas. However, he added that more could be done to keep the proposed investments within the NWT's economy.

As the territory faces widespread job loss and concern over the stability of supply chains, he said government investments should shore up NWT communities' economic resiliency.

For one, he said the report's recommendations for carbon offsets could lead to money leaving NWT, which was a concern the study also acknowledged. As an alternative, Lovekin suggested developing a system internally to keep investments within the local economy.

He said retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency could be a key source of job creation, and said the suggestions pertaining to district heating could be similarly helpful in remote communities.

"Under crises like this pandemic, we have to continue to heat and power our homes and drive to a certain extent," said Lovekin, adding that it's important to be more resilient and energy-secure. "Creating jobs and businesses and industries from that is going to protect us from that type of crisis where the economy shuts down."

news

ᓄĪØflî

Kugluktuk contractor outraged with hamlet 10 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Newman concerned that southerners were hired for local jobs

by Rita Pigalak

Northern News Services/ Local Journalism Initiative

Kugluktuk

Kugluktuk businessman Grant Newman, owner of Kikiak Contracting, is outraged with the hamlet's decision to hire a contractor from Alberta.

The hamlet has decided to hire the contractor from the south to repair the floor of the six-bay parking garage, work on the old and new crisis shelter and work on the water and sewer issues.

Newman started his business 21 years ago and has done many jobs for Kugluktuk.

"Hamlet maintenance staff are capable of doing this work and my company was not given a chance to bid or give a price on this work," said Newman.

"I do have employees that are off of work due to the

Covid pandemic but I could've put some people back to work.

"Small businesses have invested millions of dollars into the community and are having enough trouble surviving this pandemic. They put the community at risk by bringing people in from the south is my most concern.

"Even if they did quarantine in Yellowknife it is still pretty risky and expensive too."

Since making his life in Kugluktuk, Newman has served as a council member for 15 years which he took pride in as a community member.

"It seems that my own tax dollars are competing against me," Newman said.

"It should have been offered to the small businesses first, but this again is about putting the community at risk, you all need to give your head a shake and get

your priorities in order."

Newman said he would fight for the small business community and that he was contacting the hamlet office.

Ron Ladd, senior administrative officer for the hamlet of Kugluktuk, said the southern contractors were hired for work that local contractors could not complete.

"It was the decision of the council and a unanimous vote to hire contractors from Alberta to do the work of the water and sewer system as there was no certified plumbers and electricians in the community that was qualified to do such an important job as potable water for the community (which) is an important essential service," Ladd said.

"The people hired to do the contract were quarantined before travelling up North. Tenders were put out for biding but it was unfortu-

nate that Newman was not able to put in a bid as he had prior personal engagements.

Although Mr. Newman has been running his business for 20-plus years, contracts still need to be bid on as the Hamlet has a limited budget."

The hamlet council held a meeting on April 14 in which Newman was invited to attend as a delegate. He presented his case and left.

"We left this on a positive note and agreed to disagree, Newman has since put in a bid for one of the contracts with the hamlet," said Ladd.

ᒍᕌᓐᑦ ᓂᐅᒪᓐ, ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᑭᐊᒃ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᓂ, ᐊᐃᑦᑖᕈᓱᒃᐳᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓂ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᑳᓐᑐᕌᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᕼᐊᒻᓛᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᐅᔪᒥ.

photo courtesy of Grant Newman

Grant Newman, owner of Kikiak Contracting, is disappointed that southern contractors were hired for work in the hamlet during Covid.

Ottawa ponders aid for Northern mines The minerals industry is going to need a lot of help after Covid: Hoefer

by Derek Neary

Northern News Services

Nunavut

The federal government is examining how it might provide help for the North's largest private employer – the mining sector.

"We want to make sure that the industry is healthy so that people who live in the North can continue to work at the mines and raise their families in the North," said Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, who met with representatives of the mining industry last week. "I'm working with the minister of Nature Resources, Seamus O'Regan, on the issue. Let's face it, they are a huge employer in the North."

The industry is reeling due to many "costs pressures" from the Covid-19 pandemic and an injection of financial aid is needed, according to Tom Hoefer, executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines.

Production at the mines has fallen, meaning declining revenues, he noted, adding that the NWT's Ekati diamond mine is on temporary care and maintenance status so it's not producing at all.

"For diamonds, (it's a) double whammy because diamond markets are even worse now under Covid effects, meaning less diamond revenues," Hoefer said. "Remember, NWT was (the) third largest global producer of diamonds so this will have big effects."

Southern workers, who make up a large portion of the workforce at Northern mines, are being flown in at greater expense on chartered planes

ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑖᓐ ᕚᓐᑎᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕆᕗᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕉᓴᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ.

photo courtesy of Agnico Eagle

Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal says the federal government is considering aid for the struggling mining industry, which is a major employer in the North. because of commercial flight restrictions during the pandemic.

Testing of employees for the virus and paying Nunavut workers to stay home to reduce risk of spread are among other new costs.

Some mining companies are slashing capital projects to rein in expenditures, Hoefer said.

"How will they make this up in future?" he asked. "In addition, as they cut these capital projects, they cut project income for Northern and Indigenous businesses that were going to do the work, passing on the revenue pain to those compan-

ies who also feel government Covid measures are not helping with this lost revenue."

He also pointed out that operating costs in the North are already inflated compared to the south – the pandemic has only exacerbated that factor.

"The minerals industry is going to need a lot of help coming out of this healthy at the other end of Covid," Hoefer predicted.

Alex Buchan, TMAC's vice-president of corporate social responsibility, can attest to that. His company is burning through its surface stock-

piles of gold ore with a skeleton crew and has suspended most mining activities. These decisions were made prior to the federal government announcing its 75 per cent wage subsidy, which TMAC doesn't qualify to receive anyway, said Buchan.

"As a member of the NWT/Nunavut Chamber of Mines, we have called for flexibility in the application of federal Covid-19 emergency programs that would allow companies like ourselves to take advantage of these employee measures," Buchan stated, adding that TMAC is also seeking temporary relief of its annual

exploration obligations under its mineral tenures, which is overseen by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

Deborah Harron-Thomson, manager of communications, marketing and stakeholder relations for Baffinland Iron Mines, acknowledged that Baffinland is "actively seeking government support to help offset the additional costs we are incurring as a result of Covid-19 and related mitigation measures," but on Tuesday she wouldn't specify what aid exactly the company has requested.

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 11

Small communities struggle to get emergency dental care: MLA Call for help 'valid,' says NWT and Nunavut Dental Association

by Nick Pearce

Northern News Services

Inuvik

Getting treatment for a toothache can be a major hurdle for residents of the NWT's 27 communities without a dentist, according to Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Lesa Semmler.

That's because residents in pain who go to a health centre may be told dental care isn't available in the community since Covid-19 has put an end to travelling dental teams.

Semmler said largely locums – fillin medical professionals from other jurisdictions – health-care workers are not always being properly briefed on protocols and insurance programs that allow residents to be referred to a larger hub with a dentist.

To remedy that, regular MLAs on Monday passed Semmler's motion urging the health department to clearly direct its employees on how to provide access to emergency dental care.

Semmler said it's a simple first step to help residents of the 27 NWT communities without a dentist to arrange travel and be treated in a larger centre, with costs billed back to their insurance.

"If you had a toothache, that would consume your life. There's certain things that we just can't live with and they become medical emer-

gencies," she said. "How are you going to care for your family in a pandemic when you're having an infection or pain that you can't control without narcotics?"

Typically, dentists would offer care by travelling to small communities in the Beaufort Delta, Semmler said. Since the pandemic struck, however, she said they haven't been able to make their rounds.

Semmler previously worked as a nurse and a non-insured health benefits navigator for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. Locum staff being unaware of non-insured health benefits programs is a longstanding issue, she said.

Most people in the 27 NWT communities without dentists would likely be Indigenous, she said.

That means emergency dental care would be covered under the non-insured health benefits program and Metis health benefits program.

If residents are low-income and nonIndigenous, they may also fall under supplementary benefits.

Because of her past work, Semmler said her constituents and others from small communities contacted her for help, leading her to make the motion.

Help can't arrive, according to Semmler, "until you explain they need to have the referral, they need

GoGo Gadget mask holder

to have the travel done within the GNWT. It just gets billed back to these different places."

As of press deadline, Health Minister Diane Thom didn't respond to a request for comment on the regular MLAs' motion.

The motion is a "valid request and concern," according to Jillian Zdebiak, executive director of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Dental Association.

She said the association supports providing emergency care to small communities by tele-dentistry, triaging calls, using pharmacology or arranging for the patient to see a dentist.

Other considerations should be screening patients for coronavirus symptoms and recent travel history, in addition to addressing the lack of personal protective equipment like gloves and masks for dental professionals, Zdebiak said.

She added that one of the major purposes of dentists providing emergency care is to avoid adding patients to the caseloads of emergency-room doctors.

Alicia Price, office manager of Adams Dental in Yellowknife, said her office had seen a few patients from small communities since the pandemic began. Travel could be an issue, she said.

When accepting patients, the

photos courtesy of Matthew Dares

Faith Logan models a "mask holder" recently produced in Inuvik for front-line health-care workers to make wearing a facemask all-day long more bearable.

More than 200 of the clever devices were 3D-printed by the town's robotics club from April 9 to 13.

office will screen over the phone to assess patients' pain and whether they've travelled out of territory.

Like all dentists in the territory, Price's office was strictly attending to patients in pain and requiring

emergency treatment.

"We're all in this together. We're only doing what we're told at this point, and as soon as life can return to normal, we can also return to normal," she said.

NNSL file photo

Lesa Semmler, MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes, says accessing emergency dental care has become more challenging for residents of 27 NWT communities since the pandemic began.

12 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

photo story ᓄphoto stories

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᓐ ᕇᑦ, ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨ St. John’s–ᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᐃᓂᒋᕙᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᒐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎ ᓗᐊᕋ ᐊᑕᒍᑦᓯᐊᒃ, ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᒪᓂᖅ ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᒃ, ᑕᓕᖅᐱᐊᓂ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ.

ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᓚᐅᖏᓐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥᒃ –19, ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᑦ ᐃᕐᒥᒃᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᑉᐸᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᐅᓴᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᐃᓂᖃᑦᓯᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ (NAS Animal Sh) ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᑭᓐ ᕇᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᐅᓴᐃᔨ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᔨᓂᑦ ᑭᓂ ᓂᐅᕙᐅᓛᒥᖔᓚᐅᖅᐳᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓯᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓴᒫᓐᑕ ᕼᐊᒻ ᑯᐸᒃᒥᐅᑕᖅ.

NAS, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᒋᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᑐᐊᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᖓᓂᑦ 2007–ᒥᑦ. ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑎᑦᓯᐊᕙᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᖕᒪᑕ, ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᐅᔪᒥᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ. ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᒪᔅᓲᔮᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖄᓚᕕᒋᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᓕᐅᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᖁᒍᕕᐅᒃ. ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᓪᓗᑕᒫᑦ ᐅᓪᓛᒃᑯᑦ (9-ᒥᑦ 11:30-ᒧᑦ) ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ (6:39-ᒥᑦ 9–ᒧᐊᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ). ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑐᒐᐅᓇᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᔨᓂᐊ ᑲᓇᑎ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖓᓯᒌᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᓕᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓄᐊᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ, ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨ ᑭᓐ ᕇᑦ ᐆᒥᖓ ᕇᒃᔅᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔪᖅ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᕆᒃᔅ ᐱᓱᕋᔭᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᒫᓐᑕ ᕼᐊᒻ.

During his visit to Iqaluit, dog trainer Ken Reid trained this dog named Rex. The training has led Rex to enjoy his walks "a lot more now," according to Samantha Hum.

Ken Reid, a dog trainer from St. John’s, poses with Nunavut’s Animal Shelter volunteers Laura Attagutsiak, left, and Saimanaaq Pitseolak, right, in Iqaluit.

Fly-in pet care for the dogs Feature

ᑕᑯᔭᒃᓴᐃᑦ Northern News Services

Almost three weeks before the public health emergency was declared for Covid19, most dogs were getting groomed and trained by Nunavut’s Animal Shelter (NAS) in Iqaluit.

Dog trainer Ken Reid and groomer Jeanette Kinney flew in from Newfoundland to help teach Iqalummiut about skills

by Janelle Kennedy Iqaluit

related to the care of dogs.

Pet First Aid workshops were also conducted in the city by Samantha Hum from Quebec.

NAS, also known as Iqaluit Humane Society, is the territory’s only animal shelter.

It has been in operation since 2007. Since the organization is considered an essential service, it remains open during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The facility, however, remains closed to the public unless there is an appointment.

The staff continue to provide care for the dogs daily both in the mornings (9 a.m. to11:30 a.m.) and evenings (6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Volunteer Janelle Kennedy assured all staff are following social distancing protocols.

–text by Rajnesh Sharma

6–ᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᓕᕌᖓᑕ. ᑐᓄᐊᓂ ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂᑦ ᓂᑯᕕᖓᔪᖅ ᓴᒫᓐᑕ ᒑᑦᓄ, ᔪᐃᔅ ᑎᒧ, ᓱᕙᓂ ᐊᒪᕋᐸᓚ, ᐃᓚᐃ ᐅᓂᐅᖅᓴᒐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓕᓴ ᒪᑲᓇᓐ. ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂᑦ. ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨ ᓴᒫᓐᑕ ᕼᐊᒻ ᓰᖅᑯᒥᖓᔪᖅ ᓴᓂᐊᓂ ᓅᑐ ᕿᒻᒥᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᑮᑦᓚᓐ ᓚᒍᕘᕝ.

Six participants attended evening workshops to learn about how to help animals in need. Back row from the left stands Samantha Gardner, Joyce Demers, Swany Amarapala, Eelai Uniuqsaraq and Alyssa Mackinnon. In the front row on the left, First Aid Instructor Samantha Hum kneels next to Noodle-the dogand participant Kaitlin Lagerwerf.

ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᒃ ᕿᒻᒥᖑᐊᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᔨᓂᐊ ᑲᓇᑎᒧᑦ.

Two participants perform CPR on a model of a dog during a workshop in Iqaluit. photo courtesy of Janelle Kennedy

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 13

The new toilet paper: seeds!

Jackie Milne, president of the Northern Farm Training Institute, has proposed that the GNWT fund a seed bank to help increase food security in light of the Covid-19 crisis and to help her organization offer online agricultural classes in small communities.

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

NFTI's Jackie Milne proposes seed bank for the territory

by Paul Bickford

Northern News Services

Hay River

Jackie Milne has proposed that the GNWT fund a seed bank to help increase food security in light of the Covid-19 crisis and to help her organization offer online agricultural classes in small communities.

Milne is the president of the Northern Farm Training Institute (NFTI), which is based at a farm campus in Hay River.

She expected an increased demand for seed when the Covid19 crisis began, predicting it would become the next toilet paper.

"I knew it would happen, absolutely," she said. "Because it's instinctual. It's like the animal part of us immediately starts to think about the most essential. And seeds are a little, small, inexpensive packet, so it's really easy to hoard and take more than you need."

Milne noted that some seed companies in Canada are no longer accepting orders because of the demand, or there are delays in having orders filled.

"So a month ago, I immediately wrote up a proposal and asked the GNWT to invest in purchasing the seeds that we need," she said, noting she suggested government invest about $100,000 for a seed bank.

"And that seed would be enough to grow 25 per cent of the Northwest Territories' caloric needs," she added. "Not that we'd have to plant it all, because if we purchase it and we put it in proper storage that seed would be there for next year and it could last."

Milne narrowed the seeds down to nine kinds.

"So I'm not talking about growing every single type of vegetable," she said. "I'm just focusing on the nuts and bolts."

They are potato, leek, onion, parsnip, beet, carrot, radish, salsify and rutabaga.

Once you have the plant, you can grow the seeds, said Milne.

"It's not like you'd have to purchase it all the time."

She said she's not even suggesting the government give NFTI the money for a food bank.

"I'm just saying someone needs to buy this," she said. "I gave them the information. I'm fine with them doing it as a direct purchase."

The second part of Milne's proposal involved GNWT sup-

port for NFTI to continue delivering agricultural information and supplies to smaller communities over the internet, instead of having people travel to Hay River.

"They don't have to feel afraid or worried, because the small communities aren't going to want people going out and aren't going to want people coming in for a long time," she said. "So how are we going to help them? It's very serious. I want to be able to send in critical supplies – seeds, live plants and tools."

Plus, Milne noted she already has contacts in many communities with residents who have already attended classes at NFTI. She submitted the proposal to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, but said she has not yet received a response.

The Hub requested a reaction to her idea from the GNWT last week, but had not received a response prior to deadline.

As a backup to funding online courses and supplies for smaller communities, NFTI has also started a Go Fund Me page with a goal to raise $25,000.

"This year we have developed a NWT Collaborative Growing Plan, which includes activating our past students as local food ambassadors in their home community so that we can send them seeds, bedding plants, tools and supplies for producing local food and administer training through online lessons that follow the season," the appeal states.

The Go Fund Me page was created on April 4. As of April 19, the initiative had raised $1,080 from 17 donors.

14 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

news

ᓄĪØflî

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᕼᐃᓯᑲᐃᔭ ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ ᐅᒡᒍᕆᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᕼᐃᓯᒃᑲᐃᔭ ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ 2019–ᒥ ᐊᖏᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᐃᔭᙳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ. ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐆᒻᒪᓯᕆᓪᓗᓂ 2020–ᒥ.

NNSL file photo

Former mayor Stevie Komoartuk, left, speaks as Hezakiah Oshutapik is inaugurated as the mayor of Pangnirtung in 2019. Oshutapik died of a heart attack earlier this month.

ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᑲᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᐃᔭ ᕼᐃᓯᑲᐃᔭ ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᑲᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂ. ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ, 63, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐆᒻᒪᓯᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᒦᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᓐᓄᖓᓂ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 17-ᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑎᐊᕈᓪ ᑎᑉᓕᒧᑦ, ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᒧᑦ. ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ 2011–ᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᕕᒻᒪᕆᒃ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖓ ᐊᐅᓚᖁᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑎᒃᓯᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᑎ ᐹᓪ ᖁᐊᓴ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᒫᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑐᓴᕋᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ. "ᓯᔅᑐᕐ ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ, ᒪᐃᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᖏᐸᓗᒃᑐᒥ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒐᓚᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᙳᐊᓄᑦ," ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᐊᓴ. "ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓪᓗᖓ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂ, ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᒃᐳᒍᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ." ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19 ᓄᑖᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓲᑖᐱᐅᑉ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᕐᓂᖓᓂ.

"ᕼᐃᓯᑲᐃᔭ ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ ᓴᙱᓪᓗᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᑳᓪᓚᖕᓂᖓ ᕿᒪᐃᓯᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᖕᒪᔪᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ. "ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᕙᕗᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑑᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᐃᓄᖏᑦ ᓴᙱᖁᕙᒃᑲ ᐃᓚᐃᓕᖅᑭᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ." ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᖃᓚᐅᕆᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒧᑦ. "ᐃᓱᒪᒋᕙᒃᑲ ᕼᐃᓯᒃᑲᐃᔭ ᐅᓲᑖᐱᑉ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ, ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ" ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ P.J. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᖅ, "ᕼᐃᓯᒃᑲᐃᔭ ᑐᕌᖓᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᐃᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ. ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ." ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐅᓲᑖᐱᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᓂᑦ ᓱᓪᓗᓕᕆᔨᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖕᒨᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᓯᕆᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐸᖕᓂᖅᑑᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ.

news

Inuvik Greenhouse to be 'large farm' for 2020 N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 15

Still a bit of digging to go, but Inuvik Greenhouse executive director Ray Solotki says the greenhouse is hoping to begin planting within a week.

Eric Bowling/NNSL photo

Will be producing vegetable baskets for residents to respect physical distancing guidelines

by Eric Bowling

Northern News Services

Inuvik

Inuvik Greenhouse is getting creative in its operations for 2020, offering 12 "veggie boxes" over the summer at the cost of $20 each.

Food will be grown by two hired staff and distributed on a weekly basis instead of the usual "rent a plot and garden" model.

