Nunavut News - March 27, 2023

ᓄᑕᕋᓛᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᑎᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦ

ᑐᕌᒐᖓᑦ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᑦ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ

ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᐹᓪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ

GN launches ‘Safe Sleep’ for babies campaign

Goal is to reduce infant death rate in Nunavut

Award-winning Sanikiluaq environmentalist tells of changes to land and water

ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᑦ−ᓵᓚᒃᓴᖅᑐᑦ

ᓴᓂᑭᓗᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᕗᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒧᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒧᓪᓗ

Their time to shine

ᒪᒃᑯᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᑦᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᑦ ᐹᔩᑦ ᒍᕇᓴᓐ ᒪᓂᔪᒋᓇ, ᓘᑲᔅ ᑲᓪᓗᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒫᓱ ᑕᐃᔪᐊᕐᓇᕕᒐᖅ ᐅᔭᒥᒃᑖᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐱᖓᓐᓇᖓᓂ ᐹᔪᓂᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᐊᑦᒪᑕᓐᒥ. ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐹᓚ ᒃᔨᕋᓐᑲᒥᑦ

Young Cambridge Bay wrestlers Graysen Maniyogina, Lucas Kalluk and Marshall DyerAknavigak pose with their medals at the Western Canada Wrestling Festival in Edmonton. Photo courtesy of Paula Cziranka

Sanikiluaq’s Lucassie Arragutainaq recognized for environmental research

The work ‘builds knowledge our way,’ says Arragutainaq

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Sanikiluaq

This past December, Polar Knowledge Canada rewarded Sanikiluaq’s Lucassie Arragutainaq with its Northern Science Award for his over three decades of work toward environmental stewardship on the Belcher Islands and the wider region of eastern Hudson Bay as a whole.

“By integrating Indigenous priorities and expertise into scientific research, he has raised the quality of research to a new level, brining enduring benefit to Hudson Bay communities, and setting an example for others to follow,” said Polar Knowledge president and ceo Jennifer C. Hubbard, when Lucassie was announced as the recipient.

As part of the award, laureates receive the International Polar Bear Centenary Medal and $10,000.

“I was surprised,” Arragutainaq said of the award, “I wasn’t aiming for it.” Having worked with the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association (HTA) since the late 1970s, he has seen first-hand what the community needed but wasn’t being provided.

“Sanikiluaq was kind of neglected,” by the 1990s, Arragutainaq said, talking about how regional governments such as Ontario, Quebec and the former NWT left the area

in terms of environmental stewardship along with much of the region. With hydroelectric dams causing flooding in the Cree areas of Quebec.

“The main goal is to be a part of a process,” he said, with coastal Inuit and Cree communities, mainly in Quebec, sitting down with the federal government on a number of occasions to hammer out a deal.

“We did that for three years back in the 1990s,” he added.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the HTA started working with the Arctic Eider Society and Siku, which would later be developed into the Siku Indigenous Knowledge Social Network app, where hunters in the region and Nunavut can input data on ice, weather, traditional place names and share reports relevant to them or researchers.

“We started monitoring the area around Hudson Bay and we’ve been working with the communities in Nunavik,” he said.

The combination of Inuit and Cree knowledge informing the current environmental stewardship of eastern Hudson Bay “is something unique and really hasn’t been done before,” according to Arragutainaq.

“From that study, we have seen a lot of changes around Hudson Bay in terms of water,” he said, adding there were lakes in areas in the region where there were no lakes before, particularly in Quebec. Sankiluaq’s

Lucassie Arragutainaq says environmental research done locally in the region for over 30 years is something both Inuit and Cree can use in a practical way. Photo courtesy of Arctic Eider Society

position on the map put it in a unique position for research on Hudson Bay situated on an island instead of the coast.

The work continues to this day with ongoing environmental research going on with the University of Laval’s ArcticNet network until 2024.

While the university research is important,

Arraagutainaq said there is real value to be found for people themselves in the knowledge collected.

“I think about Inuit and Cree knowledge can be usable in our way, it can be used. It can be used by the Inuit of Hudson Bay, the Cree in James Bay if they want. It’s knowledge we put together in a way we can understand.”

Iqaluit Housing Authority strike stalemate continues

Unionized workers strike in -40 C weather

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

As of March 22, unionized Iqaluit Housing Authority (IHA) workers under the Nunavut Employees Union (NEU) continued to strike, initially picketing at the IHA offices on Friday, March 17.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and NEU served notice of strike ac-

tion on March 13, asking for better compensation to keep up with the increasing cost of living in Nunavut’s capital.

Temperatures on March 17 dropped down to below -40 C, that didn’t stop NEU President Jason Rochon from joining the striking workers.

“Our spirits are high and we’re going to keep being out here every day and we’re going to push every day to make sure (IHA) treats their employees with respect with the fair wages they

deserve,” said Rochon outside the IHA offices.

He added that Nunavut MP Lori Idlout and Iqaluit-Manirajak MP Adam Lightstone stopped by in support of the striking workers.

On March 16, the PSAC and NEU asked the Nunavut Housing Authority to step in to help resolve the impasse between them and the housing authority.

PSAC North regional executive vice-president Lorraine Rousseau repeated this message to the Government of Nunavut on March 22.

“I call on you Nunavut Housing Corporation, and the Government of Nunavut to step in. It’s time to intervene and take the right action, pay Iqaluit housing workers fair wages,” said Rousseau in a video posted to NEU’s social media. “I want to extend my solidarity to workers in Iqaluit who are on strike and locked out in the cold.”

