Nunavut News - July 10, 2023

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ

ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᖏᓚᖑᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓈᓴᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ

286 ᐃᓕᓇᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᕌᒍᑦᑎᓐᓂ

High school grads nearly surpass record

286 students earn their diplomas in Nunavut this year

Academic achiever

ᑖᑎᐊᓇ ᒥᒃᑖᓄᑦ ᖃᕐᒪᖅᑕᓕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᓂ ᐃᓱᓕᑦᑎᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅ 2023-ᒥᑦ. ᐊᔨᖁᑎᓂᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᓪᓘᓂᑦ

ᑕᑯᔪᒪᒍᕕᑦ ᒪᒃᐱᕐᕋᕐᓗᒍ ᐱᕙᓕᐊᔪᖁᑎ.

Tatiana McDonald of Qarmartalik School in Resolute Bay is among the Class of 2023. See inside for more photos and stories on Nunavut’s high school graduates. Photo courtesy of Qarmartalik School

ᓇᓄᖅ ᖁᕿᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ

ᐸᕝᕕᓵᕆᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑕᐃᓇᖅᖢᓂ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐊᓄᑦ

Bear shot after repeatedly wandering too close to Rankin Inlet

‘Proudest father in the world’ watches two children graduate at once

Siblings Annica and Paiden Otokiak both earn diplomas from Cambridge Bay’s Kiilinik High School

By Tom Taylor Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Graduating from Cambridge Bay’s Kiilinik High School was something of a family affair for Annica Otokiak.

Not only were there several members of her family in attendance for the ceremony, but she shared the graduation stage with her sibling, Paiden.

“My brother and I graduated at the same time,” she said. “It felt really cool and sentimental for me at the same time.

“I think we were the only siblings to graduate together in a long time.”

Kiilinik’s graduation ceremony occurred on June 10. The theme of the ceremony was spring, and the school was decorated with plants and artwork to commemorate the occasion.

“There was a 15-foot long banner for us graduates made by the little kids at the Kullik School,” said Annica. “There was about 150 to 200 people there.”

Annica’s father, Andre Akana Otokiak, was one of those in attendance for the ceremony. Annica and Paiden are the youngest of his five children, and the last two to graduate from high school.

“I am the proudest father in the world to have watched my children graduate and walk

down their graduating ceremony,” he said. Annica had a great time with her family and friends at her graduation ceremony, and did not have any difficulty picking out the highlight of the celebrations.

“My favourite part was throwing up my hat at the end,” she said.

Of course, there are things she will recall fondly about her time in high school.

“I will miss seeing my friends everyday, and my teachers,” she said. “I’ll miss my socials class, because that was my favourite subject – and mostly because of my teacher.”

With her diploma attained, Annica now plans to take a year off to work and save money to attend college for culinary arts.

“I love to cook and bake,” she said. “My goal is to one day open my own little bakery.”

The new graduate, who enjoys playing sports like soccer, hockey and table tennis in her free time, admits she’s a bit daunted by the challenges of the real world, but after four years of high school, she’s confident she will find her way eventually.

“Honestly, I feel prepared for little things like going grocery shopping, or having to pay for my things, but I don’t think I’m prepared for the next chapter.

“I still feel like I’m 13 and need help with everything, but I’ll get there,” she laughed.

The Otokiak siblings are two of 286 graduates in Nunavut this year — close to a record

“The Department of Education is proud of its graduates,” said Rebecca Hainnu, deputy minister of the Department of Education.

“This year we have nearly the highest number of graduates ever.

“We will continue to strive to provide a solid bilingual education, that is based in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and societal values with modern skill sets. Since high school courses started being delivered in communities, the graduation rates have steadily increased.”

Brother and sister Paiden and Annica Otokiak pose for a photo after graduating from Cambridge Bay’s Kiilinik High School in June. The pair were the last of five Otokiak siblings to finish high school, according to their father Andre. Photo courtesy of Andre Akana Otokiak

number for the territory.

Arctic Bay students graduate with diplomas and laptops

By Tom Taylor Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative reporter

High school wasn’t always easy for Sebastian Oqallak. In fact, he admits that he considered dropping out.

Yet on June 2, after years of encouragement from his family and friends, he donned a graduation gown, and received his diploma from Arctic Bay’s Inuujaq School.

It was a moment he describes as “joyful.”

“I almost gave up high school, but people kept pushing me to keep going, so I tried so hard to finish it,” he said. “Now I’ve finished it.”

Oqallak’s family was in the building for his graduation ceremony, including his cousin, and his mother, who he says became emotional when he took the stage.

“They were really proud of me,” he said. “My mother cried.”

Oqallak is proud of himself, too, and recognizes that he will have far more options as a high school graduate than he would have otherwise.

“It’s a really good feeling,” he said. “There’s more opportunities for me now, because I’m not just some student anymore.”

He’s undecided on his next move after high school, but has been contemplating his options during trips out on the land to camp and hunt.

“I’m still thinking about that,” he said. “I was thinking about going to college.

“One of my old teachers really wanted to help me with that, but he left town, so I don’t really know about that anymore.”

In addition to his high school diploma, Oqallak also left his graduation ceremony with a new laptop courtesy of Baffinland Iron Mines, the Oakville, Ont., firm behind the Mary River mine operating in Nunavut’s Qikiqtani region.

Baffinland works closely with five Qikiqtani communities in particular: Iglulik, Sanirajak, Pond Inlet, Clyde River and Oqallak’s home of Arctic Bay.

