ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᓄᒫᓇᕈᑏᑦ: ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᓂ

Jailhouse blues: Nunavut’s incarceration rate rose last year


ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᖁᕝᕙᖅᐹᓪᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ 7 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ 2017/18-ᒥᑦ

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


ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ, 2016-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

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


By ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ


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

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.


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

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.


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

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


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

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


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

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


ᓄᓇᕗᒥᓪᓕ, ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓯᕚᓪᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ 7 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ.

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


ᐅᓇ ᐃᒡᓗᖔᖓᓄ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᓯᐊ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ.

That’s the opposite of the national trend.


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

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


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

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


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

“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.


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

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


ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᑐᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ.

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


ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᑕᒪᐅᖓ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᒻᒪᑕ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.

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


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

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

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.


ᐃᖃᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᕝᕕᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᑕᕿᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᒧᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ

Remand prisoners outnumber those serving sentences


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

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


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

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


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

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


ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᐅᔪᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᕐᑐᖅ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐅᑕᕿᔪᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓄᑦ.

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


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

“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.


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

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


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

“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.


ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂᒃ 2,000 ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ


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

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.


ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᑎᒍᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ 2017–18 ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ:

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


• ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ: 415

• Sentenced prisoners admitted to incarceration: 415


• ᐅᑕᕿᔪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ: 567

• Remand prisoners admitted to incarceration: 567


• ᐃᖃᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ: 900

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


• ᑲᑎᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᕕᒃᒧᐊᖅᑐᑦ: 1,882

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


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

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.


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

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


ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᐅᓂᖓ ᑭᕙᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᙱᓚᖅ ᓱᓕ

Sudden sale of Rankin Inlet pharmacy still rankles Kivalliq residents


“ᐱᐅᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑯ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ… ᖃᐅᔨᔪᒪᔪᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᑯᓐᓄᑦ”

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


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

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)


By ᑖᒪᔅ ᕉᓄ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ

By Thomas Rohner Special to Nunatsiaq News


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

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.


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

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.


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

“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.


“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑎᑕᐅᙱᖢᓂᓐ.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃ ᒪᑐᓕᕐᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᒃᑎᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓕᑕᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᑐᒍᑦ.”

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


ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ ᓄᖑᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ.

That occurred in late January, residents say.


ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆᐅᓕᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓄᑖᒥ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᑭᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂᒃ ᒪᑐᐃᕐᑐᖃᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᐊᑕᓐᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᐊᓂ.

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


“ᐱᐅᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑯ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ.

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


ᐱᐅᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑯ ᓴᒃᑯ ᐄᔭᒐᐃᑦ.


ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᓐ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᐸ?


ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓪᓗᐊᕐᓂᙱᑦᑐᑦ.


ᖃᐅᔨᔪᒪᔪᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪᑦ ᓂᐅᕐᕈᑎᐅᖕᒪᖔᑦ ᓄᐊᑕᒻᒧᑦ,” ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖃᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.

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


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

“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.


ᓴᒃᑰᑉ ᐱᕈᐃᔭᖏᑦ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᖕᓂ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᕆᐊᕐᕕᐅᓇᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖏᓐᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ.

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


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

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.”


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

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.


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

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


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

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


ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᕙᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ.

The corporation does not make its financial statements publicly available.


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

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


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

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.


ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐊᖏᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᓂᑰᑉ ᐊᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑕᐅᖁᔨᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

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


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

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.


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

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


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

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.


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

“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.


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

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.”


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

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


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

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.


“ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕈᑦᑕ ᓯᕗᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕋᔭᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᕈᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᐅᓪᓚᕆᒐᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.”

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


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᑭᐅᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.

But some residents found that response not good enough.


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

“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.


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

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


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

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.


“ᐊᔾᔨᒌᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᒐᒃᑭ,” ᐅᕋᐃᒧ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

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


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

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.


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

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


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

“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.


ᓄᐊᑦ ᕗᐃᐊᔅᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᑖᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᒻᒪᑕ ᑭᑦᓄᓇ ᐄᔭᒐᖅᑖᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᓂᒃ 2018 ᐃᓱᓕᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

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


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

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


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

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


ᔨᐅ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᑦᓄᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ.

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


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

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.


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

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


“ᐊᔾᔨᑦᑎᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᑖᖏᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓇᑦᑕ ᐱᑖᕆᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.”

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


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

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


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

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


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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.


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

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.”


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

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.


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

“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.