Messages from Nunavut News to the Iqaluit Housing Authority office were not returned as of press deadline.

The unionized workers of the Iqaluit Housing Authority have been picketing since March 17 for larger wage increases. From left, Heela Kango, Keeny Enuaraq, Joanasie Kilabuk, Paul Gordon, Ken Braun (kneeling), Daniel Kolola, NEU president Jason Rochon and Tracy Curley. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

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

The post on our page with the most reactions each week will win $100. Send in your entry to Nunavut News by Facebook

messaging.

Nan Paniloo sent us this image from Taloyoak, captured at around 2 a.m. in a night vision mode.

Ellie Moores sent us this image from Eureka. They drove out in the Artic Ocean to capture this beautiful iceberg on Feb. 18 at 5:54 p.m.

This week’s winner is also by Ellie Moores from Eureka. They drove out in the Artic Ocean to this beautiful iceberg on Feb. 18 at 5:54 p.m.

Ellie Moores sent us this image from Eureka taken on March 11, 2023 at 2 p.m. The first time visiting there and seeing the sun dogs and nature’s beauty took their breath away.

Paul Kabloona sent us this image from Baker Lake, taking pictures of caribou, seven kms outside of Baker Lake.

Team Tootoo takes home Cup

Jordin Tootoo suffers eye injury in Terence Tootoo tournament

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet

Local Journalism Initiative

They lost Jordin Tootoo after an injury in semifinals play, but Team Tootoo rallied to win the 2023 Terence Tootoo Memorial hockey tournament in Rankin Inlet Sunday, March 19.

Tootoo took a stick to the eye from Russell Matoo of Team Nunavut in a tight game that was decided in overtime, sending Team Tootoo to the finals against Niksik. The NHL veteran returned to the arena wearing an eye patch.

“Part of hockey,” said a jovial Tootoo before the final game of the tournament. “You get a little banged up and whatnot. I had a bit of a scare the last game, semifinals, got a stick in the eye.”

He said it was a hockey play and happens all the time.

“To the young guy, Russ Matoo, keep your head up high,” said Tootoo. “It’s hockey. I actually forget how it is to get hit in the face since being retired for four or five years now.”

In the finals, underdogs Niksik took an early lead 3-1 off goals from Tyrese Dias, Zack Lille and Mitchel Tilley.

Nathan Gardner and Sateana Goupil pulled the game back to a 3-3 tie for Team Tootoo, with Wendel Kaludjak and Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark finishing the job for a 5-3 win.

“It’s pretty emotional right now,” said Pujjuut Kusugak, captain of Team Tootoo, following the win. “My son’s on the team playing with Jordin and a whole bunch of us that got together to play in this thing. It’s the best feeling ever. I’m

so proud of our guys for being able to work hard and come back like that. It’s going to be an important one for a long time.”

He said the team knew they could win the whole game and focused on grinding and getting their chances.

“Sure enough, we got big goals from our top line,” said Kusugak.

Tootoo was glad to see the memorial tournament held for the first time in the new Agnico Eagle Arena.

“Far too often in remote communities, we seem to come together when there’s a death in the family, but this weekend the community support has been second to none,” said Tootoo, adding that his brother Terence, after whom the event is dedicated, was a great hockey player himself. “Every day the arena has been jampacked. Hockey in Rankin has always been counted on for the community to come together, and to have an arena like this where everybody can fit in one sitting, it’s awesome.”

He was impressed with the Team Nunavut squad, who recently earned the territory’s first-ever Arctic Winter Games hockey gold.

“They have a lot of great potential,” said Tootoo. “This tournament, they were right there. They could have beat us. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of these youngsters be successful in the hockey world down south.”

Tootoo said his family appreciates all the support and he looks forward to making the TTM even bigger in the future.

“We want to get bigger and better, and we’re going to do that,” he said.

Over in the B division of the tournament, Team Todd surpassed Eskimo Point in the finals 5-4.

ᐸᐅᓗᓯ ᓇᑯᓛᖅ ᑐᒥᓯᕗᖅ ᐸᒃ ᔅᑭᐅᐊᑦᒥᑦ B-ᒥᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᖏᓐᓂᑦ.

ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᐊᑦ ᓂᖏᐅᖓᓐ ᖁᖓᑦᑐᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᓚᒌᑦ ᑐᑐ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ.

ᔪᐊᕐᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ ᓯᑯᒧᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᕿᑎᖅᑰᒥ, ᒫᔾᔨ 16-ᒥ.

ᐋᓐᓄᓘ ᐱᐅᔅ ᐃᕿᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᑐᑐᒥᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᖁᑦᑎᓛᒥᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᐅᑎᒥᑦ.

ᖃᕆᐊᖅ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ-ᒃᓛᒃ ᐃᙱᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᕐᖑᓯᐅᔭᙳᐊᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᑐᑐ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᖢᑎᒃ A−ᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᖕᒥ.

ᔪᐊᕐᑕᓐ ᑐᑐ ᐃᔨᒥᓄᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, 2023-ᒥ ᑎᐅᕋᓐᔅ ᑐᑐ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕋᓱᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᕐᖑᓯᐅᔭᙳᐊᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᐊᓂ. Jordin Tootoo took a stick to the eye in semifinals play against Team Nunavut, knocking him out of the 2023 Terence Tootoo Memorial, but his team rallied to win the cup in the end. Stewart

ᑖᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᔅᑭᒨ ᓄᕗᐊᓂ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᑎᕆᖅᑯᐊᓂ ᑎᕆᖅᑯᐊᓂ B−ᒥ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ.