"Basically, what is happening is we're turning the community greenhouse into a large farm," said executive director Ray Solotki. "A lot of people are really stressed about the access to fresh local food."

To relieve the stress, the greenhouse is maintaining three programs this summer, most prominent being the veggie boxes, which has been done as a small project over the last four years but is getting kicked into high gear in 2020.

For $20 a week, the Inuvik Greenhouse will deliver a box of fresh vegetables right to your door for 12 weeks.

"We're going to have 45 to 50 families getting weekly boxes of what we're harvesting to their homes," she said. "We're going to give you four or five different varieties of vegetables dropped off to your house and send out a survey to everyone who has signed up and find out what they want.

"Also, because of the funding we've received, we're able to offer it to low income families either for free or at a partially subsidized rate."

She noted this was possible solely because of some generous donations to the greenhouse, including roughly $6,000 in shipping costs covered by Manitoulin Transport. The department of Industry, Tourism and Investment also has given allowances on

funding for the Greenhouse Society and the society recently got a $25,000 grant from Community Food Centres Canada, as well as cash donations from local citizens.

"We're getting a lot of help from a lot of different places, it's the whole community that's helping us," said Solotki. "It's important to us to make sure we in turn are employing people locally, buying materials locally and supplying as much food as we can here locally."

Solotki said the food would be handled in accordance to Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the food is as healthy as can be, with sterilized tools and two staff working on opposite sides of the building.

Layout prevents public from entering greenhouse Covid-19 has put a wrench in a lot of plans for a lot of different groups throughout the North and the Inuvik Greenhouse is no exception. Since the plots are very close together and not exactly modular, the greenhouse is unable to let people in to garden this year, under the current rules issued by the chief public health officer.

Rented plots from last year will be held over until next year or potentially later in the summer if the restrictions are eased.

Greenthumbs who are really attached to their plots can also pay the greenhouse to garden the plot on their behalf.

"Project two is if you were a member in the past and want your plot back, for almost the same price as the veggie box, we're able to offer you to have your plot planted by us and then once a week we harvest and bring you what we harvest," she said. "At this point it's just an offer for returning members."

Other programs the greenhouse normally operates, such as

the flower plant sale and hanging baskets will continue as usual.

Solotki added greenhouse staff were planning to construct small plots for people to garden at home if they wish as the third big program.

"We're hopeful the town still wants to purchase plants, because that's our main way of paying staff," said Solotki.

"We're all trying to do the best we can to make sure our community has food and positivity and all those things."

She thanked volunteers for their patience during these uncertain times and noted the greenhouse was planning to move forward on other plans, such as bringing in equipment to begin growing food all-year-round.

"We hopefully will still get that funding. My proposal is due on Friday, so we'll find out soon, but they're really excited about what we can offer," she said, noting that other programs such as the veggie box program help generate traction to getting the yearround project underway. "We can maybe turn it around to help low-income families, if we can provide a $20 a week veggie box, all we need from the government is a little bit of subsidy.

"We're working with a company called Cold Acre. They actually have a box greenhouse system in Whitehorse and they provide weekly boxes to people. You get a pound of greens for $15 a week, so we're looking at the same model here.

"It's something where we could produce thousands of pounds of food on a yearly basis."

Anyone interested in a food basket should contact Solotki at info@inuvikgreenhouse.com.

"We want to make sure the most people possible have access to food from the greenhouse this summer," said Solotki. "We're just trying to follow all the guidelines issued by health."

16 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

Published Mondays Office: 626 Tumiit Plaza, Iqaluit, NU Box 28, X0A 0H0 Reporters: Rajnesh Sharma, Derek Neary, Rita Pigalak Advertising: Phone: (867) 979-5990 Fax: (867) 979-6010 Toll free: (855) 447-2584 Email: editor@nunavutnews.com Website: www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews Kivalliq office: Box 657, Rankin Inlet, NU, X0C 0GO Darrell Greer – Bureau Chief Phone: (867) 645-3223 Fax: (867) 645-3225 Email: kivalliqnews@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews Production facilities: Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1 Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 Email: editorial@nnsl.com advertising@nunavutnews.com circulation@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com

Founder (1934-2018):

J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason PUBLISHER, CEO: Bruce Valpy – valpy@nnsl.com Chief Financial Officer: Judy Triffo MANAGING EDITOR: Mike W. Bryant – bryant@nnsl.com ACCOUNTING: nnsladmin@nnsl.com Florie Mariano • Cindy Minor • Salleah Wagas Editorial board: Bruce Valpy • Mike W. Bryant • Brett McGarry NEWS EDITORS Brett McGarry Photo Editor: Emily McInnis - photo@nnsl.com Editorial Production: editorial@nnsl.com Sports: James McCarthy – sports@nnsl.com Arts: entertainment@nnsl.com Business: business@nnsl.com Advertising production Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes Zdena Kunderlik •Randy Hiebert Joshua Uson • Wesley Cook ADVERTISING Baffin – Laura Whittle advertising@nunavutnews.com Kivalliq/Kitikmeot advertising@nnsl.com All departments: advertising@nnsl.com National: James Boylan Classified Advertising: classifieds@nnsl.com CIRCULATION – circulation@nnsl.com Circulation Director: Amy Yang Jewala Jhankur Subscriptions: One year mail $70 Online (entire content) $50/year, $35/6 months

NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated Publishers of: Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North Member of: Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association Manitoba Community Newspapers Association Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Contents copyright – printed in the North

by Canarctic Graphics Limited We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

Member of the Ontario Press Council. The Ontario Press Council was created to defend freedom of the press on behalf of the public and press alike and to consider specific, unsatisfied complaints from readers about the conduct of the press in gathering and publishing news, opinion and advertising.

Complaints should go to: The Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1706 Toronto, Ont., M5B 1J3 Email: Info@ontpress.com Fax: 1-416-340-8724 www.ontpress.com

Send us your comments

Email us at: editorial@nnsl.com; mail to Box 28, Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0; or drop your letter off at our office at 102 Tumiit Plaza. All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so that we can confirm it came from you.

Not all letters will necessarily be published. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern. Letters of more than 200 words, open letters and those published elsewhere are seldom used.

We reserve the right to edit for length or taste and to eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements.

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Editorial & Opinions wh mK5

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

ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑑᔮᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᒪᕐᓂ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓂᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐆᓇᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 17–ᒥ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᓯᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓂᑦ. ᐹᖑᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓂ ᒪᑐᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᙳᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᐊᒥᓱᐃᑦ ᖃᓱᕚᓪᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᖅ ᑎᑭᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓂᖅᑎᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐅᑎᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᙱᓛᖑᔪᒥ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᔾᔨᖅᓱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19–ᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᖓᓂ ᐅᔾᔪᖅᓯᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᒪᔪᓄᑦ 90–ᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓄᐊᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ? ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐸᐃᑉᐹᒧᑦ–ᑐᙵᕕᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑲᑎᙵᔪᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ "ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ

ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᖅᑐᒥ." ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᕙᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓱᓕ ᑐᑭᓯᓇᖅᓯᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓂᖄᓂᒃᐳᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓂ ᐅᐸᒃᓯᒪᔭᖓᓃᖏᓐᓇᖁᔭᐅᕗᑦ. ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ (CNDEA) ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖓ ᔨᑎᑕ ᒥᖅᑯᓵᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 21–ᒥ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᐅᒃᓴᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑭᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᓕᒫᓄᑦ. ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ. ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒥᑭᓛᖑᔪᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᙱᓛᑦᑎᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐃᓄᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᓕᒫᖓᓐᓂ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ. ᐊᒥᓱᐃᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᒃᐳᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᓯᐊᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᒻᒪᖅᑯᑎᓂᑦ ᐃᑯᒪᑎᑦᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᐅᓇ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᒥ.

ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓂᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᓕᒫᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐱᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓂᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᓗᓇᓗᐊᙱᓚᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑑᓗᑎᒃ. ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖃᐅᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᖃᐅᒃᐸᒧᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅᑑᕗᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᙱᓚᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᒫᓐᓇ 25–ᐸᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓂᑦ 93–ᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓃᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓯᖅᓯᒫᓂᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑰᕕᑦ–ᖃᙲᓐᓇᕋᓗᐊᕈᑎᒃ ᐊᒥᐊᒃᑯᖓᓂ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᖃᓂᒪᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ, ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓂᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᕆᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓅᓐᓂᐅᓇᔭᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᓕᖕᒥ ᐊᓯᐊᒎᖅᑐᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓂᖓᓐᓂ. ᐊᑦᑕᓇᙱᓛᖑᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᑦ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓕᕈᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᕐᓇᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᖓᓂ.

Teachers returning an unnecessary risk Northern News Services

Education Minister David Joanasie appears to have tested the waters of opposition and found them too hot.

The minister announced April 17 that he won't be opening schools after all. The doors of Nunavut schools will remain shut until September.

Many breathed a sigh of relief for the sake of young Nunavummiut but the announcement came with a caveat, teachers are still expected to return.

The GN made the safest call possible for its students and it's this kind of prudence that is needed to avoid any possibility of Covid-19 transmission, but why not the same caution when it comes to bringing in up to 90 teachers who headed south earlier in the pandemic?

Joanasie said teachers are expected to create paper-based and electronic teaching packages to ensure students progress in their learning and that some teachers may work remotely "on a case-bycase basis."

The issue:

Returning educators

We say:

Work remotely Why it is that some teachers may be more essential than others has not been made clear and already education organizations are calling for teachers to stay where they are.

Coalition of Nunavut DEAs (CNDEA) chair Jedidah Merkosak stated in a news release April 21 that the organization would prefer all teachers are given an option to work from home, emphasizing safety for all residents.

The virus must be kept at bay by beating it at the game of odds. The best way to prevent even the slightest chance of infection is having as few people as possible coming into Nunavut from the south.

Many other essential workers need to be flown into Iqaluit or elsewhere in Nunavut to keep the lights on and territory functioning. This is

a risk but a necessary one.

Having teachers available to students is important so the teachers must do their best with the resources they have and deliver it to those who will benefit and there is little doubt this could be done remotely.

