Nunavut News - Oct. 23, 2023

ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᖅᐳᖅ

“ᑭᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᕙ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᐊ, ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ?” ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ

Nutrition North faces more scrutiny

Scan this QR code to receive local breaking news

‘Who actually is benefitting more, the stores or the customers?’ asks Joe Savikataaq Jr.

Fisheries dispute goes to court Volume 78 Issue 26

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023 $.95 (plus GST)

Berry good day

Three-year-old Johnny-Kook Siksik gets an early taste of berry picking berry outside of Rankin Inlet, and the experience puts a smile on his face. Check out more pictures from Nunavut News readers inside. Photo courtesy of Delilah Misheralak

Publication mail Contract #40012157

7

Health

Masks, Covid shots back on the agenda

Construction

Building boom in Rankin Inlet

71605 00200

Opinion

What can we learn from near-death experiences?

2

A2 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

News Briefs Masks once again mandatory in all Nunavut health facilities

The use of masks is again mandatory in all public health facilities in Nunavut, according to the Department of Health.

This public health advisory, issued Oct. 17, also includes all Elders facilities and the Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Centre in Iqaluit.

As a result of an increase in Covid19 cases and other respiratory illnesses, the Department of Health “is taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk of transmission of respiratory illness in our facilities and protect our more vulnerable populations.

Masks are a proven tool to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses. They also act as an added layer of protection for those at higher risk of severe disease or outcomes from Covid19 infection.”

In addition to the use of masks, anyone entering these facilities will automatically be screened for Covid on arrival, and the Department of Health urges everyone to answer questions honestly and respectfully.

Iqaluit teacher’s aide charged with sex offences

A 30-year-old teacher’s aide at Nakasuk School in Iqaluit has been charged with four sex crimes.

Samuel Tagalik is facing charges of sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, luring, and possession of child pornography, according to an Iqaluit RCMP news release

Masks are a proven tool to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses. They also act as an added layer of protection for those at higher risk of severe disease or outcomes from Covid-19 infection, according to Nunavut’s Department of Health. AP file photo/Elaine Thompson issued during the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 13.

The charges date back to Sept. 25, following a police investigation.

Investigators are looking into historical incidents believed to have occurred in 2018, involving former students, the RCMP stated.

Tagalik’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30 in Iqaluit.

Water board nominations sought

Nunavut The Government of Nunavut is looking for nominations to fill its

seats on the Nunavut Water Board (NWB).

The NWB has responsibilities and powers over the regulation, use and management of inland water in the Nunavut Settlement Area, explained the Government of Nunavut in a news release.

If you are familiar with water management issues in Nunavut and wish to make a contribution to the NWB, or if you would like to nominate someone else, please submit a resume and application form to Estela Aguilar at EAguilar@gov.nu.ca or Lekan Thomas at LThomas@gov. nu.ca, or by fax at 867-975-7742.

Application forms are available on the Department of Environment website.

The successful candidate must pass security clearance.

Nominations will only be considered if a resume is attached. Applications will be received until Oct. 27.

Covid and flu vaccinations available

Nunavummiut are reminded that we have now entered the seasons for increased likelihood of respira-

tory diseases, including influenza and Covid-19. The Department of Health is advising residents that flu and Covid vaccinations are freely available at all Nunavut health centres. It is both safe and recommended to receive the two shots during the same appointment, the department stated.

According to Department of Health guidelines, “The updated Moderna Covid-19 vaccine is recommended for individuals if it has been six months since a previous dose of a Covid-19 vaccine or if it has been at least six months since a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 infection.

“Current national recommendations are for all individuals aged six months and older to receive a flu vaccine. If you are 65 years or older, a separate flu vaccine with additional protection for this age group is available.”

Contact your local health centre to book an appointment.

Test drilling in Iqaluit

Work is underway by the City of Iqaluit to develop lots in the West 40 subdivision area to support community growth.

In October and November, “test pit” drilling may be heard by Iqalummiut. The purpose of this drilling is to help better understand the area’s geology.

According to a press release from the municipality, “these are simply tests, to better prepare us for meetings with stakeholders and community members in the coming months.

Please contact us to get involved or to receive more information.”

The city’s planning and development department can be reached at Planning@iqaluit.ca or (867) 979-5661.

NEW CONTEST ENTRY METHOD Email your entries to photocontests@nnsl.com Nunavut News presents the Amazing On-the-Land contest, generously sponsored by NCC Investment Group Inc., Visit www.nccig.ca today.

As Facebook and Instagram are no longer displaying Canadian News Content, we want to keep the fun going and keep up with our weekly photo contest and prize of $100!

If you’re from the Nunavut and have a great photo that showcases life On-the-Land in your community, we’d love to see it!

Submit your entries by email to photocontests@nnsl.com each week by 4 p.m. Thursday,and we’ll randomly select the weekly winner of $100.

Please include “On the Land” in the subject line, along with the location and your name in the email. We will publish the winning photos on our website and in the newspaper the following week!

SCAN HERE TO ENTER:

Photos may be used in NNSL publications. Photos must be of the Nunavut, must be able to accept e-transfer to participate in this contest.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

www.NunavutNews.com

Did we get it wrong?

Nunavut News 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 Nunavut News/North, call (867) 979-5990 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.

í±ØÍ≤ÒáíÔÄ?

ï·∆¿Í´ ≤áflúòî ÖÚÊéÔÒπØflî Ç≤úõ¿Ö≤ú Ö±Ø ÖéÍ≤ú áîéÖ≤Í´ú. íØêØ Äƒù‚ ÖÚÊéÔÒπØ≤Ò Ä¿íÒπÕ‰ÖÔÍ≤Í´ú í±ØÒíÇÀ≤ú Ö±Ø ÜÒïùÖÒπ¿Í≤Ò. íò∏≤Ê›î í±ØÒπØÀ´ú ï·∆¿Ò ≤áfl≤, ÇÔ¬∆¬éî Çflˆ (867) 873-4031 Ö±Ø ÇÔÍ›ùÀجü ÜÒïúªÄ«, Ç„·√∏≥î Ô‰íÇÕúòî ééËͬéî Çflˆ editor@nunavutnews.com.ÜÒïùÖ˪∏≤ÖÒíflî Ç„·√∏≥î ∂¬∂ĉÖͬü áÀ∏∂ÒπêÖÊçí.

Nunavut News

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Monday, October 23, 2023 A3

ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᖅᐳᖅ

“ᑭᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᕙ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᐊ, ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ?” ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ

News Briefs ᒪᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂ

ᒪᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᓕᕆᕗᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓄᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ. ᑖᓐᓇ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ, ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒃᑐᐱᕆ 17-ᒥ, ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑎᕗᖅ ᒪᑐᐊᖅᓯᒪᒋᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑯᕕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑲᐅᓯᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔭᐅᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ. ᓄᕙᕐᔪᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᖑᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ ᐊᓂᖅᓵᖅᑐᑦᓯᐊᖏᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑖᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐳᕙᖕᓄᓪᓗ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ “ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᐃᑦᑐᕐᓘᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᑎᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑖᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓇᓂ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᓗ ᓴᐳᒻᒥᔭᐅᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᖅᓴᕋᐃᓐᓂᖅᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ. ᒪᑐᐊᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓯᐊᒻᒪᒃᑎᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒍᑕᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᓄᕙᕐᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑖᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ. ᓴᐳᒻᒥᔭᐅᒍᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑖᕆᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂᒃ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᓂᒃ ᓄᕙᕐᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑖᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᑦ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᕐᓂᖅᓴᓂᒃ.”

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖓ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᒐᒃᓴᐅᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᖅ

ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ 30-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑎᔨᑉ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖓᑦ ᓇᑯᓱᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᒐᒃᓴᐅᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓯᑕᒪᐃᖅᑕᖅᖢᓂ. ᓴᒥᐅ ᑕᕐᕋᓕᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᒐᒃᓴᐅᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᓕᐅᕆᓂᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᓕᐅᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᕐᓗᐃᓂᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᐃᖏᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ, ᖃᐃᖁᔨᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓯᒪᓂᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖃᖏᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᓴᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᑕᓪᓕᒥᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒃᑐᐱᕆ 13-ᒥ. ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᒐᒃᓴᐅᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᑉᑕᐱᕆ 25-ᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᖓᓂᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓇᓱᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ 2018-ᒥ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓐᓂᖅᖓᓗᓂ, ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᑕᕐᕋᓕᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒃᑐᐱᕆ 30− ᐅᓕᖅᐸᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ.

ᓇᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᒻᒧᖃᖏᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ

ᓯᑯᐃᕈᑎᒑᖓᑦ ᓇᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᒧᐊᖅᐸᒃᐳᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᕋᓴᖕᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᖃᓗᐊᖏᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒡᓗ. ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓇᓄᕐᓄᑦ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᑎᖅᑕᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒫᒪᖅᑎᑎᔪᓄᑦ. ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᒋᔭᕗᑦ, ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓲᖑᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, Marine Ecology Progress Series, ᖃᐅᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᓇᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᒻᒧᖃᑦᓯᐊᖃᑦᑕᖏᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᑯᑖᓗᐊᓕᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᓯᑯ ᐊᐅᒃᑳᖓᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓇᓄᖃᓗᐊᖏᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᐃᒻᒧᖃᖏᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒍᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓇᓄᐃᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓯᑯᑭᓪᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓯᓚ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

ᐃᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᓴᖑᖅᑎᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᕿᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᖑᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᓯᕚᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ (NWB). ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᓐᖏᓂᖃᖅᐳᓪᓗ ᐱᖁᔭᓂᒃ, ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐃᒪᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᐅᑕᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓄᓇᑖᕐᕕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ, ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒍᕕᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᒍᕕᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᓯᒍᒪᒍᕕᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒃᓴᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᑎᑦ ᖃᓄᕐᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓗᑎᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᒍᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᑎᑦ ᐅᕗᖓ Estela Aguilar at EAguilar@gov.nu.ca ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ Lekan Thomas ᐅᕗᖓ LThomas@gov.nu.ca, ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᑎᓗᒍ ᑎᑎᖃᑎᑦ ᐅᕗᖓ 867-975-7742. ᑕᑕᑎᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᒥᐅᑕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑭᐊᕿᕕᖓᓂ. ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᑕᑎᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖃᖅᐸᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ. ᑕᑕᑎᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒃᑐᐱᕆ 27-ᒧᑦ.

“ᓂᕿᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᒍᑎᒋᔭᐅᖏᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐊᑯᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᑐᕚᒥ ᓗᐊᕋ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ. ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒍᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓐᓇᕈᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓚᐃᓐᓇᑯᓗᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᑭᒡᓕᒋᐊᕈᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑲᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᖕᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᑎᑦᓯᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᓗᒃᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕈᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓄᑦ. “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᐳᒍᑦ ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᕈᑎᖃᖅᐳᒍᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕋᑉᑕ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᔨᕋᖅᑐᕈᑕᐅᖏᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᑯᒍᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᒪᕗᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᖓᑦ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᖅ. “ᐄ, ᓂᐅᕈᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᑎᓂ ᑎᑎᖃᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᑉᓯᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖏᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᖕᒪᖔᖅᐱᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᑖᕈᑎᓂ. ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᖃᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖏᑉᐳᒍᑦ ᖃᖅᓯᓪᓚᑦᑖᓂᒃ? ᑭᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᕙᑦ, ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ? ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕆᐊᖅᐸᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕆᐊᕌᐊᖓᑕ ᒪᓕᒃᓴᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑎᑭᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᖏᓪᓗ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ. ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᑉᓗᑕᓗ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᔪᖃᕌᖓᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᔪᒻᒪᕆᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᑎᖕᒥᓲᒃᑰᕈᑎᓄᑦ. ᑕᑯᒍᒪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᒃᐸᑕ ᖃᑉᓯᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐱᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑉᑕ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ − ᖃᑉᓯᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᑭᓗᒃᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᑖᖃᑦᑕᖅᐱᑕ?” ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᕚᒥ ᓗᐊᕆ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓂᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᒃᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᓕᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᖏᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ. “ᓕᐳᕈᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᓯᐊᖅᓯᒪᖏᒻᒪᑕ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᓪᓗ ᐊᑭᑐᑦᓯᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ,” ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓂᕿᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᒍᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓄᑦ, ᒫᓐᓇᐅᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓕᐳᕈᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᒪᒍ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓪᓚᕆᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᑦ ᓂᕿᑦ. ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᓯᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᓕᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐊᑭᑭᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓂᕿᑦ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᓕᕐᒪᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪ ᐋᓯᑦ ᐳᐃᒍᖅᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᑦ ᕿᒪᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ. “ᓕᐳᕈᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓚᕆᒍᒪᒃᐸᑕ ᐊᑭᑭᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒧᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓪᓚᕆᒋᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑕᕿᑐᐃᓐᓇᖏᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᑲᑎᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑕᐅᖏᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᖏᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᖃᕆᐊᖃᖏᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᑦᓯᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᑦᓯᐊᕋᓱᐊᖏᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᖃᓪᓚᕆᒋᐊᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᓪᓚᕆᒡᓗᓂ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐊᑭᓗᒃᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐃᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᓂᕿᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᐸᓪᓗᑕ.” ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᐃᐊᓐᑏᐲᒃᑯᓐᓂᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑎᐊ ᓂᑭ ᐋᔅᑕᓐ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᒍᑎᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2022-ᒥ. “ᑕᐃᒪ ᐊᖏᓪᓚᕆᒃᐳᖓ ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᕐᒪᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᑕᐃᑦᓱᒪᓂ. “ᐊᔾᔨᒌᖏᒻᒪᑕ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᖏᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒥᐅᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔭᖏᑦ.” ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ $131 ᒥᓕᔭᓐᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᒧᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᑭᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ. “ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑭᓖᒃᐸᑕ $1-ᒥᒃ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᓂᕿ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ $1−ᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᓗᖕᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᓂᕿ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ,” ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓂ ᑐᕌᓐᑐ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑭᓗᒃᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ. ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, “ᖃᐅᔨᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑕᐅᒑᖓᑕ ᐊᑭᓗᒃᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖓᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᑦ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑭᓖᓪᓗᑎᒃ 67-ᓴᓐᓯᓂᒃ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᕕᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᔭᓐᓄᐊᕆ 2019-ᒥ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕆᐊᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᓪᓗᑕ $1ᑲᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᑦ

ᐱᑎᑕᐅᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑭᑭᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ 26ᓴᓐᓯᑐᓐᓇᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᑭᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.” ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᒋᑦ. “ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᑭᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᑭᑉᐹᓪᓕᕈᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ CIRNAC−ᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒦᒐᓐ ᒪᑭᓖᓐ. “ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂᑦ ᓂᕿᓕᕆᔨᓂᑦ ᑎᑭᓴᐃᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂᑦ ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ. ᑖᒃᑯᐊ CIRNAC ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓚᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᕿᓂᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᓂᕆᔭᖓ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᑦᓯᐊᖏᓐᓇᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ.” ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᒍᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓐᓇᕈᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑕᐅᒍᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔭᐅᑦᑕᖏᑦᑐᒃᓴᐅᖕᒪᑕ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᒋᐊᓃᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᒋᐊᖃᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᓇᒧᖓᐅᕙᓪᓕᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓪᓚᕆᖏᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓚᐃᓐᓇᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ. ᒪᑭᓖᓐ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ CIRNAC−ᑯᑦ ᓵᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐆᒃᑐᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᖅᓗᓂ. “ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᕕᐅᔪᓪᓗ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᓵᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᐅᒋᐊᖃᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓚᕆᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒡᓗ. ᐅᑭᐅᑕᒫᑦ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᒪᓕᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᒥᖕᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑎᖃᑦᑕᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ, ᐊᑭᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓯᒪᑦᓯᐊᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᑉᓯᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᖔᑕ. ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᖓᔪᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓂᐊᓕᕌᖓᒥᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᖏᑦᑐᓂᒃ.” ᒪᑭᓖᓐ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᖏᑦ, ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒋᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ “ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ. ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᐊᖅᑎᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᓂᕿᖃᖅᑎᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᓱᖅᐹᓪᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒡᓗ.” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑭᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᖃᑦᑕᖁᓪᓗᐱᑦ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥᐅᑦ. “ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᓪᓗ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓂᕿᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᑐᖃᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ 5,500 ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓂᒃ. ᐊᒻᒪ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓂᕿᑖᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᑕᐅᖅᓰᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᓂ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᓂᐅᕕᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᓴᓂᒃ, ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᓂᕆᑎᑕᐅᒍᑎᒃᓴᖏᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᓂᕿᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ… 112ᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑐᒥᐅᓂ.” ᒪᒃᓖᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᓂᕿᑦᓯᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᑖᒥᒃ ᓂᕿᖃᑦᓯᐊᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ. ᑕᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒡᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᖅᑎᑎᒍᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᑎᒋᓗ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕆᐊᖁᔭᐅᖏᓐᓇᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓄᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪ 2022-23−ᒥᓗ, ᑖᒃᑯᑎᒎᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᓯᐊᒃᑯᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ CIRNACᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᖏᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᕿᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ, ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᖃᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᕐ ᑲᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ $1.2 ᒥᓕᔭᓐᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ.”

A4 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

www.NunavutNews.com

Renewed calls for Nutrition North program revamp

‘Who actually is benefitting more, the stores or the customers?’ asks Joe Savikataaq Jr.

By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative

A recent study showing that only a fraction of a federal subsidy helps make food more affordable for Northerners has renewed calls for improvements within the Nutrition North program.

“We are grateful for the program, but would like to see more transparency,” said Nunavut Association of Municipalities president Joe Savikataaq Jr. “Yes, when you purchase an item it is listed right on the receipt how much you saved because of the program. But how much do we actually benefit from it? Who actually is benefitting more, the stores or the customers?

We all know inflation and fuel prices have had a domino effect on everything, especially places that depend on air travel and air cargo. We also understand how expensive it is for freight, which is what this program is all about. Would be nice to see more info on for every dollar given to the program — how much is actually passed on?”

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout is again demanding that the federal government rectify the program’s ongoing issues.

“The Liberals have not done nearly enough to address food insecurity and the sky-high cost of groceries in the North,” Idlout stated. “Enormous food prices have been a concern for Northern residents for years, and the Liberals are only starting to take this crisis somewhat seriously now that it’s affecting the rest of the country. The Nutrition North program has only helped major grocers get richer, and we need an overhaul to bring costs down and support other approaches to access to food. Once again, Northerners are forgotten about and left behind.

“If the Liberals truly care about lowering food prices, they have to include serious measures for Northerners and stop waiting for grocery CEOs to do the right thing,” she added. “Northerners don’t need leaders who keep asking nicely, we need real leadership and action now to bring down food prices and encourage traditional methods of feeding people.”

Idlout and her NDP colleague Niki Ashton also voiced concerns over the program in November 2022.

“Enormous food prices have been a concern for Northern residents for years,” says Nunavut MP Lori Idlout. Screenshot courtesy of House of Commons “I completely and wholeheartedly agree that the Nutrition North program needs to have an overhaul,” Idlout said at the time. “There’s definitely a disparity between what the federal government is saying and what the communities are hearing.”

The program doles out $131 million a year in subsidies to retailers to help cover shipping costs to the North.

“This means that if the government pays a retailer $1 to ship an item, the price of that item should be $1 lower for consumers,” wrote a researcher from the University of Toronto involved in analyzing Nutrition North. However, “we found that for every dollar paid to a retailer to reduce shipping costs, the prices paid by consumers fell by only 67 cents. When we considered communities with a single grocery retail store affected by the January 2019 subsidy increase, we found that an extra dollar paid to retailers reduced consumer prices by only 26 cents.”

Federal explanation Nunavut News asked Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) to account for the study’s findings.

“The Nutrition North Program only evaluates prices and profitability of stores that are registered with the program,” replied CIRNAC spokesperson Megan MacLean. “Many communities have retailers who only have an indirect relationship with the Nutrition North program since they receive their products from southern suppliers registered with the program.

CIRNAC works closely with Northern and Indigenous partners to monitor results of the Nutrition North program and seek input for ongoing improvements to ensure its operations are fully transparent.”

This response indicates that there may be a data gap, which begs questions about where the funds are going at each step of the supply chain. A complete picture is hard establish if

The Nutrition North program doles out $131 million a year in subsidies to retailers to help cover shipping costs to the North. Black Press file photo

only some local retailers choose to fully participate in the program.

MacLean further explained CIRNAC’s accountability measures.

“Retailers and suppliers are equally accountable and have a significant role to play. Each year, a sample of registered retailers and suppliers are selected to undergo a compliance review. This process helps determine whether they are complying with the terms and conditions of the funding agreement they signed, and includes an assessment of logistics efficiency, price transparency and profit margins. The department then works with retailers and suppliers to address the recommendations made by the third-party auditors and to develop action plans when required.”

MacLean also pointed to the department’s other grassroots initiatives such as the Harvester’s Support Grant, intended to “support the entirety of the harvesting practice and local food initiatives.

The grant was co-developed with Indigenous partners and supports locally-led food security solutions and self-determination.” This is offered in addition to Nutrition North, which is specifically aimed at subsidizing store-bought foods.

“Funding flows through Indigenous governments and organizations to make sure that Northern food systems reflect the needs of communities and are culturally-appropriate. In the first year of its delivery, the grant supported over 5,500 harvesters. In addition, the Community Food Programs Fund supports food sharing activities in eligible communities, such as bulk buying, Elders’ meals programs, school food programs and others… in 112 isolated communities.”

MacLean noted that Nutrition North’s newly established Food Security Research Grant is offering further support in Northern communities.

This grant supports Indigenous organizations and academics in conducting Indigenous-led food security research to fill data gaps on the cost of living and inform ongoing improvements to the subsidy program. In 2022-23, through these grants, CIRNAC funded five Indigenous-led research projects examining food access inequality and food insecurity, awarding a total of $1.2 million to successful applicants.”

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

Monday, October 23, 2023 A5

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

QIA takes federal government to court over fisheries

Inuit association estimates more than $100 million in losses of indirect economic benefits and economic opportunities

By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has launched a court challenge against a recent decision by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to transfer valuable Nunavut-adjacent water fishing licences in the Davis Strait to “non-Inuit southern interests.”

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is arguing that there is and will be significant economic loss incurred to Inuit, including “direct and indirect benefits for Inuit that have not been realized since the creation of the territory in 1999.”

Citing Article 15 of the Nunavut Agreement, the QIA is accusing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) of a failure to fairly distribute commercial fishing licences in adjacent waters, which is a “viable pillar of the Nunavut economy [that] requires addressing unequal and unjust treatment of Inuit within the fisheries.”

The QIA emphasized that this is a crucial decision in the ongoing matter of reconciliation.

“Economic development,” the regional Inuit association states, “is an important way to affirm and enact Inuit jurisdiction and authority while building the Inuit economy.”

