Nunavut News - Feb. 13, 2023

Crisis response team takes action in Rankin Inlet

Special report on Inuktitut during Indigenous Languages Month

ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᖓᓂ

ᒫᒃ ᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᑲᐃᓚ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᒃᐴᒃ 2023-ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥ, ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᖅᑖᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑭᖅᑯᐊᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑭᖑᒧᑦ ᑕᑯᒋᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

Hunting rifles exempt from gun bill

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐊᓛᔅᑲᒥ, ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᒥ, ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᑦ, ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᙱᖦᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᑦ ᑲᑎᑉᐴᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᒎᓗᒥᒃ ᐅᓗᑖᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 3.

Golden boys make history

By Stewart Burnett

Tears, smiles, lots of cheers – Team Nunavut let it all out after their big win over Alaska in the gold ulu finals of the U19 hockey tournament at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta., Friday, Feb. 3.

ᓵᓐᑎ ᑕᑦᑐᐃᓂ ᓯᐊᕐᕆᔮᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᖅᐅᐱᒍᓱᒃᖢᓂ

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᐅᖃᑎᖏᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᖁᙱᐊᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ 2023-ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥ.

ᐃᓕᒌᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᑦ squads 4-1 ᒎᓗᒥᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᓛᔅᑲᒥᑦ.

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᙵᔪᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᓵᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

ᑲᒪᔨᖓ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᑲᓛᒃ, ᑕᓕᖅᐱᐊᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᐃᑎᓐ ᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᓂᑲᒍᓱᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓂᔾᔭᐅᑎᑖᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒎᓗᑖᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ U19 ᕼᐋᑭᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

Coach David Clark, right, and Kadin Eetuk overflow with emotion after the final buzzer sounded and Team Nunavut took home gold in U19 hockey. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᐃᓴᑭᐊᖅ ᒎᓗᑖᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓵᓚᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᓛᔅᑲᒥ ᐊᒥᐊᓕᒐᐃᑦ 19-ᒥ

Justin Issakiark receives his well-deserved gold ulu after Nunavut defeats Alaska in the U19 finals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᑭᐳᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓵᓚᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᓛᔅᑲᒥ 4-1 ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒃᔪᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒃᔪᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ.

Team Nunavut, Team Alaska, Team NT, Games officials, RCMP and other staff and volunteers gather for a group photo following the gold ulu game Friday, Feb. 3. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Goaltender Tucker St. John shut the door for Team Nunavut en route to the squad’s 4-1 gold medal win over Alaska. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Players gather in a group cheer following their win. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Players swarm each other after the final buzzer as Nunavut defeats Alaska 4-1 in the championship game. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Sandy Tattuinee proudly skates with the Nunavut flag as his team savours their win in front of the fans at Centerfire Place during the 2023 Arctic Winter Games. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Captain Garren Voisey is ecstatic as he skates with the Nunavut flag following the team’s win. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Nunavut hits the podium 51 times

Twelve golds, 15 silvers and 24 bronze ulus at 2023 Arctic Winter Games

By Stewart Burnett

Team Nunavut’s badminton, speed skating and wrestling athletes led the way for gold ulus in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games.

“I had tremendous fun,” said Mark Eetuk, youth ambassador for Nunavut, on the final day of the event. “Traded a lot of pins.”

His highlight from the week was watching the U19 men’s hockey team win gold.

Makayla Kaludjak, who attended for futsal, agreed, adding that she did her part cheering in the stands.

“People were even getting annoyed,” she laughed.

Iqaluit’s Akutaq Williamson Bathory earned three gold ulus alone for her work in the 500m, 77m and 1,500m short track speed skating races.

Meliya Allain earned a gold in speed skating as well in the junior girls category for 500m.

Lloyd Willie brought home gold in Dene games snow snake, while the U19 men’s hockey team won gold over Alaska, a first for the territory.

In badminton, Team Nunavut took home three golds, including one from Sanikiluaq’s Davidee Kudluarok in singles play.

Jonah Kunilusie earned two wrestling gold medals while Jusipi Dimitruk picked one of his own.

Nunavut’s table tennis contingent came home with 12 medals between them, while the Dene games squad earned eight. The junior boys hockey team earned bronze.