Teachers have a critically important role to play in the future of Nunavut and molding the leaders of tomorrow, but these are extraordinary circumstances and frankly they are not essential to keeping Nunavummiut safe.

Now some 25 teachers, out of about 93 who were outside of Nunavut during the pandemic, have already entered isolation in the south in preparation to return.

Even if Nunavut is able to stay Covid-free for the remainder of the pandemic, making these teachers return would be a move that flies in direct contradiction to the government's own advice.

The safest thing to do is to have the teachers stay outside the territory and work remotely until travel within Canada is deemed safe again.

editorial – opinions

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

On the land ᒪᐃ ᑲᓘᓐ

ᐋᓕᓐ ᐅᒫᓕ ᕼᐃᑯᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᕝᕗᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ.

May Kaloon Allen O'Malley Hikoalok berry picking last summer.

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ

Baker Lake

Hello from Cambridge Bay. We hope you coronavirus. We continue to practice social are all well during this pandemic crisis hapdistancing also. Families continue to look pening around the world. We pray and think after each other and missing each other very of those who have lost their battle with this much. Inuit and their families are very close powerful illness. and always love to hug We are also thinkand visit a lot each Cambridge Bay ing of those who other. Since the rules lost loved ones in have been set in place Tea Talk the Nova Scotia it has been difficult, with Navalik Tologanak tragedy. We have all you can do is wave many residents from and blow kisses to your email: helent@qiniq.com Nova Scotia living loved ones. in Cambridge Bay. With warmer temperatures kids are Please stay strong. outdoors playing more often and the snow We are all thinking of you also. removal operators have been busy, so please Weather has been warming up slowly, stay safe and make sure your kids are safe the icicles are back and watch out falling ice sliding around the piles of snow left by them. from your roofs.

At times it is very dangerous sliding from Many residents have been out and about, these snow piles around town. I hope they especially our children since there is no are removed soon. school. School will not re-open due to the

with Rita Pigalak

"ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᖃᕋᓱᒋᕖᑦ ᐆᒪᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᑦ?"

"Do you think you have the skills to survive life out on the land?"

ᐹᑐᕆᒃ ᓚᐃᔪᓪ: "ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᙱᓚᖓ ᐆᒪᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒦᒃᑯᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᓐᓂ."

Patrick Lyall, Taloyoak:

"I dont think I would have the skills to survive life on the land unless it's in the comforts of my cabin."

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 17

ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᓱᐃᓂᖅ: ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕕᓯᐅᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᖅᓯ?

Watch your step during spring melt

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ street talk

whmK5

ᐊᓚᑦᓱᐊ ᐅᑦᑐᕿ: "ᐋᒃᑲᐸᓗᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖃᓗᐊᕌᓗᙱᓐᓇᒪ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓐᓂᕈᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑭᓱᓕᒫᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓇᔭᖅᐳᖓ ᐆᒪᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ."

Alachua Ottokie, Cape Dorset:

"Not really because I don't have that much knowledge but if it came to that I would do anything to survive."

ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᖅᐲᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓇᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᒡᕙᓃᑐᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᖑᐊᕐᒦᑦᑐᑦ? ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑕᐃᓐᓇ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᓱᓂ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᕕᖓᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ, ᖃᓪᓗᓇᑎᑐᑦ, ᐅᐃᕖᖅᑎᑐᓪᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓗᓂ, ᑐᕋᒐᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᖑᐊᕐᓃᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖃᕐᕕᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᖁᖅᓯᓯᒪᕕᖓᓐᓂ ᑎᑎᖃᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᕕᓂᕐᓂᒡᓗ

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᑦ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᓯᒡᔭᖓᓂ (ᓄᓇᕗᑦ), 1893.

ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐋᑐᕚᒥ. ᓄᑕᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᖁᑎᕕᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐸᐸᑦᑎᕕᖕᒥ (ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᕈᑎᓕᒃ www.collectionscanada.ca/inuit-ᒥᒃ). ᑕᑯᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᐸᐃᑦ. ᐊᑏᑐᖅ ᑐᔪᐃᓂᐊᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᐅᕙᓂ ᑐᕌᕈᑎᓕᖕᒥ photo@nnsl.com ᐅᕝᕙᓗᓐᓃᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᑐᔪᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᕗᖓ Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R1

J.B. Tyrrell / Geological Survey of Canada / Library and Archives Canada photo

Inuit men on the shore of Baker Lake, Northwest Territories (Nunavut), 1893.

MIKAN no. 3376392

Project naming: Do you know your elders?

Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa.

The new information is added to these historical photographs at (www.collectionscanada.ca/inuit). Come visit.

Please send submissions to photo@nnsl. com or mail to Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1.

Can you help identify the people in this old photograph?

Project Naming is a trilingual Web exhibition and searchable photographic database available in Inuktitut, English and French. The goal of this project is to identify Inuit in the photographic collections of The roads are slippery from melting snow and ice on the roads around town, so please be careful when out driving or walking.

The Ekaluktutiak Hunter's and Trappers Organization continue to distribute fresh harvested caribou and muskox to the residents of Cambridge Bay. We are so very thankful and grateful for our hunters who continue to make sure our Elders and residents have fresh meat and fish.

It is part of an important diet especially for our Elders who part of their diet for many many years that they grew up on this kind of food. If you have lived in the north for many years I am sure you will know this by now.

They are not used to eating processed foods too much. Please continue to look after our Elders this way by providing country food ᐋᓕᓐ ᐅᑦᑐᕿᐊᖅ: "ᐄ ᐆᒪᓇᓱᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖓ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓚᐅᕋᒪ."

Allen Uttuqiaq, Cambridge Bay:

"Yes I can because I learned from my parents."

for them, they are grateful always.

Please stay safe and abide by the rules, our Mayor Pamela Hakongak Gross has been doing daily video messages for our community and updated us on the latest news on the Covid-19 updates. It is in both Inuinnaqtut and English. It is also aired on our local radio station.

Quana Hakongak for looking after our community and keeping us informed. It is very important that all residents both young and old, all ages know what is going on with this pandemic that has changed our lives very much. Please always listen to the leaders, medical experts to keep this serious virus out of our community and land.

God Be With You Son. Till We Meet Again. ᓕᓐᓯ ᐊᓇᐃᔭ: "ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᖃᖅᑰᖅᐳᖓ ᐆᒪᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᒥ, ᐱᕈᖅᓴᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᑕᖕᒫᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖃᓪᓕᐊᕆᐊᖃᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᖓ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᓐᓂᑦ.

Lindsay Anaija, Taloyoak:

ᐳᕌᓐᑎᓐ ᓇᕐᑐᖅ : "ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᖃᖅᐳᖓ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖓ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᓛᕋᒪ ᒪᓕᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ."

Brandon Nartok, Gjoa Haven:

"I do have the skills but I need to learn more from our Elders and leaders in my family so I can pass them down."

"(Yes) I grew up camping and fishing with my parents. I love being outdoors, my kids love being outdoors."

ᕌᓐ ᑐᓗᒐᓐᓇᖅ: "ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒐᓚᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᓯᒪᕗᖓ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑖᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᖓ, ᓂᕿᑦ, ᓯᒡᒐᓕᐊᑦ, ᓱᓇᒐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᑭᐅᒻᒧᑦ ᓱᓇᒐᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ."

Ron Tologanak, Kugluktuk:

"I have most of the gear but I just need gas, food, smokes, bullets and shotgun shells."

18 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

community

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

¥∂¿ú

Clyde River's Ilisaqsivik takes action during Covid-19 Community-based Inuit organization continues to run many programs remotely

by Rajnesh Sharma

Northern News Services

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

Clyde River's Ilisaqsivik is stepping up to the plate for the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ilisaqsivik, a communitybased Inuit organization, continues to run a lot its programs remotely despite the challenges.

The Breakfast program, Elders' program, Moms and Tots program, After-school program and Prenatal Nutrition program, are all still available for the community.

Every Wednesday and Thursday, Ilisaqsivik staff prepare food hampers for each of these programs.

Every Friday, a week's worth of food is either picked up or delivered depending on the program. The food hampers for all programs, except the breakfast program, are delivered to homes while adhering to social distancing protocols.

The breakfast hampers are picked up by students at Quluaq School. The funding for the breakfast program is presently coming from the Department of Health, said Ilisaqsivik's Executive Director Malcolm Ranta.

But according to Ranta, it is not enough.

The funds are beginning to dry up because of the increase in costs for feeding more students than usual.

Ranta said during school

ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒑᐱᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᕕᒃ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᐳᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᔪᒪᒧᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᒐᔪᙱᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19–ᒧᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ, ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᒫᓪᑲᒻ ᕋᓐᑕ.

Jason Hainnu photo

Clyde River's Ilisaqsivik hopes to create a community map in order to best allocate scarce resources and co-ordinate a Covid-19 Emergency Preparedness Plan, says executive director Malcolm Ranta. about 150 students would come for breakfast. Now staff is making food hampers for 350 students to take home.

Along with running these initiatives, Ilisaqsivik has also started a community based Covid-19 program, which includes an online survey was launched on April 20 to inquire about what sources community members are using to obtain information

about the disease.

"We're really curious in Clyde River (to determine) where people are getting their information on Covid19 from. What is their knowledge of Covid-19?" said Ranta.

The survey will "help us adapt our programming," explained Ranta, adding the information will better help to support the community.

The Ask and Offer program is another initiative being undertaken by the Inuit organization, aiming to obtain health-related information about each household in the community.

Questions related to the number of people and Elders living in each home and whether anyone has a history of TB, pneumonia or a compromised immune sys-

tem will be asked, explained Ranta, noting the information will be gathered remotely by phone.

"We're hoping to create a community map where we can stratify the risk of homes.

So we know the most vulnerable homes and the least vulnerable homes," he said.

Ranta believes this information will help to distribute resources better within the community. Presently, all homes are receiving the exact same amount of cleaning supplies and food, said the executive director.

"We know that there are homes that need more support than other homes. And so we think with this information, we're going to be able to better target the resources that are coming into the community," Ranta explained.

Ilisaqsivik is also running daily events called Clyde River Community Stay at Home Games. These include window decorating competitions, mask decorating competitions and storytelling games. The aim of the games is to encourage family to do activities together at home, said Ranta.