Since 2018, the company has encouraged students to finish high school by offering free computers to all graduates from those communities.

Oqallak, an aspiring musician, has plans to use his new laptop to take the rap and dance songs he writes to the next level.

“I just want to thank Baffinland for the computer,” he said. “It’s very useful. I would use my phone if I didn’t have computer, but I can put more photos on my computer now. I just want to thank them for giving us something very useful.

Baffinland distributed 60 laptops this year. Since 2018, the company has handed out 181 laptops and 47 iPad tablets to area graduates.

“We agreed to offer the free laptops to graduates as a means to encourage the completion of high school but also to reward them for their hard work and dedication to their studies,” said Peter Akman, Baffinland’s head of stakeholder relations and communications. “These laptops, while a reward for their graduation, are also an important and valuable tool as they continue their post-secondary education or training.”

Baffinland also supports education in the communities it works with by funding school lunch programs and contributing to career fairs, career counselling, co-op education

Attogoyuk School (Pangnirtung)

opportunities and stay-in-school programs. Each year, the company also offers five $5,000 scholarships to high school graduates moving on to post-secondary education – although it exceeded that number in 2023.

“This year we awarded a total of six scholarships due to the exemplary number of applicants,” Akman said.

Inuujaq School (Arctic Bay)

Nora Muckpa, left, and Sebastian Oqallak pose with laptops they received from Baffinland Iron Mines after graduating from Arctic Bay’s Inuujaq School. This year, Baffinland distributed 60 laptops to graduating students in the communities of Arctic Bay, Iglulik, Sanirajak, Pond Inlet and Clyde River. Photo courtesy of Baffinland Iron Mines

Nora Muckpa

Sebastian Oqallak

Alison Kilabuk

Annika Nakashuk

Ben Alivaktuk

Ben Arnaqaq

Justin Angmarlik

Kailey Kilabuk

Kim (Beau) Alivaktuk

Maata Nakashuk

Maggie Akulukjuk

Charlene Qumuatuq

Martha Joy Qaqqasiq

Myra Young

Nolan Kuluguqtuq

Paul Angnako

Reanna Kuluguqtuq

Rhoda Nashalik

Tasha Machmer

Terrence Lawson

AJ Nakashuk

Inuksuk High School grads ready to take on the world after ‘lovely’ commencement ceremony

58 students graduate from Iqaluit secondary school this year

By Tom Taylor Northern News Services

Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Like many high school students across the country, Iqaluit’s Tasiana Shirley spent significant portions of the last few years learning from home, having been kept from the classroom by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thankfully, Shirley and her peers at the city’s Inuksuk High School were able to graduate in person, with all of of the pomp and circumstance they envisioned for themselves when they first walked into the building over four years ago.

“The ceremony itself was really lovely,” Shirley said shortly after she graduated. “It was actually more extravagant than I thought it would be. The teachers really did an amazing job with the decorations and making it a day about all of us, and making it a day of celebration.”

Shirley is one of 58 students to graduate from Inuksuk this year.

The graduation ceremony occurred on June 20, and featured speeches, photo opportunities and a rose ceremony, during which younger students gifted flowers to those leaving the school behind.

The ceremony also included a speech from Inuk hockey player Jordin Tootoo, who played for the NHL’s Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks before hanging up his skates in 2018.

“The speech with Jordin was really incredible for us,” Shirley said. “It was really wonderful that he was able to do that for us. “The speeches and the words of guidance and support were a really wonderful to have on that day.”

While Shirley admits she is ready to “turn over a new leaf and move on from high school,” there are things she will miss about Inuksuk, including her art class, and the friends she made there.

“It definitely feels like a mix between relief and excitement, and also hanging on to the sentimental values of my high school friendships and experiences,” she said. “The friendships that I held, especially in my art class with Ms. Margaret, were really wonderful. It was really a beautiful place to relax from all of my academic classes and pressures and just put on my headphones and make some paintings or drawings.”

Shirley, whose high school career also included an acting role in the film Slash/Back and a trip to Winnipeg for the 2023 Skills Canada National Competition, has big plans for the future. Her first priority is a summer cruise through the Arctic Ocean with her family. Once that’s over, she will head south, having been accepted into the University of Toronto’s fouryear social sciences program.

If that goes according to plan, she aspires to enter law school.

“I’ve lived in Iqaluit my whole life,” she said. “It’s definitely going to be a transition moving from the smallest city in the

2023 ᐊᕌᒍ, ᐊᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔨ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᑎᓂᖏᑦ ‘ᐱᕙᒋᖅᔭᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ

Graduating students from Inuksuk High School watch a performance during their commencement ceremony in Iqaluit. Fifty-eight students graduated from the school in 2023, and guidance counsellor Tess Thurber believes their education has “prepared them for the next chapters of their lives.” Photo courtesy of Jari Aariak

nation to the biggest. It’s going to be a change.”

Those are lofty goals for a teenager, but after four years at Inuksuk High School, Shirley feels well equipped to achieve them.

“I feel that my years in high school definitely have been the most influential in my life, obviously,” she said. “Especially after the last year, I really feel like I’m one step closer to finding myself and my passion.

“Even with the unpleasant Covid interruptions, these past few years have really shown me the importance of communication – even if it’s through Zoom – and getting in touch with my artistic side, and learning my passion for fitness, and being connected with my family.

“I’ll truly be ready for life outside of my home.”