Kaludjak didn’t earn a medal with her futsal team, but she was happy to score a goal.

“That goal was for my dad,” she said. The Rankin Inlet youth is sad she’s aging out of the Games.

“I wish I was able to not grow out of Arctic Winter Games, because it’s so much fun,” she said. “I’m going to keep this memory for the rest of my life.

Jeff Seeteenak, assistant chef de mission for Team Nunavut, said there were many highlights for the territory at these Games.

“They’re ending with a bang for our team,” he said as luggage was dropped off for Team Nunavut’s charters home Saturday, Feb. 4. “I think overall things are going very well for Team Nunavut.”

He congratulated the men’s hockey for their gold medal,

along with badminton players and speed skaters raking in ulus of their own.

“This is their Games,” said Seeteenak about how Nunavummiut youth enjoyed the experience. “This is what they’re passionate about.”

And the next ones in Alaska are right around the corner, as the host organization plays catch-up after missing the 2020 and 2022 Games due to the pandemic.

“Kids and coaches, keep working hard and let’s go,” said Seeteenak.

Mark Eetuk and Makayla Kaludjak both enjoyed the 2023 Arctic Winter Games, from the competitions to meeting new friends and trading pins. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

ᒫᒃ ᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᑲᐃᓚ ᖃᓗᔾᔭᖅ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᒍᓱᒃᐴᒃ 2023-ᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥ, ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᔾᔪᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᖅᑖᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑭᖅᑯᐊᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

Arctic Bay proud of its contribution at Arctic Winter Games

Small North Baffin community earns seven medals for Team Nuanvut

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Arctic

Arctic Bay at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games saw its Dene games team win seven medals for Nunavut, which included a gold medal. Lloyd Willie got the gold in the Dene games snow snake open male competition and a bronze during the stick pull while Horizon Willie got a bronze in the 2006 or late female snow snake competition and Joy Attagutaluk got a bronze for the 2004 or later female finger pull competition. In the final team tallies, Team Nunavut over-

all got silver for Dene games hand games 2004 or later in both male and female categories as well as a bronze in the Dene games pole push open male competition.

“It’s an exciting feeling, seeing the people who you will go up against with and (also) make friends with,” said Joy Attagutaluk. Attagutaluk added she did, in fact, make new friends at the games.

“Everywhere from all over Canada,” she said, “even some from all the way in Alaska.”

The field-houses and stadiums of Wood Buffalo, Alta., were “very open places,” said Attagutaluk, bigger than any of the venues she has seen in Nunavut.

Davidee Kudluarok, triple gold medallist at the AWG

Davidee Kudluarok won all three gold ulus in badminton for Team Nunavut at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games. Photo courtesy of Wood Buffalo AWG 2023

Davidee Kudluarok wins gold medals in all badminton categories for Nunavut at the AWG

After winning in all badminton categories at the Arctic Winter Games, Nunavut player Davidee Kudluarok is eager to share his experience.

“I started playing badminton when I was 10 years old, just before high school. Growing up I played hockey as well, but badminton was my favourite,” said Kudluarok.

In Sanikiluaq, where Kudluarok grew up, the gymnasium opened four times a week for badminton practice.

“Me and my cousins would usually go every single time it was open honestly,” said the badminton player.

Badminton competition categories at the Arctic Winter Games include singles, doubles

and mixed doubles. The competition begins with round-robin play, followed by a medal round. A team contingent included eight players and two coaches.

“I won doubles with my teammate, Terrance Lawson, from Pangnirtung” said Kudluarok.

The badminton player said he always looks up to his favorite athlete in the sport, Viktor Axelsen, who competes representing Denmark.

When asked if he ever thought he would win three gold medals at the AWG when he first started practicing, Kudluarok answered “No, definitely not.”

The athlete advises anyone who wants to pursue their dreams in sports to “keep working hard because it will pay off.”

Kudluarok was asked to be the Nunavut flag bearer at the closing ceremony.

ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕕᔾᔪᐊᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

ᔪᐃ ᐊᑕᒍᑦᑖᓗᒃ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᐃᒻᒪᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᓐᓄᔭᐅᔭᖅᑖᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ.

She was very proud to be a part of a smaller community that punched above its weight.