The QIA cites the importance of improving the “blue economy” — sustainability in fishing and marine practices — as well as managing the risks and best practices in an industry so heavily dependent on the extraction of non-renewable resources. In addition, non-Indigenous jurisdictional concerns play a part in how these practices and the balance of the economy is meted out. The Qikiqtani-based organization says it is attempting to work with the federal government on the “a fisheries reconciliation approach to quota distribution.

“Increasing Inuit participation in fisheries is therefore a tangible way that QIA can advance economic development while minimizing the need to further expand non-renewable resource extraction activities,” the QIA stated.

With this court challenge, the QIA is also aiming to increase protected areas by 30 per cent by 2030.

Economic losses quantified The Qikiqtani Inuit Association carried out an economic analysis “to better understand the consequences on Inuit resulting from the federal government’s failure to increase access to the fisheries.”

Its findings were that between 1993-2022, $600 million in indirect economic Inuit bene-

fits were lost, as well as, $450 million in lost economic opportunities. Furthermore, “these economic losses are likely to extend into the future if there is no change in approach and decision-making in Nunavut’s adjacent waters fisheries quota by the federal government.”

When asked for clarification, the QIA gave examples of indirect benefits as the additional economic benefit to the Inuit economy from higher income in the fisheries sector, the social returns from policies and programs undertaken by Inuit organizations that collect fisheries royalties and the reinvestment of profits by Inuit-owned fisheries businesses into productive activity.

“QIA identified Nunavut fisheries as holding many potential opportunities… fishing represents an important economic base for Inuit

specifically, which has important socio-economic impacts – for example, commercial fishing licences are all held by Inuit-owned companies, and the industry is intended to create locally-based training and job opportunities specifically for Inuit… To date, Inuit have not seen their fair share of quota in the adjacent water fisheries” the QIA stated. “As a key component of our recent Qikiqtani-Project Finance for Permanence Agreement in Principle, QIA is working to reinforce Qikiqtani Inuit control and care of the land and water, including those waters in the offshore and adjacent to the Qikiqtani region.”

The court heard the legal challenge, known as a “judicial review,” in Iqaluit on Oct. 16-18.

It was not known at the time of writing when a decision will be rendered.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has taken legal action against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans over allocation of fishing licences in Nunavut-adjacent waters to “non-Inuit southern interests.” The court heard the legal challenge, known as a “judicial review,” in Iqaluit on Oct. 16-18. Photo courtesy of Baffin Fisheries

Prepared for the ballot box blitz

Elections Nunavut puts pieces in place for municipal elections

By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative

Holding elections in the majority of Nunavut’s communities requires a great deal of preparation.

Today (Monday) is voting day for the territory’s 2023 municipal elections.

Advance polling in 22 constituencies to elect new representatives for municipal councils and district education authorities (DEAs) has already taken place, with chief electoral officer Dustin Fredlund reporting that he has “boots on the ground” everywhere on his pin-studded map of the territory.

“Boots on the ground” in this case means that the office of Elections Nunavut has secured venues and poll workers, as well as providing a centralized

location for training and information sharing. Elections Nunavut has prepared and sent voting materials, which will then be returned by appointed returning officers for counting. These returning officers are trained in person over a day and a half.

Smaller communities will employ three to four elections officers, while larger centres will use four to five. The City of Iqaluit will have 12 to 15 staff at its polling stations.

The ballots will be printed in all of Nunavut’s official languages, and an Inuktitut-speaking officer will be on hand at every polling location, according to Fredlund.

Of the pool of electoral candidates, he reports, none “were disqualified, but there were a few who did not get their

declarations filed before the deadline and could not be accepted. Further details on all aspects of the election will be recorded and tabled in the election report.”

He added that his office works closely with municipal corporations and DEAs to meet the municipal election mandate.

“Most of the communities are holding a joint election, which means that the (senior or chief administrative officer) can be a single source of contact within a community for all the elections. This makes communication and logistical preparations effective,” said Fredlund.

To find a list of declared candidates, register online, and for more information, visit the website at www.elections. nu.ca, or follow Elections Nunavut’s social media announcements on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Nunavummiut in most communities will be able to go to the polls on Oct. 23 to vote for mayor and councillors. Some communities also have elections district education authorities and alcohol education committees. for Photo courtesy of Elections Nunavut/Twitter

A6 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

On the Land contest

By Sean Murphy Northern News Services

Nunavut News presents the Amazing On-the-Land contest, generously sponsored

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

Vicky Siusangnark sent us this photo from Naujaat. Colby’s first catch narwhal this summer, July 17, 2023.

WINNER! Delilah Misheralak sent us this photo from Rankin Inlet. Three-year-old Johnny-Kook Siksik was picking berries outside of Rankin Inlet in August 2023. The berries weren’t ready, but they spent time outdoors as a family. It was a happy and wonderful time for them as a family.

Ijaralik. e from Rankin Inlet. It was taken in

Cassandra Saumik sent us this imag

Petula Panigoniak sent

Miranda Paniyuk sent us this photo from Rankin Inlet. “Golden teapot” landmark at Amittukuluk was taken by Warren Paniyuk on Oct. 3, 2023. Her late father Paul Aupilardjuk went out on a hunting trip, so many years ago. His Honda had no more room, so he left his golden teapot and his late father-in-law’s toolbox with the intention to eventually pick them up sometime, which he didn’t get to do. So, it is now a landmark where a lot of people around Rankin Inlet know it as “Golden Teapot.”

Dora Lisa sent us this image from Rankin Inlet.

us this image from Rank

in Inlet.

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

Monday, October 23, 2023 A7

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Busy construction season in Kivalliq capital

Rankin Inlet residents quickly became used to closed roads and detours, as just about every section in town got hit with one kind of construction or another this summer.

Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

The Kivalliq capital was open for business this summer, as streets were regularly closed off for maintenance and all sorts of

construction crews could be seen around town working on various projects.

As the snow begins to threaten working conditions, workers stay busy to get everything they can done before freeze up.

The Elder’s facility steadily looks more and more ready, now sporting a coat of yellow paint. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Stacks of seacans and deliveries lay in wait for pick up and organization in the Itivia area of Rankin Inlet. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Efforts to bolster the town’s utilidor system have been taking place all summer. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Across from the airport, a housing subdivision is growing in size. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

The summer sealift season is soon coming to an end. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Work plows ahead steadily at Rankin Inlet’s new air terminal building, left, which is already dwarfing the old building in size. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

A8 Monday, October 23, 2023

Published Mondays

Office: 626 Tumiit Plaza, Iqaluit, NU Box 28, X0A 0H0 Reporter: Tom Taylor Translator: Jeannie Angilirq Advertising: Phone: (867) 979-5990 Fax: (867) 979-6010 Toll free: (855) 447-2584 Email: editor@nunavutnews.com Website: www.nunavutnews.com Kivalliq office: Box 657, Rankin Inlet, NU, CMCA AUDITED X0C 0GO Phone: (867) 645-2862 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 GROUP PUBLISHER Mike W. Bryant – mike.bryant@nnsl.com MANAGING EDITOR James McCarthy – james.mccarthy@nnsl.com

ACCOUNTING: receivables@nnsl.com Sophie Wu EDITORIAL BOARD: Mike W. Bryant • James McCarthy Derek Neary NEWS EDITORS James McCarthy • Derek Neary • Sean Murphy EDITORIAL PRODUCTION: editor@nunavutnews.com Sports: sports@nnsl.com ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Production manager: Jennifer Reyes ADVERTISING advertising@nunavutnews.com All departments: advertising@nnsl.com National: James Boylan Classified Advertising: classifieds@nnsl.com Director of product development: Laura Whittle Admin ad controller: Liezrie Maala CIRCULATION – circulation@nnsl.com Circulation Director: Edison Mathew Circulation clerk: Bill Hutchinson Subscriptions: One year mail $75 Online (entire content) $50/year

NNSL Media, a division of Black Press Media Publishers of: Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North

We acknowledge the finanNous reconnaissons l'appui cial support of the Government financier du gouvernement du of Canada.

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.

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Entrepreneurs never fail to inspire Northern News Services

In a world that more and more feels physically small, entrepreneurs are modern explorers, charting their paths through landscapes unknown and navigating all the challenges, terrain and mountaintops along the way.

There’s a noble and adventurous aspect to entrepreneurship and building your own business. For a town of 3,000 people, Rankin Inlet has a surprising number of entrepreneurs running restaurants, local stores, cab companies, fash-

ion and more.

People who start their own business take on a special kind of risk that is hard to appreciate if you’ve always worked for someone else.

When you have a boss, they make the rules, they take on all the risk if the business fails, and your job is just to show up.

But for the entrepreneur, the buck stops with you. The Department of Health is always going to exist and cycle through employees, as it lives for eternity on tax revenue. Your restaurant, though, has to sell at a profit every day to

continue surviving.

It was surprising to hear just how tight the margins can be, such as with Nathalie Taylor of Inspired

by Nabvat saying a parka that sells for $1,000 might cost $500 in material. General Canadian society seems to be catching onto this wave, but it feels like authentic Indigenous art should cost much more than that.

Despite how difficult an environment it may be to economically succeed in Canada these days, small business owners in Nunavut are doing it.

STEWART BURNETT

What can we learn from near-death experiences?

Northern News Services

It’s been an exciting summer.

Maybe a little too exciting for many because of the fires.

Let’s focus on some good news.

Over the summer, I distracted myself by diving into one of my favorite topics, “near-death experiences,” or NDEs. People from many different cultures and from all walks of life have NDEs. Nowadays, we have the medical know-how and the technology to revive people. You’ve seen the movies. Someone is having a heart attack and the medical team brings out the “paddles” to shock their heart and Patients “brought back to life” often report having a powerful, bring them back from the brink of death. The experiencers, the NDEers, life-changing experience during a procedure when they should have been out cold, writes Darrell Taylor. Jonathan Borba/Pexels photo are those patients who report having a powerful, life-changing help they get from the grandexperience during the profathers and grandmothers, cedure when they should meaning their ancestors that have been out cold. are on the other side of the The stories are amazing. veil.

They may use different According to the NDE rewords, but people who ports, our deceased loved ones speak different languages Columnist are extremely happy to see us. who come from different They will welcome us back to cultures with very difour true home. They are like ferent backgrounds will the “welcoming committee,” tell essentially the same experience was definitely not a halguiding us into our new exstory. The similarities are lucination. Rather, they report their istence. It has also been reported the obvious. How is that? Are NDEs NDE was “realer then real.” Even love on the other side is so wonderful a glimpse into the afterlife? After many years later, they remember it’s hard to put into words. It is a love studying hundreds of cases and hearevery detail like it was yesterday. that is “totally unconditional.” It is a ing many firsthand accounts, I have They also say that their NDE was love beyond description. It is a love come to believe the NDE is exactly like waking up from a dream. Our that fills the universe and is the founwhat it appears to be, a window into everyday reality is the dream. The re- dation of all reality. the “other side.” A glimpse into the ality on the other side is the true state One NDEer said, “It’s like taking afterlife. of our being. They will also report all love of all your loved ones, inThe fear of death is one of the the NDE was like “coming home.” cluding the love you feel for your most basic fears people have. What’s own children and grandchildren, and surprising about NDEs is death is not The other side is where we started out on the journey of life. It’s where then multiplying that 10,000 times. what most people think it is. NDEers we came from and it’s where we will Even then that’s only a tiny glimpse report the following: death is very return when this life ends. Life is a of the love on the other side. It’s total peaceful, there is no fear, they are great circle. acceptance, total love, total reality, totally themselves, they keep their Guidance of ancestors total connection.” individuality, they have all their Another common report is we are Wow! That sounds pretty good to memories, their thinking is clearer all “connected.” We are connected me. than ever, they are surrounded by to everyone and everything. That’s I often wonder if this was the origiunconditional love, they are totally hard to grasp. They say the fact is nal message of Christianity and many accepted, they are not judged (except we can never truly be alone. Being other religions as well. Is Christianity perhaps by themselves). alone is an illusion. When we die, still good news today? For some, Although they may start off alone, we will realize we have always been yes! For others… not so much. What they soon encounter others who have connected to all our loved ones, to happened? Did the original message passed on and they realize they have of the “man from Galilee” get twisted never really been alone all throughout our families that have passed, and to our ancestors. Our relatives are often around somehow? Many people have their lives. We are always “connectwaiting for us to cross over. All along asked this question. ed.” (There is one exception to these they have been supporting us and I grew up Catholic. I went to Catholic positive experiences but I will talk guiding us through life. I have heard schools. My mother took me and my about that later.) this many times during counselling brother to church every Sunday. Dad After an NDE, 99 per cent of those sessions and in talking circles. stayed home and made a big Sunday who experience it will say they have Does this explain why many culbrunch for us. Those are fond memories. lost all fear of death. Keeping in tures from around the world honour But I have other memories. Something mind the one exception, many say their ancestors? Many First Nations, that bothered me growing up Catholic they look forward to the day of their Metis and Inuit people talk about the was all the talk about punishment and actual death. NDEers will say their

DARRELL Taylor

people going to hell. I was scared of God. I feared going to hell. And even if I made it to heaven, I was sure my father was going to hell because he did not go to church. That’s what I was taught. If you don’t obey the rules you were doomed. And there were many, many rules. This was not good news!