The organization's counsellors are noticing an increase in suicidal thoughts, addiction relapses and domestic violence among their clients.

"And a lot of it is relating to being confined in the home. So we're trying to do other activities that promote families doing things together, trying to improve that cohesion," he said.

Counsellors are also creating videos about how to deal with parenting, addiction and

grieving during quarantine.

In general, according to Ranta, there is a lot of anxiety in the community about Covid-19.

Elders are very concerned because they understand their vulnerability to coronavirus.

Self-isolation is also really stressful for people since they are used to visiting extended family members, explained Ranta.

However, a lot of people are taking the social distancing protocols very seriously, said Ranta.

The hamlet has asked Ilisaqsivik for support with their "community pandemic preparedness plan," said Ranta.

Nunavut News reached out the Hamlet of Clyde River but did not hear back by press time.

By the end of this week, Ilisaqsivik plans to launch a website, www.communityfirstCovid19.org, for community pandemic preparedness. The site will provide resources for any community interested in taking a community approach to planning for Covid-19 as opposed to a top-down government driven approach, explained Ranta.

"We want to put a plan in place so that we're ready when a case (of Covid-19) happens ... we can hit the ground running and we don't have to plan. We don't want to wait for a rapid response team to be sent in once a test comes back positive," said Ranta.

To centralize all information of Covid-19 for Clyde River, Ilisaqsivik has created a Facebook page called Clyde River Preparedness, Covid-19.

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 19

Bad 'brake': Ft. Simpson councillor reprimanded over truck exchange

screenshot from YouTube

The April 6 regular council meeting in Fort Simpson led to a heated exchange between Coun. Kirby Groat (not pictured because he is on teleconference) and village SAO Darrell White, right. Council voted to have Mayor Sean Whelly, left, send Groat a letter of reprimand as it was determined that the council procedures bylaw and council code of conduct were violated.

'We are the ones running this town,' reprimanded councillor said to village SAO

by Simon Whitehouse

Northern News Services

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson

At the urging of Fort Simpson village council, Mayor Sean Whelly sent Coun. Kirby Groat a letter of reprimand due to Groat's line of questioning to the senior administrative officer April 6.

During the meeting, Groat asked SAO Darrell White about the functionality of the village's only bylaw enforcement truck, as it was out of service due to faulty brakes.

White informed Groat the bylaw truck had been initially sent to PR Contracting Ltd. in Fort Simpson, but that the village made the decision to make further repairs elsewhere.

He declined to say why that decision was made.

"I expect we will get another contractor to put brake lines on, we bought the brake lines," White told Groat, a veteran member of council.

When Groat asked if the repairs would be done by a certified mechanic, White replied, "I would say, yes."

To which Groat snapped: "You would say yes? Or yes?"

White, visibly exasperated, said he was not going to have a debate with Groat during the meeting and would talk to the councillor about the issue one-on-one.

"This is council we are talking about," Groat responded.

"We are the ones running this town. Why would you want to talk to me personally and not the other seven councillors?"

White said he has confidence in village staff to make competent decisions on assigning contracts and that Groat's criticism was not warranted.

"Where they get their trucks serviced is their operational decision and I support that," White added.

Whelly then attempted to interject, stating that Groat's point was made, but the interchange between the councillor and the administrator didn't end there.

"Is this truck going to be certified as road worthy after the brakes are changed?" Groat pressed.

White responded that he has "every expectation that it will be."

Groat asked if that meant 'Yes,' but White replied that is not what he said.

"So 'No' is the answer?" Groat asked.

"You're putting words in my mouth again and I never said that," White replied.

"So 'Maybe' is the answer," Groat concluded, ending the

exchange abruptly.

Village council voted April 9 to ask Whelly to send Groat a letter of reprimand as the exchange was deemed "in contravention of the council procedures bylaw" and against council's code of conduct.

Council takes note of behaviour At the April 20 regular meeting, Groat read the letter of reprimand that he received from Whelly into the record.

Whelly declined to provide a copy of the letter to News/ North, but Groat read it into the record: "It is important that the tone of the questions to the administration be kept professional as we are all working as a team," the letter apparently read, going on to point out the importance of maintaining a good working environment for the SAO and that Groat should "take note of the concerns that council expressed regarding your behaviour."

Whelly said this week that when Groat was asking his ques-

tions, he was "outside the bounds of the two village bylaws" and should have been addressing his questions through the chair.

Groat said in an interview on Wednesday that he felt he was doing his job as a councillor by holding the village's administration to account. He said he was concerned about the village's only bylaw enforcement truck having faulty brakes and being put into service earlier this year.

"The truck had been in the maintenance shop and the village came along and took it away," he said. "I had heard it was being driven around and that is where the debate came. I guess they (administration and council) thought I was getting a little bit too loud.

"For some reason I was seen as not respecting the senior administrative officer, who I was pointedly asking questions whether our truck was running around in unsafe conditions."

The village's bylaw truck was still not back on the road as of press deadline.

20 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

ᐃᖃᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᖃᙱᓚᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19–ᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖓ ᑕᒻᒪᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᓲᖑᕗᖅ 30 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ, ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᑦᑎᓛᖓᓂ ᓘᒃᑖᖑᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᓂ 500–ᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒡᓂᑯ ᐄᒍᓪ ᐃᖃᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ ᒎᓗᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓵᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19 ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑐᖃᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᐱᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐃᖃᓗᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓ ᐃᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ 25 ᑭᓛᒥᑐᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19–ᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂ 6–ᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ. ᖃᐅᔨᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ 350–ᓂ ᓴᓇᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᒥᐊᑐᐹᖕᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓᓂ, 110 ᑭᓛᒥᑐᒥ ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒥ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᕕᖓᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐃᖃᓗᒑᕐᔪᖕᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᕕᖓ ᐱᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᐃᑉᐹᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᑎᐊᕆᐅ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒡᓂᑯ ᐄᒍᓪᑯᓐᓂ. ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐸᐃᑉᐹᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖓ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒻᒪᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑕᒻᒪᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᓲᖑᔪᒥ 30 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐸᓗᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕋᓱᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑯᕉᓇ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ. ᐊᐱᖅᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᐃᑉᐹᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒧᖓ ᑭᒡᓕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ

ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂ 500–ᖑᔪᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᒑᕐᔫᑉ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19–ᒧᑦ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

photo courtesy of Agnico Eagle

Testing of more than 500 Meliadine mine employees returned no positive indicators of Covid-19, Agnico Eagle has stated. ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒡᓂᑯ ᐄᒍᓪ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓᓐᓂ. ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᒋᐊᕆ ᑯᐱᖑᕐᒧᑦ, ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᕇᒃᑯᑎᒥᒃ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐃᐴᓚ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᕐᓂ ᓚᕚᓪ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓂ ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᓯᑎᒥ. ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᔪᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒡᓂᑯ ᐄᒍᓪ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓚᖕᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑯᕉᓇ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ

ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᓄᑦ ᐃᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐲᖅᓯᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᙱᑦᑐᒧᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ, ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᓴᓗᒻᒪᖅᓴᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᕐᕕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓂᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖓᕙᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᓄᑦ 28–ᓄᑦ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓱᓕ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓯᒪᙱᓚᑦ ᑯᕉᓇ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᖦᖢᒍ.

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 21

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Around the North

If you have an item of interest from your community, call (867) 873-4031, or email: editorial@nnsl.com

RCMP photo

None the wiser

Police seized an estimated $15,000 worth of alcohol from a warehouse in Baker Lake April 21. The building contained sixty 26-ounce bottles of whiskey. A 50-year-old woman from the community has been charged with keeping liquor for sale without the lawful authority to do so under the Liquor Control Act.

Baker Lake woman charged with bootlegging

Baker Lake Police seized an estimated $15,000 worth of alcohol from a warehouse in Baker Lake on Tuesday.

The building contained sixty 26-ounce bottles of whisky.

A 50-year-old woman from the community has been charged with keeping liquor for sale without the lawful authority to do so under the Liquor Control Act. Her next scheduled court appearance is July 27 in Baker Lake.

The RCMP encourage anyone with information in relation to bootlegging in the community to call the Baker Lake RCMP at 867-793-0123 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

– Derek Neary

Earth Day celebrated remotely

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson Fort Simpson residents were able to take part in Earth Day activities while physical distancing thanks to an event organized by Open Sky Creative Society.

"Decorate a planter and plant some seeds just in time for spring at home," states a bulletin on social media from Open Sky Creative Society.

"Start your sunflowers inside or plant them later to bring some colour and happy sunflowers to our community."

A limited number of free kits were provided with pots, soil, seeds and decorations for those without supplies.

Those who participated were asked to share their planter pictures with the organization on social media.

– Erin Steele

Funding available for non-profits

NWT Non-profits in the NWT that offer programs or services to seniors can apply to receive funding from United Way NWT. "Eligible organizations hosting programs that provide relief during the Covid-19 pandemic who are supporting people in this category can receive up to $5,000," states the United Way

NWT website.

"Funding has been received from the Employment and Social Development Canada's New Horizons Senior Program and is focussed on helping vulnerable residents of the NWT over 55 years old and/or their caregivers."

The organization is distributing a total of $75,000 to NWT programs.

The deadline to apply is April 30. Funds will be awarded May 6.

– Erin Steele

Remote work for teachers

Nunavut Working remotely is the most practical option for Nunavut teachers, according to the Coalition of Nunavut DEAs (CNDEA).

"We understand some teachers have travelled to southern Canada for various reasons, and we prefer if they would be given an option to work remotely, so that they have the option to not travel" CNDEA chair Jedidah Merkosak stated in a news release issued Tuesday.

The CNDEA is working with educators to figure out how to most effectively come up with a way to implement learning plans.

The CNDEA is also in favour of all Nunavut schools remaining closed for the remainder of 2019-20 school year.

"During this pandemic, it's important that we keep students, teachers, staff, families, and our communities safe," said Merkosak.

– Derek Neary

Election postponed

Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard Those getting ready to cast their votes for the next chief and council will have to wait until the fall to do so.

Informed by the "First Nations Election Cancellation and Postponement Regulations (Prevention of Diseases)", the election officer's recommendation to council was to postpone the election for six months.

