Tusaayaksat Magazine – Fall & Winter 2017

STORIES THAT NEED TO BE HEARD

WE ARE INUVIALUIT TRADITION 100+KEEPERS AND

TRAILBLAZERS FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST

FACEBOOK.COM/TUSAAYAKSAT

TUSAAYAKSAT MAGAZINE / FALL & WINTER 2017 DOUBLE ISSUE / $10

ON THE COVER: Danny Swainson captured this portrait of David Kuptana jiggling for char on a small inland lake near Ulukhaktok last June. For more images from Victoria Island, turn to page 40.

TUSAAYAKSAT MEANS “STORIES AND VOICES THAT NEED TO BE HEARD.” WE CELEBRATE THE INUVIALUIT PEOPLE, CULTURE AND HERITAGE.

OUR MISSION: Published quarterly by ICS at Box 1704, 292 Mackenzie Rd, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, X0E 0T0.

Contact us at +1 (867) 777 2320 or tusaayaksat@northwestel.net

TO EMPOWER, CELEBRATE, COMMUNICATE, HEAL AND BOND. TO BRING YOU THE BEST COVERAGE OF OUR NEWS, VIBRANT CULTURE AND PERSPECTIVES.

PUBLISHER Inuvialuit Communications Society EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison HEAD DESIGNER Vanessa Hunter EDITORIAL TEAM WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison COPY EDITOR Laura Worsley-Brown

CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORS Suzie Napayok-Short, Dennis Allen, Nicole Wilkinson, Jennifer Wilkinson, Allysa Felix, Sheree Mcleod and the 116 amazing individuals who shared their stories with us PHOTOGRAPHERS Danny Swainson, Dave Brosha, Weronika Murray, Tyra Cockney-Goose, Cilena Martin, Karis Dekwant, Stephanie Hunter, Mike Needham, Tamara Voudrach, Jerri Thrasher, Kynwill Gordon-Ruben, Trevor Lucas, Brian Adams, Kelvin Redvers, David Stewart, Angela Gzowski, Shayla Snowshoe, Shawn Johnston, Tom Mcleod and Allysa Felix SPECIAL THANKS TO Brian Adams and Inuit Circumpolar Council – Alaska, Kelvin Redvers and the We Matter Campaign, Shawn Johnston and the Nations and Voices Project, Jayne Murray and Aurora College, Megan McCaffery and the students of East Three Secondary School, Mike Needham and the University of PEI, Maya March, Jenny Costa, Kyle Mustard, Nelson Perry and Parks Canada, Merven Gruben, Tianna and Colton Gordon-Ruben, Ray Solotki and the Inuvik Community Greenhouse, Trevor Lucas, Corrine Bullock and the coordinators of Oceans Day, and Erica and Ricky Joe BUSINESS OFFICE Inuvialuit Communications Society BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT, INUVIK Lucy Kuptana VICE PRESIDENT, TUKTOYAKTUK Debbie Raddi TREASURER, ULUKHAKTOK Joseph Haluksit AKLAVIK DIRECTOR Colin Gordon PAULATUK DIRECTOR Denise Wolki SACHS HARBOUR DIRECTOR Jean Harry

4.

NEWS IN BRIEF

News 4 NEWS AROUND THE ISR 6 INUVIK & BEYOND Features 12 ICE ROAD MEMORIES 14 THE HOME OF THE BLUENOSE

6.

THE GNAF CATWALK

Features 26 DELTA SUNETS 28 YELLOWKNIFE IN FOCUS 36 AURORA COLLEGE CON’T 40 ULU BY THE SEASONS 44 THE CLASS OF 2030 50 THE CLASS OF 2017

MANAGER Dez Loreen OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Roseanne Rogers SUBSCRIPTIONS E-mail subscription inquiries to ics@northwestel.net or phone +1 (867) 777 2320 FUNDING MADE POSSIBLE BY Inuvialuit Regional Corporation GNWT (Education, Culture and Employment) GET SOCIAL Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

12.

LETTERS FROM DOWN SOUTH

14.

TUKTUT NOGAIT NATIONAL PARK

26.

WINTER IN INUVIK

28.

THE AURORA COLLEGE SERIES

36.

AURORA COLLEGE CONTINUED

44.

OUR FUTURE LEADERS

50.

MANGILALUK’S GRADUATES

40.

ON THE LAND IN ULUKHAKTOK

TUSAAYAKSAT UKIUMI TUSAAYAKSAT IN THE WINTER NUTAAMI UKIUMI QUVIANAQTUQ! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Being the first is never easy. Being the first Inuvialuk can be even harder.

The first Inuvialuk doctor: Noah Carpenter. The first Inuvialuk lawyer: Charles Hunter. The first Inuvialuk Premier of the Northwest Territories: Nellie Cournoyea. Their achievements led the way, showed that there was a way. Wherever it could be seized, there was a way.

students. They step boldly toward their goals. Inuvialuit are gardeners, hairdressers, hoop dancers, bakers and beauty pageant competitors. They are redefining what is possible. Inuvialuit build roads. From rock truck drivers to company presidents, Inuvialuit are now the first to connect Canada coast to coast to coast. They prove time and time again that they can be the first, but different.

In this special double issue, we hear from over 100 Inuvialuit and Inuit, alongside other members of our Arctic community, in their own words.

Their personal stories show us that there is a way, whether you’re following in the path forged by someone before you, or blazing your own trail. The stories you see on the news certainly aren’t the only ones that Our mission at Tusaayaksat Magazine is to empower, celebrate, need to be heard. The North holds so much more. There is a way. communicate, heal and bond. We aim to bring you the best coverage of our news, vibrant culture and perspectives. But more than that, our mission is to show in our pages that the Inuvialuit perspective isn’t singular. What you read in the news isn’t the only side to the story. In my last issue as Editor-in-Chief of Tusaayaksat, we endeavor to show you just that.

Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

QUYANAINNI THANK YOU,

Inuvialuit battle mental health issues, abuse, suicide, addiction and homelessness, but they rise above. Inuvialuit are harvesters, hunters, trappers and artists. They carry on the traditions of the past. Inuvialuit are business owners and entrepreneurs, accountants, nurses and

Editor-in-Chief P.S. Many thanks to Inuit Circumpolar Council – Alaska for launching their groundbreaking project I am Inuit and inspiring us to celebrate the human dimension of the Arctic. For a sneak peak at their series, shot by Inupiaq photographer Brian Adams, turn to page 98.

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60.

72.

77.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Features 60 64 72 77 82

OUR GREENHOUSES PAULATUK CELEBRATES WE MATTER NATIONS AND VOICES SPOTLIGHT ON WILLOW ALLEN

92.

FROM THE MINISTER’S OFFICE

108.

I AM INUIT CON’T

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ARCTIC INTERNS IN ACTION

PROTECTING OUR WATERS

THE RESISTANCE

92 96 98 108 118 120 136

ROBERT MCLEOD’S JOURNEY COASTAL SCENES OUR NEIGHBOURS TO THE WEST I AM INUIT CON’T MAKING HISTORY ALLYSA’S STORY TUK AT PLAY

96.

SUMMER IN PAULATUK

118.

USHERING IN A NEW ERA

82.

138 142 144 146 154 159 162

FROM INUVIK TO PEI

TTV PRESENTS TREVOR LUCAS PHOTOGRAPHY DELTA SCENES SPOTLIGHT ON AKLAVIK YOUTH PERSPECTIVES LANGUAGE GAMES GET SOCIAL

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LETTERS FROM ALASKA

120.

THE TUK-INUVIK HIGHWAY

Letter from the Manager:

Our own identity

The word ‘Eskimo’ comes up a lot these days in social media and even in the news. People are upset that this archaic term with derogatory origins is still being used to this day, and not just in the privacy behind closed doors.

136.

The Edmonton Eskimos are still at the forefront of this issue, with legions of fans for and against the using of the term in the team name. Personally I couldn’t care what people call us, because I have more pressing issues in my life to deal with, but I see that it still stirs emotion with a lot of our people.

SUMMER IN TUK

Maybe some people like me think it’s only as harmful as you make it to be. Don’t show a response and the sting will go away. But there have been far too many people who are offended and were shamed with that word to just let it go.

For as long as there has been hate, there have been hateful words to talk down to others. What we need to do is exactly what we have been doing.

138.

THE VOICES OF SACHS

142.

BANKS ISLAND BY THE SEASONS

Proving those people wrong. Keep showing that there is no such thing as a stereotypical ‘Eskimo.’ Sure there are people who live a traditional life still to this day, but they have adapted to a changing world and are embracing a newer way of living.

We have strong leaders, people with amazing stories of adventure, successful lives and loving families. In every one of our communities we see promise and potential in everywhere we look.

This issue takes a look at what our people are doing with their lives and how they are becoming stronger and healthier every day. I look through this issue and I see a wealth of power, integrity and love.

144.

AKLAVIK BY THE SEASONS

146.

NEVER SAY DIE

We have Inuvialuit following their dreams, working hard to gain the knowledge they need to grow as people. Sitting here as the manager of ICS, I can say with confidence that if you work hard for something you can achieve it. It wasn’t that long ago that I was working here as a production assistant helping out with the shows. Now I am leading the team and we are working harder than ever to produce the best TV we can.

I am aware that I am not a champion of my culture, but I am slowly learning. I am opening myself up more than I have ever before to learn more about the way my family lived long ago.

150.

NEVER SAY DIE CON’T

154.

THE SILVER CITY KIDS

We have students learning more about our history and ways to preserve it. Our schools are teaching our children our songs, dances and stories behind them.

Even here at ICS in our television department we are working to share stories from long ago, how our communities were made and how they grew. These community profiles are being worked on already, with crew members travelling and recording interviews!

The most important thing is that we all take pride in who we are as people. Let the stories in this issue inspire you to follow your dreams, work hard toward your goals and don’t let anyone else dictate who you are.

QUYANAINNI,

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INUVIALUKTUN IN ACTION

162.

#INUVIALUIT

Dez Loreen Manager, Inuvialuit Communications Society

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Quick Facts

News from around the ISR and beyond IRC to Assess Natural Gas Development Potential in the Beaufort Delta The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) announced an investment of $467,200 in September to support a feasibility study led by Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) to assess the potential for natural gas development in the Beaufort Delta region.

IRC’s goal is to lower living costs for local residents and businesses by securing a regional energy source to replace diesel.

Should natural gas extraction be viable, they hope development of this resource could provide clean energy security, employment opportunities and support a sustainable economic future in the Inuvialuit region.

The Beaufort Delta Regional Energy Study will be conducted in two phases.

The first phase will assess resource viability and develop a local energy supply and distribution model with the focus on Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic and Tuktoyaktuk.

The second phase will explore a regional model including Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok.

CanNor’s investment is from the Northern Aboriginal Economic Opportunities Program. This program aims to increase the participation of Northern Aboriginal communities and businesses in economic opportunities.

CanNor contributed $467,200 over two years. The Government of the Northwest Territories and IRC each invested $58,400, for a total project funding of $584,000.

VISITOR SPENDING IN NWT 2015-2016

Visitors spent $167.1 million in the NWT

2016-2017

Visitors spent $201.40 million in the NWT

VISITORS TO NWT 2015-2016

An estimated 93,910 visitors travelled to the NWT

2016-2017 Tribe of One performs at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik.

An estimated 108,480 visitors travelled to the NWT

Tourism Breaks Records Tourism numbers reached record heights in the Northwest Territories (NWT) this past year. For the first time, visitor spending surpassed the $200 million mark and over 100,000 visitors travelled to the NWT. The results bode well for the overall goal of Tourism 2020, the government’s five-year strategy for tourism development, which seeks to increase the value of the NWT tourism industry to $207 million annually by 2021.

Other highlights released by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment

include a 23 per cent increase last season in the aurora viewing sector, which contributed close to $50 million to the economy. Leisure travel to the NWT has increased from 56 percent to 70 per cent over the last 10 years while business travel is recovering.

As the single largest renewable resource-based industry in the NWT, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is committed to growing the sector and the economic opportunities it creates.

IRC Launches IFA-101 Website Inuvialuit Regional Corporation announced the creation of the IFA 101 website in October as a first step to illustrate its commitment to increasing the understanding and importance of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

The website will consist of a suite of communication, orientation and awareness-raising resources that will be of benefit to Inuvialuit beneficiaries and to industry and government officials working with Inuvialuit in the implementation of the IFA and other agreements. The website currently houses a digital version of the IFA document, indexed and searchable.

There are plans to make it annotated with additional information as well as explanations in plain language.

“IFA-101 is timely. Since the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement more than 33 years ago, there is a new generation of Inuvialuit. Many do not have first hand knowledge of the historical background to the IFA, how the IFA applies to the rights and responsibilities of beneficiaries and how the IFA affects governance within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. It is through this understanding that we must continue to assert Inuvialuit rights and benefits accorded to Inuvialuit under the IFA,” said IRC Chair and CEO Duane Ningaqsiq Smith. “This will also stress the governments’ responsibilities of learning and implementing the IFA in a cohesive, proactive manner for accountability.”

Inuit, Capitalism and Colonization: A Foreign Affair

By Suzie Napayok-Short

The Inuit lived nomadically according to their scientific knowledge of the natural cycles of wildlife and the availability of different species based on the seasons. For Inuit it was imperative to know these cycles inside and out — to know when the caribou came, for example, by studying the nature of where and when they migrate to specific areas — and to determine their calculations based upon years of observation and careful study.

Premier Bob Mcleod, Governor General Julie Payette and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi at the opening ceremonies Nov. 15.

Inuvik-Tuk Highway Opens The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway officially opened for business Nov. 15, connecting Canada from coast to coast to coast.

Governor General Julie Payette and NWT Premier Bob McLeod led the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inuvik alongside politicians and dignitaries from across the country. The historic event was followed by celebrations in both Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk that brought together over a thousand people to feast, sing and dance together.

“Our shared goal with Northerners is to build strong families, communities and economies in the North. This new all-season road will create new economic development opportunities, provide better connection to essential services for individuals and help lower the cost of food and supplies for families in Tuktoyaktuk. It will also allow for more Canadians to experience the beauty and majesty of the Arctic and meet the inspiring Northerners who live here,” said Carolyn Bennett, Minister of CrownIndigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.

Work on the highway began four years ago and involved the construction of close to 140 km of road, eight bridges and 359 culverts. The project employed up to 600 individuals at the peak of construction, 74 per cent of whom were residents of the Northwest Territories.

Photo by Dave Brosha

Inuit had to understand the science of snow and ice — the texture, its mass, the seasons affecting it, the potential (or lack thereof) for purposeful architecture, the safety and danger zones — all by heart. Nothing was written down to refer to later on; thus, everything was diligently imbedded in the mind. The Inuit are experts in their own environment and the complexities of their traditional language reflects this too. But Inuit didn’t know what colonization was, nor were they aware of how it would change their lifestyles forever. The arrival of Qallunaat began to change this way of living that they had held for eons and introduced an alien way of values, based on capitalism.