For me, it was very bad news.

Eventually I rejected the church’s teachings. I still believed Jesus was a wise teacher and a compassionate person. As far as I could see, all the punishment and hellfire stuff was malarkey. I could feel a spiritual vacuum inside me. I felt empty. Like most teenagers, I wanted to know what life was about. Was life simply about going to school, getting a job, having a family, retiring and then dying?

What’s the point?

‘It blew my socks off!’

In 1977 I was living in South America on the Caribbean coast. I discovered a book called, “Life After Life.” Although not a medical book, it was written by a doctor. His name was Raymond Moody MD. It blew my socks off! Moody was a young doctor who was open enough to listen to his patients after they had been resuscitated. They came back from the brink of death after a heart attack, or an accident or some other emergency.

He noticed the stories were all very similar.

Moody listened respectfully to what his patients had to say. He did not judge them or send them to a psychiatrist. He collected over 100 reports and then wrote his book. It was a best seller. He called these experiences NDEs, “near-death experiences.” Soon, more doctors, psychologists, social workers and other professionals began to study NDEs. In Moody’s book there were no reports of an angry God sending people to hell. However, the NDEers said they would never think of suicide. They thought suicide would not going to have a positive outcome. We can discuss what that means in a later article.

Are these positive NDEs simply wishful thinking? Are they the result of a dying brain, or caused by a lack of oxygen? Are these experiences real? And what does this have to do with recovery from drugs and alcohol? I hope you will join me as we explore these and other questions in my upcoming articles. Stay safe and be well! Mahsi cho! Quyanainni!

Meegwetch!

-Darrell Taylor is a mental and spiritual health consultant. This article is for information only and not meant for diagnoses or treatment purposes.

www.NunavutNews.com

Nunavut News

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Monday, October 23, 2023 A9

We fact-checked residential school denialists and debunked their ‘mass grave hoax’ theory

A child’s dress is seen on a cross outside the Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., Saturday, June, 13, 2021. The Shishalh Nation on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast says ground-penetrating radar has identified what are believed to be 40 unmarked graves of children on the site of the former St. Augustine’s Residential School. The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward Recently a politician from a village in Prince Edward Island displayed an offensive sign on his property in which he proclaimed there is a “mass grave hoax” regarding the former Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Although many have called for him to resign, he is just one of many people who subscribe to this false theory.

A hoax is an act intended to trick people into believing something that isn’t true. Commentary that a “hoax” exists began circulating in 2021 around the time of public announcements from First Nations across the country that — through the use of ground penetrating radar and other means — the remains of Indigenous children are suspected to be in unmarked graves at or near some former residential schools.

Commentators circulating allegations of a “hoax” contend journalists have misrepresented news of the potential unmarked graves, circulating sensational, attention-grabbing headlines and using the term “mass grave” to do so. They also contend some First Nations, activists or politicians used this language for political gain — to shock and guilt Canadians into caring about Indigenous Peoples and reconciliation.

Like the councillor in P.E.I., many people — in Canada and internationally, fuelled partly by misinformation from the far-right — are accepting and promoting the “mass grave hoax” narrative and casting doubt on the searches for missing children and unmarked burials being undertaken by First Nations across Canada.

There is no media conspiracy As two settler academic researchers, we decided to investigate the claims of a media conspiracy and fact-check them against evidence.

What did Canadian news outlets actually report after the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation made their public announcements about their search for missing children?

To find out, we analyzed 386 news articles across five Canadian media outlets (CBC, National Post, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and The Canadian Press) released between May 27 and Oct. 15, 2021.

What we found, according to our evidence from 2021, is that most mainstream media did not use the terminology “mass graves.”

Therefore, we argue that the “mass grave hoax” needs to be understood as residential school denialism.

‘Preliminary findings’ of ‘unmarked burials’ After some public confusion over the specific details of the May 2021 Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announcement, which named “preliminary findings” regarding “the

remains of 215 children,” the First Nation clarified the findings as the confirmation of “the likely presence of children, L’Estcwicwéý (the Missing) on the Kamloops Indian Residential School grounds” in “unmarked burials.”

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation had already identified 51 student deaths at the Kamloops school using church and state records.

A National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Memorial Register has to date confirmed the deaths of more than 4,000 Indigenous children associated with residential schools.

But the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) noted its register of missing children was incomplete, partly due to a large volume of yet-to-be-examined and destroyed records. The TRC’s Calls to Action 71-76 refer to missing children and burials.

The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation — responding to these calls — initiated further research to learn the full truth to facilitate community healing.

Countering harmful misinformation In the two years since, a number of commentators, priests and politicians, including the P.E.I councillor with his sign, have downplayed the harms of residential schooling — or questioned the validity, gravity and significance of the the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation’s announcement.

One National Post commentator wrote that the account of a “mass grave” was reported “almost universally” adding that this narrative, and subsequent “discoveries” preceded a descent into “shame, guilt and rage …”

Despite the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation’s announcement never mentioning a “mass grave,” and Chief Rosanne Casimir saying in a news conference, “this is not a mass grave, but rather unmarked burial sites that are, to our knowledge, also undocumented,” some have even wrongly suggested the First Nation “announced the discovery of a mass grave” and this was a “fake news story.”

In response, the independent special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked graves and burial sites associated with Indian Residential Schools has amplified calls for Canadians to take responsibility for countering such harmful misinformation.

We hope that our research can contribute to this work and that our report helps to debunk the “mass grave hoax” narrative specifically.

Cherry-picked ‘evidence’ Our report reveals that most Canadian news outlets did not use the language, “mass grave.”

The idea that a “mass grave hoax” exists is a myth.

Myths, however, are not pure fiction; they often contain a kernel of truth that is exaggerated or misrepresented.

This selective representation of evidence is commonly referred to as cherry-picking, and it’s easy to see how those spreading the “mass grave hoax” narrative rely on cherry-picked evidence.

Of the 386 articles reviewed in our study, the majority of the articles (65 per cent, or 251) accurately reported on stories related to the location of potential unmarked graves in Canada.

A minority (35 per cent or 135 articles), contained some inaccurate or misleading reporting; however, many of the detected inaccuracies are easily understood as mistakes and most were corrected over time as is common practice in breaking news within the journalism industry.

Of the 386 total articles, only 25 — just 6.5 per cent of total articles — referred to the findings as “mass graves,” with most of the articles appearing in a short window of time and some actually using the term correctly in the hypothetical sense (that mass graves may still be found).

That means that 93.5 per cent of the Canadian articles released in the spring, summer and fall of 2021 that we examined did not report the findings as being “mass graves.”

It appears that some journalists and commentators misunderstood a large number of potential or likely unmarked graves for mass graves in late May/June 2021. By September, denialists were misrepresenting the extent of media errors to push the conspiratorial “mass grave hoax” narrative online.

Our research shows that the “mass grave hoax” narrative hinges on a misrepresentation of how Canadian journalists reported on the identification of potential unmarked graves at former residential school sites in 2021. And we hope our report sparks a national conversation about how important language is when covering this issue.

Media needs to be precise with language and also acknowledge its errors (and avoid future ones), or clarify details in a way that feeds truth, empathy and more accurate reporting — not denialism, hate and conspiracy.

Challenging residential school denialism The “mass grave hoax” narrative cannot be reasonably seen as just skepticism. Rather, it should be understood as an expression of residential school denialism.

According to Daniel Heath Justice and Sean

Carleton (one of the authors of this story), residential school denialism is not the denial of the residential school system’s existence.

Nor do denialists, for the most part, deny that abuses happened.

Residential school denialism, like climate change denialism or science denialism, cherry-picks evidence to fit a conspiratorial counter-narrative. This distorts basic facts and the overall legacy of the Indian Residential School System (IRSS) to alleviate settler guilt and block important truth and reconciliation efforts.

Truth before reconciliation Our research shows how detailed analysis can be an effective tool in confronting the growing threat of residential school denialism and other kinds of misinformation and disinformation, as called for recently by many Indigenous communities.

Instead of directing ridicule and outrage at denialists — which can give them a larger platform — what is needed is deep and reasoned analysis of their discourse to show why they are wrong or misleading.

This is the strategy of disempowering and discrediting residential school denialism advocated by former TRC Chair Murray Sinclair.

We hope others will join us in this type of research to help Canadians learn how to identify and confront residential school denialism and support meaningful reconciliation.

Our full findings can be read in our new report for the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba.

As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said in its final report, without truth there can be no genuine reconciliation.

For those who may be experiencing trauma or seeking support, here are some resources: —The Indian Residential School Survivors Society’s 24/7 Crisis Support line: 1-800-7210066 —The 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 The Conversation used the term “mass graves” in a story published in the days following the announcement by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. The article has since been updated to use the term “unmarked graves.”

—By Sean Carleton, assistant professor, Departments of History and Indigenous Studies, University of Manitoba and Reid Gerbrandt, MA student, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Manitoba. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.

A10 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Feeling like the chief

Alastair Aggark smiles with Fire Chief Stanley Komakjuak during an open house at the fire hall in Arviat last week.

Photo courtesy of Evano Jr. Aggark

Beer limit effects still to be seen Rankin Inlet holds final council meeting before municipal election

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Local Journalism Initiative Rankin Inlet

The last council meeting for Rankin Inlet before a new council is sworn in following the Oct. 23 election saw discussion of a familiar topic: the beer and wine store and its effects in the community.

Sgt. Patrick Frenette of the Rankin Inlet RCMP presented statistics for September that again showed an increase of calls over the previous year.

Calls for service in September to the RCMP were 296, with alcohol being a factor in 178 of them.

From the start of the year to the end of September, there have been 2,423 calls for service, compared to 1,965 in 2022 – a 23 per cent increase.

Calls involving alcohol are up 60 per cent compared to the previous year, while detainees are up 61 per cent.

“Seventy-four out of the 78 prisoners were intoxicated,” said Frenette about those being lodged in the cells in September.

For the whole year, 655 out of 783 detainees have been intoxicated.

He also noted a clear correlation with the beer and wine store’s opening days, saying calls for service when it’s open are much higher than when it’s closed.

Asked whether the new limitations at the store – daily allotments of 12 beers or two bottles of wine per customer – are having an effect, Frenette said it’s too early to judge, and there’s a natural decrease in police calls at the end of summer as well.

Coun. Michael Shouldice, who will be returning

Rankin Inlet’s beer and wine store has been the subject of much discussion in council chambers over the last year, as the community is grappling with rising crime statistics. NNSL file photo to the new council by acclamation, included some thoughts on the next steps for the beer and wine store. In a document, he suggested an addictions treatment centre, programs for education and counselling, partnering with organizations such as Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre or Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an event to create awareness around alcohol, collecting crucial statistics to measure the situation in the community, a change in legislation regarding the amount of alcohol that can be ordered at one time to address bootlegging and more.

