Nunavut News - Jan. 9, 2023

Norman Ishulutak entertains the crowd by playing an accordion at the Iqaluit Christmas Games in late December. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Kinngait art to be featured in South Korea

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Kinngait

Kinngait art is going to be showcased at the Lee Kang-Ha Art Museum in Gwangju, South Korea, this spring.

‘Once A Myth, Becoming Real’ will be presented by the West Baffin Cooperative from April 7 to July 9 and will feature 28 Kinngait artists, new and old.

“The Inuit art of Kinngait has long been an important calling card for Canada on the international

cultural stage,” said West Baffin Cooperative President Pingwartok Ottokie.

The exhibition is supported by the Canadian embassy in South Korea as part of a larger celebration marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Covid-19 cases surge in Iqaluit, Eastern Nunavut Department of Health recommends multiple precautions to avoid illness

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Qikiqtaaluk

A surge of Covid-19 cases is occurring among Nunavummiut returning from the holidays in Iqaluit and the wider Qikiqtaaluk region, Nunavut’s Department of Health advised on Jan. 4.

In its news release, the department didn’t specify how many cases have been diagnosed recently.

On Dec. 15, Nunavut health authorities advised the public to expect a rise in influenza, RSV and Covid-19 following the holiday season.

With multiple health centres in the territory expected to close throughout February, Nunavut’s Department of Health is urging people to take precautions and protect themselves

from Covid-19.

These precautions include: -Getting vaccinated and boosted when available to decrease risk of severe infection or death

-Self-isolating when feeling sick (fever, cough, runny nose, loss of smell/taste and sore throat)

-Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, or hand sanitizer -Covering your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; or into your elbow when tissues aren’t available

-Wearing a mask in healthcare and Elders facilities

-Practising social distancing If you are worried about Covid-19, test positive and need help, contact the Covid-19 hotline from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST at 1-888-975-8601.

The Lee Kang-Ha Art Museum in Gwangju, South Korea. Photo courtesy of West Baffin Cooperative

Eva Kunilusie sent us this image and merry Christmas greetings from Qikiqtarjuaq.

Madeleine Qumuatuq sent us this image from Pangnirtung. Merry Christmas! Sealskin drying with Christmas lights.

Vern Panioyak sent us this story from Kugluktuk, taken Dec. 26, 2022 while it was foggy and -40 C in Kugluktuk. The Northern lights were dancing very bright too, he said.

Janis Tauya sent us this photo from Qikiqtarjuaq. Merry Christmas!

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

Helen Sikkuark Niptayok sent us this photo from Kugaaruk. Beautiful Northern lights taken on Dec. 23, 2022.

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Brighter days ahead

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.

CAMBRIDGE BAY TEA TALK

with Navalik Tologanak email: helent@qiniq.com

QUVIAHUGITTI UKIUQ NUTAAMI TIKIUTINGMIGAPTA. NAAMMAGALLIPANGMILUTA TAMAITA NUNAQATIVUT IKAJUQATIGIIKPIAQLUTA PINAHUAQPAKLUTALU, IHUMALIUQPAKLUTALU. NAGUJUMIK TUPAKGALIINIAGAPTALU. QUANA NUTAQQAT UNGUIKHIKTUT UUTIKMIJUT ILIHAKTUT. TAPKUAT HAVAKTUTLU. IQALUKTUUTIAMIUTAT ULAPQIQTITIIJUN QUANA . QUANA IKAJUKTUT INUIN ULAPQIJAAMI. NIRIVAKTUTLU. NIQIHANIKLU TUNIKHAIJUT QUANA IILAA. INUIN NAAMMAJAVUT. AYUQNAK ILAIJAGAGNAT. IHUMALUKPALAAKHIMAITTUMIK. AKHUUKPAKLUHI. TAPKUATLU AANIAQTUT QINIQPAKLUGIT. AMANNUAQ AIPPALU NAAMMAKPAKLUHI.

Hello 2023! Happy New Year to the beautiful community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, land of the Inuinnait.

Also home of the world-class Canadian High Arctic Research Station (known as CHARS.) Soon the sun will return, spring will soon be here. We hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday season with family and friends.

