Jailhouse blues: Nunavut’s incarceration rate rose last year

ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᓄᒫᓇᕈᑏᑦ: ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ


Proportion of Nunavut residents jailed or imprisoned rose 7 per cent in 2017-18

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᐹᓪᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ 7 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ 2017/18-ᒥᑦ


A view of the correctional healing facility in Rankin Inlet, as it looked in 2016.

ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, 2016-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


By ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ


Despite a drop in national incarceration rates over the past five years, the proportion of Nunavut residents jailed or imprisoned in 2017-18 rose by seven per cent over the previous year, says Statistics Canada.

ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᑦᑎᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᕋᓗᐊᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᐅᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓂᑯᑦ 2017/18-ᒥ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓯᒪᕗᑦ 7 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᐊᕐᕌᓂᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ, ᓇᐃᓴᐃᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ.


The incarceration rate in the Northwest Territories was almost as high, at 527 per 100,000, but more than 50 per cent lower in Yukon, at 191 per 100,000.

ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᑲᓴᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇ 527 ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ 100,000, ᑖᓐᓇᓕ 50 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥᑦ ᐊᑦᑎᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᔫᑳᓐᒥᓪᓕ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇ 191 ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ 100,000.


“The incarceration rate in all three territories was well above the provincial and territorial average,” the report said.

“ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᓂ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᕐᓴᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓰᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕇᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕆᕙᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ.


In all three territories, incarceration rates exceeded the national and provincial average.

ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓂᒃ, ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᖄᖏᐅᑎᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓯᑎᒍᑦ.


But the N.W.T and Yukon incarceration rates, although still high, are declining.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᔫᑳᓐᒥ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ, ᓱᓕ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ.


In Nunavut, however, incarceration rates rose by seven per cent.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥᓪᓕ, ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓯᕚᓪᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ 7 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ.


That’s the opposite of the national trend.

ᐅᓇ ᐃᒡᓗᖔᖓᓄ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᓯᐊ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ.


The report’s numbers show that, nationally, fewer Canadians are going to provincial-territorial jails or federal prisons.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᑎᒍᑦ, ᐅᓄᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᒃᒧᐊᕐᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


“While the national incarceration rate has fluctuated over 25 years, it has declined every year over the last five years,” the report said.

“ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓇᓕᒧᒌᑲᑕᖏᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ 25 ᐃᓗᐊᓂᑦ, ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᓐ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᓂᒃ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


“In 2017/2018, the national incarceration rate was 131 adults per 100,000 population, a four per cent decrease from 2016-17,” the report said.

“2017/2018-ᒥ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ 131 ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ 100,000 ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ, 4 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥᑦ ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᐹᓪᓕᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ 2016/17-ᒥᑦ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ.


“Incarceration rate” means the average number of adults in either sentenced custody, remand or other forms of temporary detention, the report said.

“ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ” ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᕆᕙᒃᑕᖏᑦ ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᖃᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᑲᒍᑎᒧᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


The report does not give the cost to Nunavut of keeping prisoners in jail.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᑐᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ.


That’s because the relevant financial information for Nunavut is not available, the report said.

ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᑕᒪᐅᖓ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


But in the N.W.T., the cost is $435 per day per prisoner and in Yukon, $507 per day per prisoner.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ, ᐊᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ $435 ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᔫᑳᓐᒥ, $507 ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒧᑦ.


For inmates doing time in federal prisons, the cost is $330 per day per prisoner, and the average for all provinces and territorial institutions is $233 per day per prisoner.

ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᓪᓕ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓘᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐊᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ $330 ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒧᑦ, ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒋ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓯᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓂᒃ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᑭᒋᓪᓗᐊᖅᑕᖓ ᒫᓃᑦᑐᖅ $233 ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᒧᑦ.


Remand prisoners outnumber those serving sentences

ᐃᖃᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᕝᕕᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᑕᕿᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ


Another feature of Nunavut’s incarcerated population is that in Nunavut, as in eight other jurisdictions, remand prisoners outnumber sentenced prisoners, the report found.

ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕆᔭᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᑐᑦ 8-ᖑᔪᑎᑐᑦ, ᐃᖃᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᕝᕕᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᔪᐃᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓂᕋᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ.


In Nunavut, more than half of all incarcerated people—55 per cent—were remand prisoners.

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᓇᑉᐸᖏᑦᑕ ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ—55 ᐳᓴᓐᑎ—ᐃᖃᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ.


“Remand” prisoners are those charged with crimes but who are ordered to stay in custody until after the courts process their cases.

“ᐃᑲᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᓂᕐᒧᑦ” ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓂᐊᓂᒃᑯᓂ.


The practice is controversial, because remand prisoners often don’t get access to programs available to sentenced prisoners.

ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕐᑐᖅ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐅᑕᕿᔪᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓄᑦ.


“A greater number of adults in remand than in sentenced custody in provincial-territorial correctional facilities can lead to various challenges associated with providing services to inmates, such as rehabilitation and housing, due to the uncertainty regarding their length of stay,” the report said.

“ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒪᑯᓇᙵᓪᓕ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ ᒪᑯᓇᓂ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓯᓂᒃ-ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᖕᒥᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓕᕐᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ, ᒪᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᒪᒥᓴᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᑎᒋᔪᖅ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


But the trend toward the increased incarceration of people awaiting trial likely reflects a “cultural shift” in the justice system.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᓄᕐᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖃᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ “ᐃᓕᖁᓯᖅ ᐊᓯᙳᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ” ᒪᐅᓇ ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


“The view here is that in order to minimize the risk of danger to the general public, including the risk of re-offending, courts choose to remand more accused as they wait for their trial/sentence,” the report said.

“ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᕐᓕ ᒪᐅᓇ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᑎᒐᓱᒃᖢᒍ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᕈᑎᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᑲᓐᓂᕋᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᐅᔪᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᐳᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᑎᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᑦ.


ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ 2,000 ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ


Another number that the study reported is the number of “admissions,” which means any movement into jail, prison or some form of community supervision, such as probation.

ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖓ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑎᑎᒍ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓇ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ “ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᑦ,” ᑐᑭᖃᕐᖢᓂ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᕝᕕᒃᒧᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᓪᓚᕆᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᒪᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ, ᐅᐸᒍᑎᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅᑎᑐᑦ.


In Nunavut, the admission numbers for 2017-18 were:

ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ 2017–18 ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ:


• Sentenced prisoners admitted to incarceration: 415

• ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ: 415


• Remand prisoners admitted to incarceration: 567

• ᐅᑕᕿᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ: 567


• Convicted offenders admitted to some form of community supervision: 900

• ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ: 900


• Total number admitted into the correction services: 1,882

• ᑲᑎᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃᒧᐊᖅᑐᑦ: 1,882


One disturbing national statistic is the grossly disproportionate number of Indigenous adults in custody in 2017-18: 30 per cent of all provincial and territorial inmates and 29 per cent of all federal inmates.

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᖕᓇᓗᐊᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᓇᐃᓴᐃᔨᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᓇ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ 2017/18-ᒥ: 30 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓂᓯᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓂᒃ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 29 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Indigenous people comprise only 4.9 per cent of Canada’s population, according to the 2016 census.

ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ 4.9 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕ 2016-ᒥ ᓇᐃᓴᐃᒍᑎᕕᓂᕐᓂᒃ.


Sudden sale of Rankin Inlet pharmacy still rankles Kivalliq residents

ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᐅᓂᖓ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᙱᓚᖅ ᓱᓕ


“I liked the idea of supporting an Inuit-owned company. … I would like to know why they sold out to Northern”

“ᐱᐅᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑯ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ… ᖃᐅᔨᔪᒪᔪᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᑯᓐᓄᑦ”


Cathy Towtongie, MLA for Rankin Inlet North, says she wants to know more about the reasoning behind Sakku Investments Corp.’s sale of Sakku Pharmacy to the North West Co. (File photo)

ᑳᑎ ᑕᐅᑐᙱ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᐅᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᑭᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑭᓱᒧᑦ ᓴᒃᑰᑉ ᐱᕈᐃᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔩᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐃᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᓄᐊᑦ ᕗᐃᐊᔅᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᑯᓐᓄᑦ. (ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ)


By Thomas Rohner Special to Nunatsiaq News

By ᑖᒪᔅ ᕉᓄ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ


The sale of Inuit-owned Sakku Pharmacy in Rankin Inlet in February to the North West Co. happened so quickly and amid such secrecy that many residents are still asking questions.

ᓂᐅᕐᕈᐅᑎᓂᖓ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᐊᑦ ᕗᐃᐊᔅᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᕿᓚᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑎᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᖃᕈᑎᐅᕗᖅ ᓱᓕ.


But Sakku Investments Corp., the economic development arm of the Kivalliq Inuit Association that had majority ownership of the company, remains tight-lipped about the sale.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓴᒃᑰᑉ ᐱᕈᐃᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔩᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᔨᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᖃᖅᑎᐅᓛᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒥᒃ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕈᒪᙱᓚᑦ ᓱᓕ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


“As an Inuk beneficiary, we haven’t seen financial statements or the reasoning behind the sale. There’s something going on here that we don’t know about,” said Cathy Towtongie, MLA for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet.

“ᐃᓅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᑕ, ᑕᑯᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑭᓱᒧᑦ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑳᑎ ᑕᐅᑐᙱ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᑲᖏᖅᓕᓂᐅᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓄᑦ-ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᒃᒧᓪᓗ.


“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑎᑕᐅᙱᖢᓂᓐ.


Only when [Sakku Pharmacy] was closing and started to move over to the Northern did we find out.”

ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᓕᕐᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᒃᑎᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓕᑕᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᑐᒍᑦ.”


That occurred in late January, residents say.

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ ᓄᖑᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ.


By February, the new pharmacy opened across the street inside Rankin Inlet’s Northern Store.

ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆᐅᓕᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᑖᒥ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᑭᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᕐᑐᖃᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᐊᓂ.


“I liked the idea of supporting an Inuit-owned company.

“ᐱᐅᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑯ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ.


ᐱᐅᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑯ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐄᔭᒐᐃᑦ.


ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᓐ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᐸ?


ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓪᓗᐊᕐᓂᙱᑦᑐᑦ.


I would like to know why they sold out to Northern,” one resident said.

ᖃᐅᔨᔪᒪᔪᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᐅᖕᒪᖔᑦ ᓄᐊᑕᒻᒧᑦ,” ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.


“I hope people shake their heads and realize, Sakku sold it to Northern because it was an easy way to make a quick buck,” said another resident.

“ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ, ᓴᒃᑯ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᒧᑦ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᑲᐅᕐᑐᕈᒪᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᓯᖓ ᓄᓇᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ.


Sakku Investments did not respond to multiple requests over email and phone for information or comment.

ᓴᒃᑰᑉ ᐱᕈᐃᔭᖏᑦ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᖕᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᕆᐊᕐᕕᐅᓇᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖏᓐᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ.


According to their website, the Inuit company’s mission is “to invest in viable business enterprises to the betterment of the Inuit of the Kivalliq Region.”

ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᒐᖏᑦᑎᒍᓪᓕ, ᐃᓄᐃᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖓᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᒐᖓ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᖓᔪᖅ “ᐱᕈᕐᓴᐃᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᖕᓂᕐᓴᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒦᑦᑐᓂᒃ.”


Sakku Pharmacy, which had its day-to-day operations managed by the Super Thrifty Pharmacy in Manitoba, is widely believed to have been a profitable business serving the entire region.

ᓴᒃᑯ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ, ᖃᐅᑕᒫᓐ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓲᐳ ᑐᕆᕝᑎ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᑰᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᓕᒫᓂᒃ.


Nunatsiaq News received information that suggests the pharmacy regularly pulled in over $200,000 in sales each month.

ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ $200,000-ᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᕿᑕᒫᑦ.


Sakku Investments’ website says its guiding principles include transparency and decision by consensus.

ᓴᒃᑯ ᐱᕈᐃᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᒍᓚᑦᑎᔩᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯ ᓴᕿᔮᒐᖏᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᕈᑎᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᔮᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


The corporation does not make its financial statements publicly available.

ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᕙᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ.


Their website also lists Inuit empowerment and employment through training, mentoring and learning as guiding principles.

ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᒐᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


But while the pharmacy regularly saw high turnover among most of its staff, its one long-time Inuk staff member told Nunatsiaq News that Sakku Investments never offered her an opportunity for greater training, education or advancement.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᓕ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᑯᑖᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᓴᒃᑰᑉ ᐱᕈᐃᔭᖏᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ.


Nunatsiaq News has agreed to not publish the name of the former employee at her request.

ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᓂᑰᑉ ᐊᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑕᐅᖁᔨᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


And after more than 20 years of service, the former employee, a cashier who regularly provided interpretation service for elders, said she also did not receive any severance pay from Sakku Investments or Super Thrifty.

ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓪᓗ ᐊᕙᑎᑦ (20) ᐅᖓᑖᓂᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑎᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᓂᑯ, ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓵᔨᐅᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓴᒃᑰᑉ ᐱᕈᐃᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓲᐳ ᑐᕆᕝᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ.


“We’re not giving any comments and don’t wish to participate in your story,” a spokesperson from Super Thrifty’s head office said.

“ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᕕᒋᔾᔮᙱᓐᓇᑦᑎᒋ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒪᙱᖢᑕ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓲᐳ ᑐᕆᕝᑎᑯᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᖃᕐᕕᐊᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.


The former Inuk employee said she was offered a new job by the Northern Store as a cashier, but she was not comfortable taking that job.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᓂᑯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᑖᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒥᑦ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᑯᓐᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓗᓂ ᒪᓂᒪᕝᕕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᒍ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᕆᖁᔭᐅᔪᖅ.


“At Sakku I also helped the pharmacist and technicians with the elders when they needed my help interpreting … I can do more than just being a cashier,” she said.

“ᓴᒃᑯᒥᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒥᒐᒪ ᐄᔭᒐᓕᕆᔨᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᓇᔨᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑐᓵᔨᖃᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ… ᐱᓕᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᕋᒪ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓪᓗᖓ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Towtongie agreed: “I wish she had been rehired with the Northern because she knows the customers, the clientele, she’s very reliable and service is needed in both Inuktitut and English.”

ᑕᐅᑐᙱ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ: “ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕆᔭᐅᓪᓗᐊᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᒥ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖕᒪᒋᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ.”


The North West Co. addressed some local concerns on Facebook about English-Inuktut interpretation.

ᓄᐊᑦ ᕗᐃᐊᔅᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᕙᐃᔅᐳᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑐᑦ-ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


Staff at the Northern who have signed pledges of confidentiality can provide translation when requested, Tim Smith, director of pharmacy operations for the company, said on Facebook.

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᓂᑯᑦ ᑕᒪᐅᖓᒥᐊᖅ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑐᓵᔨᐅᔪᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕈᑎᒃ, ᑎᒻ ᓯᒥᑦ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᕙᐃᔅᐳᒃᑯᑦ.


“Should we look to hire additional pharmacy staff in the future, we would consider Inuktut fluency a significant asset.”

“ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕈᑦᑕ ᓯᕗᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᐅᓪᓚᕆᒐᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.”


But some residents found that response not good enough.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


“To use an ordinary person for an interpreter for a project like yours sounds like you’re unaware of the professionalism of your capacity,” one resident replied.

“ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᑐᓵᔨᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᔅᓯᑎᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓇᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᙱᓐᓂᔅᓯᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᒃᑰᖓᓂᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ,” ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ.


“Please do not rely on cashiers and stock boys to help you,” posted another resident who identified himself as a longtime interpreter.

“ᒪᑯᓂᖓ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᑎᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓕᐅᖃᐃᔨᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖃᕋᓱᙱᓪᓗᓯ,” ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᑐᓵᔨᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓂᒃ.


When asked why the former employee of Sakku with more than 20 years of experience was not hired to interpret for elders, NWC spokesperson Derek Reimer said store employees are providing translation services similar to what Sakku provided.

ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᓐ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᓂᑯ ᓴᒃᑯᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᐊᕙᑏᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᑐᓵᔨᐅᓗᓂ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓄ, ᓄᐊᑦ ᕗᐃᐊᔅᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᑎᖓ ᑎᐅᕆᒃ ᐅᕋᐃᒧ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᓵᔨᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓂᒃᑕᐅᖅ ᓴᒃᑯᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓᑎᑐᑦ.


“I don’t see a difference,” Reimer said.

“ᐊᔾᔨᒌᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᒐᒃᑭ,” ᐅᕋᐃᒧ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Other concerns raised by Rankin Inlet residents to Nunatsiaq News included privacy concerns: the new pharmacy is in a small space and one resident said she easily overheard another person’s prescription.

ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᐅᑕᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕐᒨᖓᔪᓂᒃ: ᓄᑖᖅ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨ ᒥᑭᑦᑐᕈᓗᖕᒦᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᑐᓵᔪᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖓ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒡᕕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


Another resident questioned whether patient consent is needed to transfer sensitive health information from Sakku Pharmacy to a private company.

ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖓᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓅᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ.


“As per privacy regulations, our pharmacy and staff members are regulated by the Personal Health Information Act which protects the privacy and personal information of patients,” Reimer said in a statement.

“ᒪᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕ ᑕᒪᐅᖓᒥᐅᖑᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᑎᒍᑦ, ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑕᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᑎᒍᑦ ᑕᕝᕘᓇᓗ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᐅᖓᒥᐊᖅ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᓐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᕋᐃᒧ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


The NWC also acquired the Kitnuna Pharmacy in Cambridge Bay in late 2018.

ᓄᐊᑦ ᕗᐃᐊᔅᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᑖᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᒻᒪᑕ ᑭᑦᓄᓇ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᓂᒃ 2018 ᐃᓱᓕᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


That pharmacy, also a profitable business, was a joint venture between the Kitikmeot Inuit Association’s business development arm and Super Thrifty.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᑦᑎᐊᕈᑎᐅᔪᖅ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑰᖓᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦᑕ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓲᐳ ᑐᕆᕝᑎᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ.


“This was a business decision based on the outlook of this particular business,” wrote Tim Zehr in an email.

“ᐅᓇ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖑᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᑎᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ,” ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑎᒻ ᔨᐅ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ.


Zehr is the president of the Kitnuna Group of Companies, a subsidiary of KitIA.

ᔨᐅ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᑦᓄᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ.


Residents in both Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay complained their new pharmacies offer a smaller selection of crucial items such as baby formula and feminine hygiene products at a higher cost.

ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᕿᐱᓘᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᑖᑦ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᐅᔪᑦ ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᓄᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᐃᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᑎᑐᓇᑎᖅ ᓄᑕᕋᓛᓄᑦ ᐃᒻᒧᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓯᐅᑎᒐᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑭᑐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ.


“We work with certain suppliers and try to retain a good assortment of products for our customers,” Reimer said.

“ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᐱᑖᕐᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᐃᓐᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᖢᑕ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᕝᕙᙵᑦ,” ᐅᕋᐃᒧ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“We can’t always replicate the assortment they previously had.”

“ᐊᔾᔨᑦᑎᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᑖᖏᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓇᑦᑕ ᐱᑖᕆᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.”


Reimer said the two acquisitions are part of the company’s mission to increase health access in under-served communities.

ᐅᕋᐃᒧ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᐱᑖᕆᔭᐅᔫᒃ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᑉ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᒐᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒨᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ.


“North West brings considerable experience and expertise providing pharmacy services to over 80 Inuit, First Nations and Metis communities across northern Canada.”

ᓄᐊᑦ ᕗᐃᐊᔅᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓕᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᙱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ 80 ᐅᖓᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓪᓚᒐᔪᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂᒃ.”


Nunavut youth speak out about access to mental health services in new report

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ


“If this type of investment and shift does not occur, then we can no longer continue to be shocked by staggering youth suicide statistics”

“ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᙳᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᙱᑉᐸᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑲᒪᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᕋᔭᖅᑐᒍ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᖃᑦᑕᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ”


Nunavut’s Representative for Children and Youth’s Office released its first systemic review Wednesday.

ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᕐᒥᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᖅ, ᒪᐃ 22-ᒥ.


The report highlights the voices of children and youth across the territory about access to and availability of mental health services.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᐊᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒦᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑏᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Young Nunavummiut are speaking out about access to mental health services across the territory in a new report from Nunavut’s representative for children and youth.

ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ.


On Wednesday, the Representative for Children and Youth’s Office released a 54-page review titled, “Our Minds Matter: A Youth-Informed Review of Mental Health Services for Young Nunavummiut.”

ᐱᖓᑦᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ 54-ᓂ ᒪᒃᐱᒐᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒎᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ “ᐃᓱᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᒥᔪᑦ: ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᖏᓐᓄᑦ.”


The report, which is the first systemic review conducted by the RCYO, also spells out 15 recommendations to the Government of Nunavut to develop a mental health strategy for children and youth in the territory.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ RCYO, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ 15-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ.


“Each of the recommendations in the report is aimed at improving the unacceptable state of mental health services for children and youth in Nunavut,” said Sherry McNeil-Mulak, Nunavut’s representative for children and youth, at a news conference.

“ᐊᑐᓂᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓇᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᐊᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᐅᕆ ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᖓᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


The RCYO is an independent officer of the Nunavut legislature who works to ensure the GN supports and protects the rights of young Nunavummiut.

ᐅᑯᐊ RCYO ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕝᕕᐊᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᖁᑎᖏᑦ.


The office is guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Inuit societal values and national advocacy standards, the report states.

ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᔫᓇᐃᑕᑦ ᓇᐃᓴᓐ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒋᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


The office surveyed 475 individuals across the territory, including 225 youth.

ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ 475-ᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒦᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ 225 ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ.


The survey was administered in person in 11 of Nunavut’s 25 communities and was anonymous, McNeil-Mulak said.

ᐊᐱᕐᓱᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᐸᒃᓯᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᖢᑎᒃ 11-ᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ 25-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓇᙱᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


McNeil-Mulak said throughout the review, the office repeatedly heard the need to have mental health services available in schools.

ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᑲᑕᖕᓇᓕᒫᒥᑦ, ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᑐᓴᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᓂᑦ.


Although many schools have Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit, or school counsellors, it is not their role to provide clinical mental health services, the report states.

ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕖᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕕᒻᒥ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔨᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᕆᙱᒻᒪᔾᔪᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


The report groups its 15 recommendations into five categories: mental health in schools, residential mental health services and the continuum of care, mental health workforce, awareness and barriers, and recreational, cultural and leisure activities.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ 15-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᐅᓕᖅᑎᖢᒋᑦ: ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂ: ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒃᓴᑦ; ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕈᑎᐅᔭᑦᑐᑦ; ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᙳᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ.


The recommendations include universal mental health programming in schools, college programs to build the capacity of Nunavut’s mental health workforce and cultural competency training for mental health service providers.

ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᓂᑦ, ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᔨᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓄᑦ.


Another recommendation calls for an in-territory facility that offers residential mental health treatment for children and youth, which currently does not exist in Nunavut.

ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒦᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒥᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ.


“If this type of investment and shift does not occur, then we can no longer continue to be shocked by staggering youth suicide statistics and outraged when hurt and helplessness disguise themselves as undesirable behaviour affecting our communities,” McNeil-Mulak said.

“ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᙳᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᙱᑉᐸᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑲᒪᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᕋᔭᖅᑐᒍ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᖃᑦᑕᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᙵᑲᑖᓗᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐱᓕᕐᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᙶᓕᕌᖓᑕ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ,” ᒪᒃᓂᐅ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


In addition to a transient mental health workforce, the report notes that another barrier Nunavut youth face in accessing mental health services is the stigma toward people with a mental illness.

ᐃᓚᒋᓂᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᓇᒧᙵᐊᑲᑕᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᑐᓗᖅᑕᕐᕕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᓈᒻᒪᙲᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ.


One youth participant in the survey wrote he or she would feel comfortable asking for help, “if I knew the services were available and I knew getting services wouldn’t make my family life worse.”

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᒃᓴᕋᔭᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓗᓂ, “ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒍᒪ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓂᕋ ᐃᓚᓐᓄᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓕᔾᔮᙱᑉᐸᑦ.”


The report states that 60 per cent of all health-related cases opened by the RCYO are related to difficulties faced by youth in Nunavut when it comes to mental health services.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᑦ 60 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᒪᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓕᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ RCYO ᐊᒃᑐᐊᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖅ.


In February 2018, the Department of Health announced that one to two mental health and addictions outreach workers, or MHAs, would be allocated to each community.

ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆ 2018-ᒥᑦ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃ ᑦ MHAs, ᐊᑐᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ.


The MHA jobs were intended to be filled by local, preferably Inuktitut speaking Inuit who would receive on-the-job training, the report states.

ᑖᔅᓱᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᓗᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕆᔭᐅᓗᑎᒃ, ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓯᓐᓈᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓗᑎᒃ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


Despite requesting the training document for these roles from the department, the report states the document remains in draft form and training is not being delivered for these roles.

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᒪᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕋᔭᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᕕᓂᖅ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓕᓵᖅᓯᒪᔪᑎᑑᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᕋᐃᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᓄᑦ.


In another section of the review 82 per cent of the GN’s service providers say they don’t feel the availability of mental health services for young people in the territory is meeting their needs.

ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᐊᒍᓪᓕ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ, 82 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᔨᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ.


On top of that, 72 per cent don’t think the quality of those services is adequate.

ᐊᒻᒪᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗ, 72 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᓯᖏᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


In a survey of the general population, the report reveals that 91 per cent of participants feel the availability of mental health services for young people in the territory is not meeting their needs.

ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᑎᒍᓪᓕ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒪᑯᐊ 91 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑏᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓅᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


McNeil-Mulak said her office is aware some of the report’s recommendations have been put forward before.

ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓂᑰᕌᓂᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


“Until children and youth in Nunavut are able to access the mental health services that they need, they have a right to, in their own territory, we will continue to urge the government of Nunavut to implement these recommendations,” she said.

“ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓯᒃᐸᑕ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᑦ, ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓗᑕ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Legally, the government has 40 days to respond to the report, making the deadline September 30.

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᓪᓕ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐅᓪᓗᓂᒃ 40-ᓂᒃ ᑭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑭᐅᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᑦ ᐃᓱᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 30-ᒥᒃ.


“Each of these recommendations will be closely monitored, and progress will be reported by our office in an ongoing basis,” McNeil-Mulak said.

“ᐊᑐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᖢᑎᒃ,” ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


We can’t determine FASD prevalence, Nunavut government says

ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ (FASD) ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᖔᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ


But small FASD diagnostic team starts work at Qikiqtani hospital

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐅᓄᙱᑦᑐᑯᓗᐃᑦ FASD-ᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒃᓴᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥ


This is a graphic produced by the FASD Hub Australia, which distributes information about the disorder online.

ᐅᓇ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᕈᑎ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ (FASD) ᕼᐊᑉ ᐋᔅᑐᕇᓕᐊᒥᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔭᐅᔪᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᒥᒃ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ.


The Government of Nunavut still can’t generate numbers on the prevalence of FASD within the territory’s population, a spokesperson for the GN’s Department of Health told Nunatsiaq News this week.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᓕ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ (FASD) ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᒃ.


“At this time, ascertainment of the existence of FASD is based on case-reviews, and is not possible at the population level using traditional surveillance techniques,” the GN said.

“ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᕐᓕ, ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᖏᒻᒪ ᐅᓇ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ (FASD) ᒪᓕᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᖅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᖅᖢᓂ,” ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


That’s because the territorial epidemiological surveillance work that the GN does is “designed to provide data for national surveillance programs, which do not include surveillance for FASD,” said the email, prepared by Wende Halonen, a senior communications officer at the GN, in response to questions from Nunatsiaq News.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓕ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕐᐸᒃᑐᑦ “ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᕐᓱᒐᕐᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ FASD-ᒧ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᑦ, ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᕗᐃᐊᓐᑎ ᕼᓗᓇᓐᒧᑦ, ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᔨ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ.


Also, the GN says such work is difficult and expensive.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᔪᖕᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᑐᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ.


“Epidemiological surveillance for FASD is an emerging area of work, requires significant resources from clinical and non-clinical perspectives, and is premised on internationally agreed upon case definitions,” the Health Department said.

“ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ (FASD) ᓴᕿᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂ, ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᖢᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᒍ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ,” ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ.


But at the same time, the GN says it now has the capacity to diagnose FASD, through a three-person team that recently started up at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᒪᐅᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕈᑎᖃᓕᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥ, ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᖅ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᓂᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓵᓚᐅᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥᓐ.


The term “FASD,” short for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, covers a range of permanent, lifelong mental and physical disabilities experienced by those who receive exposure to alcohol in the womb.

ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯ “FASD,” ᓇᐃᓈᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐆᒧᖓ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕈᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᔭᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᕈᓘᔭᕐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᑎᓄᑦ, ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᒥᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᒥᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖅᓱᙱᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᓂᑯᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓕᐊᕐᒦᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.


It’s the most common known cause of developmental disability in Canada.

ᐅᓇᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᓂᖅᐹᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᓐ.


According to the CanFASD research network, about four per cent of the country’s population, around 1.4 million people, likely have FASD, at a cost to governments of at least $4 billion.

ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕᒃ CanFASD ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᒫᓂ 4 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᖏᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᒫᓃᑦᑐᑦ 1.4 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, ᐊᓐᓂᐊᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ FASD-ᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᓂᓕᖕᒥᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᐅᓕᔭᖢᓂ ᒫᓂ $4 ᐱᓕᐊᓐᓂᒃ.


Experts say those who suffer from FASD can do well in life if they are diagnosed early and get the help they need.

ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓕᕐᓯᒪᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᖓᒍ ᖃᓄᐃᙱᑦᑐᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓵᓕᒍᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓕᕈᑎᒃ.


But its prevalence in Nunavut—as in many other remote and rural regions of Canada—has never been measured.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᐸᖕᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ—ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᕋᓛᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ—ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑦ.


And that makes it difficult for health and education leaders to justify the spending of government money to help people with FASD, whether they’re school kids or developmentally disabled adults struggling to get jobs and training.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᒪᓇᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕋᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᒐᓗᐊᕈᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᕈᑎᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕋᓱᒋᐊᒃᓴᕐᓗ.


“Indeed, we don’t know anything about the current prevalence of FASD among northern communities or remote communities,” Dr. Svetlana Popova of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health told Nunatsiaq News in an interview earlier this month.

“ᐄᓚᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓ FASD ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᑭᑦᑐᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ,” ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᓯᕕᐊᑦᓛᓇ ᐹᐳᕙ ᐅᕙᙵᑦ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᖏᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᕿᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᕐᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


A study released last month by a team Popova led found the prevalence of FASD is higher in certain vulnerable groups, such as correctional inmates, children in foster care and some Indigenous populations. Be wary of stigmatizing stereotypes

ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᑦ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᑦ ᐹᐳᕙ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒍᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓ FASD ᒪᑯᓇᓂ ᓴᕿᔮᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᓄᑦ, ᒪᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃᒦᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓕᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᒋᙱᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


Some researchers worry that the absence of research could result in Indigenous peoples being stereotyped.

ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒋᐊᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᕋᐃᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᕐᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᙱᒃᑯᓂᑦ ᒪᑯᐊ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᕙᒐᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


“Prevalence studies with Indigenous communities in particular have produced conflicting results because of continued surveillance, stigmatization, and stereotyping in these populations,” says an article that the CanFASD network published in July 2018.

“ᐱᑕᖃᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᑲᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒨᖓᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ,” ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᕕᓃᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ CanFASD-ᑯᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᒐᓕᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᔪᓚᐃ 2018-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


“There is an urgent need for additional exploration of these issues in order to properly identify vulnerable groups who may require specialized support,” the article said.

“ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᖕᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖔᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᑎᑦᐊᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ,” ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᐅᓂᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


But without early intervention and help, those who do have FASD often struggle behaviour problems in school, and either wind up inside the correctional system or find themselves permanently barred from participation in the labour market.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᑳᐅᕐᑐᙱᒃᑯᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᑲᐅᖅᑐᙱᒃᑯᑎ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ FASD-ᖃᖅᑐ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᐳᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃᒧᐊᖅᑕᐅᕙᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᕙᒍᓐᓃᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ.


The GN does gather information from expectant mothers on substance abuse during their pregnancies, but the GN does not use it to help them figure out the prevalence of FASD.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᑐᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᓈᓇᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᔾᔨᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒋᓕᖃᑦᑕᙱᒻᒪᒍ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓴᕿᔮᖏᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥᒃ.


“Maternal and prenatal care is of high priority to the department,” the Health Department email said.

“ᐊᓈᓇᒋᔭᐅᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖅ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᒻᒪᕆᖕᒪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ,” ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


Last March, Education Minister David Joanasie admitted that, although he knows there are likely many cases of undiagnosed FASD among Nunavut students, his department can’t track them right now.

ᐅᓇ ᐊᑭᓐᓇᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᕿᓵᕐᓂᑯᖓ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᖅᐹᓪᓕᕈᑎᐅᓇᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ (FASD). ᒫᑦᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᑎᒍᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒫᓂᖏᑦᑐᑦ FASD-ᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᖓ ᒫᓐᓇ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᕐᓯᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ.


Adam Lightstone, the MLA for Iqaluit-Manirajak, told Nunatsiaq News that he was “a bit taken aback” by that response and that the department must do more to find out who needs help for FASD.

ᐋᑕᒻ ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒪᓂᕋᔭᒃᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ “ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᑲᒪᑲᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ” ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᓴᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕆᓪᓗᓂᒋ ᑭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ FASD-ᒧᑦ.


“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 said earlier this month.

“ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓵᓕᓂᖓ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓄᖓ FASD-ᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖃᕋᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐱᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋ ᑭᖑᕙᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ,” ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᖅᑭᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᕐᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


But despite its well-publicized capacity problems, the GN is not entirely ignoring FASD.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᖓ ᓴᕿᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ FASD-ᒥ ᐃᒃᓯᖕᓇᐃᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ.


Pediatric unit at QGH now does FASD diagnoses

ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ FASD-ᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖃᑦᑕᓕᕐᑐᑦ


For example, the three-person team at the Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit is now past the pilot project stage and is now set up to do FASD diagnosis, the Health Department said in its email.

ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ, ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑎ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓ ᐊᓂᒍᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᓂ FASD-ᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯ ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ.


That team consists of a neuropsychologist, a pediatrician and a speech-language pathologist.

ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᐅᕙᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᓕᖏᓪᓗ ᖃᕋᓴᖓᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓕᒃ, ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᔨ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᕐᑐᓕᕆᔨ.


“Children at risk for having FASD receive an initial assessment by a team of trained health care professionals,” the department told Nunatsiaq News.

ᓱᕈᓰ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᑦ FASD-ᒥ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᐳᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᑦᑎᐊᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ,” ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ.


“The team then collaborates in a multidisciplinary fashion (with guardian consent) to determine the diagnosis and care plans for children with prenatal alcohol exposure.”

“ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᓕᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ (ᐸᖅᑭᔨᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᖏᕈᓂ) ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᓯᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᑯᓂᒃ ᓇᔾᔨᐊᕆᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.”


Right now, that small team works only within the Baffin region, the GN said.

ᒫᓐᓇᓕ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᒥᓲᙱᑦᑐ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒃᑐᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᖕᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ.


That appears to partly address a big criticism that Justice Robert Kilpatrick, the former senior judge of the Nunavut court, made in a judgment he issued in 2013, when he lambasted the GN’s Health Department for being unable to diagnose FASD.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓕ ᐃᓚᐃᓐᓇᑯᓗᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᖂᔨᕗᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨ ᐅᕌᐳᑉ ᑭᐅᐹᑐᕆᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᒥ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, 2013-ᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᖏᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋ ᖃᐅᔨᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ FASD-ᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


That was in relation to a case involving the sentencing of a Nunavut offender who could not get an FASD diagnosis.

ᐅᓇ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᒥᑦ FASD-ᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ.


Kilpatrick warned that the Nunavut court might force the GN to pay for such diagnostic services in the future.

ᑭᐅᐹᑐᕆᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖁᔨᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑎᓄᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ.


“If the territory lacks the means to provide the diagnostic services required, the court has the ability to order out-of-territory forensic assessments to be performed where necessary.

“ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒍᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᑖᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᑎᑦᑎᓗᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕈᑎᒃ.


The court will not hesitate to do so where this is required for sentencing purposes,” Kilpatrick said.

ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕈᑎᒃ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓅᖓᒍᓂ,” ᑭᐅᐹᑐᓗᕆᒃ.


Audrey McFarlane, the executive director of CanFASD, a nationwide research network, said Nunavut has actually been involved in the issue for years, through an entity called the Canada-Northwest FASD Partnership, a knowledge-sharing group comprising the three territories and the four western provinces.

ᐋᑐᕆ ᒪᒃᕚᓕᓐ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ CanFASD-ᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᐅᓕᕐᑐᓂᒃ, ᒪᐅᓇ ᑲᓇᑕ-ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ FASD ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑯᐊᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᓴᒪᑦ ᐅᐊᓕᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐳᕌᕕᓐᓯᐅᔪᓂᒃ.


“They have been the leaders in Canada in developing evidence-based support services long before anyone else in central or eastern Canada,” McFarlane said.

“ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓯᒪᓕᕐᑐᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᒍᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓂᑲᓪᓚᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓐᓇᒍᑦ ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑲᓇᖕᓇᖓᓂᒃ,” ᒪᒃᕚᓕᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


This is a poster that the Government of Nunavut has produced recently to raise awareness about FASD. GN focuses on prevention

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᓕᕐᐳᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ


One FASD activity the Health Department does emphasize is its prevention work.

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ FASD-ᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


“The GN strives to share messages that acknowledge and value the people with FASD who live in our communities, while at the same time reducing the number of substance-exposed pregnancies,” the Health Department said.

“ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᑦ FASD ᒥᒃᓵᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᒍᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᐅᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗ ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᕋᓱᒃᖢᑕ ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ,” ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


To that end, the GN told Nunatsiaq News it has recently produced the following:

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ᓴᕿᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ:


• An updated poster to raise awareness about FASD

• ᓄᑖᙳᕆᐊᖅᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓐᓇᒥᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ FASD-ᒥ


• A handout about substance-free pregnancy for young adults, pregnant women and their support people

• ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂ ᑐᓂᐅᖃᖅᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓇᔾᔨᓗᓂ ᐃᓇᐅᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ, ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ


• Handouts for healthcare providers to support them in having discussions with their clients

• ᑐᓂᐅᖃᐃᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ


And the GN also said other FASD activities include the following:

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ FASD-ᓕᕐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ:


• Community health workers provide key messages about reducing the risk of FASD and have community events during FASD Awareness Month every September.

• ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓪᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ FASD-ᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒡᓗᑎᒃ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖕᓇᒥᑦ ᑕᕿᒥᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆᑕᒫᓐ.


• Lesson plans to accompany videos about reducing the harms of alcohol have been produced by the Ilisaqsivik Society.

• ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᒥᒃᓕᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐋᓂᕈᑎᐅᓕᕈᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᕕᒃ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ.


Two of them discuss alcohol use and pregnancy.

ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᑕᕝᕙᙵᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᔾᔨᓂᕐᒥᒃ.


• Nunavut health officials participate in the FASD Mentoring Project, a project coordinated by the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, which provides training to community workers about FASD.

• ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯ ᓴᒃᑳᑦᓱᐊᓐᒥ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ FASD-ᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


• All healthcare providers are supposed to screen for alcohol use during pregnancy.

• ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᔾᔨᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


• Mental health and addictions care are available to anyone who wants support.

• ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔾᔪᑏᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᓄᑦ.


That covers much of what McFarlane said governments should do more of, which includes:

ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ:


• ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓂᖅ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ.


• Encouraging doctors, nurses and counsellors to give consistent messages on FASD when advising expectant mothers.

• ᓘᒃᑖᖑᔪᑦ, ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᕐᑏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔩ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᐸᒡᓗᑎᒃ FASD ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᓕᕌᖓᑕ.


• Identifying women who need help with support and addictions treatment, including women who have FASD themselves.

• ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᒃ, ᒪᑯᓂᖓᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ FASD-ᒥᑦ


Also, McFarlane’s organization provides online training courses available to everyone, including a free course called “Foundations in FASD”

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᒪᒃᕚᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᖏ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᒍ ᐊᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒍᑎᒃᓴᒥᑦ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᖅ “ᑐᙵᕕᒋᑦ FASD” (“Foundations in FASD”)


The FASD Hub Australia also provides e-learning and online resources.

ᐅᓇ FASD Hub Australia ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ.


Violence against Indigenous women amounts to genocide: MMIWG inquiry

ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᕙᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᑕ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᖑᑎᕆᓇᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ: MMIWG-ᑯᑦ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ


“We live in a country whose laws and institutions perpetuate violations of fundamental rights”

“ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓯᖁᒥᑦᓯᔾᔪᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥ”


“Despite their different circumstances and backgrounds, all of the missing and murdered are connected by economic, social and political marginalization, racism, and misogyny woven into the fabric of Canadian society,” said the inquiry’s Chief Commissioner Marion Buller at the commission’s closing ceremony in Gatineau, Que., on Monday, June 3.

ᑲᒥᓯᓄᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓯᐊᖏᑦ – ᒥᐊᕆᐊᓐ ᐳᓪᓗᕐ (ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂ ᓵᖓᓂ), ᐳᕋᐃᐊᓐ ᐃᔫᓪᕝᓴᓐ (ᐅᖓᑖᓂ ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂ), ᒥᓯᐊᓪ ᐋᑎᑦ (ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂ ᓵᖓᓂ) ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᔮᖅ ᕌᐱᓐᓴᓐ (ᐅᖓᑖᓂ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᐊᓂ) – ᑭᖑᓪᓗᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑎᑭᓈᒐᓐ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᒥᓱᓄᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᒃᑯᐊᖅᓯᔾᔪᑎᖃᕆᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᓐᓄᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᒌᓐᓂᖓᓐᓂ ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅᑎᒥ, ᔫᓂ 3-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᑎᑭᓈᒐᓐ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᒌᓐᓂᕐᒥ, ᑲᒥᓯᓄᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᕚᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᕆᐊᙳᐊᓕᒃ ᕿᐱᐅᑉ ᖄᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᓱᑎᒃ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᕆᔭᖓᓄᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᒪᒃᐱᕋᖏᓂᒃ ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ. ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐃᒧᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᕿᐱᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᓚᒃᓱᒐᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᓱᑎᒃ ᐊᓪᓚᖓᔪᑦ ᖃᑦᓱᖓᐅᑎᓕᐊᖓᓄᑦ.


ᐊᓈᓇᑦᓯᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ, ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᖓᑖᓂ ᐃᒃᓯᕚᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᒥᓯᓇᓂᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᓱᑎᒃ ᐃᒧᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᖅᑳᕐᑎᓐᓇᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᖏᔪᖅᑳᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑᒧᑦ. (ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᖅᑕᖓ ᑳᓛᓐ ᒥᐅᕌᓐ)


By ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᖏᑦ: ᓯᐊᕋ ᕌᔾᔪᕐᔅ


The staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada amount to a form of race-based genocide, a national commission has concluded, following a two-year inquiry.

ᖁᐊᖅᓵᕐᓇᒻᒪᕆᒃᑑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᖁᑦᓯᖕᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑎᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓯᐊᖏᑕ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓐᓂᖃᕐᐳᑦ ᑭᓇᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᙵᕝᕕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᖑᑎᕆᓇᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᓄᑦ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᒥᓯᓄᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᑭᐅᓪᓕᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑮᓯᒪᓕᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ, ᐅᑭᐅᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᓐᓄ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᓂᒥᓐᓂᑦ.


In its final report, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls said that deliberate, ongoing human and Indigenous rights violations are the root cause behind that violence.

ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᕐᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᒥᓐᓂ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑭᒡᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᕐᓂᖓᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓯᐊᖏᓂ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓐᓇᓱᒍᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓂᒃ ᓯᖁᒥᑦᓯᓯᒪᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᕕᐅᓂᖏᑕ ᐊᓐᓂᖅᑎᕆᕙᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ.


“Despite their different circumstances and backgrounds, all of the missing and murdered are connected by economic, social and political marginalization, racism, and misogyny woven into the fabric of Canadian society,” said the inquiry’s chief commissioner, Marion Buller, at the commission’s closing ceremony in Gatineau, Que., on Monday, June 3.

“ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᐅᕐᓂᖃᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᖓᓐᓂᕆᔭᖏᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᖏᑎᒍᑦ, ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᑕᕝᕕᒋᑐᕋᐅᓐᓂᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᐊᖅᐸᓐᓂᖅᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᒃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᓐᓂ ᐃᓚᐃᓐᓈᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᒐᐅ-ᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᕿᐸᖏᔭᐅᓂᕐᒥᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᓂ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᓱᓂ ᑭᒡᓕᓯᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᒻᒪᕆᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᒥᓯᓄᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᒥᐊᕆᐊᓐ ᐳᓪᓗᕐ ᑲᒥᓱᓂᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᒃᑯᐊᖅᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᖁᕕᐊ-ᓱᓐᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᓂᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᒑᑎᓅ, ᑲᐃᐸᒃᒥ, ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅᒥ, ᔫᓂ 3-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


“The hard truth is that we live in a country whose laws and institutions perpetuate violations of fundamental rights, amounting to a genocide against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual) people.”

“ᑐᓴᕆᐊᒥᒃ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓱᓕᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓯᖁᒥᑦᓯᓯᒪᓕᕆᐊᕐᕕᐅᕙᒃᓱᑎᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓗ ᓄᖑᑎᑦᓯᓯᒪᓕᕈᐊᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᓂᒃ, ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓯᐊᖏᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 2SLGBTQQIA-ᖑᔪᓂᒃ (ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᓂᓖᑦ, ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᓲᑦ, ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᐅᖃᑎᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᓲᑦ, ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᑎᓂᒃᓗ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᓲᑦ, ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᑯᐃᐅᕐᒍᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ, ᓱᓕ ᑐᑭᓯᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᓇᓪᓕᐊᓅᕐᒪᖔᕐᒥᓐᓃᒃ, ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖃᓲᖑᙱᑦᑐᑦ) ᐃᓄᐃᑦ.”


The report looks back to the very first harmful encounters Indigenous women faced, from 16th century explorers and early Christian missionaries, who staked claims to Indigenous territory and challenged Indigenous leadership and ways of life.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᕕᓂᑐᖃᕐᓄᑦ ᑕᑯᓐᓇᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦᓯᐊᒥᒃ ᐊᓐᓂᕐᓇᖅᑑᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᑲᑎᖃᑦᑕᓕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᓐᓂ, ᐅᑭᐅᖏᑦ 1500 ᐊᑐᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᑎᒍᑦ ᑎᑭᖃᑦᑕᓕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᕐᓂᑦ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᐊᑭᐊᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑯᕋᐃᔅᑑᓯᒧᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ, ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᑖᕐᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᑦᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᙱᓵᕐᕕᖃᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᔭᖓᓐᓄᑦ.


Those colonial structures persist today, the report noted, through tools like the Indian Act, the residential school legacy and child welfare systems.

ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᒐᕙᒪᖃᐅᓯᖅᑖᕐᓯᒪᓂᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᓯᓂᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓱᓕ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᓴᓇᕐᕈᑎᓕᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᖅᑭᓖᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᖓᓂᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᐸᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᑎᑎᒍᑦ.


The inquiry’s report acknowledges that there is disagreement around what constitutes genocide and whether or not it applies to Canada.

ᑐᓵᓂᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᒥᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᙱᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑎ-ᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᑕ ᓄᖑᓴᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓯᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᒻᒪᖔᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕ-ᐅᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᖔᓪᓘ.


“Genocide is the sum of the social practices, assumptions, and actions detailed within this report; as many witnesses expressed, this country is at war, and Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people are under siege,” the report said.

“ᓄᖑᑎᕆᓂᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᑲᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᔾᔪᓯᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᓂ; ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ, ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᖓᑕ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐅᓇᑕᕕᒡᔪᐊᓕᕐᓂᐅᒻᒪᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᑦ, ᓂᕕᐊᖅᓯᐊᖏᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 2SLGBTQQIA-ᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᕙᑕᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᓂᖃᖅᓱᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


Commissioners said it was impossible to determine the exact number of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, though it’s estimated in the thousands.

ᑲᒥᓯᓄᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᓪᓚᕆᒻᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓯᒪᓕᕆᐊᒥᒃ ᖃᔅᓯᓪᓚᑦᑖᖑᒻᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᓇᓚᐅᑦᓵᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᐅᓴᓐᑎᖏᓐᓃᓐᓇᓱᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


In attendance at the final ceremony, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the report and pledged his government’s support in responding to its recommendations with “meaningful, Indigenous-led action.”

ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᑲᑎᓯᒪᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᐸᒍᑎᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᒐᒥ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᖏᔪᖅᑳᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕌᑑ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᖓᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᑭᐅᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ “ᒥᒃᓯᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᑎᒍᑦ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑕ.”


But many noted that the prime minister did not use or acknowledge the term genocide.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᖏᔪᖅᑳᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑲᒥ ᐊᑐᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᑕ ᓄᖑᑎᕆᕙᓪᓕ-ᐊᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᕈᓯᕐᒥᒃ.


Asked about that later, Chief Commissioner Buller responded: “We don’t need to hear the word genocide come out of the prime minister’s mouth, because families have told us their truth.”

ᑕᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᒐᒥ ᑭᖑᓂᐊᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᑕᒻᒪᕆᒃ ᑲᒥᓯᓄᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐳᓪᓗ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ: “ᐅᖃᕈᓯᖅ ᓄᖑᑎᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᓴᕆᐊᖃᙱᑦᑐᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐊᖏᔪᖅᑳᕐᔪᐊᖑᔪᒥᒃ, ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᒐᑦᑕ ᓱᓕᔪᖁᑎᒋᔭᒥᓐᓂᒃ.”