Shirley’s confidence is not unique, according to Tess Thurber, Inuksuk High School’s Grade 11 and 12 guidance counsellor.

Thurber believes all of the school’s grad are ready for the real world, despite being “in the building the least” out of any group of students.

“They definitely worked to make up for it in Grade 12 – not just in terms of their academics but to make their experience memorable. They were very active in different groups and sports.

“Our graduates this year, they are definitely poised to take action. They don’t hesitate to ask for help or reach out if they need it,” said Thurber. “They certainly also have qualities of

Number of Nunavut high school graduates rises compared to 2022

By Tom Taylor Northern News Services

Local Journalism Initiative reporter

There is an increase in the number of high school graduates in Nunavut this year as 286 young Nunavummiut earned their diplomas.

That’s up from 262 high school graduates in the territory last year. However, this year’s number is one student shy of the total for the 2020-2021 academic year, which saw 287 students graduate. The year before that, only 255 graduated – 32 fewer than this year.

The greatest number of 2023 graduates came from Inuksuk

High School in Iqaluit which, as the home of roughly 8,000 people, is the territory’s most populated community by a significant margin.

Nunavut’s largest high school with 462 students enrolled, produced 58 graduates this year.

The next biggest number of graduates came from Arviat, which is home to fewer than half as many people as Iqaluit.

The Kivalliq community’s John Arnalukjuak High School saw 37 students graduate this year.

The third most 2023 high school graduates in Nunavut came from Pangnirtung, a Qikiqtaaluk community that is home to roughly 1,500 people. Pangirtung’s Attagoyuk Ilisavik had 21 graduating students this year.

lifting each other up and supporting each other, and I think that those qualities, as well as all of the things they’ve learned academically and socially in the walls of this school, have prepared them for the next chapters of their lives.”

Inuksuk High School (Iqaluit)

Davidee Akavak

Charlie Daniel Innuraq

Hayden Salsman

Kalan Collins

Chester Jaco Wolfe

Aiden Williams

Jaxon Ellsworth

Loulah Omar

Naullaq Lambe

Seth Burke

Troy Ipeelie-Qiatsuk

Bryce So

Cassiar Cousins

Donna Kakee

Maple Faulks

Nolan Pearce

Marielle Maranon

Kimberly Canlas

Caroline Iqaluk

Amy Tulugajuk

Aggiu Dimitruk

Nevin Komaksiutiksak

Gerret Gauthier

Chelsea Prusky

Moshie Nowdlak

Shyanne Aoudla

Goo Ikkidluak

Tasiana Shirley

Amanda Cote

Clara Jaw

Akutaq Williamson-Bathory

Matthew Etuangat

Mackenzie O’Dell

Genevieve Lloyd

Kara Campbell

Sean Ipirq-Pearce

Paul Suvega Jr

Cassidy Devereaux

Kristy Kanayuk

Matthew Fulgham

Jessica Pingwartuk

Lucassie Nowdlak

Tashinga Chakonza

Kloé Irniq

Willow Watson

Hannah Durdle Awa

Alana Kunuk

Justin Hooey

Nathan Rhodes

Jesse-Ann Nukiruaq

Quluaq School (Clyde River)

Back row, from left, Evelyn Tagoona, Ian Walker, Magnus Pupik, Carlos Simailak, Kelvin Niego, Verna Kalluk, Orlando Kalluk, Haley Kayaak.

Front row, from left, Jamai Tunuuq, Samantha Putumiraqtuq, Martina Singaqti, Sulomonie Nuyalia, Lorenza Mautaritnaaq, Marlene Makayak, Jeannie Kalluk, Kristen Kablutsiak

Arviligruaq Ilinniarvik School (Kugaaruk)

A Grade 12 graduation ceremony took place for Arviligruaq Ilinniarvik students on May 13. The graduates were (from left to right, back to front): Jacob Sungnnaruk, Donald Oksokitok, Wesley Aglukka, Bobby Kayaksak, Corey Qavvik, Cody Nalungiaq, Theresa Niptayuk, Carla Inuksaq, Tamara Angutingungniq. This school does not identify a valedictorian; however, Donald Oksokitok was the recipient of the Governor General’s award.

James Qaunaq

Morgan Aulaqiaq

Isaiah Brown

Jesse Iqaluk Saagiaqtuq “ Saa” Amarualik Tatiana McDonald Aasta Idlout

Brad Oqqallak

Brian Joanasie

Darren Tigullaraq

Doreen Tigullaraq

Aaron Paniloo

Polar bear destroyed in Rankin Inlet

Animal kept coming to town

By

A polar bear was spotted swimming in Hudson Bay just in front of the town of Rankin Inlet early on July 2.

Local photographer David Kakuktinniq Jr. was snapping some photos when the bear began making its

way toward people’s belongings and the community. He dropped his camera, drove his truck toward it and honked to divert it.

Later in the afternoon, the bear was spotted swimming around town again. This time, Charlene Williams-Kadjuk executed a defensive kill on the animal, shooting it before it could keep coming into the community.

the

Local photographer David Kakuktinniq Jr. snapped this photo of a polar bear that was visiting

outskirts of Rankin Inlet early Sunday, July 2. Photo by David Kakuktinniq Jr.

Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

Charlene WilliamsKadjuk shows the size of the bear’s paw next to her hand. Photo courtesy of Charlene WilliamsKadjuk

Jigging and setting nets for fish

UPLUUKKUT. INUIN NAAMMAINNAQTUT IQALUKTUUTIAMI. IQALIQIJUT KUVJAKHUTIKLU AUDLAATTIJUTLU. PIFFILIUKTUT INUIN. INUIN IKLUKPAKMIILIQTUT AKOLAITGOMI. NUNAMIITTUT ALIAHOKTUT INUIN. HIKUILIQTUQ QILAMINNUAK. QAJAKTURIAMI AHIAKMUNLU KUGLUKTUMUNLU. IPAKHANI IQALUKTUUTIAMIUTAT HALUMAKHIIJUT IKKAGUUKVIINIK AKYAKTUT. QUANA PINNIQHILIQGAMI NUNAKPUT HAMANI. NUTAQQANNUITLU IKAJUKTUT. IILA QILAMIURAMA UQAHAINNAMA TADJA. NAAMMAKPAKLUHI. QINIQPAKLURIT NUTAQQAT HIKUILGUMILI. TUHAKPAKLUHI NUTAQQAT.

Welcome to beautiful land of the Inuinnait.

We are so fortunate that we are still able to fish for our food, and let it happen for many many more hundreds of years for the Inuit. Soon, it will be boating season once again for the short two or three months of ice-free ocean, then residents will be able to travel by boat to mainland to Umingmaktok, Kingaot and Kugluktuk. Travelling to the mainland is most fun for many residents. Be safe. The ice is surely going fast this year. Soon, berry picking time also. Stay safe, everyone.

There was town clean-up in beautiful Cambridge Bay on Wednesday, July 5.

CAMBRIDGE BAY TEA TALK

with Navalik Tologanak email: helent@qiniq.com

Cambridge Bay is the place to be if you love fishing. Yes, our fishing village is so busy with residents fishing by jigging and setting fish nets. Everyone is busy making sun dried wind dried fish for one of the healthiest snacks. Quana to those who share their fresh Arctic char, especially for Elders and families who are unable to harvest for themselves. We are so thankful and grateful.

Soon, commercial fishing will happen up at the popular lakes and rivers around Cambridge Bay. It is so heartwarming to see residents at their cabins down at Gravel Pktukit known as Akolaitgok, busy as ever with scenes of ice hopping and drying fish outside in the fresh Arctic winds and 24hour daylight.

Quana to the hamlet office for organizing this important event in which many volunteers registered their families and co-workers and groups to help pick up garbage around our community. Each volunteer was provided with rubber gloves, garbage bags and a ticket with your name written on it, making you eligible for prizes donated by various businesses in Cambridge Bay.

A barbecue was also held, serving hamburgers. Quana to the Cambridge Bay Housing Association staff for their services and volunteering to make the annual town clean-up a success. Maybe over 300 garbage bags were filled and brought out to the town dump just past CHARS campus. The community looks so beautiful with most garbage picked up from the winter and snow months. What a great community we live in. Quana to all the volunteers and to all the kids who helped make our community beautiful! Great job everyone.

God Be With You Son.

Puddles are fun! Here is 1-year-old Royse Takpalok Evalik Maghagak of Cambridge Bay at the Canada Day barbecue on July 1. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

The tiniest biker in Cambridge Bay. Here is 2-year-old Ryder Mahik Ekpakohak, who seems to love biking, even on a windy, chilly Canada Day. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Here are two friends having fun with flags on Canada Day. On the left is 6-year-old River Mae Hakongak with 6-year-old Alexis Omiklok Evaglok at the Canada Day barbecue on July 1. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Look Tigoak! Cook or piffiliuk? Here is John Kaiyogana of Cambridge Bay holding a nice size Arctic char caught up at Tikigakyoak — Long Point, near Cambridge Bay on July 2, 2023.

Photo courtesy of Rosie Kaiyogana

Cleaning up Cambridge Bay

With the snow melted, litter becomes apparent. In Cambridge Bay, a determined group of volunteers combed the community on July 5, putting the trash in bags. Many of the helpers were later rewarded with prizes that included a free flight to Yellowknife, furniture, a 43-inch TV, bicycles, a Coleman stove and pizza.

Mom and Nana! Look! Helping pick up garbage in Cambridge Bay is grandmother Mercy Panegyuk with daughter Charmaine and 5-year-old Larissa Kuliktana and 3-year-old Essi-Rew Panegyuk. They were volunteering at the annual town clean up held on Wednesday, July 5.

Kids have fun picking up garbage during the town clean-up held in Cambridge Bay on Wednesday, July 5. Here is Nicholas Tologanak supervising his group at a local playground. Great job kids! Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

A grandmother and her granddaughters help clean up their community. Here is Dianne Mala and her two granddaughters 10-year-old Rayna Aonialok Mala and 8-year-old Alina Panioyak Mala-McCallum. Quana for helping. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Navalik Tologanak/ NNSL photo Rylan Angohiatok with a group of eager youth rounding up trash in Cambridge Bay on July 5. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Wearing coveralls and headphones as she grabs handfuls of litter is Marie Macpherson. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Northern premiers say Canada can’t have Arctic security without infrastructure

‘Nation-building’ level of investment still lacking, says P.J. Akeeagok

Arctic security is under renewed focus as Russia and China eye the region, but leaders in the North say Canada won’t be able to exert sovereignty if their communities aren’t built up properly.

The premiers from all three Northern territories say the federal government, while mindful of the need to strengthen Arctic security, has lacked a cohesive infrastructure plan to construct the foundation required to reach that goal.

Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane said in an interview that while policymakers have increased talks of building up the North, few concrete plans for key infrastructure such as hospitals, telecommunications, airports and road systems have emerged.

Without those plans and proper funding, Cochrane said it would be difficult for the federal government to achieve its goal of stronger Arctic security.

“Without all-season roads, people don’t have access to labour markets and cost-effective food,” she said. “You need communications so that when you send up whatever they’re going to do to secure the Arctic, you have the infrastructure to communicate.”

She added that “everything starts with health care … I hope no one gets really sick because our capacity is very limited.”

In June, the Senate released a report that said “more must be done” by the federal government in the North given “an ever-changing geopolitical context, rising interest and activity in the Arctic,” as well as climate change.

Meanwhile, the United States last year updated its Arctic strategy in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a plan that included increased U.S. military presence in the Far North.

Even before its war with Ukraine, Russia put forward an ambitious program to reaffirm its presence and stake its claim in the Arctic, including efforts to build ports and other infrastructure, and expand its icebreaker fleet.

Chinese ambitions

China has called for the development of a “Polar Silk Road” as part of an initiative to take advantage of possible trade routes opening in the Arctic due to climate change.

In February, an apparent Chinese spy balloon drifted through Canadian and U.S. airspace before being downed by a U.S. jet, while another object of unconfirmed origin was also spotted over central Yukon around the same time.

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai said in an interview that event was a turning point in the conversation about building out

the North, with many policymakers re-engaging the territories about infrastructure development.

“When the world really focused on what was happening in the Yukon, when you had all those media outlets come and you had the federal government on site, I think that was a chance for people to really see where the gaps are in place. And then it led to a bigger conversation.”

But given the urgency of the need for housing and other fundamentals, Pillai said the federal government needs to move faster.

“When you take in consideration how long it takes in our country to build a very substantial project like a port in Nunavut or a port in the Northwest Territories or the Yukon, and you think about all the steps it has to take and the time … we’re behind already,” Pillai said separately at last week’s recent Western Premiers’ Conference in Whistler, B.C.

For University of Calgary Research Associate and Canadian Northern Corridor Program researcher Katharina Koch, Cochrane and Pillai’s criticisms of Ottawa’s handling of building up the North is neither surprising nor unwarranted.

Koch said the criticisms echoed what many Northern community residents have told her, and Canada has a distinct lack of an integrated Arctic strategy compared with other G7 nations.

“This topic of security and safeguarding Canada’s sovereignty, it ties into so many different other issues,” Koch said. “One element or aspect to start with is actually to make sure that Northern residents have access to basic services. It means education, health care and clean drinking water.”

“This will ultimately support Canada’s goal of establishing security and projecting outward Canadian sovereignty in terms of the Arctic.”

‘Digital divide’

Improvement to broadband internet access is desperately needed, said Koch. She said the “digital divide” severely limits growth potential and economic viability in the North. There has been movement on those fronts.

Construction of the Dempster Fibre Line, an 800-kilometre fibre-optic cable, is underway in Yukon and Northwest Territories. Federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal meanwhile announced last November $7 million in support for the construction of the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, a multi-purpose connection to deliver renewable energy and highspeed internet to communities in Nunavut through Manitoba. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok said the project represents welcome progress, but additional investment is still needed to address energy security and climate change in the Arctic.

“I think the conversation has shifted, but we haven’t yet seen any investment of that to the magnitude that we need to see from the lens of nation-building,” he said at the Western Premiers’ Conference.

Cochrane said a key missing link is local engagement, with Ottawa often not knowing what Northern communities need, and not consulting residents to find out.

“I’ve seen too many people come from the south and come up to the North and think they know what they’re getting into — and come out with frostbite, vehicles sunk in the ice, being lost, having to get rescued,” she said.

“So I think the big thing is that, if we are talking about Arctic safety and Arctic sovereignty, it’s important that Canada talk with us — that they actually consult with us, not just listen, but actually hear us.”

—By Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press

Western Canadian premiers gather in Whistler, B.C. in late June. From left, P.J. Akeeagok (Nunavut), Scott Moe (Sask.), Danielle Smith (Alta.), David Eby (B.C.), Heather Stefanson (Man.), Caroline Cochrane (NWT) and Ranj Pillai (Yukon). Photo courtesy of Felipe Fittipaldi

Callers voice concerns on alcoholism

ᐅᖃᓚᕋᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓗᑎᒋᔭᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᐳᑦ

ᐊᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ

Hamlet hosts radio show on beer and wine store in Rankin Inlet

Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕋᖅᑎᑎᕗᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

There was a lot of interest in the local radio channel on June 29, in Rankin Inlet as the hamlet hosted a call-in show about the state of alcohol in the community with regards to the beer and wine store.

The store opened late 2021 and has been the subject of many discussions in the council chambers, with the RCMP recently urging the hamlet to address the situation, as many organizations report having their resources stretched dealing with the fallout of increased drinking in the community.

“The RCMP are just super busy,” said Coun. Michael Shouldice in the opening to the radio show, which was also hosted by Mayor Harry Towtongie, Deputy Mayor Martha Hickes and Coun. Chris Eccles.

“They had one weekend in one night they had 30 calls, with two guys on duty. It really kind of shocked the hamlet. We’ve had several discussions on it.”

Mental health workers have had their caseload increase by 90 per cent, said Shouldice, adding that it was reported to council that 980,000 cans of beer were sold in town last year.

Nunavut Housing Corporation, reported Shouldice, is also facing high costs and stresses repairing units.