Taxi fares to be increased In light of rising gas prices, Silu Autut of Silu’s Taxi wrote a letter to the hamlet requesting to in-

crease fares to $8 per ride locally and $10 to or from the airport. The fares were last set in a 2008 bylaw at $6 in town and $7 to and from the airport.

“With the financial impacts of the pandemic and, more recently, inflation, we have experienced a sharp and notable increase in our business costs in the last few years,” wrote Autut, adding his business has been serving the community since 2020.

“Specifically, the costs of purchasing, fueling and maintaining our vehicles have all increased significantly.”

Autut had posted on Facebook in The Rankin Inlet News group that the taxi fares would be going to $8 and $10 as of October 9.

Coun. Chris Eccles noted an issue with the fares being potentially increased before being passed in council.

“I don’t think that’s really the right way to do it,” he said.

Council passed two readings of the bylaw to change the taxi rates to what Autut proposed, with Coun. Megan Pizzo-Lyall being the only dissenter, noting concern in how steeply the rates were increasing.

For the bylaw to be passed, it requires a third reading, which is likely to happen at the first regular council meeting following the Oct. 23 municipal election.

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

Monday, October 23, 2023 A11

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

New guideline urges doctors to regularly screen for alcohol use disorder Treatment rate in Canada less than 10 per cent, says psychologist

By The Canadian Press

New guidance to help family doctors detect and manage high-risk drinking addresses a crucial gap in knowledge among both patients and doctors, say its authors, who warn that a common practice to prescribe antidepressants can actually induce cravings for alcohol.

The advice is comprised of 15 recommendations on early detection of alcohol use disorder, withdrawal management, psychological interventions and community-based programs.

It urges routine screening for alcohol use and includes tips on what to avoid, such as prescribing antidepressants without ruling out problematic alcohol use first because selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can worsen alcoholism symptoms.

“A lot of Canadian doctors prescribe SSRIs,” said Jurgen Rehm, co-chair of the guideline writing committee.

“Unfortunately, all the literature is pretty clear that this is not good practice, whereas those medications that are specifically made for the treatment of alcohol use disorder are almost not used.”

Antipsychotic medications should also not be prescribed off-label to treat alcohol addiction and can exacerbate symptoms, Rehm said.

The guideline was published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, or CMAJ. It was developed by the Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse (CRISM) and the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), with input from a committee of 36 members across the country, including clinicians, academics and people who have experienced alcoholism or are struggling with it.

Rehm said committee members hope the guideline will be endorsed by medical associations across the country.

Rehm said screening would only take “half a minute.” Doctors are urged to ask patients how often in the past year they’ve had more than four drinks on one occasion if they’re female, or five drinks if they’re male.

Depending on alcohol use, physicians could advise patients on health risks, suggest ways to cut back or prescribe specific medications for alcohol use disorder. Patients may also be referred to treatment programs in or outside of hospital, based on whether they are at high or low risk of complications such as seizures.

Long-term treatment could also include cognitive behavioural or

Amanda Hintzen is shown in a handout photo. Hintzen’s alcohol addiction became so severe that she sought help from a family doctor, only to be given medications for related symptoms without treatment to address the severity of the alcoholism. The Canadian Press/Ho family-based therapy, peer groups or recovery programs.

Rehm said the treatment rate for alcohol use disorder in Canada is less than 10 per cent compared to an estimated 18 per cent in Britain, where a guideline for doctors was adopted in 2012. He’s not aware of any study that assesses whether more people have since been treated for alcohol use disorder.

In some provinces, less than two per cent of patients are prescribed medications, such as naltrexone or acamprosate, intended for use with alcohol use disorder and recommended in the guideline, said Rehm, also a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and a professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Patients who report symptoms including depression or insomnia without disclosing alcohol overuse or being asked about it are often prescribed SSRIs, such as Prozac, said Rehm. He said doctors should screen for any connections to alcohol use because 18 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and older will meet the clinical criteria for an alcohol use disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Amanda Hintzen of Toronto said she went to a family doctor when she was “in a spiral” from drinking excessively every day.

“I said, ‘I’m an alcoholic. What can you do to help me?’ I left there with three different prescriptions,” she said, listing one for anxiety, another for insomnia and a third for high blood pressure.

Alcohol affects multiple organs, including the heart and is associated with raised blood pressure. It can also affect sleep, mood and anxiety.

When Hintzen asked for naltrexone by name, she was initially “deterred” from that option, she said of the drug commonly prescribed for patients with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder.

“At that point, I was more dependent on it to function,” she said of alcohol. “The shakes started in the morning.”

Hintzen said she paid for two private rehabilitation programs, the second time in January 2022 where she met many others who had been prescribed medication not intended to treat alcohol addiction.

“Everybody’s on antidepressants. Everyone’s on anti-anxiety medication,” she said.

Dr. Evan Wood, co-chair of the guideline writing committee and an addiction medicine specialist in Vancouver, said most people seeking support for excessive alcohol use do not get evidence-based treatment.

“The guideline really does speak to the failure of institutions to really effectively address the high level of morbidity and mortality in Canada from alcohol use disorder,” said Wood, adding there’s also a need to train more health-care providers.

Alcoholism could be the underlying cause of conditions such as depression, insomnia, anxiety and high blood pressure, but doctors must talk to their patients to find out, Wood said.

“If you don’t stop and talk to people about alcohol, you’ll end up treating their blood pressure with antihypertensive medicine when all they really need to do is cut back on their alcohol use.”

The guidance comes nine months after the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) released updated guidance that warns of escalating health risks associated with more than two standard drinks per week. Potential health harms include heart disease and cancer, including breast cancer in women.

Wood said the new guideline, funded by Health Canada, will be posted online and webinars will be offered to doctors.

‘We’re very excited’: GNWT, Indigenous leaders and feds agree to major conservation framework Pew Charitable Trust contributes $100 million to Project Finance for Permanence

By Eric Bowling Northern News Services

Indigenous, territorial and federal leaders are celebrating a major milestone in both truth and reconciliation and in responding to climate change by taking a major step towards enabling Northwest Territories Indigenous governments to designate their own areas for environmental protection and conservation.

An announcement was made during a Oct. 13 press conference conducted over Zoom.

“We’re trying to… figure out a way to not only preserve our culture, language and our heritage, but also how do we look after the land, the animals, the water, and this is one tool, one mechanism in a way of doing it,” said Delıine Got’ine Chief Danny Gaudet. “This agreement to this point is a very important milestone. We’re ready to work towards a final agreement. One of the most important impacts of the initiative includes support for Indigenous language, cultures, in our way of life.

“That’s why the NWT PFP (project finance for permanence) efforts not only expands conservation, but it also advances reconciliation that respects Indigenous knowledge and decision-makers.”

Along with the initial signing of the agreement in principle, Pew Charitable Trusts, which represents private donors, including Canadian philanthropies, aims to put $100 million towards towards the estimated $500 million implementation of the agreement. Once the agreement is finalized, which NWT Environment and Climate Change Minister Shane Thompson estimated would be next summer, Indigenous governments in the NWT will be able to designate their own areas for environmental protection and conservation.

Indigenous governments will have additional funds to employ guardians on the land to keep watch on environmental conditions and monitor wildlife. Funding from the agreement will allow governments to establish locally owned and operated green industries.

Signing on to the framework are the Tlicho Government, Dehcho First Nations, Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Deline Got’ine Government.

“We’re very excited,” said Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty. “This is a huge opportunity for us at all levels — federal, territorial, Indigenous governments for protecting our lands and conserving them. We see more partners coming on board and private donors as well.

Federal, territorial and Indigenous leaders in the NWT are celebrating the signing of an agreement to establish an NWT Project Finance for Permanence with an initial investment of $100 million from the Pew Charitable Foundation. NNSL file photo “It’s very exciting to see Canada and the GNWT and donors embrace this Indigenous-led stewardship of the land, because it is all about us and going forward working together and in true reconciliation.”

PFPs have been implemented around the world, but the Great Rain Forest PFP, which was finalized 14 years ago, is generally acknowledged as the first. PFP agreements are also in place with Indigenous governments in the Brazilian Amazon, Costa Rica, Peru, Columbia and Bhutan.

Guilbeault noted that the grassroots nature of the agreement means each Indigenous government will determine how to use its funding.

An example was given of how PFPs have been used to promote economic development, with the 17 governments affiliated with the Great Bear Rainforest PFP selling carbon credits to put towards other projects. According to the Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative website, since the PFP was finalized, coastal First Nations have created more than 1,200 jobs and 130 new businesses.

A12 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Suicide-prevention program teaches Alaska students how to identify their own strength

Students compete in a game at the Sources of Strength training in Bethel on Oct. 10.

(Photo by Katie Basile for the Alaska Beacon)

School district pits cultural, personal strengths against adversity

By Claire Stremple Alaska Beacon

Student leaders from 18 communities in the Lower Kuskokwim School District gathered in the Bethel Cultural Center on Tuesday to talk about a subject that isn’t usually the focus in a classroom: the students’ strengths.

Everyone was a little quiet at first — the students had flown into Bethel from all over a region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta that is roughly the size of West Virginia.

But they started to open up when the instructor, Robyn Weiner, split them into groups with poster paper and markers and asked them to draw things that give them strength. A group from Kasigluk, a village to the northwest of Bethel, filled the poster paper with dance fans, boats, fishing nets, basketballs and berry picking.

The students were all from grades 6 through 12, and they were there because their communities had identified them as leaders capable of learning the lessons of a suicide prevention program called Sources of Strength. They will be responsible for beginning the lessons of the day home to their peers.

The program teaches students to identify the factors that make them resilient, and shows them how to create their own pathways to healing in times of stress or trauma. The program is in its third year in the district, and administrators say it addresses the hardest issues youth face with positivity.

The program’s aims are weighty, but the word suicide was not mentioned at all in the five-hour session. The material focuses instead on resilience and personal

values. Students got to share the things that bring them joy and make them feel supported. They laughed, and even played games that had the whole room smiling and cheering. That joy was the program’s medicine, and the fact that it came from the students themselves was the point.

Grief Jim Biela, an itinerant social worker for the district, has traveled to several villages in the region regularly for the past 19 years. And in his counseling sessions lately, he said, there’s been a concern among his students that stands out.

“Grief. The past couple of years it’s been more grief. Understanding grief.

They’ve all been affected by death,” he said.

Biela said some students have lost parents to murder and suicide: especially difficult deaths to process. But he said he worries about the effects of losing a parent for any student.

“They don’t have anybody to show them the culture and traditions. And they struggle with their identity,” he said.

The wall above Biela’s desk is covered in artwork and pictures of students he has counseled and befriended. He pointed out several who have died from suicide, then pulled one image off the wall and looked at it for a moment: “I knew him since he was one year old,” he said, before gently laying it down on his desk.

Alaska has the third-highest suicide rate in the nation; youth who are exposed to suicide are more likely to attempt it.

Suicide was the leading cause of death among Alaska Native and American Indian people between the ages of 10 and 24 years old in the state, according to the most recent two years of data from

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Biela said he has seen Sources of Strength work to ease the effects of grief in the region — the district began offering the program to all schools after it was successful in Nightmute. Biela said last year, after the program, the Nightmute students’ grades even shot up.

Biela largely credits two students, Cory and Colby George, with leading Nightmute through the program after a tragic loss. The brothers are now about to graduate high school and they came to the training in Bethel.

Community change through youth leadership Sources of Strength is so named because its premise is that a path to healing can be found through eight factors: Mental health, family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality and physical health.

As Weiner, the instructor, explained each source and gave examples, Lillian Kiunya, another itinerant social worker from Bethel, translated them all into Yup’ik. After each strength was explained, the students were invited to share what part of their lives corresponded to it.