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

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


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

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 ᐊᐱᕐᓱᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ 475-ᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒦᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ 225 ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ.

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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.


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

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.


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

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.


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

“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.


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

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.


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

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.”


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

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.


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

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.


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

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


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

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.


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

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.


ᐊᒻᒪᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗ, 72 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᔪᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᓯᖏᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

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


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

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.


ᒪᒃᓂᐅᓪ-ᒧᓚᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓂᑰᕌᓂᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

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


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

“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.


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

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


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

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


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

We can’t determine FASD prevalence, Nunavut government says


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐅᓄᙱᑦᑐᑯᓗᐃᑦ FASD-ᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒃᓴᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥ

But small FASD diagnostic team starts work at Qikiqtani hospital


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

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


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

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.


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

“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.


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.

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.


ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕈᔪᖕᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᑐᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ.

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


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

“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.


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

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.


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

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.


ᐅᓇᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᓂᖅᐹᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᓐ.

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


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

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.


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

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


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

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


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

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.


“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.

“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.


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

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


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

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


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

“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.


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

“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.


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

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.


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

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.


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

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


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.

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.


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

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.


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

“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.


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

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


ᓱᕈᓯᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ FASD-ᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖃᑦᑕᓕᕐᑐᑦ

Pediatric unit at QGH now does FASD diagnoses


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

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.


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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.


ᐅᓇ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᒥᑦ FASD-ᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᔭᐅᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ.

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


ᑭᐅᐹᑐᕆᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖁᔨᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᖅᑎᓄᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ.

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


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

“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.


ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᑲᐅᑎᒋᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕈᑎᒃ ᑎᒍᔭᐅᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓅᖓᒍᓂ,” ᑭᐅᐹᑐᓗᕆᒃ.

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


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.

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.


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

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


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᓕᕐᐳᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ

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


ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ FASD-ᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

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


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

“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.


ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ᓴᕿᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ:

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


• ᓄᑖᙳᕆᐊᖅᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓐᓇᒥᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᖅ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ FASD-ᒥ

• An updated poster to raise awareness about FASD


• ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂ ᑐᓂᐅᖃᖅᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖃᑦᑕᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓇᔾᔨᓗᓂ ᐃᓇᐅᓗᐊᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ, ᓇᔾᔨᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ

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


• ᑐᓂᐅᖃᐃᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ

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


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

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


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

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


• ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᒥᒃᓕᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃ ᐋᓂᕈᑎᐅᓕᕈᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᕕᒃ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ.

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


ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᑕᕝᕙᙵᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᔾᔨᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

Two of them discuss alcohol use and pregnancy.


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

• 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.


• ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᖕᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᔾᔨᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

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


• ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔾᔪᑏᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᓄᑦ.

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


ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ:

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


• ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓂᖅ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ.


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

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


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

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


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

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


ᐅᓇ FASD Hub Australia ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖃᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ.

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


ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑎᖅᑕᐅᕙᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᖏᑕ ᑐᑭᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᖑᑎᕆᓇᓱᒃᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ: MMIWG-ᑯᑦ ᑐᓵᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

Violence against Indigenous women amounts to genocide: MMIWG inquiry


“ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓯᖁᒥᑦᓯᔾᔪᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥ”

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


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.

“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.


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


By ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᖏᑦ: ᓯᐊᕋ ᕌᔾᔪᕐᔅ


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

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.


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

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.


“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.

“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.


“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 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.”


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.

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.


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

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


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

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


“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.

“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.


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

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.


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

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.”


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

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


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

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.”


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

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


ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᒐᐅᑦᓯᐊᓕᖁᔨᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᓕᐅᕆᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᒪᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᑦ:

Those calls for justice include the following:


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

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


• ᒐᓛᑑ ᑐᙵᕝᕕᖁᑎᖓᑕ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕝᕕᒃᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᕐᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᓐᓄᑦ

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


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

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


• ᐊᑯᓃᖅᑐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖁᑎᒃᓴᖏᓂᒃ ᐱᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᓕᖅᑎᑦᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᖅᑎᕆᖃᑦᑕᖁᔨᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ

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


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

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


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

The report also includes 46 Inuit-specific recommendations.


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.

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.


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᕈᑎᖃᕐᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᒍᖕᓃᖅᓯᒪᓂᐅᔪᓂᑦ

Nunavut’s Education Department suffers from a people problem


ᐊᔪᓕᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᙱᒻᒪᑕ

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


ᒪᑐᐃᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ ᖁᑦᓯᖕᓂᖅᓴᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖓᑕ ᐃᖃᓗᓐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᑦ ᖁᓕᑦ ᓈᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ.