Would like to thank all the hard working volunteers and to the

many who donated to the community of Cambridge Bay. It is most helpful too when food hampers are delivered to each family in our beautiful community, to see a box of surprises sitting at your doorstep when you get home is the most wonderful gift anyone can have this time of year.

Also wish to recognize the hard work of our recreation coordinator, Tracy Okhina, who works tirelessly to make sure the games and activities happen. Quana, Hogaluk. Time for a nice holiday getaway.

Also to all the volunteers to cheer up our children and a big quana to Santa Claus for visiting our children this year, even though it was cold out. Big thank you to the stores and their staff for serving the customers, Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Kalgen’s Dis and Dat Convenience Store, Kalgen’s Hardware Store, Ikaluktutiak Co-op, Northern, Ikaluktutiak Elks, and many local businesses and organizations who made Christmas happen for Cambridge Bay. Quana for making the holidays special.

We hope everyone look forward to a new year, new beginnings and to have a better year than the last. Look after each other and stay well. Keep washing your hands and wear masks when possible, stay home if you’re feeling sick. Stay healthy and be happy and strong.

God Be With You Son.

Gathered for Christmas hamper distribution to the seniors at the Cambridge Bay Continuing Care Centre are, from front left, Solomon Bucknor, director of the Department of Healthy Living; Daniele Analok, an employee of the Continuing Care Centre; Jacquie Ramnath, director of the Kitikmeot Health Centre; and Margaret George, cook at the Continuing Care Centre. From back left, hamper delivery helpers Eric Amalgonalok and Anton Kaosoni. Photo courtesy of Solomon Bucknor

Cambridge Bay’s cribbage champion for 2022 is James Noyakik Ekpakohak. Various games and activities were held during the holiday season in Cambridge Bay after a couple of years of pandemic restrictions. Congratulations, James! Photo courtesy of Juliana Fiallo

Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier

A true character and friend

cussed, but it was during our time together as hockey officials where I got to know him best.

The hamlet of Rankin Inlet has lost another community leader and council member to cancer with the passing of Coun. Justin Merritt, 64, this past month.

Merritt had fought a long and courageous battle before succumbing to the deadly disease on Dec. 27.

Rankin lost its previous mayor, Robert Janes, on May 15, 2019, after a long battle with cancer.

DARRELL Greer

Merritt was the hamlet’s senior administrative officer at the time of Janes’s passing.

Known as an honest, dedicated, family loving, hard working, no nonsense type of guy, Justin was always heavily involved with the robust hockey scene in Rankin and beyond in one form or another.

I was fortunate enough to have interacted with Justin professionally numerous times during my more than two decades as editor of Kivalliq News, and the man was always a true professional no matter what subject was being dis-

And it is from where my fondest memories of the man will always reside next to my heart.

Away from the public eye, to say Justin (I never felt comfortable calling him by his nickname, Dusty, for some reason) was a bit of a character is more than a bit of an understatement.

The man had a zany, off-the-wall sense of humour that often had those in the dressing room (or hotel room during a road trip) cracking up with laughter.

I’ve been around the game of hockey as a player, coach and official since the age of five, and Justin was the fastest person I’ve ever seen going from street clothes to hockey gear and vice-versa.

I swear the man had hidden Velcro straps that allowed him to step out of his street clothes with one deft flick of the wrist and return to them in record-breaking fashion.

He was so fast that the sweat would literally fall from his gear onto the dressing room floor as he walked away.

For those who may not know, Justin Merritt was one heck of a cook. The sweetest deal a fellow official could make while working a road tournament with Justin was to volunteer to clean up the eating area and wash the dishes if he agreed to cook.

That man could do more with bacon and eggs – down home style – than the most clever of cooks in the fanciest of hotels, in my humble opinion.

There were mornings I woke to the heavenly sizzle of Justin’s magic in the kitchen, and literally floated down the hotel hallway, eyes closed and goofy smile on my face, until I arrived at the table, fork in hand and drool on chin, ready to dig in.

One never begrudged washing a dish in exchange for one of Justin’s tummy-filling creations.

Justin always spoke his mind and was often hilarious without even knowing it.

I could write pages of Justin memories if space permitted but, suffice to say, he was one heck of a guy who was liked and respected everywhere I travelled with the man.

I am proud to say he was my friend.