“It’s not just holes in the wall anymore,” he said. “It’s staff that are abused while they’re trying to work in these units. It’s people who have kicked the toilet off, kicked the sink off the wall in the washroom… It has changed an awful lot now and it’s more extreme.”

And that’s in a community with no rehab centre, no proper safe shelter, no men’s shelter and no soup kitchen, added the councillor.

“Nurses don’t want to come here because it’s too busy,” said Shouldice, saying he was hearing the same from the RCMP.

“It’s too much work.”

Community events are suffering too, he added, with intoxicated people at the ball diamond and square dances, and the need to even search diaper bags for alcohol at the arena.

Callers kept the local radio’s phone ringing off the hook for the full hour-and-a-half show.

One caller said their kids couldn’t play by Williamson Lake near the evening anymore because of intoxicated people, and another said the town has gotten worse ever since the store opened.

Many callers suggested setting up some sort of alcohol committee to discuss the impacts and ways forward. There

were also suggestions to reduce the maximum limit for how much people can buy, as well as cut down hours or days the store is open.

Another caller said the town needs a treatment facility and more organizations to run activities for all ages throughout the year.

“This is exactly what we need,” chimed Coun. Chris Eccles during the show about all the suggestions flooding in.

After the show concluded, many people took to Facebook to remark that they wished the discussion could continue.

The store was originally approved by Rankin Inlet plebiscite voters in 2017, with 75 per cent of voters at the time supporting it.

ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓐᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᔅᔪᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᑦᑐᐃᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ.

ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᐅᒃᑯᐃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ 2021-ᒥ ᐊᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖃᑦᑕᐃᓇᖅᖢᓂ Hᐊᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐸᓕᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖁᔨᓕᖅᐳᑦ Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ. ᑎᒥᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔭᕐᕖᑦ ᐸᕝᕕᓵᕆᔭᐅᕙᖕᓂᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ. ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐱᔪᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ. ᐸᓕᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖃᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᐳᑦ. ᐸᓕᓯᕋᓛᖅ ᒪᐃᑯ ᓲᑎᔅ, ᐅᒃᑯᐃᖅᑎᑎᖃᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᒪᐃᔭ ᑐᒡᓕᖓ ᒪᑕ Hᐊᓐᔅ ᐊᒪᓗ ᐸᓕᓯᓛᖅ ᑯᕆᔅ ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᓐᓄ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ 30 ᐅᖄᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᒪᕈᒃ ᑲᒪᓪᓗᑎ ᐅᖃᓗᑎᒥᒃ. Hᐊᒪᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄ ᖁᒃᓴᒡᓚᖕᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᕈᓘᔭᓚᐅᖅᐸᕗ.

ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᔨ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᑦ ᐃᒥᓱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂᓗ 90%-ᒥᒃ, )ᑎᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ, ᐃᓚᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᕈᒪᔭᒻᒥᓂᒃ, 980,000 ᕕᐊ ᓂᐅᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᕋᓂ.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒥᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᒪᑎᔪᓐᓂᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐱᔭᕆᒃᑐᖅᖢᓂᓗ, ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕈᑎᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᒃᓴᓄᑦ.

ᐃᑭᐊᕐᒥᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᕋᒃᓴᐃᑐᐃᓇᕈᓐᓃᕐᒪᑕ, ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᑦ ᐸᕝᕕᓴᒃᑕᐅᓗᐊᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ, ᓱᕋᒃᑎᖅᕆᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᓇᕐᕕᓂᒃ, ᖁᕐᕖᔭᐃᓪᓗᑎᑦ, ᐅᐊᓴᕐᕖᔭᐃᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ. ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᓗᐊᑲᓐᓂᓕᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ.

ᓄᓇᓕᒡᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᖃᖏᖦᖢᓂ, ᓱᓂᐅᒪᔪᓄᓪᓗ ᐅᐸᒡᕕᖃᖏᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᖑᑎᓄᑦ ᐅᐸᒡᕕᒃᑕᖃᖏᒃᑭᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᒪᓗ ᐊᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᕆᔭᖅᑐᕐᕕᖃᖏᖦᖢᑎᒃ. ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔨ.

ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᑕᒪᐅᖓᕈᒪᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕈᓘᔭᕐᓇᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᐅᖃᖅᐳ ᓲᑎᔅ, ᑐᓴᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐸᓕᓯᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓐᓇᓗᐊᖅᑐᐊᓘᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᑲᑎᖓᕈᓗᔭᕐᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓪᓗ ᑭᐱᖑᐃᔭᕐᕖᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᑦᑐᒃᑰᕆᕗᑦ, ᐊᖓᔮᖅᑐᓄ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᒥᒧᕆᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᓚᕕᓴᐃᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᓯᐊᕆᔮᕐᕕᖕᒥᓪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᒻᒪᕆᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒡᒋᕐᒪᖓᑦ Hᐊᑭᐅᑉ ᓂᕈᒥᐊᒐᕐᔪᐊᖓᑕ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ. ᐅᖃᓘᑎ ᓯᕙᓃᓇᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

ᐃᓚᖓ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᕿᑐᖓᒋᒃ ᐊᓂᕋᔭᒍᓐᓇᐃᓕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᓐᓄᓵᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᓯᖓᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᖓᔮᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐃᓚᖓᓗ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᒃ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᖅ.

ᐃᓚᖓᓗᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᕿᒃᓱᐃᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓕᐅᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ, ᑕᒪᓇ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓐ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ. ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᔪᖃᑲᓐᓂᕆᓕᓗᓂ ᑭᓪᓕᖃᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕈᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒪᓗ ᐊᑲᕐᕋᑭᒡᓕᒋᐊᕐᓗᒍ. ᐃᓚᖓ ᐅᖃᕆᕗᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃᑕᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᖑᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᑭᐱᖑᐃᔭᐃᔾᔫᒥᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂ. ᐊᑐᖁᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᒃᑯᒋᔭᐅᕗᑦ, ᐸᓕᓯᕋᓛᖅ ᑯᕆᔅ ᐃᑯᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖅ. ᐱᓂᑲᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒡᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᕆᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕋᑎᒌᒃᑲᓂᖅᐴᒃ ᐊᑯᓂᑲᓂᐅᓪᓗᐊᖃᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᖄᓚᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ. ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᐃᖏᖃᑎᒃᒋᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ 2017ᒥ, 75% ᐱᖁᔨᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ.

ᐸᓖᓯᕋᓛᖅᒪᐃᑯᓲᑎᔅᓇᓚᐅᑎᕋᕐᕕᖕᒦᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅᐅᖃᓪᓚᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᐱᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᓂ ᕿᑎᖂᑦ, ᔪᓂ 29. ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓚᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᖓ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒧᑦ. NNSL ᐊᔨᖁᑎ

Coun. Michael Shouldice helped host a radio call-in show about the beer and wine store with other members of Rankin Inlet council Thursday, June 29. He listed many of the negative impacts the store appears to be having in town. NNSL file photo

Sending a positive message

Pulaarvik windows smashed in alcohol-fuelled incident but Rankin Inlet friendship centre won’t press charges

By Darrell Greer Northern News Services

The Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre put its mandate to battle addictions front and centre in June when it declined to press charges against an act of vandalism at its administration building in Rankin Inlet.

Given its strong ties with Kivalliq communities and the type of community-based programming it delivers, Pulaarvik executive director Pela Sharp said it felt horrible to see the windows smashed recently in a senseless act of vandalism. She said when she received a message from a passerby regarding the windows, she was actually able to see who did it and the police were contacted immediately.

“The police got involved and were able to pick them up,” said Sharp.

“Because of the type of programming we do it stings a bit more when something like this happens, especially when it comes to addictions.

“The two people who were involved in the incident were intoxicated.

“The addictions programming we have — and the mental-health-outreach programming we do in every Kivalliq community — proved to me that we need more support in our communities to combat the issues people are dealing with.”

Sharp said people aren’t in their right state of mind when they’re drinking, especially when they’re really intoxicated.

She said if more people in the community were fully aware of the type of programming Pulaarvik offers, that may eventually lead to more respect for the property the centre has in Rankin.

“That’s especially true right now. We put a lot of money into renovating that building. It’s now a friendship-programming centre with an open-door concept for community members seeking help.

“At the end of the day we chose not to press charges against the two individuals involved.

“They’re battling addiction issues and our mandate is to help people deal with their addictions.

“So, we took the opportunity to let them know they made

a mistake and they need to seek help before the issues they’re causing in the community escalate.”

Sharp said she believes not pressing charges may have a longterm positive affect.

She said the two are now aware of the programming the centre offers, and the damage they’re causing through their alcohol addiction.

“They know if there was no alcohol involved this incident would never have happened.

“The smashing of windows is a real problem in Rankin.

It was a very sad day when all three schools in our community boarded-up about 95 per cent of the windows in their buildings for this summer.

“They, pretty much, had to after about 40 per cent of the windows at all three school were smashed out this past summer (2022).

“So, instead of coming back and being faced with so many broken windows, they decided to board them all up and it really saddened me. That’s the kind of stuff you see in big cities, not beautiful little communities like ours.” x0p31Axy

The Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre declined to press charges when windows were smashed at its admin building in Rankin Inlet earlier this month.

Photo courtesy Pela Sharp

Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre executive director Pela Sharp puts in some extra time at her Rankin Inlet office on June 1. Photo courtesy Pela Sharp

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’Vision of Inuit’: Nunavut’s historic land-use plan submitted after 16 years

The Nunavut land-use plan covers some 2.1 million square kilometres — a fifth of Canada’s land mass

The federal and Nunavut governments, as well as a group representing Inuit in the territory, are reviewing a massive plan to formally guide where, how and when land and water can be used in Canada’s easternmost territory.

The Nunavut land-use plan covers some 2.1 million square kilometres — a fifth of Canada’s land mass. It has been years in the making and has gone through four different drafts since 2007. During that time, the Nunavut Planning Commission has held hundreds of meetings, technical workshops, hearings and interviews across the territory’s 25 communities and in northern Manitoba.

“We are confident the NPC has submitted a balanced, responsible and approvable 2023 land-use plan that reflects the vision of Inuit,” commission chair Andrew Nakashuk said in a statement.

Sharon Ehaloak, executive director of the commission, said balancing diverse and sometimes competing interests has been an overarching challenge. Governments, residents, hunters, trappers, industry and environmental organizations have all weighed in.

The plan includes requirements for key wildlife habitat, contaminated sites, military facilities, community areas of interest and drinking water. It aims to balance economic, environmental and social needs.