The June 8 election will now take place in November due

to the current State of Emergency in the NWT and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The extension of Council's term is based on Council's responsibility to continue to protect and advance the interests of its community," states a release from Acho Dene Koe First Nation.

– Erin Steele

Emergency extended

Nunavut Nunavut's public health emergency was extended until April 30, stated a news release issued this past week by territorial Minister of Health George Hickes.

"Nunavut's efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19 have proven effective so far," wrote Hickes in the release.

"Now is not the time to relax measures or loosen our guidelines. We need to remain committed in order to protect our communities."

–Darrell Greer

Singing and jigging contest held in Fort Providence

Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence The lucky winners of a contest held by the Hamlet of Fort Providence will be walking away with cash prizes.

"Let's get jigging and singing, have some fun, spread some joy and maybe win some cash," states a Hamlet bulletin on social media.

Fort Providence residents were asked to submit a one minute video clip of themselves singing and jigging to enter.

The contest closed April 26 with winners yet to be announced by press time.

Winners will receive $150 for first place, $100 for second and $75 for third in the 18 and under category. Adults 19 and older competed for $200 for first, $150 for second and $100 for third.

– Erin Steele Please see next page

22 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

Schools update learning package process

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson With just one learning package pick-up under their belts, Liidlii Kue Regional High School and Liidlii Kue Elementary School have updated the procedure for pick-up going forward.

"Starting with the second learner packages, the schools will be open on the alternating Tuesday afternoons for anyone who would like to drop off completed homework and assignments for their teachers," states a release from the schools.

"The assigned times for learner package pick-up will remain as a guideline only. If you miss your scheduled time or if you have children at both schools, you can come at a time that works best for you between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m."

The next pick-up is April 28.

– Erin Steele

Police reminder

Kivalliq The RCMP have issued a news release reminding parents to be extra vigilant when it comes to what the internet is being used for and the types of messages being sent and received on home computers, cellphones and mobile devices with access to the web.

The police advisory, released by Cpl. Jamie Savikataaq, reminds parents of the potential dangers of the

around the NWT

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

internet, especially with children and youth being at home and having to social distance from friends and extended family.

In the current situation due to the Covid-19 threat, the region's children and youth are quite likely to be accessing the internet more often in order to communicate with others and occupy their time.

The RCMP reminder to parents of the internet's dark side comes shortly after a Rankin Inlet man was arrested and charged with child luring earlier this month.

– Darrell Greer

Garden plots available

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson All seasoned and aspiring green thumbs have been invited to sign up for a garden plot with the Fort Simpson Community Garden Society.

"Returning and new members welcome," states a bulletin on social media from the organization.

Returning members will have first pick on their boxes from the previous year. The deadline to sign up to secure their boxes is May 15.

"Community garden rules and guidelines will be published closer to the start of our outdoor season to comply with guidelines published by the NWT Chief Public Health Office regarding social distancing," states the membership form.

Garden plots are four feet by 16 feet.

– Erin Steele

fighting fake news

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Sandra Lester, vice-chair of the Hay River Seniors' Society, is using the internet to help keep members updated on the latest news about Covid-19. "We've let people know, besides the facts that they're getting that the right information or the current information is from the GNWT," said Lester.

"We're also trying to weed out the stuff that's going to get them in trouble."

news

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 23

'Vague' NWT health orders draw ire of civil liberties watchdog ...

Advocates say public health rules against gatherings are too broad

by Nick Pearce

Northern News Services

NWT

Orders issued by the NWT chief public health officer banning public gatherings could fall short of constitutional standards, according to a letter the Canadian Civil Liberties Association sent to Justice Minister Caroline Wawzonek last Friday.

"We have significant concerns about the constitutionality of this order," wrote Abby Deshman, the association's criminal justice program director.

She wrote that "the Constitution sets a higher standard for necessity, clarity and proportionality for orders" than those Chief Public health officer Kami Kandola signed.

Deshman outlined two broad concerns with Kandola's April 10 orders banning indoor gatherings and restricting outdoor gatherings to under 10 people while distancing.

First, there were no clear definitions of public or private gatherings under the order, "which makes these prohibitions unacceptably vague," she wrote.

Second was the lack of exceptions to the outdoor gathering restrictions.

If the orders were followed to the letter, she wrote, they wouldn't let a child and parent walk down the street together without being two metres apart. Deshman added that this likely wasn't the orders' intention.

"It is critical, particularly at a time that individuals' basic liberties are being so severely curtailed, that orders are carefully and precisely drafted," she wrote.

Carefully and precisely drafted "Failing to do so undermines the legality of the order, creates confusion, and opens the door to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement."

Sharing the letter on social media, Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson wrote that the concerns weren't the "highest priority for our government at this time, however they are still extremely important."

Minister Wawzonek told NNSL Media Monday that she received the letter and would respond to the association within the week.

While the letter was addressed to her, she noted the justice minister didn't create and can't modify the public health orders, which fall under the Department of Health and Social Services.

As attorney general, Wawzonek serves as a legal adviser for cabinet, she said.

"This is a role I take very seriously because it helps ensure that considerations of legality, including the Constitution and the Charter, are always part of the operations of government," she wrote.

When the government rolled out the emergency measures, enforced by a compliance task force, Health Minister Diane Thom said it was a necessary measure.

"While we provided advice weeks ago, we are confident that it is necessary to put legal weight behind these measures to respond to this unprecedented threat," she said at the time.

As those rules come into force, Yellowknife lawyer Garth Wallbridge said the association's letter may have a point, but ideally, these arguments would be phrased more as opinion

and include an invitation to work on the file, he said.

Wallbridge was meanwhile supportive of the chief public health officer and cabinet efforts, but he said it is important that orders are well-written, focused and specific.

"I personally believe the encroachments we're seeing on our constitutional rights at this moment, will be completely removed. I don't have any concerns about that," he said.

Michael Gannon, another Yellowknife lawyer, said it was healthy to have a discussion over civil liberties with lawmakers, "not oneway monologue."

"As people get their liberties constrained longer and longer, it becomes harder and harder to just comply without some transparency as to why we're doing this, or why we're continuing to do this," he said.

For Gannon, it's important to keep government accountable so residents have their say.

"Everybody's got to keep an eye on things, and I think that's what the Civil Liberties Association is saying: We're keeping an eye on you," he said.

... But it's not time to lift them: Kandola Second or even third wave possible before vaccine, chief public health officer says

by Simon Whitehouse

Northern News Services

NWT

Chief public health officer Kami Kandola is warning Northerners to not to expect an immediate end to current restrictions on business, gatherings and travel now that all five cases of Covid19 reported in the territory are being reported as having recovered from the deadly virus.

On Monday, the GNWT announced all five patients in the territory with cases of Covid-19 overcame the virus. One was in Inuvik, three in Yellowknife and one in Fort Resolution.

This makes the NWT the first province or territory in Canada to announce a total recovery of patients infected with the virus.

In a teleconference with reporters on Wednesday, Kandola said while the recovery of those with the virus is "undoubtedly good news," the territory's health leaders have to be careful not to lessen health and safety protocols too early.

"We know that there are second and perhaps even third waves expected in Canada before we get a vaccine," she said. "We know from history that those additional waves are often more deadly and widespread than the first."

Although the NWT has seen some success, the pandemic remains a serious issue elsewhere in the country with 1,591 new cases reported nationwide April 21.

"We are far from through this," Kandola said.

"The fact is that the biggest risk to our territory is the situation across Canada. Right now Canada's cases continue to grow each day in spite of testing rates far lower than our own.

"The only way for us to keep our territory in containment through possibly three waves across Canada is to be very careful in how we manage our response over this time."

Kandola said GNWT health authorities continue to watch infection rate statistics, regional outbreaks, transmission dynamics, growing worries about asymptomatic spread as well as evolving research.

"From that data we're looking at ways of loosening our restrictions only where it makes the most sense," she said. "We are formulating a plan, moving forward and all the information we have. I will be speaking in greater detail in the future."

Kandola was asked why some of the public gathering restrictions were in place - particularly those involving members or small communities

Chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola, photographed in 2016.

She says the fact that all five NWT residents who contracted Covid19 have recovered doesn't mean it would be right to lift social distancing restrictions.

NNSL file photo

wanting to get together.

She said that because of the nature of the virus and its ability to spread before symptoms are fully found, there is a need to be vigilant and keep in place restrictions.

One in four cases of Covid-19 cases being spread have involved asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people – meaning that symptoms of the virus weren't seen in individuals until later.

"We know that with Covid-19, it's not the same as SARS," she said. "With SARS, typically, as people got sicker, and they were able to spread the virus at a higher rate, and they were able to spread when they were symptomatic.

"But we're learning more about Covid-19 transmission dynamics (and) that people can spend as far as 48 hours before they have symptoms. The transmission of this virus is also higher in the first week, even if you have mild symptoms."

Kandola acknowledged that all communities have been tested and 1,600 cases to date have

come back negative, with zero active cases.

However, there is some likelihood of imported cases and there remains a need to "decrease travel risk."

"Because of this transmission dynamic, we really want to ramp up our community surveillance just to ensure that Covid-19 is not being quietly transmitted through mildly symptomatic cases," she said. "We don't believe that is the scenario but we need to make sure we ... tighten up our border security. And once we have these in place we can make a plan moving forward to begin lifting up our restrictions."

Travel imported cases remains the highest concern during the pandemic and because of that border restrictions and requirements to selfisolated in the four hubs - Hay River, Fort Smith, Yellowknife or Inuvik - will remain in place to the very end of the pandemic.

"The one restriction that will remain until we have a vaccine is travel related border restrictions, because at this point our single most threat

for Covid is travel related importation, she said, noting the importance to having to protect small and vulnerable communities.

Kandola was asked about when the GNWT would begin relaxing some of the restrictions and how that process might occur. She said "a gradual phased approach" would take place to relax public health measures once the curve is considered flattened and the pandemic under control.

She said she expects that to begin in four to six weeks, provided that there is no detection of community spreads or that there is "very tight control" over travel entries and self-isolation compliance.