“We had hard times but we all pulled through it and tried our best,” said Attagutaluk, “We are all proud of ourselves.”

She added she would go again with her team-

mates if given another chance.

While she won bronze for the finger pull, Attagutaluk’s favorite were the hand games. “Hand games was my absolute favourite to play.”

”Let’s go Team Nunavut!”

The winners of the Dene games finger pull, 2004 or later category, stand on the podium during the Arctic Winter Games. Joy Attagutaluk of Arctic Bay is seen holding the Nunavut flag got bronze for Nunavut. In second and first place respectively are Nunavik’s Lousia Berthe, left, and Tina Mifsud. Photo courtesy of Joy Attagutaluk

Bay

Felix Charron-Leclerc Local Journalism Initiative

ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ

ᓇᐃᑦᑐᓂ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᕗᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ

ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᖅᑐᒐᖅᑎ ᒍᕋᑉ ᓲᑕᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᓄᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖓᕝᕕᖕᒥ ᒪᐃᒋᓐ ᖃᔮᖅ−ᒫᓐᑏᑦ.

ᓇᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services

ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᔭᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃᒋᓐ ᖃᔮᖅ-ᒫᓐᑏᑦ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᒥ Grape Soda in the Parking

ᑐᑭᒧᐊᒃᑎᑦᑎᖃᑕᐅᔪᒥ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᒥ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᒻᒧᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ,

ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᒻᒥ ᐆᒪᑎᑦᑏᓐᓇᕋᓱᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ. “ᐊᑖᑕᒐ, ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᓄᑦ, ᐊᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥᓂ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᑐᕆᑦᔅ ᓇᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᒥ.

ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᕗᖅ ᐹᑐᕆᑦᔅ

ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᒻᒥ. ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓂᕐᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᕐᓇᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᖃᔮᖅ-ᒫᓐᑏᑦᒧᑦ, ᐃᓅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᔅᑳᑎᔅᒐᓚᐅᒋᓪᓗᓂ. “ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᓐᓂ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᒻᒥ, ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᒍ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᙱᖦᖢᖓ, ᐊᓱᐃᓛᒃ ᒫᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᙱᑦᑎᐊᓕᖅᖢᒍ. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑉᐳᖅ ᑕᑯᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓯᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᕐᓗ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔪᓐᓇᙱᖦᖢᒍ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᔮᖅ-ᒫᓐᑏᑦ, ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᖅ.

“ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᒪᐅᕋ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᐸᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᕙᖓ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑐᐊᖅ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ. ᑕᒪᒃᑭᒐᓚᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓅᓚᐅᕐᓂᓐᓂ

ᐃᒻᒥᓄᑦ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑦᑕᑕᖅᓯᒪᕐᔪᐊᖅᑑᔮᖅᐸᕋ.” ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ, ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒥ 2019−ᒥ. “ᐱᓕᕆᒐᔪᒃᐳᖓ ᐅᖅᓱᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᐊᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ

ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ. ᐊᑐᕋᓱᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᓱᓇᒃᑯᑖᓂ

ᐃᓗᐊᕆᓂᖅᓴᐅᔭᓐᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᔮᖅ-ᒫᓐᑏᑦ. ᐊᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ oil pastels−ᓂ ᑐᓄᐊᓄᑦ, ᐃᓕᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓕᒍᕐᒥ ᖄᖓᓂ, ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᖄᖓᓂ

ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒥᐊᕆᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᐊᓕᒍᖅ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᑐᓂ

ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕌᖓᑦ.

ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓴᓗᒪᓗᐊᕌᓗᙱᓚᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓗᐊᕆᕙᖓ

ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

“ᐊᑯᓂᐸᓗᖕᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᒐᓱᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᖅᑰᓕᖅᐳᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥ.”

8-ᒥᓂᑦᒥ ᓇᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᖅ Grape Soda in the Parking Lot ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ CBC Gem ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᓂ How to Lose Everything, ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓇᐃᑦᑐᓂ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐊᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔪᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᓂᐅᔪᒥ

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂ. Grape Soda in the Parking Lot

ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᒋᕗᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ.

ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐹᖅᓯᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ

ᐅᕙᓂ ᑲᑎᙵᓂᐅᔪᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ “ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐅᐱᒋᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᓐᓂ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.”

”ᐱᐅᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᑕᒪᑦᑕ ᓴᓇᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ,

The co-director and animator of Grape Soda in the Parking Lot Megan Kyak-Monteith. Photo courtesy of Megan Kyak-Monteith

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Animated short explores loss of language

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Short film explores Indigenous relationship with own language and English

By Trevor Wright Northern

Loss of language remains an issue close to the heart of many Inuit. To explain the loss of language within one’s own lifetime can be difficult, said Megan Kyak-Monteith, the co-director and animator of Grape Soda in the Parking Lot.

Taqralik Partridge, who also co-directs, tells the story of the loss of language to English within her own family, losing Gaelic through the loss of her grandmother and her father’s troubles keeping Inuktitut alive in himself.

“My father, sent away with tuberculosis for years and years, lost his language so he spoke only English,” said Partridge in the short film.

“Found his tongue again but never lost the taste of English in his mouth.”

The short film explores Partidge’s memories with her relatives, being Inuk and losing Inuktitut and an Inuk’s relationship with English.

The matter of losing one’s own language

also resonated with Kyak-Monteith, who’s Inuk but also part Scottish.

“When I was a kid back home when I could understand Inuktitut, to being able to understand it but not speak it, then now not being able to understand it. It’s nice to see other people put it into words, things I feel I still don’t know how to explain,” said Kyak-Monteith, who’s originally from Pond Inlet.

“People like my great grandmother who only spoke Inuktitut and I only speak English now. A lot of that has to do with me moving down south,” she added.

“I think the whole thing has to do with reconnecting to Inuktitut, relearning it and what it means to her and I felt really attached to that as well.”

In recent years she started working more with animation, previously working on another project in 2019.

“I usually work on oil paintings and started doing animations. I tried using materials I felt more comfortable using,” said Kyak-Monteith.

She used oil pastels for her background, put a pane of glass on top, set up the camera on top and painted on the glass, taking pictures of each frame and editing as necessary. The process is a little messy, but she’s comfortable with it, she said.

“It took a while preparing for it, but now I think I’m ready to do more animations in the future.”

The eight-minute short film Grape Soda in the Parking Lot is a part of the CBC Gem series How to Lose Everything, a series of animated short films by Indigenous peoples across Canada exploring the loss of their languages. Grape Soda in the Parking Lot is also available in Inuktitut.

The Pond Inlet filmmaker said she was able to meet with the other filmmakers in this series, and said she was proud to work with ”people I really admire as animators and writers.”

”It’s really nice to know we’re all making work together, all being Indigenous, all across Canada.”

Canada’s first Indigenous languages commissioner hopes to be operating by summer

Ronald Ignace was appointed to role in June 2021

Canada’s first commissioner of Indigenous languages said Monday he hopes to have his office fully operational by the summer — about two years after it was first announced.

Ronald Ignace appeared before a House of Commons committee that is studying the issue of Indigenous languages.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has prioritized revitalizing Indigenous languages as one of its goals in advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities across the country.

It passed the Indigenous Languages Act in 2019, which mandated the creation of a languages commissioner.

Ignace was appointed to the role in June 2021, along with several directors, and told MPs that the main focus to date has been on staffing up the office.

“The complexity and significance of our mandate and responsibilities requires us to take the appropriate time and steps needed to establish a solid foundation for this organization,” he said.

Because such a post has never before existed, Ignace said the group is building the office from the “ground up” and needs to take the time to get it right.

He says work has begun on researching what the status of Indigenous languages looks like in Canada, adding once that office is up and running, it would fulfil its reporting requirements on the matter.

Statistics Canada says data from the 2021 census shows the number of Indigenous-language speakers in the country has dropped overall, but noted some growth among the generation of those eight years old and younger.

-The Canadian Press

Ron Ignace was appointed as Canada’s first commissioner of Indigenous languages in June 2021. Pboto courtesy of the Government of Canada

ᑕᖃᕋᓕᒃ ᐃᓚᖓ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᓈᓇᑦᑎᐊᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒐᐃᓕᒃ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

News Services Pond Inlet

Taqralik Partridge remembers her grandmother and losing Gaelic through her passing. CBC Gem screen capture

Arctic Inspiration Prize hands out $2.7 million in awards

By Eric Bowling Northern News Services

One million dollars will help expand mental health capacity across Inuit communities throughout the North as part of the 11th annual Arctic Inspiration Prize’s $2.7 million in awards doled out to seven teams on Feb. 8 in Ottawa.