The report is the culmination of a process that lasted two and a half years and included community hearings, expert panels, and the testimony and input of over 2,300 people, including hundreds of Inuit who gave testimony or statements.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᒻᒪᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕ-ᐊᓂᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᓐᓄᑦ ᓇᑉᐸᖓᓂᒃᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᓂ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᓂᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᒃᓴᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᑦ 2,300-ᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᓐᓂᑦ, ᐱᖃᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᕐᔪᐊᒻᒪᕆᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᓐᓂᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᒃᓴᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


The report delivers 231 recommendations, called calls for justice, directed at governments, social services, industry and Canadians in general.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓗᓕᖃᕐᐳᑦ 231-ᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᒐᐅᑦᓯᐊᓕᖁᔨᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᓕᐅᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᓴᓇᕝᕕᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᖑᔪᓄᑦ.


Those calls for justice include the following:

ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᒐᐅᑦᓯᐊᓕᖁᔨᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᓕᐅᕆᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᒪᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᑦ:


• stricter penalties for men who are found guilty of spousal abuse and domestic violence

• ᓴᙱᓂᖅᓴᐅᔪᑎᒍᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕙᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅ-ᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᕆᔭᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑎ-ᕆᕙᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᒥᐅᖃᑎᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑎᕆᕙᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ


• a review of Gladue principles in court and more Indigenous-specific sentencing options

• ᒐᓛᑑ ᑐᙵᕝᕕᖁᑎᖓᑕ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕝᕕᒃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓐᓄᑦ


• more Indigenous representation in the criminal justice system • the establishment of a national Indigenous and human rights ombudsperson and human rights tribunal

• ᐋᖅᑭᐅᒪᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑎ-ᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕝᕕᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯ-ᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᓯᒪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ


• long-term funding for education programs and awareness campaigns that target violence prevention

• ᐊᑯᓃᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖁᑎᒃᓴᖏᓂᒃ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᖅᑎᑦᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑎᕆᖃᑦᑕᖁᔨᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ


• an end to the apprehension of Indigenous children on the basis of poverty and cultural bias

• ᐃᓱᓕᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᑎᒍᔭ-ᐅᕙᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᖏᑕ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᐸᒃᓱᑎᒃ ᐊᒃᖢᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐ-ᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ


The report also includes 46 Inuit-specific recommendations.

ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᒥᔪᑦ 46-ᖑᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗ-ᑎᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ.


Among them, a call for governments to honour land claims and their socio-economic commitments to Inuit, the creation of laws and services to protect Inuit culture, and the recognition of Inuktut as an official language in Canada.

ᐃᓚᖃᖅᓱᑎᒃ, ᑎᓕᐅᕆᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᑦᓯᐊᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ-ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕋᓱᐊᖅᐸᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᕆᔭᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ, ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱ-ᐃᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᒥᐊᓂᖅᓯᔾᔪᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᖓᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓕᑕᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᖓᑕ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.


Chief Commissioner Buller said on Monday morning that the calls for justice “are not just recommendations, they are legal imperatives.”

ᐃᓱᒪᑕᒻᒪᕆᒃ ᑲᒥᓯᓄᕐ ᐳᓪᓗᕐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅᑦ ᐅᓪᓛᖓᓂ ᑎᓕᐅᕆᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᑦᓯᐊᓕᖁᔨᓂᕐᒧᑦ “ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈ-ᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ, ᒪᓕᒐᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᒃᑑᒻᒪᑕ.”


You can read the full report in English, as well as an executive summary of the report in Inuktitut at the inquiry’s website.

ᐃᓗᐃᒃᑲᐅᓗᒍ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᐳᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᐃᑦ ᓇᐃᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖏᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᓕᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᕆᑕᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᑐᒃᓯᒪᕝᕕᐊᓐᓂ ᐅᕙᓂ mmiwg-ffada.ca.


Read more about the Inuit-specific recommendations and reaction to the report later at Nunatsiaq.com.

ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᐸᓯ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕ-ᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ Nunatsiaq.com.


The inquiry’s support line offers services in English and Inuktitut at 1-844-413-6649.

ᑐᓵᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᑎᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᖓᓂ 1-844-413-6649.


Nunavut’s Education Department suffers from a people problem

ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑎᖃᕐᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᒍᖕᓃᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂᑦ


“The Department of Education’s biggest problem right now has nothing to do with legislation”

ᐊᔪᓕᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᙱᒻᒪᑕ


Opening day at Aqsarniit Middle School in Iqaluit more than 10 years ago.

ᒪᑐᐃᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᖁᑦᓯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᑕ ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᑦ ᖁᓕᑦ ᓈᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ.


This week the Nunavut government will table its latest attempt to amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act.

ᑕᕝᕙᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ ᓴᖅᑮᓯᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᓄᑕᓂᖅᐸᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᖅᑮᒋᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᑕ ᒥᐊᓂᕆᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᓄᑦ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᑦ ᑐᖅᑯᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ)


The Government of Nunavut will likely introduce Bill 25 in the legislative assembly this week.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ ᓴᖅᑮᓯᒪᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᖅ 25-ᒥᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᕝᕙᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ.


The bill will most probably resemble the GN’s last attempt to change the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᖅ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑕ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓯᒪᓕᕋᓱᓐᓂᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᑕ ᒥᐊᓂᕆᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᐅᔪᒥᒃ.


That one fizzled in the spring of 2017, when, after large expenditures of time, energy and money, regular MLAs simply refused to debate the GN’s proposals.

ᓄᖅᑲᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐅᐱᕐᖔᖓᓂ 2017, ᑕᐃᒪ, ᐊᒥᓱᑲᓪᓚᐅᓗᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓄᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒐᓱᐊᕈᒪᙱᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑕ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᖏᓂᒃ.


ᑐᒡᓕᕆᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᓇᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐸᑦ?


ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᐄ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄᓗ ᐋᒃᑲ.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕕᓰ?


Set against the biggest issue the GN faces in education, it may not even matter.

ᑐᕌᖓᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐸᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᓐᓂ, ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᕕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᓇᓗᐊᙱᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓕᒃ.


That’s because the Department of Education’s biggest problem right now has nothing to do with legislation.

ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ “ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐸᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᔪᓕᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᙱᒻᒪᑕ.


Its biggest problem is a human resource issue and a training issue.

ᐊᔪᓕᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᒻᒪᑕᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᕙᓐᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


To some extent, it’s also a budget issue.

ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖁᑎᖃᕐᑎᑕᐅᓂᒃᓴᖏᑦᑕᐅᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᐅᒋᕗᑦ.


That is the long-standing shortage of Inuit-language teachers in Nunavut, coupled with continuing uncertainty about the health of the Nunavut Arctic College program that is supposed to train such teachers: the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.

ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᒥᒐᖅᓯᓗᐊᕈᑎᐅᓕᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᑦᓯᔨᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕈᓐᓇᖅᐸᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᐱᖃᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᖅᓱᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓇᑦᓯᐊᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑑᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖓᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᔨᐅᕙᒋᐊᖃᕋᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ: ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᕙᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᒃ.)


ᑐᑭᓯᓇᖅᓯᑦᓯᐊᕆᐊᕐᓗᒍ, ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᕈᑎᐅᒻᒪ.


And until that people problem is addressed, it won’t matter what either the Education Act or the Inuit Language Protection Act end up saying about education in the Inuit language.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᕐᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑳᖅᑎᓐᓇᒍ, ᐃᓱᒪᓇᓗᐊᕐᓂᐊᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᑕ ᒥᐊᓂᕆᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ.


The current version of the Education Act, which came into effect in 2008, contained a schedule for introducing bilingual English-Inuktut instruction by 2019, from kindergarten to Grade 12, in all Nunavut schools.

ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᐅᔪᖅ, ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᓱᓂ 2008-ᒥ, ᐃᓗᓕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᖃᖓ ᓴᖅᑮᓯᒪᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ–ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᕙᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ 2019 ᐅᑭᐅᖓᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᑐᓂᑦ ᒍᕇᑦ 12-ᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓕᓐᓄᑦ, ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ 2019, ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᓂ.


Those language of instruction measures were dead on arrival.

ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᓇᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᖕᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᑲᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᑐᐊᕋᒥᒃ.


For those who hadn’t already figured this out for themselves, the Auditor General of Canada’s 2013 report providing damning confirmation.

ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓕᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᐊᓪᓚᕝᕕᖓ 2013-ᒥ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᑐᕈᖕᓃᖅᑎᑦᓯᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕈᒪᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ.


The main reason for this failure, of course, is that the Department of Education is not even close to being able to employ sufficient numbers of Inuit-language teachers.

ᐃᖏᕐᕋᑦᓯᐊᓕᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓗᐊᖅᓱᒋᑦ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᓕᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖏᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᕕᒃᓴᖓᑦ ᖃᓂᒃᓕᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖓᑕ.


The leads to a self-perpetuating downward spiral.

ᓯᕗᓕᕈᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᑕᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ.


“The lack of bilingual teachers will affect the department’s capacity to produce bilingual graduates who could continue their education and qualify as bilingual teachers,” the auditor general said.

“ᒪᕐᕈᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᖓ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓂᒃ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᑖᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒋᔭᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂ,” ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐅᖃᕐᓱᓂ.


One reason for that, of course, is that the Nunavut Teacher Education Program does not produce enough fully bilingual graduates to meet the Department of Education’s needs.

ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᐅᖃᑕᐅᕗᖅ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᕙᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖏᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᓪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᐅᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᓕᖅᑎᑦᓯᕙᙱᓐᓂᖏᑕ ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ.


NTEP-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᓕᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑦᓯᐊᕐᒪᑕ.


As far back as 2012, some MLAs and mayors were complaining that some of its graduates were not qualified for teaching jobs, while some who were able to get jobs were quitting or getting dismissed.

ᓲᕐᓗᐊᒃᓛᑦ 2012-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᐃᔪᕐᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᓯᐅᒪᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᔪᖅᑑᓂᖏᑕ, ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᖃᖅᑑᒐᓗᐊᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᐅᔾᔨᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᕕᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


ᓇᐅᒋᒃᑯᐊ NTEP-ᑯᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒋᓚᐅᒐᐃ?


A few years later, in early 2017, Paul Quassa, then the minister of education, said some graduates of NTEP prefer to teach in English.

ᐅᑭᐅᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᓈᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᑐᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ 2017, ᐹᓪ ᖁᐊᓴ, ᑕᐃᒪᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ NTEP-ᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᖔᕈᒪᕙᓐᓂᖏᓂᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ.


For that, and other reasons, he promised the GN would do a “review” of NTEP.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ, ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᓂᒋᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ “ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑕ” NTEP-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ.


ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᖃᓄᖅ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᓂᖓᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖅᐸ?


In March of 2017, the GN hired a firm to do that review of NTEP.

ᒫᔾᔨ 2017-ᒥ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᖅᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ NTEP-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ.


Quassa, still serving as minister, promised the work would be done by June of that year.

ᖁᐊᓴ, ᓱᓕ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓕᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑕ ᔫᓐ ᐊᑐᓕᓚᐅᖅᑎᓐᓇᒍ ᑖᔅᓱᒪᓂᑦᓴᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ.


But if the NTEP review report has indeed been completed, the GN has not made it public.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓗ NTEP-ᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᔭᕇᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᐸᑕ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓐᓂᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ.


ᓱᓕ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᕋᑦᑎᒍ.


Significantly, few, if any MLAs have bothered to ask about it.

ᓇᓗᓇᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒥᓲᙱᑦᑐ, ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓂᕈᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔪᐃᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᑕᑯᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕈᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ NTEP-ᑯᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


Meanwhile, the current minister of education, David Joanasie, bragged last November that a record number of people are enrolled this year in the NTEP program: 93 people, 90 of whom are Nunavut Inuit.

ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᕆᔭᐅᓕᕐᑐᖅ, ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᔪᐊᓇᓯ, ᓴᕆᒪᒋᔭᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖅᐸᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑕ ᐊᕝᕙᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ NTEPᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖓᓂ: 93 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, 90-ᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓄᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


They’re scattered around nine communities and studying at various levels, with 23 expected to graduate this year.

ᓯᐊᒻᒪᒃᑎᖅᓯᒪᒻᒪᑕ 9-ᖑᔪᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᓱᑎᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᐅᖅᑐᓂ ᖁᑦᓯᖕᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ, 23-ᖑᔪᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑕ ᑕᕝᕙᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᒥ.


On the surface that looks like a mildly encouraging development.

ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᖄᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓴᖅᑮᓯᒪᓐᓂᖃᕐᑐᖅ.


But no one knows how many of those participants will make it to the end.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ.


And of those who graduate, no one knows how many will stay in the teaching profession.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒍᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖃᕋᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ.


The employment rolls of multiple Inuit organizations and government departments are filled with the names of former Inuit teachers who were educated at the government’s expense and then moved on to other jobs.