Keep your whistle dry up there, Stripes!

part in the parlaq,

Shipping and supply delays cancelled plans for New Year’s fireworks in Nunavut’s capital. Ushering in 2023 instead was a parlaq, or candy-toss. Young hunters who caught animals this year took

giving away candy to the families and children who gathered on Jan. 1. Other prizes, such as camping equipment, were also handed out. The non-profit 123Go! organized the festivities. Photo courtesy of Robyn Pavia

Darrell Greer is acting editor of Kivalliq News

Inuit celebrate in the south

Inuit in Edmonton are physically far from their Arctic and sub-Arctic home communities but they can still gather to celebrate the holidays and other occasions. And that’s exactly what they did at the Annual Com-

munity Winter Gathering and Feast at the Moravian Church on Dec. 28.

Among the activities were games and entertainment, a feast, throat singing, drum dancing and traditional games.

Look at that bannock and all the delicious looking food ready for the Inuit Edmontonmiutat annual winter gathering! Here is Jana Angulalik and Lindsey Manniapik-Canniff, volunteers who worked hard to prepare the feast. Navalik Tologanak/ NNSL photo

These throat singers entertained the group at the annual Winter Gathering for Inuit Edmontonmiutat, a non-profit Inuit organization in Edmonton, Alberta held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Here is the talented beautiful Inuit ladies Jana Angulalik and Jenna Broomfield performing beautiful throat singing. Navalik Tologanak/ NNSL photo

Cooking up a storm for the Inuit Winter Gathering in Edmonton, clockwise from front left is Myna Manniapik, Jana Angulalik, Charlene Hansen and Roland Saunders. A big quana to the Moravian Church for the use of their facility to hold our Christmas/New Year’s events. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Great musicians father and son duo Ronnie Tologanak, left, playing Christmas music and Inuinnaqtut songs with his son Scotty Tologanak at the Inuit Edmontonmiut Winter Gathering held in Edmonton. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Nunatsiavunmiutak Jeanien Cooper is happy to receive a gift from her homeland of Labrador. Cooper, now living in Edmonton, did alot of the planning of this year’s winter gathering held on Dec. 28. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services

Iqaluit resident Andrea Andersen takes part in a beading game. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Young Iqalummiut play during the 2022 Christmas Games. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Alaana Jackson-Kilabuk, left holds her daughter alongside her mother Laura Pia, right, during the plastic bag fashion show. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Iqaluit

Norman Ishulutak entertains the crowd by playing an accordion.

Trevor Wright/NNSL

Master of ceremonies Joanasie Akumalik poses for the camera.

Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Gideonie Joamie holds a guitar during the Iqaluit Christmas Games.

Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

Aiming to build upon success

Chesterfield Inlet Junior Rangers set sights on second national championship

The Chesterfield Inlet Junior Canadian Rangers (JCR) patrol is on the cusp of naming its five-person shooting team that will seek to defend its Nunavut territorial championship and earn a second-straight trip to the national championship this year.

The Junior Rangers program was launched in the community in 2002. Ranger instructor Glen Brocklebank joined the program in 2003 and has been with the patrol ever since.

The Chesterfield Inlet patrol is putting together another strong team in 2023 in hopes of defending its Nunavut territorial shooting crown. The 2023 Canadian Junior National Air Gun Championship will be held in Truro, N.S., from March 23–26.

The patrol has it narrowed down to its top 10 shooters and is not far from picking its top five, with, to date, its highest score in the prone position being 92 per cent, and its lowest 71 per cent.

Nunavut JCR patrols held a mail-in competition to select their top five shooters in the spring of 2022, thanks to the lingering affects of the Covid pandemic.

The Nunavut air-rifle champion Chester squad comprised Sabrina Tanuyak, 16, Kayalaaq Leishman-Brocklebank, 15, Felix Aggark, 16, Kevin Kimmaliardjuk, 16, and Austin Mullins, 14.

The 2022 national event was held in Winnipeg during the Thanksgiving long weekend, with the Chester squad finishing an impressive fifth place overall out of 13 teams.

Each team must have at least one female shooter

and one shooter aged 14 or under by May 1.

The Chester squad arrived late in Winnipeg, missing the first day of activities which included a trip to the zoo.

Brocklebank said arriving late to the competition made his shooters a little nervous, but they had time to check out the range and see the setup before they shot.

