“ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᕗᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᑕᑯᕙᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓃᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ,” ᓚᐸᓛᖕᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“Some of our partners in the North do see the value and need for continued investment in their beneficiaries living away from home,” LeBlanc said.


ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖑᖃᑕᐅᔫᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᐅᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᖏᑦ

A Pioneer Missionary’s Guide to Learning Inuktitut


ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨ ᐃᐊᑦᒪᓐ ᔭᐃᒻᔅ ᐱᐊᒃ.


ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᖅ “ᐅᖃᒻᒪᒃ,” ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᑦᑎᐊᒃᑳᓗᒃ, ᒪᑐᐃᕐᓯᓂᑯ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᕐᒥ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃᒥᑦ.

Known as “Uqammak,” or the one who speaks well, he opened in the first Anglican mission in the Baffin region.


(ᕼᐋᐳ ᑲᑎᕐᓱᒐᖏᓐᓂᒃ)


1901-ᒥ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨ ᐃᐊᑦᒪᓐ ᔭᐃᒻᔅ ᐱᐊᒃ ᐅᐸᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᐸᓛᒃᓕᐊᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᒥ ᐆᒧᖓ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᒧᑦ ᐃᖕᓚᓐᒥᐅᑕᒧᑦ, ᐃᐊᑦᒍ ᒍᕇᓐᓯᐅᑦ.

In 1901, the Rev. Edmund James Peck was joined at his mission on Blacklead Island by a young Englishman, Edgar Greenshield.


ᐱᐊᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᒍᑦ, ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᕆᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᓗᑎᒃ.

Under Peck’s tutelage, any new missionary’s first task was to learn the Inuktitut language.


ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 26, 1902-ᒥ, ᐱᐊᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᖔᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᒍᕇᓐᓯᐅᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒻᒥᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᒍᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑎᑭᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐸᓛᒃᓕᐊᑦᒧ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᐊᕙᑎᓂᒃ ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓃᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ.

On Jan. 26, 1902, Peck explained in his journal the methods he used to assist Greenshield in his language learning efforts, and to continue his own learning, even though he had arrived at Blacklead already fluent after almost two decades of service in northern Quebec.


“ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᑦᑎᕈᓐᓇᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᓂᐱᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ.


ᐃᓄᖕᒥ ᐱᖃᑎᖃᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᑐᒍᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᑎᑦᑎᕙᑦᖢᑕ, ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᑐᕿᖃᙱᑦᑐ ᐃᓄᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᔪᓐᓇᕈᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᒥᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᑭᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᐳᖅ.”

We always have an Eskimo with us, and we vary our Eskimo teachers, for it by no means follows that if a person understands one Eskimo, he can understand all.”


ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑦᑎᐊᕙᒃ.


ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᒡᒍᖕᒪᑦ ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᐅᔪᓐᓇᙱᒻᒪᑕ.

A corollary of this is that not all Inuit are equally good teachers.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓕ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕈᑎᐅᕗᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒎᓕᖅᑐᓂᒃ 30-ᓂ ᐅᖓᑖᓂᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ.

This explains the folly that happened within modern education systems in the Canadian Arctic during the last 30 or so years.


ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖏᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓇᓕᐊᓐᓂᒃ ᒍᕇᖑᔪᓂᒃ, ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕖᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᖃᔅᓰᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

Even when Inuktitut was not taught in any grades, many schools brought in local assistants or elders to teach Inuktitut a few times a week.


ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᕈᓐᓇᕈᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᐳᖅ.

An assumption was implicit in this, that, just because a person could speak Inuktitut, they could also teach it.


ᐊᓕᐊᓚᐃᑦ, ᐃᓛᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᖏᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ.


ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕐᐸᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

Educators don’t do that in choosing English language teachers.


ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪ ᑕᐃᒪᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᖅᐸᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ?

Why should they do so when Inuktitut is the subject?


ᐱᐊᒃ ᑕᒫᓃᓱᖓᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅᑕᖃᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᓂᒃ.

In Peck’s time, there were no trained Inuktitut teachers.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

But some people had more innate teaching ability than others.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓕ ᐃᓚᖓᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒃᑎᑦᑎᕙᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒍᕇᓐᓯᐅᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

And that was another reason for him varying his and Greenshield’s instructors.


“ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᕙᖕᓂᖓ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ:—ᐃᓚᖓᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᒥᔅᑕ ᒍᕇᓐᓯᐅᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᐃᓚᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᓯᖓᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥ.

“The grammatical structure of language is attacked as follows:—In one lesson Mr. Greenshield learns a portion of the verb, and in another the adjective or noun.


ᐃᓚᒋᐊᕈᑎᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ, ᓇᓃᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᖅᐸᒃᖢᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Adverbs of time, place, and interrogation are also committed to memory.


ᐅᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒪᓂᖅ ᕿᓚᒥᐅᓂᕐᓴᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᕈᑎᐅᓂᕐᓴᖅ ᐃᓗᐃᑦᑑᓕᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᕐᓗᓂ.”

This plan enables a student to construct sentences in a short time, and places him in a position to ask questions and get into actual contact with the people.”


ᑕᕝᕘᓇ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᐅᔾᔨᒍᑎᒃᑯᑦ, ᓇᓗᓇᙱᓚᖅ ᐱᐅᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑕᐅᕙᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑑᖓᔪᑎᑐᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒃᑑᑎᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᖏᑦ.

In this piece of advice, it is obvious that Peck thinks of the grammar of the Inuktitut language in the same terms as he does English, and describes it using the same categories.


ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ.


ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊᓕ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᓪᓚᕆᒃᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᔾᔪᐊᓯᕙᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᑭᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᙱᖢᑎᒃ.

Lucky are those who can learn a language through simply hearing, then mimicking, and understanding without analyzing.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᑕᖃᓗᐊᙱᒻᒪᑕ.


ᐃᓛᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕋᑦᑕ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᓕᖅᖢᒍ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᑎᒍᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ.

Most of us analyze, and we need some way to organize that analysis, mentally or on paper.


ᐅᖃᐅᓯᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᒻᒪᕆᒃᑲᒃᑯ.


ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐱᐅᒃᓴᙱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ.


ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᓵᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᐱᐊᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓯᕕᓂᖏᑦ.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖕᒥᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᓐᓇᓛᒃᑰᕋᓱᒃᐸᒡᓗᑎᒃ.

But today’s learners should do what works best for them.


“ᑲᑎᕐᓱᒐᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᑦ.


ᐅᑯᐊ, ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᓐᓂᖓᒍᑦ, ᐱᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐆᒪᙵᑦ ᒥᔅ ᒍᕇᓐᓯᐅᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᖅᑎᓐᓇᒍ.”

These are, as far as possible, taken down from the lips of the Eskimo by Mr. Greenshield, and are finally revised before they are committed to memory.”


ᐅᖃᐅᓰᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᓪᓚᕆᐅᕗᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Word lists are at the heart of language learning.


ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓯ ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ, ᑭᖑᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᑲᑕᓕᕐᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒋᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᐸᓪᓕᐊᔭᒃᑯᑦ.

Learn large amounts of vocabulary, and then manipulate the words, practising them within the context of the grammar that you are simultaneously learning.


ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᔪᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᒻᒪᕆᒃᑯᕕ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ, ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕙᒡᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕋᕕᒋᑦ.

Unless you are blessed with a superhuman memory, you will need to write your word lists out so that you can practise them any time.


ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᖕᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᒍᓯᒃᑯᑦ—ᐃᓚᒌᖕᓂᖅ, ᓂᕐᔪᑏ, ᓄᓇᐅᑉ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᖏᑦ, ᐃᒃᐱᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ—ᐅᖃᐅᓰᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᒪᑕ.

Some people like to learn words thematically—family relationships, animals, land forms, emotions—there are any number of ways to categorize words.


ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᒥᐊᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐃᓐᓇᕆᕙᒃᖢᒋᑦ.

Others learn them randomly, but still write them all down.


ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᑦᑎᐊᕙᒃ ᒪᓕᒍᒥᓇᕐᖢᓂ, ᐱᓗᐊᕐᑐᒥᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓕᓵᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓗᓂ.

This is a good practice to follow, especially in the early stages of language learning.


“ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.


ᐃᓄᒃᑕᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕈᓐᓇᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᒥ.”

We have one of the Natives who can read well to lead in this.”


ᖃᐅᔨᓯᒪᔭᒃᑯᓪᓕ, ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕆᐅᕐᓴᓂᖅ ᓈᒪᓈᕐᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᑲᑕᒍᓐᓇᕐᓯᓯᒪᓕᕐᓗᓂ,

In my experience, there is a time for learning to read, but it is after considerable fluency has been developed in speaking.


“ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᓰ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖁᓪᓗᑎᒍ ᐃᓅᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᓂᒃ, ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ.

“We write down accurate accounts given to us by the people, or ask them to write out something relating to their mode of life, religion, etc.


ᐅᑯᐊ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᕆᕙᒃᖢᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑑᑎᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ.

These we translate and arrange in a useful form.


ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᕚᓪᓕᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᖢᓂ, ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓛᕐᓕ ᑕᒻᒪᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓰᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓛᖑᓪᓗᓂ.”

Several points are gained by this latter mode of study, the principal one being the correct idiom, which, I need hardly say, is an important matter.”


ᖁᕕᐊᓇᕋᔭᙱᓛᖅ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᑯᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᐸᑕᐅᓯᒪᒃᐸᑕ ᓂᓇᑭᐊ?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if these excerpts from individual life stories had been preserved in an archive somewhere?


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑕᐅᓯᒪᖅᑰᔨᙱᒻᒪᑕ.


ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᔪᒃᓴᐅᔪᕕᓃᑦ ᐱᐊᒃᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒍᕇᓐᓯᐅᑦᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᕐᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ.

They must have been extremely helpful to Peck and Greenshield in vocabulary building.


ᐱᐊᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᑯᖏᑦᑕ ᐃᓱᖏᓐᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᒍᕇᓐᓯᐅᑦᒥ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ, ᐅᔾᔨᕆᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄ—ᐃᓄᐃᓪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒍᓯᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ: “ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᐅᖃᑎᒃᑲᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᑕᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᓖᑦ ᐱᐅᓂᕐᓴᓂᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ.”

Peck concluded his account of his method of helping Greenshield in learning Inuktitut with sage words, in which he recognized that one size does not fit all—that individuals learn in different ways: “Some of my missionary brethren may use different and better methods.”


ᐅᔾᔨᕆᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓂᖅ, ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᑎᑐᑦ, ᑭᓄᐃᓵᕆᐊᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕇᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᓂ.

He noted also that the acquisition of Inuktitut, as with any language, required patient and persevering work.


ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖃᕐᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᕕᓂᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ.

Taissumani is an occasional column that recalls events of historical interest.


ᑭᐊᓐ ᕼᐋᐳ ᐃᒻᒪᓕᓴᓕᕆᔨᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒦᖢᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ 50 ᐅᖓᑖᓂ.

Kenn Harper is a historian and writer who lived in the Arctic for over 50 years.


ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐅᕐᓂᑯ ᐆᒥᖓ “Minik, the New York Eskimo” ᐊᒻᒪ “Thou Shalt Do No Murder,” ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒡᓗ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᕐᓂ.

He is the author of “Minik, the New York Eskimo” and “Thou Shalt Do No Murder,” among other books.


ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᓴᖃᖅᐲ? ᐅᕗᖓ ᑎᑎᕋᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓯ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐱᕐᓱᕈᓐᓇᖅᖢᓯ kennharper@hotmail.com.

Feedback? Send your comments and questions to kennharper@hotmail.com.


ᐅᑎᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑏᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᑦ

Reclaim Inuktut names, NTI encourages Nunavut hamlets


“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᙶᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ”


ᐊᖅᑯᑏᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᑲᑎᕝᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥ.

An intersection of road signs in Rankin Inlet.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖓ ᐱᓇᓱᖁᔨᓯᒪᓕᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐊᑎᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᑎᑦᑎᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is encouraging the territory’s English-language communities to switch back to their original Inuktut names, as one way to assert their Inuit language rights.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᓴᐃᕋ ᕌᔾᔪᔅ)


ᑭᓱᑕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᕐᒥ?


ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᑯᑐᖃᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖓᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

The reclaiming of Inuit history and language, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. says.


ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᖁᔨᓯᒪᓕᕐᐳᖅ 14-ᓂ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓱᓕ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᑐᖃᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᕐᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

The Inuit birthright organization has encouraged 14 municipalities in the territory that still use English names to consider a switch to their original Inuktut names.


“2019 ᐊᕐᕌᒎᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᖓᓪᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᓪᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᑉ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ, “ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᒍ.”

“With 2019 being the International Year of Indigenous Languages, one of the things we’ve focused on is Inuktut-language rights,” said NTI president Aluki Kotierk, “and how to ensure that Inuit are able to receive essential public services in Inuktut.”


“ᐃᓱᒪᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᐅᓇᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᖓᑖᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᓂᒃ.”

“I thought this would also signal to Canada and even beyond that Inuit were reclaiming and asserting their language rights.”


ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᐃᓯᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ, ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᑕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᑎᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑎᖃᓪᓚᕆᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

Many Nunavummiut already refer to their communities by their Inuktut names, Kotierk noted, but this is a way to make those traditional names official.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᒡᓯᐅᔾᔨᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᓂᒃ 14-ᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᕆᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᒫᑦᓯ 2019-ᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᖁᔨᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᑎᑐᖃᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᕈᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃ.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. sent out letters to 14 municipalities that still use their English names in March 2019, encouraging them to consider the change, and explaining the process.


ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᖓᒍᑦ, ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᓯᐅᕈᓐᓇᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᑎᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓᓄᑦ.

Under the territory’s Hamlet Act, a council can make a request for a name change to the minister of Community and Government Services.


ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᐅᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᑯ, ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖑᓛᕐᓕ 2015-ᒥᑦ, ᐅᓇ ᓇᐅᔮᒃ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᕇᐹᔅ ᐸᐃᒥ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ ᓇᐅᔮᓂᑦ.