From the onset of this introduction, Inuit were at a disadvantage for not knowing that the global economy was based on a vastly different system and worldview. Therefore, they put huge amounts of time and work into trapping wildlife for the furs desired by the Hudson’s Bay Company, which, knowing the Inuit had no outside trading experience, manipulated them into receiving limited goods for the trade set under hugely inflated rates on their part. Similarly, in the 1950s the Inuit were introduced to mining without pre-education and without knowing or understanding its purpose.

Serious life changes for the Inuit of Nunavut began when they first started working at a mine in the Kivalliq region. Being intimidated by these seemingly powerful people, they quickly adapted to the rules of the Qallunaat who came in to take the contents of the earth away for their own financial gain. Inuit were paid lower rates than other mineworkers, while working in the harshest of environments.

The film “Beneath the Surface” by Frank Tester illustrates these effects.

It shows what was expected of Inuit under the new rule of colonization, what the consequences were for Inuit over time, and how Inuit began to understand some of the ways of the white man’s world under their rule, based on their own experience. There was no formal education to prepare them for this task.

It reminds us of our duty to look after our environment and to balance our needs to create income in our lands for our own benefits. To have our rights as Inuit respected within our lands where we determine our own destination and our cooperation. To strive to find the best way of imbedding the traditional ways of our people and our current needs to build a life in today’s financial world. To find the balance between these two worlds and to know when to draw the very fine line that we need for the health of our people and our future.

Suzie Napayok-Short is the author of the children’s book Wild Eggs. She is a professional English-Inuktitut translator and was the secretary-treasurer for the Nunavut Planning Commission from 1999 to 2005. She lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

INUVIK & BEYOND

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The Great Northern Arts Festival ended with a bang last summer with its annual Arctic Fashion Show highlighting Northern and Indigenous designs. Aarigaa!

Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Devon Burgess

To see more photos, check us out on Facebook!

Fred Stick Jr.

Shelby Steen

Gillian Lavoie

Jennifer Cockney

Shelby Steen

John Peters Jr.

Lesli Kisoun

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Jennifer Rafferty

Gillian Lavoie

Rosalie

Lesli Kisoun

Anastazia Cockney

John Peters Jr.

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Jennifer Rafferty

Cathy Cockney

Lesli Kisoun

Jennifer Rafferty

Devon Burgess

Cathy Cockney

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Shelby Steen

Fitzgerald Cockney

Gillian Lavoie

Letters from down south:

Ice road memories

WORDS BY DENNIS ALLEN Jennifer Rafferty

One time me and my buddy Chubby and my cousin Jimmy Whisky-Jack borrowed Armand Cardinal’s 1972 Pontiac Parisienne to go for a drive on the ice road. Me and Chubby just got paid from washing dishes up at lumber camp, so we filled Armand’s car full of gas and gave him a tin of tobacco for using his car. He shows us how to put a screwdriver in the ignition and pump it ten times before we start it. It was stuck in forward gear when it started, and he ran beside us and told us not to park anywhere we would need to back out of. We bought three big bags of nacho chips and one whole case of Coke for our trip.

We used to trap muskrats with dog team long ago so riding in a car on the ice road sure makes us feel like big shots - especially when we see Butchy Magnuson and Harvey Dog Pot double riding on an old Elan Skidoo that got no hood. They’re towing Butchy’s three-cylinder SnoCat El Tigre that looks like it got a jet rocket engine on a beat up old skidoo frame.

It’s the middle of January, and the temperature is about 40 below outside, but probably feels more like 70 below for Butchy and Harvey out in the open like that. Butchy’s face is white and already starting to blister from frostbite.

His greasy leather gloves that have one big hole in the palm on one side, and half a finger torn off on the other, grip the handlebars, just like Peter Fonda in that show Easy Rider. He even has a smoke hanging out his mouth to prove it. Harvey is sitting backward with only a jean jacket and runners, but he’s got one of those little wool toques we used to use at Holy Christ Catholique Mission School, and a brand new pair of Green King gloves he’s holding over his ears. I’ve seen some tough buggers in my life but never as tough as Butchy and Harvey.

Anyway, the tires on Armand’s car are original, and the tread on them got left behind about half a million miles ago, so we’ve got no grip driving on the ice. We take our time for the first few miles, but once I feel a little bit better I start to speed up. A few times we do a couple of fishtales, and we laugh like hell at Chubby screaming his head off like we’re gonna die or something. So I push harder on that gas peddle on a good straight stretch. That stretch goes for quite a ways, so I figured I might as well have some fun and go a little bit faster. The speedometer doesn’t work, but when we see the radio antenna bend all the way back, I figure we’re going at least 60 miles per hour. I’ve got another two inches to push on the gas peddle, so I do.

Armand’s car must have needed a wheel alignment because it starts to shimmy real bad, and the steering wheel shakes like when we run jackhammers to dig graves in the permafrost. The wind has picked up and is blowing snow across the road, making rows of snow drifts. We hit them drifts full speed, and the snow flies across the windshield and over the car, just like stuntmen.

I don’t know how fast we were going when we hit the bank sideways, but when we flip, the sky and the snow on the ground look just like a blur. Funny thing is that when we land, we land right back on the wheels. I end up on the floor in the back and Jimmy is upside down in the passenger seat. Chubby is sitting in the driver’s seat holding onto the steering wheel and screaming his head off.

Cathy Cockney

We sit there for half an hour before somebody comes by on their way to Aklavik. They have a long rope and pull us out and over the snowbank. We give them the few Cokes we had left. We dig all the snow out from under the hood and cross our fingers, hoping it starts. It burps and farts a few times but finally starts back up. We get back to town and drop the truck off at Armand’s. The next day he asks us how we got rid of the shimmy. Chubby looks at me and says, “It must have been when we…” That’s when I cover his mouth with my hand and tell Armand I adjusted the tie rods, whatever the hell that means. Anyway, if anybody needs rabbits, call us at 2262. Six bits apiece.

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TUKTUT NOGAIT NATIONAL PARK

A TRIP TO THE HOME OF THE BLUENOSE WEST CARIBOU Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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Kynwill Gordon-Ruben The scenery in the park was so beautiful – from Many Caches, Elm Hill, Uyarsivik Lake. Being on the land was so peaceful.

There’s a sense of freedom in the park. It’s a protected place and you can tell the animals can feel it too.

My favourite moments at camp were when caribou would pass by. I think for me that was my favourite part, taking pictures of them. It was a rush, trying to get up close to them and hoping they would come close enough to me for a good shot. The outcome was satisfying and I think that this park is unique in these types of opportunities.

Lanita Thrasher Uyarsivik Lake, NT While at Camp Jonah Nakimayak I couldn’t believe the fishing experience. We caught nine huge trout and countless regular two-foot trout at Uyarsivik. The lake is over 12 km in length with clear, deep, dark, cold water. I’m still curious as to where all the char fishing is in Uyarsivik. They have to be in the shallow inlet. I would love to go back and learn the lake.

I had the pleasure of teaching Esther, Keara and Kynwill how to fish and fillet. Nelson learned my way of filleting and drying fish sticks. Anguti/Kyle asked where would I rather be. My response was, “I’d rather be in the cockpit flying, but if I were there, I’d be wishing to be here – it’s world class fishing.”

Besides fishing, the best part of the days were 7 am coffee, listening to old time stories with the early risers. The cabin one morning was filled with laughter when we drew a line of the window shadow on the floor and noted 7:12 am, because none of us had

watches. We also pictured how winter fishing would be. Ruben Green said, “We’d have to use a chain and winch to pull them up.” Besides awesome fishing we had nice walks, up to 120 km accumulatively. We have absolutely beautiful land out there.

Hornaday Lake, NT/NU Hornaday Lake is the gem of the fishing world. It was untouched for about 20 years. I got my 48-inch fish there. It jerked the canoe a bit. I thought my hook was stuck, but we were in “black water” deep. I had a good 45-minute fight — when I reeled it close to the catamaran it looked scary. Noel said, “It looks like a shark.” We had to beach to get that one. As Donna, Sadie and Noel paddled I had to face backwards until reaching the shores. I used a no. 4 Red Devil, 15 lb line and 8’ pole. In Kugluktuk they call the huge fish Ikhalukpak. I learned from Gordon Norberg, who was there for the board meeting. The view was beautiful. We picked a spot flying around and spotted a nice stretch of beach with a good view of Nunavut.

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Esther Wolki I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I signed up to go into Tuktut Nogait National Park. But as soon as the twin otter took off from Paulatuk, I was like, “Holy, thank you Maya (March, park manager) for letting me come on this trip.” For what, I didn’t know yet.

When we got there I helped with unloading the plane and saw Uyarsivik Lake. It was so shiny, I couldn’t help but be drawn to it. While everyone else was saying hi and introducing themselves, I walked to the lake and put my hand in it and drank a little. It was so clean and refreshing. And man, this was just the start.

Everything we did in a group or in pairs was precious to me. Developing friendships with new people and seeing other sides of people I already knew was enlightening. I was taught how to fillet fish from John Max (Kudlak) in a different way and perfected it. Lanita (Thrasher) taught me how she fishes in the style of elders. I thanked both for teaching me what they knew, so much that I made a homemade parka cover for John Max for teaching me. I am grateful because these teachers allowed me to be a little bit more useful to my family members while harvesting.

I loved every place we went hiking. I thought to the core that this was where my mom’s mom’s mom lived and survived. The first couple of days we were there I found a book by Father LeMeur and skimmed through it quickly while everyone was getting ready to hike. I saw a name at the end that caught my eye, my great grandmother Bessie Wolki. I remember looking around and thinking I had time to read a couple of pages. In those five minutes I found myself reading in a hurry. A little story became a great story, though many may not know. I read through the troubles and hardships of the early ages, how she survived the winter, how my great grandfather made it away and back to feed the family. Even though it was just a couple of pages I was almost in tears. I held back because everyone was in the small building waiting to head out.

Reading that story in the park made me think of the way of living in the past, how hard it was to move around and find food. During the trip, every time I was tired from walking, I had my great-grandmother’s strength at the back of my mind. I had a hard time hiking, but thought to myself, my granny grew a strong willed family, so I got up when it was hard and kept on moving.

Going to the park brought me back to my home and my heritage. I am proud to be a part of that. Thank you to the teachers that came to be there for us, Parks Canada for including Inuvialuit on trips and the people who helped put it together. I wish there would be many more trips in the future for the youth and elders.

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Agnes Krengnektak The park is beautiful. My favourite parts were hiking and fishing and then spending time with friends. When we went hiking to Elm Hill, that one was really, really good.

I liked the view from the top. We hiked there and back, about 15 km. I’ll always remember hiking with my sister out there.

Some of my favourite moments were camping. I shared a tent with Esther and my sister Beatrice. We had a lot of fun laughing and telling stories. It’s really beautiful down there. The whole scenery, oh my God, it’s just beautiful.

Beatrice Krengnektak I loved the whole experience, like taking hikes and fishing and meeting new people and all that. The hiking was my favourite part because you can see out on the land.

Before we left the park we shared our favourite memories from the trip, and it kind of made me sad about leaving because I wanted to stay longer. I didn’t want to leave that place. It happened so quick, so I just wanted to stay a little longer. I didn’t want to go back to Paulatuk. It felt good being out there, comfortable, just being myself.

Kuninaan Ruben Jr. To be honest, you have to be there in person, because it’s just beautiful, and you can’t experience it until you’re there. Just being out there, just being out in God’s country, you can’t beat that.

The hikes were memorable for me because my running shoes ran low. My feet were hurting big time by the end of it, but after a couple of hikes I didn’t mind that. You just take your time walking and, man, there’s nothing better than looking out at that beautiful country. I just missed my best buddy Jonah Nakimayak when we were out there. We all miss Jonah Nakimayak big time.

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Ruben Green Tuktut Nogait National Park is unique in itself. It’s one of the least visited parks in Canada. Nobody hardly ever gets to go to it. We have the Brock River canyons, the Hornaday River canyons, the Brock plateau and rolling hills with a lot of outcrop, as well as an abundance of lakes. It’s pretty unique and it has different land features once you get away from the river systems. You have a lot of lakes adjoining together with high rolling hills, no trees. It’s pretty spectacular.

My favourite part of the park, which has always been close to my heart, is the Brock River area, the Brock plateau and Ugly Creek. It’s named that because 35 years ago the late Jonah Nakimayak and my older brother Tony, we had gone hunting out in the park, and we’d gone to One Island Lake.

We’d gone there in the fall time with quads and we were jiggling in the lakes. We started coming home and we ran into this creek, and it was so high on both sides, you just couldn’t climb up from one side or the other, so we named it Ugly Creek. Once you get into it you have to follow it until

you reach the mouth of the creek. That’s why Jonah and I and my brother Tony called it Ugly Creek. It’s not very far from the Brock plateau there.

Jonah Nakimayak has always been sort of a legend around these parts and so forth. There’ll never be another person like him who’s doing the same kind of work that I do, as a cultural host for Tuktut Nogait National Park. He’s one of the forerunners in the cultural aspect of it. A person like Jonah, he’s really hard to replace in regards to how he deals with things. Nothing fazes him. He’s easy going, always had that thought process to never give up. It was a real learning experience being alongside my good friend Jonah.

It was very nice of Parks Canada and the Parks management board to name the camp after the late Jonah Nakimayak. To be able to learn from Jonah in terms of the cultural aspect of things was really enlightening to me, and it just passes on. It’s just like a bug when Jonah gets things started.

John Max Muffa Kudlak shows off the camp’s fish rack filled with trout from Uyarsivik Lake.

Keara Ruben on the lookout for caribou near Elm Hill.

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INUVIK IN WINTER.

Photos by Stephanie Hunter

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Amber-Joy Gruben YELLOWKNIFE, NT

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to work in the hospital alongside doctors. I wanted to help people and make a difference in their lives for the better. As I got older, I realized I wanted to be a nurse. I thought the skills they have and how they interact with people was so cool. As we all know, no one wants to be sick in the hospital. A good nurse can make a patient’s experience in the hospital a good one, a memorable one, helping them through their health needs or struggles. This is why I chose to go into nursing.

Moving to Yellowknife for the nursing program was lonely and that made it hard. I quickly developed

close relationships with some classmates that helped while I was away from home. Being in this program has shaped me into a person I am proud to be. I enjoy helping people. I am proud of all the hard work I put into this program.

The plan has always been to come back home to Inuvik and work in the acute care unit at the Inuvik Regional Hospital, then eventually do the rural nurse training to go back to work in my hometown of Tuktoyaktuk. I have a real passion for the North and Inuvialuit. I want to be able to say I am helping my people and making a difference in their lives.

In partnership with Aurora College Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Jodi Larkin YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I’m in the Nursing Access Program at Aurora College. I had been out of school for 12 years and wanted to enter the nursing field in order to give back. The access program gets you back up to date and used to being in the school setting. It’s been going great so far. I’m planning on entering the nursing degree program next year. I think nursing is a very giving profession. Helping people, that’s what I’m drawn to. I’m hoping to travel during my studies and do missionary work abroad over the summers, and then after that see where nursing takes me. Nursing opens up so many opportunities.

In partnership with Aurora College

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Dwight Carpenter YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I was 15 or 16, in Grade 10, when we moved from Inuvik to Yellowknife. It was tough to move from there because I played so many sports and hung out with friends a lot. When I moved to Yellowknife I still played a lot of soccer but it was a really tough move because I liked my small community life.