Team Todd’s Jon Maktar glides into the offensive zone. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Team Todd and Eskimo Point players collide in the corners of the B Division finals. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Pauloosie Nakoolak tracks the puck skyward during B Division finals. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Jordin Tootoo hits the ice in his first game of the tournament Thursday, March 16. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Andrew Pearce shares a hug after Team Tootoo took home the top prize. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Burnett/ NNSL photo

Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark hoists the cup as Team Tootoo win the A Division. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Goaltender Seth Ningeongan smiles as Team Tootoo celebrates their win. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Spring is in the air

It was a fun night for these kids at the MPs feast in Cambridge Bay. From left, Marcus Powlowski, Bob Zimmer, Sylvie Berube, Lori Idlout, 9-year-old BethElle Helak, 7-year-old Gwen Kiovihak Tikhak, 11-year-old Malaya Anakvik Koplomik, 8-year-old Raelyn Olohak Atighioyak, 8-year-old Arishia Migilgaaraq Lyall, 9-year-old McKenna Oakoak and Vance Badawey on Tuesday, March 14. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

UPLUKKUT INUIN, NAAMAINNAQTURUT IQALUKTUUTIAMI. HILA ALIANAQHIJUQ. INUIN AUDLAALUGAAKTUT QUANA. AUDLAAKNAHIJUQ ALAPPAAKNAIKMAN. HIQINIQ QULVALIQPAKTUK UPLANNUAMI. ANIIKNAQHIJUQ IILA. IIMANI INUIN HILAMIINAQPAKTUT HANAQILUNIK. ILANI NUUQATAQPAKTUT TUPIKPAKTUT NUNAMI ANGUNAHUAQHIULIQPAKTUT

HUMILIKIAK. HANAUJAQHUTIK ALLIAKNIKLU. IQLULIULIQPAKTUTLU. ANGNATLU

TUKTUQANGNITMAN QANITTUMI. MAMIANA. IQALUKHIULIQPAKTUT QUVYALIQIVAKKAMIK INUIN. INUIN NUTQAJUINNAMIK TAIMA INUUVAKTUT. IILA INUIN NAAMAINNAQTUT. IKLUKPANGMUN UPAKNIALIQMIJAIN QUANA. TEETURIAKHUTIK ALIANAQ. HALUUQQUGUT.

Welcome to beautiful and sunny side of Victoria Island, land of the Inuinnait and Kiilingmiut.

CAMBRIDGE BAY TEA TALK with Navalik Tologanak email: helent@qiniq.com

MIQHUJAQHUTIK KAMMAKHAKNIKLU ATIGIKHANIKLU AUDLARIAMI

INUIN. ITQAUMAVAKTUNGA INUIN HANAVAKTUT HILAMI UPINGAAMI TIKILIQMAN. UPLAQIVAKTUTLU HIKUMI. TUKTUHIULIQPAKTUTLU

NIRIJAMI NUMIQPAKTUTLU QUVIAHUKMATA

ALAPAAKNAIKMAN. TAIMA PIVAKTUT IIMANI. QAIQATAHUTIK TUKTUTLU. INUIN NIRIVAKTUT UPLUK TAMAAT NUNAMIT. TATJA AJUQNAHIJUQ

Weather seems to be milder this time of year, usually it is time for snow storms to get fresh snow and let the old snow melt.

Soon spring will be here and time for everyone to be heading out on the land and to their cabins and tents. Residents have been enjoying the spring weather out at West Arm on the ice road. Kids are out sliding and enjoying the sunshine and the great sliding hills out at West Arm. Every year Qillaq Innovations ploughs the ice at West Arm and makes a road out to the hills and cabins. Even snowmobilers head out to enjoy riding the hills. It’s a nice way to have a family drive. Quana Qillaq and Quana Dana. Every spring, Inuit would spend more time outdoors

and travelling more out on the land as the weather warms up. Our mothers and grandmothers would be busy sewing kamiks and warm parkas to keep us warm as hunters and fishers spend time outdoors.

It helps a lot having more sunshine and longer daylight hours. A few families have headed out to open their cabins and begin spring camping and while out hunting and fishing.

Wildlife is plenty out there on the land: muskox, wolverine, wolves, seals and always plenty of fish out on the ocean and lakes. This is how we grew up out on the land, living on country foods from the land and sea.

It is part of our life and we hope it will always will be like this for our grandchildren and great grandchildren and on and on.

Telling the stories of our ancestors and how they lived and survived on this beautiful land we call home in Nunavut. We must keep on teaching our children and grandchildren and keep the culture and language of the Inuinnait alive. Let us not stop.

We do not want to lose our precious language. Our Elders will always be there to teach us all and we must listen and keep their tradition alive. We are proud of the land we live in, it is our homeland. Let us keep it safe and clean forever.

God Be With You, Son.

Iqaluit library brings back children’s throatsinging lessons after long hiatus

Throat-singing one element of library cultural programming

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services

The Iqaluit Centennial Library restarted its throat-singing lessons for kids after a long hiatus due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Arts and crafts, French/Inuktitut story time, as well as Inuit cultural activities such as throat-singing and drum-making are all a part of regular Saturday afternoon children’s programs at the library.

“We were closed for much of Covid and we weren’t allowed to have programming due to the restrictions,” said Catherine Hoyt, library volunteer of over 15 years and co-ordinator for children’s activities at the Iqaluit Centennial Library.

Hoyt was happy to mark a return to normal activities after such a long delay. She adds there have been volunteers and parents who have been coming to the library for over 10 years, including those who grew up volunteering for Saturday children’s programs.