There are a number of examples of that happening, most recently in 2015, when Repulse Bay went through the process to re-name the municipality Naujaat.


ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᐃᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᑦ 1980-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ 1990-ᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑎᓐᓇᒍ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ (Frobisher Bay-ᖑᓂᑯ), ᖁᒡᓗᖅᑑᑦ (Coppermine), ᑭᒻᒥᕈᑦ (Lake Harbour), ᕿᑭᖅᑕᖅᔪᐊᖅ (Broughton Island) ᐊᒻᒪ ᑰᒑᕈᒃ (Pelly Bay).

A handful of other communities did the same through the 1980s and 1990s, before Nunavut was created, including Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), Kugluktuk (Coppermine), Kimmirut (Lake Harbour), Qikiqtarjuaq (Broughton Island) and Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay.)


ᑭᙵᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᓕᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᓯᖑᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

Cape Dorset is one community considering the change.


ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᖕᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐳᕆᑎᔅᓯᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕕᓂᖅ (ᑳᑉᑕᓐ) ᑎᓴᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ Earl of Dorset 1600-ᖏᓐᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑖᓐᓇ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᖓᒍᑦ, ᑭᙵᐃᑦ.

The Baffin municipality was named by a British captain after the fourth Earl of Dorset in the 1600s, but is commonly known by its Inuktut name, Kinngait.


ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᓯᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓯᑯᓯᓚᖅ, ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒃᑕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᓯᑯᔪᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒫᖅ.

Some residents also refer to the community as Sikusilaq, after the nearby inlet that remains ice-free throughout the year.


ᑕᖅᑭᓂ ᐊᓂᒍᓵᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᑐᓂᒃ, ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᓈᓚᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋ ᑖᓐᓇ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᑎᖃᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

Over the last few months, the hamlet council has launched a discussion with community members over radio and social media, to gauge interest in renaming the hamlet.


ᕼᐋᒻᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᖏᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕈᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖅ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓇᐅᓕᕐᐸᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᒃᑲᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓄᓇᐅᑉ ᐊᑎᖓ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ.

Hamlet officials plan to include an informal ballot during the fall municipal elections, in which voters can indicate if they are for or against the name change.


ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᑐᓴᓚᐅᕐᓂᕋᕆᓪᓗᓂ ᓴᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᒪᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ ᕼᐋᒻᒪᓚᒃᑯᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎ ᐊᑎᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕈᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

Kotierk said she’s also heard interest from Coral Harbour’s hamlet council, as well as Cambridge Bay, which is consulting local elders about a potential name change.


“ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᙶᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“It has to come from the community,” she said.


ᔫᓇᐃᑕᑦ ᓇᐃᓴᓐᔅ ᑕᐃᓯᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ 2019 ᐊᕐᕌᒎᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓗᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ 7,000-ᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ—2,680 ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᓯᐅᓕᒑᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

The United Nations named 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, highlighting the need to preserve, revitalize and promote the use of the world’s estimated 7,000 Indigenous languages—2,680 of which are considered to be in danger.


ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐊᑐᖅᖢᓂᔾᔪᑦ “ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ” ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᓴ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᑎᓕᐅᕆᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᖢᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᖁᔨᓪᓗᓂ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᒍᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

Kotierk said NTI has used the occasion to “make a lot of noise” about the urgent need to protect and promote the use of Inuktut in Nunavut, pressing both the territorial and federal governments to implement safeguards.


ᐃᓚᖓᒍᑦ, ᖃᔅᓯᒐᓴᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ; ᐱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑕᖃᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᓯᒪᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᐅᕙᓚᐅᕐᑐᓂᒃ.

In some cases, there are a number of different Inuktut names that are used in Nunavut communities; there is no official list of Inuktut names by which communities were once to referred to.


ᐊᑖᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᓱᓕ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ, ᓴᓂᑦᑎᐊᖓᒍᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᑎᖏᑦ:

Below is a list of Nunavut communities that still use English names, along with their common Inuktut names:


ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒥᑦ, ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᐋᒃᑳᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᕙᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ

At national gathering, Arctic Anglicans say no to same-sex marriage


ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐱᐅᒃᓴᒻᒪᕆᒃᐳᖅ ᒪᒥᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ

Church embraces reconciliation, Indigenous self-determination


ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᔪᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᖓᑦ ᔪᐃ ᕈᐃᐅᓪ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐋᑐ ᑑᓄ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᓴᐃᓐᑦ ᔫᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑐᖅ ᔪᓚᐃ 12-ᒥᑦ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ 2019-ᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒥ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᕆᔭᖓᓂ ᒪᑯᐊ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓈᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓈᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

Anglican Bishop Joey Royal, director of the Arthur Turner Training School for ministers at St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit, speaks on July 12 at the Anglican Church of Canada’s 2019 synod in Vancouver, saying he opposes changing canon law to allow same-sex marriage.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᒐᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᒥᑦ)


ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᖏᑦ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᖅᑭᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᓇ ᓄᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎ ᐋᕿᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕕᖓᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᔪᐊᖓᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓈᖕᓂᒃ.

Anglican bishops representing the Arctic and other Indigenous and northern regions played a crucial role earlier this month in blocking a resolution that would have amended the Anglican Church of Canada’s canon law to permit the solemnization of same-sex marriage.


ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᓇᑭᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᔪᓚᐃ 12-ᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓ ᐱᖓᔪᖓᓂᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᕚᓐᑰᕙᒥ.

Anglican delegates from every corner of the country took part in a passionate debate on the issue this past July 12, during the church’s triennial synod, or national assembly, in Vancouver.


ᐅᓇ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎ ᐃᓇᖏᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓇᔭᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ “ᐊᖑᑎ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᖅ” ᐊᒻᒪ “ᐅᐃᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓕᐊᖓ” ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᓕᕐᓗᓂ “ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓇᓱᒃᑑᒃ” ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᑭᒡᓕᒋᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᓕᒫᙳᕐᓗᓂ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᑎᒍᑦ.

The resolution would have replaced the words “man and woman” and “husband and wife” with “the parties to the marriage” and would have extended the marriage sacrament to all persons able to get married under civil law.


ᐃᓚᖓᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎᒥᒃ, ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕐᑎ ᐅᕌᐳᑦ ᒪᒃᒥᓚᓐ ᓅᕙ ᓯᑰᓯᐊᒥᐅᑕᖅ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᒻᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓗ ᐅᑕᕿᓯᒪᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᐊᕙᑎᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

One of many supporters of the resolution, lay reader Robert MacMillan of Nova Scotia, said he and his partner waited 20 years to get married.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᔫᓇᐃᑕᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒧ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐅᐸᒋᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ—ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᒋᔭᖓ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓯᒪᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓ.

But to do that, they had to go to the United Church of Canada—because his local Anglican rector refused to marry them.


“ᕿᑐᕐᖓᓯ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᕗᑦ LGBTQ ᐅᑕᕿᑐᐃᓐᓇᖁᙱᓐᓇᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓗᑎ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓪᓕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᒥ, ᐅᒃᐱᓪᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅ,” ᒪᒃᒥᓚᓐ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“I don’t want your children and our fellow LGBTQ to have to wait and suffer and be considered second-class citizens, or worse, you’re not worthy to be a Christian,” MacMillan said.


ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎ ᐊᑐᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᔪᓚᐃ 12-ᒥ, ᐃᓚᖏ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᔪᑦ ᓂᓪᓕᐊᓕᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᕿᐊᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

When the resolution failed on July 12, some of its stunned supporters cried out or broke into tears.


ᐅᕘᓇᓕ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᐅᑉ ᐱᖁᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎ ᐊᓂᒍᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒪᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᕈᑎ ᐱᖓᓱᐃᓕᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ: ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᑦ, ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᑦ.

Under the church’s rules, the resolution needed a two-thirds majority among each of three groups: lay persons, clergy and bishops.


ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᑦ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᓂᒃ.

It won more than two-thirds support from lay people and clergy.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, 23 ᐊᖏᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ, 14 ᐋᒃᑳᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᕐᕉᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᙱᖢᑎᒃ, ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ 62.2 ᐳᓴᓐᑎ, ᐃᓚᐅᑎᖏᒃᑯᕕᒋᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᙱᑦᑐᑦ, ᑐᖓᐅᑦᑎᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖑᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

But within the bishops’ group, 23 voted yes, 14 voted no and two abstained, a majority of only 62.2 per cent, if you do not include the abstentions, short of the required two-thirds.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓕ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓵᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᒫᓂᖃᐃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑑᖕᓄᑦ.

That means it likely failed by a margin of two votes.


ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕ ᓇᐃᓴᐃᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᑯᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ 50 ᐊᒻᒪ 60 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᑐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᓄᓛᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.

According to Statistics Canada surveys, between 50 and 60 per cent of Nunavut’s population identify as Anglicans, making it the largest religious denomination in the territory.


ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑦ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᐋᒃᑳᖅᐳᑦ


ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᐹᓴᓐᔅ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᓐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ, 2012-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᔭᐃᓐᑦ ᔫᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᓵᓂᑰᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᒃᓯᐅᔾᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ.

Bishop David Parsons, head of the Anglican diocese of the Arctic, at the 2012 consecration of the rebuilt St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit.


ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᐹᓴᓐᔅ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ, ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᓚᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᐋᒃᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.

Bishop David Parsons, head of the Anglican diocese of the Arctic, which includes Nunavut and Nunavik, was one of the bishops who voted no.


ᒪᓕᒃᓯᒪᒐᑦᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕆᐊᖃᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑲᓪᓚᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓂ,” ᐹᓴᓐᔅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

We are in line with the doctrines and teachings of our church throughout the centuries,” Parsons told Nunatsiaq News in an interview.


ᑕᒪᐅᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᐹᓴᓐᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒃᑐᒥᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒪᐃᑦᑐᑦ “ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᐸᑦ.”

At the same time, Parsons said the Anglican church in the Arctic does not exclude anyone and treats everyone with “a love that is unconditional.”


“ᐃᓯᖁᔨᙱᓪᓗᑕᐅᙱᓐᓇᑦᑕ. ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑐᖅ.

“We do not bar anybody. Everybody is welcome.


ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᕗᑦ, ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ ᒪᓂᒪᕙᕗᑦ.

That which we have experienced, we offer to everyone.


ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᑕᑯᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᓇᑭᙶᕋᓗᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᑕᕐᓴᖃᑎᒋᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕈᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᖃᔅᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᕋᓗᐊᕐᐸᑕ, ᐊᖑᑎᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᒐᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

That’s why in our mission statement we say we witness to all people regardless of race, colour, age, gender, or any other factor,” he said.


ᐹᓴᓐᔅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᐅᑉ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᔫᓂᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ, ᑎᑎᖃᑎᒍᑦ.

Parsons also set out the Arctic diocese position in detail last June, in an open letter.


“ᑕᑯᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᕙᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓕᔭᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ.

“I see in many Anglicans a loving passion for all, and a desire to eradicate the injustices people have inflicted upon one another.


ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᕙᕋ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓕᕐᖢᖓ ᖀᒥᒍᓱᖕᓂᐊᓗᒃ, ᐃᓄᑑᓕᕐᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᓄ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᖕᒥᖕᓂᒃ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕋᓱᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕᑦ ᐊᕐᓂᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ/ᐊᖑᓯᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᙱᑦᑐᐊᓘᕙᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓈᓗᒃᐸᒃᖢᓂ,” ᐹᓴᓐᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

I also share this passion and I realize that the hatred, isolation and prejudices experienced by so many people because of how they identify themselves sexually is both tragic and heart breaking,” Parsons wrote.


ᖁᕕᐊᒋᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ ᐅᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ, “ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᔪᓐᓇᕋᒃᑯ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ, ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᓕᖏᓐᓂᐅᖕᒪ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓯᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᐊᒎᖓᓪᓗᓂ,” ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.

So although he feels sad to say it, “I must call the promotion, teaching, and endorsing of same-sex marriage false teaching and heresy,” he wrote in the letter.


ᔪᐃ ᕈᐃᐅᓪ, ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᕐᒥ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᑯᒥᑦ ᐅᕘᓈᖓᔪᒥᑦ ᐋᑐ ᑑᓄ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᓴᐃᓐᑦ ᔫᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᑐᐃᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᐅᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖑᖏᑎᐅᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᓕᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓅᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᙳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᙳᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ (LGBT) ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᒐᔭᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᔪᓐᓇᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᕙᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ.

Joey Royal, a suffragan bishop in the Arctic diocese who is director of the revived version of the Arthur Turner Training School for ministers at St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit, said on the floor of the synod that his love extends to LGBT people in the church—but he can’t support the resolution and would vote against it.


“ᐅᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᑭᓇ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᐅᖕᒪᖔᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᓇ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑕᐅᖕᒪᖔᑦ.

“This discussion is not about who is loved and who is accepted.


ᑭᓇᓕᒫᖅ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑕᐅᕗᖅ.


ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᐅᕗᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑕᐅᕗᖅ.

Everyone is loved, everyone is accepted.


ᐅᓇᓕ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᑉ ᑐᑭᑲᓂᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᓕᒃ,” ᕈᐃᐅᓪ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

It’s about the meaning of marriage,” Royal said.


ᕈᐃᐅᓪ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒫᑦᓯ 31-ᒥᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐋᓂ ᐃᑦᑐᓴᑦ ᑰᔾᔪᐊᕌᐱᒃᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓘᓯ ᓇᑦᓱ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ.

Royal was consecrated as a bishop this past March 31, along with Annie Ittoshat of Kuujjuarapik and Lucy Netser of Arviat.


ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨ ᑲᐃᓚᑉ ᓴᖑᔭ, ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᕐᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᓴᐃᓐᑦ ᑎᒧᑎ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᑦ, ᐱᐅᒃᓴᓚᐅᙱᒻᒥᔪᖅ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎᒥᓐ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᖁᐊᓵᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕆᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᓐ ᐅᓄᕈᓐᓃᖅᐹᓪᓕᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ.

Rev. Caleb Sangoya, an Anglican priest and regional dean at St. Timothy’s church in Pond Inlet, also opposed the resolution, saying he fears that adoption of the same-sex marriage resolution could lead to declining membership in Arctic churches.


“ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕋᒪ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ,” ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᑲᑕᖕᓇᒥᑦ.

“I’m looking after five parishes and they want to keep their tradition,” he said during the synod debate.


ᑕᒪᐅᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑎᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᒥᔪᓂᒃ ᐋᒃᑲᒥ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᒥᖓ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᓚᐅᙱᓚᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓴᕐᓯᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᐊ LGBTQ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ “ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ.”

At the same time, like other delegates who voted no, his words and body language expressed the emotional complexity of the issue, and he said he recognizes LGBTQ people who are “fully committed to Christianity.”


ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᐃᓐᓇᕆᕙᔅᓯ,” ᓴᖑᔭ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.


ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨ ᑲᐃᓚᑉ ᓴᖑᔭ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒃᑐᖅ ᔪᓚᐃ 12-ᒥ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕕᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᕚᓐᑰᕙᒥ.

Rev. Caleb Sangoya of Pond Inlet speaks July 12 at the Anglican Church of Canada’s national synod in Vancouver. Anglicans embrace Indigenous self-determination


ᐊᓯᖏᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐱᖁᔨᕗᖔᕈᑎᒥ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

Other Indigenous delegates also spoke out against the resolution


ᓲᕐᓗ, ᓕᑎᐊ ᒪᒪᒃᕗᐊ, ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᒥᓴᒥᑯᕗᐃᔅᒧᑦ, ᐅᖃᓕᒫᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕆᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ 25-ᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓪᓚᓄᑦ ᑯᕇ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᔨᑉᕗᐃ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒫᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᑎᐅᕆᐆᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᑕ ᐱᖓᖕᓇᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒫᓂᑑᐸᐅᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓂ.

For example, Lydia Mamakwa, bishop of Mishamikoweesh, read a statement from elders in her diocese, which covers 25 Cree and Ojibway communities in northwestern Ontario and northern Manitoba.


ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓂᑰᓪᓗᓂ 2014-ᒥ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᓕᕆᓂᖓᑦ (Indigenous Spiritual Ministry) ᐅᕙᓂ ᒥᓴᒥᑯᕗᐄᔅᒥ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕕᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᒃ ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᖅ ᐊᖕᓕᑲᓐ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖏᓐᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.

Created in 2014, the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh is the first self-determining Indigenous diocese within the Anglican Church of Canada.


“ᐱᓇᓱᐊᒐᖃᖅᐳᒍ ᒪᓕᒐᓱᒃᖢᑕ ᒎᑎᐅᑉ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᕿᖕᓂᑯᖓᓂ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᖓᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ: ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᖑᑎ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᕐᓇᖅ, ᖃᑎᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ,” ᒪᒪᒃᕗᐊ ᐅᖅᑲᖅᑐᖅ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᕐᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᑯᓂᒃ.

“We commit to follow what God has ordained marriage to be: one man, one woman, together in spiritual union,” Mamakwa said, quoting from the elders’ statement.


“ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒻᒪᕆᒃᑲᑦᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᖓᓂ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓂᖅ.

“We strongly believe this alone is what marriage is.


ᒎᑎᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᓚᐅᙱᒻᒪᒍ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

God has not changed marriage,” she said.


“ᐅᓇ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᖀᒥᒍᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᓐ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᒃ.

“This has nothing to do with hating anyone.


ᖃᑕᕐᖑᑎᒌᒃᖢᑕ ᑯᕋᐃᔅᑦᑯᑦ, ᑕᒪᑦᑕ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᙶᕋᑦᑕ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are the total of one another,” she said.


ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖁᔭᐅᓂᖅ ᐱᒃᑲᖅᑎᑦᑕᐅᓇᔭᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ

Warnings against scapegoating Indigenous people


ᑭᓯᐅᓂᓕ, ᓂᙵᖕᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᓐᓃᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓇ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᐃᑦ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓈᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓵᓚᒋᔭᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᒍᑎᐅᕗᖅ—ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᓂᑯ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖓᓂ (Anglican Journal)—ᐋᖕᓕᑲᐅᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖁᔨᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᒃᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

However, the anger and grief generated by the same-sex marriage resolution’s defeat led two observers— in a recent article in the Anglican Journal—to warn their fellow Anglicans against scapegoating Indigenous people.


ᒫᒃ ᒪᒃᑖᓄᑦ, ᐊᖕᓕᑲᓐ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᑖᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᔪᕆᕐᓱᐃᔨᕐᔪᐊᖅ (archbishop), ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐱᒃᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᒐᓱᖕᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᐃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓇᐃᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᕙᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᕗᖅ “ᑕᒻᒪᖅᑐᒥ ᐃᓱᒪᖃᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑕᒻᒪᖅᑐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᕋᐃᓂᖅ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒋᑦ.”

Mark MacDonald, the Anglican Church of Canada’s new national Indigenous archbishop, said that attacking Indigenous people for their opposition to the same-sex marriage resolution represents “misjudgment and mischaracterizations of Indigenous people as a whole.”


“ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᕋᑦᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᑎᐅᓇᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᒃᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒍᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᐅᓂᖓᒍᑦ,” ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.

“We are concerned about the implications of that kind of scapegoating, and we’re trying to deal with it as gently and serenely as possible,” he’s quoted as saying.


ᒪᒃᑖᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐅᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐱᑦᑎᐊᖏᒍᑎᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒡᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓯᒪᙱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

MacDonald is also quoted in the article as suggesting that those who express those kinds of hostile and negative opinions are less than consistent in their support for Indigenous self-determination.


ᐃᓚᐅᖃᑕᐅᖕᒥᔪᖅ, ᒥᓚᓂ ᑎᐊᕙ, ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᐅᑉ “ᒪᒥᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᒐᖅᑎ,” ᐅᖃᕐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᓚᒐᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᒥᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒨᖓᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ.

Another participant, Melanie Delva, the church’s “reconciliation animator,” is quoted by the Anglican Journal as saying that the vote on the marriage canon is a reconciliation issue.


ᓇᖕᒥᓂ ᐱᓇᓱᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᖅ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ, “ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᓂᕈᐊᕈᒪᙱᓐᓂᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᓛᖑᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ.

Self-determination, she says, “means that for some, abstention is the right choice.


ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᓪᓕ, ᓂᕈᐊᖏᓐᓂᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᓛᖑᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ.

For some, a no vote is the right choice.


ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐊᖏᕐᓗᓂ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᓛᖑᓂᕋᖅᖢᒍ,” ᑎᐊᕙ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒪᒐᖓᓂ.

For some, a yes vote is the right choice,” Delva said in the Anglican Journal article.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒍ, ᑲᑎᒪᔭᕐᑐᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ “ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕈᑎᒥᒃ” ᐊᓂᒍᐃᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔾᔪᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᖁᓪᓗᒋ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

In that spirit, delegates passed an “affirmation” that recognizes the right of Indigenous persons and communities to make their own decisions on same-sex marriage.


“ᖃᓄᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒐᓗᐊᕐᐸᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᐳᒍ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓇᖕᒥᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᕙᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ,” ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᕈᑎ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ.

“Whatever the action of the church at this general synod, we affirm the right of Indigenous persons and communities to spiritual self-determination in their discernment and decisions regarding same sex marriage,” the affirmation said.


ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓇᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓈᒃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓈᒡᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᖄᖏᐊᕐᔪᑐᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐋᖕᓕᑲᓐᑯᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖓᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ 2016 ᑲᑎᖃᑎᒌᖕᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

A vote on same-sex marriage narrowly passed at the Anglican Church of Canada’s 2016 national gathering.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᖁᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥ, ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓᓂ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ 2019-ᒥᑦ.

But under the rules of the church, a second reading was required in 2019.


ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕖᑦ ᓂᒋᕐᐸᓯᖕᒦᑦᑐᑦ ᐅᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᕌᓐᑐᒥ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓈᖕᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ 2016-ᒥᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕼᐃᐅᕌᓐᒧᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓚᓐᑕᓐᒥᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕗᐃᓐᓱᒥ, ᐊᖑᑏᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ/ᐊᕐᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂ ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

Many churches in southern urban centres like Ottawa and Toronto have been performing same-sex marriages since 2016, and the Diocese of Huron, which includes the cities of London and Windsor, will begin offering the marriage sacrament to same-sex couples.


2019-ᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒥ, ᐋᑦᔅᐱᓴᑉ ᕗᕆᐊᑦ ᕼᐃᐊᑦᔾ, ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᖕᒧ ᐋᔩᖅᑐᓂ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᒪᒥᐊᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᖕᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᕕᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᒻᒪᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ.

At the 2019 synod, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the moderator of the church in Canada, apologized to Indigenous people for the cultural and spiritual harms that the church inflicted on Indigenous peoples in the past.


ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᔪᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᓕᕆᓂᒃᓴᒥᑦ.

And delegates also voted to create a national Indigenous ministry.


ᑕᑯᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑎᑦ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᒃᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᐱᓕᐅᕐᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ.

You can view a full video record of the national synod here.


ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᓐ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᐱᔭᕆᑐᒍᑎᐅᕗᖅ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥ ᓄᓘᔮᑉᓂ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ

Pond Inlet hotel renovations complicate final hearing on Mary River expansion


ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᑦ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᒃᒥᑦ, ᐊᓯᖏᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ

NIRB staff may bunk down in Arctic Bay; others may stay at mine site


ᐅᓇ ᓄᓇᙳᐊᖅ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒥ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᐅᑉ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᑯᑖᒧᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᒃᓴᒥ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒡᔭᖅᓯᒍᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓘᔮᓂ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓘᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖅᐸᓯᐊᓂ.

This map shows where Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. plans to build railways to transport iron ore from its Mary River mine on northern Baffin Island.


By ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ


ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᓴᐅᓂᖅ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᓕᐅᕋᓱᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ.

Renovation work at the Sauniq Inns North Hotel in Pond Inlet is creating a headache for the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s attempts to schedule a final public hearing on Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.’s expansion plans for its Mary River iron mine.


ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓛᖑᓇᔭᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᓘᔮᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᖓ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᒍᓂ.

Pond Inlet is the community that would be most affected if the Mary River expansion were allowed.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᐊᔪᕐᓴᕈᑎᐅᑲᑕᒃᐳᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓂᖃᕋᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᑦ.

But the hotel reno is making it difficult to figure out how to house all the hearing participants who would need accommodation in Pond Inlet.


ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕆᓂᐊᕐᑕᖓ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᓕᖓᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᒪᓚᐅᕐᑑᒐᓗᐊᖅ: ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 23-ᒥᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 27-ᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ ᓯᑎᐱᕆ 30-ᒥᑦ ᐅᒃᑑᐱᕆ 4-ᒧᑦ.

The review board had once hoped to hold the final hearing this fall in two parts: in Pond Inlet from Sept. 23 to Sept. 27 and in Iqaluit from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑕᖅᑭᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᕐᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᐱᕕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓘᑉ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓂᒃ.

But earlier this month, Baffinland asked for more time to provide required information to north Baffin communities and to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑎᓐᓂᐊᕐᓗᒍ, ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᓂᒃ 6-ᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᑦ, ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 4.

To make that happen, the company proposed a six-day hearing in Pond Inlet only, starting Nov. 4.


ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓕᕆᔨᖏᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᒋᔭᒥᑦ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐆᒧᖓ ᓄᓘᔮᑦ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᕈᒪᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ.

Pond Inlet’s Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization, a major player in the environmental review process for the Mary River expansion, said it supports the delay that Baffinland proposed.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖅ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᒪᑯᐊ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖃᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔪᒪᓇᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

But it also said it opposes holding the hearing in Pond Inlet only, since many intervenors may wish to use technical experts.


“ᐊᖏᕐᐳᒍᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᓪᓗᓂ—ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᖕᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖓ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᓪᓚᕆᖕᒨᖓᓂᕐᒧᑦ—ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᓕᕋᔭᕐᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑎᐊᕐᓗᒍ,” ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

“We agree that it is important to facilitate community participation, but believe hosting separate dates—one in Pond Inlet to focus on community input, and another in Iqaluit to focus on technical expertise—will be the best means to achieving this,” the HTO said in a letter to the review board.


ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕈᒪᔪᑦ ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᕐᓯᒪᓗᓂ, ᐊᕕᒃᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ:

So NIRB now proposes a later hearing, split like this:


• ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᑲᑕᑦ ᕼᐋᓪ: ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2-4.

• Technical presentation, Iqaluit Cadet Hall: Nov. 2-4


• ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᑲᑕᑦ ᕼᐋᓪ: ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 5-6.

• Community roundtable, Iqaluit Cadet Hall: Nov. 5-6


• ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ, ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᑦ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ: ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 8-9.

• Public hearing, Pond Inlet Community Hall: Nov. 8-9


ᐃᓂᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒥᓪᓕ ᐅᓪᓘᖕᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒥᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᓯᓂᒃᑕᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᒃᒥ.

As for accommodations for the two days in Pond Inlet, NIRB staff and board members will stay overnight in Arctic Bay.


ᐊᓯᖏᓪᓕ ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓘᔮᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᐊᓃᓐᓂᐊᕐᑐᑦ.

All other Pond Inlet hearing participants will stay at the Mary River mine site.


ᐅᑯᐊᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᓂᒃ, ᐊᓯᐊᒍᖔᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᓇᓱᒍᒪᔪᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᒪᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆᒥ.

As for the Nunavut Water Board, which is working with the NIRB on co-ordinating the environmental assessment, it’ll look at a technical meeting of its own in November and a possible hearing in February.


“ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐹᕕᓐᓛᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂ ᒥᑦᑎᑕᒪᓕᖕᒧᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 8 ᐊᒻᒪ 9-ᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔭᖅᑐᕆᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ,” ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᖓ, ᐅᕋᐃᐊᓐ ᐱᐅᕆ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒪᓕᕆᔨᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᐅᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ, ᑭᐅᕋᓐ ᑲᕋᑎᐊᓐ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᑎᒍᑦ.

“The NIRB will work with Baffinland to finalize details for participants regarding accommodations and transport from the Mary River Mine Site to Pond Inlet each day November 8 and 9 to attend the public hearing proceedings,” the review board’s executive director, Ryan Barry, and the Nunavut Water Board’s acting executive director, Karén Kharatyan, said in a letter.