Physical health meant basketball and Native Youth Olympics for many students. For one young woman, mental health was berry picking. For another, family support was the grandmother who adopted her after her mother died. For Colby George, he last found the strength of his spirituality in seal hunting: “I was scanning the water and I felt instant calm before the negativity comes,” he said.

“Then I was enjoying the view and the sun.”

Two years ago, when he and his brother Cory brought Sources of Strength to Nightmute, they used the mental health example of Cory’s guitar, his source of strength. “I was trying to calm my mind and drawing a guitar and it really helped me,” he said.

He said the program gave them hope.

“We were going through a tragic event and we found a way, like, how to be with it. And it really helped us, it made us be confident,” Cory said.

He said after the presentation, people in their village rallied around them.

“After that, everybody was coming to us, talking positive to us, making us laugh,” he said.

Colby said the community response was impactful for him as well: “People that had brighter smiles than before came up to me,” he said. “Even other villages, they were coming up to us and saying quyana for bringing this up.”

Brothers, Cory and Colby George, attend the Sources of Strength training in Bethel on Oct. 10. The twin brothers are from Nightmute and have been involved with Sources of Strength since spring 2022. (Photo by Katie Basile for the Alaska Beacon) The brothers even started a basketball team at the school — physical health — that went to district finals in its first year. “I saw that the kids were getting on track,” Cory said.

The brothers are 19 now, so they can’t play in games with the team, but they can practice with the others. For Colby, basketball is another source of strength.

“I love how basketball could tickle my heart,” he said, with a big smile.

“This is really powerful” Meghan Crow, the lead social worker for the district, said the program is a good fit for the area. It is aimed at suicide prevention, but Crow said that the resilience building students learn is applicable in other areas of their lives as well.

“We deal with a lot of crisis,” she said.

“And we have a lot of really isolated communities. There’s just been a lot of assimilation, cultural change imposed upon communities. I think that’s something that our communities have struggled with.”

She said the school district is also an organization imposed on communities, so she wants to make sure it promotes strengths that exist within them already.

She said the Sources of Strength curriculum allows youth to match sources of strength to Yup’ik values.

“It’s very open to cultural interpretation, and to use those strengths and match them to strengths of our culture and our communities here,” she said.

Lower Kuskokwim Superintendent Kimberly Hankins spent the morning at the training. The district began the program in 2020, when students could not travel.

“But even though it was on Zoom, we saw the response. And we thought, ‘This is really powerful.’ And so we’ve been continuing to invest in it and grow it over time,” she said. The district had its first in-person training last year.

Only a handful of schools in the district have not yet had training. At the end of the day, as students ate lunch and began to gather their overnight bags for the flights home, Hankins and Crow huddled with the instructor to figure out how to bring the program to the schools that were left.

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

By John Arendt Northern News Services

Halloween, on Oct. 31, is a time of thrills, chills and candy.

The day has been associated with pumpkins and Jack O’Lanterns, bats, spine-tingling tales and plenty of movies and other entertainment.

How much do you know about Halloween and its many traditions? Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions.

Good luck.

1. What is normally given to children calling “trick or treat” on Halloween? a. Books b. Candies and treats c. A demonstration of tricks d. Soap 2. In the Peanuts comic strip, the Great Pumpkin appeared each Halloween. In which pumpkin patch was the Great

Pumpkin found? a. The biggest pumpkin patch b. The happiest pumpkin patch c. The most sincere pumpkin patch d. The spookiest pumpkin patch e. The pumpkin patch most affected by urban sprawl 3. In the Friday the 13th films, who is the main antagonist? a. Betty Lou Gerson b. Carietta Nadine White c. Freddy Kruger d. Freddie Mercury e. Jason Voorhees 4. What is the name of the day after Halloween? a. All Saints’ Day b. All Souls’ Day c. Dentist Appreciation Day d. Horror-Free Day e. Pumpkin Day 5. Which couple lived next door to Weirdly and Creepella

Gruesome and their family? a. Fred and Wilma Flintsone b. George and Jane Jetson c. Homer and Marge Simpson d. Ralph and Alice Kramden e. Steven and Elyse Keaton 6. Which is the most common species of bat found in Canada? a. Big brown bat b. Hoary bat c. Little brown bat d. Silver-haired bat e. Vampire bat 7. The Halloween tradition of the Jack O’Lantern originates from the story of Stingy Jack, a character who is doomed to roam the earth forever, with only a lighted turnip to guide his way. Where did this story originate? a. Belgium b. Cyprus c. Ireland d. Mexico e. Russia

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Monday, October 23, 2023 A13

8. The 1960 Alfred Hitchcock movie, Psycho, featured the character of Norman Bates.

What was his occupation? a. Artist b. Denture maker c. Motel proprietor d. Truck driver e. Private detective 9. Stephen King is a prolific novelist who has been described as the King of Horror.

What was his first novel? a. Carrie b. It c. Misery d. Needful Things e. Skeleton Crew 10. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a musical comedy horror movie from 1975, still has support today. Who is the head of the house in that movie? a. Eddie b. Dr. Frank-N-Furter c. Janet Weiss d. Riff Raff

The Little Brown Myotis is common and widespread across B.C. but endangered in Canada. (Photo SM Bishop)

In this June 1, 2017, photo, author Stephen King speaks at Book Expo America in New York. King has been described as the King of Horror. Do you know the name of his first novel?

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) ANSWERS 1. b. Candy and other treats are given on Halloween. In some cultures, money is given instead of candy.

2. c. The Great Pumpkin was in the most sincere pumpkin patch. Linus worked to see the Great Pumpkin for Halloween. The Great Pumpkin first appeared on Oct. 26, 1959. The animated film, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, aired in 1966.

3. e. Jason Voorhees is the main antagonist in the Friday the 13th movies. The character appeared from 1980 until 2009, although the goalie mask associated with this character did not appear until Friday the 13th Part III, in 1982.

4. All Saints’ Day is a Christian observation, marked on Nov. 1, to honour all the saints of the church, known and unknown. All Souls’ Day is held on Nov. 2.

5. a. In some of the later seasons of the Flintstones, Weirdly and Creepella Gruesome lived next door to Fred and Wilma Flintstone. In the 1980s, the Canadian garage punk band, The Gruesomes, was formed in Montreal.

6. c. The little brown bat is the most common of Canada’s 18 bat species. almost half of bats in Canada are considered endangered.

7. c. The legend of Stingy Jack originated in Ireland.

References to this story can be found dating to the 19th century.

8. c. Norman Bates was a shy motel proprietor in the 1960 movie Psycho. The black and white movie is considered one of Hitchcock’s best movies.

9. a. Carrie was the first of Stephen King’s novels. It was accepted for publication in 1973. His books have sold more than 350 million copies.

10. b. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by Tim Curry, was the head of the castle in the movie. Today, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has a following and is shown at midnight movie showings.

Pumpkins have long been associated with Halloween. The animated film, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, aired in 1966. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Falconer

x0p31Axy N4ystdJxl4

A14 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

The impact of not having a family doctor: Patients are worse off, and so is the health system About 6.5 million Canadians — roughly one in six — do not have access to primary medical care.

It’s a problem that puts their health at greater risk and renders the entire public health-care system less efficient than it could be, both economically and in terms of the quality of care for everyone.

In other words, if we can fix the shortage of family physicians, we can save lives and money at the same time.

Many factors are contributing to our current shortage.

For one, Canada’s health system needs not only more family doctors, but also more nurses and other healthcare professionals. However, it lacks the capacity to collect and analyze data that’s required for integrated and proactive health human-resource planning.

The increasing complexity and responsibility of family medicine, including a much greater administrative burden, has also made careers in family medicine less attractive. In 2015, 38 per cent of graduating medical students chose a career in family medicine. By 2022, that number had dropped to 30 per cent.

We are also losing practising family physicians. The rate of retirement increased through the pandemic. (Many doctors lost income during shutdowns but were still responsible for lease and staff costs.) The current family medicine workforce is also aging: Nearly one in six family doctors in Canada is 65 or older and nearing retirement.

Family doctors and health care Research has shown that patients who have a regular general-practitioner relationship for more than 15 years need about 30 per cent less after-hours care or hospital admissions and experience approximately 25 per cent less mortality compared to those who had a regular general practitioner for just one year.

Having access to family medicine provides four ingredients essential to good care: continuity, access, com-

prehensiveness and co-ordination.

While other specializations concentrate on narrower aspects of medicine, family physicians specialize in comprehensive medicine, and engage with patients directly over time. Family doctors know how to manage a huge range of symptoms and conditions across the span of a lifetime.

In fact, a recent study in the United States rated family medicine as the most complex of all medical specialties, requiring the highest degree of judgement and integrated knowledge.

The work, while challenging, is valuable and makes the rest of the health-care system more efficient.

Having a person or a team get to know your story over time is incredibly powerful. When I see patients I’ve known for a long time, we can get a lot done quickly. They tell me what’s worrying them, and together we can decide quickly if a familiar issue calls simply for assurance and encouragement, or whether something has changed and needs addressing.

We make these decisions based on symptoms and past medical history — factoring in elements such as stress, family situations, grief and expectations for health. Because patients know and trust me, I can tell them, “I think XYZ is going on, but if you see these symptoms or changes in the next four weeks, I want to hear about it.”

That trust provides the opportunity to reassure and the chance to separate something benign from something worrisome, which in turn offers incredible efficiency back to the system. Family physicians aren’t sending folks for long lists of unnecessary investigations, because we know our patients’ stories.

Benefits for patients and the health system There is a belief in some circles that if we only shared one common medical record, every patient’s story would become available to all, resolving the issue of providing continuity.

But having one person or team

Research has shown that patients who have a regular general-practitioner relationship for more than 15 years need about 30 per cent less after-hours care or hospital admissions and experience approximately 25 per cent less mortality compared to those who had a regular general practitioner for just one year. Black Press file photo look after a patient’s primary care and keeping a good history is not the same as having many people looking after that patient and adding to that record in many settings and situations.

Patients without a family doctor must try to access the health-care system by going to an ER or walkin clinic. That often means a long wait, only being able to address one issue at a time and possibly that the treatment they will be offered will resolve the immediate concern, but won’t necessarily address the root of the issue.

Further, those patients likely miss the chance to tell a chapter of their health story to someone who will

remember if a similar issue comes up in the future.

Family doctors are also experts in prevention. They know how to look for things that could become problematic down the line. Lack of access to family medicine puts people at greater risk of having diseases such as cancer go much longer without being diagnosed or treated.

Finally, as anyone with a loved one dependent on help for the essential activities of daily life can tell you, co-ordinating care is a critical and effective function of family medicine.

Whether it’s referring patients to resources or specialized help or orchestrating something as personal

and impactful as the choice to die at home, family doctors are experts in translating your health story into plans to assemble and oversee your broader health-care team.

The return on investment in a strong primary care foundation is an increase in the average lifespan, a greater sense of health overall and a reduction in costs in all other parts of the system.

The lack of family physicians is a problem worth solving.

- By Cathy Risdon, professor and chair of family medicine, McMaster University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.

Submit a photo

x0p31Axy N4ystdJxl4

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

Monday, October 23, 2023 A15

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

How much do you know about Canadian inventions and innovations? c. Kidney disease d. Lupus

By John Arendt Northern News Services

7. Child-resistant packaging, used on medicine containers and containers for other hazardous materials, was developed in Canada. When was this locking closure invented? a. 1943 b. 1967 c. 1981 d. 1995 e. 2017

Canada has played a role in many important scientific developments and inventions over the years. The range of Canadian innovation includes communications equipment, transportation, food research, medical developments, and more.

How much do you know about Canada’s role in innovation? Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions.

Good luck!