"Phase one is a relaxation of non-essential businesses that can physically distance and there will be measures around infection control and (personal protective equipment)," she said. "When you're looking at specifically indoor gatherings, that actually would be the last restriction to be lifted."

community

24 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

¥∂¿ú

Arctic Bay enforces curfew Hamlet office enacts temporary ban on gatherings, imposes fines for repeat offences

by Rajnesh Sharma

Northern News Services

Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay

With no cases of Covid-19 present in the community, the hamlet of Arctic Bay office has enacted a temporary bylaw banning gatherings. This bylaw has been in effect since the evening of April 9.

According to this bylaw, which was posted on social media by the hamlet of Arctic Bay, all house gatherings have been banned. In other words, people who are not residents of the home, cannot gather inside the house. There is also a ban on all outdoor gatherings that involve more than two individuals.

All local non-business and bake sales from residence have been banned after 8:00 p.m; only deliveries are acceptable.

All pubic facilities are closed to the public.

The hamlet also stated, if the Department of Health reports an "infectious disease," then all homebased bake sales will be halted.

Under this bylaw, there is also a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for all residents within the community.

"A fire alarm will sound the warning at 9:00 pm and another alarm will go off at 9:30 pm," read the statement posted by the hamlet of Arctic Bay. "I hear the siren blaring every evening at 9:30 p.m.," confirmed an anonymous source.

Additionally, all non-essential vehicles, including ATVs and snowmobiles are not permitted to be

ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᕼᐋᒻᓚᖓ ᐊᑐᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ 9:00 ᐅᓐᓄᒃᑯᑦ 5:00 ᐅᓪᓛᒧᑦ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᓕᒫᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᕘᓇ ᕿᓚᒻᒥᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᕋᓛᖑᓚᐅᑲᒃᑐᒥ. ᐅᓇ ᒪᓕᒐᕋᓛᖅ ᐊᑐᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 9–ᒥ ᑭᐅᓂᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᕙᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ–19–ᒧᑦ.

photo courtesy of Mathew Inuutiq

Arctic Bay is enforcing a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for all residents under a temporary bylaw. This bylaw came into effect on April 9 as a response to Covid-19. used between 9:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Exceptions will be made only for hunters and travellers, who are "going out or coming back or responding to emergency," stated the Facebook post.

Individuals who break the bylaw will be given a warning by a bylaw officer. After the initial warning, there will be a $50 fine for the first offense. If the offense occurs for a second time the fine will increase to $100.

This bylaw is to remain in effect

until May 15, 2020, unless it is renewed by hamlet council.

When Nunavut News asked what is happening in the community amid Covid-19, Arctic Bay's Deputy Mayor Sheena Qaunaq did not mention this new bylaw. The comments on the post in the Ikpiarjuk News Facebook group have also been turned off.

"The atmosphere in our community is quite calm and quiet, people are distancing themselves as much as they can," said Qaunaq,

adding "I notice it when I'm at the store."

Currently, the hamlet is working on finalizing the community's emergency plan for Covid-19.

Qaunaq also shared the student breakfast program, which is run by a few teachers, is running again.

Each morning teachers prepare food packages, which students can pick up outside the c-hall, she explained.

Food hampers have also been given to families during Covid-19.

Presently, the hamlet is organ-

izing a food hamper drive to every household.

"We have ordered some food to make sure there will be enough for everyone," said the deputy mayor.

"There seems to be enough food at the stores for everyone, the managers have been doing a great job making sure there is enough meat and produce for the community."

Nunavut News reached out to Qaunaq to comment about the temporary bylaw, but did not hear back.

Covid-19 updates: equipment, testing and viral infections Nunavut still has zero cases of Covid-19

by Rajnesh Sharma

Northern News Services

Iqaluit

For nearly six weeks now, the GN has been holding press conferences in Iqaluit to provide Nunavummiut with Covid-19 updates. On April 22, during the 24th press conference, Dr. Michael Patterson provided some updates on equipment, testing and the Covid-19 situation within the territory.

Ventilators "We're quite good with ventilators," said Patterson, adding there are 12 ventilators for a population of 38,000, which is "very good."

In mid-March, the territory had 7 ventilators.

There is a less pressing need for ventilators now, said Patterson.

Since the situation in the south is improving, there is more capacity for intensive care units (ICU) than was originally expected, he explained.

Last month, Patterson had mentioned that anyone who requires a

ventilator, will start treatment with it and then be transferred south for the ICU. Swabs Supplies of swabs for testing Covid-19 are "getting better," according to Nunavut's top doctor.

There is "a large shipment en route from the Federal Government of Canada and a larger shipment coming from a private company," he explained.

The exact number of swabs expected was not mentioned.

PPE PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for health-care staff is "still a bit of a concern," said Patterson, adding it is less so than it was a few weeks ago.

"PPE is certainly enough to keep us going for a few weeks if we had significant emergencies in a number of areas across the territory, but we're still hoping to expand our supply," he said.

The doctor assured that Nunavut is receiving PPE on a "fairly regular basis."

On April 7, Nunavut's chief public health officer recommended people should wear a cloth mask in situations where Covid-19 is around and physical distancing and social distancing are difficult to maintain.

On April 22, Premier Joe Savikataaq announced through the Nunavut Development Corporation, the GN is funding seamstresses to make 5,000 face masks. These cotton masks will be for Elders, Nunavummiut with underlying health conditions and non-medical first responders.

About 500 masks will also be set aside for air travellers.

Since April 20, Transport Canada is requiring all air passengers to wear non-medical masks during travel.

These re-usable masks are not a replacement for other measures like social distancing and washing hands, emphasized Savikataaq, not-

ing they serve as an additional layer of protection.

who are no longer under investigation and have been cleared.

Testing On April 7, Patterson had signed a medical directive to expand testing to people, who exhibit symptoms consistent with Covid-19, whether they were mild or severe.

The health staff continues to test aggressively in communities in order to ensure no hidden transmission of Covid-19 has been missed.

At the April 22 press conference Patterson said the average time for getting test results for the territory is about six to seven days, depending on the flights. In mid-March, the average turnaround time for tests was four to six days, according to the doctor.

Currently, 235 people are under investigation. This number reflects people who may be waiting for test results as well as those who have received test results, but are completing their 14-day self-isolation.

There are presently 250 people,

Decrease in viral infections and medevacs Patterson believes the majority of people are following the advice and orders from the Department of Health, because there has been a "significant dent on other viral infections."

"There's definitely been a significant drop in influenza and RSV infections," said Patterson. There has also been a significant drop in medevacs, he added.

Over the last four weeks, there has been a drop in medevacs and admissions to health centres for respiratory tract infections, reiterated Patterson.

"So I'm pretty certain, as certain as anybody can be, that there's no hidden transmission of Covid-19 happening in Nunavut at this time," he said.

There are zero cases of Covid-19 in Nunavut at present.

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 25

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

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

Business as usual for Sport North Staff continue to do daily tasks and whatever it can during Covid-19

NNSL file photo

Team NT's Arctic Winter Games figure skating team of Brooke Vallis, left, Sarah Campbell, Emily Hazenberg and Victoria Hamm model off the official walk-out uniform that the team was to wear during the opening ceremony for the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse last month. Sport North is now selling its overstock complement of Games-related clothing.

by James McCarthy

Northern News Services

NWT

Like most people in the North, the staff of Sport North is working from home but the business of sport is never done.

It's just being done as remotely as possible.

The staff have been working from home for about a month now after the physical office was closed on March 19 to try and steer the staff clear of Covid-19.

Doug Rentmeister, Sport North's executive director, said the staff got in touch with IT people to figure out the best way to continue to access

files and see what can be done.

The next big thing coming up, he said, is a brand new round of grant funding from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).

"It's operational funding and we're looking to see what we're going to get, just like the TSOs (territorial sport organizations) are going to," he said.

This will be the second cycle of the new funding model brought in

by MACA, which changed things up from an annual disbursement from Sport North to a model which provides funding for three-year time frames.

The old formula used to see the sports submit their accountability reports and financial statements by a certain time to Sport North each year with the deadline dependent on which season their sport happened.

"We're all on the same deadline now," said Rentmeister. "Under the old system, we would have the funding ready for sports when their busiest time of year was coming up."

The annual awards are still set to be handed out but they will be done virtually as opposed to in person.

The banquet was set to happen in May but Rentmeister said since the order on public gatherings hasn't yet been lifted, there will be no

in-person ceremony for the awards until later in the year.

"We're shooting for the (NWT Sport) Hall of Fame ceremony in November," he said. "We'll hand out the awards online so we can acknowledge those who have won an award of some sort."

There is a new award being presented this year known as the Active for Life, which is open to those 55 years of age and older.

"It's directed at seniors because there are so many who are still active and playing sports and participating," said Rentmeister.

There's still the matter of the 2020 Arctic Winter Games which,

even though they didn't happen this time around, still has some business to be attended to. There is a whole bunch of material left to be given out from the host society and the job now is getting it to everyone who was supposed to be a part of Team NT. "We have the pins, toques, flipflops, all sorts of officials gear," said Rentmeister. "We're trying to find out the best way to get it all organized and sent out to the athletes in the communities."

A surplus of Team NT uniform clothing is in stock as well which is currently on sale online at the Sport North website, he added.

26 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

sports & recreation

Îé¯≤ú & ÄÎÖ∏ÙÄÕÍ≤Ò

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Didn't the Boston Red Sox get off easy?

Northern News Services

Here's why people don't trust the media these days: An affiliate station of the ABC network in the U.S. managed to do what very few stations have ever done. One of its anchors told the sad story of a young man by the name of Jack Allard dying in hospital after succumbing to Covid-19. He was placed in a medicallyinduced coma and never came out of it. Only problem was the station ran a reel of Allard walking out of the hospital to meet his family after making a full recovery. Free journalism tip: make sure you read what you write before you broadcast it. I laughed. I shouldn't have but I did.

Anyway:

ᐊᓕᒃᓴ ᑯᐊᕋ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᕙᓗᕋᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ 2019–ᒥ ᐊᓇᐅᓕᒑᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᒃᑲᐅᓛᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᙱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᐅᐸᖅᑐᒥ ᓇᑎᕋᕐᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᖃᔾᔮᙱᓚᑦ ᐹᔅᑕᓐ ᕆᐊᑦ ᓵᒃᔅᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᑉ ᐃᓚᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐄ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᒐᒃᓴᐅᓂᖓᓂ 2017 ᓇᐃᐅᔅᑕᓐ ᐋᔅᑐᕉᔅ–ᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ.