Featuring performances by Vision Quest, Beatrice Deer and Terry Uyaruk, under the artistic direction of Leela Gilday, the ceremony was broadcast online via social media.

“Tonight, we are here to celebrate Northern creativity and innovation,” said co-host Andrea Brazeau. “We are so happy to be back in Ottawa this year with all of you and with our partners.”

Grand prize winners the Pilimmaksaijuliriniq Project will work to further development of mental health programs based on traditional Inuit wellness teachings. It will achieve this through support of community leaders who are delivering on-the-ground community programming.

Joining them in the celebration is the Lessons from our Elders project, awarded $450,000 to assist high school students locate and identify historical artifacts in 10 communities across the North. Many of these artifacts are only known from stories told by Elders. After a one-year expedition, a virtual exhibit will display what the junior archaeologists discover.

Getting $500,000 to provide ongoing after-care support for those who undergo treatment for addictions and other issues in the Yukon, the Shäwthän Näzhì: Recovery Support Program is a three-year project to build capacity among Indigenous wellness practitioners in the territory. It will also develop an intensive recovery support program.

Aiming to advance Nunavik Inuit self-determination in research projects, communities and organizations have united to create Atanniuvik — a research governance organization. It will use the $500,000 it was awarded to build capacity to ensure the organization is run by and for Inuit.

In Tuktoyaktuk, a Northern Youth Development program will be operated by Northern Games Youth Collaboration Inuvialuit Piuyausiq, assisting young leaders in the community to promote cultural connectedness through mentoring youth, highlight volunteerism and develop Northern Games skills. They were awarded $100,000 as one of the three youth categories.

Porter Creek Secondary School in Whitehorse will be able to construct a traditional camp on its campus with the help of $100,000 from the Arctic Inspiration Prize. N’’tsaÜw Chu’ Kedts’edán Kù Traditional Camp will enable the school and community to engage in cultural programming and build capacity for educators while helping students see themselves and their

Co-hosts Andrea Brazeau and Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory welcome the audience.

Screenshot courtesy Gúnta Business

cultural teachings as valid.

Lastly, the Nunavut Youth Creative Collective is getting $100,000 to develop a social enterprise to increase Inuit representation in various media, ranging from advertising to social media and website design. It would also aim to help employ local talent in these fields to prevent having to relocate south for work.

“We would like to thank Gúnta Business for helping us out with our live stream tonight so that people across the North and the south are

able to join us for this evening’s festivities,” said co-host Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory. “A special shout out to all those who are watching from their homes, maybe even my kids or watch parties across the country.”

Canada’s largest annual prize, the Arctic Inspiration Prize is headed by the AIP Charitable Trust — a collection of Indigenous Organizations, governments, philanthropist, industrial partners and others from both the North and South of Canada.

An audience gathers for the Arctic Inspiration Prize ceremony in Ottawa, Feb. 8. Screenshot courtesy Gúnta Business

Nunavut to consider federal health funding proposal

Akeeagok optimistic

to see Indigenous healthcare funding stream

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Ottawa, Ontario

During a first minister’s meeting on Feb. 7, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government is increasing health spending in Canada’s provinces and territories by $196.1 billion over the next 10 years, an increase of $46.2 billion. Among the listed funding promises in the associated release by the Prime Minister’s office, which might affect Nunavut include:

- $25 billion over 10 years to provinces and territories in one of four shared priority areas which include family health services, health workers and backlogs, mental health and substance abuse, and a modernized health system

- $1.7 billion over five years to provinces and territories for hourly wage increases for personal support workers and related professions

- $150 million over five years for medical travel and cost of

delivering health care in the territories

-$2 billion over 10 years to address bringing equitable care to Indigenous peoples and addressing unique challenges

While there are many numbers being touted by the federal government, Nunavut premier P.J. Akeeagok said he’s going to take his time reviewing their proposal with his counterparts.

“Premiers will be meeting together to consider how healthcare for our regions will be impacted. The provinces rely on the Canada Health Transfer and Nunavut relies on the provinces for specialized care we can’t provide in our territory,” said Akeeagok.