He said his shooters were given time to sight-in their pellet rifles and use the national competition equipment, which scores targets immediately and records the data to a central computer.

“As far as experience, it was our first time with these JCRs at any in-person shooting competition so we didn’t have anything to compare it to,” said Brocklebank. “Overall, the kids were happy with their performances, although they all wanted to

do better in the standings, of course.

“We spent a lot of time practising all four shooting positions that we used in the territorial competition (prone, sitting, kneeling and standing ), only to find upon arrival in Winnipeg that the national competition only featured prone and standing shooting.

“As luck would have it standing was our team’s weakest stance, but it was a great experience for all our kids.”

Aggark said he had a great time at the national event and really misses Winnipeg, while Leishman-Brocklebank said she had a lot of fun with her team and had a great time at the competition.

“We had a lot of really funny moments,” said Leishman-Brocklebank. “Going to the aviation museum was also really cool.”

Chesterfield Inlet Junior Canadian Rangers, from left, Kayalaaq LeishmanBrocklebank, Felix Aggark, Austin Mullins and Kevin Kimmaliardjuk enjoy some time at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg, Man., on Oct. 10, 2022. Photo courtesy of Glen Brocklebank

ᐳᐃᒡᒍᑰᖅᑰᔨᔪᓄᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂ

Elder Tony Amauyak heads out with an early bag of Christmas presents courtesy of Cindy’s Northern Canada Projects in Chesterfield Inlet this past month. Photo courtesy of Cindy’s Northern Canada Projects

Passing the caring torch

New initiative launched bearing name of Northern Canada Mini Projects founder

By Darrell Greer Northern News Services

Inge Vandermeulen and Beverley McQueen Mitchell of Toronto couldn’t allow years of great work done by Northern Canada Mini Projects to just fade away with the untimely death of project founder Cindy Dhillon of Kamloops, B.C., this past June.

During Dhillon’s five years behind the initiative, Northern Canada Mini Projects shipped Christmas gifts to every Nunavut community at least once, with Chesterfield Inlet being an annual recipient of the gifts aimed at students and Elders since the initiative began.

The program concentrated its efforts on helping Northern schools, food banks, soup kitchens, Elders groups, mental-health initiatives and others that seem to be forgotten, unfunded or underfunded, Dhillon was quoted as saying in January 2021.

Dhillon would outline a community’s needs based on the information she would receive from a teacher, social worker, mental-heath worker, etc.

Southern folks would then access what they could offer from their own personal budgets and mobilize to help.

New members would usually join the Facebook-based initiative when its content and

mission were shared with family and friends of someone already involved with the group, who believes in what it does.

Vandermeulen said she and Mitchell decided the work had to continue and co-founded Cindy’s Northern Canada Projects shortly after Dhillon’s death.

They informed the group’s old members about their efforts and got them to join the new initiative.

“I can’t believe the amount of work that woman did,” Vandermeulen said of Dhillon.

“It took about 10 of us to do the envelopes this Christmas and she did it all by herself. Our youth and Elder envelopes are standardized and contain all the same items.

“Each envelop will have items such as a pair of funky socks, a fun pen, a book, etc., which are all chosen by the sender.

“So, while each envelope contains all the same items, they are, at the same time, all unique.”

The group sent about 120 envelopes to Chesterfield Inlet this year, some of which were adapted for special needs students.

Vandermeulen said the group was smaller in 2022 because of Dhillon’s passing, with 420 current members, not all of whom are active.

She said many of the members take advantage of Canada Post’s free shipping Tuesdays

in October to send the donations, with Cindy’s Northern Canada Projects sending out more than 3,000 envelopes this past year.

“We don’t receive any funding. All our members pay for everything themselves. There are some groups, such as a Boy/Girl Scout group, a Team Ramadan and some neighbours who

pool their resources.

“Personally, I hope my small contribution makes a difference for a child (or Elder) who may otherwise not receive any gifts.

“There are no words to describe Cindy (Dhillon). The amount of work this woman did is unbelievable.”

Elders Leonie Mimialik, left, and Leo Mimialik are delighted to receive a bag of Christmas goodies from Cindy’s Northern Canada Projects in Chesterfield Inlet this past month. Photo courtesy of Cindy’s Northern Canada Projects

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