The 2017 federal budget announced $240 million for housing in Nunavut over a 10-year period, while the 2018 budget promised $400 million over 10 years for housing in Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Inuvialuit settlement region.

2017-ᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ 240 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ ᖁᓕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐅᕙᓂ 2018-ᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ 400 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᑦᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᕕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᕕᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


To ensure the lasting impact of those investments, the new strategy says Inuit must be directly involved in both the delivery of funding as well as in housing-related decision making.

ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᖃᑯᑖᖕᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᓄᑖᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔫᑏ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓕᕈᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᐅᓇ ᐃᒡᓗᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


While recent housing budgets were directed to some regional Inuit organizations, like Makivik Corp. in Nunavik, the Nunatsiavut government and the Inuvialuit Regional Corp., the report noted that no direct investments were made to Inuit organizations in Nunavut.

ᐃᒡᓗᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᒻᒪᕆᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᕐᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᒪᑭᕕᒃ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᓐ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᕕᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᕐᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᓐᑯᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓅᖓᔪᖃᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ.


Other calls for action included in the new housing strategy include:

ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᑖᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᔪᑦ:


• A need for direct access to long term, multi-year, stable housing investments to ensure improvements to Inuit Nunangat housing, based on direct Inuit access and Inuit self-determination.

• ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓ ᐊᑯᓂᕈᓗᒃ ᐊᑐᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒨᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᒐᓱᒃᖢᒍ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᖅ, ᒪᓕᒃᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖃᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ. ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


• A regional needs assessment in year one of the implementation of the strategy, or as soon as practical, to develop a baseline and to better target investments to diverse regional needs.

• ᐊᕕᒃᑐᕐᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᓐᓃᑐᐊᖅᐸᑦ, ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓗᑎᒃ ᑐᙵᕕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᒧᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᕐᓯᒪᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


• Housing programs and initiatives that support alternative housing options, the reduction of barriers to increasing alternative housing options and improving affordability, including energy efficiency.

• ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᒥᒃᖠᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᕐᓱᒐᕐᓂᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᒍ ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒐᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ.


• A labour force and skills needs assessment, with the goal of supporting Inuit filling jobs in the housing industry.

• ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐅᔭᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ, ᑐᕌᒐᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕈᓐᓇᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓕᒃᑯᑦ.


• Communication and engagement with provincial and territorial governments in the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy

• ᑐᓴᐅᒪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ.


“Reliable access to housing is foundational to Inuit health and well-being,” said ITK president Natan Obed in a news release.

“ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᓇᐃᑕᓐ ᐅᐱᐊᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑎᒍᑦ.


“The collaboration with the federal government on the National Inuit Housing Strategy which is being released today seeks to improve housing conditions across Inuit Nunangat and ensure better outcomes through greater Inuit self-determination and control.”

“ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᐃᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᑎᒐᓱᒡᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ.”


In the same release, Trudeau said his government was committed to finding “community-owned, community-driven solutions,” as outlined in the new housing strategy.

ᑕᕝᕙᓂᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᒥᑦ, ᑐᕉᑑ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᓂᓯᓂᕐᒥᒃ “ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ-ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ-ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


You can read the full housing strategy in English or Inuktitut on ITK’s website.

ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓯ ᑕᒪᑭᕐᓯᒪᔪᒥᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᒐᖓᓂᒃ.


The Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee was created in February 2017 with the signing of the Inuit Nunangat Declaration on Inuit-Crown Partnership.

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ-ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆ 2017-ᒥ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ-ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


This was the group’s third meeting this year.

ᐅᑯᐊ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ.


In recent months, the group has also endorsed the Inuit Tuberculosis Elimination Framework—its plan to eradicate TB among Inuit by 2030.

ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᓂᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐳᕙᖕᓗᖕᓇᕐᒥ ᐱᑖᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ—ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᖕᓇᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ 2030 ᑎᑭᓚᐅᕐᑎᓐᓇᒍ.


The committee has also co-developed the Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare Framework, which outlines the needs for care and education for Inuit children and youth.

ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᓛᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ.


The committee says it has now begun to look to new areas of focus this year, including efforts to address infrastructure gaps in Inuit Nunangat.

ᑲᑎᒪᔩ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᑲᑕᓕᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᒃᓴᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᑦ.


Nunavut’s protected areas offer protection to wilderness and wildlife More than 100,000 square kilometres have been placed under protection through the creation of national parks

ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, 100,000 ᑭᑉᐹᕆᒃᑎᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑭᓛᒥᑕᔅ ᓄᓇ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ


Tallurutiup Imanga, also known as Lancaster Sound, is described as twice the size of Nova Scotia and touted as the largest protected area of its kind in Canada.

ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓ, ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑐᑦ ᓛᓐᑳᔅᑐ ᓴᐅᓐ (Lancaster Sound), ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖏᓂᕐᓴᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓅᕙ ᓯᑰᓯᐊᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐹᖑᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔨᒻ ᐱᐅᓪ)


We’re celebrating Nunavut’s twentieth birthday by reviewing the territory’s successes and its challenges in areas ranging from music and the visual arts to the economy, the state of Inuktut and climate change.

ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ 20-ᐅᓕᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᖅᖢᑎᒍᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒪ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔨᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᐅᑉ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓇᓱᒋᐊᖃᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒫᙵᑦ ᑎᑕᐅᓯᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᐅᖓ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᓂᖓᓂᒃ. ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᓂ ᐊᓯᙳᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᖕᒪᖔᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ 20 ᐊᒡᒋᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


Auyuittuq National Park has existed as a national park reserve since 1976.

ᐊᐅᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᑯ 1976-ᒥ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᑭᓚᐸᒃ)


The Canadian Arctic is facing tremendous ecological upheaval as the planet heats up, experiencing rates of warming two to three times faster than the rest of the world.

ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓ ᐊᓯᙳᕐᔪᐊᓕᒑᖕᒪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᐅᓇ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐅᖂᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᖂᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓂᕐᓴᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ.


Though the Arctic alone cannot save itself from the chaos of climate change, increasingly Canada has been giving federal protection to key parts of the Arctic in the hope of preserving wilderness and wildlife.

ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᓴᐳᑎᓯᒪᔪᓐᓇᙱᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓯᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑑ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᐊ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


And, with the creation of a new national marine conservation area in the High Arctic, it’s hoped that Inuit hunting traditions will be protected as well.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓂᖅ ᓄᑖᒥ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᕝᕕᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᕐᒥᑦ, ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒍᓯᖏᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᒥᓗᑎᒃ.


For decades, non-governmental organizations and Inuit groups have been fighting to protect the waters of Tallurutiup Imanga, or Lancaster Sound.

ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓵᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕉᑎᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᕆᐅᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᓂᒃ.


“This is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the whole of the Arctic,” explains Megan Leslie, CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada.

“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂ ᐆᒪᔪᖃᐅᓛᙳᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᓕᒫᒥᑦ,” ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᒦᒐᓐ ᓚᔅᓕ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.


Seventy-five per cent of the world’s narwhals can be found in these waters.

75 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᒥ ᑑᒑᓖᑦ ᕿᓚᓗᒐᐃᑦ ᑕᒫᓃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᑕᕆᐊᖓᓂᒃ.


Polar bears hunt blubbery seals from the sea ice. And seabirds flock here in the millions.

ᓇᓄᐃᑦ ᓇᑦᑎᕋᓱᒃᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᓯᑯᒥ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᖕᒥᐊᑦ ᑕᒪᐅᖓ ᑲᑎᑉᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᓄᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᒃᖢᑎᒃ.


Tallurutiup Imanga is also located within the Last Ice Area, the area where summer sea ice is expected to persist the longest in the face of climate change, providing refuge to imperilled species.

ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓ ᒫᓃᒻᒥᔪᖅ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᓂᒃ ᓯᑯᑐᖃᖃᕐᕕᒃᓂᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᐅᔭᐅᓕᕐᐸᑦ ᓯᑯᐃᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓛᖑᓂᐊᕋᓱᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᑐᓂᒃ ᐆᒪᔪᓂᒃ.


Photographer Andrew Tagak took this photo on April 5 of sunlight on snow and hoodoos in Sirmilik National Park on Bylot Island, Nunavut.

ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᐋᓐᑐᕉ ᑕᒑᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᐃᕆᓕ 5-ᒥᑦ ᓯᕿᓂᖅ ᑕᕐᕋᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᐳᑎᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓵᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᐃᑦ ᓯᕐᒥᓕᒃ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐸᐃᓚᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᐋᓐᑐᕉ ᑕᒑᖅ)


In 2010, the government proposed protecting 44,500 square kilometers of the sound in a national marine conservation area.

2010-ᒥ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᔪᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ 44,500 ᑭᓛᒥᑕᔅᓂ ᑖᔅᓱᒪ ᐃᒪᖓᓂ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᕕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ.


But the number disappointed environmental advocates and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, who wanted to see a much larger area set aside.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑖᓐᓇ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑎ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᖏᓂᕐᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᓴᓂᕐᕙᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥᒃ.


After another seven years of negotiations, and the relinquishment of 30 Shell oil and gas exploration leases in the region, the government announced they had struck a deal to expand the protection to a 131,000 square-kilometre area.

ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ 7-ᓂ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᕌᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ 30-ᓂᒃ ᓯᐊᑯᑦ (Shell) ᐅᕐᓱᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒑᓯᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᒫᓂ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ 131,000 ᑭᓚᒥᑕᔅᓂᒃ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᒥᒃ.


The inclusion of Tallurutiup Imanga will more than double the size of protected areas in Nunavut.

ᐃᓚᐅᓕᕐᓂᖓ ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.


The waters of Tallurutiup Imanga are of vital importance to many Inuit who hunt seals and whales in the sound.

ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂ ᓇᑦᑎᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᓚᓗᒐᕐᓂᒃ ᑕᒫᓂ.


Nunavut’s existing protected areas are managed by Parks Canada with the help of advisory committees that funnel feedback from Inuit communities to the federal government.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᓄᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᓂᐱᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ.


But with Tallurutiup Imanga, Inuit are hoping for a larger share of responsibility in managing the marine conservation area.

ᑭᓯᐅᓂᓕ ᐆᒧᖓ ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᓄᑦ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᑑᒐᓗᐊᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᕐᓴᒥᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᒃᒥᑦ.


“We’re negotiating to try and gain more Inuit control over management,” says Sandra Inutiq, chief negotiator for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

“ᐋᔩᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᖢᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓵᓐᑐᕋ ᐃᓅᑎᖅ, ᐋᔩᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ.


The association hopes to establish a co-management body with Parks Canada, as well as an Indigenous guardian program.

ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᒐᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓗᑎ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᐅᑦᑎᖅᓱᖅᑎᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᑖᔅᓱᒧᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ.


“I think it’s an evolution of how conservation is being thought about,” says Inutiq.

“ᐃᓱᒪᔪᖓᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓅᑎᖅ.


“We’re starting to appreciate the Indigenous approach to conservation more…. The value that underlies our culture, and hunting culture, is very much conservation-minded.”

“ᐱᐅᒋᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᒐᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ… ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ.”


An aerial view of Quttinirpaaq National Park, located on Ellesmere Island.

ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒥᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᓂᕐᐹᖅ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᒃ, ᐊᓚᔅᒥᐅ ᐊᐃᓚᓐᒦᑦᑐᖅ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᒥᕐᙳᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ)


Guardians out on the land, she says, should be able to hunt and monitor the area.

ᐸᖅᑭᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒍᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓗᒍ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ.


In the 20 years since the creation of Nunavut, more than 100,000 square kilometres have been placed under protection in Nunavut in the form of five national parks.

ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 20 ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, 100,000 ᑭᓛᒥᑕᔅ ᐅᖓᑖᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᒪᓕᕐᐳᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᙳᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


Two of these parks—Auyuittuq and Quttinirpaaq— had existed as national park reserves since 1976 and 1988 respectively, but the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement allowed for the regions to become fully gazetted under Canada’s National Parks Act in 2001.

ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᖕᓂ—ᐊᐅᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᑦᑎᓂᕐᐹᖅ—ᐱᑕᖄᓂᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂ 1976 ᐊᒻᒪ 1988-ᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᐅᑦᑎᐊᒻᒪᕆᒍᓐᓇᕐᓯᓗᓂ ᐅᕘᓇ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ 2001-ᒥ.


Sirmilik, which falls within the Arctic cordillera, joined them.

ᓯᕐᒥᓕᒃ, ᖃᖅᑲᖃᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.


The federal government has since established two more national parks in the territory.

ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒪᕐᕈᒃᑲᓐᓃᖕᓂᒃ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕖᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.


On the northwestern shores of Hudson Bay lies Ukkusiksalik National Park, meaning “place where there is stone to carve pots and oil lamps.” Inuit have hunted here since time immemorial, and early Thule and Dorset cultures made use of the land thousands of years ago.

ᑕᓯᐅᔭᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᑦ ᐱᖓᖕᓇᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂ ᓯᒡᔭᖓ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᒃᑯᓯᒃᓴᓕᒃ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᒃᒧᑦ, “ᐅᒃᑯᓯᒃᓴᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᓪᓕᒃᓴᓕᒃ,” ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐃᑲᓂ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᒻᒪᑕ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑐᖄᓗᒃ, ᑕᐅᙵᖄᕐᓂᑯᕕᓂᕐᓄ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓂᑰᒋᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒻᒪᑲᓪᓛᓗᒃ.


The area was formally recognized in 2014, bringing more than 20,000 square kilometres of tundra and Canadian Shield under federal protection.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ 2014-ᒥ, ᐊᖏᓂᓕᖕᒥᑦ 20,000 ᑭᓛᒥᑕᔅᓂ ᓄᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᖅᑲᓂᒃ ᓴᐅᔾᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ.


Qausuittuq National Park followed in 2015, becoming the country’s 45th national park.

ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᒃ ᑭᖑᓂᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ 2015-ᒥ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ 45-ᒋᔭᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᒃᓂ.


As part of its mission, Parks Canada targets ecosystems and species that are underrepresented in the national park system when creating new protected areas.

ᐃᓚᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒧᑦ, ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐆᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓕᕌᖓᑕ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ.


Qausuittuq, which is located in the northern part of Bathurst Island and Governor General Islands, fit the bill.

ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᒫᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᐹᑐᔅᑦ ᐊᐃᓚᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᓇ ᔭᓄᕈᓪ ᐊᐃᓚᓐᔅ, ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒧᖓ.


The region is considered a “polar desert” and one of the harshest and driest places on the planet.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ “ᓇᓄᕐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇ” ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᓚᖓ ᐱᐅᔪᓐᓃᒃᑲᐅᓛᖑᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐸᓂᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ.


Yet plenty of rare and unique Arctic species call Qausuittuq home.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓂᕐᔪᑎᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᑕᑯᓕᒪᓇᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅᒥᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᓕᖕᓂᑦ.


Thor Peak in Auyuittuq National Park attracts many hikers, climbers and photographers.

Thor Peak ᐊᐅᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᕙᒃᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐱᓱᕋᔭᒃᑎᓄᑦ, ᒪᔪᕋᕋᓱᒃᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨᓄᑦ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᐅᕙᙵᑦ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᕿᓚᐸᒃ)


“One of the reasons the park was created is that it was identified as important habitat for Peary caribou,” explains Andrew Maher, Parks Canada field unit superintendent for Nunavut.

“ᐃᓚᖓᓪᓕ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕕᙳᖁᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᕆ ᑐᒃᑐᓄᑦ,” ᐋᓐᑐᕌ ᒪᕼᐋ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ, ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᓂ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.


Peary caribou, the smallest of all caribou subspecies, are listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act.

ᐱᐅᕆ ᑐᒃᑐᐃ, ᒥᑭᓐᓂᖅᐹᑦ ᑐᒃᑐᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓂᕐᔪᑎᑦ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᖅᒥ.


Over the last three generations, scientists estimate Peary caribou populations have declined by about 72 percent in the Arctic.

ᐊᕐᕋᒎᓕᖅᑐᓂᒃ 30-ᓂᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᐅᕆ ᑐᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᐹᓪᓕᕐᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ 72 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ.


“The Arctic, globally, is very well represented in terms of protected areas,” says Jenna Boon, a negotiator with Parks Canada’s protected areas establishment and conservation directorate.

“ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖅ, ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑎᒍᑦ, ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᕐᒪᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᔭᓇ ᐴᓐ, ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᒃᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓴᐳᑎᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᒧᑦ.


“The Arctic is of high interest to Parks Canada because there are not many places in the south that have vast tracts of land that may be looked at for protection and conservation purposes.”

“ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐅᓄᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᓂᒋᕐᒥᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ.”


Boon adds that over the last 20 years, the government has made progress in embracing cooperative management in Nunavut.

ᐴᓐ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ 20 ᐊᓂᒍᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.


“We’ve shifted our paradigm, in a sense … embracing the desire to work with other stakeholders, rights holders, and Indigenous people.”

“ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᕗᑦ ᐊᓯᐊᒎᖅᑎᖔᓕᕋᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ … ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ.”


Tallurutiup Imanga is located within the Last Ice Area, the area where summer sea ice is expected to persist the longest in the face of climate change, providing refuge to imperilled species.

ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓ ᒫᓃᒻᒥᔪᖅ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᓂᒃ ᓯᑯᑐᖄᓗᖕᓂᑦ, ᑕᒫᓂ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯ ᓯᑯ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓛᖑᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐆᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᓕᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᖢᓂ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔭᐃᓐ ᔪᐊᔾ)


So what, then, do the next 20 years hold for Nunavut’s fragile landscape?

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ, ᑭᖑᓪᓖ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 20 ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐊᕐᐸ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓄᑦ?


Parks Canada and the QIA say that the High Arctic Basin will be a top priority for new protection in the future.

ᒥᕐᖑᐃᕐᓯᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑐᕙᐃᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ (High Arctic Basin) ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓛᖑᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ.


Gloria Dickie is a freelance journalist based in British Columbia.

ᒍᓘᕆᐊ ᑎᑭ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕆᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᐳᕆᑎᔅ ᑲᓚᒻᐱᐊᒥ.


Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy offers little hope

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᓇᓗᐊᙱᓚ


“No one makes any concrete commitment to spend any money, perform any actions or build any houses”

“ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓪᓚᕆᒍᒪᙱᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᓂᐊᕐᓗᒋ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ”


Social housing units under construction in Kuujjuaq in 2015.

ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑰᔾᔪᐊᕐᒥ 2015-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ)


It’s not hard to understand why, after throwing it out into the world last week, they fled the scene under the protective cover of a late evening press release and a barrage of fawning Facebook selfies.

ᑐᑭᓯᓇᕈᔪᒃᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪ, ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᕿᑎᐊᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂᔾᔪ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ, ᕿᒫᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑖᓪᓕᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᓐᓄᓗᐊᒃᑯ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕙᐃᔅᐳᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᑲᑕᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


The stench of futility given off by the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy, “co-developed” by the Government of Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and released this past April 3, is so strong it’s hard to blame its creators for doing a dump-and-run.

ᑎᐱᐊᓗᐊ ᑭᓱᖃᙱᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᐅᕙᙵᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ, “ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ” ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐄᐳᕈ 3-ᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ, ᓴᙱᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᑎᐱᖓ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᒃᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᖏᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᒋᑦᑎᐊᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᕿᒫᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


If you don’t trust that judgment, we’ve embedded a copy of the strategy at the bottom of this editorial so you can read it for yourself.

ᐅᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᕋᐃᔪᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᙱᒃᑯᕕᐃᒃ, ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᑕᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᑖᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕈᓐᓇᖅᑕᑦ ᐃᓕᖕᓄᑦ.


You’ll see that within the document, which bears the logos of Canada and ITK, no one makes any concrete commitment to spend any money, perform any actions or build any houses.

ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑎᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᐅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑕᕐᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ, ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᓗᑎᒃ.


If this were some other issue, it wouldn’t matter.

ᐊᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᑕᖃᕈᓂ, ᓱᖁᑕᐅᓇᔭᙱᑦᑐᖅ.


Governments and quasi-government organizations often emit policy documents that nobody reads and nobody acts on.

ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔨᐅᖂᔨᔪᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᕐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᖃᑎᒍᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑕᐅᕙᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᓕᒃᑕᐅᕙᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᑰᓘᙱᒻᒪᑦ.


Northern Canada’s severe housing shortage sits at the centre of a grave humanitarian crisis, linked to deteriorating mental health, poor outcomes in school and recent frightening outbreaks of tuberculosis and other communicable diseases.

ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᑭᒃᓴᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᒻᒪᕆᖕᒪᑦ, ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᑦᑎᐊᙱᔾᔪᑎᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᑲᒃᑐᖅ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᖕᓇᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑦᑑᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ.


The housing strategy acknowledges that, of course, and gathers together various assemblages of other long-recognized facts that, while valid, have been repeated so often that they’re now turning into tiresome clichés.

ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕋᖅᑐᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᑐᖃᐅᓕᕐᑐᓂᒃ, ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖏᓐᓇᐅᔭᓗᐊᒧᓪᓗ ᑐᑭᓪᓚᕆᖓᓂ ᐊᓯᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑰᔨᓕᖅᖢᓂ.


What it does not offer is any hope for the future, especially in Nunavut, which suffers from the highest proportion of Inuit living in overcrowded homes (56.4 per cent), the highest proportion of Inuit living in homes that require repairs (34.3 per cent), and the highest number of total units required to meet the existing housing shortfall (3,500, at an estimated capital cost of $1.7 billion).

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥ ᓂᕆᐅᒍᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᑕᒫᓂᓗ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᕐᑐᓂᒃ (56.4 ᐳᓴᓐᑦ), ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖏᑦ ᓄᑖᙳᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ (34.3 ᐳᓴᓐᑦ), ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᙳᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᒥᒐᓗᐊᖅᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ (3,500, ᒫᓃᒐᓱᒋᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑐᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ $1.7 ᐱᓕᐊᓐ).


ᑐᑭᓯᓇᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᙱᓐᓇᐅᔭᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ


Instead, the federal government and on the four regional Inuit organizations heap praise upon themselves for things they did between 2016 and 2018.

ᐃᒪᓐᓇᖔᕐᓕ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑯᐊ ᑎᓴᒪᓐ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᕐᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᒃᑯᒋᑲᑕᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ 2016-ᓗ 2018-ᓗ ᐊᑯᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


But for the future, they offer vague platitudes and not much else.

ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒧᓪᓕ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᑭᓯᓇᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᙱᓐᓇᐅᔭᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓗᐊᕋᑎᒃ.


Take, for example, one of the lesser-known but more serious aspects of the housing crisis: the skyrocketing cost of operating and maintaining existing stocks of social housing.

ᓲᕐᓗ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒍ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᑭᒃᓴᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ: ᖁᕝᕙᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓗᐊᖅᑐᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐃᒡᓗᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ.


Late last month, Terry Audla, the president of the Nunavut Housing Corp., told the Baffin region’s mayors that the cost of maintaining and operating a single social housing unit in Nunavut now averages $26,700 a year.

ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑎᐅᕆ ᐊᐅᑦᓚ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᒪᐃᔭᓄᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒫᓃᓕᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ $26,700 ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧᑦ.


This means that if the NHC were a private landlord, it would be required to charge an annual average rent of at least $2,200 a month, and likely more, just to break even.

ᐅᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᖁᑎᖃᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᕈᑎᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᐃᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒫᓂ $2,200 ᑕᖅᑭᒥᑦ, ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᓈᒪᓈᖅᑎᑦᑎᒐᓱᒃᑯᑎᒃ.


Those staggering costs, which include fuel, power, garbage pickup, water and sewage and building maintenance, aren’t news by the way.

ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᐃᑦ, ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ, ᖃᐅᒻᒪᖁᑎᒧᑦ, ᐊᒃᑕᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᓄᑦ, ᐃᒥᕐᑕᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑯᕕᕐᑕᖅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒡᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᑐᓴᓕᒪᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᔪᑦ.


ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᖅ.


In the territories, the governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories have been getting an annual subsidy from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. to help cover them.

ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓂᓕ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᓐ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖅᑖᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ (CMHC) ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ.


But that subsidy contains a poisoned pill.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᑐᖁᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐄᔭᒐᕐᒥ.


Since 2004, that subsidy has been slowly shrinking.

ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓂᑦ 2004-ᒥ, ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᒥᒃᖠᕙᓪᓕᐊᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ.


And by 2037, it will have shrunk to zero.

2037 ᑎᑭᒃᑯᓂ, ᒥᒃᖠᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᔨᕈᙳᕐᓗᓂ.


The strategy acknowledges this, and says what everyone in the field has known for years, that declining operation and maintenance funds will cause territorial housing agencies “to direct more of their own funding to existing units as opposed to building much needed new ones.”

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᖕᓂᒃ, ᒥᒃᖠᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ “ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖏᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐃᒡᓗᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᙱᖔᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ.”


The strategy’s solution, however, is vacuous, to say the least: “However, it is expected that through bilateral agreements to be in place in 2019, provincial and territorial governments will commit to preserve and expand the number of community housing units in their respective jurisdiction.”

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐋᕿᒍᑎᓪᓕ, ᕿᓯᐊᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ: “ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒫᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ 2019-ᒥᑦ, ᒪᑯᐊ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆ ᒐᕙᒪᖏᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓄᕐᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᕕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.”


ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑏ?


Given that provincial and territorial governments are not parties to the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy, and that these “agreements” haven’t been signed yet, this claim must be treated with the utmost skepticism.

ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖏ ᐃᓚᐅᙱᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑯᐊ “ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎ” ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᑕᐅᓯᒫᓂᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᓱᓕ, ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᓱᓕᒻᒪᕆᒃᑲᓗᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ.


ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᖅᑐᖅ


We’ve bored you long enough about evaporating O&M funds.

ᑐᓴᙳᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᕗᓯ ᐊᓯᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ.


Let’s turn to the questions that matter most to those who don’t have housing.

ᐅᓇ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᖔᓚᐅᕐᓚᕗᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ.


ᖃᔅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂᒃ?


ᓇᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᖁᒍ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓛᕐᒪᑕ?


On that point, the strategy heaps lavish praise on the Liberal government and on Inuit organizations for their recent construction commitments—even if none of them have ever seen a credible third-party evaluation.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒍ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐱᒃᑯᒋᔭᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓕᐳᕈᓪ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ—ᐅᓐᓃᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓇᓕᐊᒃ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


These projects, using federal dollars committed in the 2016 and 2018 Liberal budgets, have produced 144 units in Nunavik built by Makivik Corp.’s in-house construction firm, 24 units built in Nunatsiavut by the Nunatsiavut government, and 15 units in the Inuvialuit settlement area.

ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ, ᐊᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ 2016-ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ 2018-ᒥ ᓕᐳᕈᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ 144-ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᑭᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ, 24 ᐃᒡᓗᐃᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᑦᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᐊᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 15-ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᕕᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


It does contain one interesting idea: that Inuit organizations may get involved directly in housing construction and in the management of housing. That’s a refreshing change of attitude.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᓗᐊᓃᑦᑐᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑕᑯᔪᒥᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ: ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᒻᒪᕆᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ. ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᓄᑖᖑᖅᑰᔨᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖅ.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᓛᕐᐸᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ?


On that, the housing strategy, unfortunately, offers little more than fog and obfuscation.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ, ᐊᐃᑦᑖᖑᒐᓗᐊᖅ, ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᓗᐊᙱᒻᒪ ᓱᖅᑯᐃᓇᕐᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᑭᓯᓇᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕈᑎᓂᒃ.


In Nunavut, for example, the strategy admits that past Liberal spending commitments on social housing construction—$76.7 million over two years starting in 2016, and $240 million over 10 years starting in 2017—fall far short of what is required.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᒋᓗᒍ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓕᐳᕈᒃᑯ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ—$76.7 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᓂ 2016, ᐊᒻᒪ $240 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᖁᓕᓄᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᓂ 2017-ᒥᑦ—ᑐᖓᐅᑦᑎᓯᒪᓗᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ.


So the strategy’s authors tell us Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the three regional associations in Nunavut want to create an “Inuit designed and delivered, long term affordable housing program.”

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᔪᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᑎᓯᒪᔭᖓᒍᑦ, ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂ ᐊᑭᓕᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ.”


The strategy says this would encourage homeownership and “complement” the housing corporation’s current offerings.

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᓕᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ “ᐃᑲᔫᑎᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᓂ” ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᒪᓂᒪᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


So who would pay to construct these “Inuit designed and delivered” housing units and how much would they pay?

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑭᓇ ᐊᑭᓖᓇᔭᕐᒪᑦ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᑎᓯᒪᔭᖓᒍᑦ” ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᔅᓯᓂ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᐃᓇᔭᖅᐸ?


How many of these units would the Inuit organizations build and where would they build them?

ᖃᔅᓯᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᓴᓇᓇᔭᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓂ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᐸ?


Who would subsidize their operation and maintenance costs?

ᑭᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ?


The strategy does say the Inuit-run housing program in Nunavut would involve a combination of private financing and a “complementary allocation” from government, without specifying which government.

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᖓ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ “ᑐᓐᓂᖁᓯᐊᒃᓴᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ” ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᒪᓇᓂ ᓇᓕᐊᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂᒃ.


This is not a commitment that any thoughtful person ought to trust.

ᐅᓇ ᐱᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᐅᓗᐊᕌᓗᒋᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ.


Meanwhile, the Liberal government led by His Esteemed Awesomeness, Saint Justin of Papineau, is headed for an ignominious defeat. The departure of two of that government’s most respected ministers, Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott, coupled with Trudeau’s incompetent, mendacious response to Canada’s worse political scandal in at least two decades, has, in the eyes of many Canadians, destroyed his credibility and moral authority.

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓕᐳᕈ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᓕᕐᑐᑦ ᑲᙳᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓵᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ. ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᕐᓂᖏ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᓛᖑᖃᑕᐅᔫᒃ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᓂᑯᑦ, ᔫᑎ ᕗᐃᐊᓴᓐ-ᕇᐳᑦ ᐊᖅᓴ ᔭᐃᓐ ᐱᐅᐹᑦ, ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᕈᓐᓃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᑐᕇᑑ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓇᒻᒪᕆᒃᑲᓗᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂ, ᓱᓕᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒋᔭᖏᓐᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓛᖑᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐊᕙᑎᓂ ᐊᓂᒍᕐᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᖅ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᒍᑎᐅᓕᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ, ᓱᕋᐃᒍᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓇᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᑦᑕᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᐊᓂᒃ.


National opinion polls, including CBC’s poll tracker, suggest that if an election were held right now, Andrew Scheer’s Conservative party would, at the very least, form a minority government, with the New Democratic Party holding the balance of power.

ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᓚᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᓰᐲᓰᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᖓ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᐊᕈᓂ, ᐋᓐᑐᕉ ᓯᐅ ᑲᓐᓲᕕᑎᕝᑯᖏ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᓕᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᓄᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᒐᓗᐊᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋ, ᐅᑯᐊ ᓂᐅ ᑕᒧᑯᕌᑎᒃ ᐹᑎᑯ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖑᖃᑕᐅᓂᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ.


That means last week’s dubious housing strategy, along with other more substantial products of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, now sit on a shaky foundation anyway.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ-ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ, ᒫᓐᓇ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᓗᐊᙱᒻᒥᔪᑦ.


The Inuit organizations who participate in that process should put away their souvenir selfies with Saint Justin and start building bridges with NDP and Conservative leaders.

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥ ᐸᐸᑕᒥᖕᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕌᑑᒥ ᑐᖅᑯᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᓐᑏᐲᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓐᓲᕕᑎᕝᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓂᕐᓴᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᑐᑦ.


Nunavut children still suffer from botched communications, watchdog says

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᖏ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓇᐅᑦᑎᖅᓱᖅᑎ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ


Outgoing representative for children and youth appears at legislative hearing

ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒋᐊᖅᑐᖁᔭᐅᕗᖅ


Sherry McNeil-Mulak, Nunavut’s outgoing Representative for Children and Youth, in an appearance before the legislative assembly’s standing committee on oversight of government operations and public accounts, where she answered questions about her annual reports from the past three years.

ᓯᐅᕆ ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒋᐊᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᑉ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ, ᑕᕝᕙᓂ ᑭᐅᑲᑕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕᒫᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᓄᑦ.


ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᖓ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᐃᓱᓕᓕᒑᖕᒪᑦ ᔫᓂᒥ.


(ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ)


Nunavut children who need services still suffer from continuing weaknesses at the Department of Family Services and a serious lack of coordination among the Government of Nunavut departments responsible for providing those services, Nunavut’s child and youth rights watchdog told MLAs April 10.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᐳᑦ ᒪᑯᓄᖓ ᓴᙱᙱᔾᔪᑎᐅᓗᐊᕐᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖏᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂ ᓇᐅᑦᑎᖅᓱᖅᑎ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 10-ᒥ.


Sherry McNeil-Mulak, Nunavut’s outgoing representative for children and youth, delivered that assessment to members of the legislative assembly’s standing committee on oversight of government operations and public accounts, where she appeared as a witness.

ᓯᐅᕆ ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᓱᕈᓯᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓅᖓᔪᑎᒎᖓᔪᒥ, ᑕᕝᕙᓂᓗ ᑕᐅᑐᖕᓂᑰᓂᑯᒧᑦ ᐅᐸᒋᐊᖃᕆᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ.


“We have grown extremely concerned about weaknesses in the current system,” she said in her opening remarks, referring to the Department of Family Services’ level of support for children and youth.

“ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᒻᒪᕆᓕᕋᑦᑕ ᓴᙱᙱᓗᐊᕈᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᕐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᓚᓯᒋᐊᕋᒥ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ, ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


The legislative committee, on Wednesday, April 10, started two days of televised hearings. Today, another officer of the legislative assembly, Elaine Keenan-Bengts, Nunavut’s information and privacy commissioner, will appear at the hearing.

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔩ, ᐱᖓᓯᕐᒥ, ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 10, ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᓪᓘᖕᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᑕᓚᕖᓴᓐᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᒍᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ.


ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᒻᒪᕆᓕᕐᐳᑦ


The child and youth representative’s 2017-18 annual report says Family Services generated 72 per cent of the “individual advocacy” cases that her office worked on during that fiscal year.

ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᑉ 2017/18-ᒥ ᐊᕌᒍᒧᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ 72 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᒪᑯᓇᙵᑦ “ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᓂᒃᑯ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ” ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧ.


“Individual advocacy” means work aimed at helping a child or youth get services from government workers, and is often done to sort out bureaucratic screw-ups that leave kids in the lurch.

“ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᓂᒃᑯ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ” ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᓱᕈᓯᖅ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᑦ ᐃᓛᓐᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐃᒃᓯᖕᓇᖅᑕᐅᒍᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


This kind of work represents a growing part of the youth representative office’s work.

ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓄᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ..


“Since opening, our office has worked on 200 individual advocacy cases, and we are concerned that no tangible improvements have been made to address this major barrier,” McNeil-Mulak’s 2017-18 report said.

“ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ ᒪᑐᐃᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᑐᑦ 200-ᓂᒃ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᓪᓗᑕ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ,” ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᑦ 2017/18-ᒥ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ.


Another disturbing statistic is that 68 per cent of those Family Service matters involve youth protection.

ᓈᒻᒪᓚᐅᙱᒻᒥᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓇ 68 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᖏ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐅᑯᓄᖓᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧ.


The second biggest number of individual advocacy cases in 2017-18—31 per cent—involved the Department of Health.

ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓕ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐹᒧ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᔪᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ 2017/18-ᒥ—31 ᐳᓴᓐᑎ—ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓅᖓᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.


This includes problems gaining access to mental health and specialist services, oral health, and problems afflicting young people receiving out-of-territory care.

ᒪᑯᓄᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓘᒃᑖᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ.


And 27 per cent of cases involved the Department of Education.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 27 ᐳᓴᓐᑎ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ.


At the same time, many cases involve multiple departments.

ᑕᒪᐅᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖕᓅᖓᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ.


Also, McNeil-Mulak told MLAs that many of these cases are brought to her office by frustrated GN workers who run into roadblocks when they try to help kids with problems.

ᐊᒻᒪᑦᑕᐅᕐ, ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᓄ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᓇᙶᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕌᖓᑕ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕋᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓕᖕᓂ.


“There is a lot of frustration felt by frontline service providers,” she said.

“ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕐᓇᕈᓘᔭᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone said he is surprised to see that sexual abuse isn’t mentioned much in the children and youth representative’s annual report.

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒪᓂᕋᔭᒃᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐋᑕᒻ ᓚᐅᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑲᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓯᒪᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᑉ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


(ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ)


DEA decision breached child’s education rights

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᖓᑦ ᓱᕋᐃᕗᖅ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ


In one egregious case cited in the agency’s 2017-18 annual report, a troubled child lost more than two months of time at school because of multi-faceted communication screw-ups involving a district education authority, a school, a community social worker, and mental health workers.

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᑕᒻᒪᕐᓯᒪᕐᔪᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᑯ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᑉ 2017/18-ᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᓱᕈᓯᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᑎᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑕᖅᑮᖕᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓪᓗᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᖅ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ.


The child, a ward of Family Services, “exhibited suicidal ideation” while on school property.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᓱᕈᓯᖅ, ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ, “ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᓂᐊᕈᒪᖂᔨᕙᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ” ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒦᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


(“Suicidal ideation” means suicidal thoughts.)

(ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᓂᐊᕈᒪᖂᔨᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.)


The child received a partial psychiatric assessment, but it wasn’t completed.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᓱᕈᓯᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᑲᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᕌᓂᙱᖢᓂ.


At the same time, the DEA said the child could not go back to school until that assessment was done.

ᑕᒪᐅᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓴᖅ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᓱᕈᓯᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


That position by the DEA violated the child’s right to an education, the child and youth advocacy office found.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖓ ᓱᕋᐃᓂᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖓᓂᒃ, ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


The child advocate corrected that by arranging for the school to give the child take-home learning materials, but the psychiatric assessment was delayed even longer by problems involving the community social worker and the social worker’s supervisor.

ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᑎ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕐᓯᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑖᔅᓱᒪ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᔨᐅᑉ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᖏᑦ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᐅᑉ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᐅᑉ ᑲᒪᔨᒋᔭᖓᑕ.


In the end, it took more than two months to get the mess sorted out.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᑕᖅᑮᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ.


“All involved service providers were encouraged to improve their communication in order to properly coordinate services,” the report said.

“ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᐹᓪᓕᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑯᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ,” ᐅᓂᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᓴᕋᐃᑦᑐᑦ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅ


Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main, the chair of the committee, asked McNeil-Mulak near the end of the meeting, in relation to the communication problems that affect child youth services, to specify “who is not talking to whom.”

ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓ-ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᔮᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ, ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄ, ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᑲᑎᒫᓂᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ, ᐊᒃᑐᐊᓂᖃᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ “ᑭᓇ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᙱᒻᒪ ᑭᓇᒧᑦ.”


McNeil-Mulak replied by saying it occurs everywhere within the GN.

ᒪᒃᓂᐅ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᔭᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ.


“The communication barriers exist throughout the entirety of government,” she said.

“ᑐᓴᐅᒪᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᑕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


As for continuing weaknesses at the Department of Family Service, the department’s deputy minister, Yvonne Niego, said the department still suffers from high staff turnover and staff shortages.

ᒪᑯᓄᖓᓕ ᓴᙲᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ, ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᑉ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓᑕ ᑐᒡᓕᖓ, ᐃᕚᓐ ᓇᐃᒍ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓ ᓱᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


The high turnover means that many employees haven’t learned about who they are allowed to talk to, who they can share information with, and who else provides services for children.

ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᓱᓕ ᑭᓇᒧ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᒃᑯᓂ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᔨᐅᒋᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


And McNeil-Mulak told MLAs it’s clear that Family Services staff, especially community social service workers, are overworked and overwhelmed.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄ ᓇᓗᓇᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏ, ᐱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖃᓗᐊᖅᑐᐊᓘᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᓗᐊᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


“We see a tremendous burden place on the social services workforce,” she said.

“ᑕᑯᓯᒪᕗᒍ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Niego said Family Services experienced a lot of instability after it was hived off from the Department of Health in 2013 and set up as a standalone department.

ᓇᐃᒍ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᓪᓚᕆᒍᓐᓇᓗᐊᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐲᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ 2013-ᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᓕᕐᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ.


That included a succession of multiple deputy ministers and multiple ministers.

ᐅᓇ ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓇᖏᕐᓯᑲᑕᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᒡᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᓂᒃ.


“We’re trying to build stability into the department,” she said.

“ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓇᓱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᒥ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Yvonne Niego, the deputy minister of the Department of Family Services, said she’s trying to bring some stability to the department, which has seen multiple deputy ministers and multiple ministers after being hived off from the Department of Health in 2013.

ᐃᕚᓐ ᓇᐃᒍ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᒡᓕᖓ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᒐᓱᖕᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕝᕙᓂᒪ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᓄᑦ ᑐᒡᓕᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᓄᑦ ᐊᓯᐊᓅᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ 2013-ᒥ.


(ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ)


Sexual abuse a priority for Family Services

ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᒃ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᑯᓐᓄᑦ


Another area that Niego, a former RCMP officer, considers a priority is the sexual abuse of children.

ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐅ ᐅᓇ ᓇᐃᒍ, ᐸᓖᓯᕕᓂᖅ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓂᕐᓇᖓ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕆᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ.


She made those remarks after Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone said he’s surprised that the sexual abuse of children didn’t get mentioned in McNeil-Mulak’s presentation.

ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᓇ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒪᓂᕋᔭᒃᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐋᑕᒻ ᐋᕆᐊᒃ ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᒪᒃᓂᐅ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


ᒪᐃᓐ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᑲᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᒥ.


“This topic I would consider one of my specialty areas,” Niego replied.

“ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᕋ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᓐᓂᒃ,” ᓇᐃᒍ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Referring to a message that McNeil-Mulak repeated many times, Niego said that when dealing with sexual abuse service providers must listen to children.

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᒪᒃᓂᐅ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᐃᖅᖢᓂ, ᓇᐃᒍ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓕᕆᓗᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᓵᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ.


“We totally agree on listening to the voice of youth.

“ᐊᖏᖃᑎᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᐳᒍ ᑐᓵᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᓂᐱᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪ,” ᓇᐃᒍ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


And that’s because abused children are often not believed in their home communities.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᓗᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑕᐅᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂ.


“I do not have faith in our communities’ ability to hear children,” Niego said.

“ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᓗᐊᙱᓐᓇᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᕗᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᑐᓵᔪᓐᓇᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᓇᐃᒍ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


For that reason, and because many abused children do not know how to articulate what is happening to them, “everyone should be attuned to the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse,” Niego said.

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓪᓚᕆᒍᓐᓇᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ, “ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒋᐊᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᓕᐅᕈᓯᕐᓂᒡᓗ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ,” ᓇᐃᒍ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


McNeil-Mulak said her office is planning to submit a report, based on a systemic review of mental health issues, to the GN later this year.

ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑎ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓ ᐸᕐᓇᖕᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂ ᑐᓐᓂᖁᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ, ᐱᔾᔪᑎᓕᖕᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ.


She said that report will contain 15 recommendations, and make references to sexual abuse.

ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ 15-ᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ.


ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏ ᐋᓪᓚᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᖕᓅ?


During the all-day session, some MLAs suggested the concept of promoting children’s rights, a message that McNeil-Mulak stressed throughout the day, is alien to Inuit.

ᐅᓪᓗᓕᒫᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ, ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕇᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ, ᐋᓪᓚᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ.


“As an Inuk, it is something that is foreign to me,” Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Cathy Towtongie said of the idea of children’s rights.

“ᐃᓅᓪᓗᖓ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐅᕙᓐᓄ ᐋᓪᓚᐅᖕᒪᑦ,” ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓ-ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᒃᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᑳᑎ ᑕᐅᑐᙱ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᓇ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖓ.


And referring to the four GN departments represented at the hearing—Family Services, Health, Education and Justice—Towtongie said they too represent alien systems.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑎᓴᒪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ —ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯ,ᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ—ᑕᐅᑐᒋ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑖᒃᑯᐊᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐋᓪᓚᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


“I don’t see any of these systems reflecting our ancient culture,” she said.

“ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖏᓐᓇᒪ ᓇᓕᐊᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Aggu MLA Paul Quassa also expressed some discomfort with the idea of children’s rights.

ᐊᒡᒍᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐹᓪ ᖁᐊᓴ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᓗᐊᕐᓴᓗᐊᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


“Children have to be treated like children… These days people are trying to counsel them like little adults,” Quassa said.

“ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᑎᑐᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ… ᒫᓐᓇᐅᓕᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᐃᓐᓇᑯᓗᒃᑎᑑᖅᑕᐅᓇᓱᓕᕐᒪᑕ,” ᖁᐊᓴ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


And Baker Lake MLA Simeon Mikkungwak asked a blunt question: “How does your office deal with spoiled brats?”

ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒧ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᓯᒥᐅᓐ ᒥᑭᙳᐊᒃ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ: “ᖃᓄᕐᓕ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑭᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᔅᓯᓐᓂ?”


McNeil-Mulak responded by saying her office doesn’t get involved in private family matters.

ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖃᑦᑕᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᒌᓄᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ.


After Mikkungwak clarified his question by saying he was thinking of children who bully other children, Niego said such behavior is likely a sign of other problems in the child’s life.

ᒥᑭᙳᐊᒃ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᒥᓂ ᑐᑭᓯᓇᕐᓯᑎᑦᑎᒋᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕋᒥᓕᒎᖅ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᓲᖑᓴᓗᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ, ᓇᐃᒍ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐅᓕᕐᑐᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᒐᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᒥ.


McNeil-Mulak, who was appointed to the position on June 2, 2014, will finish her five-year term in June of this year.

ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ, ᑎᒃᑯᐊᕐᑕᐅᓂᑯ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᓄ ᔫᓂ 2, 2014-ᒥ, ᐱᐊᓂᒃᓯᓕᒑᔪᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖓᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓅᖓᔪ ᔫᓂᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥ.


She told MLAs that the agency, which is an office the legislature, needs two more staff members: a person able to lead investigations of child deaths and serious injuries, and a person capable of leading “systemic advocacy” on child and youth rights issues.

ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᓄ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᖅ, ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ: ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓗᓂ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᓗᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥᒃ “ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᑎᒍᑦ’ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓪᓗ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ.


The legislative assembly has already begun to advertise for another Nunavut children and youth representative, but they have yet to name McNeil-Mulak’s successor.

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒃ ᒪᓂᓴᐅᑎᓕᐅᕐᓯᒫᓂᓕᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒡᓗ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᑎᕐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᑦᑐᓱᓕ ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ.


The office was created in 2014, after the legislative assembly had passed the Representative for Children and Youth Act in 2013.

ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ 2014-ᒥᑦ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᑎᑦᑎᑦᑎᐊᓚᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓱᕈᓯᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᒥᑦ 2013-ᒥ.


That followed years of lobbying, starting in the early 2000s by the former Cambridge Bay mayor and MLA, Keith Peterson, and others.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᖕᓂ ᐋᔩᑲᑕᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ, ᐱᒋᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ 2000-ᖏᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐆᒧᖓ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᒪᐃᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᒧᑦ ᑮᑦ ᐲᑐᓴᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


Nunavut’s student funding isn’t enough to live on, out-of-territory students say

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐆᒪᔾᔪᑎᒋᓇᓱᒃᖢᒍ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ


FANS is reviewing its living allowance, which hasn’t change in over a decade

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᓕᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐊᓯᙳᕐᓯᓚᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᖁᓕᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓂ


Nunavut Sivuniksavut students Leanna Wilson and Dayna Bruce and Nunatsiaq News reporter Sarah Rogers interview Rob Clift, director of career development at Nunavut’s Department of Family Services, which oversees FANS.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎ ᓕᐋᓇ ᕗᐃᐊᓴᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑏᓇ ᐳᕉᔅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᓴᐃᕋ ᕌᔾᔪᔅ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᕌᑉ ᑭᓕᕝᑦ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᓂᒃ (FANS).


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᑳᓚᓐ ᒥᐅᕋᓐ)


By ᑎᓇ ᐳᕉᔅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ


Nunatsiaq News partnered with Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa this past winter to deliver a journalism workshop to a group of first- and second-year students.

ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦᒥ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


Some of our reporters and editors spent Wednesday afternoons working with three students, who pitched and reported their own news and feature stories.

ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᖅᑎᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᔨᑦ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᐅᑉ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᖅᖢᑎ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


It can be hard to make ends meet when you’re a post-secondary student from Nunavut, studying in southern Canada.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᓂᒋᐊᓄᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᔪᓕᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪ ᐊᖑᒻᒪᑎᒐᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ.


ᑎᓚᐃᓚ ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


Originally from Pond Inlet, Amarualik is a first-year student at Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa.

ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᕕᓂᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦᒥ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ.


She’s also the single mother of a two-year-old daughter.

ᐃᓄᑑᓪᓗᓂ ᐸᓂᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕᖕᒥ.


Delilah Amarualik, a first-year student at Nunavut Sivuniksavut, and her two-year daughter Athena.

ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᑯ, ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


(Photo courtesy of Dayna Bruce) Like most post-secondary students, Amarualik relies on funding through the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) program, administered by the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Family Services.

ᑎᓚᐃᓚ ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦᒥ ᐸᓂᖓᓗ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐊᑏᓇ. (ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᑎᓇ ᐳᕉᔅᒥ)


Amarualik receives a $1,600-per-month living allowance through the program.

ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ ᐱᑖᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ $1,600-ᓂ ᑕᕿᑕᒫᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᑎᒍᑦ.


But after she pays her $750 monthly rent, food and phone bill, she says she often doesn’t have enough to make it through until the end of the month.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓯᐊᓂᒃᑳᖓᑦ $750-ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒥ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᒧ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᑕᕿᐅᑉ ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ.


“After I get paid from FANS, I ask my family for money most times,” Amarualik said.

“ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᓂ, ᐃᓚᓐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᕈᒪᕙᒃᖢᓂ,” ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“I had a really hard time the first semester,” she said.

“ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅᓯᐅᕈᓘᔭᓚᐅᕐᑐᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“I called FANS and they couldn’t put [my monthly allowance] higher.”

“ᐅᖄᓚᓪᓗᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒧᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖁᕝᕙᕆᐊᕐᓯᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᕋᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑕᕿᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᕆᕙᒃᑕᓐᓂ.”


Following the Christmas holidays, Amarualik found herself so cash-poor she didn’t have enough money for groceries.

ᖁᕕᐅᓱᒡᕕᒃ ᐊᓂᒍᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᙱᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.


In early January, Amarualik posted on Facebook, asking for family and friends for help to get diapers for her toddler.