8. The electric wheelchair is a Canadian invention, created

by George Klein in 1952. Why was this device created? a. Assisting injured war veterans b. Enhancing mobility for polio patients c. Improving access for an aging population d. Providing assistance to health care workers in transporting patients

1. From 2006 to 2010, ZENN Motor Company built battery electric vehicles with a range of up to 64 kilometres and a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour. What is the meaning of the name ZENN? a. An alternate spelling of the concept of zen as a state of calmness b. A combination of the first names of the inventors c. There is no meaning; the inventors simply enjoyed the sound of the word d. Zero Emission, No Noise 2. The first telephone wire conversation occurred on Oct. 9, 1876, between Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson. In which country did this conversation take place? a. Canada b. France c. Germany d. South Africa e. United States 3. The Canadarm is a mechanical device that has been used on space shuttle missions. Which Canadian company designed and produced this device?

The Canadarm 2 reaches out to capture the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft and prepare it to be pulled into its port on the International Space Station, Friday, April 17, 2015. The Canadian Space Agency has awarded a contract worth $22.8 million to MDA to develop Canadarm3. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, NASA a. Bombardier Aviation b. Ford Motor Company of Canada c. New Flyer d. SPAR Aerospace e. Western Star Trucks 4. In the 2010s, a group of patented apples with a non-browning trait was de-

ANSWERS 1. d. ZENN stood for Zero Emission, No Noise. The company had its headquarters in Toronto and manufactured the vehicles in Quebec.

2. e. The historic call was between two devices, around four kilometres apart, in Boston and Cambridge, Mass. The first transcontinental call was made by the same two men on Jan. 25, 1915, between Boston and San Francisco. While the telephone was invented in the United States, Bell also had a home in Ontario, Canada.

3. d. SPAR Aerospace was the creator of the Canadarm.

The company also created the Alouette 1 satellite.

4. a. The Arctic apple was developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., a Summerland company. The apple was the first genetically engineered apple to be approved for consumption in the United States, in 2015. Canada approved the apple in 2017.

5. c. In 1990, the Archie search engine was developed by Alan Emtage, a postgraduate student at McGill University in Montreal.

6. b. Insulin is used in the treatment of diabetes and its acute complications. The research was done at the University of Toronto.

7. b. Henri J. Breault, a Canadian doctor who practised medicine in Windsor, Ont., developed child-resistant packaging 1967. After this packaging technology was introduced, poisoning from accidental medicine ingestion fell by 91 per cent.

8. a. The electric wheelchair was created to assist injured war veterans after the Second World War. 9. c. Jacques Plante was the goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. On Nov. 1, 1959, Plante was struck in the face during a game against the New York Rangers. He refused to return to the ice without wearing a mask. Today, a goalie mask is a mandatory piece of hockey equipment.

10. J.W. Elliot was a dentist. While he invented the rotary snowplough, he did not build a working model or a prototype.

In the 1880s, Orange Jull of Orangeville, Ont., expanded on Elliot’s design and built working models of the rotary snowplough.

veloped in Summerland, B.C. What is the name of this patented apple? a. Arctic b. Canadian Gold c. Summer d. Traumapfel e. White 5. Archie, the first internet

search engine, was developed in Canada by a postgraduate student. Where was this search engine created? a. Burnaby, B.C. b. Edmonton, Alta. c. Montreal, Que. d. Toronto, Ont. e. Winnipeg, Man.

6. The process for extracting medicinal insulin was developed in Canada in the early 1920s by Frederick Banting, Charles Best, and James Collip. What disease or medical condition requires insulin? a. AIDS b. Diabetes

9. The goalie mask provides protection to a hockey goalie’s head and neck, and the modern goalie mask was invented by goaltender Jacques Plante in 1959. For which team did he play at this time? a. Boston Bruins b. Chicago Blackhawks c. Montreal Canadiens d. Toronto Maple Leafs e. Seattle Kraken 10. The rotary snowplough, used to clear snow from railway tracks, was invented in Toronto

by J.W. Elliot in 1869. However, Elliot was not a railway worker or an engineer. What was his profession? a. Bicycle mechanic b. Dentist c. Farmer d. Pastor

A16 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Health ministers wrap up P.E.I. meetings with a plan to grow the health workforce The plan involves making it easier for physicians and nurses to work in different Canadian jurisdictions

By The Canadian Press

The federal health minister says Canada intends to tackle its health workforce shortages by making it easier for nurses and doctors to practice in other provinces, streamlining credentials for internationally-trained health workers and through a new nursing retention program.

Mark Holland shared the strategies as he wrapped up two days of meetings with his provincial and territorial health minister counterparts in Prince Edward Island Thursday.

“Our plan for a strong and sustainable health workforce is one that is shared by all levels of government and dominated our conversations over the last two days,” Holland said during a news conference.

Holland said while there is much to be proud of in Canada’s health system, “it’s also really stretched.”

“And this is a time particularly in the workforce where we’re facing a crisis and where we have to rise to that occasion.”

The minister laid out a five-part workforce plan, which includes the creation of a socalled “nursing retention toolkit” that will provide employers with guides to creating

workplaces where nurses feel supported and want to stay.

The plan involves making it easier for physicians and nurses to work in different Canadian jurisdictions, Holland said, and speeding up the process of regulatory bodies certifying internationally-trained health professionals to hit a 90-day service standard. It will also undertake a study of the number of health workers being educated in Canada to ensure there are enough to meet demand.

The strategy also includes strengthening and sharing standardized health data across the country in order to better plan for future health workforce needs.

“This is critically important to make sure that we don’t just deal with the health workforce issues we’re facing today, but to make sure that we know exactly who we need in the future,” Holland said.

Improving the integration and sharing of health data is a condition of the health accord the prime minister offered premiers in February.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered $196 billion to the provinces and territories over the next 10 years to improve access to health care. That funding includes increases to the

federal health transfer and tailored one-onone agreements to target the specific needs in different jurisdictions.

In exchange, premiers must promise to improve data sharing and empirically measure their progress toward set goals and targets.

British Columbia was the first to sign the first bilateral funding agreement with Ottawa, and all other provinces and territories have agreed to the health accord in principle except for Quebec, which has balked at being accountable to Ottawa for how money is spent.

Quebec’s Minister of Health Christian Dubé said Thursday this issue is a sticking point for his province.

“The transfer from federal had to be without conditions, this is not negotiable for us. We have been very clear that health is a matter of provincial jurisdiction and we stick to that,” Dubé said Thursday.

A footnote on a federal news release Thursday noted that Quebec has not signed any agreement with the federal government and is not bound to the plan put forward Thursday.

Dr. Kathleen Ross, president of the Canadian Medical Association, met with health ministers this week and said she was very pleased to see the plan’s targets aimed

at improving health worker recruitment.

“There were so many excellent points made in these commitments, and the action plan that was mapped out today in P.E.I. is really on point,” she said in an interview Thursday evening.

“We need to support our workers, we need more of our workers. We need to train and retain and recruit in order to get where we’re going.”

Ahead of the announcement of the plan, members of the Canadian Health Coalition, P.E.I. Health Coalition, the P.E.I. Federation of Labour and the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions demonstrated Thursday morning in downtown Charlottetown, calling for urgent universal pharmacare and an end to the privatization of health services.

The federal government has promised to table pharmacare legislation this fall.

When asked about what’s needed in legislation for a federal pharmacare program to work in P.E.I., provincial Health Minister Mark McLane said that a one-size-fits-all model may not work and said that conversations are ongoing.

- With files from Laura Osman in Ottawa Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press

x0p31Axy N4ystdJxl4

www.NunavutNews.com

Nunavut News

Monday, October 23, 2023 A17

Fall Covid-19 update: Will there be a new surge? k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Northern News Services

It’s been almost four years since the first human cases of Covid-19 infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 were reported.

Though the global health emergency was declared over on May 5, 2023, Covid-19 remains a major public health threat. As we enter the fall/winter respiratory virus season, it’s a good time to review current Covid-19 risks and recommendations.

What are the current Covid subvariants in circulation?

The dynamically evolving nature of SARSCoV-2 represents a major hurdle for vaccine scientists. Omicron XBB.1.5 was the globally dominant subvariant during the first half of 2023, one which led to the development of the updated mRNA vaccines.

However, the predominant subvariants circulating in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Canada at the time of writing include Omicron subvariants EG.5, FL1.5.1, XBB.1.16, XBB.1.9 and XBB.2.3.

Do they cause serious illness?

The capability of currently circulating subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 to cause serious illness appears similar to that of other Omicron lineages, including XBB.1.5. The main risk factors for developing more than just a mild respiratory tract infection include increasing age, immunosuppression, cancer, pregnancy and the presence of chronic medical conditions.

Comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity and diseases of the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys and neurologic system are all risk factors for hospitalization, critical illness and death due to Covid-19.

In adults, the odds of dying with Covid-19 increase by approximately three- to six-fold with obesity and four-fold with pulmonary disease. In children, the odds of dying increases by about 63-fold with obesity, 20-fold with Down’s syndrome and 1.4-fold with asthma.

In adults with Covid-19 infection, men are almost twice as likely to die as women.

Long Covid (also known as post Covid19 condition) is one of the most discussed complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

However, it is rare in children and adolescents

Though the global health emergency was declared over on May 5, 2023, Covid-19 remains a major public health threat. The Canadian Presss/Lars Hagberg without chronic health conditions. Furthermore, vaccination does not appear to prevent long-Covid in children.

Is there a possibility of a fall surge in Covid-19 cases?

In contrast to pandemics, which are global in nature and involve sustained virus transmission, outbreaks are time-limited and geographically restricted.

During the last three respiratory virus seasons in the U.S. and Europe, Covid-19 transmission patterns were somewhat reminiscent of seasonal influenza. The fall/winter outbreaks of Covid-19 were characterized by a sudden increase in infection rates above the baseline pandemic level.

These observations, along with recent wastewater surveillance and clinical data, suggest that a spike in hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 is likely to occur this fall and winter.

Are current vaccines protective?

In September 2023, policymakers in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and the EU announced the approval of updated Covid-19 mRNA vaccines.

These “next generation” products were formulated to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant.

Unpublished pre-clinical studies that led to regulatory approval have demonstrated these vaccines to be safe and efficacious in all age groups.

The astonishing ability of the virus to mutate at every given opportunity has made it extremely challenging for scientists to develop a vaccine that offers long-term protection.

The XBB.1.5 subvariant now accounts for only two to five per cent of circulating SARSCoV-2 viruses, and is on the verge of becoming extinct. Newer circulating subvariants such as EG.5 possess novel mutations that may reduce the effectiveness of vaccine-mediated immunity.

What are the current vaccine recommendations?

Recommendations for the updated vaccines vary according to country/region, vaccine product, presence of chronic health problems, age and history of prior Covid-19 vaccination or infection.

Public health authorities in Canada, the U.K. and the EU have strongly emphasized the need to prioritize vaccination for those at highest risk of illness, including those providing essential community services.

In contrast, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has provided the general public with vaccine recommendations that are not risk-stratified.

How can I protect my health?

In addition to vaccination, standard infection control practices are recommended at all times to prevent the acquisition and transmission of respiratory tract viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.

These measures include staying at home when ill, wearing a surgical or N95 mask in crowded indoor areas and frequent hand-washing.

Research evidence supports a non-universal vaccination strategy that focuses on high-risk individuals. Healthy children and adolescents are low-priority candidates for Covid-19 vaccination according to the World Health Organization and renowned experts.

The mortality rate for unvaccinated children under the age of 18 years is around 1/400,000, with most deaths occurring in those with comorbidities. Therefore, parents and their children should consult with their health-care provider for personalized recommendations.

Public health messaging for vaccine-preventable illnesses often ignores other health-promoting activities such as regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, restful sleep and avoidance of harmful substances (smoking, alcohol, illicit drugs). These lifestyle practices can improve and protect health, but are not a substitute for vaccination.

What if I’m hesitant about getting a vaccine?

Research has clearly shown who is at greatest risk of developing severe Covid-19 illness, and who stands to benefit most from vaccination. Yet, misinformation may compel some high-risk individuals to avoid vaccination altogether.