Elizabeth Ryan was one of those students. She started as a summer student teaching kids 10 years ago and has been doing that ever since, according to Hoyt. She continues to teach cultural lessons to kids, now including her own. She was one of the throat-singing teachers on Saturday.

“I didn’t learn (to throat-sing) until I was an adult,” said Ryan, who noted kids these days are much keener on learning how to throat-sing compared to when she was younger.

“It’s become so popular that almost everybody knows

what throat-singing is, here anyways.”

“It’s really great that children are growing up with throat-singing.”

Ryan added that shows at different festivities like Toonik Tyme or Alianait Arts Festival are good places to get kids exposed to throat-singing, however she adds kids also need an interactive element as well.

“This is really fun where they get to interact and try it and ask questions, to find out what their favourite songs are and I think that’s also really important,” said Ryan.

“I think it’s exciting for kids who are very observant,” added Sandi Vincent, who was teaching throat-singing at the library alongside Elizabeth.

“All of these throat-songs (come from) sounds in nature and the environment, so it’s a good chance for them to use their observation skills and to focus on their breathing and body, sounds and rhythm. A lot of the throat-songs come in stories so there’s a lot of different embedded cultural elements in throat-singing,” Vincent added.

Parents interested in taking part in Saturday activities can reach out to the library by simply stopping by or getting on the library emailing list for future activities.

For Hoyt, it has been very fulfilling to see families over the years continue bringing their kids to the library.

“We’ve got families who have been coming here for 10 years, their kids have grown up in the library,” said Hoyt.

“Now we have teenagers that are volunteering that came here for story time when they were preschoolers. It’s very rewarding.”

Elizabeth Ryan, left, and Sandi Vincent, right were both excited to take part in continued Inuit cultural programming at the Iqaluit Centennial Library. Trevor Wright/NNSL photo

The beginning of the Iqaluit library throat-singing lessons on March 18. Children listen to and watch Sandi Vincent, left, and Elizabeth Ryan, right as they teach them the basics. Trevor Wright/ NNSL photo

Iqaluit

Northern News Services

ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓚᖅ

ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services

Local Journalism Initiative

Kivalliq

ᐋᓕᒃᓵᓐᑐᕐ ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ, ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᒥ-ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᖕᒧᑦ, ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᔮᓐ

ᒪᐃᓐᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖕᓂᖅᑖᓗᐊᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᑕᐅᓇᔭᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ. “ᐊᐱᕆᓯᒪᕗᖓ ᖃᔅᓰᖅᓱᒐᓚᒃᖢᖓ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᑐᒥ

ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ,” ᓴᒻᒧᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ

ᒫᔾᔨ 14−ᒥ.

ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃᓐ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ

ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᖄᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᕈᓐᓃᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕖᑦ ᑕᑖᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓂ.

ᒪᐃᓐ. “ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖓ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᒐᓗᐊᕐᓗᒍ, ᑕᑯᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᔪᓂ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓵᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ. ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖃᓲᖑᕗᒍᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖕᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ. ᓴᙱᔪᒥ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᙱᓚᒍᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓗᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑦᑕᓇᔾᔭᐃᖅᓯᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓛᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ. ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓗᐊᕌᓗᒃᓯᒪᙱᓚᕗᑦ.” ᐅᖃᕆᐊᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑑᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ “ᓴᒡᓗᒐᔪᙱᓚᑦ” ᐊᒻᒪᓗ “ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᔪᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᖕᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖃᙱᑉᐳᑦ.”

ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂ: ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᒃᑯᕕᖕᓄᑦ. “ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕈᒪᒍᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᑐᐊᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᔪᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᖅ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᒪᐃᓐ. “ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᕐᔪᐊᖅᐳᖓ

Little hope for medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet

Health minister says numbers do not support such a facility

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

Alexander Sammurtok, MLA for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, pressed Minister of Health John Main on establishing a medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet for medical travellers last week, but he received little confidence that one would be pursued.

“I have asked numerous times about establishing a stand-

News Briefs

Jacob

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥ

ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ. ᐊᖏᖅᓯᒪᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᐅᔪᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᕗᖅ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᓴᒥ.

Arviat

Arviat rapper Jacob Okatsiak released his debut album, titled Inuugapta, with the Hitmakerz label March 10.

The 15-track album’s title translates to “We Are People” and much of the album is an ode to people in Okatsiak’s life.

“The overall theme I was aiming for is that I wanted to let the people know we can be heard,” stated the rapper, musician and singer in a news release. “Our feelings, our emotions, what we wanna say – I want to let them know that we are people.”

Work on the album began in August 2021 as Okatsiak collaborated with Hyper-T at the Hitmakerz Compound in Ottawa.

The album features guests such as Hyper-T,

alone boarding home in Rankin Inlet,” Sammurtok said in the legislative assembly March 14.

He asked if Main would commit to reconsidering providing additional boarding options in Rankin Inlet so that medical travel clients are not left stranded when hotels are full and there are travel interruptions with the airlines.

“I can certainly commit to looking into it again,” replied Main. “However, I suspect that looking into it, we will look at the numbers, which have been looked at before, which do not support establishing a boarding home. So we do have reliance on hotels in Rankin Inlet. We do have a strong commitment

Baker Lake rapper Shauna Seeteenak and Arviat rapper Chrisjr Mikeeuneak.

“It felt amazing because I can also challenge myself with their amazing writing capabilities,” stated Okatsiak. “I want to introduce and bring forth Inuit hip-hop to the hip-hop game and let ‘em know that Inuit can rap too. Moreover, it was a great feeling to invite some prolific artists onto this album because I know together we can shine.”