ᔭᓄᐊᕆ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒪᕈᐊᓕᒃ ᕙᐃᔅᐳᒃᑯ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᖃᓐᓇᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᑕᐅᔪᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᖁᐃᖏᓕᓴᕐᑖᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪ ᐸᓂᖕᒥᓄ.


Over the 2018-2019 academic year, FANS received applications from every Nunavut community except for Grise Fiord.

ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧᑦ 2018/2019-ᒧ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓇᒧ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᕐᕕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᕐᒥ.


There are roughly 480 Nunavummiut students who will use FANS’ $7 million annual grant budget this year.

ᒫᓃᒻᒪᑕ 480-ᖏᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓂᒃ $7-ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᑦ FANS ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ 2018/19 ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᕐᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ.


(ᑲᑎᕐᓱᒐᐃᑦ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ FANS)


As of April 2019, 47 of those are enrolled in Nunavut Sivuniksavut. FANS will spend more than $850,000 on NS students’ funding this year.

ᐱᒋᐊᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 2019-ᒥ, 47-ᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦᒧ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ $850,000 ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ.


FANS’ basic grant covers tuition fees up to $6,855 a year, plus a base living allowance of $1,092.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓄᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ $6,855 ᑎᑭᖢᒍ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ, ᒪᓕᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᑦ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ $1,092-ᓂ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᓂᒃ.


It offers up to $2,600 a month for students with dependents or other special needs.

ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᒋᓪᓗᑎᒃ $2,600 ᑕᕿᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐸᖅᑭᔭᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


Even students without dependents say that the living allowance is hardly enough to get by on each month, let alone have any spending money for weekend outings or a meal out.

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᔪ ᐅᖃᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᓐ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄ ᑕᕿᒧᑦ, ᒪᑯᓄᖓᓗᐊᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᕐᓇᙱᖢᓂ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᓯᐅᕈᒪᓗᓂ ᓂᕆᓂᐊᕈᒪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓂᕆᕝᕕᒃᒥ.


Many post-secondary students from Nunavut relocate to southern cities to pursue their studies, but say they don’t have the budget to fully enjoy that experience.

ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᓅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᓄᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᙱᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕋᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᐸᓕᒪᙱᑕᒥᓂ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᒻᒪᕆᒋᐊᒃᓴᖅ.


In some cases, students can take on part-time work to supplement their income, though by no more than $900 a month if they want to remain eligible for FANS.

ᐃᓚᖓᒍᓪᓕ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᑲᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ $900 ᐅᖓᑖᓅᙵᙱᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᖅᑭᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ.


Nunavut Sivuniksavut asks its students not to work, however, so they can focus on their studies and the cultural performance aspect of the program.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖃᑦᑕᖁᔨᙱᑦᑐᑦ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᒥᖕᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ.


FANS administrators acknowledge that its living allowance hasn’t increased in about a decade, and hasn’t been able to keep up with the cost of living in most Canadian cities where Nunavut students move to study.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᖏᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕋᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᓐ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᕐᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓪᓗᐊᓂ ᖁᓕᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖑᒻᒪᑎᔪᓐᓇᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᓐ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᐸᓗᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


Dayna Bruce is a first-year student at Nunavut Sivuniksavut.

ᑎᓇ ᐳᕉᔅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦᒥ.


(ᑐᓂᓯᔪᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥ)


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓵᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓕᒃ.


Rob Clift, the director of career development at Nunavut’s Department of Family Services, which oversees FANS, said the program is currently under review.

ᐅᕌᑉ ᑭᓕᕝᑦ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᒫᓐᓇ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


“We all know it needs to be improved,” Clift said.

“ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᒍᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᓕᕝᑦ.


“If you want people to be able to concentrate on their studies, you have to give them enough money, so they don’t have to worry about rent and food and other things,” he said.

“ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᑦᑎᐊᖁᒍᔅᓯᐅᒃ, ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ, ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᔾᔮᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᒡᓗᒧ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


The department is putting together a business case and will make recommendations to the legislative assembly this summer—one of which will be to increase students’ monthly allowances.

ᐃᓄᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᐅᔭᖅ—ᐃᓚᖓᓪᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕆᕙᒃᑕᖏ.


“The biggest challenge is the support we provide to students,” Clift said.

“ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᕐᓂᖅᐹᖑᖃᑦᑕᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒋᕙᒃᑕᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ,” ᑭᓕᕝᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“It’s not reasonable to assume that students from Nunavut have access to additional resources in the same way as students from the south does.

“ᓈᒻᒪᙱᒻᒪᓐ ᐃᓱᒪᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᙶᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕋᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ.


ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᙱᒻᒪᕆᖕᒪᓐ.”


If it’s approved, Clift hopes that increased allowance will be in place for September 2020.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᒍᓂ, ᑭᓕᕝᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 2020-ᒧ.


“This is a way for the territory to build the professional workforce that it needs,” he said.

“ᐅᓇᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖃᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“It’s often not thought of, ‘This is actually part of the Nunavut project.’”

“ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᕙᓗᐊᙱᒻᒪ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ, ‘ᐅᓇᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᖅ.’”


This article does not represent the opinions of Nunavut Sivuniksavut.

ᐅᓇ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖏᓐᓂᙶᙱᑦᑐᖅ.


Nunavut struggles to recruit Inuit health-care workers

ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒥ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ


Half of the Department of Health’s employees are Inuit, though only a handful work in front-line care

ᓇᑉᐸᖏᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏ ᐃᓅᔪᑦ, ᐅᓄᖏᑦᑐᕈᓘᒐᓗᐊᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓕᖄᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ


By ᓕᐋᓇ ᕗᐃᐊᓴᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ


Nunatsiaq News partnered with Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa this past winter to deliver a journalism workshop to a group of first- and second-year students.

ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᕗᑦᒥ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


Some of our reporters and editors spent Wednesday afternoons working with three students, who pitched and reported their own news and feature stories.

ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᖅᑎᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᔨᑦ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᐅᑉ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᖅᖢᑎ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


Art Sateana can recall the first time he felt out of place as a patient in Nunavut’s health-care system.

ᐋᑦ ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐃᖢᐊᖅᓴᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ.


“My first experience was when I was 14 years old and I just wanted to speak to someone who understood where I was coming from,” said Sateana as he recalls a medical appointment in his hometown of Rankin Inlet.

“ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᒃᐱᒋᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖓ 14-ᓂ ᐊᕐᕋᒍᖃᖅᖢᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒡᕕᖃᕈᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᖓ ᑐᑭᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᕝᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ.


Even as a teen, Sateana felt the nurse and doctor he was seeing made generalizations about his health issues and how they should be treated.

ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑑᓪᓗᓂᓘᓐᓃ, ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᕐᑎ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᑕᑯᔪᐃᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᒻᒪᕆᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


There are no Inuit doctors working in Nunavut and a small number of Inuit nurses, meaning many Nunavummiut will never be treated by an Inuk in the health-care system.

ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓘᒃᑖᖃᙱᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᖢᐊᕐᓴᐃᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᙱᑦᑐᑯᓘᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


Sateana decided he wants to change that.

ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.


Now 23, he is studying in the Health Careers Access Program at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

ᒫᓐᓇ 23-ᖑᓕᖅᖢᓂ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓄᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᔪᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᕈᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ.”


“I really wanted to be seen by an individual who understood my background, my history,” he said.

“ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔪᒪᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᖓ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᑭᓯᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᓅᓯᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᖑᕚᑦᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“To understand the social-economic factors that lead to health issues in the North.”

“ᑐᑭᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓕᔭᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ.”


She is from Iqaluit. As one of only a handful of young Inuit who plans to study medicine in Canada, that decision has pushed Sateana into the spotlight as a role model for other young Nunavummiut.

ᐅᓄᙱᑦᑐᑯᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᖅ ᓴᑎᐊᓇᒥ ᓯᕗᒧᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒍᑎᒌᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒍᒥᓇᕈᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᒃ.


The Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health says boosting Inuit representation in the territory’s health-care system is a priority.

ᒫᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᒃ.


Currently, roughly half of the department’s employees are Inuit, though only a handful of those work in front-line care.

ᒫᓐᓇ, ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᖏ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏ ᐃᓅᔪᑦ, ᐅᓄᖏᑦᑐᕈᓘᒐᓗᐊᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓕᖄᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


“We believe it is very important to have more Inuit working in the Department of Health,” said Joanne Idlout, the department’s manager of Inuit employment.

“ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᒍᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓂᖓᓂ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᔪᐊᓐ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


“We are constantly trying to promote health careers.”

“ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒍᑦ.”


To do that, she’s visiting high school classrooms across Nunavut, handing out health career toolkits that explain to students what kinds of jobs the GN is looking to fill and where students can pursue post-secondary studies.

(ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᑯ) ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ, ᐳᓛᑲᑕᒃᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᑐᓂᐅᖃᐃᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᕿᓂᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᑯᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Idlout said the department also offers training and professional development to entry-level staff who may want to build a career in health administration.

ᐃᓪᓚᐅᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᙳᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᒪᔪᓄᑦ.


“It’s really important that Inuit move up, even if they start in administrative positions and can see themselves moving into a more senior management role in a few years,” she said.

“ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᖕᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᑯ, ᐱᒋᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕋᓗᐊᕈᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᖃᓂᑦᑐᒃᑯᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“We think it’s very important for them to gain that education to allow them to move up in their careers.”

“ᐃᓱᒪᒐᑦᑕ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓂᖓᓂ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ.”


But Nunavummiut students who want to move into the health sciences have their work cut out for them.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᕈᓘᔭᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ.


Sateana, who graduated from Maani Ulujuk high school, said Nunavut’s education system did little to prepare him to study medicine.

ᓴᑎᐊᓇ, ᐊᓂᒍᐃᓂᑯ ᒫᓂ ᐅᓗᔪᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᓯᖓ ᐃᑲᔪᓗᐊᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


“When I was in high school, there were no biology classes, no chemistry, no physics and no mathematics courses,” he said.

“ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓗᖕᒦᖢᖓ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᒍᓯᕐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“So my first two years [in university], I was enrolled in classes for 14-16 hours a day … in order for me to qualify and get me where I am.”

“ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᒃ ᔫᓂᕘᓯᑎᒥ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖓ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓂᒃ 14-ᓂ 16-ᓄ ᐅᓪᓗᕐᒥ … ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕋᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᓕᕈᒪᔭᓐᓄ.”


Even as Sateana has settled into student life, the challenges remain.

ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᖃᓕᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᕗᐃᓂᐱᒡᒥ, ᓱᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕈᓘᔭᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ.


Sateana is currently working in the health care system in Nunavut, as an outpatient manager assistant at the Kivalliq Health Centre at home in Rankin Inlet while he continues his studies onlne.

ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕙᒃᖢᓂ.


There, Sateana has found some local patients are hesitant to interact with him in a health care setting.

ᑕᐃᑲᓂᓕ, ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᒪᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒦᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


“I was looked at as a person from town and not a professional,” he said.

“ᑕᑯᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᖃᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᐅᓂᓐᓂ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᕐᒥᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“Just because it is so new for a lot of people.

“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᓕᒪᙱᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ.


So I’ve had to prove my worth, which has been one of the trickier experiences.”

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᓐᓂ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᐳᖓ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᓘᔭᕐᓇᖅᖢᓂ.”


Sateana is in high demand elsewhere; the pre-med student is currently being courted by two other Canadian universities and one in the United States, which have all invited him to transfer to their programs in September.

ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᕈᓘᔭᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᒪᕐᕈᒃᑲᓐᓃᕐᓄ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᔫᓇᐃᑕᑦ ᓯᑕᐃᑦᔅᒥ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔪᐃᓐᓇᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒐᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᐅᓕᕐᐸ.


Given his motivation to get into medicine in the first place, Sateana said he would like to eventually return to Nunavut to work as a doctor, with a speciality in pediatrics.

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᒪᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᐅᑎᓛᕈᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᓘᒃᑖᖑᓕᕐᓗᓂ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


But as it stands, the GN does not employ a full-time position pediatrics in the Kivalliq region. That’s the branch of medicine that focuses on the care of infants and children.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᒫᓐᓇ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᓴᑎᐊᓇᐅᑉ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᓯᒪᔭᖓᓄᑦ, ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ, ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥ. ᐅᓇᓕ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓗᐊᕐᑐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


The Department of Health said it currently employs two full-time and one part-time pediatrician in Nunavut, all based in Iqaluit, while the department works to recruit a fourth.

ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐅᓪᓘ ᐃᓚᐃᓐᓇᖓᒍᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒡᓗ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓃᖢᑎᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᓴᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ.


Pediatricians are sent to work in most Nunavut communities on a fly-in basis.

ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓄᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᑲᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒨᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ.