I like Yellowknife a lot now and am just enjoying college life and spending time with my friends and girlfriend. It’s tough to say why I like it, but I hang out with my friends and game out a lot, and when I go home I hang out with my girlfriend and her son. It’s kind of boring in Yellowknife though.

On September 5 I started here at Aurora College. In two years hopefully I will be done the Occupations and College Access Program and the Business Administration Access Program. After that I want to find a good office job or take another one-year course in something interesting, depending on how well I do.

In partnership with Aurora College

Sarah MacNabb YELLOWKNIFE, NT

It all started when I took a few years of upgrading and had the option to get into this career pathway. Don’t get me wrong, I love Inuvik. It will always be my home, but the thought of living somewhere where there would be more opportunities for my family was appealing. On top of that, I could get an education to land a good paying job and do something I enjoy doing, like giving back to elders as they are people we look up to. So me and my supportive partner chose Yellowknife and we love it here. Taking this leap, I can say that we’ve made the right decision. So many doors are opening up for us.

So far the Personal Support Worker Program is going great. We are in practicum right now and just going to Aven Manor makes my day. The elders there enjoy our

company and are so patient with us students as we are just learning. I chose this career path after I was able to observe the long-term care unit in Inuvik. I really thought about how much we are needed as Aboriginal people to work with our elders. I definitely am very humbled to be a part of such an important part of our health care system.

I still haven’t decided what I will do after graduation, but I know I will definitely be putting my skills to work somewhere.

There is one thing I carry through life with me since about seven or eight years ago. I was told from a wise Inuvialuk man who sadly is not with us today, the grandfather to my children, to never give up. That’s what I think about school and basically everything in life.

In partnership with Aurora College

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Meagan Evalik YELLOWKNIFE, NT

What really kept me going was all my teachers through the years. They helped keep me confident and taught me about risks you have to take, like trying to put yourself out there and knowing how to do it professionally.

I was born in Yellowknife and did kindergarten in Cambridge Bay, but then we moved back to Yellowknife and I’ve been here ever since. I was raised in a foster home and have had to work hard to get where I am. I even took off and worked for the circus for three months. I learned that risks can be of great value. I got to see more of the world. Then I ended up homeless in Kelowna, BC and applied for Okanagan College. I’ve had epilepsy since I was eight years old. I was inspired there to create change in my own community, but my seizures were also getting worse, and I needed to be back within the Northwest Territories healthcare system, so the gospel mission paid for my flight to Yellowknife. Sometimes people think I’m being a smart ass, but it’s because I have to take care of myself.

I came to Aurora College in January for Adult Literacy and Basic Education and then started the Business Administration Program this fall. I’ve been told a lot that I would be good in business because I’m organized and creative. I thought about becoming a lawyer, but that would be way too harsh for me.

I’m hoping to do the Business Administration Program here and then go elsewhere for my bachelors.

I have some family members who are homeless here in Yellowknife, and we keep in touch. When I see them downtown I hug them and tell them what’s new in my life and they encourage me to keep working towards my goals.

I see myself one day trying to start a business. I have a lot of ideas for creating jobs for homeless people, giving them something to do.

If I saw somebody that looked really down, I would go to them even if I didn’t know them and try and give them ideas to try and fix their lack of confidence and try and make them smile and see that there’s more out there.

In partnership with Aurora College

Elycia Monaghan YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I’m in my first semester of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. It’s been hectic for sure. I have a six-month-old baby and it’s challenging balancing the two, but in a good way. I used to think that nurses weren’t regular people because of what they have to do on a day-to-day basis; there’s so much going on emotionally and having to deal with the “blood and guts” seems heroic. Now that I’m on the way towards getting there, I’m beginning to really enjoy the multiple dimensions of helping people stay healthy.

I remember in high school thinking that whatever I did with my life, it wasn’t going to leave me living the life of a sheep. I think that people are put on this earth to help one another and nursing is a way of doing that. Being needed somewhere makes me feel like I have a purpose. Growing up as an Indigenous person, I’ve seen the troubles my people have had to face under the hands of colonialism. I knew that if I wanted to make a difference in any way for Indigenous people, the best way to do it is to stay up North and learn from a northern-based perspective.

If it weren’t for the encouragement and support from my husband, family and friends, I don’t know where I’d be today.

It isn’t easy with a little one at home for sure, but when I come home from college and see his face smiling up at me, I know that it’s all worth it. For me, it’s knowing that he will grow up having an Indigenous mom who sets an example for anyone, regardless of race or even gender. If I can do it anyone can!

In partnership with Aurora College

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Clayton Pielak YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I moved to Yellowknife 12 years ago, when I was 16 or 17 years old. When I first moved here from Inuvik I started school at St. Patrick High School, but after a year I switched schools and started going to Sir John Franklin High School. I dropped out in Grade 11/12 to join the military, to change the direction my life was heading in.

It was intense, but at the same time I loved it. I loved all the rules. I grew up with cadets in Inuvik, so it was already something I was used to. I was in the military for two years, but I left when I had my son so I could be in one place and not move around. I felt bad for having a son and just up and leaving.

I started working odd labour jobs, at Home Hardware, Strategic Aviation at the airport, and then I was a flight controller for Braden-Burry Expediting. My job was looking after the freight manifests and flight manifests, working with the flight crew to do the weights and balances and keeping flights on time.

Last year I tried to go back to school, but left to focus on my mental health issues. I learned to seek help if you need it and ignore all the stigma that comes with mental illness, and I learned to talk about it.

This year I started at Aurora College in the University and College Access Program. It’s going great. I’m more focused. I set my goals and am working hard to keep my grades up. I love it. I’ll be getting my high school diploma and getting my cap and gown in March. I’m excited for that.

I plan on going to Yukon College after that because my son lives in Whitehorse, so I can be closer to him. I’m hoping to get my Bachelor of Science in Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences. That will take four years.

Stick to your goals. As hard as life gets, it does get better.

You just have to know what you really want out of life.

In partnership with Aurora College

Jenny Thompson YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I was born in Hay River and lived in Kugluktuk the first four years of my life. After living in Kugluktuk, my family moved to my hometown, Fort Simpson. I started going down the wrong path and wanted to make a change, so I moved to Yellowknife in 2013. My first job was as a lifeguard at the local pool and that is where I heard about the Corrections Northern Recruit Training Program. The start of the program was difficult but I ended up finishing the program with the highest mark on the final exam. I worked at the North Slave Correctional Centre until 2015.

In the fall of 2015 I started the Social Work Access Program and finished at the top of my class. Before this program I didn’t have the confidence to achieve in school. I had several barriers against me because I was in an unhealthy relationship where I was told that I wasn’t smart, and I believed it for many years after the relationship ended. Fortunately, being

in the access program, I had to face my insecurities head on, and my teachers at Aurora College helped me believe in myself. The teachers helped me realized I should not have those insecurities because I was a great student.

After completing the access program, I started the Social Work Program in 2016 and I’ll graduate with my diploma in April 2018. I’m hoping to go to Whitehorse to get my degree in social work because getting a degree is something I’ve always wanted. I’ve dealt with addictions and other issues in my life. I know the difficulties life can throw at you and push you in a direction you don’t want to go. My dad has always shown me firsthand the power of one and the change you can make in people’s lives. His help to make positive changes in the North is what drove me to study social work.

I have always wanted to have the opportunity to try and help people as well.

In partnership with Aurora College

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Lillian Paniloo YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I had my daughter when I was really young. I was 14 years old, living in Resolute Bay, and I had to drop out of school for a couple of years. I was in Grade 8 when I dropped out, but after moving to Yellowknife I started taking classes again and jumped up to Grade 10. I was really, really shy and I said I would only go back to school if I could be in the same class as my cousin. She didn’t want to move down a grade, so I just started in Grade 10 at Sir John Franklin High School.

It was really difficult. Math was especially hard, but English and science were okay. I had to drop out again after less than a year because I couldn’t afford daycare. It took me six years to get back to school again. I was a stay at home mom and worked a few jobs. My first real job was as a sales representative at a clothing store, and it really helped me get over my shyness.

In 2015 a woman at the Department of Education, Culture

and Employment convinced me to take classes at the Native Women’s Association for three months. It started at the basics, like adding and subtracting, and really helped me gain my confidence and made me want to further my education.

I went back again in the fall and did a full year, taking Adult Literacy and Basic Education (ALBE) 120.

I love saying that I’m in college now. I started here in 2017, taking ALBE 130 and I plan on taking the Personal Support Worker Program next year. I’ve always taken care of my grandparents, and there are a few elderly women in my mom’s building that always ask me for help. Just the looks on their faces, they’re so thankful, so I want to do more of that.

Just the thought of going back to school seems like a lot, but once you get started it gets easy, and once you start achieving, you want to do more.

In partnership with Aurora College

Rachel Nakimayak YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I started the Personal Support Worker Program here in Yellowknife in August. It was a last minute decision. I was supposed to start the University and College Access Program in Inuvik, but got a call from the college in Yellowknife at the end of August saying I was accepted. I had to move down without my son. He’s 12. His name is Todd Nakimayak. It was hard, but he’s coming to visit tomorrow.

He’s been to Yellowknife before, but he likes Paulatuk better. He likes small towns.

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program is going to be delivered in Inuvik starting August 2018.

It’s my goal to do that. I’ve always wanted to be a nurse. It’s who I am. I care too much. It matches my personality. As an LPN I’ll be able to give patients medication. I’ll be doing more than a personal support worker. My goal is to stay in the North after the two-year program is done.

If you really want to do it, further your education. It’s not too hard. You have to be really dedicated. If you have a dream, stick to it. When I first started upgrading, I was really shy, but after I started it made me more confident in a school setting. Being confident made me stronger. I want to be a good role model for my son. It’s so important.

In partnership with Aurora College

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Jasmine Gordon YELLOWKNIFE, NT

Taking the nursing program here in Yellowknife is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it has also been the most rewarding. It is taking me a little longer to obtain my degree as I have taken time off, but I am determined to achieve my aspirations. I am currently a mother of two — a little girl who just turned two, and her sister who was born in August. They are both my motivation to complete the program. I have an amazing partner who supports me with my goals, and he makes it possible for me to continue.

Since I was eight years old, I have pictured myself in the medical field. I was just unsure of what my profession would be, but after taking the Nursing Access Program in Inuvik, I realized I wanted to go for nursing. I plan to return home to Inuvik after getting my degree to take care of my people, especially my dadak. He has been so supportive since I moved here for the program. Education is very important to him, and I look forward to making him proud. My parents are a great support as well. They moved to Yellowknife when I applied for the program, and have been here ever since supporting me through all the obstacles I face. I have a great support group behind me, and I appreciate it very much.

I would not be where I am today without those amazing people. This program is difficult, but I know it will be worth it. I love my journey so far!

In partnership with Aurora College

Jennifer Pitt YELLOWKNIFE, NT

Going back to school was one of the biggest decisions of my adult life. I am a single mom of two girls, ages 10 and 12. I had worked at Stanton Hospital for five years as a clerk but felt like I wanted to do more.

I think that I always wanted to be a nurse, it just took me a while to realize it. Becoming a nurse will open so many doors for us. There will always be a need for nurses, especially Indigenous nurses. Being able to provide culturally appropriate care to our people is such a fulfilling feeling.

I want to set a good example for my daughters and give them a good life. I want them to know that education is the key to success and it is never too late to go back to school. I had been out of school for 13 years when I decided to take the nursing program at Aurora College. There are days when I feel I can’t do it anymore, but I remind myself that I am doing this for me, and for my daughters. I want my girls to be proud of me and to know that they can accomplish their dreams if they work hard and never give up.

In partnership with Aurora College

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ULUKHAKTOK IN SPRING. Photo by Danny Swainson

ULUKHAKTOK IN SUMMER. Photo by Danny Swainson

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ULUKHAKTOK IN SPRING. Photo by Danny Swainson

ULUKHAKTOK IN WINTER. Photo by Danny Swainson

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THE CLASS

Gordon BernhardtHoover My name is Gordon Bernhardt-Hoover.

I am five years old and my favourite colour is blue. I like bears. My favourite food is pepperoni pizza and I like to play outside with my friends. When I grow up I want to be a cop.

Kaleigh Day My name is Kaleigh Day. I am five years old and I love to eat chocolate cake.

My favourite colour is purple and I like dogs. I love being a kid, but I don’t like going to bed early. When I grow up I want to be a mom with seven kids.

OF 2030

Photos by Tyra Cockney-Goose, Cilena Martin and Karis Dekwant

INUVIK, NT

Lily Gruben My name is Lily Gruben. I am five years old and my favourite food is rice. My favourite colours are pink and purple and I love to play outside with my friends. When I am older I want to be a bunny rabbit.

Raelle Wolki My name is Raelle Wolki. I am five years old and my favourite food is carrots. I like to play with my older sister and my favourite colour is red. When I grow up I want to be a lion.

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THE CLASS

Joseph Gruben My name is Joseph Gruben. I am five years old and my favourite food is meatballs. If I could be any animal I would be a polar bear because they are cool. My favourite colour is orange and I like to make art for my parents. When I grow up I want to work at the store so I can eat all the candy there.

Jaimes Esau My names is Jaimes Esau. I am five years old and I like to play on the trampoline.

If I were to be any animal I would be a snake. My favourite colours are pink and blue, and I like to go shopping with my parents. When I grow up I want to be a police officer.

OF 2030

Tanner Angasuk My name is Tanner Angasuk. I forget how old I am. I love to eat broccoli a lot.

I love dinosaur books. When I grow up I want to be a dinosaur. I love my mom.

Sydney Selamio My name is Sydney Selamio. I am five years old. I like to play with my friends and go to the park with my parents.

My favourite colours are pink and blue and my favourite food is spaghetti. If I were to become any animal I would be a leopard, and I don’t like to clean my room. When I grow up I want to be a police officer.

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THE CLASS

Emelia Maring My name is Emilia Maring. I am five years old and love to eat spaghetti every day! My favourite book is Rapunzel.

When I grow up I want to be Rapunzel.

Also I really love my mommy and daddy.

Chase Cardinal My name is Chase and I am five years old. My favourite animal is a cow and my favourite food is meat. I have a big brother and a little brother. I like to help my mom when she asks me to get her things.

OF 2030

Brylen Joe‑Larocque My name is Brylen and I am five years old. I like spicy noodles and my favourite animal is a kitten. I think that monkey bars are the hardest part of being a kid.

When I grow up I want to be a fire fighter so I can save people.

Mason Kelly I want to be a police officer when I grow up. My favourite toy in school is the blocks. My favourite animal is a puppy.

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THE CLASS OF 2017 MANGILALUK SCHOOL, TUKTOYAKTUK PHOTOS BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

LIONEL KIKOAK Finishing high school after becoming a dad was alright. Our parents gave us a lot of help. As long as they were there to watch him it’s pretty easy. Our boy’s two and a half, and we have another on the way. The hardest part was getting up in the mornings, but you have to keep going. Just keep going and finish it off. Of course now that I’m graduated I can wake up in the mornings no problem!