ᑖᓐᓇ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᔪᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᕕᖃᕈᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐅᕈᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᓯᐱᕆ 24 ᑐᖔᓂᒃ, ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ.

The new proposed scheduled would still allow the NIRB to submit a final report to the federal government by Dec. 24, the review board said.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᕌᓂᙱᑦᑐᖅ—ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐋᑐᕚ ᐊᑭᓕᕋᔭᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᑖᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ.

But the new schedule isn’t final yet—the NIRB and the NWB are now waiting to hear from the federal government on whether Ottawa will pay the cost of the proposed new hearing schedule.


“ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᒪᕝᕕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓂᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᑕᐅᕌᓂᒃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ-ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂᒃ (CIRNAC) ᐋᕿᒋᐊᖅᓯᒍᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᑐᐊᕈᑎᒃ,” ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒪᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᖃᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.

“While the necessary hotel and meeting spaces have been reserved, funding approvals from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) for the amended process must still be obtained by the NIRB and will be requested as soon as possible,” the NIRB-NWB letter said.


ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖅ 2-ᒥ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ, ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐᑯᑦ ᓴᓇᔪᒪᖕᒪᑕ 110 ᑭᓛᒥᑕᓂ ᑕᑭᓂᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᑯᑖᒧᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᓄᓘᔮᑦ ᑭᙳᐊᓂᑦ ᓅᓘᔭᖕᓄᑦ, ᒫᓐᓇ ᐅᓯᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᒥᑦ ᒪᕐᕈᐃᕐᓗᒍ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒍ 12 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑕᓐᔅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓯᑲᖅᑕᕐᓂᕆᕙᒃᑕᖓᑦ ᐅᖓᕙᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᓗᒥ ᔪᓚᐃ 1-ᒥᑦ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 15-ᒧᑦ 175 ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᐊᖏᔪᓂᒃ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᓯᑲᖅᑕᖅᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᓯᔪᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

In its phase-two proposal, Baffinland wants to build a 110-kilometre railway between Milne Inlet and Mary River, double its ore production to 12 million tonnes a year and extend the length of its shipping season to July 1–Nov. 15 to accommodate about 175 transits of big ore-carrying ships.


ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᑯᑖᒧᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖓᓄᖓᐅᔪᖅ ᓄᓘᔮᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᐅᑎᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ 200-ᓂ ᐅᓂᐊᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ.

The railway to the north of Mary River would likely use a fleet of five locomotives and 200 cars.


ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐃᓗᑦᑐᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕋᔭᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒫᓂ 12.7 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑭᐅᐱᒃ ᒦᑕᔅᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᒃ.

Building it would require multiple quarries and at least 12.7 million cubic metres of rock fill.


ᑲᒻᐸᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᑖᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᔪᖅ, ᐱᔭᐅᓂᑯ 2012-ᒥᑦ, ᐱᕕᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓯᐅᑎᑯᑖᒧᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᒃᓴᒥᑦ ᓂᒋᐊᓄᙵᐅᔪᒥᑦ ᓯᑏᓐᔅᐱ ᐃᓐᓚᑦᒧᑦ.

The company already has a project certificate, received in 2012, allowing a railway running south to a port at Steensby Inlet.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᓕᒃ ᖃᖓᒃᑲᓐᓂᐅᓕᕐᐸᑦ, ᐹᕕᓐᓛᓐ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᒥᑦ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᓄᓘᔮᖕᓂ ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓛᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᓂᖓᓂ 30 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑕᓐᔅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧᑦ.

That means that in time, Baffinland’s iron ore production from Mary River could one day reach 30 million tonnes a year.


ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ ᕼᐊᓐᑐ ᓄᖅᑲᕐᓂᐊᓯᕗᖅ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖅ

Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo to call it quits this fall


ᓕᐳᕈᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᕕᓂᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᕿᒪᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᓕᖅᖢᓂᐅᒃ

Former Liberal MP says he’s leaving public life


ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᕼᐊᓐᑐ ᑐᑐ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓇᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ ᔪᓚᐃ 2016-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᑎᕋᑖᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᒥᓴᕐᕕᖕᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᑎᐅᕆᐅᒥᑦ.

Independent Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo at a news conference in Iqaluit in July 2016, held after he returned from a treatment centre in Ontario.


ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᐃᑉᐹᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔾᔮᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᒧᑦ ᐅᑭᐊᒃᓵᖅ.

He announced today he won’t seek re-election to the House of Commons this fall.


ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᔪᖅ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎ, ᕼᐊᓐᑐ ᑐᑐ, ᐅᒃᑑᐱᕆ 21-ᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓇᒥ ᐃᓚᐅᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᕿᒪᖕᓂᐊᓕᕐᖢᓂᐅᒃ, ᑎᑎᕋᕐᕕᖓᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᐹᓂᑦ, ᔪᓚᐃ 30-ᒥᑦ.

Nunavut’s Independent MP, Hunter Tootoo, will not run in the Oct. 21 federal election and will leave public life, his office announced in a statement Tuesday.


“ᖁᔭᓕᓯᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᕋᑖᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ.

“I appreciate very much the encouragement and support I have received from Nunavummiut all across the territory over the past months.


ᐃᓱᒪᒃᓴᖅᓯᐅᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᕐᖢᖓ, ᐃᓱᒪᓕᓚᐅᕋᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᕿᒪᖕᓂᐊᕈᒪᓕᖅᖢᒍ,” ᑐᑐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.

But after much consideration, I have made the decision to leave public life,” Tootoo said in the statement.


ᓯᕗᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᒧᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᒃᑑᐱᕆ 19, 2015-ᒥ, ᓕᐳᕉᓪᓗᓂ, ᑐᑐ ᑎᒃᑯᐊᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓᓄᑦ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑᒧᑦ.

First elected to the House of Commons in Oct. 19, 2015 as a Liberal, Tootoo was appointed minister of fisheries and oceans by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.


ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑎᑭᖢᒍ ᒪᐃ 2016, ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᒥᓴᖅᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᒥᐊᓗᓗᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

He held that position until May 2016, when he resigned, saying that he was leaving to seek treatment for alcohol addiction.


ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒥᓄᑦ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᔪᓚᐃ 2016-ᒥᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓕᐳᕈᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᕿᒪᐃᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖔᓕᖅᖢᓂ.

He returned to his job in July 2016, but departed the Liberal caucus to sit as an Independent.


ᓕᐳᕈᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᕿᒪᐃᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑐᑐ ᐅᖃᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑕᐃᔭᖓᓂᒃ “ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᖢᓂ” ᐱᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓ ᐊᕐᓇᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓕᓵᕐᓂᑯᒥᑦ.

Following his departure from the Liberals, Tootoo admitted to what he called a “consensual but inappropriate” relationship with a junior female staffer.


ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖁᔨᒍᑎᐅᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑐᑐᒥ.

That prompted some Nunavut residents to call for Tootoo’s resignation.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐊᑕᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ.


ᑐᑐ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᓴᓐᑕᒥ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ 1993-ᒥᑦ 2013-ᒧᑦ.

Tootoo also represented Iqaluit Centre as a member of Nunavut’s legislative assembly from 1993 to 2013.


ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᑐᑐ ᖁᔭᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐱᖃᓐᓇᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ “ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓅᓯᕋ.”

In his statement, Tootoo thanked his family, friends and parliamentary colleagues who helped him through “a difficult period in my life.”


“ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᕈᖅᐹᓪᓕᖅᐳᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒪᒥᖢᖓ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᒃᖢᖓ ᐃᓄᑦᑎᐊᕙᐅᓕᖅᐹᓪᓕᕐᓂᓐᓂᑦ.

“With their support I have grown and healed, and I believe I am a better person for it.


ᐃᓱᒪᖁᕙᒃᑲᓗ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐊᑐᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓕᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᙱᑦᑐᒦᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᓇᓱᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᒪᒥᓴᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ,” ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.

I encourage anyone who suffers from addiction, mental illness, or trauma to seek the help they need to heal,” his statement said.


ᑐᑐ ᐅᐱᒍᓱᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᔾᔪᓯᖓᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒍᑎᒋᓪᓗᓂᐅᑦ “ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂᒃ” ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᖅᒦᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

Tootoo also praised Nunavut’s consensus government system, an experience that allowed him to work with “members of all stripes” during his time in Parliament.


“ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑕᓕᒫᓄᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᖂᖅᑐᓯ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᓐᓂᑦ.

“To all Nunavummiut, I think you know how much I love our territory.


ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒍᑎᒐ ᓄᖃᖅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᖅ.

My commitment to Nunavut will never waver.


ᐃᓅᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᓕᕋᓗᐊᕈᒪ, ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᑭᓱᖃᑦᑎᐊᕈᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ.”

Wherever the next path in my life leads, I will continue to work for a sustainable economy that will secure a prosperous future for Nunavut.”


ᓕᐅᓇ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ, ᑲᓐᓲᕕᑎᕝᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᑯ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖅᑖᕋᓱᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᒃᑑᐱᕆ 21-ᒥ ᑲᓐᓲᕕᑎᕝᑯᓐᓄᑦ.

Leona Aglukkaq, the former Conservative MP, has already declared that she will contest the Nunavut seat for her party this Oct. 21.


ᒦᒐᓐ ᐱᔪ ᓚᐃᐅᓪ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᖓᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᓂᑯ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᕐᕕᒃ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᓐᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᖏᖅᖠᓂᕐᒥᓐ, ᓕᐳᕈᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᕐᓇᐅᓕᕐᐸᑦ ᐅᒃᑑᐱᕆ 21-ᒥᑦ. ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᓄᐊᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᕝᕕᖓ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐲᑕ ᓲᑦᔾ ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᓂᕈᐊᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᓗᓂ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᐲᐳᔅ ᐹᑎᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᒡᒍᓴᐅᑎᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᔫᓂ 6-ᖑᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᒥᑦ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ PPC ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᕿᔮᒐᖓ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓕᕐᑐᑦ “ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐅᑕᕿᔪᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ.”

The Elections Canada nomination contest database says that Peter Scholz of Arviat was chosen as the People’s Party of Canada candidate for Nunavut in a nomination contest held this past June 6, but the PPC website now says “announcement pending employer approval.”


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᓲᑦᔾ, ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ, “ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᙱᑦᑐᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᙱᓐᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᙱᖢᖓ.”

However, Scholz, in an email to Nunatsiaq News said, “I am not and have never been declared a candidate.”


ᐅᑯᐊᓕ ᓴᕿᓐᓂᐊᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓱᓕ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᑎᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ.

As of the morning of July 31, he had not explained why Elections Canada still lists him as a nominated candidate for Nunavut. Megan Pizzo Lyall, a former Iqaluit city councillor who works for Atuqtuarvik Corp. in Rankin Inlet, has announced that she’ll seek the Liberal nomination in Nunavut, but the party has yet to announced a nomination meeting in the territory.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓂᐅ ᑎᒧᑯᕌᑎᒃ ᐹᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᓱᓕ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᒥᑦ.

The Nunavut New Democratic Party electoral district association has not yet announced a candidate.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᒪᓂᖓ ᐆᒧᖓ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃᒥᐅᑕᒥᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᒧᑦ

Nunavut government appeals decision to halt case against Igloolik hunter


ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐃᕐᖓᐅᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᑐᒃᑐᒥ ᖁᑭᖅᓯᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ 2015-ᒥ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖁᔭᐅᙱᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ

Michael Irngaut of Igloolik shot a caribou in 2015 while a hunting ban was in effect


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᕋᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒧᑦ ᓂᐅᓪ ᓵᑭᐅᑉ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃᒥᐅᑕᒧᑦ ᐊᖑᑎᒥᑦ ᑐᒃᑐᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᑐᐃᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᐅᙱᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

The Government of Nunavut is appealing Chief Justice Neil Sharkey’s decision to stay two charges against an Igloolik man for hunting caribou while a hunting ban was in effect.


By ᑖᒪᔅ ᐅᕉᓄ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ

By Thomas Rohner Special to Nunatsiaq News


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᐅᖃᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ “ᑕᒻᒪᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ” ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃᒥᐅᑕᒥᒃ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔪᓐᓃᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᑐᒃᑐᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑐᒃᑐᒐᓱᓐᓇᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ 2015-ᒥ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓘᑉ ᑐᒃᑐᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

The Government of Nunavut says that the territory’s chief justice “erred” when he let an Igloolik hunter off the hook for illegally harvesting a caribou during the 2015 Baffin Island caribou ban.


ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᕘᓇ ᐆᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᓇ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᓂᐅᓪ ᓵᑭᐅᑉ ᓄᖃᖅᑎᓯᒪᔭᖓᓂᒃ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᓂᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᖕᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒥᒋᔭᐅᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐄᐳᕉᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

The hunter should still face the two charges under the Wildlife Act that Chief Justice Neil Sharkey stayed, the government said in court documents filed in at the Nunavut Court of Appeal in April.


ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᐃᕐᖓᐅᑦ, 22-ᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᑲᓃᑎᐊᓐ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᙳᐊᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ, ᖁᑭᕐᓯᓂᕋᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᖑᓴᓪᓗᕐᒥ ᑐᒃᑐᒥ ᕕᕝᕗᐊᕆ 2015-ᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᒥ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

Michael Irngaut, a 22-year-old Canadian Ranger at the time, admitted to shooting a male caribou in February 2015 while on patrol.


ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃᒥᑦ ᑐᒃᑐᓂ ᐱᖁᔨᑲᑕᙱᓐᓂᖓᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᔭᓄᐊᕆ 1, 2015.

A government ban on hunting Baffin Island caribou came into effect January 1, 2015.


ᐃᕐᖓᐅᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᔾᔪᑏᖕᓄᑦ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᕐᔪᐊᑎᒍᑦ.