He added he’ll be keeping an eye out on the Territorial Health Investment Fund, which expires in March and provides funding from Health Canada to the territories.

“For Nunavut I’m optimistic to see funds dedicated for Indigenous health and to have our struggles with per capita funding acknowledge as we negotiate,” added Akeeagok.

According to the premier’s office, from 2021-22, there were nearly 17,00 medical trips, which range from scheduled, medi-

vac and chartered planes. In 2021 more than half of hospital discharges (53.5) were out-of-territory.

Near the end of 2022, there were approximately 5,000 Nunavummiut were on a waiting list (Dec. 13, 2022) to see a specialist, and there were approximately 1,300 patients (Dec. 8) on a waiting list for a surgery or procedure.

Practising Inuktitut important, says South Baffin MLA

Inuktitut and Inuit languages distinct in context of Indigenous Canada, says David Joanasie

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services South Baffin

It is important for Nunavummiut

RCMP looking for tips after snowmobile vandalized in Iqaluit

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

Police are seeking information from the public following a snowmobile being vandalized in Iqaluit’s downtown core area.

On Jan. 28, at 11:30 p.m., a vehicle pulled up to building 1093 where a female passenger exited the vehicle and hit the snowmobile, which caused extensive damage, according to the RCMP.

If anyone has any information or recognizes the female or the vehicle in the accompanying photo, they are advised to call the Iqaluit RCMP at 867-979-0123.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers (1800-222-8477), or through an online web tip at nwtnutips.com, or by texting NWTNUTIPS and your message to 274637.

Practising Inuktitut in Nunavut is important, said South Baffin MLA David Joanasie, and he encouraged all Nunavummiut to practice it.

“What makes Inuktitut in Nunavut important is its uniqueness from other Indigenous languages compared to the rest

of the world.”

According to Statistics Canada, 65. 3 per cent of Nunavut residents as of 2016, reporting having some form of Inuktut as their mother tongue, down from 68.9 in 2011 and 71.1 in 2001. It is the responsibility for Nunavummiut to keep utilizing Inuktitut, Joanasie adds.

“As the first and founding language in Nunavut, it’s our duty to help keep using it now as well as for future generations to come. Nakurmiik, qujannmiik.”

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok says he will be discussing the federal proposal with his counterparts. Photo courtesy of Beth Brown.

Photo courtesy of David Joanasie

Photo courtesy of Iqaluit RCMP

Nunavut News presents the Amazing On-the-Land contest, generously sponsored by NCC Investment Group Inc., visit www.nccig.ca today.

The sun and the moon make multiple appearances in this week’s edition of the On the Land photo collage.

ᓯᕿᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᖅᑭᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᐃᖅᓱᖅᖢᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᖅ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ.

ᑑᓂ ᐅᓗᐊᓪᓗᐊᖅ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐊᒥᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᒃ, ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᓂᒡᓚᓱᒃᑐᒥᒃ ᓂᐸᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᐃᓕᓇᖅᑐᒥᒃ.

Things that rise and set ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᖅᑭᔅᓯᒪᔪᑦ

ᓵᓚᖃᖅᑐᖅ! ᔪᒥᐅ ᑲᑭ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᕕᒋᓚᐅᖅᑖᑎᒍᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᒥᑦ. ᖁᕕᐊᒋᓂᐊᖅᐸᕋ ᖃᐅᒪᓂᖓ ᑕᑯᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᕙᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑖᖅᓯᑎᓐᓂᐊᖅᐸᕋ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐅᓪᓗᕆᐊᙳᐊᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᖕᒪᑦ. ᐱᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᑎ ᒨᐱᒧᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 27, 2023−ᒥ.

WINNER! Jomu Kaki sent us this image from Gjoa Haven. “I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” Taken by Kitty Murphy on January 27, 2023.

ᕕᓕᐊᒻ ᒥᑭᐅᓪ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᖅᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 3, 2022−ᒥ.

KINDLY SPONSORED BY INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

William Mikhail sent us this image from Naujaat taken while enjoying the colours of the Northern lights on Sept. 3, 2022.