DESERAYE ELIAS My parents were a big part of my success, and the teachers as well, because I was really lacking at first. It took hard work and dedication to make it through to graduation. Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.

My advice is to keep the hard work going. It may be tough at first, but it will pass.

Grad was a big step into the real world. I’m hoping to attend college next fall and achieve more things. I’m thinking Alberta – it’s not too far, but it’s not too close either. I want to accomplish great things.

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COURTNEE KEEVIK A big part of graduating was getting to school every morning and getting the job done. I really have to thank my mother Melanie Keevik for waking me up every morning from kindergarten to Grade 12, and my teacher Janie Jones for keeping me motivated to stay in school. Perfect attendance also really helped me fly through high school because I always knew what I was doing and I was always on top of my work.

Volunteering with Northern Youth Abroad really helped me with my involvement with students and with the community. I suggest other students take advantage of these programs as they can help you in the future. After travelling with this program I feel like I want to travel the world.

Get your work done on time and don’t give up, because a lot of people do. Focus on your dreams. Graduating was the best experience of my life. It’s gotten me so far. I can’t wait to go to college. It’s given me so many opportunities, endless opportunities. I’ve been accepted to flight school at the First Nations Technical Institute in Toronto. I start in September.

BLAINE PINGO My mom and pretty much all of my friends pushed me to graduate. They pushed me right to the limit. Growing up, my dad left early for work, so it was my mom that woke us kids up. She was the one that supported me the most, I’ve got to say.

My advice for students working toward graduation is to keep pushing yourself.

Education is key. Many doors will open. Opportunities will be there for you. Just graduate and get your diploma. It’s as easy as that. I’ve got so many opportunities to look for and see what fits me best. Any open doors, I’m just looking forward to that.

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JEMRA GRUBEN My late dadak Eddie, he would always tell me when I was in school, when I went out to sports, he told me that with determination and effort nothing’s impossible.

He passed away last year, so I wanted to put that on my grad stole to remember him.

My parents really helped me and pushed me through high school, and my aunties too. My classmates pushed me because we all wanted to graduate together. I was struggling too. I was struggling to get to grad, but you have to stick with it. You have to know that you’ll make it, and you’ll feel so good when you’re done school.

It was a great experience for me. And it opened so many doors.

I want to go to school for business. I want to run my own café, a café for my nanak, because she’s always wanted a café and she’s done so much for my family. I think she’d be really happy and she’d be busy all the time. She’d like that. When I was younger she’d always talk about having a café, a bakery. She’s the best at donuts, bread, cupcakes, cake. She makes a lot of good stuff.

STEPHANIE FELIX I started my upgrading with Aurora College here in Tuktoyaktuk and from there I joined the Sunchild Program, which led me to finally receive my high school diploma. The Sunchild Program ended when I had only one semester left to go, but luckily Mangilaluk School accepted me for my last semester. I did this for my daughters, to show them that education is important. It was challenging. It was hard. Trying to balance a family life, staying after school hours to get more work done, doing my homework at home up all hours of the night at times.

Graduation was amazing. It was an indescribable, amazing feeling of accomplishment. My biggest supporters were my dad, my daughters, my teachers, my family, my mentor Yohanne and Pam Atwood, a teacher here at the school. She always asked how I was doing in school and encouraged me. I encourage anyone who is thinking of going back to try. Try your best. Don’t give up, because it’s going to be a challenge for sure. Keep on keeping on. I’m still looking into going into a college course, but I’m not sure yet what to take. It will come to me once I make that decision. Bachelor of Education, Office Administration or Northern Studies are a few of the things I’m thinking of pursuing. I want to see where college will take me. I want to see how far I can go. I’m not done yet.

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TIANNA GORDON-RUBEN My family played a big part in what it took to finally graduate. My grandparents influenced me on how important it is to go to school. They told me how it would have such a positive impact on my life, along with my family’s life. You see, education is so important in this day and age. You go to school, get your diploma and then you can either work or you’re set to get into college and enter into whatever field you may desire. My husband supported me, along with my parents, my grandparents and my friends. Basically everyone was happy when we chose to go back to school and achieve our Grade 12 diplomas.

Graduating felt so awesome! Knowing when you work hard every day, it pays off big time. My goals are to simply find work within the community. Enjoy life as it is, with my family. Work hard for myself and my family. In the future I would like to see myself working, living life and raising my family. My husband and I had our son first, then we got married and then we graduated high school, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Everything happens for a reason.

COLTON GORDON-RUBEN What motivated me was having a family and wanting to show my son that you have to finish school and get your education. It’s never too late to get it done.

There’s lots of support there if you need it. Treat people the way you want to be treated and you’ll achieve your goals.

I want my son to have a good childhood and provide him with the things he needs.

I would like to be a good role model for those still striving for their high school diploma. The people that supported me were my wife Tianna, my parents Debbie and Stan, my brothers Kynwill, Dustin and Paden, my in-laws Terri and Pat, and, most of all, my son. Graduating makes me feel like I have accomplished a lot - that I should have accomplished when I was younger. Knowing how easy it was to reach that point in my life, in anyone’s life in particular, felt like a sigh of relief that I don’t have to worry about high school anymore.

From here on out, I can do whatever I want. My goals for the future are to become a journeyman in plumbing or housing maintenance. I’d like to see myself as a journeyman, a plumber or housing maintainer. Raising a family and living life.

Now I feel like I’m one step closer.

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NATALIE NOKSANA Thank you to my parents for believing that I had more to offer, and my children for showing me that I can do anything I put my mind to. We worked so hard to get here. I had times where I thought it was impossible, but I’m sure we all thought that at one point in time, right? Time is like a river. You never touch the same water twice because that flow has already passed. So enjoy every moment of this life we’re living. This is only just the beginning.

We have so much to thank our friends and family for. We couldn’t have gone this far without each and every one of them. Fellow graduates, we did it! I wont say it was easy to get here, because we all know that it wasn’t. We all struggled, but we did it.

JESSE ELIAS My main supporters when I was working toward graduation were my mom and my friend Donald. My mom kicked my butt out of bed every morning. Donald helped me with some homework that I needed to get done and kept talking to me every day. I’m not sure what I’m going to do next. I haven’t quite got anything set right now. I’m just going to see what happens.

JAYLENE KASOOK

BALINDA LAVALEE

LORI FELIX

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THE ARCTIC COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE COORDINATOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Jean Ruben, Melissa Davis, Pam Noland, Alexandra Neyando and Susie Memogana in the Inuvik Community Greenhouse.

MELISSA DAVIS

SUSIE MEMOGANA

ALEXANDRA NEYANDO

JEAN RUBEN

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PAM NOLAND We were able to grow quite a bit in Aklavik this summer. We had adults and children involved, which I thought was really important. At the start of the season we got a pack of plants from ITI (the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment), which was a real blessing and a help. However, people in Aklavik had no idea what to do with many of the plants. They had never seen them, never eaten them. Things like collards, different types of cabbages, kale — they weren’t quite sure what to do with them.

We also had seeds and planted things like beets and green beans. A lot of our younger people had never eaten a green bean in their life. It really is different gardening in the North. There are some things, because of not having that food security, that people have never tried, so they don’t know if they like it or don’t like it. Would we like to grow even more next year? Yes. Will we grow things that people want more of next year? Yes. We’re going to take what we learned this year and try and apply it all next year. We had some cooking classes at the end of our

harvest, and some of those things that people didn’t think they liked, they found out they actually loved them. I mean, you don’t want a whole greenhouse of that stuff, but they liked it.

There’s such a big difference in taste and flavour between the greenhouse foods and the store, even in something as simple as carrots. They weren’t as long, but they were sweet and so good. And the lettuces! We actually had enough that we sold bags of lettuce and kale, and people would stop me all over town and say, “You know, I never knew lettuce could taste like that.” We have a greenhouse and are hoping to get funding for soil and supplies so that next year we can have 20 beds in our community garden. I’m very thankful for the people who have helped fund and open this up, for the people that have participated in the growing and in the cooking classes. It’s just been a really neat time to bond together and to learn things, but we couldn’t do it without help from ITI and the Inuvik Community Greenhouse.

OCEANS DAY 2017

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Paulatuk welcomed visitors from across the territory on August 11 to celebrate Oceans Day, the creation of the Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area and to kick off its 31st annual Iqalukpik Jamboree.

Celebrations began with a parade through the community, followed by entertainment, games, speeches, dancing and a traditional feast. ^ Aarigaa!

Photos by Kynwill Gordon-Ruben

Oceans Day organizers, volunteers, presenters and participants gather to celebrate the creation of the Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area in Paulatuk August 11.

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Jasmine Brewster paints Nora Ruben’s face with Jo-Lynn Ruben at her side.

Fish cutting was one of the many competitions held at Oceans Day with awards given for the fastest and cleanest.

Cole Nunga Felix, Kourtney Ruben with her daughter Olivia, Georgina Krengnektak, Clorese Biddy Nogasak and Nicole Green drum dance for the crowd.

Nathan Haogak, Leon Thrasher, Hunter Ruben and Jo-Lynn Ruben ride in the fire truck during the opening parade.

Lanita Thrasher and Parka arrive in style at the opening ceremonies.

The 2017 Oceans Day celebration cake featuring the winning logo.

Volunteer firefighters Aaron Ruben and Daniel Illasiak take part in the opening parade.

Anne Thrasher, Mary Green and Lottie Thrasher line up for traditional food at the feast as Cora-Lee Simpson helps to hand it out.

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Jared Wolki tries his luck in the Life of a Char obstacle race with help from Colleen Parker, Cal Wenghofer and Emily Way-Nee.

Children compete in the balloon toss competition.

Participants paint the Oceans Day banner together at the celebration grounds.

Mayor Ray Ruben shows off the 2017 Oceans Day t-shirt during his opening remarks.

Participants line up for temporary tattoos with Parks Canada.

Skye Green and Joel Thrasher help cut the Oceans Day celebration cake.

Kyle Mustard and Parka ride in the opening parade.

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Northwest Territories Member of Parliament Michael McLeod competes in the harpoon throwing competition.

Ray Ruben, Michael McLeod and Duane Smith present Peter Green with a gift.

Drum dancers perform at the celebration grounds.

The Paulatuk Moonlight Drummers and Dancers perform alongside drummers and dancers from across the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

Johnny Ruben and Kelly Ruben pose with Parka.

Esther Wolki awaits the start of the fish cutting competition.

Billy Ruben, Joel Thrasher, Skye Green and Rihanna Ruben stand with their Oceans Day logo contest awards.

Richard Ruben Jr., Autumn Thrasher and Todd Nakimayak help paint the Oceans Day banner.

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Sydone Okheena ULUKHAKTOK, NT

Hi, my name is Sydone Okheena and I’m from Ulukhaktok. I’m 17 years old and I have cerebral palsy, so it’s been a tough life. I’ve been bullied a lot in life, and I’m graduating this year, but I wouldn’t be graduating if I didn’t make some sacrifices.

I remember back in Grade 7 I was having a really difficult time with fitting in and getting along. I would go home crying every day until I finally got what was inside of me out. I finally decided to tell someone about how I felt, and it made me feel better. It made me motivated to finish school, and now here I am in Grade 12, finishing off high school and I feel really proud of myself. There were times that were really hard, but I kept telling myself that I can do it – and look where it got me. Right here.

Hope.

Culture.

Strength.

My message to you guys is if you’re having a tough time with school, or anything in life, there’s always hope for tomorrow. Don’t give up. Even though you were almost at that point where you fell off the edge, you didn’t fall off, you’ve just got to find a way to get back up there and show the world how amazing you are, because you all matter.

In partnership with the WE MATTER Campaign

Annie Goose ULUKHAKTOK, NT

My name is Annie Goose. I am an elder in Ulukhaktok.

I grew up here in Ulukhaktok, known as Holman many years back. I’ve lived here all my life and I like to help people in any way I can, especially for mental, emotional and spiritual support when people need it. I’ve gone through some of my own stuff in my life when I lost my husband. I also have gone through spiritual pain due to that loss, and there was a time when I felt like I could not carry on, but at the same time my family, friends and community members helped me through to come to a place today where I feel I’m okay and can carry on a productive and fulfilling life. Even though sometimes it doesn’t always feel like things are going in a very good direction, I have found ways to help myself, as well as through support from my family.

If anyone in my community, or anywhere, feels at a loss with different issues, probably from some things that may have happened to you when you were small, or as an elder who has not come to terms with painful events in your life, I want to tell you I’ve gone through this in so many different ways. I would love to let you know that there is always someone willing to help, to hear your pain, to hear you out and give you support in any way they

can, especially people who have gone through suicidal thoughts, or injury in the soul, injury to the spirit, to the very core of your being. There’s always help out there, whether it’s nurses, the RCMP, elders, friends, siblings, or someone who you can call on the telephone if there’s phone numbers that you can reach out to. I want to give you encouragement. There’s always a way out to find help.

We have a long ways to live, a long ways to go, and there’s choices that we can make as an individual, especially our young people, our youth. You are our future, and I want to reach out to you to find help. If you feel uncertain about things that might be bothering you in your soul, in your spirit, and if you ever have suicidal thoughts, reach out to somebody and get help. Life can carry on in a very productive way if you choose to enjoy life and to find support. I’ve been there, and I want you to know it’s very fulfilling. Even though sometimes it might not feel like it’s going all well in my day, deep down inside I know I have a meaningful day today through work, through family or through gatherings.

In partnership with the WE MATTER Campaign

I Matter.

You Matter.

We Matter.

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Naomi & Laverna Klengenberg ULUKHAKTOK, NT

Naomi: Hello, my name is Naomi Klengenberg and this is my mother Laverna. We are from Ulukhaktok, NT. Laverna: I just want to share with you some of the experiences I’ve had, and some of the struggles I’ve had growing up. Both my parents were residential school students, and that impacted their lives as well as our lives with the intergenerational effects of residential school.

It was very hard on us. There was a lot of alcohol abuse, family violence and whatnot. On top of that my dad died in a plane crash in 1989, which had a huge impact on us as a family. We all took that very hard. We’ve all dealt with it in difficult ways, but we also grew together as a family. We dealt with a lot of hurts and pains. After losing

Hope.

Culture.

Strength.

him, some of the choices we made were hard.

I can honestly say today that I myself have never been more together, or as whole as a person, if I had not experienced those hard times. With the help of family, with the help of friends, with the help of counsellors, there is a way to overcome hardships like that. I have my own family. I have my husband and my children that are here with me, and I’ve never felt more whole as a person, because of the love and support that I’ve had in my life.

Their message to me was that I mattered, and I want to let you know that you matter too. You do. You matter. We love you, and you’re here for a reason, just like I am.

In partnership with the WE MATTER Campaign

Inuvik, NT

Lucy Kuptana INUVIK, NT

Hi, my name is Lucy Kuptana. I live in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. I work for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the land claim corporation in Inuvik.

We provide services and benefits and implement the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. We work with a lot of youth in all of our communities, and beneficiaries that live in the south, on a day-to-day basis.

I’m here today to talk about how we matter, how you matter, how our youth matter. I’m here today to talk about my niece, who left us at a very young age and hurt everyone, including her family, very, very deeply.