Irngaut was charged with two offences under Nunavut’s Wildlife Act.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᕐᖓᐅᑦ, ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐅᓇᑕᖅᑐᒃᓴᙳᐊᖑᖃᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓂᕆᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓵᑭᒧᑦ ᑐᒃᑐᒐᔭᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓚᐅᕐᕈᓂ ᑐᒃᑐᒋᐊᖃᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

But Irngaut, who shared the harvested caribou with other Rangers, told Sharkey that he never would have shot the caribou if he had known there was a ban.


ᑐᒃᑐᒐᓱᓚᐅᖅᑎᓐᓇᒍᑦ ᐃᕐᖓᐅᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑐᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑐᒃᑐᒐᓱᒍᓐᓇᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ, ᓵᑭ ᑐᓴᖅᑐᕕᓂᖅ.

Before harvesting the animal, Irngaut asked a local elder and member of the hunter and trappers association for permission to hunt the animal, Sharkey heard.


ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᐃᕐᖓᐅᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑐᒃᑐᑦᑕᐃᓕᓐᓇᖅᑕᖃᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.

That elder told Irngaut there was no ban in effect.


ᓵᑭ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᕐᖓᐅᒧᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓚᐅᕐᖢᓂ ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᓴᕿᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᒫᑦᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥᑦ.

Sharkey stayed the charges against Irngaut in a decision released earlier this year in March.


ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᖓᒍᓪᓗ ᓵᑭ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᒦᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᓕᖕᓂᑦ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ “ᑕᒻᒪᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐅᓪᓗᓂ.”

In that decision Sharkey said the unusual circumstances in the case, including geographical isolation and false information from an elder in authority, led to “officially induced error.”


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ.

But the Government of Nunavut disagreed.


ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᔾᔪᑎᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒥ ᐄᐳᕈᓪ 5-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓵᑭ ᑕᒻᒪᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᒻᒪᕐᓯᒪᓂᕐᒨᓂᖓᓂᒃ.

In a notice of appeal filed with the courts April 5, the government said Sharkey was wrong to conclude such an error had been made.


“ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒻᒪᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ … ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥ ᓱᕋᐃᓂᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒻᒪᕐᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥ,” ᑎᑎᕋᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᓗᐊᐃᔭᖓᑦ, ᐄᑐᕆᐊᓐ ᓯᐊᒃ.

“The court erred in finding that the … contravention of the harvesting ban was the result of officially induced error,” wrote the GN’s lawyer, Adrienne Silk.


ᓯᐊᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᒦᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᔪᓚᐃ 24-ᒥ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓕᕐᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨᒧᑦ ᔭᔅᑎᔅ ᐹᓪ ᐳᐊᐃᓴᒃ, ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᖕᒥᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒋᔭᐅᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᕕᐅᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᓃᖢᓂ.

Silk was not in court July 24 when the case came up for discussion before Justice Paul Bychok, who presided over the Court of Appeal’s speak-to list.


ᐳᐊᐃᓴᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᒦᒍᑎᓂ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 13-ᖑᓕᕐᐸᑦ.

Bychok adjourned the matter in the Court of Appeal until Nov. 13.


ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂᓪᓕ, ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᐊᒃᒥᑦ “ᖃᐅᔨᓇᓱᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᒻᒪ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ.”

Before then, the court would contact Silk “to find out why she was absent today.”


ᐃᕐᖓᐅᑦ ᓗᐊᐃᔪᖓ, ᐱᐊᓐᓴᓐ ᑕᐅᐊᓐ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒋᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᔾᔪᑎᒋᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

Irngaut’s lawyer, Benson Cowan, said he expects the government to file more documents in the coming weeks to support this appeal.


“ᐅᓇ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᒧᑐᐊᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ,” ᑲᐅᐊᓐ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐳᐊᐃᓴᒃᒧᑦ.

“This is a summary conviction appeal,” Cowan told Bychok.


ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᑯᑦ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᖅ ᒪᑯᓇᙵᓪᓕ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓯᕆᓗᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᕋᔭᒍᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ.

Summary convictions are considered lesser charges than indictable convictions, for example for violent crimes.


ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐸᓯᔭᒃᓴᙳᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒃᑰᕌᓂᒃᓯᒪᔪᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᕕᒧᑐᐊᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᔨᒐᓚᒃᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᙱᖢᑎᒃ.

Those charged with summary offences have their cases heard before a judge only, and do not have the right to a jury trial.


ᑐᕉᑑ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑭᙳᓪᓕᖅᐹᖓᓂ ᓯᑯᖃᓂᐅᔪᒥᒃ

Trudeau announces protection for Nunavut’s last-ice area


“ᐊᓱᐃᓛᒃᖤᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᖃᓕᕐᐳᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᖕᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ”

“Finally, Inuit have the tools to do the important work”


ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᕐᒥᑦ, ᐋᒐᓯ 1, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᖅᑐᕐᖢᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑯᓂᕈᓗᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᕝᕕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᖓᓂᒃ—ᐅᓇ ᓄᑖᖅ ᑐᕙᐃᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᕝᕕᒃ.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Iqaluit on Thursday, Aug. 1, to announce the first step in the creation of a long-term protected area in Canada’s High Arctic Basin—the new Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area.


ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᖓ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦᑕ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐲ. ᔭᐃ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐆᒥᖓ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐆᒧᖓ ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᓂᒃ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᕕᒃᒧᑦ ᐋᒐᓯ 1-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑐᕉᑑ ᐳᓛᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓄᑦ.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq and Qikiqtani Inuit Association President P.J. Akeeagok signed off on the Inuit impact and benefit agreement for the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area on Aug. 1, during Trudeau’s visit to Iqaluit.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔨᒻ ᐱᐅᓪ)


ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᓄᑖᒥᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᕝᕕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐅᒥᒃᒪᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᑕ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᖅᐸᓯᐊᑕ ᓯᒡᔭᖓᓂᒃ.

The federal government has announced a new conservation area off the northwest coast of Nunavut’s Ellesmere Island.


ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓄᙵᐅᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᖅ, ᐋᒐᓯ 1-ᒥᓐ, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐱᑕᖃᓕᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑐᕙᐃᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᕝᕕᒃᓴᒥᒃ.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to Iqaluit on Thursday, Aug. 1, to announce the creation of Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area.


ᑐᕙᐃᔪᐅᑦᑐᖅ, ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᖕᒥᔪᖅ “ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᓯᑯᖃᕐᕕᒃᓴᖅ,” ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᐳᑎᑕᖃᐃᓐᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕᒫᖅ ᐃᓗᐊᒍᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ 2050 ᑎᑭᒃᑯᓂ.

Tuvaijuittuq, which in English means “the place where the ice never melts,” is also known the “last-ice area,” as it’s expected to retain year-round sea ice until 2050.


ᑐᕉᑑᑉ ᐳᓛᕐᓂᖓ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᐅᓚᐅᕆᕗᖅ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐆᒪ ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᕕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᐅᑉ ᐅᓪᓛᖓᓂᒃ.

Trudeau’s visit also marked the completion of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area through an Inuit impact and benefit agreement signed on Thursday morning.


ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᑎᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᖏᓂᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ 427,000 ᑭᑉᐹᕆᒃᑑᑎᑦ ᑭᓛᒥᑕᔅ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐋᑐᕚ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ 10 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑕᕆᐅᖏᓐᓂᑦ 2020 ᑎᑭᓚᐅᕐᑎᓐᓇᒍ.

Together, these areas cover more than 427,000 square kilometres, which means Ottawa has now met its goal to protect 10 per cent of Canada’s marine areas by 2020.


ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᖅ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᑦ ᑎᑭᓪᓗᒋ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒍᓐᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᒫᓂ.

The protection status prevents any new activity in those areas for up to five years, through Inuit can still harvest from either region.


“ᑖᒃᑯᓂᖓ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᓴᐳᑎᓯᒪᓂᐊᕐᑕᕗᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᒪᑯᐊ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᓯᕗᒧᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᕐᓂᒃ,” ᑐᕉᑑ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐋᒐᓯ 1-ᒥᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᕙᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ.

“By protecting these vital areas, we are safeguarding our environment for future generations while advancing Inuit self-determination and preserving Inuit cultural practices, languages, and customs,” Trudeau said at the Aug. 1 press conference, held at Nunavut Arctic College.


ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐳᓛᕐᓂᖓ ᐃᓚᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᕐᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ: $190 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 7-ᓄ ᐊᑐᕐᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᓴᕐᕕᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓂᕿᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᕕᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᖃᓂᒃᓴᓛᓄᑦ: ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ, ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᒃ, ᒥᑦᑎᒪᑕᓕᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᖏᖅᑐᒑᐱᒃ.

The prime minister’s visit also comes with news of funding related to those protected areas: $190 million over seven years to build harbours, food-processing facilities and a training centre in the five closest communities: Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Clyde River.


ᐅᓇ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕈᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓂᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ $55 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

The IIBA for both protected areas aims to promote Inuit stewardship, providing an additional $55 million for Inuit training and employment.


“ᐊᓱᐃᓛᒃᖤᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᖃᓕᕐᐳᑦ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᒃᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ ᐃᔨᒋᔭᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᓵᔨᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᓂ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐲ. ᔭᐃ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ.

“Finally, Inuit have the tools to do the important work of being the eyes and the ears of [these areas],” said Qikiqtani Inuit Association president P.J. Akeeagok.


ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ ᑐᓂᓯᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᒥᑦ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᕐᓯᒪᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᒃ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᙳᐊᖅ ᓇᐅᒃᑭᐊᓕᒑᙳᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᕿᓚᓗᒐᕐᒥᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᐃᑎᒍᑎᒋᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᒍ “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓂᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᑦ.”

Akeeagok presented the prime minister with a marble carving of an Inuk hunter holding a harpoon over a narwhal, which he said should serve as a reminder of “the connection that Inuit have to this region.”


ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᑐᕉᑑ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᐅᑉ ᐅᓐᓄᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᓕᐊᓕᒑᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ, ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᓯᕆᐊᕐᕕᒃᒧᑦ, ᐳᓛᕆᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᕕᒃᑐ ᐸᐃᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᓂᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ.

Prime Minister Trudeau was headed on Thursday afternoon to Arctic Bay, the gateway to Tallurutiup Imanga, to visit Victor Bay and participate in a community feast.


ᑎᓴᒻᒥᐅᑉ ᐅᓐᓄᖓᓂᒃ, ᑐᕌᑑ ᐅᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᖃᑕᐅᔭᖅᑐᕐᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒧᑦ ᓕᐳᕈᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᓂᕈᐊᒐᒃᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᒃ, ᒦᒐᓐ ᐱᔪ-ᓚᐃᐅᓪ.

This evening, Trudeau will be back in Iqaluit to help announce the Nunavut Liberals’ federal candidate, Megan Pizzo-Lyall.


ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᐳᓛᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᑲᑕᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐳᓛᕋᔪᖕᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ, ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖅᖢᒍᓕ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᕆᓚᐅᕐᑕᖓ ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᕼᐋᐳ, ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᓕᒫᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒦᓪᓇᓱᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᐅᔭᑕᒫᑦ.

During this visit to Nunavut, the prime minister has faced some criticism over the frequency of visits to the territory, compared to that of former prime minister Stephen Harper, who made a point of spending a week in the North each summer.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑐᕉᑑ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂ ᐅᔾᔨᕈᓱᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᖁᔨᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᖏᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᓐ, ᐱᓗᐊᕐᑐᒥᑦ ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ-ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ 2017-ᒥᑦ.

But Trudeau urged Nunavummiut to look at the substance of the work his government has done in the North, especially through the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee established in 2017.


“ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᑕᖃᓕᕐᒪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᖓᒍᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒌᖃᑦᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒥ,” ᑐᕉᑑ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᑎᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᐅᑉ ᐅᓪᓛᖓᓂᒃ.

“There is a relationship now between the Crown and Inuit based on respect and partnership,” Trudeau told reporters on Thursday morning.


ᒫᓐᓇᓵᕐᓕ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᓴᕿᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᒥᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᑦᑎᑦᑎᐊᓚᐅᙱᓐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐳᕙᒡᓗᒃᑐᓕᕆᓂᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ 1940-ᓗ 1960-ᓗ ᐊᑯᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᖑᑎᑦᑎᔪᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᒥᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ 2030 ᑎᑭᓚᐅᕐᑎᓐᓇᒍ.

The most recent evidence of that is the government’s apology for how it mismanaged the tuberculosis epidemic among Inuit between the 1940s and 1960s, along with a commitment to eradicate the disease from the North by 2030.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ, ᑐᕉᑑ ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᑐᖅ, “ᐱᓕᕆᔭᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᒻᒪᕆᖕᒪᑦ ᓱᓕ.”

But, Trudeau added, “there is an awful lot more to do.”


ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒻᒥ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᒻᒪᕆᒃᐳᑦ “ᐱᐅᙱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᒥ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒻᒥ”

Staff at Nunavik’s Inuulitsivik health centre decry its “toxic workplace”


“ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒻᒥ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᕗᖅ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ”

“The working climate inevitably has a negative effect on the delivery of services”


ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒻᒥ ᐳᕕᕐᓂᑐᖅᒥᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᒥᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᒥᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᒫᓂᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᓇᐅᑦᑎᐅᑯᒫᖃᓗᐊᙱᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᑎᖃᕈᑎᐅᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓄᑦ.

Some staff at the Inuulitsivik health centre in Puvirnituq have signed an open letter alleging that their working conditions are the cause of high levels of uncertainty, insecurity and anxiety among staff.


ᖃᓄᐃᙱᓚᐅᕋᓗᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᑕᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᕆᕗᖅ ᐃᓅᓕᓯᑦᓯᕕᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒻᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓗᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐳᕕᕐᓂᑐᖅᒥ.

After a period of relative stability, things look rocky once again at the Inuulitsivik health and social services centre in Puvirnituq.


ᑕᖅᑭᐅᕋᑖᕐᑐᓂᒃ 18-ᓂ, ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ “ᐱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᑲᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂᒃ” ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓯᒪᓕᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖁᑦᑎᖕᓂᕐᓴᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕋᓱᖕᓂᒃᑯᑦ” ᐅᕙᓂ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑎᑎᖃᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᑲᑕᒃᑐᖅ ᑕᖅᑭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦᑕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᓚᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ.