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᐸᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᑲᓪᓚᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᐅᔪᐃᑦ ᐃᓂᑖᕆᔭᐅᕙᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᑦ.


According to a spreadsheet that Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. helpfully included in its recent research paper, titled “Is Nunavut education criminally inadequate?”

ᒪᓕᒃᓗᒋᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᔾᔪᑎᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᖃᑦᓯᐊᕐᓱᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓯᖃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖁᑎᒥᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ “ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐱᖁᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᓯᖁᒥᑦᓯᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᔾᔪᑎᖃᓕᖅᓯᒪᕙ?”


the current Nunavut teacher employment numbers are rather less than encouraging.

ᓵᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓗᐊᙱᓚᑦ.


As of last November, the Department of Education employed 610 teachers.

ᑎᑭᑦᓱᒍ ᓅᕕᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ 610-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᓂᒃ.


Of those, 429 were non-Inuit and 181 were Inuit.

ᑖᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ, 420-ᖏᑦ ᐃᓅᙱᑦᓱᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 181-ᖏᑦ ᐃᓅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.


Among those in positions of authority, the numbers get even worse.

ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓇᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖃᖅᑑᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᙱᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ.


A total of 36 principals were non-Inuit and only seven were Inuit, while 28 vice-principals were non-Inuit and only four were Inuit.

ᑲᑎᑦᓱᒋᑦ 36-ᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓅᙱᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 7-ᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 28-ᖑᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᑕᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᑐᒡᓕᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓅᙱᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᑕᒪᑐᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᓱᑎᒃ.


Don’t forget: the NTEP program is designed to train people capable of teaching up to about Grade 6 only.

ᐳᐃᒍᖅᑕᐃᓕᓗᒍ: NTEP-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖅ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐊᖑᓯᒪᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᓂᐅᕙᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᕙᒍᓐᓇᓕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒍᕇᑦ 6-ᒧᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ.


For Grade 7 to Grade 12, there isn’t and never has been any identifiable program or strategy set up to train people who are able to use Inuktut as a language of instruction in those grades.

ᒍᕇ 7-ᒥᑦ ᒍᕇᑦ 12-ᒧᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᔾᔪᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᓂᐅᕙᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᑦᓯᕙᓐᓂᕐᒥᓐᓂ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᓕᓐᓄᑦ ᖁᑦᓯᖕᓂᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᐱᑕᖃᓕᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᓕᖅᑎᑦᓯᓯᒪᓃᑦ


Unrealistic provisions No such program existed in 2008, when MLAs passed an Education Act that said “bilingual education” for those grades was to have been phased in between 2016-17 and 2019-20.

2008-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᓯᓯᒪᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ “ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᓪᓗ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ” ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᖁᑦᓯᖕᓂᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒥᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᓕᕐᓱᑎᒃ 2016-17 ᐅᑭᐅᖓᓂᑦ 2019-20 ᐅᑭᐅᖓᓄᑦ.


Those who believed in that possibility were either lying to themselves and to the public, or they were seriously deluded, or they just didn’t care.

ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᒡᓗᕿᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓱᓕᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᓐᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᙱᑦᓯᐊᒻᒪᕆᒃᓱᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ.


That’s why we said earlier that the 2008 act was dead on arrival.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕋᑦᑕ 2008-ᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᖅ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒻᒪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕋᒥ.


It contained unrealistic provisions that were impossible to implement.

ᐃᓗᓕᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕋᑎᒃ.


So it’s understandable that leaders with organizations such as Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., and many other observers, are enraged by the GN’s failures.

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑐᑭᓯᓇᕐᐳᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᖁᕕᐊᒋᙱᑕᖃᕐᓚᕆᓐᓂᖏᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒥᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᑦᓯᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖏᓂᒃ.


“Inuit children receive the majority of their education in the dominant languages instead of their mother tongue.

“ᓱᕈᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐸᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᐸᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑎᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᕙᖔᕋᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ.


This constitutes cultural genocide,” Aluki Kotierk, the president of NTI, said last month in a statement.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓲᕐᓗ ᓄᖑᕋᐃᔾᔪᑎᐅᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᑐᖃᕆᔭᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ,” ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ, ᐊᖏᔪᖅᑳᖑᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕝᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒥᖓᓐᓄᑦ, ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᒥᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑮᓂᖃᕋᒥ.


But at the same time, members of the Nunavut legislature can’t afford to indulge in another exercise in unreality.

ᑕᐃᒪᓗ ᐊᑕᐅᑦᓯᒃᑰᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑖᔅᓱᒧᖓ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖏᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕋᓱᓐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᔾᔮᙱᒻᒥᔪᓂᒃ.


As in 2017, they will be presented with a bill in which a schedule for introducing Inuktut as a language of instruction is tied to the GN’s capacity to offer it.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ, ᓴᖅᑮᕝᕕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᕕᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᓴᖅᑮᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑕᕝᕕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᑎᒍᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᑦᓱᓐᓇᖅᑕᖓᓐᓂᑦ.


“Timelines for implementation would be tied to targets outlined in the Department of Education’s Inuit Employment Plan,” the GN said in a recent information brochure.

“ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᕕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᑕᑎᑕᐅᓇᔭᕐᒪᑕ ᑐᕌᕐᕕᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᐸᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ,” ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᔅᓴᓕᐊᖑᓵᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᕋᓛᓂ.


In other words, it will occur when the Department of Education solves its people problem.

ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓗᒍ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᕈᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑮᓯᒪᓕᖅᐸᑕ.


This is a difficult, complex subject and this 1,000-word editorial barely scratches its surface.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᖅᑐᒻᒪᕆᐅᒻᒪᑦ, ᐊᒥᓱᐃᓕᖓᔫᓪᓗᓂᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᓕᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ 1,000-ᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᔨᐅᑉ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖏᓂ ᓴᖅᑮᕌᕐᔪᒃᓯᒪᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᒻᒪᑕ.


But this time around, MLAs would be well-advised to hold their noses and vote in favour of Bill 25.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓗ ᑕᕝᕙᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍᓕ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑦᓯᐊᖅᐸᒌᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᖠᓂᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᑐᐃᓂᕐᒥᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᖅ 25-ᒥᒃ.


And while they’re at it, they might also want to think about asking a question or two on that review of NTEP.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄᓕ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕈᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᓯᖃᕆᐊᒥᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᓐᓂᒃᓘᓐᓃᑦ NTEP-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖓᑕ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ.


Iqaluit students walk out of school, demanding action on climate change

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᖏᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖁᔨᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ


“If we shut off every single light and just sat in a cold, dark room in Nunavut, Canada’s carbon share would drop by 0.1,” premier says

“ᖃᒥᑦᑎᒍᑦᑕ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᓕᒫᖅ ᖃᐅᒻᒪᖁᑎᓂᒃ … ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑳᐸᓐᒥᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑦᑎᒃᓯᕚᓪᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᖅ 0.1-ᒥᑦ,” ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ


Iqaluit high school students wave handmade signs as they walk to the legislature on Wednesday, June 5, as part of a protest that urged Nunavut’s leaders to take action on climate change.

ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᖃᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗ ᐱᓱᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᕐᒥᑦ, ᔫᓂ 5, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᐃᐊᒪ ᑐᕌᓐᑐ)


On a rainy Wednesday morning in Iqaluit, about 100 Inuksuk High School students picked up cardboard signs, gathered their friends and walked out of school.

ᒪᖁᑲᑕᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᐅᑉ ᐅᓪᓛᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ, ᒫᓂ 100-ᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᕿᑐᑦᑐᒐᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᖃᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᓂᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ.


They marched to the legislative assembly to call on Nunavut’s leaders to take action on climate change as part of a protest on World Environment Day, on June 5.

ᐱᓱᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᖓᑕ ᐅᓪᓗᖓᓂᒃ ᔫᓂ 5-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Lightstone greeted the students on the steps of the legislature, announcing his support to them.

ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒪᓂᕋᔭᒃᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐋᑕᒻ ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᑉ ᒪᔪᕋᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᒋᓪᓗᓂ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Inspired by what he saw and heard from the students that morning, Lightstone directed questions later in the afternoon to the premier about the government’s actions on climate change.

ᑕᑯᔭᒥᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᓪᓛᖓᓂᒃ, ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᓴᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᒪᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


“Why are we the only jurisdiction in Canada that does not have an incentive program or offer rebates to encourage Nunavummiut to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels?”

“ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᙱᑦᑐᑐᐊᖑᕕᑕ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᖃᙱᑉᐱᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐊᑐᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᙶᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᕐᓱᐊᓗᖕᓂᒃ?”


Savikataaq said the territory has to rely on fossil fuels because “in Nunavut we have very few, limited options.”

ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᒥᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᕐᓱᐊᓗᖕᓂ ᐊᑐᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ “ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᒃᑲᙱᓗᐊᕋᑦᑕ.”


“I’m sure the member does his part for climate change.

“ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᒋᕗᖅ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ.


Maybe he has a quick, warm shower instead of a hot shower…. Maybe he doesn’t take unnecessary trips to the south so that he can conserve fuel,” the premier said.

ᐆᓇᔪᒃᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃᖃᐃᑦ ᐅᕕᓂᖕᓂᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐆᓇᖅᑐᐊᓗᖕᒥᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ… ᐊᐅᓚᖃᑦᑕᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕗᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓄᑦ ᐅᕐᓱᐊᓗᖕᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᔾᔮᙱᒻᒪᑦ,” ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑳᐸᓐᓕᐅᕐᓂᖓ 0.1-ᖑᔪᖅ.


ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᑳᐸᓐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒋᔭᕗᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.


If we shut off every single light and just sat in a cold, dark room in Nunavut, Canada’s carbon share would drop by 0.1,” he added.

ᖃᒥᑦᑎᒍᑦᑕ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᓕᒫᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒻᒪᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑖᖅᑐᐊᓗᖕᒦᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᕐᓗᑕ ᓂᒡᓚᓱᒃᑐ ᐃᒡᓗᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑳᐸᓐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐹᓪᓕᕈᑎᖓ ᑲᑕᒐᔭᖅᑐᖅ 0.1-ᒥᑦ,” ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᖅ.


Cassidy-Ann Netser, Angela Austria and Mac Pavia, the three Grade 12 students who organized the walkout, sat in the legislature during opening statements, but were not present for Savikataaq’s comments.

ᑳᓯᑎ-ᐋᓐ ᓇᑦᓯ, ᐋᓐᔨᓚ ᐋᔅᑐᕆᐊ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒫᒃ ᐹᕕᐊ, ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᒍᕇᑦ 12-ᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᔨᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐱᓱᓕᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᒃᓯᕚᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᑲᑕᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐃᑲᓃᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


The three students said they started planning the protest a few weeks ago after a class lesson about the planet’s carbon dioxide levels inspired them to take action.

ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᖓᓱᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᑳᐸᓐ ᑕᐃᐊᒃᓴᐃᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᓕᕇᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᓕᕆᐊᖅᖢᓂᔾᔪᒃ.


“Our teacher had pulled up this chart from NASA, and it showed the carbon dioxide levels in the air and it said it was at 411 parts per million.

“ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᕗᑦ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᕐᒥᑦ ᓯᓚᐃᓐᓇᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ NASA, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᑳᐸᓐ ᑕᐃᐋᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᖁᑦᑎᓕᕇᖕᓂᖏ ᓯᓚᐃᓐᓇᕐᒦᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ 411 ᖑᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ 1 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂ.


That’s the highest it’s ever been,” said Netser.

ᐅᓇ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᖑᓛᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᑦᓯᕐ.


The students presented a written proposal to the legislative assembly that called on the government to, among other things, create a youth advocacy group, declare a state of environmental crisis, implement a climate action plan and increase investment in clean energy.

ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑏᑦ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᓐᓇᕋᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖁᐊᕐᓵᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᓐᓂᖓ ᐊᕙᑎᒋᔭᕗᑦ, ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᐊᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᓯᓚᒥ ᓴᓗᒪᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒍᑎᓂᒃ.


Citing the students’ proposal, Lightstone asked if the government would commit to the creation of a youth advisory council.

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖓᓂᒃ, ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


Savikataaq said the Climate Change Secretariat is already working on a youth advisory committee and a staff member has been assigned to the project.

ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᒃ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓕᕇᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᒃᓴᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓ.


When asked by Lightstone if the government would introduce a motion to declare a climate emergency, Savikataaq said he was unsure of the definition of “emergency.”

ᐊᐱᕆᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐᒧᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎᓯ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑑᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑐᑭᓯᓯᒪᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐆᒥᖓ “ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.”