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


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

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


(ᐊᔾᔨᑦ ᑐᖅᑯᐊᓃᑦᑐᖅ)


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

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


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

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


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

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.


ᑐᒡᓕᕆᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᐅᓇᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐸᑦ?


ᐃᒻᒪᖄ ᐄ, ᐃᒻᒪᖄᓗ ᐋᒃᑲ.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᕕᓰ?


ᑐᕌᖓᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐸᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᓐᓂ, ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᕐᕕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᓇᓗᐊᙱᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓕᒃ.

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


ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ “ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐸᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᔪᓕᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖓᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖁᑎᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᙱᒻᒪᑕ.

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


ᐊᔪᓕᕈᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᒻᒪᑕᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᐃᕙᓐᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

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


ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖁᑎᖃᕐᑎᑕᐅᓂᒃᓴᖏᑦᑕᐅᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᐅᒋᕗᑦ.

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


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

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.


ᑐᑭᓯᓇᖅᓯᑦᓯᐊᕆᐊᕐᓗᒍ, ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᕈᑎᐅᒻᒪ.


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

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.


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.

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.


ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᓇᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᖕᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᑲᐅᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᑐᐊᕋᒥᒃ.

Those language of instruction measures were dead on arrival.


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

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


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

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.


ᓯᕗᓕᕈᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᑕᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

The leads to a self-perpetuating downward spiral.


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

“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.


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

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.


NTEP-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᓕᕈᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑦᓯᐊᕐᒪᑕ.


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

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.


ᓇᐅᒋᒃᑯᐊ NTEP-ᑯᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᒋᓚᐅᒐᐃ?


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

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


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

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


ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᖃᓄᖅ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᔭᐅᓂᖓᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖅᐸ?


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

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


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

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


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

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


ᓱᓕ ᐅᑕᖅᑭᕋᑦᑎᒍ.


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

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


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

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.


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

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


ᑕᑯᒃᓴᐅᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᖄᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓴᖅᑮᓯᒪᓐᓂᖃᕐᑐᖅ.

On the surface that looks like a mildly encouraging development.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒧᑦ ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᓯᒪᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ.

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


ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕌᓂᒍᑎᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖃᕋᓂ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖃᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᖔᑕ.

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


ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᐸᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᑲᓪᓚᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᐅᔪᐃᑦ ᐃᓂᑖᕆᔭᐅᕙᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᓄᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᑦ.

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.


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

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


ᓵᓐᓇᐅᔪᒥ ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓗᐊᙱᓚᑦ.

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


ᑎᑭᑦᓱᒍ ᓅᕕᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑖᕐᓯᒪᓕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ 610-ᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔨᓂᒃ.

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


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

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


ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓇᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᖅᑐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖃᖅᑑᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᖃᔅᓯᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒥᓲᙱᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ.

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


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

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.


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

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


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

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.


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.

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.


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

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.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕋᑦᑕ 2008-ᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᖅ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒻᒪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓯᒪᓕᕋᒥ.

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


ᐃᓗᓕᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᓂᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕋᑎᒃ.

It contained unrealistic provisions that were impossible to implement.


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

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


“ᓱᕈᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖏᓂᖅᐸᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᐸᒻᒪᑕ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑎᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᕙᖔᕋᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ.

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


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

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


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

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


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

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.


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

“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.


ᐊᓯᐊᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓗᒍ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᐃᓕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓪᓗᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᕈᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐋᖅᑮᓯᒪᓕᖅᐸᑕ.

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᖏᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖁᔨᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ

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


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

“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


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

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.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᐃᐊᒪ ᑐᕌᓐᑐ)


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

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.


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

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.


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

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


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

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.


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

“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?”


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

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


“ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᒋᕗᖅ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

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


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

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.


“ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑳᐸᓐᓕᐅᕐᓂᖓ 0.1-ᖑᔪᖅ.


ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᑳᐸᓐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒋᔭᕗᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.


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

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.


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

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.


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

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.


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

“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.


ᐅᓇ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᖅᐹᖑᓛᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᑦᓯᕐ.

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


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

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.


ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᖓᓂᒃ, ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

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


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

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


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

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.”


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

“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.


“ᐊᖏᖅᓂᖅᐹᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᙶᙱᒻᒪᑕ.”

“The biggest emitters are not from Canada.”


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

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.


ᐋᔅᑐᕆᐊ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᓇᓱᐃᓐᓇᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

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


“ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖂᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᖅᖢᓂ ᓱᒃᑲᓂᕐᓴᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ.

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


ᐃᓱᒪᔪᖓ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᓂᕗᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

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


“ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᕋᑦᑎᒍᑦ.”


ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ

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


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓯᒪᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᔭᖅᔪᐊᖅ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ

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


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

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


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔭᐃᓐ ᔪᐊᔾ)


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

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.


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

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


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

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.


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

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.


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

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.


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

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.


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

“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.


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

“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.”


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

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.


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

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 ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᓚᐅᙱᒻᒥᔪᑦ ᓄᑖᒥᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᙳᖅᑐᒥ ᐆᒥᖓ ᒥᒃᖠᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.

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


ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᒋᑦ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᒥ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ.

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


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

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


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

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


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

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.”


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.

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.


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

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.


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

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.


ᓴᓂᑐᐃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐱᓂᕐᓴᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᐊᑐᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᓐ

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


“ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᑕᐅᕗᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ”

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


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

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.


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

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.


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

“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.


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

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.


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

“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.


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

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


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

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.


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

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


ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᒃᓴᖅ?


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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.


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

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.


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

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


ᑐᕉᑑ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦᑕ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᕐᓯᒪᔭᖓᑦ ᓱᓕ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ

Trudeau government’s Arctic framework still not released


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

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


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

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.


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

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.


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

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.


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

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


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

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.


ᐃᓚᖓᓪᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.

One of those partners is Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.


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

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


ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᑦ


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

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.


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

“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.


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

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.


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

“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.


ᐅᓇᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᒃᓴᖅ, ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖏᑦ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᑦ:

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


• ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᓐ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᓐ “ᐋᑎᒃᒧᑦ.”

• Create a consistent definition of “Arctic.”


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

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


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

• 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.


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

• 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.


• ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐆᒧᖓ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

• 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.


• ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᙱᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ.

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


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

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


ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐱᐅᒃᓴᙱᓚᖅ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒥᒃ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ

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


“ᒫᓐᓇᓕ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓅᖓᔪᒥᑦ”

“What we have now is the most democratic system”


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

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.


“ᐱᒃᑯᓕᔪᖓ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᓐᓂᒃ.


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

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.


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

“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.”


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔭᐃᓐ ᔪᐊᔾ)


ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᑲᑕᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓗᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᒧᑦ.

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.


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

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


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.

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.


ᖁᐊᓴᐅᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐊᓂᒍᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.

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


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

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.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᓗᒍ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑕᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.

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


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

“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.


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

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.


“ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᐱᖁᑎᑕᖃᕐᒥᖕᒪᑦ … ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓇᔭᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ

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


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

“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?”


ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ 4 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥᓪᓘᓐᓃ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓇᔭᕐᒫ?”

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)


ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒥᖕᒪᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᑕᖓᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᒐᖃᕐᓂᕈᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑏᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

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


ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᕐᓕ, ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᓯᐅᕐᐸᒃᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᓄᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ.

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


ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᓕᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᓄᑦ.

This then gets supported by all the MLAs.


ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᔨᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

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


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

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


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

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


“ᐅᕙᓂᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᖅᐳᒍᑦ.


ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᒥ ᐲᕐᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᔪᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᖕᓂ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ.”

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


ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖁᐊᓴᓗ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

Savikataaq said he and Quassa are on speaking terms.


“ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᕋ.


ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᒍᒃ,” ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


“ᑕᐃᒪᐃᕈᓘᔭᕐᓇᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓛᓐᓇ ᒪᒃᐱᒐᖅ ᐊᓯᐊᓅᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᒧᑦ ᑲᔪᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᓕᕐᓗᓂ.”

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


ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᓇᓗᓈᕿᔾᔪᑎᐅᕗᑦ

Federal funds sent to ITK creates confusion


ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᓯᙳᕈᑎᐅᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᒋᔭᑐᐊᕆᙱᓚᐅᒃ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᑉ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.

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


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

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.


ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᕙᒃᑕᖓᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

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


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

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


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.

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.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᑕᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ “ᓇᓗᓇᕈᓘᔭᑲᑕᖕᓇᖅᖢᓂ.

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