Over the past 18 months, there have been “serious and ongoing issues that staff are experiencing with the upper management” of Inuulitisivik, says an open letter circulated last month to officials and health board staff, and obtained by Nunatsiaq News.


ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᒍᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ 14 ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐅᐊᖕᓇᕐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᒋᔭᐅᔪᒥᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐳᕕᕐᓂᑐᖅᒥᑦ, ᐊᑎᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓂᒃ.

Conditions have caused considerable distress to the employees, say the 14 signatories, who include employees at Inuulitsivik and the secretary-treasurer of the Northern Village of Puvirnituq, who signed in the letter in support.


ᑕᕝᕙᓂ ᑎᑎᖃᒥ, ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐅᓇ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃ “ᑭᐅᓗᒍᑎᐅᔪᒥᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᙱᖢᑎᒃ,”

In the letter, they allege that Inuulitsivik has been “arbitrarily suspending and dismissing staff without due cause,” citing personal vendettas as the root of some of these actions.


ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᓄᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᑲᖕᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓱᒫᓗᒍᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᓇᓗᓈᕿᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖃᕐᓂᐊᕋᓗᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓱᒫᓘᖕᓇᕈᑎᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᖃᑎᒌᑎᒍᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

The suspensions and dismissals have caused high levels of uncertainty, insecurity and anxiety among the staff, they say.


“ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᐅᔪᖅ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒻᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᙱᒻᒪᕆᖕᒪᑦ,” ᑎᑎᖃᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ.

“The working environment across the health centre is toxic,” their letter states.


“ᐅᓇ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᒻᒪᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᖏᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑦᑐᒃᑰᖓᓗᐊᒧᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᖃᓕᕐᒪᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ.”

“This is not a healthy situation for staff or users since the working climate inevitably has a negative effect on the delivery of services.”


ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᕐᓴᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᓪᓚᕇᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᑐᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᓛᖑᕗᑦ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᖃᑦ, ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ, ᐊᓂᑕᐅᓂᑯ, ᐃᓅᔪᓐᓃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᒻᒥᓃᕐᖢᓂ.

People of colour and Inuit are suffering the most, says the letter, which alleges a staff worker, who had been fired, had died by suicide.


ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᓕᒫᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᔪᓄ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑭᐅᓚᐅᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓇᒡᒐᔾᔭᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐋᒐᓯ 6-ᒥ.

Nunatsiaq News asked the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services for a response to the open letter on Monday, Aug. 6.


ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ “ᐃᓕᔅᓯᓐᓄ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᓛᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑕᖃᓕᕐᐸᑦ.”

An email from the communications department of the health board said “we will be in touch when someone becomes available.”


ᐅᓇ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᙳᙱᑦᑐᖅ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᓗᐊᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓ.

It’s not the first time that Inuulitsivik has experienced turmoil.


2007-ᒥ, ᓘᒃᑖᖅ ᕚᓂᐊ ᔨᒥᓂᔾ, ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃᒧᑦ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᑦ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᐅᑉ ᐱᐅᙱᔾᔪᑎᖓ ᖄᑐᐃᓐᓇᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ: ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᓄᖅᑲᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒥᓱᕈᓘᔭᐃᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᓯᐅᕐᑏᓐ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓘᑖᕆᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᓗᐊᕈᓱᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ.

In 2007, Dr. Vania Jiminez, then Inuulitsivik’s director of professional services, compared Inuulitsivik’s condition to an abscess ready to burst: the director of nursing had quit, along with several nurses, and doctors were overwhelmed.


ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᕿᓂᓕᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᒥᓐ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᓕᖕᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐊᓗᒃᒥᑦ.

Quebec was looking at a formal trusteeship for the troubled hospital.


2006-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᑭᐱᔭᐅᑲᑕᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᕗᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ, ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ 2005-ᒥ, ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒃᓴᓕᐅᑲᑕᖕᓂᒃᑯ ᑕᒻᒪᕐᓯᒪᑲᑕᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᖃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᓂᒡᓗ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᓂ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒻᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᓗᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ.

In 2006, cutbacks affected services at Inuulitsivik, which, before that, in 2005, had suffered huge payroll errors, an exodus of management, staff and board members, and serious work safety problems.


2012 ᑎᑭᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃ ᐱᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᖂᔨᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ: ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐅᑉ ᐊᑭᓕᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐲᖅᑕᐅᑎᑦᑎᑐᐃᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒫᓂ $100 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃ, 25-ᓂ ᐃᒡᓕᖃᕐᖢᓂ ᐳᕕᕐᓂᑐᖅᒥᑦ, ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᓂᖓᒍᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᕈᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ $500,000 ᐅᖓᑖᓂ 2011-ᒥ.

By 2012, Inuulitsivik appeared to be in a healthier state: Quebec had written off the centre’s accumulated deficit of more than $100 million, and the centre, which includes a 25-bed hospital in Puvirnituq, managed to produce a surplus of more than $500,000 in 2011.


ᑯᐸᐃᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᖏᒡᓕᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᐅ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂ ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᒫᓂ $18 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᑖᓚᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᒪᐅᖓ $90 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᑖᓚᓄᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧᑦ.

Quebec also increased the health centre’s budget at that time by about $18 million to roughly $90 million a year.


ᐃᓅᓕᑦᓯᕕᒃ, ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᑐᖅ ᒫᓂ 1,000-ᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᕐᕋᓕᐅᕐᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᒥᔪᖅ 7-ᓂᒃ ᑕᓯᐅᔭᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕕᒻᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᒪᓐᑐᕆᐊᒦᑦᑐᓂᒃ.

Inuulitsivik, which employs about 1,000 part-time and full-time workers on various rotations, also provides care to seven Hudson Bay communities and takes care of patient services for Nunavimmiut in Montreal.


ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕆᐊᖅᑕᐅᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ

Environmental education gets federal boost in Nunavut


ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᖅ ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐅᓕᓂᕐᒧ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄ

Training program focuses on conservation and climate change


ᒫᑕᓖ ᐅᑲᓕᒃ, ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐅᖃᓪᓚᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᑳᑐᕆ ᒪᒃᑭᓇᒥ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ, ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2017-ᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᕋᑭᐊᒃ, ᒧᕌᑯᒥᑦ, ᑕᐅᕙᓂ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

Maatalii Okalik, then president of the Nunavut Inuit Youth Council, speaks with Catherine McKenna, the federal environment and climate change minister, on November 2017 in Marrakech, Morocco, where global talks on climate change were underway.


ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᕕᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕌᕐᔪᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᑦ.

A Nunavut training centre has a bit more money in its budget to train environmental champions in the workplace and in the community.


ᔪᓚᐃ 26-ᒥ, ᑳᑐᕆᓐ ᒪᒃᑭᓇ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ $200,000 ᑐᕌᖓᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᖅᖢᓂᐅᑦ ‘ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᐹ’ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓗᐊᕐᑐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᖁᑎᕗᑦ, ᓯᓚᕗᑦ.

On July 26, Catherine McKenna, the federal minister of environment and climate change, announced $200,000 will go towards the Ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre, and specifically to its project, Our People, Our Climate.


“ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᒍᑎᐅᖕᒥᖕᒪᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᓕᒫᒥᑦ, ᑕᐅᑐᒃᖢᒍ, ᐄ, ᓯᓚ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᖕᒪ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓅᕆᓪᓗᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᑦᑕᐅᖅ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᓕᕈᓐᓇᖅᖢᑎᒍᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᕼᐊᓚᓐ ᕉᔅ, ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᐅᓪᓗᓂ.

“This project is looking at what else is happening in the circumpolar Arctic, seeing that yes, climate change is happening, and it is happening to us, but also, what could make a difference to us,” said Helen Roos, the centre’s president and lead instructor.


ᐅᕘᓇ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕕᖓᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ, ISDC ᐱᓕᕆᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᕙᒃᐳᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᓄᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᓂᒃ, ᒪᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᒃᖢᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᒪᑯᓂᖓ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᐃᑉᐹᖅᑕᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑳᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ.

Through its Iqaluit training centre and online courses, ISDC hosts pre-employment training, such as resume writing and computer skills, and workplace training, like health and safety certification and mental health and wellness training for frontline workers.


ᐅᓇ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᐅᔪᖅ ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐅᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᐊᕙᑎᒋᔭᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᓂᖅ ᐅᔭᕋᒃᓯᐅᕐᕕᒃᓂᒃ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᓄᖁᑎᕗᑦ, ᓯᓚᕗᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒋᙱᒻᒪᒍ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᓂᐅᔪᖅ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᐹᒧᑦ.

Though the centre has offered more technical programs in the environmental sector, like environmental monitoring for mine remediation and contamination, Our People, Our Climate is a different sort of program for Ilinniapaa.


ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐅᓗᓂ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᕐᓴᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᕙᑎᒋᔭᒥᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥᒃ.

The project aims to educate Nunavummiut on climate change, with a focus on traditional knowledge and Inuit culture, as it supports healthy attitudes towards the environment.


ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᕐᓗ ᑕᐅᑐᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑖᔅᓱᒥᖓ ᐊᒃᑐᓯᒍᑎᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᒪᑯᐊ ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᓂ ᐊᑐᕈᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓪᓗᒋᑦ.

The idea is to look not only at how Inuit are being impacted by climate change, but also how they are impacting it, taking energy consumption and conservation into account.


“ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᓕᕆᔨᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅᑕᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓅᖓᔪᓂᒃ,” ᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“Through the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Education, there is a curriculum around climate change,” Roos said.


“ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑲᒻᐸᓂᒃᑯᑦ, ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᒃᐳᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓗᐊᕐᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᓃᕐᓂᑯᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕈᒪᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᒍᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ.”

“But my company, we do training and development for youth and adults, particularly who might have dropped out of school, and we look to deliver customized training around issues affecting Inuit.”


ᐅᓇᓗ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ, ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ.

And climate change is, of course, one of those issues.


ᐃᓄᖁᑎᕗᑦ, ᓯᓚᕗᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᓕᖕᓂᒃ 15-ᓗ 30-ᓗ ᐊᑯᓐᓂᖓᓂ.

Our People, Our Climate will include a sort of pre-employment training for participants between the ages of 15 and 30.


ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᒪᓂᒻᒪᐃᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᐅᓕᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᐅᔪᓂᒃ, ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᒃᑯᑦ.

The program offers five modules on climate change and environmental action, that will equip participants to work with some of the stakeholders in the project, including the territorial and federal government, different Inuit organizations and housing corporations, in environmental roles.


ᐅᓇ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᑎᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ.

The program is in English and Inuktitut.


“ᐊᔪᙱᑦᑐᐊᓘᓕᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ,” ᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓂᒃ.

“They can become champions, really,” Roos said of the participants.


“ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᒍᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑐᐃᓐᓇᙱᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ.”

“They’re leaders not just in helping to do in-house environment change but as advocates for the community.”


ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᑖᔅᓱᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᖅ, ᒪᓕᒡᓗᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᓕᒫᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓂᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᒐᓚᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

The curriculum for this project is in the works, based on research from across the circumpolar Arctic and input from those organizations working with the centre, as well as Inuit leaders.


“ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐅᑯᓄᖓᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑎᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᕉᔅ.

“The funding is going towards research, stakeholder engagement, curriculum development,” said Roos.


“ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ.”

“Then testing it with multiple youth through the program.”


ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᓕᒡᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᓄᕕᐱᕆᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᓴᓇᑎᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᓵᓕᕐᐸᑦ.

She’s hoping to have that testing underway by November, and the youth doing outreach to their communities, or possibly co-op placements, by early next year.


ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖏᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᕐᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᕙᙵᑦ ᑲᒪᔨᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓂᒃ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕋᓱᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᒋᔭᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

The federal dollars will be portioned out from the ministry’s Climate Action Fund, which supports projects fostering an awareness of climate change and working toward sustainable solutions for the environment.


ᕉᔅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓇᑉᐸᓪᓗᐊᕆᖕᒪᒋᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᐅᒪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᒪᑯᓂᖓ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᒍᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ.

Roos noted that youth make up half of the territory’s population and will ultimately be the ones to carry forward an understanding of the risks of climate change, and the need to curb it.


ᑖᒃᑯᐊᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓛᖑᓕᓛᕐᒥᖕᒪᑕ ᖃᑯᒍᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ.

They will also be the ones most affected by it down the road.


ᒪᒃᑭᓇ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑎᒍᑦ, “ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓗᐊᕐᐳᖓ ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓅᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᓄ.

McKenna stated in the release, “I’m especially happy to know this program will reach students and young people.


ᑲᓇᑕᓕᒫᒥᑦ, ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᒻᒪᕆᓕᕐᒪᑕ, ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᓂᒃ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᙳᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᖁᓪᓗᓂᔾᔪᒃ.

Across the country, young people are standing up, asking leaders to take climate action.


ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ ᐅᓇᑕᐅᑎᖃᕋᑦᑕ.


ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕋᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᑖᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ.”

We are only borrowing the planet from them.”


ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒧ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᓗᐊᕋᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯ ᐊᕙᑎᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

While youth are a focus of the program, it will work with people across the board to address areas where education is needed around the environment and conservation.


ᑐᕉᑑ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᕐᓯᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑕᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ

As Trudeau confirms existing housing money, Nunavut’s premier makes the best of it


“ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᖕᒪᑦ ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᐅᕗᖅ”

“It’s the prime minister making the announcement and that’s a good thing”


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ, ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᒪᐃᔭᖓ ᒫᑎᓚᐃᓐ ᕆᐊᑦᕗᓐ ᓯᓚᒻᒧᑦ ᐱᓱᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᕙᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᕼᐋᐱ ᕚᓕᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᐋᒐᓯ 2-ᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ.

Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Iqaluit Mayor Madeleine Redfern make their way to an outdoor press conference in Iqaluit’s Happy Valley neighbourhood this past Aug. 2.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᔨᒻ ᐱᐅᓪ)


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᑲᑕᖕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒨᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᔭᔅᑎᓐ ᑐᕉᑑ ᓴᓂᑦᑎᐊᖓᓂ ᓇᖏᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐋᒐᓯ 2-ᖑᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᓐ, ᓂᓪᓕᓚᐅᙱᒻᒥᔪᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᓴᙱᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅᑖᕆᕙᒃᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq knows the territorial government’s not getting nearly enough money to meet its social housing construction needs, but with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau standing beside him this past Aug. 2, he was much too diplomatic to criticize the Government of Nunavut’s federal funders.


ᑭᖑᓂᐊᒍᑦ ᐊᖏᖃᑎᒌᒍᑎᒥᓐ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑎᓗᒋ ᐋᒐᓯ 1-ᒥ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᓂ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᕝᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐆᒪ ᓄᑖᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᒧᖅ ‘ᑐᕙᐃᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ’, ᑐᕉᑑ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖏ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᖅᑎᓂ ᖃᐃᖁᔨᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᒃᐸᙳᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᓪᓛᒃᑯᑦ ᓯᒪᒥ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕐᕕᐅᙱᑦᑐᒥᒃ ᕼᐋᐱ ᕚᓕᒥᓐ.

Following the completion of deals signed on Aug. 1 to create the Tallurutiup Imanga protected marine area and the start of a new protected area called Tuvaijuittuq, Trudeau’s staff summoned reporters the next morning to an outdoor press conference held at a vacant lot in Happy Valley.


ᑕᐃᑲᓂ, ᑐᕉᑑ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᓄᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍ 8 ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ: $290 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ.

There, Trudeau announced confirmation of how much social housing construction money will flow into Nunavut housing over the next eight years: $290 million.


“ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᐅᓇ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᕐᔪᐊᖑᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᓯᕗᒧᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᕐᔪᐊᖑᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ,” ᑐᕉᑑ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“We recognize that this is a big step forward that is going to make a huge difference,” Trudeau said.


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᐊᓂ ᐱᓂᐊᕐᓂᕋᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ 2016-ᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ 2017-ᒥᑦ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓕᐅᕈᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

But those funds are made up mostly of previous commitments made in the federal government’s 2016 and 2017 budgets.


ᑖᓐᓇᓕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕆᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓗᐊᖅᑐᖅ.

And the money doesn’t come close to helping Nunavut get all the housing it needs.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑎᖁᑎᖏ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᒫᓂ 3,100-ᓂᒃ ᓄᑖᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

The Nunavut Housing Corp.’s latest numbers estimate a need of about 3,100 new units.


ᐅᓇ ᓴᕿᔮᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᖅ ᒫᓂ 5,000 ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ 2,500 ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᑖᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ.

That represents about 5,000 people, or 2,500 families, in Nunavut who are in need of adequate housing.


“ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ 83-ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᓇᐃᓴᐅᓯᕆᓂᒃᑯ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ 3,100 ᑎᑭᒐᓱᒐᔭᖅᑕᕗᑦ.

“The funding will give us approximately 83 houses a year, so if you do the math you can see it will take us quite a while to get to 3,100.


ᑎᑭᐅᑎᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔾᔮᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ,” ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

We’ll never get there,” Savikataaq said.


ᐅᑯᐊ 83 ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒧ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᓂᖓ ᓄᑖᙳᖏᑦᑐᖅ. ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᐃᐲᑏᐊᓐᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᒫᑦᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ ᒐᕙᒪᒋᔭᖏᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓴᓇᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ 83-ᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂᒃ 2019/20 ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ.

That 83-houses-per-year estimate isn’t new. Savikataaq told APTN this past March that his government expects to build 83 housing units in the 2019-20 fiscal year.


ᐅᓇ ᐊᑦᑎᖕᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ 91-ᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓚᐅᕐᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᔪᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ 2018/19-ᒥᑦ.

That’s down slightly from the 91 units the GN expected to build in 2018-19.


ᓇᐃᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᓇᓕᒧᒌᖃᑦᑕᔾᔮᔪᒃᓴᐅᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᕋᒍᓂ ᐊᑐᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᓐ, ᒫᓐᓇᒥᑦ ᒪᐅᖓᐸᓗᒃ 2026 ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ 2027.

Though the numbers will likely vary a little from year to year, that’s what Nunavut can expect to build annually, between now and about 2026 and 2027.


ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᑐᓐᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂ 2016-ᒥᑦ—$76.7 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ—ᐊᒻᒪ 2017-ᒥ—$240 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ.

The bulk of Nunavut’s housing construction money was committed by the federal government in 2016—$76.7 million—and in 2017—$240 million, topped up by contributions from the GN.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᑦᑐᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᔪᒃᓴᓂᒃ 2019-ᒥ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᔪᐊᔾ ᕼᐃᒃᖦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ, ᐃᒪᐃᓕᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒫᑦᓯᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥ: “ᐱᑕᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦᒨᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᓂ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓗᐊᕐᑐᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᐅᒻᒪᕆᒃᖢᓂ ᐊᓂᒍᐃᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ.”

Nunavut received no funds for social housing construction in 2019, prompting George Hickes, the Nunavut finance minister, to say this last March: “The lack of Nunavut-specific measures is disappointing, and remains critical in successful nation-building.”


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ, ᑕᓪᓕᕐᒥᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᒥᓐ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᑑᑎᖃᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃᓱᓕ ᐅᓇ ᑐᕉᑑ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ.

But Savikataaq, this past Friday, said it’s still useful that Trudeau took the time to talk about Nunavut housing in Iqaluit.


“ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᓪᓕ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ.

“In my opinion, it means the federal government is giving us priority.


ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᖕᒪ ᑕᒪᓐᓇᓗ ᐱᐅᓪᓗᓂ,” ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

It’s the prime minister making the announcement and that’s a good thing,” Savikataaq said.


“ᓱᓕ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᔪᖅ, ᓲᖃᐃᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᑕᐅᓕᕐᒪ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᑲᑕᖕᓂᐊᓕᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓕᕈᑎᐅᓗᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.”

“It’s still a positive thing, because it brings it to the front and starts the conversation and lets everyone know about our desperate needs for housing in Nunavut.”


ᒪᑯᓄᖓᓕ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᙱᓐᓂᐅᔪᓄᑦ, ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᑯᐊ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᑦ “ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᖢᑎ” ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ, ᐱᑕᖃᕆᐊᖃᓪᓚᕆᖕᒪᑦ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖃᙱᑦᑐᒃᑯᕕᖕᓂᑦ, ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒃᓴᒥᑦ ᐅᑕᕿᕕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑐᐊᕕᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᕆᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ.

As for homelessness, Savikataaq said that while the city government is “doing its part” in Iqaluit, there’s an obvious need for homeless shelters, transitional houses and emergency shelters in outlying communities.


ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᖏᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕈᓘᔭᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖃᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥᖕᒪᑕ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑐᕐᑕᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᖢᑐ ᐊᑐᕐᕕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᓛᓂᒃ.

He said government officials have talked a lot about that, but he said the GN only has so much money and has to direct it to where it’s needed the most.


ᒪᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑯᐊᐳᕇᓴᐃᓐ, ᒫᓐᓇᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᑲᑕᓕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐱᖓᓱᓂᒃ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ, ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᖃᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᓴᕿᑦᑐᖃᓪᓚᕆᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖅ.

As for Nunavut Inuit associations and corporations, which are now raking in cash in all three regions from mineral production royalties, Savikataaq said there have been ongoing talks about their getting involved in housing, but nothing concrete has happened.


2019-ᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᑦ, ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑕᐱᕇᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ “ᐃᑲᔪᕈᒪᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᓐ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ.”

The 2019 Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy, co-developed by the federal government and by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said the Inuit organizations in Nunavut “are keen to help address the severe housing shortage in Nunavut.”


ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓗᐊᖅᑳᔨᙱᒻᒪᑕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᓄᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᑭᒃᖠᒋᐊᕐᓯᒪᔪᓂᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒋᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

But the plans the Nunavut Inuit orgs are looking at do not appear to be aimed at the kind of low-income people who generally live in subsidized public housing.


ᐃᒪᓐᓇᖔᕐᓕ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᕿᓂᕐᒪᑕ ᐊᑭᓖᒐᒃᓴᐅᓇᔭᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖃᓕᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ, ᓇᖕᒥᓂᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᔪᑎᒍᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

Instead, the Inuit orgs of Nunavut are looking at affordable homeownership for Inuit who now live in government, business or private rental housing.


“ᐅᓇ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓇᔭᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓗᓂ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᐹᓪᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᓂᒃ ᓴᕿᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᕈᑎᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓗᑎᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᐅᔪᓄᑦ,” ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ.

“The program would also support and promote home ownership as a means of wealth generation and career creation that would further lessen the ﬁnancial burden on governments,” the strategy said.


2016ᒡᒥ, 56.4 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓄᒋᐊᓗᐊᖅᑐᓃᑦᑐ ᐊᒻᒪ 34.3 ᐳᓴᓐᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ.

In 2016, 56.4 per cent of Inuit lived in overcrowded homes and 34.3 per cent lived in homes needing major repairs.


ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 2017-ᒥ, ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐃᒡᓗᓕᕆᔨᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ (CMHC) ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕐᓯᒪᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᒪᑯᓇᓂ ᐃᒻᒥᒃᑰᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᐃᒡᓗᓂ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ, ᑕᖅᑭᒧᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂ ᐃᒡᓗᕈᓯᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᒫᓃᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ $2,597.

And in 2017, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reported that within the private market in Iqaluit, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom housing unit was $2,597.


ᑲᓇᑕ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᒡᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ


ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᒫᒃ ᒑᓅ ᑲᔅᓯᒐᓴᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂ ᐋᒐᓯ 14-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ

Transport Minister Marc Garneau made multiple funding announcements in Iqaluit on August 14


ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐲ.ᔭᐃ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ, ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᒫᒃ ᒑᓅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ ᓇᖏᖃᑎᖃᖅᐳᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒥᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ ᐆᒥᖓ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᖓᑕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖓᓂᒃ Dash-7 ᐱᖓᑦᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐋᒐᓯ 14.

Qikiqtani Inuit Association President P.J. Akeeagok, Transportation Minister Marc Garneau and Nunavut Transportation Minister David Akeeagok stand with the flight crew of the National Aerial Surveillance Program’s Dash-7 plane on Wednesday, August 14.


ᒑᓅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᒪᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᒡᔭᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

Garneau announced funds for multiple projects with a focus on Nunavut’s Arctic waters and coastal communities.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᑳᓚᓐ ᒥᐅᕋᓐ)


ᑲᓇᑕᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᒫᒃ ᒑᓅ, ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᙱᑦᑑᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᒐᖃᕐᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᒪᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᒡᔭᒦᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐋᒐᓯ 14-ᒥ.

Canada’s minister of transport, Marc Garneau, announced new funding for multiple projects with a focus on Nunavut’s Arctic waters and coastal communities on Wednesday, August 14.


ᐅᓄᕐᓂᕐᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᐃᑦ, ᒫᙶᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᒪᐅᖓ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓄᑦ—ᒫᓂ $1.5-ᐱᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᐃᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᓯᒡᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Many of the funding announcements, which range from community infrastructure to environmental research, are related to the federal government’s Oceans Protection Plan—a $1.5-billion program focused on protecting Canada’s coastlines.


ᐅᓄᕐᑐᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒥᒃᓵᓂᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ: ᓄᓇᓕᐸᐅᔭᑎᒍᑦ, $2.3 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᐃᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᕕᒃᓴᖅ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ ᐆᒧᖓ ᓄᑖᖑᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᖓᑕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᕙᓂ ᕗᕉᐱᓱ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᒥ, $430,000 ᐅᖓᑖᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓄᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᖏᓐᓂᕐ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ, ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᐅᑯᓄᖓ SmartICE.

Multiple Iqaluit-area projects received money: within the city, $2.3 million will go towards designing a hangar for a new National Aerial Surveillance Program complex, and nearby in Frobisher Bay, more than $430,000 will be split between two marine environmental data collection projects, one by the Government of Nunavut and one by SmartICE.


ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᖓᑕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓄᑦ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᕕᒃᓴᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᒥᔪᖅ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᑲᐃᓐᓇᕐᕕᒃᓴᓂᒃ.

The National Aerial Surveillance Program complex will include office space, an incident command post and briefing rooms.


ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᕕᑦ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᓴᓇᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ ᒥᕝᕕᖓᓂᒃ, ᖃᓄᐃᓕᖓᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ EVOQ ᐃᒡᓗᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᑎᓄᑦ.

The hangar, which will be built at the Iqaluit airport, will be designed over the next year by EVOQ Architecture.


ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᕕᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ 2023-ᒥᓐ.

The hangar and facilities should be completed by 2023.


ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᖃᖓᑕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖏᓐᓃᑉᐸᒃᑐᑦ ᓱᕈᖅᑎᕆᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᑐᖅᐸᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐅᖅᓱᐊᓗᖕᓂᒃ ᑯᕕᔭᐅᔪᕕᓂᖅᑕᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ.

The National Aerial Surveillance Program watches ships in Canadian waters to prevent pollution, using aerial surveillance to detect oil spills.


ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐅᕗᖅ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᓯᑯ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

The program also watches shipping activities, ice conditions and marine security.


ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕋᓗᐊᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᕗᕉᐱᓲᑉ ᑲᖏᖅᖢᐊᓂ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᕗᑦ ᓯᒡᔭᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐊᕙᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ—ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᓄᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᐅᓗᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᓂᒡᓗ ᓯᒡᔭᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ.

Meanwhile, the environmental data projects in Frobisher Bay are part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program—a program meant to study areas with high or potentially high vessel traffic, connecting scientists with coastal and Indigenous communities.


ᐅᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓂᒃ.

The program is part of the Oceans Protection Plan.


ᒑᓄ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᓪᓗᓂ ᔮᓇᑕᓐ ᕗᐃᐊᑭᓐᓴᓐᒥ, ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑕᕆᐅᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᓄᑦ.

Garneau announced the funds on behalf of Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.


“ᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕈᒪᒐᑦᑕ ᓄᐊᑦᑎᓗᑕ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᕕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑑᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᑕᕆᐅᑉ ᓯᒡᔭᖏᑦᑕ ᐃᒪᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᖅ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᒑᓅ.