“We live in a small corner of this world where it’s being affected the most, but a lot of the factors that affect us are happening even outside of Canada,” he said.

“ᓄᓇᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᑎᕆᖅᑯᑯᓗᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᑕᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓛᖑᓪᓗᓂᓗ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᒋᕙᓪᓕᐊᔭᕗᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᓯᓚᑖᓂᙶᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᖕᒥᖕᒪᑕ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“The biggest emitters are not from Canada.”

“ᐊᖏᖅᓂᖅᐹᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᙶᙱᒻᒪᑕ.”


The premier added that although he did not know what the declaration of a climate emergency would do, he encouraged all Nunavummiut to do their part in reducing their carbon footprint.

ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᑐᐊᕕᓐᓇᖅᑐᒦᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᖁᔨᓇᔭᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᒥᒃᖠᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑳᐸᓐᒥᑦ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓗᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ.


Austria said the students will continue to push for change, and hope students in younger grades will take on their initiatives after she graduates.

ᐋᔅᑐᕆᐊ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐃᓐᓇᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


“The Arctic is warming at three times the global rate.

“ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖂᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᖅᖢᓂ ᓱᒃᑲᓂᕐᓴᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ.


I think it’s really important for us to be catalysts for change,” she said.

ᐃᓱᒪᔪᖓ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᓂᕗᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᕋᑦᑎᒍᑦ.”


Nunavut’s new education, language bill does not reflect the needs of Inuit: NTI

ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ


NTI says the Government of Nunavut did not sufficiently consult with it during the bill’s development

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ


A display at the recent Inuugatta Inuktuuqta conference in Iqaluit shows some of the Inuktut learning materials that are available in Nunavut.

ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᑯ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ‘ᐃᓅᒐᑦᑕ ᐃᓄᒃᑑᖅᑕ’ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔭᐃᓐ ᔪᐊᔾ)


Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. says the Government of Nunavut’s plans to amend the Education Act and Inuit Language Protections Act fall short of responding to what Inuit have asked for.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᑕᖏᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ ᑐᙵᐅᑦᑎᓯᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Bill 25, “An Act to Amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act,” was tabled in the Nunavut legislature on June 5.

ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ 25, “ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᒃ,” ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᓂᒃ ᔫᓂ 5-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


The GN did not sufficiently engage NTI in the development of those new amendments, the Inuit birthright organization said, resulting in legislation that does not reflect Inuit objectives.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑑᑎᓕᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᓪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑐᖃᙱᖢᓂ.


While the legislation offered “a couple of modest improvements” over the GN’s last attempt to amend its Education Act—the failed Bill 37—”it was not a significant improvement,” NTI said in a June 5 release.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᒪᓕᒐᖅ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ “ᒪᕐᕈᓪᓗᐊᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ” ᐅᕘᓇ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᕐᒥᑦ—ᑲᑕᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ 37—“ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ,” ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᔫᓂ 5-ᒥᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


Bill 37, which was tabled by Nunavut’s previous government, would have delayed the implementation of Inuktut instruction in Grades 4 through Grade 9 from its originally planned deadline of 2020 until 2030.

ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ 37, ᑖᓐᓇ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑭᓪᓕᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒋᓚᐅᕐᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓇᔭᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᒍᕇᑦ 4-ᒥᑦ ᒍᕇᑦ 9-ᒧ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᕆᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᖃᕐᕕᐊᓂᒃ 2020-ᒥ 2030-ᒧ.


The newly proposed Bill 25 would set back the full implementation of Inuktut even longer, until 2039, in recognition of teacher shortages and a lack of teaching materials.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᓄᑖᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᐅᓕᕐᑐᖅ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ 25 ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖓᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᑐᒥᓐ, 2039 ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᐅᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓ.


“The government must be held accountable for the failure of Bill 25 to address NTI’s most important proposals on behalf of Nunavut Inuit in a meaningful way,” said NTI President Aluki Kotierk in the release.

“ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑕᖕᓂᑰᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ 25-ᒧ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᕕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑎᒍᑦ.


“On this slow a schedule, a child born today—who will be 20 years old in 2039—will still not be able to receive Grades 9-12 instruction in Inuktut.”

“ᐅᕘᓇᓕ ᐊᑐᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑎᒍᑦ, ᓱᕈᓯᖅ ᐃᓅᔪᖅ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ—20-ᖑᓛᕐᓗᓂ 2039-ᒥ—ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕋᔭᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᒍᕇᑦ 9-ᒥ 12-ᒧ.”


Since the territorial government first began work on amending its education and language legislation, NTI has pressed for an Inuit employment plan for educators, which would deliver on-the-job training to Inuktut-speaking teachers.

ᑕᐃᒪᙵᓪᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᒥᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖁᔨᓯᒪᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓯᓐᓈᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᓇᔭᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓄᑦ.


NTI says Inuit want to see Inuktut as the main language taught in daycares and elementary and secondary schools in Nunavut, along with a stronger focus on Inuit Qaujimajatutangit.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᐅᕙᒡᓗᓂ ᐸᐃᕆᕝᕕᒃᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᕝᕙᓯᖕᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᒍ ᑕᐅᑐᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᓯᒪᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


The birthright organization has also criticized the new legislation for reducing the role of district education authorities in Nunavut.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᓚᐅᙱᒻᒥᔪᑦ ᓄᑖᒥᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᙳᖅᑐᒥ ᐆᒥᖓ ᒥᒃᖠᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.


Kotierk said NTI only saw the latest version of the bill the same day it was tabled.

ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ.


“Nunavut Inuit have been clear in their expectations for the Education Act,” she said.

“ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓱᖅᑯᐃᓇᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᕘᓇ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᕐᒥ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“Despite years of constructive contributions by NTI and other Nunavummiut, the Government of Nunavut appears to be offering very much the same repackaged amendments.”

“ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒐᓴᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᓕ ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑰᔨᔪᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᑐᐃᓐᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᒃᑲᓐᓂᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ.”


A recent report prepared by NTI asserted that the Nunavut’s education system, and its lack of Inuktut-language curriculum, may be “criminally inadequate” and “constitutes cultural genocide.”

ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᖓ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓ, ᐃᒪᐃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ “ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂ” ᐊᒻᒪᓗ “ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᑐᖃᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ.”


For its part, the GN said its latest amendments were based on consultations with hundreds of Nunavummiut, including NTI, the Coalition of Nunavut DEAs, the Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut, the Nunavut Teachers Association, the Office of the Languages Commissioner and four student groups.

ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᑦ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᓄᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᓂᒃ, ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᓚᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᑲᒥᓯᓇᐅᑉ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᓴᒪᓂᒃ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᓂᒃ.


Bill 25 is expected to receive its second reading in the legislature on Thursday, June 6, before it goes to the standing committee of MLAs.

ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ 25 ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᕐᒥᑦ, ᔫᓂ 5, ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᓅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓐᓇᒍ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ.


With the legislature adjourning its spring sitting that day, further discussion on the proposed bill will happen in the fall sitting, set to start on Oct. 17.

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅ ᐃᓱᓕᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᖅᒥ ᕿᑲᕐᓇᒧᑦ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᖅ, ᔫᓂ 6-ᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᖏᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᒋᐊᕋᔭᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᒃᑑᐱᕆ 17-ᒥᑦ


Senators say Canada must do more, spend more in the Arctic

ᓴᓂᑐᐃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐱᓂᕐᓴᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᓐ


“The Arctic’s residents are marginalized by their exclusion from investment”

“ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ”


The Senate Special Committee on the Arctic, in a report released on June 11, calls on the federal government to spend more on Arctic infrastructure and to empower northern governments.

ᓴᓂᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᖏᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᔫᓂ 11-ᒥ, ᐱᖁᔨᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᙱᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂᒃ.


Saying the Canadian Arctic suffers from a long history of neglect and disregard, the Special Senate Committee on the Arctic, in a report issued today, is calling on the federal government to build more, train more and spend more in northern Canada.

ᐅᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᓱᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᕙᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᓴᓂᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᖏᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᑎᒍᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᓴᐅᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓄᑦ.


“It is a world where the advantages of the modern world have still largely passed us by,” Conservative Senator Dennis Patterson, the committee’s chair, told reporters this morning in Ottawa.

“ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᖑᖕᒪᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᓕᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᑉ ᓴᓂᖅᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᑲᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ,” ᑲᓐᓲᕕᑎᕝ ᓴᓂᑐ ᑕᓂᔅ ᐹᑐᓴᓐ, ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖓ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᑎᓄᑦ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ.


That view is echoed also in the text of the committee’s report, which is built on evidence they received from multiple witnesses, including many northern and Indigenous residents of Arctic Canada who spoke to the committee during a northern tour and in hearings held in Ottawa.

ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᑯᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐳᓚᕋᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐋᑐᕚᒥᓐ.


“From food security to access to education and health care, the high cost of living, and aging or non-existent infrastructure, the Arctic’s residents are marginalized by their exclusion from investment.

“ᒪᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᓂᕿᖃᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓐᓇᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓅᓇᓱᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᑭᑐᔪᐊᓘᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᑕᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᐃᑦ, ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ.


Canada falls even further behind when it is compared with other circumpolar countries, which make significant investments in the Arctic regions,” the report said.

ᑲᓇᑕ ᑭᙳᓪᓕᐅᓯᒪᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖅᖢᒋᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᒡᔪᐊᑦ, ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


The people of the Canadian Arctic suffer from multiple shortfalls including poor broadband internet, high food prices, housing that is inadequate in quality and quantity, and poor education.

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑕᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᒋᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑦᑕᑕᕈᓐᓇᐅᑎᑦ, ᓂᖀᑦ ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ, ᐃᒡᓗᐃᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓴᓇᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓄᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᑦᑎᐊᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅ.


“The best jobs too often go to southerners, because training and educational opportunities for Arctic resident are scarce,” Patterson said.

“ᐱᐅᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕ,” ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᒃᓴᖅ?


One major focus of the report is Arctic Canada’s infrastructure deficit—in transportation, energy and communications—which feeds numerous intersecting problems.

ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᐅᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ ᐅᓇ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᑭᓱᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅ—ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯ—ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᐅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.


“You know, Arctic growth depends on infrastructure development,” Patterson said.

“ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᓯ, ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑑᑉ ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖃᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓗᓂ,” ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


That need for more and better infrastructure is made more urgent by the damage done to existing infrastructure by climate change, the report said.

ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᐅᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᒻᒪᕆᓕᕐᐳᖅ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐱᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓱᕋᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.


To that end, one of the committee’s 30 recommendations calls on the federal government to work with Indigenous and territorial governments on the creation of an Arctic infrastructure bank.

ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᖓᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ 30-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔨᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ.


If created, that infrastructure bank would help finance the construction of new infrastructure and help mitigate the impact of climate change on existing infrastructure, the report said.

ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᒍᓂ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᑖᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓗᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᑦ.


Numerous other recommendations focus on economic development, education and training, climate change adaptation, arts and culture, conservation, science, search and rescue, and national security.

ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᖕᒥᔪᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐱᖏᖕᓇᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᕐᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᑦ.


Trudeau government’s Arctic framework still not released

ᑐᕉᑑ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦᑕ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᕐᓯᒪᔭᖓᑦ ᓱᓕ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ


The Senate created the special Arctic committee after passing a motion in September 2017 made by Charlie Watt, then a Liberal senator.

ᓴᓂᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 2017-ᒥᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᒥᑦ ᓵᓕ ᕗᐊᑦᒧᑦ, ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᓕᐳᕈᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓴᓂᑑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


Watt served as the Arctic committee’s first chair until he left the Senate in 2018 to take the presidency of Nunavik’s Makivik Corp.

ᕗᐊᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓴᓂᑦ ᕿᒪᖕᒪᒍ 2018-ᒥᑦ ᐊᖑᔪᖅᑳᙳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᒪᑭᕕᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ.


Its original purpose was to feed ideas into the Liberal government’s new Arctic policy framework, the creation of which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in December 2016.

ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᕕᓂᖓ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓗᓂ ᓕᐳᕈᓪ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᒧᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᒍᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥᒃ, ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᑯ ᑲᓇᑕᒧᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᒍᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 2016-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


When complete, that policy framework would replace Stephen Harper’s Conservative government’s 2009 Northern Strategy and Harper’s 2010 Statement on Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy.

ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᒍᓂ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᒍᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖔᕋᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᕼᐋᐴᑉ ᑲᓐᓲᕕᑎᕝ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦᑕ 2009-ᒥᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕼᐋᐴᑉ 2010-ᒥᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕕᓂᖓ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


This past February, Carolyn Bennett, the minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, said the Arctic framework would likely be released in June.

ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ, ᑭᐅᕈᓕᓐ ᐸᓇᑦ, ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ-ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᒍᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓛᕋᓱᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᔫᓂᐅᓕᕐᐸᑦ.


And last March, Dominic LeBlanc, then the northern affairs minister, said one reason for delays in releasing the policy is that some northern “partners” are reviewing drafts of the Arctic policy framework and writing their own chapters.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒫᑦᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᓐ, ᑖᒥᓂᒃ ᓚᐸᓛᖕᒃ, ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᑐᐊᖑᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᓂᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ “ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ” ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᐅᑉ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


One of those partners is Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

ᐃᓚᖓᓪᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.


In a release last week, ITK said it had “approved an Inuit Nunangat chapter” for inclusion in the Arctic policy framework.

ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᓐ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᐅᓵᖅᑐᒥᓐ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ “ᐊᖏᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᕐᑐᒥᑦ” ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᓐ.


ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᑦ


For their part, Patterson and the committee’s deputy chair, Independent Senator Patricia Bovey of Manitoba, said the federal government must work towards the empowerment of Indigenous and non-Indigenous northerners.

ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᒡᓕᖓ, ᐃᓐᑎᐸᓐᑕᓐᔅ ᓴᓂᑐ ᐸᑐᕇᓯᐊ ᐴᕕ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ.


“The ultimate goal, in our committee’s view, should be the eventual devolution of decision-making powers about northern issues to northern institutions—decisions about the North must be made in the North, for the North and by the North,” the two senators said in their introduction to the report.

“ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᓗᐊᕐᑐᕐᓕ, ᐅᕙᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓱᒃᑲᐃᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᕙᓪᓕᐊᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᓂᒃ—ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᙶᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ,” ᑖᒃᑯᐊᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᓴᓂᑑ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑑᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐊᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐅᒍᔫᑉ.


On that theme, Patterson said he’s not comfortable with the idea of the federal government using ITK as a conduit for federal funding directed towards health care and other matters.

ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒍ, ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᒍᓱᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖓᓂᒃ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᒥᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᓄᑦ.


“I am very strongly in support of the Government of Nunavut being the primary deliverer of health and social and justice and housing and municipal programs in Nunavut,” Patterson said.

“ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓯᒪᒻᒪᕆᒃᑲᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ,” ᐹᑐᓴᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


Besides the creation of an Arctic infrastructure bank, the committee’s other recommendations include:

ᐅᓇᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᒃᓴᖅ, ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖏᑦ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᑦ:


• The creation of a federal strategy that devolves federal programs to territorial and Indigenous governments.

• ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᐊ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᖏᑦ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᖏᓐᓄ ᐱᔭᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ.


• More money to implement comprehensive land claims agreements, and to finance land use planning and regulatory boards.

• ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᑖᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᐅᑉ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒃᓴᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓂᒃ.


• Create co-management regimes with Indigenous and territorial governments for Arctic offshore regions.

• ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑎᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑑᑉ ᓯᒡᔭᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᓄᑦ.


• Create a consistent definition of “Arctic.”

• ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᓐ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᓐ “ᐋᑎᒃᒧᑦ.”


• Ask the National Research Council to create a building code adapted to Arctic conditions.

• ᐊᐱᕆᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ (NRC) ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᖁᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᓈᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ.


• Implement an action plan to mitigate the effects of climate change on infrastructure, take immediate measures to address the housing crisis in the Arctic, and report annually to local, Indigenous and territorial governments on the effect of federal spending on housing.

• ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᐹᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᑎᒎᓇᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᖁᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᑲᐅᑎᒋᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᓐ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐅᖅᐸᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᑑᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ.


• Support Indigenous or territorial governments by increasing funding for adult basic education in the Arctic, ensure students can pursue studies in their Indigenous language, and support the Government of Nunavut in establishing a university in the eastern Arctic.

• ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑎᐅᕆᑐᕆᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᓐ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑐᖃᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᔫᓂᕘᓯᑎᒃᓴᒥᑦ (ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᒥᑦ) ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑑᑉ ᑲᓇᖕᓇᖓᓂᒃ.


• Spend more on the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting Program.

• ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐆᒧᖓ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


• Work with local, Indigenous and territorial governments on the development of multi-use community centres for arts, culture and language.

• ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᐅᕆᐅᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᕆᕕᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐃᓕᖁᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ.


• Create ways in which Indigenous organizations can have a say in federal research and the setting of Arctic research priorities.

• ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᓂᐱᖃᕈᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


• Invest in the development of infrastructure and Indigenous environmental stewardship initiatives that support a conservation economy.

• ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᕐᒥᓐ ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᓐ.


• Establish “a robust governance regime” to regulate activities in Canada’s Arctic waters, including shipping corridors and bonding and insurance requirements, with the involvement and participation of Arctic Indigenous governing bodies and communities.

• ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ “ᐱᓕᕆᓪᓚᕆᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ” ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᒍᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᑕ ᑕᕆᐅᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᕝᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᐅᑦᑎᐅᒃᑯᒫᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑕ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᒐᔭᒪᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ.


• Increase funding for Indigenous permanent participants on the Arctic Council.

• ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᙱᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ.


• Recognize the “urgent need” to improve search and rescue and emergency protection infrastructure in the Arctic.

• ᐃᓕᓴᕐᓯᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ “ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᑦ” ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᖏᖕᓇᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᓐ.


Savikataaq opposes plan to have the public pick Nunavut’s premiers

ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐱᐅᒃᓴᙱᓚᖅ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ


“What we have now is the most democratic system”

“ᒫᓐᓇᓕ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓅᖓᔪᒥᑦ”


Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq smiles as he stands above the foyer of the Nunavut legislature in Iqaluit a year after he became the territory’s premier.

ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᖁᖓᑦᑐᖅ ᓇᖏᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓯᕆᐊᕐᕕᐊᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᙳᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


“ᐱᒃᑯᓕᔪᖓ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᓐᓂᒃ.


I love my job and the people I work with, my staff and all my cabinet members and MLAS because I know we all have to work together, he said.

ᖁᕕᐊᒋᒐᒃᑯ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᕋ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖃᑎᒋᔭᒃᑲ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᒋᔭᒃᑲᓗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᒋᐊᖃᕋᑦᑕ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“We all have different opinions about how we can get to the goal but we all have the same goal…. We all want to leave Nunavut in a better state than we got it.”

“ᑕᒪᑦᑕ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓇᓱᒃᑲᑦᑕ… ᑕᒪᑦᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᖁᒐᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᑖᕆᓚᐅᕐᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ.”


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔭᐃᓐ ᔪᐊᔾ)


A plan being floated to have Nunavut’s premier directly chosen by voters doesn’t have the support of the person currently holding the job.

ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᑲᑕᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓗᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᒧᑦ.


“I think what we have now is the most democratic system,” said Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq.

“ᐃᓱᒪᔪᖓᓕ ᒫᓐᓇ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖃᓛᖑᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ.


The premier’s comment, offered in a wide-ranging interview with Nunatsiaq News, comes in reaction to an announcement by Aggu MLA Paul Quassa on June 5, the last day of the spring legislative sitting, that he would make a motion during the next sitting for a plebiscite on how Nunavut’s premier is elected.

ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᑉ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ, ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᒡᒍᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐹᓪ ᖁᐊᓴ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᔫᓂ 5-ᒥ, ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᕐᒥᑦ ᐅᐱᕐᙶᒥᓐ ᕿᑲᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᑦ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓕᕈᑎᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᖓ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


Quassa’s proposal comes one year after Nunavut’s MLAs voted to oust him as premier.

ᖁᐊᓴᐅᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


His plan would see a premier chosen by eligible voters in the territory, and not, as is the case now, by MLAs in the legislative chamber.

ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖓᒍᓪᓕ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓗᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᒫᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᑎᑐᑦ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓗᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕝᕕᐅᑉ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᐊᓂᒃ.


But Savikataaq said there’s no reason to change the way premiers are chosen in the territory.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.


“Our MLAs pick the cabinet, our MLAs pick the premier for their constituents, and the premier is absolutely accountable to the MLAs, which was proven last year,” Savikataaq said in an interview timed to coincide with his 12-month anniversary as premier.

“ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᕗᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᕗᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᒃᓴᒥᓐ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓪᓗᓂ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ,” ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.


A Nunavut-wide elected premier might not be accountable to the MLAs, Savikataaq suggested, adding that he didn’t know whether the MLAs could even remove the premier under that scenario.

ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᙱᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ, ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᔪᖅ, ᐅᖃᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᙱᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᒥᒃ ᐲᕐᓯᔪᒪᓐᓂᕈᑎᒃ.


“There are more questions … it wouldn’t be a simple process,” said Savikataaq.

“ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᑕᖃᕐᒥᖕᒪᑦ … ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓇᔭᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ


“Would you have a run-off election so the premier would be picked by 50 per cent of the eligible voters? If you have 10 people (running), the odds of one person getting 50 per cent plus one is slim. Or could the premier be elected with four per cent of the popular vote?”

“ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᔭᕋᕖᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓯᒪᓗᓂ ᓇᑉᐸᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓃ? ᖁᓕᓂᒃ (10) ᐃᓄᖕᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑐᖃᖅᐸᓐ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᓘᓐᓃ ᓇᑉᐸᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᕋᔭᕐᒪᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ.


When the Nunavut legislature has its fall sitting, Aggu MLA Paul Quassa says he plans to make a motion for a plebiscite that would seek changes to how Nunavut elects its premier. (Photo by Jane George)

ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ 4 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᒫ?”


As well, things could be difficult if the premier came in with a mandate different from that of the MLAs.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒥᖕᒪᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᑕᖓᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᒐᖃᕐᓂᕈᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑏᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


For now, the premier comes up with a plan for the government that is presented to cabinet.

ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᕐᓕ, ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᓯᐅᕐᐸᒃᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ.


This then gets supported by all the MLAs.

ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᓄᑦ.


It’s not just put forward by the premier, he said.

ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔨᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


And what if a universally elected premier decided to change the government’s vision after being elected, Savikataaq asked.

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᓕᒫᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᓕᖅᐸᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐅᕌᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐊᐱᕆᔪᖅ.


“What it is, is going to a party system without calling it that,” he said of Quassa’s call for a universally elected premier.

“ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᓂᐊᖅᑐᕐᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᕐᓂᐅᓕᕐᓗᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᓗᓂ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᐊᓴᐅᑉ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓂᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᒃᓴᒥᑦ.


“ᐅᕙᓂᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᒍᑦ.


And MLAs can remove a leader and they demonstrated that they could, and they did.”

ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᒥ ᐲᕐᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᖕᓂ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ.”


Savikataaq said he and Quassa are on speaking terms.

ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖁᐊᓴᓗ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.


“ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᕋ.


ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒍᒃ,” ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“In lot of situations like this you have to turn the page and get on with it.”

“ᑕᐃᒪᐃᕈᓘᔭᕐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓛᓐᓇ ᒪᒃᐱᒐᖅ ᐊᓯᐊᓅᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᒧᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᕐᓗᓂ.”


Federal funds sent to ITK creates confusion

ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓇᓗᓈᕿᔾᔪᑎᐅᕗᑦ


A looming discussion about electoral reform is not the only challenge Savikataaq faces in his second year as premier.

ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᓯᙳᕈᑎᐅᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᒋᔭᑐᐊᕆᙱᓚᐅᒃ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᑉ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.


There’s also what he called “confusion” over money that Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami recently received from Ottawa for work in the areas of education and health—for tuberculosis prevention, early learning and child care, and tobacco reduction.

ᐅᓇᐅᖕᒥᖕᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᔭᖓ “ᓇᓗᓈᕿᔾᔪᑎ” ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᑖᕆᓵᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᒃᑯᑦ—ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑕᐃᓕᓂᓕᕆᓂᖅ, ᓱᕈᓯᓛᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓯᒡᒐᓖᖅᑐᓗᐊᖅᑕᐃᓕᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ.


These are areas in which Nunavut usually delivers services as a public government.

ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᕙᒃᑕᖓᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.


ITK has also produced a strategy on Inuit needs for more social housing, which the Nunavut Housing Corp. now oversees.

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᑖᓐᓇᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᕙᒃᑕᖓᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ.


Concerns about how the Government of Nunavut would work with Inuit organizations on housing also came up in the legislature on June 3, when Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main asked whether the GN has a system to direct future collaboration with these organizations.

ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᒥ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᔫᓂ 3-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᓇ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓄᑦ-ᑎᑭᕋᖅᔪᐊᖅᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐊᖅᑎ ᔭᓐ ᒪᐃᓐ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


But there isn’t and “it’s a confusing time.

ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ “ᓇᓗᓇᕈᓘᔭᑲᑕᖕᓇᖅᖢᓂ.