“Our population within the territory is about 50 per cent under 25 [years of age], so the demography is very much there,” Sateana said.

“ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᐅᑉ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᖏᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖃᕐᒪᑕ 25 ᑐᙶᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᑐᖅ,” ᓴᑎᐊᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Baffinland production workers unionize, sign collective agreement

ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᖏᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓕᕐᐳᑦ, ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᒥᒃ


More than 800 skilled workers at Mary River get wage-benefit deal

800 ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ-ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ


More than 800 heavy equipment operators, haul truck drivers, skilled tradespeople and other workers at Nunavut’s Mary River iron mine have ratified a collective agreement with Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. (File photo)

800 ᐅᖓᑖᓂᑦ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖁᑏᑦ, ᐅᓯᑲᖅᑕᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖁᑎᑦ, ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᔩᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂᑦ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᐊᓗ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ. (ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ)


More than 800 heavy equipment operators, haul truck drivers, skilled tradespeople and other workers at Nunavut’s Mary River iron mine are now represented by a union—and they’ve just ratified their first collective agreement with Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.

800 ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖁᑏᑦ, ᐅᓯᑲᖅᑕᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖁᑎᑦ, ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᔩᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓴᓇᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᕗᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ—ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᒥᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑯᐊᓗᑦ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ.


After an organizing drive that Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers started in May 2017, the union was certified by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board in 2018.

ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅᑕᖃᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᓘᑯᓪ 793 (ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ 793) ᐅᑯᓇᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖕᒪᕆᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ (International Union of Operating Engineers) ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᓕᕐᓂᑯ ᒪᐃ 2017-ᒥ, ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓄᑦ (Canadian Industrial Relations Board) 2018-ᒥᑦ.


And following talks that started in November 2018, IUOE Local 793 members have just said yes to their first wage-benefit deal, which takes effect this May 1.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᑲᑖᓪᓚᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᑯᓂᒃ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2018-ᒥᑦ, IUOE ᓘᑯᓪ 793-ᒧ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᓵᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ-ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᓂᒃ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐊᑐᓕᕆᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᐃ 1-ᒥ.


“Seventy-nine-point-three per cent voted in favour, which is overwhelming,” Kathryn Peet, the communications representative for IUOE Local 793, told Nunatsiaq News.

“79.3 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᓂᕈᐊᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐅᐊᑲᓪᓚᕈᓘᓪᓗᓂ,” ᑳᑐᕆᓐ ᐲᑦ, ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ IUOE ᓘᑯᓪ 793 ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ.


Peet also said the negotiations were essentially non-adversarial and led to a type of deal that they describe as a “mutual gains partnership agreement.”

ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ “ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᑖᕐᓂᕐᒧ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ.”


“Basically what it means, to have a mutual gains partnership agreement, is when you have two sides that want to negotiate.

“ᑐᑭᖃᓗᐊᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ, ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᑖᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᕐᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᖃᕐᓗᓂ, ᒪᕐᕈᖕᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᒍᒪᓗᑎᒡᓗ.


ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᐊᖏᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒋᒍᒪᒐᑦᑎᒍ.


We were working with them to come to this agreement.

ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᑕᕗᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥ.


We’re trying to figure out ways for both sides to win,” Peet said.

ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᓚᐅᕐᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕈᓐᓇᕐᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓗᑎᒃ,” ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“It’s so that the employees are represented in the way that they need to be, but so that the needs of the mine are respected as well,” she said.

“ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᖕᒥᓗᑎᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


And the agreement contains provisions that set wage rates, including wage increases that will kick in on May 1, Peet said.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕆᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᐃ 1-ᒥ, ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ..


Ten per cent wage cut left employees behind

ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᒥᒃᖠᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑏᑦ ᕿᒪᒃᑕᐅᔪᑦ


As for the temporary 10 per cent wage cut that Baffinland imposed on all Mary River employees in September 2015, the new collective agreement would prevent that from happening again, Peet suggested.

ᒪᑯᓄᖓᓕ ᒫᓐᓇᓚᐅᑲᒃ 19 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᐊᑭᒃᖠᒋᐊᕈᑏᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᐋᕿᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 2015-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᑖᖅ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ.


“All the wage rates and wage increases in the collective agreement are contractually guaranteed over the life of this agreement,” Peet said in an email.

“ᑕᒪᕐᒥᓕᒫᖅ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ,” ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᑎᒍᑦ.


Baffinland imposed that 2015 wage cut to help them get through a rough patch. At the time, rock-bottom iron ore prices and missed production targets had hit them hard.

ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ 2015-ᒥ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᓇᑲᑎᕆᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᔪᕐᓴᑲᑕᕈᔪᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ, ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᑭᑭᓛᖑᑲᑕᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᑭᖑᕙᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ.


In 2017, the company restored that cut by granting a 10 per cent wage increase to its Mary River workers.

2017-ᒥ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᒃᖠᒋᐊᕈᑎᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ 10 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥᑦ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᖏᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂᑦ.


But those employees were still financially less well-off than they were in 2015.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ 2015-ᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ.


“This, however, was two years after the cut, and in the intervening years they received no wage increase at all.

ᐅᓇᓕ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᐊᕐᕌᒎᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐊᓕᒍᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᑭᐱᑎᕆᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᖑᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ.


Ultimately, even with the 10 per cent increase, they were behind where they were in 2015,” Peet said.

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ 10 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᒐᓗᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᑦᑎᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ 2015-ᒥᓪᓕ,” ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


So this situation became an issue in the recent negotiations.

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᙳᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ᐋᔩᑲᑕᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.


“The collective agreement was negotiated with this potential volatility front of mind,” Peet said.

“ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎ ᐋᔩᕈᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ,” ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅ” ᐃᓕᖁᓯᒃᑯᑦ


The new collective agreement also strengthens workplace safety, Peet said.

ᓄᑖᖅ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᙱᒃᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ.


This comes after the death of Tony Anker, 63, a haul truck driver who died on Dec. 16, 2018, in what the company says was a single-vehicle accident.

ᐅᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑑᓂ ᐋᓐᑯ, 63, ᐅᓯᑲᖅᑕᐅᑎᒥ ᐊᖁᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 16, 2018-ᒥᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᒍᑎᐅᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ.


Another worker, Michael Levi, 51, of Arctic Bay, died in an accident that occurred in September 2015.

ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖓ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎ, ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᓕᕙᐃ, 51, ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᒃᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᓪᓗᓂ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 2015-ᒥᑦ.


“In the collective agreement both parties confirm their commitment to a genuine ‘safety first’ culture and Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. confirms its responsibility to provide appropriate tools, training, inspections and safety procedures,” Peet said.

“ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᙱᓚᖅ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ‘ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅ” ᐃᓕᖁᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᕐᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ,” ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Now, employees have more of a say in workplace safety issues, Peet said.

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᒦᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


It does this through “additional avenues” for raising safety issues and concerns, she said.

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ “ᐊᓯᐊᒎᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ” ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᓂᒡᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ, ᐅᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ.


Also, IUOE Local 793 will sit on a joint health and safety committee alongside Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. representatives and Baffinland employees, she said.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, IUOE ᓘᑯᓪ 793 ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᑦ ᐹᕕᓐᓛ ᓴᓂᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“We will all work to ensure that safety remains front of mind for everyone,” Peet said.

“ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐊᕐᑐᒍᑦ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᒦᑎᑦᑎᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ,”ᐱᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔪᑦ ᒨᕆᔅᐴᒡᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕕᖕᒥᑦ


IUOE Local 793’s sister organization, the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario, is well-known to many Nunavut residents.

ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᑦᑐᕆᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ. IUOE ᓘᑯᓪ 793’s ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᖃᑎᖓᑦ, ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᑎᐅᕆᐅᒥ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ.


That’s because of its private technical school for training heavy equipment operators near the village of Morrisburg, Ont., which has been offering training to people from Nunavut since January 2005.

ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓂᕐᓴᕐᕕᒃ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᒨᕆᔅᐴ, ᐋᓐᑎᐅᕆᐅ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 2005-ᒥᑦ.


“The Operating Engineers Training Institute is the best trainer to be able to train people on how to use the equipment, safety, and respect for their fellow employees,” Peet said.

“ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓂᖅᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᕐᓯᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ, ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐲᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


The OETI also runs a program in Oakville, Ont. that trains crane operators.

ᐅᑯᐊ OETI ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᖕᒥᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐆᒃᕕᐅᓪ, ᐋᓐᑎᐅᕆᐅᒥ, ᑕᕝᕙᓂᓕ ᑭᕕᒃᓯᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᑭᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᕕᐅᓪᓗᓂ.


The IUOE Local 793 union represents about 15,000 crane and heavy equipment operators in Ontario and Nunavut.

ᐅᑯᐊ IUOE ᓘᑯᓪ 793 ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᒫᓂ 15,000 ᑕᑭᔪᓂᒃ ᑭᕕᒃᓯᔾᔪᑎᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖁᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᑎᐅᕆᐅᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᓪᓗ.


Through other locals, the union represents about 400,000 workers across Canada and the United States.

ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂᒡᓕ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᒫᓂ 400,000 ᓴᓇᔨᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒥᐊᓕᑲᒥ.


“We thank the employees of Baffinland for putting their trust in IUOE local 793 and having the confidence to vote in favour of the tentative agreement,” said Mike Gallagher, the IUOE Local 793 business manager, in a news release.

“ᖁᔭᒋᕙᕗᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓯᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐᒥ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ IUOE ᓘᑯᓪ 793 ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᐃᒃ ᒑᓚᒍ, IUOE ᓘᑯᓪ 793-ᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑎᒍᑦ.


Brian Penney, the president and CEO of Baffinland, said he likes the agreement because it “emphasizes collaboration, fully respects our IIBA [Inuit impact and benefits agreement], and reflects Baffinland’s core value to engage and develop our employees.”

ᐳᕋᐃᐊᓐ ᐸᓂ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᐱᐅᒋᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ “ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᓂ IIBA-ᒥ (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᑦ) ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ.”


And he described the deal as “a unique partnership, based on shared values, which puts employees first.”

ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ “ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ.”


NTI denied intervenor status in federal day schools class action

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᙱᓚᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ


Inuit groups say the claims process and deadlines pose significant barriers to access

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᕋᓱᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔾᔪᑏᑦ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕐᕕᐅᑲᑕᒐᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ


Students at Cape Dorset (Kinngait) Federal Hostel, in April 1964.

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᑭᙵᐃᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᖓᑦ (Cape Dorset Federal Hostel), ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 1964-ᒥ.


A nationwide class action lawsuit against the Canadian government for survivors of federal Indian day schools has reached a proposed settlement amount, which is expected to be approved by a federal court next month.

ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᑦᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᓪᓚᓄ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᓚᐅᕐᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᖃᓕᕐᐳᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑕᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕋᓱᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᖓᓂᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥ.


(ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᕐᓱᐃᒐᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ)


A federal court has rejected an Inuit group’s motion to intervene in a class action lawsuit for survivors of Indian federal day schools.

ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᒋᒋᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓕᕈᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᓪᓚᐃᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ.


Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. was among six groups and plaintiffs that applied to intervene in the McLean Day Schools Class Action, first launched in 2009 for survivors of day schools who were excluded from the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ 6-ᓂ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᒪᒃᓖᓐ ᐅᓪᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ (McLean Day Schools Class Action) ᑲᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ 2009-ᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᓐᓂᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓪᓚᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Federal Court Justice Michael Phelan denied NTI’s motion April 25, along with that of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, the Grand Council of the Crees and three individual plaintiffs.

ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᕕᓇᓐ ᐊᙱᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᒋᒋᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 25-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ ᑯᕇᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓂᒃ.


In its application, NTI said the scope and timeline of the proposed settlement was “inappropriate” and did not represent the interests of Nunavut Inuit.

ᐱᓇᓱᒍᑎᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᐊᖏᑎᒋᓂᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ “ᓈᒻᒪᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ” ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᙱᖢᑎ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ.


That’s because the proposed settlement was made public on March 14, though eligible former students only have until May 3 to file objections, the Inuit land claim organization said.

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔭᐅᑎᑕᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᒫᑦᓯ 14-ᒥᑦ, ᒪᑯᐊ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᕕᓃᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓯᒫᓂᒋᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᐃ 3-ᒥᑦ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᑖᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ.


“The Inuit of Nunavut have limited access to information and little current awareness of the day school issues, and are unable to meaningfully engage in this deadline,” NTI said in its application.

“ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᒍᑎᒃᓴᖃᓗᐊᕐᐸᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔾᔨᕆᓗᐊᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑲᐅᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑐᑭᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᓱᖃᕕᖓᓄᑦ,” ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ.


“The claims process and claims deadline contemplated by the proposed settlement do not reflect the reality in Nunavut and impose significant barriers to meaningful access to justice and reconciliation.”

“ᐱᓇᓱᒐᓱᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓇᓱᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᖃᕐᕕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᕐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕐᕕᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᖢᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒍᓐᓇᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᕿᖃᑎᒌᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ.”


The lawsuit could pay students anywhere from $10,000 for harms associated with attending a day school to a maximum of $200,000 for repeated sexual abuse or physical assault that led to long-term injury.

ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑰᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓖᒍᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᓂᒃ ᒫᙵᑦ $10,000 ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐹᖑᓗᓂ $200,000 ᖁᓄᔪᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓯᒪᓂᑯᓄᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓᓗᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕈᑎᐅᓗᑎᒃ.


In Nunavut, there were 25 eligible federal day schools under the settlement.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, 25-ᖑᖕᒪᑕ ᐅᓪᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᕐᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ.


The number of eligible students is unclear; NTI did not respond to Nunatsiaq News’ request for an interview.

ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑏᑦ ᓱᖅᑯᐃᓇᓗᐊᙱᖢᑎᒃ; ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᕈᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.


Earlier this year, the land claim organization, alongside Nunavik’s Makivik Corp. and the Inuvialuit Regional Corp., raised concerns that the funds in question are to be paid to and administered by a corporation in which there is no Inuit representation.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᕐᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᓇᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᑭᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᕕᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᕐᓱᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖃᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ.


The law firm Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP is set to receive the $55 million pay-out and will continue to act as the claimants’ class counsel under an additional $7 million in trust payment.

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ Gowling WLG (ᑲᓇᑕ) LLP ᑐᓂᔭᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ $55 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᙱᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᑖᕋᓱᒃᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᒃᑲᓐᓂᖃᕐᓗᓂ $7 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ.


In a January letter to Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, NTI, Makivik and IRC asked the minister to ensure that Inuit organizations have a role in that process.

ᔭᓄᐊᕆᒥ ᑎᑎᖃᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ-ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓄᓪᓗ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᑭᐅᕈᓕᓐ ᐸᓇᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ, ᒪᑭᕕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᕕᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒥ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎ ᐱᓕᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


One of those groups confirmed that the minister’s office sent a response to the land claims group just this month, though it’s unclear if Ottawa intends to address their concerns.

ᐃᓚᖓᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᑉ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᑕᕿᒥ, ᓇᓗᓇᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


In Nunavik, there are an estimated 3,000 former students from 11 different schools who could be eligible under the day schools’ agreement.

ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᒫᓂ 3,000-ᖏᓐᓃᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓂᑯᑦ 11-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᑎᒎᓇᖅ ᐊᔪᙱᑎᑕᐅᓇᔭᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᐸᓚᐅᕐᑐᓄᑦ.


Makivik Corp. says students who attended federal day schools not yet listed in the settlement agreement can request to be included in the agreement by contacting the class counsel at lessard@gowlinggwlg.com or at 1-844-539-3815.

ᒪᑭᕕᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᒧᑦ ᐅᕗᖓ lessard@gowlinggwlg.com ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᕗᖓ 1-844-539-3815.


Nunavimmiut with questions about their eligibility can also contact Makivik’s legal department at 418-522-2224 ext. 4.

ᓄᓇᕕᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᙱᑦᑕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒪᑭᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐊᓄᑦ ᐅᖄᓚᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᕗᖓ 418-522-2224, ᐊᑦᑕᑕᐅᑎ 4.


The proposed settlement is subject to federal court approval at hearings scheduled May 13-15 in Winnipeg.

ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐅᑯᐊ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᓕᕆᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᐸᑕ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᒪᐃ 13-ᒥᑦ 15-ᒧᑦ ᕗᐃᓂᐱᒡᒥᑦ.


Lack of local transport leaves Nunavut man in wheelchair stranded

ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᔾᔪᑎᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᒥᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᒥ ᐱᓱᒍᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᕿᒪᒃᑐᐅᒍᑎᐅᕗᖅ


“It’s just really hard for a disabled person living in a small community”

“ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᙱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᑭᑦᑐᒦᑦᑐᒥᑦ”


The Taloyoak family of a man who uses a wheelchair says there are almost no transit options for community members living with reduced mobility or disabilities.

ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᐊᑕᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᒧ ᐊᒃᓴᓗᐊᓕᖕᒥᒃ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᕐᒦᖏᓐᓇᕆᐊᓕᒃᒥ ᐅᖃᕐᑐᑦ ᓇᒧᙵᒍᑎᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᑲᐅᖅᑐᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓄᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᓕᖕᓄᓪᓗ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᐅᕙᙵᑦ ᓱᑕᕐ ᐱ)


Violetta Charlie is supposed to escort her husband to a medical appointment at the end of June, but she’s already worried about how they’ll make it there.

ᕙᐃᐅᓕᑕ ᓵᓕ ᐅᐃᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᖃᑎᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᓕᕐᐸᑦ ᔫᓂᐅᑉ ᓄᙳᐊᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᖏᒍᓱᓕᕇᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᐊᓗᒃ ᑕᐃᑯᙵᕐᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Charlie’s husband, David Jayko, has been disabled since 2015, the combined result of a vehicle accident and damaged knee joints.

ᓵᓕᐅᑉ ᐅᐃᖓ, ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔭᐃᑯ, ᐱᓱᒍᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ 2015-ᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᓂᑰᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓰᖁᖓᒍᑦ ᓱᕋᒍᔾᔨᓪᓗᓂ.


The 61-year-old does not have use of his legs or arms and uses a wheelchair to get around.

61-ᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᓂᐅᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑕᓕᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒃᓴᓗᐊᓕᖕᒥ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᒥᒃ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᒍᑎᖃᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ.


Jayko has regular medical appointments in Edmonton, but getting to them has become a headache for his family.

ᔭᐃᑯ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᒋᐊᖅᑐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᑦᒪᓐᑕᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐅᕗᙵᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


That’s because the Taloyoak couple doesn’t own a car, so the otherwise simple task of getting to the airport is a major challenge.

ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᑖᒃᑯᐊᒃ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᐅᑖᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕇᒃ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᖃᙱᒻᒪᑎ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓇᖅ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᐅᓕᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᖅ.


There is no taxi service in Taloyoak, nor does the community have an ambulance or adapted transit options available through its health centre.

ᑖᒃᓯᑕᖃᙱᒻᒪ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᓖᓪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖓ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᖃᙱᖢᓂ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᑰᖓᔪᓂᒃ.


“Just to get a ride to the airport is a real struggle,” Charlie said.

“ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐊᕋᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓗᒃ,” ᓵᓕ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“Every time we leave town, this is a problem.

“ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕋᓱᓕᕌᖓᑦᑕ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ.


ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓗᒃ.”


Through a loose agreement with Taloyoak’s home care services, a nurse or assistant has agreed to take Jayko to and from the airport on occasion.

ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᕐᑎ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎ ᐊᖏᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᔭᐃᑯ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᕙᒡᓗᓂ ᐃᓛᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᒡᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓄᑦ.


But it’s never been guaranteed, Charlie said.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓚᕆᒃᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑦ, ᓵᓕ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


The only way to get Jayko to the airport is in a car, Charlie explained, as the seats are less high than in a pickup truck.

ᔭᐃᑯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑭᒋᐊᕐᕕᖏᑦ ᐊᑦᑎᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᓯᖃᖅᑕᕐᕕᓕᖕᓂᒃ.


Transferring the man from his wheelchair to the car takes the help of two or three people, she added.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᒧᐊᖅᑎᒐᓱᒃᖢᒍ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᓗᓂ ᐱᖓᓲᓗᑎᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᐅᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ.


But during Jayko’s last medical trip in early April, when Charlie escorted her husband to Edmonton, she said the couple had to argue with home care workers to get a ride to the airport.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᔭᐃᑯ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐄᐳᕈᓪ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᓵᓕ ᐅᐃᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑦᒪᓐᑕᓐᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑖᒃᑯᐊᒃ ᑭᐅᓗᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᔪᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.


When they returned home April 9, they were told a janitor would pick them up, though no one from the centre was there to meet them when they arrived.

ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 9-ᒥᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓴᓗᒻᒪᕐᓴᐃᔨᒧᑦ ᐊᐃᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᖕᒥᙶᖅᑐᒥ ᓂᐅᕝᕕᐅᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᙱᑦᑎᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


“At this point, we don’t want to go anymore, it’s too much bother,” Charlie said.

“ᒫᓐᓇᐅᓕᕐᑐᕐᓕ, ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᒍᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᓐᓇᓗᐊᖅᑐᐊᓘᖕᒪᓐ,” ᓵᓕ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“I have to fight and make phone calls just to get a 10-minute ride.

“ᐅᖄᓚᕈᓘᔭᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᖓ 10-ᒥᓂᑦᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᔭᐅᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᒃᒧᑦ.


No one seems to know whose responsibility it is.”

ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᑭᓇ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.”


Charlie has complained to the health centre and local hamlet office, whose senior administrative officer sent a series of emails to the Department of Health in April.

ᓵᓕ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᒥᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᖓ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐄᐳᕈᒥᑦ.


“This is another case of the Taloyoak Health Centre not even trying to meet the needs of this community,” SAO Grant Scott wrote to a number of health officials in an April 1 email.

“ᐅᓇ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᑎ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ,” ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᒍᕌᓐᑦ ᓯᑳᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᒻᒪᕆᖕᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 1-ᒥᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ.


“The health centre knows what Mr. Jayko is capable and not capable to do, given his medical condition, yet they turn their backs on him.”

“ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᑦ ᒥᔅᑕ ᔭᐃᑯ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᐅᓇ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑐᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ.”


In an emailed response, a director of health programs for the Kitikmeot region acknowledged the lack of transport for people living with mobility issues in many Nunavut communities.

ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᖓᒍᑦ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᔾᔪᑎᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᒍᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


But the Department of Health does not provide any non-emergency medical ground transportation in communities, the health official explained, because it is not an insured service.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᙱᒻᒪᑕᒎᖅ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᓈᐅᑦᑎᐅᒃᑯᒫᖃᙱᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎ.


In Taloyoak, home care nurses and other health care staff are not insured to drive community members.

ᑕᓗᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᖅᑎᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓇᐅᑦᑎᐅᒃᑯᒫᖃᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᖁᑎᐅᕙᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ.


Clients are responsible for arranging transportation to the health centre or airport for approved medical travel, the Department of Health said in an email to Nunatsiaq News.

ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐊᕐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕆᐊᖃᕈᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᓕᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ.


Non-emergency transportation to the airport for approved medical travel is covered by Non-Insured Health Benefits for eligible Nunavut Inuit in only four communities: Coral Harbour, Whale Cove, Arctic Bay and Resolute Bay, where the distance to the airport is considered exceptional (more than six kilometres.)

ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᒧᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᒃᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓇᐅᑦᑎᐅᒃᑯᒫᖃᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ (Non-Insured Health Benefits) ᐊᔪᙱᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᑎᓴᒪᓄ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓅᖓᑎᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒪᑕ: ᓴᓪᓕᖅ, ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᖅ, ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᖏᓐᓄᖓᐅᓂᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᙱᑎᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ (6 ᑭᓛᒥᑕ ᐅᖓᑖᓅᖓᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ).


And in some cases, the NIHB or the GN’s Extended Health Benefits program could cover emergency inter-facility transfers from the health centre to the medevac plane, though that has not been the case for the Jayko family.

ᐃᓚᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᓇᐅᑦᑎᐅᒃᑯᒫᖃᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᕐᓱᐃᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐅᕈᔾᔨᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒧᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᔭᐃᑯ ᐃᓚᒌᓄᑦ.


Noah Papatsie with the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society said transportation for Nunavummiut with disability issues is sorely lacking across the territory, and it’s a gap he believes should be filled by the GN.

ᓄᐊ ᐸᐸᑦᓯ ᐅᑯᓇᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᒪᑭᓐᓇᓱᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔭᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᖢᓂ.


Iqaluit, his home community, is large enough that its health services offers transport to elders and other residents living with reduced mobility.

ᐃᖃᓗᓂᑦ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖓᓂ, ᐊᖏᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᓇᒧᙵᐅᑲᑕᒋᐊᒃᓴᒧ.


“But in other communities it’s hard—they are all having the same problem,” Papatsie said.

“ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓕ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ—ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᕐᒪᑕ,” ᐸᐸᑦᓯ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᔭᔾᔪᑎᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ.


There should be a better system and we should have better access.”

ᐱᐅᓂᕐᓴᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖅᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑕ.”


Charlie said since she has complained to the Department of Health, officials have at least tried to find solutions for the family.

ᓵᓕ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᒥᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᖕᓂᕐᓴᒥᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᓯᒪᓕᕐᑐᑦ.


She was told the department could ask her to sign a waiver that would absolve the GN’s responsibility should anything happen during transport to the airport.

ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓂᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖁᔭᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᖃᑳᓪᓚᖕᓂᕈᒪ ᒥᑦᑕᕐᕕᓕᐊᕈᔾᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


“I’m willing to do that because we have absolutely no other option,” Charlie said.

“ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖓ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᐊᒎᕐᕕᖃᙱᑦᑎᐊᕋᑦᑕ,” ᓵᓕ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“We’re having discussions now; we’re talking about it, but we should have had this conversation a long time ago,” she said.

“ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᑲᑕᒃᑐᒍᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ; ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᑲᑕᒃᑕᕗᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᑲᑕᓪᓗᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᖃᖓᑲᓪᓛᓗᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“It’s just really hard for a disabled person living in a small community.”

“ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᐊᓘᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓄᖕᒧ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᒦᖢᓂ.”


FASD in Nunavut a health-care rights issue, stakeholders say

FASD ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᒃ, ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ


“It’s the right of that child, it’s the right of that adult to get some answers”

“ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑉ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᖕᒪᒍ, ᐃᓐᓇᐅᓪᓗ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ”


This graphic was produced in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control in 2015 to promote awareness of the human and financial costs of FASD.

ᐅᓇ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᔫᓇᐃᑕᑦ ᓯᑕᐃᑦᔅᓂ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᕕᒃᒥᑦ 2015-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᕈᑎᐅᓇᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ (FASD).


The total economic cost to Canada is at least $1.8 billion a year, and the total cost per person with FASD is around $1.12 million over the course of their life.

ᑲᑎᖢᑎᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑎᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒪᑦ ᒫᓃᓪᓗᐊᕐᑐᑦ 1.8 ᐱᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕋᒍᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᖢᑎᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ FASD-ᒥ ᒫᓃᑦᑐᖅ 1.12 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


People in Nunavut with FASD, along with their families, have the right to know they have the disability, Nunavut-based advocates say.

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ FASD-ᒥᑦ, ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ, ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓗᑎᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒦᑦᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ.


But due to a lack of screening and diagnosis, that right is likely not being met within Nunavut’s health and education departments.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᕙᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


“It’s about systems not actually realizing that they are violating the rights of children and even adults and their families,” said Jennifer Noah, the executive director of the Piruqatigiit Resource Centre in Iqaluit.

“ᐅᓇ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓱᕋᐃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᔭᓂᕗ ᓄᐊ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑐᔨ ᐱᕈᖃᑎᒌᑦᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᖃᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ.


Piruqatigiit is a new non-profit organization in Iqaluit set up to help people and families living with FASD.

ᐱᕈᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᓄᑖᖑᔪᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ.


Experts say that FASD, short for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, a permanent disability, is more widespread in Canada than autism or Down syndrome, two other disorders that receive far more funding and public attention.

ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓇ FASD, ᓇᐃᓈᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐆᒧᖓ fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᑰᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᖏᓐᓇᓕᔭᑦᑐᖅ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓇᓂᕈᓘᔭᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐱᓂᕐᓴᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐋᑎᓴᒻᒥᑦ (autism) ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᐅᓐ ᓯᓐᑐᕋᒻᒥᑦ (Down syndrome), ᐃᓕᖁᓯᕐᓱᕈᑎᐅᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑖᕈᑎᑖᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


In Canada, the annual cost to the economy associated with FASD is about $1.8 billion and the lifetime cost per person with FASD is $1.12 million, Dr. Svetlana Popova of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reported in a study published in 2015.

ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᑦ FASD-ᒥ ᒫᓃᐸᓗᒃᑐᖅ 1.8 ᐱᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᖅ FASD-ᒥ ᐊᑭᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ 1.12 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂᒃ, ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᓯᕙᑦᓚᓇ ᐸᐳᕙ ᐅᕙᙶᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂᒃ 2015-ᒥᑦ.


The term “FASD” covers a wide range of lifelong cognitive and physical deficits caused when a fetus is exposed to alcohol inside a mother’s womb.

ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ “FASD” ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᕈᓘᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓯᒪᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᒥᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖅᓱᕈᓐᓃᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕈᓂ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥᑦ ᐊᓈᓇᖓᑕ ᐃᒡᓕᐊᖓᓃᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


Though the disability is believed to be widespread in Nunavut, the 2007-08 Inuit health survey, conducted in Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and the Inuvialuit region, reported no information on alcohol consumption by pregnant mothers and no other data on the prevalence of FASD.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᖅᓱᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᓇᓂᕈᓘᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, 2007/08-ᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ, ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᕐᓱᒐᖅᑕᖃᙱᖢᓂ FASD ᐱᑕᖃᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


And Nunavut’s minister of education, David Joanasie, said last March that while he knows of numerous children in school with undiagnosed FASD, the department is not able to track them.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒫᑦᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒐᓗᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᖕᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓪᓚᕆᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ.


In 2011, another survey based on a smaller sample of Nunavik women, found 61 per cent reported drinking during pregnancy, and that 38 per cent of pregnant women reported binge drinking.

2011-ᒥ, ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᓄᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᓕᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ 61-ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᒥᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓇᔾᔨᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 38-ᐳᓴᓐᑎᑦ ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


And Svetlana Popova, a scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, told Nunatsiaq News last week that vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous people, suffer from FASD at rates 10 to 40 times higher than the general population.

ᐅᓇᓗ ᓯᕕᐊᑦᓚᓇ ᐸᐳᕙ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎ ᐅᕙᙶᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᒪᑯᐊ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᙱᓗᐊᔭᑦᑐ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᑦ, ᒪᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑎᑐᑦ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᕙᙵᑦ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᓯᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒫᓂ ᖁᓕᓂᑦ 40-ᓄᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ.


Since no amount of alcohol, cannabis or tobacco is considered safe to consume during pregnancy, this suggests there are many people in Nunavut whose FASD is hidden or unknown to them or others.

ᒪᑯᐊᓕ ᐃᒪᐊᓗᐃᑦ, ᓱᐴᕐᑐᒐᐃᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑕᕝᕚᑮᑦ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᕆᔭᐅᕙᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓄᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕐᓇᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐃᔨᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Noah, based on her experience with addictions and counselling, agrees with that kind of assessment.

ᓄᐊ, ᐊᑐᕐᓂᑯᖓᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ, ᐊᖏᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


“I will say that FASD is far more prevalent than we can imagine, not only in Iqaluit and Nunavut, but in all places.

“ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᖓ FASD ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓇᔭᖅᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂᒡᓕ, ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑐᐊᙳᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓇᓂᓕᒫᑦᑎᐊᖅ.


FASD is four times more common than autism and Down’s syndrome combined,” Noah said.

FASD ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᒪᑯᓇᙵᓪᓕ ᐋᑎᓴᒻ (autism) ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐅᓐᔅ ᓯᓐᑐᕋᒻᒥᑦ (Down’s syndrome) ᑲᑎᖢᑎᒃ,” ᓄᐊ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“We are not at all suggesting that it is only an Inuit problem. It’s absolutely everywhere that there is alcohol.

“ᐅᖃᕋᓱᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑐᐊᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓇᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ.


But it is time that we do some level of service provision,” she said.

ᒫᓐᓇᓕ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᖃᕆᐊᖃᓕᕋᑦᑕ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


It is not safe to consume any amount of alcohol during pregnancy, experts say.

ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᖏᓂᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒡᓗᓂ ᓇᔾᔨᓗᓂ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓕᕐᓯᒪᔪᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


But the 2004 Qanuippitaa survey in Nunavik, a region with a culture and history that is similar to Nunavut’s, reported that 44.2 per cent of women surveyed in Nunavik reported drinking alcohol during their last pregnancy.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ 2004-ᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐱᑖ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᑐᖃᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᕙᖕᓂᑯ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᐸᓗᐊᓂᑦ, ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ 44.2 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᓇᔾᔨᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ)


ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕐᕖᑦ


FASD, if not screened for or diagnosed, can become a permanent barrier to getting a job or even training that could lead to a job.

FASD,ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᙱᑉᐸᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᙱᒃᑯᓂ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑎᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ.


That’s because FASD often damages memory, the ability to learn how to use language to communicate, and social skills required for labour force participation.

ᐱᔾᔪᑎᓕᒃ FASD ᓱᕋᐃᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᒍᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᒍ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖃᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᑦ.


For that reason, Piruqatigiit wants to offer a certificate program to train service providers for people with FASD, Noah said.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ, ᐱᕈᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᓕᕈᒪᕗᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᑖᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓕᖕᓂᒃ, ᓄᐊ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“We’re trying to train front-line service providers so they can be FASD- and trauma-informed, so they can do a better job of being aware of the unique needs and challenges and strengths of people with FASD,” she said.

“ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᑲᑦᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᒪᑯᓂᖓ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᕈᓘᔭᕈᑎᐅᔭᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᒋᕙᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Helen Roos, the executive director of the Ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre in Iqaluit, also agrees that people with unscreened and undiagnosed FASD have basic health-care rights that Nunavut may be ignoring.

ᕼᐊᓚᓐ ᕉᔅ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᐹᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ, ᐊᖏᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ FASD-ᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᒋᙱᓗᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ.


ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᒃᑯᑦ


“It’s the right of that child, it’s the right of that adult to get some answers,” Roos said.

“ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᔭᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒧᖓ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᒧᑦ, ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᔭᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“People have the right to answers to questions about their own health.

“ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


And if there are questions about their development or growth, they have the right to screening [for FASD],” she said.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᔪᒪᓐᓂᕈᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᒍᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᑦ FASD-ᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Roos said this means that unacknowledged FASD is a big barrier to labour market participation.

ᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᕐᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᓐᓂᖅ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕋᓱᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


“In my seven years, especially my six years in working in pre-employment training with Inuit, we see it [FASD] in spades,” she said.

“ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ 7-ᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ, ᐱᓗᐊᕐᑐᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ 6-ᓂ ᓴᓇᓪᓗᖓ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ FASD ᐱᑕᖃᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑎᐅᓕᔭᒻᒪᑦ.


They are not screened in elementary school or high school.”

ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᕙᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓗᖕᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ.”


That’s because people with FASD often struggle with language and memory problems that make it difficult for them to understand instructions that are given to them in the workplace.

ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᕐᓕ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ FASD-ᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᖃᓕᔭᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᒍᓐᓇᓗᐊᖅᐸᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᒪᓕᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ.


And that, in turn, means that such people will find it extremely difficult to train for jobs in Nunavut’s two biggest industries: mining and government.

ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓴᕋᔭᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐹᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᕝᕕᐅᔪᓂᒃ: ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ.


“In mining, where everything is health and safety and wellness, and safety is number one, if you can’t remember safety precautions for yourself, you’re not going to be able to work in that environment.

“ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᒡᓕ, ᒪᑯᐊ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᙱᒃᑯᕕᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᓱᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᙱᓚᑎᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᑦ.


In government you need high rates of literacy.” she said.

ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᓪᓕ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᓇᖅᖢᓂ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


But that doesn’t mean that people with FASD are doomed to a life of unemployment.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᕈᑎᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ FASD-ᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


“There are employment opportunities, but they require job coaches,” she said.

“ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᑐᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕋᔭᖅᖢᑎᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


For Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone, it’s crucial that the Department of Education identify children with FASD and offer them help, as early as possible.

ᐆᒧᖓᓕ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒪᓂᕋᔭᒃᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᒧᑦ ᐋᑕᒻ ᐋᕆᐊᒃ ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐᒧᑦ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᕗᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᑎᑕᐅᓗᑎ ᖃᓄᑦᑎᒃᑯᑦ.


“Early intervention is crucial for those living with FASD, as we must assist them to learn to live with their disability before it is too late,” Lightstone told Nunatsiaq News

“ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᑲᐅᖅᑐᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ FASD-ᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖃᕋᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᒥᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᖑᕙᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ.


“I believe that the Department of Education must consider this a priority by offering training to our school faculty to identify students who show symptoms of FASD,” he said.

“ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᐳᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑐᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕈᒥᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


But right now, very few Nunavummiut with FASD appear to be screened or diagnosed in Nunavut, Roos said, except for a few who were fortunate enough to have moved to the south.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᒫᓐᓇ, ᐅᓄᙱᑦᑐᑯᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ FASD-ᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᐳᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᒃᑎᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᑐᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓄᑦ.


“They never got any assistance with screening or diagnosis unless they grew up in or moved to the south, in Montreal or Ottawa, or were picked up, in the Kitikmeot and got screening through Stanton hospital in Yellowknife,” Roos said.

“ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᙱᖢᑎᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓄᑦ ᓅᓐᓂᕈᑎᒃ, ᒪᓐᑐᕆᐊᒧᑦ ᐋᑐᕚᒧᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓯᑖᓐᑕᓐ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᒥᑦ,” ᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.