She thought it was the only way out. I’m here to tell my children, my grandchildren, my friends and their children that there’s always a way out.

In your deepest, darkest moments there’s always a way out, and I want to offer that to you. Suicide affects everybody, and it leaves so much heartbreak behind. Never think that there’s no way out. There’s always a way out, because you matter.

In partnership with the WE MATTER Campaign

I Matter.

You Matter.

We Matter.

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Tyson Klengenberg Austin Kitekudlak Chloe Kanayok Sydone Okheena Jacob Klengenberg Nadine Kuneluk-Klengenberg Carmella Klengenberg Kolten Inuktalik Hello from Ulukhaktok, on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. To all the youth going through a hard time, remember that when everything feels hopeless there’s always a way forward.

Get help if you need it. We believe in you. I matter. You matter. We matter.

We Matter is an Indigenous-led and nationally registered non-profit organization that is committed to Indigenous youth empowerment, hope and life promotion. Their key project is the We Matter Campaign – a national multi‑media campaign in which Indigenous role models and allies from across Canada submit short video, written and artistic messages sharing their own experiences of overcoming hardships, and communicating with Indigenous youth that no matter how hopeless life can feel, there is always a way forward. For more information, visit www.wemattercampaign.org.

Photo by Shawn Johnston/Nations and Voices Project

Nikita Larter WATERLOO, ON

I didn’t start identifying as Indigenous until I left the Northwest Territories. Being from a community that is 90 per cent Indigenous, I had no need to. Upon moving to Waterloo, I became the first ‘Aboriginal’ person my peers had ever met, so it became my identity. Today, I am one of two self-identifying Inuit at the University of Waterloo so I leverage my uniqueness to educate people on Indigenous matters.

I was gifted with a voice, so I am going to use it.

People think I’m too political, but with my culture being threatened to this day I don’t have a choice; and I am going to do everything I can to protect the Inuit way of life and make truth and reconciliation a reality. Whether you are an Indigenous Canadian or not, I invite you to join me.

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Marika Cockney INUVIK, NT

I

was a competitive cross-country ski racer for a long time, for about 15 years of my life. My dad Angus Cockney was one of the top ski racers in Canada, and my brother Jesse Cockney was the first Inuit man to attend the Winter Olympics in 2014. After his experience he came up to visit Inuvik a couple of years ago, and now it’s finally my turn to come up. Sharla Greenland first got a hold of me about this trip, and was wondering if I would be interested – and of course I’ve always wanted to come up here, ever since I was a young girl, so I was happy to finally have the opportunity.

My family is from Tuktoyaktuk, but I was born in Yellowknife and grew up in Canmore, Alberta. There were a lot of opportunities growing up in the south, but I really missed being surrounded by my aunts, uncles, cousins, the elders and the culture.

Photos by Weronika Murray

I am a hoop dancer. I know the Inuit never traditionally hoop danced, but I do it anyways because it makes me happy and it inspires others to do what makes them happy. My style is different from Traditional First Nations hoop dancing.

It’s very modern, more of a hula hooping style mixed with some hip-hop moves and rhythmic gymnastic type tricks. At East Three School in Inuvik, my partner and I performed seven times today, which was a little more than we’re used to. Usually we perform once or twice a day. It pushed us to be better performers and it really helped me a lot, to prepare myself for what’s to come. I would really like to be performing this much every day. I love working with kids and working with youth - inspiring kids has always been one of my top priorities, so it’s been really nice to finally do what I’ve always wanted to do. I would say one of the best things about the trip was meeting a lot of cousins I haven’t met before and seeing my family.

When I was 17, I quit ski racing and I started doing yoga.

After high school I went to Costa Rica to get my yoga teacher certification, and while I was there, that’s where I found hoop dancing. A new friend of mine was doing it, and I thought, that’s exactly what I want to do. On the last night I was in

Costa Rica, I met some other women there that were fire dancing. I was really inspired to do that someday, so I trained hard to make it possible. Now I do fire performances as well as LED light up hoop performances, which is really fun.

I got really sick of not being my own boss. I really wanted to work on my own schedule and do what I wanted with my life. I didn’t want anybody to have power over me, and I really wanted to travel. That was and is one of my top priorities.

Working a regular job didn’t allow me that freedom. I was very stubborn and I wanted to build my own business, which is what I am doing now. James Jones (who is a Traditional First Nations hoop dancer) and I have an empowerment program called RedPath Empowerment. We have brought our youth empowerment program to communities around Canada, the United States and recently performed in Europe at the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It’s been really fun and really rewarding. It’s exactly what I’ve wanted to do ever since I was 15. I thank my family, my friends and James Jones for helping me get to this point.

I also thank Sharla Greenland and Denise McDonald for making this trip possible.

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Alison Lennie INUVIK, NT

I love the way our culture always connects us to the land.

There is no way to explain the feeling when you get in your boat or skidoo and travel on the land or to your favourite place. My favourite place is Ya-Ya Lakes, where my culture of hunting and trapping and living off the land was taught to me. I love how our culture is resilient through modern times and we strive to keep it alive. We have a beautiful language and when you watch drum dancing you can feel the drum in your body. One of the last things I did with my late grandmother Jennie Lennie was to try and learn how to sew from her because I value the skills of sewing, beading and embroidering so much. We love to share our culture and pass it on to others. I love that my culture gives me a strong sense of identity and I am proud every day to be Inuvialuit.

I am content with my life. I have a good education, a good paying job, great friends, a healthy family and we get out travelling to see different parts of the world. I guess my goal is to live a balanced life, and some days with my toddler my goal is to just make it through the day. Any parent would understand that. If I can make someone’s day better or give someone inspiration to finish school or go to school whether it’s high school or post-secondary, that to me is very rewarding.

Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Danielle Nokadlak INUVIK, NT

My favourite part of sewing is seeing people wearing my creations. Knowing that it is of Inuvialuit culture and it is being displayed proudly by others is a good feeling. I love seeing my creations come together. To me, I think that’s pretty cool.

Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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Willow Allen CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI Words by Jennifer Wilkinson Photos by Mike Needham/ University of PEI

Willow Anne Allen was born on November 29, 1998 in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Growing up she had a lot of experiences with traditional activities, such as fishing, hunting, setting traps and spending time out on the land at her family’s cabin. Willow says she will always consider Inuvik her home. It’s where she was raised and where she made the majority of her childhood memories. It’s also where her father Herbert Allen and mother Arlene Jorgensen reside today.

Willow attended school in Inuvik until she was 16 years old. She left to continue her education at a private Christian Protestant school located in Caronport, Saskatchewan, where she remained until her graduation in June 2017. When asked about how the North differs from down south, she opened up about her personal experiences at school. She said that for her there were a lot more opportunities, such as more field trips. She explained the way they teach is very different as well; there were fewer assignments and more classroom time learning concepts rather than having to figure them out on her own. However, she still looks back at her home community with a sense of pride at how amazingly unique it is. Traditional and united are words that come to mind when thinking of her Inuvialuit background, a background she’s proud to be a part of and still feels a part of even when she’s living thousands of miles away from home.

Family has always been important to Willow, and growing up there was always someone she looked up to.

Her father Herbert taught her about Inuvialuit culture, bringing her out on the land to hunt, trap and travel. Her mother Arlene has always been a big influence on her, and taught her how important knowing other traditions, values and ways of life is. This is a life lesson that guided her when she moved away from her home community.

After Willow graduated high school in Saskatchewan, she picked up and left to attend the University of Prince Edward Island, where she resides today. “Being in Prince Edward Island, the landscape is so different from the North,” she said. She loves it there, but she can’t help but think about her home back North. She loves experiencing new things, but often misses the lifestyle of hunting and spending time on the land with family and friends.

Being Inuvialuit influences her views on the world tremendously, such as the importance of the land and

hunting. This is something she always carries with her.

She feels she has gained a lot of life experience and skills from living in the North as well as getting the chance to live down south. Willow feels the skills she learned in the North will help her along the way in the future. Often when people find out she is Inuvialuit and from the North they are pretty shocked because not a lot of people are from the Northwest Territories. It is not every day they get to meet someone who lived so far up North. It’s something she’s glad she gets to represent.

Furthermore, Willow is proud to say she is Inuvialuit, even though most of the time people think she’s Asian and tend not to believe she’s Inuvialuit. She would always recommend that people get the chance to travel and see the North. It’s important to experience the difference in culture and the pride the people have up North. It’s empowering and anyone would be lucky to experience living in the North and calling it their home.

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Wyonna Beaulieu INUVIK, NT Photo by David Stewart Originals is located at 2 Berger Street in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. It is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

My name is Wyonna Beaulieu. I am from Inuvik, Northwest Territories and I am the new owner of Originals. I did not go to school for business, but I always knew that I wanted to be a business owner. My parents definitely inspired me to go into business.

They own a business, so I always knew I wanted to be like them and be a business owner too.

Arlene Hansen opened Originals on Mackenzie 25 years ago, and I took over in 2016 and moved it to its new location. It took a couple of days to move, and then a couple weeks to get set up. My biggest challenge was doubting myself, but I had a good support system and my family helped me a lot. Arlene has also been a big help. She wouldn’t have sold me the store if she didn’t think I was able to do it.

I’m the first one here in the morning. I unlock the door, I turn on the lights, I help customers, I run around, I get the mail and I close up. I’m very hands on. Before this I had no experience in retail stores, so I have to know what I’m doing and what I’m selling. I like talking to customers. That’s something I enjoy.

My advice to people who want to go into business is to just try. You never know until you try. That was something I was always told. I honestly didn’t think I could do it, but I’m trying my best – and I love it.

Savannah Elias Beaulieu INUVIK, NT Photo by Shayla Snowshoe/Snowshoe Studios

In August I competed in the Miss Canada Globe Pageant in Toronto and won fourth runner up, earning myself a spot at the Miss Teen World City Queen Pageant in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic this past November. It was so much fun. I loved the weather there.

It was so hot – up to 42 degrees some days! On the first night we had our welcome dinner, and then on the second night we had our first competition: high fashion. I ended up getting top eight out of more than 20 girls. I ended up getting top eight not only for high fashion, but also for the evening gown and swimsuit competitions. There’s a dance called maja, and I won Miss Teen Maja of the World 2017. It was pretty cool. I was kind of surprised when I got crowned, because I didn’t think I would win

that. I’m now the first girl from the Northwest Territories to go to an international pageant and win.

What I like most about pageants is meeting all the other girls with the same interests as me. It’s so fun getting to know them. At this pageant I met a lot of girls from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Guatemala.

They were like, “Woah, you’re all the way from Canada!”

My advice to other girls interested in pageants is to try it, even if they don’t know if they could do it. I think they should just try it, because that’s how I was when I first started, and it brought me so many opportunities. Pursue your dreams, because it always just starts off as a dream.

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Dawn Anderson VICTORIA, BC

“Individual self-determination depends on not only conscious coordination of the collective, but also on the history, traditions, culture, language, stories, resilience and resurgence that support and empower Indigenous Peoples to contribute to their rebirth and decolonization. Individual self-determination is not distinct from the collective and is in all aspects a dynamic and reciprocal relationship.� I wrote this for a paper and I believe this to be reflective of who I am, as an Inuk woman. My nanak and dadak, Joe and Susie Nasogaluak, remain two of the greatest influences of my life. My fondest memories are of the moments spent with them and extended family in their home listening to our stories, hearing the Inuvialuktun language, learning our traditions and being a family. This is my foundation.

I am a strong advocate for education and am currently completing my Masters of Art in Indigenous Governance through the University of Victoria. Education has been and continues to be a catalyst for my growth, both personally and professionally. However, I believe that with education comes responsibility. A responsibility to give back to family, community and culture to ensure that others have the same, if not better, opportunities for growth.

Opportunities for education and employment took me away from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, but it is these same opportunities that have brought me back. I am currently working with Inuvialuit Self Government within the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. This opportunity allows me to be able to honour my family, history, culture, traditions and community and yet, challenge the colonial systems that continue to affect us as Inuvialuit.

Our encounters and the imposition of colonialism have altered our history, land, culture, language, spirituality, water and animals. This same colonialism continues to resonate and shape our future in untold and innumerable ways. Regardless of our education, profession or where we live, we all as Inuvialuit have a role. We as individuals and as Inuvialuit must draw on the strength and resilience of our ancestors, both individually and collectively to utilize our inherent right to self-determination. Inuvialuit Self Government is one of the avenues for resurgence that challenges the legacy of colonialism and provides an opportunity for us to disrupt patterns and strengthen future generations. Innusikput (this is how we survive).

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Madeline Nakimayak PAULATUK, NT

I have had the privilege of living in both the south and the North, experiencing the best of both worlds. One of the hardest transitions was the education - from knowing the basics, then beginning to expand my knowledge. It was super difficult and I struggled with it my whole time living in the south. When I finally moved back to the North, sitting in class it was like, “Wow, I learned this one or two years ago.� It was unbelievable the difference.

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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Kendall Allen INUVIK, NT

Words by Nicole Wilkinson

K

endall Allen is a 17-year-old girl from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She was born on April 25, 2000 to Owen and Photos by Nathalie HeibergTricia Allen, and has Norwegian, German and Inuvialuit Harrison heritage. Since she was a young girl, she’s gone out on the land to her grandparents’ cabin, where she enjoys fishing, skidooing and watching the northern lights. Her hobbies are mainly drawing, reading, cooking, sleeping and cosmetology. She also started skating at the age of two and fell in love with it. She speed skated for a few years and figure skated for 14 years, but had to stop this year to focus more on school.

Kendall is also very talented in cosmetology and competed in the Territorial Skills Competition in May 2017, as well as the Regional Skills Competition in March 2016 and 2017, where she won gold in both competitions. When asked, Kendall said that the competitions

are busy and stressful, considering the limited time you have to create a ‘perfect, clean hairstyle.’ Her favourite thing about hairstyling is the creative measures you can take in designing different hairstyles.

“There are so many different styles and colours of hair you can work with, it’s what makes it so fun, to get the chance to compete with other individuals and learn from them,” she said. Although becoming a professional hairdresser isn’t in her future plans, she encourages other individuals to “keep up with their creativity” and not stress about “even holding a comb correctly,” because as long as you’re determined, it will be easier than you think.

Although born and raised in the North, Kendall does not plan to live here forever. Her plan is to only live in the North for a few years until she decides to travel around the world and settle in a place that feels right. As for a career, she wants something that will make her happy and will help her support herself. In five years she hopes to be in university studying whatever interests her, and in 10 years she wants a stable career and a home with many pets.

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Danielle Mager YELLOWKNIFE, NT

I am Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Scottish, Irish, German and Jewish. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a granddaughter, a niece and an aunt. Family is by far the most important thing to me, and I am incredibly fortunate to be part of one that is so amazingly solid, fiercely proud and strongly united. My family keeps me grounded, helps me to be a better person every day and reminds me how lucky I am in this life.

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Darcie Bernhardt HALIFAX, NS

My name is Darcie Bernhardt. I am 24 years old. I was born in Inuvik, Northwest Territories and grew up in Tuktoyaktuk.