These doubts may be fuelled by a perceived lack of transparency of governments and the pharmaceutical industry. In these instances, a shared decision-making approach involving patients and their trusted health-care providers is recommended to dispel any myths about vaccines.

—By Sameer Elsayed, Professor of Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University

A18 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

NUNAVUT TRADING POST

FREE BUY & SELL ADS

jobs.nnsl.com!

QXQDYXW QHZV

NUNAVUT ADVERTISING HOTLINE • Email: classifieds@nnsl.com Fax: 867-873-8507 or Email: advertising@nunavutnews.com

EMPLOYMENT, LEGAL NOTICES & TENDERS

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ

GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT

GOUVERNEMENT DU NUNAVUT

ᓯᕗᑦᓕᐅᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ

Priority Hiring

Priorité d’embauche

ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔾᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ.

Priority will be given to Nunavut Inuit.

La priorité est accordée aux Inuits du Nunavut.

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᖅᑎᓂᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨ (ᐃᓱᓕᕝᕕᑦᓴᓕᒃ ᔪᓚᐃ 5, 2024) ᐅᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᖅ ᐱᓇᔪᒃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ. ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓵᑦ ᓇᓃᓐᓂ: $100,780 ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒍ $114,378 ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᖓᑕ ᓈᓴᐅᑖ: 10-507960 ᒪᑐᕕᒃᓴᖓ: ᓅᕙᐃᕝᕙ 3, 2023

ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᓯᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒡᓚᒃᑎ QGH (ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐊᓗᒃ)

Department of Health Nurse Recruiter

(Term Position Ending July 5, 2024) This employment opportunity is open to all applicants.

Salary Scale: $100,780 to $114,378 IQALUIT, NU Ref. #: 10-507960 Closing: November 3, 2023

Registration Clerk QGH (Qikiqtani General Hospital)

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑐᐊᖅ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓃᑦᑐᓄᑐᐊᖅ. ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓵᑦ ᓇᓃᓐᓂ: $65,395 ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒍ $74,242 ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᖓᑕ ᓈᓴᐅᑖ: 10-508038 ᒪᑐᕕᒃᓴᖓ: ᐅᑦᑑᕝᕙ 27, 2023

This employment opportunity is restricted to Nunavut Inuit residing in Iqaluit only.

Salary Scale: $65,395 to $74,242 IQALUIT, NU Ref. #: 10-508038 Closing: October 27, 2023

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᐃᑦᑑᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑎᑕᖅ

Territorial Infection Prevention and Control Specialist

ᐅᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᖅ ᐱᓇᔪᒃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ. ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓵᑦ ᓇᓃᓐᓂ: $104,809 ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒍ $118,939 ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᖓᑕ ᓈᓴᐅᑖ: 10-508047 ᒪᑐᕕᒃᓴᖓ: ᓅᕙᐃᕝᕙ 10, 2023

This employment opportunity is open to all applicants.

Salary Scale: $104,809 to $118,939 IQALUIT, NU Ref. #: 10-508047 Closing: November 10, 2023

Department of Justice Classification Officer

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨ ᐅᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᑐᐊᓄᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓵᑦ ᓇᓃᓐᓂ: $96,857 ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒍ $109,925 ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᖓᑕ ᓈᓴᐅᑖ: 05-508016 ᒪᑐᕕᒃᓴᖓ: ᓅᕙᐃᕝᕙ 3, 2023

This employment opportunity is restricted to residents of Iqaluit only.

Salary Scale: $96,857 to $109,925 IQALUIT, NU Ref. #: 05-508016 Closing: November 3, 2023

ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᔨ

Community Crew Officer

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑐᐊᖅ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓃᑦᑐᓄᑐᐊᖅ. ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓵᑦ ᓇᓃᓐᓂ: $76,609 ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒍ $86,924 ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᖓᑕ ᓈᓴᐅᑖ: 05-508015 ᒪᑐᕕᒃᓴᖓ: ᓅᕙᐃᕝᕙ 3, 2023

ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᒋᐊᖅᑎ - ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐅᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᑕᑐᐊᓄᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᔪᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓵᑦ ᓇᓃᓐᓂ: $86,093 ᑎᑭᑦᑐᒍ $97,732 ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᖓᑕ ᓈᓴᐅᑖ: 05-508019 ᒪᑐᕕᒃᓴᖓ: ᓅᕙᐃᕝᕙ 3, 2023 ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒋᑦᑎ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒦᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ $16,008 ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕᒫᒧᑦ. ᐅᕗᖓ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑎᑦ: ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᑦ, ᑎᑎᖅᑲᒃᑯᕕᖓ 1000, ᐴᒃᓴᖅ 430, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ X0A 0H0. ᓱᑲᔪᒃᑯᑦ: (867) 975-6220. ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᖓ: (867) 975-6222. ᐊᑭᖃᖏᑐᒃᑯᑦ: 1-888-668-9993. ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ: iqaluitapplications@gov.nu.ca (ᐃᓚᓕᐅᑎᓂᐊᖅᐸᐃᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑖᑕ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑖ ᑭᓱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐊᓂᑦ ᐃᕐᖐᓐᓇᒃᑰᕈᑎᖕᓂᑦ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓕᕈᕕᑦ.)

This employment opportunity is restricted to Nunavut Inuit residing in Iqaluit only.

Salary Scale: $76,609 to $86,924 IQALUIT, NU Ref. #: 05-508015 Closing: November 3, 2023

Cultural Advisor Community Liaison Officer

Ministère de la Santé Responsable du recrutement d’infirmiers

(mandat se terminant le 5 juillet 2024) Cette offre d’emploi est ouverte à tous. Échelle salariale : 100 780 $ à 114 378 $ IQALUIT, NU Clôture : 3 novembre 2023 No de réf. 10-507960

Commis aux inscriptions QGH (Hôpital général Qikiqtani)

Cette offre d’emploi s’adresse uniquement aux Inuits du Nunavut résidant à Iqaluit. Échelle salariale : 65 395 $ à 74 242 $ IQALUIT, NU Clôture : 27 octobre 2023 No de réf. 10-508038

Spécialiste territorial de la prévention et du contrôle des infections

Cette offre d’emploi est ouverte à tous. Échelle salariale : 104 809 $ à 118 939 $ IQALUIT, NU Clôture : 10 novembre 2023 No de réf. 10-508047

Ministère de la Justice Agent de classification

Cette offre d’emploi s’adresse uniquement aux personnes résidant à Iqaluit. Échelle salariale : 96 857 $ à 109 925 $ IQALUIT, NU Clôture : 3 novembre 2023 No de réf. 05-508016

Agent de l’équipe communautaire

Cette offre d’emploi s’adresse uniquement aux Inuits du Nunavut résidant à Iqaluit. Échelle salariale : 76 609 $ à 86 924 $ IQALUIT, NU Clôture : 3 novembre 2023 No de réf. 05-508015

Conseiller culturel – agent de liaison communautaire

This employment opportunity is restricted to residents of Iqaluit only.

Salary Scale: $86,093 to $97,732 IQALUIT, NU Ref. #: 05-508019 Closing: November 3, 2023

Cette offre d’emploi s’adresse uniquement aux personnes résidant à Iqaluit. Échelle salariale : 86 093 $ à 97 732 $ IQALUIT, NU Clôture : 3 novembre 2023 No de réf. 05-508019

Please note that all Iqaluit-based positions are eligible for a Nunavut Northern Allowance of $16,008 per annum.

Veuillez noter que les postes situés à Iqaluit sont admissibles à une indemnité de vie dans le Nord de 16 008 $ par année.

Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 1000, Station 430, Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0. Fax: (867) 975-6220.

Phone: (867) 975-6222. Toll-free: 1-888-668-9993.

E-mail: IqaluitApplications@gov.nu.ca

Postuler au : Ministère des Ressources humaines, Gouvernement du Nunavut, C. P. 1000, Succursale 430, Iqaluit (Nunavut) X0A 0H0. Tc : 867 975-6220.

Tél : 867 975-6222. Sans frais : 1 888 668-9993.

Courriel : IqaluitApplications@gov.nu.ca

(Please include the Ref. # in the subject line of your email.)

(Veuillez indiquer le no de réf. dans l’objet de votre courriel.)

ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓂᑰᒐᓗᐊᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᕐᑖᕐᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᑐᑦ

Job descriptions may be obtained by fax or e-mail or online.

Employment in some positions requires an acceptable criminal record check. Possession of a criminal record will not necessarily disqualify candidates from further consideration.

Les descriptions de poste peuvent être obtenues par télécopieur, par courriel ou en ligne. Une vérification du casier judiciaire pourrait être exigée pour certains emplois. Un dossier judiciaire n’entraîne pas nécessairement le refus d’une candidature.

ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖅ masculine−ᒥᒃ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ.

Note that the use of the masculine is meant only to make the text easier to read.

Notez que l’utilisation du masculin n’a d’autre fin que celle d’alléger le texte.

ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕈᓴᒍᑦᑎ ᐅᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑭᓲᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᑑᓂᖏᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒋᕐᐊᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ. ᐃᖃᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᖏᑲᓗᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᑐᑦ. ᐃᓚᖏᑦ

https://gov.nu.ca/iu/human-resources-iu

https://gov.nu.ca/human-resources

https://gov.nu.ca/fr/human-resources-fr

For advertising information contact us today!

Phone: (867) 873-4031 Email: advertising@nunavutnews.com Website: nunavutnews.com/advertise/

Nunavut News

www.NunavutNews.com

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

Monday, October 23, 2023 A19

EMPLOYMENT

We’re Not Just Newspapers, Priority Hiring

Priority will be given to Nunavut Inuit

We’re NNSL Media

OPPORTUNITIES IN CAMBRIDGE BAY, NU Nunavut Northern Allowance $20,891

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Pharmacy Technician

Starting Salary $86,093 Ref. #: 10-508020

Closing: November 10, 2023

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Ilinniarvimmi Inuusiliriji Starting Salary $76,609

Ref. #: 09-507993

Closing: November 6, 2023

OPPORTUNITIES IN KUGLUKTUK, NU Nunavut Northern Allowance $22,042

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Ilinniarvimmi Inuusiliriji

Starting Salary $76,609 Ref. #: 09-507994

Closing: November 6, 2023

Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Government of Nunavut P.O. Box 2375, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0.

Fax: (867) 983-4061. Phone: (867) 983-4058.

Toll-free: 1-866-667-6624. E-mail: hrkitikmeot@gov.nu.ca

OPPORTUNITIES IN RANKIN INLET, NU Nunavut Northern Allowance: $18,517

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Regional Laboratory Technologist

Starting Salary $89,998 Ref. #: 10-507589

Closing: Open Until Filled

Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Government of Nunavut P.O. Box 899, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut X0C 0G0.

Fax: (867) 645-8097. Phone: (867) 645-8065.

Toll-free: 1-800-933-3072. E-mail: kivalliqhr@gov.nu.ca Job descriptions may be obtained by fax or e-mail or online.

Employment in some positions requires an acceptable criminal record check. Possession of a criminal record will not necessarily disqualify candidates from further consideration.

www.gov.nu.ca/public-jobs

Nourishing our children's future!

Give children the best start with healthy eating every day.

NNSL Media news editors collect the latest news and photos readers want to see — police & court stories; what hamlets, town halls and schools are doing; big and small government; sports, arts, business and community heroes.

NNSL Media gathers the news, and streams it along all our Northern digital information rivers and trails — nnsl.com, nunavutnews.com, five Facebook Pages, one Instagram feed and a Twitter feed — where it all lands in our newspapers. We do the same with our advertisers — Northern businesses and governments — getting their information to the widest possible audience, online and offline, across the NWT and Nunavut.

QXQDYXW QHZV

RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER!

Subscribe at nnsl.com to read all our newspapers online

A20 Monday, October 23, 2023

Nunavut News

k NKu W? 9oxJ5

www.NunavutNews.com