New cabinet portfolios

Nunavut

Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced changes to the territory’s cabinet March 15, following the resignation of Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak from executive council.

Portfolio assignments are as follows:

In addition to premier, Akeeagok holds the

John Main, minister of health, gave little hope for establishing a medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet in the legislative assembly. He committed to looking into the issue, but said he suspects that the numbers will not justify establishing a boarding home. Stewart Burnett/NNSL file photo

to ensuring the comfort and safety of our medical travellers. It’s something that we take very seriously.”

He went on to say that in these type of cases, the numbers usually “do not lie” and “either you have the critical mass needed to justify a facility, or you don’t have the numbers.”

Main said his department is focused mainly on two infrastructure goals: community health centres and Elders’ facilities.

“If the member would like to propose that we focus on other infrastructure priorities, he is certainly entitled to do so,” said Main. “I feel quite strongly that community health centres need to be a priority, as do Elders’ facilities.”

titles of Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Minister Responsible for Immigration and Minister Responsible for Qulliq Energy Corporation.

Pamela Gross holds the titles of Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, Minister of Culture and Heritage, Minister of Languages and Minister Responsible for Seniors.

David Joanasie holds the titles of Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council and government house leader.

Lorne Kusugak holds the titles of Minister of Finance, Minister Responsible for Liquor Licensing Board and Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

David Akeeagok holds the titles of Minister of Justice, Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Minister Responsible for

Labour, Minister Responsible for Mines, Minister Responsible for the Human Rights Tribunal, Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation and Minister Responsible for Trade.

Margaret Nakashuk holds the titles of Minister of Human Resources, Minister of Family Services, Minister Responsible for Homelessness, Minister Responsible for Status of Women and Minister Responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

John Main holds the titles of Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Suicide Prevention.

Joanna Quassa holds the titles of Minister of Environment, Minister Responsible for Energy and Minister Responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.

Okatsiak releases debut album

Cambridge Bay wrestling team captures multiple medals in southern blitz

ᑲᒪᔨ ᑯᕆᔅ ᑯᕈᒃᔅ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖓ ᑭᐊᓇ ᐃᒃᐸᑯᕼᐊᒃ, ᑖᒥᓂᒃ ᐃᕙᑕᒐᖅ, ᑕᐱᓴ ᑭᓕᖏᓐᐴᒡ, ᕋᐃᓐ ᐃᒃᐸᑯᕼᐊᒃ, ᐳᕈᒃᓕᓐ ᐲᑐᓴᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖓ ᓗᐊᕆᓐ ᒧᔅᕙᒐᓐ. ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓃᑦᑐᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂᑦ, ᒍᕋᐃᓴᓐ ᒪᓂᔪᒋᓇ, ᒫᓱ ᑕᐃᔪ−ᐊᕐᓇᕕᒐᖅ

Seven Cambridge Bay wresters attend Edmonton wresting festival; Eekeeluak Avalak nets bronze in national competition

March was quite the month for the Cambridge Bay wrestling team as seven athletes aged 10 to 13 attended training and competed in the Western Canada Youth Wrestling Festival in Edmonton on March 4.

Graysen Maniyogina and Marshall Dyer-Aknavigak both came out of the competition with gold medals, according to their coach Chris Crooks.

The following week, Cambridge Bay’s Eekeeluak Avalak went on to compete in the junior and senior Canadian National Wrestling Championships in Waterloo, Ont., where he netted a bronze in the junior competition and earned fifth place in the senior competition.

The Cambridge Bay Wrestling team at the Western Canada Wresting Festival in Edmonton. Back row, from left, coach Chris Crooks, assistant coach Kiana Ekpakohak, Dominique Evetaegak, Tabitha Klengenberg, Raine Ekpakohak, Brooklyn Peterson and assistant coach Loryn Muswagon. Front row, from left, Graysen Maniyogina, Marshall Dyer-Aknavigak and Lucas Kalluk. Photo courtesy of Paula Cziranka

Young Cambridge Bay wrestlers Graysen Maniyogina, Lucas Kalluk and Marshall DyerAknavigak at the Western Canada Wrestling Festival. Photo courtesy of Paula Cziranka

Lucas Kalluk grapples with an opponent during a match. Photo courtesy of Paula Cziranka

From left, coach Owen Dawkins, wrestler Eekeeluak Avalak and coach Chris Crooks. Photo courtesy of Paula Cziranka By

Dry land training in preparation for the Western Canada Wrestling Festival. From left, Lucas Kalluk, Dominique Evetalegak and Graysen Maniyogina. Photo courtesy of Paula Cziranka

ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᕋᓛᖅ ᓴᐱᓕᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᒥ

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᕋᓛᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᔪᖏᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑕᐅᔪᓂ

By Stewart Burnett

Services

ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᒥ ᐃᓚᒌᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑯᓘᙱᓚᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑲᐃᓚ ᐊᓄᒑᖅ−ᒑᒻᐳᓪ ᑭᓱᓕᒫᖓᓐᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᖅ Red Top ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ.

ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 34−ᓄᑦ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᒪᑐᐃᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᔮᓐ ᒑᒻᐳᓪᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᔨᓚ ᐊᓄᒑᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᐅᓪᓗᓂ, Red Top−ᖑᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 1989−ᒥ.