A real slap on the wrist To my last breath, I say the Houston Astros (Asterisks) should be stripped of the 2017 World Series title it won. They cheated to do it and don't deserve one bit of recognition.

The Boston Red Sox also got caught cheating on their way to winning the 2018 World Series but Major League Baseball decided to let them off the hook because they didn't spend the entire season screwing over other teams photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons with a centre-field camera.

Alex Cora, seen waving with his family during the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game red carpet ceremony, will Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major not be managing the Boston Red Sox this season after it was determined that, yes, he was part of the gong show that League Baseball, announced on April 22 that was the 2017 Houston Astros. the Red Sox would lose its second-round pick in this year's amateur draft and the team's replay system operator, J.T. Watkins, has been ally saying it's good but not good enough. The you incorporate any sort of electronic signal, such heights. suspended for the duration of this season and association wants to have a full-time, fully proyou're asking for it.

He will have all eyes on him along with a next because he was apparently the one who fessional operation and more than 200 players So yeah … the Red Sox did get off a bit big bullseye. used in-game video to show players pitch have vowed to not play in North America until easier. sequences. Watkins has always denied being that happens.

And finally … involved in anything untoward.

Well, here's the deal: at least it's something The pressure is on Good Idea: The National Women's Hockey The big one was Alex Cora, the team's and since the CWHL isn't around anymore, the So the Western Hockey League's bantam League comes to Toronto. manager. He will be suspended for this season options for women who want to play profesdraft happened on April 22.

Bad Idea: Not everyone's on board with the but not because of what happened with the sional hockey aren't exactly in abundance right There was one player from the NWT select- idea.

Red Sox. All of that garbage ed in the draft, that being Matnow. The NWHL doesn't pay the players a lot The National Women's Hockey League is occurred while he was with thew Gillard of Yellowknife, – the exact amount of pay isn't known because the only such professional league going right the Astros and because he was who was picked by the Victoria now for female players and the announcement the league doesn't release its figures – but labeled as one of the ringleadRoyals in the seventh round. they get something. If it's $15,000, which is a of an expansion team into Toronto was big ers during that fiasco of dishonThe big surprise is that Alex rumoured amount, it's better than $0. news. esty in 2017 (he was the bench Cordero of Yellowknife wasn't I wish the association luck but at the present The new team was announced on April 22 with James McCarthy drafted and I'll have more to coach back then), he's being and there was an immediate reaction of excite- time, there aren't a lot of organizations that are punished now. ment from a lot of people, including myself. say about that later. willing to stump up the kind of capital required The Red Sox will most likeThe Canadian Women's Hockey League fell The big story, though, was to have such a league be viable right now. The ly escape being labeled as tarnished champs victim to financial problems so why not let the that Connor Bedard became the first player in NWHL is providing an opportunity to do so largely because Manfred ruled that the players NWHL have a go? The team already has five Western Hockey League history to be granted and if that grows into something big – and I in 2018 had no idea that there was trickery players signed and ready to go. exceptional player status and was drafted first sincerely hope it does – players will be able afoot. Unlike the Astros players, who all knew So why isn't everyone on board with this? overall by the Regina Pats. That means the to wake up in the morning and go to the rink what was going on (and don't tell me they league feels he can step in and develop there as Easy: some don't think it's professional enough. instead of trying to find the time to do so while didn't because they did), the Red Sox were able opposed to moving up to the next age category.

The Professional Women's Hockey Players taking on a full-time job. to show that no one knew.

Association issued a statement shortly after the In short, he would simply be wasting his time.

Does it make it OK? Of course not. It's announcement outlining its thoughts, basicUntil next time, folks …

Now, does it mean that Bedard will begin one thing to steal signs through the triedtearing up the league? No. It just means the and-true method of tip pitching or guessing WHL thinks he can hack it now as opposed to the sequence but using technology isn't just waiting. He's only the seventh player in major a crappy way to do it, it's also illegal. Major junior hockey history to be granted such status League Baseball rules state as such. There's no and joins players such as Connor McDavid, rule against using non-tech ways but the second John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad in achieving

Sports Talk

Sports Card TAble Tennis AGE: 17 Community: Fort Providence

Shannan Bonnetrouge

Shannan is one of the grizzled veterans of table tennis in the NWT, having played at the 2018 Arctic Winter Games and 2019 Canada Winter Games in the sport. She was all set to go for the 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse last month before they were cancelled.

Triple-ply team building

photo courtesy of Christy Schwartz

Christy Schwartz, secretary of Hay River Hazard Women's Hockey, introduced the team to a fun video challenge called Hazard's Pass the Toilet Paper.

sports & recreation

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Îé¯≤ú & ÄÎÖ∏ÙÄÕÍ≤Ò

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 27

The gold ol' days of Super Soccer Soccer Feature

ᒫᒋ ᐴᓪᑦ ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅᐱᙳᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒡᔭᖅᓯᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᖅᓴᒥ ᑕᑉᐸᐅᖓ ᐊᖓᔪᒃᖠᕐᓂ ᐊᕿᔭᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝᒥ ᒪᐃ 3, 2019–ᒥ.

ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᔮᓇᑕᓐ ᐃᕼᐅᒪᑕᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓇᓱᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᖅᓴᒥ ᐃᓅᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᒪᕈᕐᓄᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᒥ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᓂ 6–ᓂ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᓄᑦ ᐊᕿᔭᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 28, 2019–ᒥ.

Maggie Bolt of Kugluktuk keeps her eyes on the play as she carries the ball upfield during Senior Super Soccer action in Yellowknife on May 3, 2019.

Kugluktuk's Jonathon Ihumatak tries to shield the ball from an Inuvik Wolves player during Grade 6 boys division playoff action at Junior Super Soccer in Yellowknife on April 28, 2019.

by James McCarthy

Northern News Services

With the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the world, sporting events of all sorts have been cancelled.

That includes Super Soc-

cer, both junior and senior editions, so if we can't have anything this year, let's go back into the vault and look at some of the playoff action from one year ago in the junior edition.

ᓱᐲᐊ ᐸᕆᓴᓗ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝᒥ ᐅᐃᓕᐊᒻ ᒪᒃᑖᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ, ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒥ, ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᒧᑦ ᐃᐊᕆᓐ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥ 8-ᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᕆᔭᖓᓐᓂ ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᕿᔭᕐᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 28-ᒥ.

Sophia Barichello of Yellowknife's William McDonald School, right, does battle with Rankin Inlet's Erin Kaludjak for possession during the Grade 8 girls final of Junior Super Soccer in Yellowknife, last year on April 28

ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᑉ ᒋᐊᕆᑦ ᑕᑉᑑᓇ ᕿᓂᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᓕᖕᒥ 6-ᒥ ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᕿᔭᕐᓂᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᕆᓕ 28-ᒥ.

Kugluktuk's Garrett Taptuna looks to pass off the ball during Grade 6 boys division playoff action at Junior Super Soccer in Yellowknife on April 28 last year.

28 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 29

30 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

commentary

NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020 31

Let's talk about #FortressNWT The NWT has been leading the way nationally in the fight against Covid-19. We were one of the first jurisdictions to institute drastic measures such as border closures and mandatory self-isolation. We are first among all provinces and territories in per capita testing by a large margin. And most significantly, we are the first jurisdiction in the country that can declare that all active cases of Covid-19 have now recovered. Bold leadership, a co-operative population, and a little bit of luck have got us to where we are now.

While the top priority of our senior officials remains the prevention of further cases of Covid-19 in the territory, our Chief Medical Health Officer must also start to boldly think about how the restrictions on our way of life might be eased over time.

While a vaccine is projected to be available sometime in mid- to late-2021, waiting to ease current restrictions until then is not possible. This would have far too devastating an impact on our mental and physical well-being, our families, and our economy which is in the early stages of collapse with the cancellation of the 2020 tourism season and the closure of the Ekati diamond mine.

So if we can't wait for a vaccine, what can we do?

One idea that may be the best option over the coming months is what you could call #FortressNWT. Our isolation as a territory plays to our advantage in this scenario, as we have

There have been no positive tests to date, and with that reassurance the company can more comfortably go about something that looks like business as usual.

Senior GNWT officials tell us that we are a few weeks away from having rapid testing capabilities in the NWT. It is unlikely we will see something like #FortressNWT here until such time as this testing is readily available. However, if we were to get some clearer signals from senior officials that this is the way forward, it might make the next few weeks of If it can be lifted, it should our confinement that much more tolerable.

If this could be done, and there remains no comIn the meantime, we can learn from other northmunity transmission inside the territory, we should ern regions that are already breaking trail for us. In be able to go about our lives with much less restric- GUEST Greenland, an isolated jurisdiction like the NWT tions than we have now, as we would have much with a few travel-related Covid-19 cases and no Comment greater confidence that our friends, families, and evidence of community transmission, very strict Steve Ellis is program co-workers are virus-free. lead, Northern restrictions on incoming travel have been put in Moving forward with #FortressNWT would Canada, for Tides place. At the same time, facilities and services are require mandatory testing and strict quarantine Canada. being carefully reopened. measures for essential medical, supply-chain, mine, Retail stores and restaurants in the capital of and infrastructure workers that must come into the Nuuk will be doing business with some limitations, territory. This can be done, as the company Agnico Eagle is and students will be returning to school on staggered schedules. proving at its remote Meliadine and Meadowbank mines in I hope that over the next few weeks news of healthy Greenlanders going about their lives with fresh salon haircuts will inspire Nunavut. There, on-site Covid-19 testing can deliver results in bold action here towards something like #FortressNWT. a few hours, and to date over 850 employees have been tested.

only a handful of entry points by road or air. To date, it is likely that Covid-19 has been limited in the NWT primarily due to the closure of these entry points to most travellers, and less so to physical distancing measures within the territory itself. #FortressNWT would involve even stricter controlling, testing, and/or quarantining of traffic into the territory in order to eliminate contact between incoming travellers and residents.

32 NWt/nunavut nEWS NORTH, Monday, April 27, 2020

N[Z/su, wSD 27, 2020

Submit a photo

x0p31Axy N4ystdJxl4