Jonathan Savoy, director of policy and planning with the commission, said one of the most important changes to the current plan is a distinct approach to managing Inuit-owned lands. He said the change would allow Inuit associations in

the territory to provide exemptions in areas that have yearround prohibitions.

“It gives them an extra power or authority to authorize normally prohibited projects if they support them,” he said. “That was a direct response to concerns identified through the planning process.”

Other alterations include changing caribou post-calving areas from having year-round prohibitions to seasonal restrictions, which Savoy said better balances conservation and economic development.

He said the plan also identifies additional key caribou habitats in the Qikiqaaluk region as well as more Arctic char fishing rivers, which are protected from development.

Savoy said the three signatories could accept or reject the recommended land-use plan or request modifications. He said there is no legislated timeline for when that must take place.

“At this point it’s in their hands and its future is determined by their reaction to it,” he said.

Nunavut Environment Minister Joanna Quassa said in a statement that she looks forward to reviewing the plan with the federal minister of Northern Affairs and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the land-claims body representing Nunavut Inuit.

“The important work of reviewing the plan will happen over the next several months as approval authorities collaborate to make sure it protects and promotes the existing and future well-being of Inuit and Nunavummiut, taking into account the interests of all Canadians,” the department said in a statement.

“We are confident the (Nunavut Planning Commission) has submitted a balanced, responsible and approvable 2023 land-use plan that reflects the vision of Inuit,” stated commission chair Andrew Nakashuk. Photo courtesy of Andrew Nakashuk

The land-use plan is a legal requirement under the Nunavut Agreement, which was passed by parliament 30 years ago and established Nunavut as a territory in 1999.

The Nunavut Planning Commission said the plan will “further advance Inuit self-determination, provide certainty for land users and could significantly contribute to Canada’s conservation targets.”

Once approved, Ehaloak said the plan will be a living document that is subject to review.

—By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press

Logging the miles in the sky

Arviat pilot looks ahead to more experienced days

By Darrell Greer Northern News Services

Arviat’s Kelly Owlijoot isn’t losing any of his passion for flying as he slowly builds his hours behind the controls of a helicopter.

Owlijoot received his aviation document allowing him to fly for employment in August of 2022.

He said the pace has been slow since then, with the only time he took to the air being a six-week period flying tourists out of Churchill to see polar bears.

“A lot of the tourists were really excited to get the chance to see the bears,” said Owlijoot.

“Most of them were from outside the country and it was their first chance to see polar bears, so they were pretty stoked to have the opportunity.

“Many of them were well-to-do individuals, such as retired doctors, medical researchers and things like that.

“It was cool to have the chance to talk to them about what they used to do, or still do in some cases, on our way to Churchill.”

Owlijoot said winter can be a slow time for helicopter work.

He said even when work does arise, the helicopter companies prefer higher-end pilots with more experience and plenty of hours behind the controls.

“A lot of that has to do with the fact if the helicopter breaks down it takes more experienced pilots to know exactly what to do in that situation.

“Another reason there’s less opportunity to fly is that there’s forest fires in the spring and summer that require helicopters to help fight them, but there’s none of that during the winter.

“And, of course, there’s the weather itself. With the type of helicopter I was training in (Bell 206B Jet Ranger) , I wasn’t able to fly if the temperatures hit -32 C or colder.”

Owlijoot is currently looking forward to returning to Churchill this coming month so spend another month, or so, flying tourists.

He said he’ll be flying along the coast spotting polar bears and beluga whales for the visitors.

“I’m also kind of hoping other odd jobs will come-up, sooner or later, that will take me to Arviat or another area in the Kivalliq region.

“I haven’t gotten to make a flight anywhere in the Kivalliq region yet. I often get pretty close to Arviat, maybe a 90-minute-trip away, but haven’t made it there yet.

“So, hopefully, there will be some work that will take me there soon.”

Owlijoot said low-time pilots do the easier jobs first.

He said that includes tourism and the transportation of people from one place to another.

“After you get more hours of flying and experience, you get to do other stuff like long-line slinging or short-line slinging, taking cargo to exploration camps, hunting camps or whatever.

“I’ve had training in both and know the basics of it, but I still need to get in a bit more flying time to get used to it.

“You’ve been studying hard for 18 months, or so, and you get so used to operating the helicopter, so it becomes a lot like riding a bike.

“But if you haven’t flown in a few months, a more experienced helicopter pilot will fly with you for a bit just to make sure that everything is still good.”

There’s one area of helicopter flying that Owlijoot is especially looking forward to one day taking part in.

He said search and rescue is so important in the Kivalliq, that he looks forward to the day he might play a vital role in saving someone’s life.

“About a month ago, there was a hunter from Arviat who was stuck out on the land for about nine days.

“A helicopter played a crucial role in finding that man, and I’d really like to do that one day and help the people in Nunavut that way.

“Eventually, I’d like to take part in search and rescue and maybe take part in animal surveys.

“I really enjoy flying and plan to keep doing this for quite awhile.”

Helicopter pilot Kelly Owlijoot, from left, joins float plane operator Joe Jr. Savikataaq and Calm Air’s Nangmalik Qanatsiaq, all from Arviat, for a photo op in the community on June 4. Photo courtesy Kelly Owlijoot

Tenders on the Web

All tenders advertised in the current editions of Inuvik Drum, NWT News/North, Nunavut News/North, Kivalliq News and Yellowknifer are also available on the NNSL website. For more information on how to access them, contact circulation@nnsl.com