“ᐊᓈᓇ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑖᑕ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᑎᒌᒃᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓄᒑᖅ−ᒑᒻᐳᓪ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᑲᖅᖢᓂ 12−ᓂ. “ᓇᒡᓕᖕᓂᖏᑦ, ᑐᕌᖓᓂᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᖓᑦ, ᐊᐅᖏᑦ, ᖁᕝᕕᐅᕐᓂᖏᑦ – ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᔅᓯᐊᕐᔪᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᐱᓗᖕᓂᐅᔪᓂ – ᑕᒪᐅᙵ ᑎᑭᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᖓᓐᓂ. ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᖓᓱᓂ

ᐊᔭᐅᕆᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑎᒋ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᑎᒋᔪᒥ.”

ᐊᓄᒑᖅ−ᒑᒻᐳᓪ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐸᕐᓇᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᓯᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐊᓂᖓᓂ D.J.−ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᑳᓪᓚᖕᓂᖓᓂ D.J.−ᒥ 2010−ᒥ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᐅᔪᓂ.

ᐊᑖᑕᖓ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒥᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓈᓇᖓ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓄᒑᖅ−ᒑᒻᐳᓪᒥ Red Top ᐊᐅᓚᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ. ᐊᒥᓱᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᒥ ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑐᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᓕᖏᓐᓂ, ᐱᔪᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔪᒪᓇᔭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ, ᖃᐅᑕᒫᒥ ᐳᓚᕋᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᓂ ᑮᓇᕐᓂ, ᐋᔩᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᓂᓯᔨᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓪᓚᓂᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ.

“ᖁᕕᐊᓇᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᐳᖅ ᑮᖏᖅᓯᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐹᖑᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᒪᑐᐃᖓᓂᖓᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑕᐅᔪᓂ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓄᒑᖅ−ᒑᒻᐳᓪ.

ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᑲᒧᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓂᕐᕈᑎᓂᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ

ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅᓴᒥ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑑᔮᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ, ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

“ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒃᑲ ᐅᕙᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᐱᓕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓄᒑᖅ−ᒑᒻᐳᓪ.

ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ 2023 ᓇᒃᓴᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᒥᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂ−ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ. ᐊᕐᓇᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᓄᒑᖅ−ᒑᒻᐳᓪ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓇᔪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᒪᒃᑯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒍᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᐊᓂ ᑐᒥᐅᔪᓂ. “ᑭᓱᑐᐃᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᔭᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖃᖅᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥ, ᑎᑭᐅᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᐸᐃᑦ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ.

ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ, ᓴᙲᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᑦ. ᓯᕗᕚᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᒍᑦ.”

ᐅᖃᐅᓪᔨᕗᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᖅᑎᙳᕈᒪᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᕐᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᑦᑕᕐᓗᒍ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐱᓱᖕᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᒥ ᐊᑕᐅᑦᑎᒥᒃ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᑕ. “ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᒥᒃ ᖃᖓᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᖓᒧᒃᖠᐅᔪᒥ ᓄᑲᖅᖠᐅᔪᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑐᒥ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ. “ᒪᓕᒡᓗᒍ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᕆᔭᕐᓂ, ᐱᔪᒪᓂᕆᔭᕐᔪᐊᕐᓂᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓛᖑᔪᒥ, ᐆᒻᒪᑎᖕᓂ. ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑏᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕈᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᕐᙲᓐᓇᑲᐅᑎᒋ, ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᐱᓐᓇᕆᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ, ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᕐᓂ ᓴᓂᓕᕆᔭᕐᓂ.”

ᑲᐃᓚ ᐊᓇᕈᐊᕐᒧᑦ, ᑕᓕᖅᐱᐊᓂᑦ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔪᖅ

ᕿᑐᕐᙵᖏᓐᓂ

“ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊᓘᓐᓃᑦ

For Kaila Anawak-Gamble, right, running a small family business in Nunavut is not easy, but turning on those open signs and seeing her customers makes it all worth it. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

The little shop that won’t give up

Rankin Inlet convenience store entrepreneur talks inspiration, challenges

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

It’s not easy to run a small family business in the North, but Kaila Anawak-Gamble is giving it everything she’s got at the Red Top Variety Shop in Rankin Inlet.

The store has been a hallmark of the community for 34 years, originally opened by John Gamble and Angela Anawak as the Inukshuk Shop, before it officially became Red Top in November 1989.

“Mom and Dad have been each other’s backbones in the business,” said Anawak-Gamble, who started working the till at the store at age 12.

“Their love, dedication, sweat, blood, tears – and a few swear words – have brought them this far with their business. They started with only what they had in their back pockets, and their three children gave them the motivation to keep it going this long.”

Anawak-Gamble had originally planned to take over the store with her brother D.J. and allow her parents to retire to their farm in southern Manitoba, but the tragic loss of D.J. in 2010 changed those plans.

Her father has retired, but her mother has joined forces with Anawak-Gamble to keep Red Top running since.

There are many rewarding parts of running a small family business servicing locals’ needs, wants and desires, she said. That includes the greetings, the daily visitors and the new faces, the communication with suppliers in the south and the strangers who turn into family.

“It’s always a pleasure to unlock those doors and turn on those open signs,” said Anawak-Gamble.

The challenges include getting help with funding and grants that other companies seem to have an easier time acquiring, she added.

“But my parents taught me not to throw in the towel,” said Anawak-Gamble.

She’s hopeful that 2023 will bring the assistance she needs to help her family-run business.

As a female entrepreneur, Anawak-Gamble gives a message of hope and perseverance to younger people hoping to follow in similar footsteps.