Tony Uluadluak sent us this photo from Arviat, taken when he was out for hunting and loving the cold weather with the quietness and the peace.

ᔮᓐᒫᒃ ᐸᓂᓗ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᑐᒑᐱᖕᒥᑦ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 29, 2023−ᒥ.

ᐄᕙ ᕿᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᐊ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᖃᒪᓂᑐᐊᕐᒥᑦ, ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᕕᕗᐊᕆ 1, 2023−ᒥ 3:15−ᒧᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᓴᒃᑯᑦ.

ᐊᐃᑯᓗᒃ ᓄᑕᕋᓚᒃ

ᒥᐊᓕᓕ ᑲᑉᓘᓇ ᓂᑉᓗᖅ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᑯᒐᒥᐅᒃ ᑖᓐᓇ ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓗᒃ ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒡᓗ.

ᓇᓄᕐᓗᒃ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᑦ, ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓛᒥᒃ ᐱᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒪᕕᑐᖃᕐᒥ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ.

ᓴᐃᑎ ᑐᓗᒐᖅ ᓇᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᙶᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐱᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐱᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2022−ᒥ.

Johnmark Panilu sent us this photo from Clyde River, taken on Jan. 29, 2023.

Airuluk Nutaralak sent us this image from Qikitarjuaq. Igloovigak, taken in 2022.

Qayajuaq Joe sent us this photo from Iqaluit of Grise Fiord and mountains in the evening.

Sadie Tulugak sent us this photo from Naujaat of the view while walking, taken on November 2022.

Harriet Nanordluk sent us this image from Naujaat, a ride with a best friend at the Old Water Lake in the summertime.

Marylee Kabloona Nik sent us this photo from Rankin Inlet, taken on the way to the store when she looked up at the sky then saw this beautiful and amazing scenery.

Eva Qirniq Noah sent us this picture from Baker Lake, taken on Feb. 1, 2023 at 3:15 p.m.

Nunavut leaders glad to see Bill C-21 amendments dropped

Proposed amendment to Bill C-21 would seen many hunting rifles and shotguns banned

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Bill C-21, proposed federal legislation, had an amendment to ban certain long guns such as some models of rifles and shotguns. The Liberal government later withdrew the controversial amendment on Feb. 3, saying there needed to be more consultation on the matter.

Of the proposed 1,500 firearms were listed to receive amendments to their status are many hunting rifles Inuit in Nunavut use for hunting and protection from wildlife. This part of the amendment went too far for Nunavummiut according to Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeegagok.

“Our government supports policies that foster the safe use of firearms. But the needs of Indigenous hunters need to be considered. The amendments proposed to Bill C-21 did not reflect the realities of our Nunavut communities that rely of firearms as a tool for subsistence harvesting,” said Akeeagok. “I’m glad to see these amendments withdrawn.”

In the lead-up to the amendment being withdrawn, it was proving controversial among Nunavut leaders.

“Bill C-21 was about getting handguns off the streets, but now with this latest amendment, the Liberal government has shown how out of touch they are with the daily life of Nunavummiut,” said Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, who opposed the bill.

It wasn’t just Nunavut’s MP opposed to the amendment to Bill C-21, the Nunavut Association of Municipalities on Jan. 16 came out against the bill in an open letter to Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok.

“With the high cost of food in the North and the animal-human conflict that we may experience on the land, the firearms we are currently using allows us to maintain our own food security and safety,” wrote Joe Savikataaq Jr, president of NAM and mayor of Arviat.

The amendment would have caused hardship among residents of Nunavut, he added.

According to Savikataaq, it sometimes takes multiple shots to scare off bears, something

that banning semi-automatic rifles would have slowed down.

“If this bill is passed, we will have to shoot to kill to protect ourselves from aggressive bears. This legislation, as amended, will increase fatalities for both bears and for Nunavummiut.”

He added that the former proposed legislation doesn’t make sense in the context of

says amendments to Bill C-21 show how “out of touch” the current federal government is with what happens in Nunavut. Canadian Press/Justin

Nunavut.

“If the intention of the bill is to improve the safety of humans in urban areas, it makes sense. It doesn’t make sense to include the firearms that Inuit hunters need to harvest their food from the land and water. Life is hard enough as it is for Nunavummiut,” Savikataaq stated.

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout

Tang photo

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