Spring and fall are my favourite times of the year because you spend most of the time out on the land. I love fishing and just being out camping. I like to reconnect when I’m on the land because of the idea that not long ago my ancestors saw the same sunsets or walked the same trails.

I feel that everyone should try and practice something that they are really passionate about. For me that is to gain as much experience as possible and take advantage of the resources post-secondary education has to offer. After my first year at the Yukon School of Visual Arts, I knew I wanted to continue my education and now am attending Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax. At NSCAD I am in my third year and working toward my Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in painting.

I wanted to be brave and go clear across the country and experience another way of living. I have had an interest in art since an early age. I feel that growing up in the North, we are fortunate to be surrounded by a beautiful atmosphere of landscapes, traditions and stories. My favourite contemporary artists are Rebecca Belmore and Chrisiti Belcourt. Specifically, contemporary Indigenous art that shows one’s culture and translating that in their own way. I would identify myself as a painter, but being in art school has allowed me to change my medium or style as I wish. Above all my inspiration comes from the stories, humour, songs and land I grew up with.

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Robert McLeod INUVIK, NT Words by Jennifer Wilkinson Photo by Angela Gzowski

R

obert C. McLeod was born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories on March 3, 1960 to Bobby McLeod and Esther Tingmiak. He was raised in Inuvik’s West End but moved back to Aklavik in 1982, three years after marrying my auntie Judy Greenland.

Together they have three children: Kimberly Wainman (Raymond), Ryan McLeod (Fiona) and Janesta McLeod. Robert also has six grandchildren: Rylan James Robert, Reese Presley Bella, Morgan Sophia, Kullen Raymond Alexander, Bobby Ryan and Charlotte Kathryn Rose. Robert and Judy lived in Aklavik for 22 years before moving back to Inuvik. He is of Inuvialuit, Gwich’in and Scottish descent.

Robert attended Sir Alexander Mackenzie School and Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik. He later went to New Brunswick to attend a community college in Moncton. Afterward, he continued on to a college in Vermillion, Alberta called Lakeland College with his wife Judy and their three children. While there

he earned his Journeyman Carpenter certificate and Interprovincial Red Seal.

He now works as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing Inuvik Twin Lakes. He first began to show an interest in politics in 2004. He grew up on Twin Lakes and knew what the people there were facing and thought he could be a good representative for them. Being brought up in the North is something Robert feels has helped him throughout his career and with gaining more respect within the communities he serves. The Honourable Robert C. McLeod, as he is called at work, is also Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Robert has had many hobbies throughout his life. He played curling, hockey, fastball, badminton and he likes to read. Once his grandchildren were born, Robert enjoyed spending more and more time with them,

though he still enjoys reading and curling. He loves to go skidooing any chance he gets, especially with his grandkids. When asked if he has done any Arctic sports, he replied that like everyone else his age growing up in the West End he took part, and jokingly stated he had to stop when his knees couldn’t bend anymore.

Robert also did a lot of hunting growing up, especially in the springtime. He would go out trapping muskrats all the time. After he got married, that’s when he started to hunt caribou with his father-in-law Freddie Greenland, my grandfather. He didn’t shoot his first caribou until he was 22 years old, around the same time he moved back to Aklavik with his wife. He believes hunting is a huge part of our life here in the North. He also thinks that we should always continue to hunt as long as we care for the animals in return, since hunting is just part of who we are.

Listening to his stories, I realized just how much travelling is involved as an MLA. For example, he’s been able to travel to all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories and has seen a good part of the country! Robert has done a lot of travelling and has had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people, friends and family around the Northwest Territories and the rest of Canada. He travels to meet his constituents and get their opinions on issues concerning the North.

Meeting new people also means wanting the best for each and every one of them. He believes opportunities are one of the most important things for our people, like having more job opportunities, the best schooling possible and more job training for everyone.

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Jody Illiasiak Jr. PAULATUK, NT

Do you like my sled?

Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Kalleigh Ruben, Isabella Thrasher and Nora Ruben ride along Front Road in Paulatuk in July.

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PAULATUK IN SUMMER.

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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CRAWFORD PATKOTAK Barrow, Alaska

I have been the whaling captain of the Patkotak Crew since 2008. The whaling captain’s ship was passed down to me and my wife from my dad Simeon Patkotak, Sr. My mom and dad ran the Patkotak crew, starting it in 1966. So for 42 years they kept the whaling crew going before they passed it down to me and my wife Laura. You can’t do anything without the wife. Our crew ranges from 30 to 40 people and a core crew of about 12 to 15 that are involved with the hunt itself.

Once a hunt is harvested, that’s when everyone comes out of the woodwork, family, friends, new recruits. It’s important to note, this is a part of our rich culture and tradition that has been ongoing for thousands of years and when we are hunting a huge animal like the whale, it takes people working together and being able to harvest a whale and being able to feed the whole community. It’s not a one-man show, it’s not a onecrew show. It really brings our community together,

to work together. We take that same principle of working together into everything else we do. Knowing that if we work together, we achieve more. It’s about feeding the people, feeding the community. Nobody goes hungry and everybody is fed. At the heart of our culture it’s about feeding people and making sure nobody goes hungry in the community. Thank God for his creation. Thank God for the same spiritual laws that were taught in the Bible, the Inupiaq people were practising for thousands of years. It’s that spiritual law of giving and receiving. It’s the law of the harvest: ‘give and it will be given unto you, pressed down shaken together and running over, in good measure shall men give to your bosom.’ It’s the spiritual law that is in practice today and it’s so important that we pass that tradition and culture down to our next generation, and keep it going.

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NICOLE KANAYURAK Utqiagvik, Alaska

There is a lot going on in the Arctic right now with development and conservation. There is a lot of attention on the Arctic and climate change. Right now I am working at the [North Slope Borough] Department of Wildlife Management. I work on polar bear co-management; it’s co-management between Alaska Natives and the [U.S] Fish and Wildlife Service. I contact different communities that hunt polar bears, and I keep up with the status of the polar bear co-management agreement and bilateral agreement with Russia, United States and Canada on the harvest and conservation of polar bears. Its purpose is to continue the harvest of the polar bears, and there’s a conservation component and management under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. I started working on this job in August.

I went to the University of Washington and mastered in Marine Affairs. I will be working here until February, and then I will be going to do a [ John A.] Knauss [Marine Policy] Fellowship in Washington, D.C. It’s a Sea Grant fellowship through NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association]. I will be working on the legislative side.

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CHARLEE KORTHUIS Bethel, Alaska I have been dancing since I was five. I am part of the Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Dance Group. My favorite part about being in the group is the fun of it, learning new dances every week. My mom made my head dress and my traditional belt. My uncle made my dance fans.

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ANGELA NASUK COX Utqiagvik, Alaska I am just a Barrow kid. I grew up here. It has always been home to me. It seems no matter how far I have gone, no matter where I have gone, I have always come back. I went to school here until my junior year, then I went to Anchorage and did my last two years of high school there. My dad wanted me to experience the transition of leaving home so I could be successful in college. That was hard for me. But it did what I think it was supposed to do, and it made leaving home and the comfort of a small community much easier. So I went to Washington, then New York City for undergrad and graduate school. Right after I finished my graduate degree I came back. I still have about 50 pairs of high heels in storage. My maternal family is the Patkotak family from Barrow. My dad was born in South Korea.

It was during the war; he was orphaned and adopted by a family in Anchorage, a strong Methodist family.

They were really grounded in acceptance, equality and love. They adopted many children; they had nine. They

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raised children from every background. My dad came up in the late 1970s to work in the gas field. That’s where he met my mom and the rest is history. I work for ASNA [Arctic Slope Native Association]. My heart has always been in the non-profit world. Marie [Carroll, President/CEO of ASNA] called me up one day and talked to me about the job, and I laughed because I didn’t have a lot of experience in health care.

She said to me, ‘Well, I can train you on those things and this field but I can’t train your heart. It’s not easy to find compassion for people.’ I really appreciated that, and that’s why I ended up coming here. People often ask me if I will ever leave Barrow or if I am going to stay here forever. The truth is, I don’t know. But even with all my travelling and living away from home, I haven’t ever been anywhere else where you feel like you are surrounded by so much love.

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KAREN PAUL Alakanuk, Alaska About a year ago in March, I was going through my Facebook messages and I came across one from Amy Anderson. I started reading it, and she wrote ‘I don’t know if it’s you, but I think I may be your blood sister.’ I wondered about her my entire life and she wondered about me too. Her mom told her that she knew she had an older sister and her name was Karen, but that’s all she knew. But, she found me through Facebook. So, I did a basketball fundraiser and we made enough money to pay her way here and meet her whole family. My mom raised me for a short while and then she gave me to my great grandma, then she got pregnant with Amy and gave her away to people we didn’t know. We found each other.

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LLOYD MORRIS Noorvik, Alaska

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I have never lived anywhere else, and I never intend to move away. When I was in school and when I graduated, my parents expected me to go to college. When I was done with school, that was it. I told my mom I was done with school and was not going to college. She told me okay, but I had to do something. She wanted me to do subsistence with her; I am glad I did now. She depends on me for that. I can gather food for the family and friends. She never lets me just sit around, and now my sister is running the [Morris] Store. She went to college. I have no regrets. I do a lot of fishing, mostly fishing. I am fishing for salmon right now. I smoke the salmon.

In the spring, we get white fish, fry them up, or ferment them. It’s a really slow run right now. In the summer, we get the salmon; in the fall we get sheefish, white fish and pike. Pike too are here in the spring. We usually get smelts in the spring, but these last few years they didn’t come up our river.

In the winter we get sheefish or mud shark. I check my nets three times a day, everyday. We can fish all year. Busy, busy. In the winter, I am working at the school too. I have worked there for 22 plus years. I teach Inupiaq. I can speak it, but I am still learning too. School is starting soon. So pretty soon it’s going to be school, fishing, sleep, school, fishing.

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MASON GREGORY AND CARISSA ALEXIE Tuluksak, Alaska

We are skating home.

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DREW MICHAEL

I was born in Bethel in I went to a Bible college in 1984, as a twin. We were Portland. And when I was Anchorage, Alaska adopted out of our culture there, I had a tarp on the and I grew up in a home floor, and I was carving. I with two white parents in Eagle River. I was really realized being gay, Native, and an artist wasn’t something disconnected from my culture. When I was 14, I was the church would really support. I couldn’t deny any really into building things. My father wasn’t really into big part of myself. So I came back up to Alaska, and building things, but my mother pushed him into taking I allowed my art to be the gateway into learning about me to a carving class. So he enrolled him and I in a myself. And now I use my art to teach people about their carving class at UAA [University of Alaska Anchorage]. own history. Every time I go out to a village, I almost I learned how to work with the tools, basic design and cry. It’s not that I don’t feel like I don’t have a place the purpose of masks. on my own land; We didn’t really go it’s that Indigenous into the spiritual stuff. people were blinded I always had a hard by a Christian faith time understanding that pushes people my own identity. I away and leaves think that has been people out. And if something that you look back in our has been a theme history, everybody in all of my work. had a place and Transformation and everyone had value. living in so many Then missionaries worlds.

Someone and Western society once said to me, came in and brought ‘It’s like the reality I faith. It’s not bad, but never lived.’ I am not what’s bad is when just Native, I am not people are pushed just white, I am not out of their own straight, I am not community. A lot of just gay. I am what I the issues happening am. My mother really in the villages right wanted to connect now are because of me with my culture the historical trauma, and allow me to work with my hands. When I teach, and there is a lot of confusion over how to support I try to tell kids that we are losing our ability to work people. My dream is for everyone in these villages to with our hands. When I was 14, I started thinking feel supported. When I go out to villages, I talk about about my cultural identity and what it even means to what it’s like to be gay. I almost cry when I am speaking be Indigenous or Alaska Native. Even going out to the to youth because I tell them stories about what it’s like villages as a kid, I was told, ‘You’re half-breed, you’re not to be in love with somebody, and how the world will tell good enough.’ I just got sick of feeling like that and I you how all these things that you do are wrong. When just said, ‘I don’t care what you think, I am who I am. I really, everybody has a place. I don’t want people to feel am Native and I am white.’ I am both, I can’t deny that. the way I felt growing up. Nobody should be hiding, and In my youth I did try and deny it, growing up in Eagle elders should be supportive, otherwise they are hurting River, which is predominately white. I didn’t feel like I themselves and others. My grandmother, right before had anybody else I could talk to about identity, and the she passed, talked to my adoptive parents and said to other examples of people who were Native were drunks them, ‘I will let you adopt these two boys. If you raise on the street. I realized one day that I just needed to them right, they can come back to their people and be learn about my culture and be proud of who I am and leaders.’ That’s a huge intention. So when she did that, I become a leader and encourage other people who are feel like that kind of wrote the story of what my life was feeling what I feel. going to be, and now I am living it.

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HOLLY NORDLUM Anchorage, Alaska About 10 years ago, my mom and I wanted to get a tattoo. I wanted to get a traditional tattoo; my great grandmother had some. So I started researching traditional tattooing. I started talking to other artists and eventually contacted a tattoo anthropologist. As I learned more about traditional Inuit tattooing, I learned that it was for women, by women mostly. Men that had them were usually leaders or shamans. But women wore them proudly. They became a marker of a woman’s life, as she hit puberty, as she had children, gained skills and became older. It was really a women’s thing to celebrate women’s lives. Steven Blanchett was living in Copenhagen, and when he moved back, he told me he had met an Inuit woman from Greenland who was doing traditional hand tattooing full time.

I was like ‘Hook me up!’ Her name is Maya Sialuk Jacobsen. We started Facebook chatting, like every night for six months. Then the Polar Lab from the

Anchorage Museum brought her here last year, and we got to meet! When we met, it was like I had known her my whole life. We are now working on a project together through the Polar Lab to revitalize traditional Inuit tattooing techniques. While she was here, we did a lot of planning, and she will be here in October to do a three-week intensive training with myself and three other women. We are also working on a film that goes along with our project. We received a Sundance Fellowship to work on the film, and it’s taking our project to a whole other level. The whole crew is Alaskan too! We are also working on a show that will be going up at Middle Way Café. We are taking contemporary photos and tattooing them with pen and ink. They are turning out really cool. I think it will be a fun way to educate people about traditional Inuit tattooing. The show opens up on the 14th of October.

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TARIEK OVIOK Point Hope, Alaska As far as your question of ‘what’s new,’ this is my first year having a whaling crew. That in itself is almost almost unexplainable. I am humbled. I guess the best way I can describe it is, if you know the context of whaling and our history here in Point Hope with whaling, you know that the whaling captains are called umialiks.

They were relied upon so heavily because our economy back then was much different than today. People back then truly depended on our subsistence, and food was our survival and people looked to the captains for help. A lot of the rules are still instilled today, no different from 6,000 years ago. So it’s important to me and I don’t take it for granted for one second.