“Anything you put your mind and heart into, you can achieve,” she said. “Even with the naysayers, keep that chin up. We want to keep those ancestors proud.”

She advises new and would-

be entrepreneurs to take it one day, one step and one moment at a time if they have to.

“You always have someone somewhere, either older or younger, looking up at you,” she said. “Follow your dreams, your ambitions, but most of all, your heart. Plans can change in an instant, so cherish the moments, the people and the family and friends beside you.”

Kaila Anawak-Gamble runs the famous Red Top Variety Shop in Rankin Inlet, a family-owned business that started in 1989. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Angela Anawak serves a young customer at the Red Top Variety Shop in Rankin Inlet. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Governor General champions Indigenous diplomacy, seeks new ties abroad

Mary Simon is using a colonial institution to foster ties and exchanges around the world

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon is using her role to help build ties between Indigenous people across the globe — an effort experts say is leveraging a colonial institution to advance reconciliation abroad and bolster centuries of collaboration.

“I’ve had some very interesting dialogue,” Simon said in an interview last month after a trip to Finland.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent the Governor General to Helsinki in February to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Finland, and to show solidarity as the country seeks closer military ties with other western countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Simon, who is Inuk, also used the trip to bring along Indigenous leaders and foster ties with the Sami, who are the Indigenous people of northern Europe.

“As an Indigenous governor general, I was able to connect well with the Indigenous representatives in Finland, with Sami people,” she said.

“We discussed with them about how we could further facilitate exchanges between Indigenous communities in Canada and the Sami people.”

Simon said that Finnish people are “more at the beginning stages of their Truth and Reconciliation Commission work,” but added they are finding ways to involve young people that could serve as a model for other Indigenous groups.

Simon said she similarly touched base on such issues with the governors general of Australia and New Zealand.

“These are countries that are also very involved and engaged in trying to come to terms with the past, and

− ᐱᓇᔪᒃᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᑕᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᖑᖃᑎᒌᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ

“This is a natural evolution in what Indigenous diplomacy has looked like now, on a bit more of a broader scale.”

He suggested that Simon could use the colonial institution of Rideau Hall as a tool that helps communities upend the harm imposed by colonialism.

Already, communities within Canada share notes on revitalizing languages or finding a balance between development resources and environmental protection, he said.

But FineDay said nations within Canada could also share their experience and learn from communities in other countries about topics such as reasserting autonomy over child welfare or running health-care systems that are culturally informed.

“The Governor General also has a unique and important opportunity for Indigenous people to see how other nations are innovating solutions around combating colonialism,” he said.

“The Governor General can point and say, ‘This is innovation. This is an extraordinary model. These are outcomes that we hope to see in our country.’ (She can) shine a light on opportunities where our politicians, our civil servants, maybe even our Indigenous leadership haven’t seen or haven’t thought to look.”

to talk about how this renewed relationship can work in their own country,” she said.

Experts say the viceregal can help guide Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada on collaborating across borders.

“She’s in a really unique position

to help Canadian institutions understand how to evolve to better serve Indigenous Peoples,” said Max FineDay, the head of the consulting firm Warshield, which advises Indigenous leadership on international partnerships. FineDay, who is Cree and splits

his time between Ottawa and Sweetgrass First Nation in northwestern Saskatchewan, said this can build on centuries of exchanges.

“We traded with each other and built our own economies pre-colonization we made treaties with other Indigenous groups,” he said.

FineDay noted that Indigenous people see their primary treaty relationship as being with the Crown instead of with elected politicians, putting Simon in a unique position as an Indigenous representative of the King.

“There is no sort of road map for Her Excellency,” he said. “With that comes a lot of opportunity.”

—By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

Governor General Mary Simon is using her role to help build ties between Indigenous people across the globe — an effort experts say is leveraging a colonial institution to advance reconciliation abroad and bolster centuries of collaboration. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu file photo

Top court refuses to hear appeal of mandatory minimum sentences of Inuit men charged for firearm offences

The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear arguments on the unconstitutionality of mandatory minimums when it comes to the sentencing of two Inuit men charged with the criminal offence of intentionally discharging firearms.

On March 9, the country’s highest court delivered its decision to not grant a leave to appeal in two separate cases that were heard at the same time by the Court of Appeal of Nunavut in September 2019.

The Court of Appeal set aside the declaration of unconstitutionality of the mandatory minimum sentences that the lower court had arrived at in the sentencing of Cedric Ookowt (September 2017) and an offender in Kimmirut (October 2018). Both men were sentenced to two years less one day for an offence, which under the Criminal Code, carried a four-year mandatory minimum sentence.

The Crown had appealed the initial sentencing for both men.

“It is common for those who live in Nunavut’s communities to own rifles. They are used for subsistence hunting, supporting a traditional way of life. Sadly, this also means they are often readily accessible for unlawful and dangerous purposes such as intimidation, revenge, domestic violence, and retaliation. This unlawful and dangerous conduct must stop,” wrote the three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal said neither justice in the lower court gave “a fit sentence proportionate to the gravity” of the offences and sentenced both men to the four-year minimum term.

The lower court judges, Justice Earl Johnson and Justice Paul Bychok, ruled that the mandatory minimum sentences violated the men’s Charter rights against cruel and unusual punishment. Both justices noted that for the men to serve the mandatory minimum sentences they would have to leave Nunavut.

Ookowt entered a guilty plea for discharging a firearm on June 29, 2016 in Baker Lake. He also entered guilty pleas to dangerous driving and evading a police officer for incidents that occurred April 28, 2016. All charges fell under the Criminal Code.

On June 29, 2016, Ookowt, 19 years old at the time, had spent the day drinking with a friend. Later that same day, Ookowt said he was physically assaulted by a man, who had consistently bullied him. Ookowt went home, retrieved his father’s rifle, went to the man’s home and fired one bullet through the window of the man’s home. No one was injured.

“Because of the bullying, intoxication and firing of only one shot, I am satisfied that the accused is lower down the scale of moral blameworthiness than the accused persons in other Nunavut cases. The accused entered an early guilty plea and is remorseful about what he had done,” wrote Johnson in his decision to give the reduced sentence.

“I must take these circumstances into account to ensure that the sentence must be proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the degree of responsibility of this offender,” further wrote Johnson. “Under all the circumstances of this crime and this accused, I am satisfied that a sentence of two years less a day would be the appropriate one.”

Kimmirut incident

In early January 2018, a man in Kimmirut, 24 years old at the time, intentionally fired his hunting rifle into the roofline of a house where his girlfriend was after she refused to go home with him. No one was injured. When his girlfriend left the house, he struck her in the leg with the butt of the rifle. She left with him.

The offender, who had no criminal record, entered an early guilty plea for intentionally discharging a firearm.

The culprit’s girlfriend did not file a victim impact statement and said she forgave him. These points registered highly with Justice Paul Bychok, although he also noted that “cases of domestic violence continue to fill our circuit court dockets in every one of our communities. In this case, the offender bears a high degree of moral blameworthiness for his abusive and controlling actions.”

However, Bychok went on to say that “the precepts of Inuit Qaujimajatuqanjit” (Inuit societal values) must be followed and that “forgiveness, reconciliation, reintegration and restitution were, and still are, key aspects of Inuit justice as they are today in the Nunavut Court of Justice.”

Bychok ruled, “Given the history of recent gun-related violence in Kimmirut, and its domestic context, the appropriate and least restrictive sentence in this case would be two years less a day in jail followed by probation for two years.”

In overturning Bychok’s ruling, the Court of Appeal pointed out there was no “evidentiary record to assess whether the Inuit community’s application of its own Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit would have necessarily or inevitably resulted in a lower sentence, it was not correct to assume that in a domestic dispute where

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᒐᔪᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᕋᔭᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑦᑕᕐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᓕᕋᓵᕆᓂᖅ, ᐊᑭᓴᖅᑐᕐᓂᖅ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᓯᕆᓂᖅ, ᐊᑭᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᓗ.

“It is common for those who live in Nunavut’s communities to own rifles. They are used for subsistence hunting, supporting a traditional way of life. Sadly, this also means they are often readily accessible for unlawful and dangerous purposes such as intimidation, revenge, domestic violence, and retaliation. This unlawful and dangerous conduct must stop,” wrote a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal.

NNSL file photo

a powerful weapon was fired in anger at an occupied home the Inuit community itself would have placed any mitigating weight on the victim’s willingness to continue a relationship with Mr. Itturiligaq.”

The Court of Appeal also said that Gladue factors, while prevalent generally in the history of colonialism and intergenerational effects, were not prevalent personally with either man and therefore lower blameworthiness was not indicated.

In its decision on the two cases, the Court of Appeal stated, “When young Indigenous men must by law be separated for significant periods of time from their families, communities and land for committing such offences, everyone loses, possibly

no one more than the offender. But it is a sentencing response that is not unwarranted or grossly disproportionate to the gravity of these offences or the moral blameworthiness of those who commit them.”

The Court of Appeal stayed the remainder of the Kimmirut offender’s jail term as he was nearing the end of his sentence. As Ookowt had finished his sentence, his imprisonment was also stayed.

The Supreme Court does not provide reasons for leave application judgments.

—By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, Windspeaker.com

People overdosing on crack cocaine admitted to Iqaluit hospital, RCMP say

Call for help if you see an overdose, say police

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Iqaluit

Nunavut RCMP are warning the public about potent crack cocaine being distributed

in Iqaluit.

Qikiqtani General Hospital has taken in patients who have been suffering seizures as a result of crack. The substance has as a brownish hue and has been described as a ‘black rock.’

The RCMP noted that the Good Samaritan

The Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit has been admitting patients suffering from seizures as a result of what’s being described as potent crack cocaine. NNSL file photo

Drug Overdose Act protects the person calling for emergency help and the person having an overdose from drug possession charges. The police are asking anyone to call for emergency help (867-979-4422) if they see someone overdosing on crack cocaine or other drugs.

RCMP are asking anyone who has any information on illicit drugs to contact them directly, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477, or by submitting a secure web tip at www.nwtnutips.com, or texting NWTNUTIPs and your message to 274637.

Government of Nunavut warns of texting scams

Do not click the link sent to you, says consumer affairs

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Nunavut’s Department of Community and Government Services’ consumer affairs division is warning Nunavummiut of fraudulent text messages

being sent about a Northern allowance adjustment.

The associated message, along with a link reads, “Your Northern allowance was recalculated, and we’ve sent you an adjustment allowencenunavut.ca.”

The territorial government is encouraging people not to

respond to these text messages and to restrain from clicking the associated link.

Nunavummiut are also encouraged to reports of scam and fraud to consumer affairs at ComsumerProtection@gov. nu.ca, or 1-866-793-3321 or your local RCMP.

The Government of Nunavut is warning residents about fraudulent text messages being sent to people regarding a purported adjustment to the Northern allowance. It is a scam, according to the GN. File photo

ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂ ᖀᖅᓱᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᖀᖅᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖀᖅᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒥᓂᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.

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