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I had to go through a process and ask other captains if it’s okay if I start a whaling crew. A captain sat me down and said, ‘You know, here in Point Hope we have a rule, you have to inherit a whaling crew, you can’t just start one.’ They said, ‘A lot of people want to start a whaling crew just for the title or whatever, who are you inheriting from?’ I had to explain that part and I had to go through a bunch of questioning. So eventually the captains accepted me in, and I got registered and they welcomed all of us. There was a couple of us new crews that started this year. Along with some constructive criticism and a grain of salt, it was joyful in the end. Being out there on the ice and being out there with my family members, there were many times where I just sat there looking out at the horizon and the water and shed a couple of happy tears, thinking how proud my grandpa would be.

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CLIFFORD WEYIOUANNA Shishmaref, Alaska This sourdough, my mom and dad started it. My dad died at 93 years old, four or five years ago. Before my wife died of cancer, we got some dough from them and this dough we have here is almost 100 [years old] I think. Every day and every night I mix it, add water and flour.

I never know who is going to be hungry in the morning. Whenever me and Flo go camping, that damn thing goes with us, even in the winter on snow. That dough, it’s pretty old. There are some families here in Shishmaref that, when their dough gets funny they come get starter from me and they mix it with theirs. When my dough gets really big I freeze some of it. Now our dough is even in Michigan. Some hunters who visited liked this sourdough so much, they asked if they could take some starter. [Laughs] That’s not the first place it has gone. When Flo and I go camping, we like fish in the morning. Our parents didn’t make bacon but we always had fish, and Flo and I enjoy having fish and hot cakes in the morning.

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HOMER THOMAS Buckland, Alaska We are doing the one‑foot high kick right now. My favourite is the wrist carry. I have carriers over here. I like to gather people who have never joined in on the games.

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ADELA LANE Point Hope, Alaska This is my first time skinning a seal by myself !

I have cut seal before, but with help from my mom. It was given to me, because my dad wants seal soup and he wants a small seal. So, I told my cousin if you catch a small one bring it on over. It’s good. He brought it over this morning. You have to get it done while it’s nice and fresh. My dad will enjoy this seal soup.

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LYNDEN WEYIOUANNA Shishmaref, Alaska I will be 18 tomorrow, and every year I see the land slowly decreasing.

People call it climate change; others call it big bologna. In real life, if they actually came up here and lived with us for a few years, they would see what we are talking about and what we are going through, year by year. Berries and animals are coming quicker than usual. It’s a big change for us. Prices have even gone up in town. I am not even that old you know? Things have changed in a short amount of time.

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SHIRLEY IPALOOK Point Hope, Alaska My nephew gave me some ugruk (bearded seal) meat.

I cut it up into strips, hang it to make dried meat. Then we will put it into some oil and eat it with other fish, seal or bird. A lot of times I just store it in bags and my kids will eat it right from there, better than beef jerky. I also just started my garden! My son made me a lean-to, because the south wind beats me up, I can’t get my peas to ripen because of the south wind, so my son built me a lean-to. I have been gardening for the past 30 years. I also collect greens and use them for teas. I am learning a lot about plants. I took a botany class in Kotzebue.

It was awesome! It made me realize there is so much more out there than we realize and we can utilize it in our diets.

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BEULAH BALLOT Kotzebue, Alaska Burnette is my maiden name and when I was married, I was Ballot. We never married the way they do today. We prayed, and held our hands together, no rings and I still honour [my marriage]. I was born above Selawik, we lived up there. Stink fish, aarigaa (“it’s good” in Inupiaq), that was my favourite. I was a tribal doctor, I was a midwife.

When I played basketball in 1986, I took a trophy home.

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CHARLES FOSTER Buckland, Alaska I am originally from Selawik, born and raised right there on the river. No hospital, no clinic.

My mom was a health aid for over 17 years. She delivered me herself, right there in the village, with no help. If I am not hunting, I am thinking about hunting. If I always had gas, I would always be gone. Sometimes my wife says that I love the country more than I love her, because I am always out there. Ever since I was seven years old, I would get myself ready and go stand by the door and say, ‘I am following my dad, I am following.’ I wanted to follow, I wanted to go hunt. The most exciting is wolf hunting and for wolverine. I sell them for gas and for when people want to make ruffs and clothes. My wife is really getting into ruff making. I still want wolf mittens. My wife always teases me that because I am originally from Selawik, that I migrated here to Buckland with the caribou.

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WASSILLIE ISAAC Bethel, Alaska The first time I started beading was in grade school, probably the 4th grade.

It was after my mother passed away, my grandmother started to show me how to do basic stitching. My first sewing project was a malagaiyaq (fur hat) during the Cultural Week at the school. From then, until now, I was sewing something. My craftsmanship started when I was young, my creativity. I am mostly Yup’ik and one-eighth Russian. I was born in Lower Kalskag in my grandmother’s house.

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MIKE STAN HARVEY Noorvik, Alaska Me and my friend once made a swing, but it was chopped down. We used to go through the trails back here and pick berries and just sit down. I know three people who have committed suicide. Two of them I was really close to, and one of them I knew because of basketball. I would still count him as a friend though because we hung out a lot. My childhood best friend, we were best friends since I was five or six. He recently passed away; he shot himself. It’s hard living here.

There are alcohol problems, relationship problems and no one to talk to. They feel trapped or have no one to talk to. To me, I don’t really think the community suicide prevention events help, because they don’t go to them. It would be best to be one-on-one with them.

That way they feel more open to talk. That’s how I see it. I am nervous to talk to a lot of people, but if it’s just one person, I will talk. Whoever is going through it,

I would just say, talk to someone you trust and stay strong; everyone is going through the hardships.

I am 17. I am doing an internship with Sophie Cleveland at NANA [Regional Corporation]. Yesterday, we went to elders’ houses and picked up their trash from their bins and threw it all away for them for free. Next week we will be doing a trash pick up around town, so it will look beautiful again. I started the internship five weeks ago. We try and also do active wellness for the kids.

The internship is through Remote Solutions. It’s a youth council internship. I am a senior in high school, and I want to go into training for carpentry in either Kotzebue or Anchorage. I want to live in Anchorage, but I want to build a house here so I can live here in the summer.

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RAINEY HOPSON Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska I am starting an agriculture business, probably one of the first agriculture businesses on the North Slope. I am going to be growing produce and selling it locally. Almost 100 per cent of the produce in this village is not from Alaska. 95 per cent of produce in all of Alaska is shipped from somewhere else.

So what we do get has come a really long way. It’s usually picked because it will last on a shelf for a long time. They never pick them because they are nutritious or fresh, so what we get is few and far between. So I started a garden, and got interested in it. Then last year I fundraised [for] ‘Gardens in the Arctic,’ and I got $4,000. I bought these little gardening self-watering boxes. I set up about five or six families with them and they grew kale and fresh romaine lettuce. Then this year, I found funding to

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buy a high tunnel. One of our residents is donating some of their land to grow fresh vegetables and fruit. This particular high tunnel is 26 feet by 36 feet with a steel frame. It conserves heat, concentrates the heat and will give us a few extra weeks to grow.

We will also be giving elders a box of produce once a week for free. My goal this year is to start training people to grow vegetables, because last year, it was just me. But hopefully it will be a viable future for our economy. I am not doing this to really make money, it’s set up as a business, I will have to hire at least two people and one young person. The high tunnel is on its way here! We are trying to get it up by mid-May. We want to have fruit and vegetables in there by June 1st!

I AM INUIT is an Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) - Alaska project that seeks to connect the world with Alaskan Inuit (Inupiat, Yup’ik, Cup’ik and St. Lawrence Island Yupik) and the Arctic, through common humanity. All images were captured by Anchorage-based Inupiaq photographer Brian Adams.

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THE INUVIK-TUKTOYAKTUK HIGHWAY HISTORIC ROAD OPENS FOR BUSINESS NOV. 15

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FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST Words by Allysa Felix Photos by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Four years, $300 million dollars, 138 km. A highway built to finally connect Canada coast to coast to coast.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the employees worked in shifts, spending two weeks on the job and two weeks off. The gruelling work, which had to be done mostly in the freezing winter because of the melting permafrost, was done by E. Gruben’s Transport LTD. and Northwind Industries. There were almost a hundred pieces of equipment being operated on the road, excavating, laying down gravel, building bridges and creating culverts.

I am Allysa Felix of Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories and I am 17 years old. This gravel road and the effects it will have on my home community is something I am greatly concerned about. The town’s feelings on the highway are split, with some worried about how having year-round access to the south will change things. My biggest concern is that we’ll lose more of our culture. Another worry is what the highway will mean for neighbouring Husky Lakes, a place where everyone camps, hunts and fishes.

What will happen to migratory animals, like caribou, that may have to change their routes? What will happen if drilling is finally allowed in the Beaufort Sea? Along with the fresh produce and groceries, what else will come up the road? Will we lose people to easier access to drugs and alcohol?

On the other hand, we are looking forward to the positive things that will come from this connection to the south.

We’ll have easier access to the world and cheaper, fresher food. There is also an expected tourism boost of $2.7 million annually, which could create up to 22 full-time jobs in the territory. I’m also excited about the increased awareness of our melting permafrost. The highway construction has opened the door to an abundance of scientific research. A permafrost monitoring network has been established along the highway, with over 70 ground temperature monitoring locations collecting data. The information gathered from this network will inform global permafrost and climate change research for transportation corridors across the North, an increasingly important sector in the face of our changing environment.

• On April 7, 2016 the two ends of the highway finally met in the middle and construction crews poured the last bit of gravel to fill the gap. When they met and shook hands it was a historic achievement that some people compared to driving the last spike in the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Work stopped for an hour while crews introduced each

other and posed for photographs. Then they got back to work.

With the road now finished its name is being discussed.

What the highway will be called depends on which side of the road you are on. If you are on the Arctic Ocean side it will be referred to as the Tuk-Inuvik Highway; if you are in the Delta then it will be referred to as the Inuvik-Tuk highway. I imagine this debate will go on for decades. The official name for now is the InuvikTuktoyaktuk Highway, but some residents in Tuk want it to be named the Freedom Trail to commemorate three boys who ran away from Inuvik’s Stringer Hall in the 1970s. Bernard Andreason, Lawrence Jack Elanik and Dennis Dick left the Anglican Church’s boarding home in June 1972. Andreason was the only one to survive the ordeal. He walked 150 km over two weeks before walking into Tuktoyaktuk with badly swollen feet, according to testimony collected by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Elanik’s body was located, but the search for Dick was called off and to this day he has never been found.

After years of only being connected to the world by plane and an ice road that ran through five months of the year, this is a new era for my town. We are rich in our culture.

Our people are strong. We have gone through extreme changes and hard times and we will go through more.

My town, which has the most beautiful sunsets and northern lights and stars. So in the meantime, welcome to Tuktuyaaqtuuq.

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The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway heads north alongside the Mackenzie Delta.

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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Construction on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway extends onto the tundra towards Tuktoyaktuk.

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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E. Gruben’s Transport vice-president and co-owner Merven Gruben in Tuktoyaktuk.

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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MERVEN GRUBEN TUKTOYAKTUK, NT

For the last 40 years people have been wanting this road built between Tuk and Inuvik. At one point industry wanted to build it, but they turned it down. Later on it got rehashed and it really started picking up speed when we started pushing it. I started meeting with anybody that would listen.

Originally, you know, it was people like Chuck Strahl, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. We’d find out there’s going to be a meeting happening and we’d go down and I would lobby them as the mayor and pique their interest. Harper used to make all these trips up North, so we figured if we got enough interest he’d come over here.

And he actually came over here a couple of times. On

one of those trips I was talking to Leona Aglukkaq, she was a minister then, and she said, “Merven, what’s your big ask? What do you really want for your community?”

And I said, “You’re talking about erosion control, school problems, issues in town, but what’s my big ask? What’s going to make all this work? The road.” She said, “There you go. That’s your ask.” Just one question. That’ll make ‘em straight, ah? So I had a chat with Stephen Harper, in the arena actually where we had the opening celebrations.

We were one-on-one, just standing there, talking about what the road can do. From what Leona told me, as soon as he got on the plane he was talking to all his people there saying, “Let’s get on this. Let’s see if we can make this work.” And there it went.

I was selling him on three big issues. I was telling him, of course, there’s oil and gas. We didn’t know at the time that it was going to burn out right away. And then there’s the sovereignty issue of course. We’re right on the Northwest Passage here. You can see the ships out there sometimes, and we’re a very strategic port. We can supply the vessels. We can’t take very, very big ones, but coast guard vessels can come in here. It’s a good port. We’ve got all the facilities, we’ve got an airstrip and now we have the all-weather road. With an all-weather road you can have access to the ocean should anything go wrong anywhere. He went for that. And then, of course, the cheaper living for our community. Sure they didn’t build the road so that 900 people can have cheaper food, but it had to be said.

contract. We designed it basically with our geotechs and technicians and engineers and made it a lot faster. Of course it was the GNWT with us all the time, keeping an eye on things. Everything was done up to protocol.

It went pretty damn quick from there. We had more meetings, more meetings, and then our buddy Jim Flaherty, the Minister of Finance, put it in the next budget. Harper announced it in 2013 in Yellowknife $200 million from the federal budget, and then we had to come up with $100 million from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). That was a no-brainer.

It would look pretty silly if the GNWT couldn’t come up with $100 million and here’s the feds trying to give you $200 million. I mean, that’s the biggest project that happened in the Northwest Territories privately, and we made the GNWT look good, that’s for sure. They didn’t really want to play ball at first, but after we did all this we got the funding from the federal government and the GNWT basically had to go along. It was a design-build

The day we met in the middle was great. It was something, just to feel the connection. Connecting the two roads together, it was amazing. It was a great feeling of accomplishment. I still get that feeling when I drive that road, and I’ve driven it how many freaking times now. I’m still in awe of it. The first time I drove the whole thing from Tuk to Inuvik there was actually no road in between for a few kilometres, so I had to four-wheel it through. Holy smokes, my back and my legs were sore the next day. I did it in my F350 Diesel Harley Davidson truck. The next day was when we joined the road. I’d like to think that at the end of the day, what I did for this town was the highway. I spent a lot of time on that, and now it’s done. Anybody who hasn’t tried the road, come and visit us.

Northwind and E. Gruben’s Transport – we’re the two biggest Inuvialuit companies, one in Inuvik and one in Tuk. It made all the sense in the world. It worked out great. We were pretty much two separate operations, but we were in touch all the time and we had our own crews of course. It was a little tough around the Inuvik side because of all the hills and valleys and holes they had to fill in. For the most part we were one but, you know, we’re two separate companies, and we worked from different sides.

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MONICA JACOBSON INUVIK, NT

My first job for Northwind would have been flagging on the Dempster Highway. I believe I was about 17 or 18 years old. It was a good summer job at the time, and since then I’ve always liked working around construction. Eventually I was lucky to have another good job opportunity with Northwind when the InuvikTuktoyaktuk Highway began being built. I started on the packer, then moved up to the 740B Rock Trucks. That was the best experience by far! Making my way home to Tuk one load at a time. It is awesome to be able to say I was a part of packing the road from the first layer to the finishing surface. At first it was unreal. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening.

Driving the road for the first time, passing 312 campsite and getting on the Tuk side, made me super excited and nervous. I am so impressed with the road. It is beyond beautiful. I love it.

What the road means to me is connection to my hometown, to my family and friends and to the land I’ve known all my life. I’m most excited to use it to go and visit my nephews Ares and Avery whenever I can. I’m also looking forward to finally being able to check out the Land of the Pingos Music Festival.

GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA

JULIE PAYETTE INUVIK, NT

This is my second visit to this beautiful town. I’ve been here before. I’ve been to Aklavik, I’ve been to Tuktoyaktuk, but I had to fly to those places, so today we are doing something extraordinary. We’re going to drive out there. I am delighted to be here with you because this is not just the construction of the road. It has meaning.

A road takes you on a journey, to go somewhere, to do something.

The people of the North are not people that have things done to them, but people who do things. A road is also a connection between communities, so those rapports, those relationships are not only kept alive but increased.

A road is a connection. A road is a means — to transport, to develop, to go further. Here in the North, people are

facing complex issues. They are facing climate change faster and sooner than anywhere else in the world, and because of that you have to take everything that you have and work together with all the stakeholders and everyone else within the communities to adapt to those changes and make them work for you. And working together is what we’re celebrating here today. Even the name —highway — way to the future, and aiming high, which we astronauts like doing.

I would like to congratulate you. This is an extraordinary engineering endeavour. A road constructed over difficult terrain, mostly in the dark, in frigid temperatures.

Congratulations to the crew, to the engineers and everyone who participated.

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KALENA WAINMAN INUVIK, NT

I don’t know why, it’s just exciting. They’ve been building the road for four or five years. I’m proud of my dad. The first thing we’re going to do when we get to Tuk is play in the snow. I’ll probably sleep on the drive there.

ANGELINA WAINMAN INUVIK, NT

I feel happy that the road is open because my dad worked on it. He’s coming back now and I get to see him more. The first thing I’m going to do after we drive to Tuk is play in the snow. I’m excited to see the ocean.

REESE WAINMAN INUVIK, NT

I feel excited today, because when I get to Tuk we’re going to see the fireworks and maybe play outside. I’m driving with my mom, my dad, my little brother and my older brother. I’m proud of my dad because he did lots of tires for the road. He works at the tire shop and all the tires that went on the road, he did most of them. You can’t build a road without tires.

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JULIA COCKNEY TUKTOYAKTUK, NT

The opening of the highway was so good. Everything turned out right. I didn’t expect that many people, and they came on the road. Oh my goodness, we have a road.

I still have to go on it to believe it.

In the summertime and in the fall time, for us native women here, we always go pick berries. I don’t know how many times, when they started working on that access road, we were there even before it reached Husky Lakes.

Picking berries galore.

I know with all good things there are always some bad things. I kind of fear what’s going to come down on the road, you know. We don’t even know who’s going to come, and I worry a little bit about the kids. We’re connected to the outside world. We were isolated before, so the only way we could go out was fly, or by ice road or by boat.

And now we’re just right open, and it’s scary a little bit.

I’ve lived here my whole life. I think for the groceries it’ll be good for us, because we can go shopping down south, stock up down there and bring them in. And then probably Northern and Stanton will lower their prices, especially for meat. I mean, we have a lot of native food here, but we need equipment to go out there, and if you don’t have the equipment you’re lucky if your next door neighbour gives you meat. We’re lucky that the little boy next door, and his family, they always give us caribou meat. I’m so thankful for that.

I’m happy for the road. I’m glad we’re connected to the outside world, but I’m a little bit fearful of what’s coming, things we don’t know. Other than that I’m happy.

EMMANUEL ADAM TUKTOYAKTUK, NT

We’re not limited now to the ice road like other years where we would have to wait ‘till after Christmas and New Year’s for it to thicken up. So that is eliminated.

It’s good in that way. Here in town, we don’t have any financial services like a bank or anything of that nature, so that will change as well. We can go shopping more on our schedule than being limited to the ice road. We can go just about anytime when the need arises.

Everybody’s more upbeat about it. They feel good about it. Overall it’s a good feeling that we’re not isolated the way we were before. Somehow they feel more connected

to the outside and maybe more connection to the land too. People are already travelling on it with their quads.

I know it’s going to be a lot easier that way for the berry pickers for sure. I know there’s going to be a lot more pressure on our wildlife. There already is.

It is a good road. It is a well-built road. I know it’s going to serve our community well. It’s going to serve people that are going to be visiting and touring. That’s going to be good.

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TUKTOYAKTUK IN SUMMER. Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

TUKTOYAKTUK IN WINTER. Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

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CHARLTON HAOGAK SACHS HARBOUR, NT

I’m Charlton Haogak from Sachs Harbour. I have a full-time job, so I try to spend as much time as I can out on the land, because we try to rely mainly on our own resources, meaning whatever we can harvest. We try to live off our land if we could.

That’s what our grandparents taught us, so I don’t really know any other way. Any other way doesn’t really cut it too. It’s not like you can go to the store and buy a case of beef, a case of pork, and be okay. It’s a lot better if you could go out there and get it on your own, because that’s how it’s been and that’s how it’s going to be. That’s a good way to be. My great-grandma didn’t eat anything from the store. She used to harvest it herself, but now it’s me. The community does as well. They share with everyone.

Everyone looks after each other that way.

In partnership with Tusaayaksat TV

SAMANTHA LUCAS SACHS HARBOUR, NT

My name is Samantha Lucas and I live in Sachs Harbour on Banks Island. I’ve been living on Banks Island for 49 years. When I first came here it was 1967, and I had a lot to learn those years. I learned how to sew, work on foxes and cover just about everything. I’ve learned to love this land so much. I call it my home. There’s been a lot of changes since 1967. When I first came there was no electricity or running water, so it’s a big change almost 50 years later.

I have a lot to be thankful for, for the elders that passed on. I learned a lot from them, all the different people that lived here when I first came. The majority of them are gone, but I learned a lot from them. My mother-in-law taught me a lot. I have a lot to thank her for. I really, really enjoy life here.

Over 30 years ago it was a big trapping community, so we did a lot of foxes. Slowly the trapping died, so my husband and son, they do sport hunting. Most of the things I do now, I work with wolves, flesh polar bears. I just enjoy life so much on Banks Island. In the springtime, mostly in March and April, I get to go out on the land with my husband and sons. I enjoy travelling so much. As soon as someone says, ‘Let’s go,’ I’m on the road.

In partnership with Tusaayaksat TV

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LENA WOLKI SACHS HARBOUR, NT

My name is Lena Wolki from Sachs Harbour. I’ve been here since 1955. I like it here. I grew up with my mom. My dad died when I was three years old, so I helped my mom hunting.

We’d have our dogs packing our equipment, like tents, blankets, things like that. Since then I never left Sachs. I like it here. This is my home.

I grew up here in Sachs Harbour and I got married to Dennis Wolki. We had five kids. Now we’ve got six grandchildren, seven grandchildren, something like that. It’s good to have grandchildren again after I never had them for so long.

When we first came here there was only about three houses, in 1955. It grew a little bit.

People used to just come to trap here, and then head back to the mainland with schooner.

I like this community. It’s got everything now – RCMP, nursing station, Co-op store. I just love it out there in the springtime, in May. I go fishing. I go to my cabin. Last spring when I went there I stayed there for 10 days and really enjoyed it. I make some dry fish and dry meat, things like that.

I come back before it melts too much and set up camp across the bay, pluck geese there, then break up camp before we get too much water. So springtime is my favourite, because I could be out, I could get really dark. I never stay in the house or in the tent. I really enjoy it there in the springtime. I kind of grew up on the land, so I just love to be out there. I was born in an igloo, so I like to be outdoors.

In partnership with Tusaayaksat TV

KYLE WOLKI SACHS HARBOUR, NT

My grandfather Dennis Wolki built our cabin. It’s probably older than me. It’s on a pretty nice lake. Lot of animals. Him and my nanak used to spend quite a bit of time out there.

My nanak Lena, she works with the muskox qiviut, so we get her muskox quite a bit. She uses the hides and some pretty good meat.

I’ve been going to our cabin since I was pretty young, with the family. I grew up with my nanak and dadak. I used to spend months out there, so I grew up around that area. My grandparents raised me up, so they taught me quite a bit about on the land stuff. Trips going out there usually go pretty good.

In partnership with Tusaayaksat TV

142

SACHS HARBOUR AND SURROUNDING BANKS ISLAND. Photos by Trevor Lucas

144

AKLAVIK IN WINTER.

Photo by Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

AKLAVIK IN SUMMER. Photo by Tom Mcleod

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PATRICK GORDON

AKLAVIK, NT

I’ve been going out in the bush my whole life, to Shingle Point and Taylor Channel with my grandparents. I enjoy hunting and trapping and keeping the tradition going. I teach the younger people, like my son Paxton. I promised my grandfather Danny A. Gordon that I would keep his trapline going.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

BRIAN TUMMA ELANIK AKLAVIK, NT

I’m named after my grandfather. I don’t even know his real name, I just know him as Tumma. I didn’t get to meet him, I’ve just heard a lot about about him trapping, living off the land, travelling with family out to whaling camp, out fishing.

I get out on the land quite a lot too. I love trapping. I like hunting migratory birds. When I was a kid the land was really reinforced with me. I was taught a lot about the land, how it provides for families. My family really reinforced it to me, because they needed someone to hunt for them when they get older. I don’t just hunt for my family. I do my best to provide for elders and for the community. I try to pass on what I learned. I like spring the best. It’s warmer. The animals get more active. You see more wildlife. My most favourite to hunt is the migratory birds. I know the community likes to eat them, so I kind of fell in love with hunting birds.

I try to show the young kids how to work with the birds, how to prep them, so that they can start providing for the community too. My biggest objective is to teach them how to help the whole community, how to make their hunting more open to the whole community That’s what I’m trying to pass on. You have more luck when you try and provide for the community. That’s what I was taught.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

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BRENDA BENOIT AKLAVIK, NT

We give maktak out to elders every year. The Aklavik Community Corporation bought 20 pails this year and we filled the whole town. It’s the good parts of maybe two whales. We have two pails left. Every year I give out maktak like this, or reindeer meat, or Christmas hampers. Every time it comes to traditional foods I’m the one who gives it out.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

ANGUS RUBEN AKLAVIK, NT

A special Tim Hortons delivery from my parents.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

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CASSIE BURNELL AKLAVIK, NT

I’m just waiting for my friends.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

FLORENCE CARMICHAEL AKLAVIK, NT

Right now it’s coney season, but they’ve spawned out so there’s no nets in the water. When I’m smoking fish strips it takes about 48 hours. I’m up every two to three hours to check on them. I stop making strips at the end of August. That’s when they start getting too watery. It’s pretty much a full-time job. We’ve always been harvesters, but now it’s too expensive to go trapping, so fishing is the next best thing.

We’ve always done it for ourselves, but since we moved to Aklavik people started bothering us, so that’s how we started (selling country foods). It’s been a few years now since we got the vacuum packer, because one year we had to throw out fillets because they were so freezer burnt. All that work.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

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GORD PAPIK AKLAVIK, NT

It took me nine months to grow my hair. It’s my natural hair. I don’t curl it.

This is my third winter working at Stantons. I started when I was 14 years old. I’m in Grade 11 now. I like to play video games, like, a lot. Sometimes I could play six hours a day. That’s on my days off though. I play PC, computer games, like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. I also play PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

HAYVEN ELANIK AKLAVIK, NT

Northern Youth Abroad was the best experience of my life. I got to go away for five weeks. I met new people. I learned about new cultures. When I left the program I didn’t realize I would get so close to the people who participated and the people who ran it. I would encourage anyone to go. You have to be between 15 and 22.

PHOTO BY NATHALIE HEIBERG-HARRISON

the silver city kids

154

Drake Illasiak I like to play hockey. I play defense. We get to skate and have fun. I like that. I’ve been playing for one year. A lot of people go. I learned how to stop and shoot better, and skate better.

AKLAVIK, NT

Clarrissa Elanik My name is Clarrissa. I am 14. I like skidooing. I don’t know why, I just like it. I like going to school. My favourite subject is English. I like writing. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, maybe a social worker. We go skidooing at Pump Lake. I like going for walks with my friends and listening to music, mostly pop and country. I listen to all kinds, not just one.

Keresha Elanik I like going skidooing. I like baking cake. I bake with my mom and my sister.

Sometimes I make them food too. I can make hot dogs.

Loretta Kowana I’m 12 years old. I’m in Grade 7. After school I like to finish my homework and then I usually just draw or colour. I draw pictures of my friends and family. My favourite subject is language classes. I’m studying Gwich’in. I’ve learned a lot of stuff so far.

I look up to my sisters a lot. Their names are Bethany and Veronica. They’re really cute and fun. I like jumping on trampolines and I’m inspired by my dad and my mom, because my mom finished school and my dad likes to go skidooing a lot, and he teaches me a whole bunch of new stuff that I don’t know.

the silver city kids

156

Coby Elanik I go hunting for geese, caribou, I go snaring for foxes and sometimes go for beavers. I like to go skidooing. I like to go trapping for lynx. My dad teaches me to do all those things.

Victoria Gordon On weekends I like going for walks. I like to sing and I like to draw. My favourite game is spike. It’s a volleyball game. You go in a circle and then you hit the ball to anyone in the circle. Whoever lets it on the floor goes in the middle. You have to keep it up off the floor. I’m in Grade 6. My favourite subject is social studies because we’re learning about the war.

My class is reading some stuff about the soldiers.

Kansas Jerome I like language class. I’m taking Gwich’in.

We’re learning fish. My teacher is Anna Lee Mcleod. I like her. She’s fun.

Paxton Gordon My dad teaches me how to shoot a gun, set a trap, set snares. We go to camp. I like it out there. We can go on trails.

the silver city kids

158

Dray Illasiak I’m 12 years old, in Grade 7. This year we’re learning math, science and English.

My favourite subject is math. I don’t know why, maybe because I’m good at it. I have six brothers and sisters. I’m the fourth oldest. It’s fun. I always have someone to play with.

Annie Archie I like to play volleyball and do art, and hang with my friends and walk around.

We play volleyball every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I like to draw volleyball, northern lights and some mountains. I like to draw and paint. I want to finish school, but after that, I don’t know.

MOVEMENTS

Illustrations by Sheree Mcleod

In Tusaayaksat’s latest edition of language games, see how many activities you can identify in Inuvialuktun’s three dialects: Kangiryuarmiutun, Siglitun and Uummarmiutun.

KANGIRYUARMIUTUN

1. Huliva?

2. Ikhivayuq.

3. Nangiqtuq.

4. Hiniktuq.

5. Aqpayuq.

6. Numiqtuq.

160

MOVEMENTS

Inuvialuktun language games #12

UUMMARMIUTUN

1. Huliqiva?

^ 2. Aquppiruq.

^ 3. Makitaruq.

4. Hiñiktuq.

5. Aqpaliraqtuq.

6. Mumiqtuq.

1. What is he/she doing?

4. He/she is sleeping.

2. He/she is sitting.

5. He/she is running.

3. He/she is standing.

6. He/she is dancing.

4. Siniktuq.

5. Nusuktuq.

6. Mumiqtuq.

3. Nikuvrayuq.

Answers

2. Iksivayuq.

1. Sumava?

SIGLITUN Inuvialuktun language games #12

MOVEMENTS

162

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