“What we want to do is to gather a baseline of what is the state of the coastal waters and its ecosystem at the moment,” said Garneau.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖓ ᐃᒪᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᑎᒌᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᓄᕐᓕᖃᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐᒦᑉᐸᒃᑐᑦ, ᐅᑯᑎᑐᓇᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑎᑐᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᕿᖅᑯᐊᑦ ᐱᐅᔪᓐᓃᕐᓯᒪᓂᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑯᐊ SmartICE-ᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᓂᖓ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒪᕈᖅ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑐᓕᕆᔨᓂᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᑕᕆᐅᑉ ᓯᑯᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᕐᓱᐃᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕙᑎᒋᔭᐅᔫᑉ ᖃᓄᐃᒍᓯᐊᓂᒃ.

The GN’s project will look at things like the density and biomass of renewable marine resources, like fish, and contamination levels in seaweed, while SmartICE’s project will, in collaboration with the Amaruq Hunters and Trappers Association, monitor sea ice near communities and collect environmental data.


ᐃᖃᓗᐃᓪᓕ ᓯᓚᑖᓂᑦ, ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓂᒃ, ᐅᑯᐊ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᑐᓂ $300,000-ᓂ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ.

Outside Iqaluit, funds also went towards community engagement in the Oceans Protection Plan, with $300,000 each going to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Nunavut Impact Review Board.


ᐅᑯᐊ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐅᕙᙶᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑕᐅᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒧᑦ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

These funds come from the Indigenous and Local Communities Engagement and Partnership Program, which helps communities better participate in Oceans Protection Plan initiatives and the marine safety system.


ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒋᓂᐊᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᑦ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᑦ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐅᑯᐊᓕ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑖᖏ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᐱᕐᕈᓗᐊᕿᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒧ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑕᕆᐅᒥᐅᑕᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᓂᒃ.

The QIA will use the money to fund engagement activities on Oceans Protection Plan initiatives, as well as ongoing participation in marine safety, while the NIRB will use its funds to participate in the marine safety system and improve the capacity of the Nunavut Marine Council.


ᒑᓅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᒥᔪᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ, ᐅᕘᓇ ᑕᕆᐅᕐᒥᐅᑕᓂᒃ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓯᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓂᒃ, ᑭᓴᕐᕕᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᐅᔪᐃᑦᑐᒥᓐ ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᒥᓐ.

Garneau also announced that, under the Oceans Protection Plan, harbours will be built in Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay.


ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑭᓴᕐᕕᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐃᖏᕐᕋᔾᔪᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᑕᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ $76.5 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓄᑦ 7-ᓄ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓄᑦ, ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᓗᓂ $190-ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᒫᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᓪᓗᕈᑎᐅᑉ ᐃᒪᖓᑕ ᒥᒃᓵᓂᑦ.

Working with the QIA and the Government of Nunavut to design the harbours and fund construction, Transport Canada is providing $76.5 million over seven years towards the project, as part of a $190-million fund for infrastructure for communities in the Tallurutiup Imanga area.


ᕿᑭᖅᑕᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓ ᐲ.ᔭᐃ. ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒪᕐᒥᐅᑕᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᑲᑕᒃᓯᒪᖕᒪᑕ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕆᐅᒃᖢᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐊᖑᔪᑦ ᐱᐊᓂᒃᑕᐅᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᙳᓚᐅᕐᑎᓐᓇᒍ.

QIA President P.J. Akeeagok said that, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, they have been conducting a feasibility study and hope the report will be ready before the next fiscal year.


ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕆᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᕗᖅ, ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᕿᐊᕈᒃ, ᐃᒪᓐᓇ “ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᐊᑯᓂᐊᓗᒃ ᐅᑕᕿᖕᒪᑕ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᑯᒥᓐ.”

The report should spark the next steps towards construction, said Akeeagok, which “Inuit in the communities have been waiting for many decades in terms of realizing that vision.”


ᑲᓇᑕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐊᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ

Canada and Nunavut sign deal in milestone step to devolution


“ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᑎᓐᓃᑉᐳᖅ, ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ”

“Decision-making power rests here in our territory, by us and for us”


ᓴᐅᒥᐊᓂᒃ: ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖓᓂᒃ; ᑭᐅᕈᓕᓐ ᐸᓇᑦ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ-ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ: ᐊᒻᒪ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᖓ, ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᖅ, ᐋᒐᓯ 15-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

From left: Aluki Kotierk, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.; Carolyn Bennett, the federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations; and Joe Savikataaq, the premier of Nunavut, sign the Nunavut devolution agreement in principle on Thursday, Aug. 15.


(ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕆᔨ ᑳᓚᓐ ᒥᐅᕋᓐ)


ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᒻᒪᕆᒃᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔨᐅᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖑᓂᐊᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᓴᒻᒥᖅ, ᐊᒐᓯ 15-ᒥᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ.

In a significant step toward Nunavut assuming control over its Crown lands and natural resources, representatives from the federal government, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the territory signed an agreement in principle for a devolution agreement this morning in Iqaluit.


ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᕐᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᒧᑦ ᔫ ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖓᑕ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᐅᕈᓕᓐ ᐸᓇᑦ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ-ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ.

The agreement was signed by Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Aluki Kotierk and Carolyn Bennett, the federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations.


“ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᒍᑦ, ᐅᓇ ᐅᓪᓗᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᕐᒪᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ… ᖃᖔᓗᖕᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ,” ᐸᓇᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“We know in Nunavut’s evolution, that this is a day of celebration, for Nunavummiut and a milestone for Canada…. It has been a long day coming and a long time coming,” Bennett said.


ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓱᓕᓐᓇᔭᖅᖢᓂ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᓅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓂᒃ, ᒪᑯᓂᖓ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ, ᐃᒪᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐅᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓᓄᑦ.

The agreement begins a five-year process that would end in a final devolution agreement, which would transfer responsibilities for Nunavut’s land, water and resources from the Government of Canada to the Government of Nunavut.


“ᕿᓄᐃᓵᒃᑳᓘᔪᓯ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓇᓱᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᕐᖢᓯ … ᐅᓇ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᓕᕐᑐᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᕈᑎᕕᓂᖅ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐃᓅᖃᑎᔅᓯᓐᓂ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᔅᓯᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒪᕐᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓛᕆᔭᔅᓯᒍᑦ,” ᐸᓇᑦ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“You are patient and persistent people … this unlocks the vision of self-determination, the vision of being able to look after your people and your lands and waters in a way that you know best,” Bennett said.


ᓴᐃᒪᓐ ᐊᕙ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖓᑦ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᐃᓂᕐᒧ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᕐᒥᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᕕᒃᑐᐃᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Simon Awa, Nunavut’s chief negotiator of devolution, said the agreement marks the next step to devolution.


“ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᐅᕗᖅ ᑭᖑᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᑯᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᙱᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

“It marks the next step in the journey that started before the creation of our territory.


ᐅᓇ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖓ ᓄᕕᐱᕆ 2014-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ,” ᐊᕙ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

This is a culmination of much work that began with formal negotiations between the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in November 2014,” Awa said.


“ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓕᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᖕᒪᑦ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ, ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᑎᓐᓃᓪᓗᓂ, ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐅᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄ.”

“Devolution has been agreed for the Inuit of Nunavut, ensuring that decision-making power rests here in our territory, by us and for us.”


“ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᐅᓪᓗᑦᑎᐊᕚᓗᒃ.


ᐃᒪᐃᓕᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖓ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᖓ ᑖᓐᓇ ᕿᓚᒥᕈᓗᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᐊᕆᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂᒃ.

I have to admit I wasn’t sure this day would come so quickly.


ᐅᓇ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᒃᑯᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓂᒃ ᓅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ,” ᓴᕕᑲᑖᖅ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

It’s proof of how hard our devolution team has worked,” Savikataaq said.


“ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᑦ ᓅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓄᓇᖁᑎᕗᑦ, ᐃᒪᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ,” ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅᑐᖅ.

“By devolving federal responsibilities, Nunavummiut will have the ability and the means to manage their decisions on how our public lands, freshwater and non-renewable resources are used and developed within Nunavut,” he added.


ᑰᑦᑎᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᒋᔭᖃᓗᐊᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᓵᑉᑕ 9-ᒥᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᓃᑦᑐᓂᒃ, ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᒍᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᓅᑕᐅᕌᓂᓚᐅᕐᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᕈᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᑎᑯᓪ 23-ᒥᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥᑦ.

Kotierk said she was particularly pleased with Chapter 9 of the agreement, which will develop a post-devolution human resources and development strategy consistent with Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement.


ᐋᑎᑯᓪ 23 ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥ ᑐᑭᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᐱᖓᓲᓕᖓᔪᓂᒃ ᒐᕙᒪᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᓕᒃᓯᒪᓂᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᓄᕐᓂᖏᓐᓅᖓᔪᓂᒃ.

Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement was meant to ensure employees at all three levels of government in Nunavut were reflective of the population of Inuit in Nunavut.


“ᓂᕆᐅᒃᐳᖓ ᐅᓇ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᔭᐅᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᑎᐅᓗᓂ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑲᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓕᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᑎᑯᓪ 23-ᒥ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᐃᓄᖕᓄᑦ ᓂᕆᐅᒋᔭᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑕᐃᒪᙵᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓂᒃ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᓗᑭ.

“I hope that’s another push to the government to ensure that they actually live up to and implement Article 23, which Inuit have been expecting since Nunavut was created,” she said.


ᑖᓐᓇ ᓄᑖᖅ ᐊᑎᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓵᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᖏᕈᑎ, ᐃᓗᓕᖃᖅᖢᓂ 14 ᓴᑉᑕᓂᒃ, ᒪᓕᒐᖅᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᙱᑦᑐᖅ, ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᓕᐊᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ.

The newly signed agreement, which contains 14 chapters, is not legally enforceable, a news release said.


ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑦ ᑕᓪᓕᒪᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᖃᕐᕕᐅᔪᖅ ᐱᕕᖃᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᖅ ᐋᔩᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᑭᖑᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᒥ, ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂ, ᐋᔩᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑐᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᒃᓴᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯ ᐋᕿᒃᓯᒍᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒥᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓕᖅᑎᑦᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᓂᒃ, ᐃᒪᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

The five-year timeline will allow for negotiation for a final agreement, training for positions within the GN, negotiation of an implementation schedule, and the drafting of legislation that will create the legal framework for the GN to take over the responsibility for Nunavut’s land, water and natural resources.


ᔫᑳᓐ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓯᒪᓕᕐᐳᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ 2003-ᒥᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᒋ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ 2014-ᒥᑦ.

Yukon has managed its own land and natural resources since 2003, and devolution in the Northwest Territories took effect in 2014.


ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᕗᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓂ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᑎᒍᑦ

Feds give Nunavut money to build leadership among girls and women


“ᐅᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᓪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒍᓐᓂᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ”

“These projects will benefit gender equality and grow leadership capacity within all Nunavut communities”


ᐃᓕᓴᐱ ᓯᐅᑎᐊᐱᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐃᓚᒌᒃᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ, ᐅᕙᓃᑦᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖓᓂᒃ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓄᑖᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐃᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᐅᓕᕆᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ “ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᖑᑏᓪᓗ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᕐᓗᓂ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.”

Elisapee Sheutiapik, Nunavut’s minister for family services and the status of women, seen here in Nunavut’s legislature, says new federally funded projects to encourage leadership among Nunavut girls and women will “benefit gender equality and grow leadership capacity within all Nunavut communities.”


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖓ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᖅᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᕐᐳᑦ ᐊᖏᐸᓗᒃᑐᕈᓗᖕᒥᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ.

A Nunavut government project to boost leadership skills among the territory’s women and girls recently received a sizeable contribution from Ottawa.


ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ $600,000-ᓂᒃ ᓴᙱᒃᑎᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᑲᓐᓂᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᖕᓂ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕕᐊᕐᓵᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕈᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ, ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔨᒻᒪᕆᖏᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᐋᒐᓯ 8-ᒥ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᒥ.

The Government of Nunavut will receive $600,000 to empower Inuit women and girls with leadership skills, federal and territorial officials announced on Aug. 8 in Yellowknife.


ᐅᓇ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ $1 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂ ᑐᕌᖓᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ.

That’s part of more than $1 million earmarked for leadership development among girls and women in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.


ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᕆᔭᐅᔪᑎᒍᓪᓕ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᐃᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑕᐅᓗᑎᒃ, ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕕᐊᕐᓵᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᒍᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑎᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᐅᖓ.

According to a news release, in Nunavut, the money will be used to engage community, regional and territorial stakeholders in the creation of a Women and Girls Leadership and Governance Forum, and the piloting of related workshops.


ᐃᓕᓴᐱ ᓯᐅᑎᐊᐱᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᖓ ᐃᓚᒌᒃᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ, ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᐅᔪᒥᒃ.

Elisapee Sheutiapik, Nunavut’s minister for family services and the status of women, welcomed the news.


“ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᑦ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒥ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕕᐊᕐᓵᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐱᔭᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᒻᒪᕆᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ,” ᓯᐅᑎᐊᐱᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ.

“Projects focusing on the development of women and girls’ leadership and governance are much needed across our northern territory,” Sheutiapik said.


“ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᑦᑎᐊᖅᐸᒃᑲ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᓂᕕᐊᕐᓵᓪᓗ ᖃᔅᓯᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓚᐅᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖑᒍᓐᓇᕐᓯᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᐊᕕᒃᑐᖅᓯᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᑎᒍᒥᐊᖅᑎᓂᒃ.

“I enthusiastically encourage women and girls of all ages to get involved, attain leadership skills, and engage with community, regional and territorial stakeholders.


ᓇᓗᓇᙱᓚᕐᓕ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒻᒪᕆᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᒍᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᕈᖅᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂᒃ.”

There is no doubt that the outcome of these projects will benefit gender equality and grow leadership capacity within all Nunavut communities.”


‘ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᓂᐱᖏᑕ’ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᓂ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᕐᔪᐊᒥᑦ, 2010-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᐅᓇᓱᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᓄᐊᑦᑎᒐᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ, ᑲᑎᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᕿᒃᓱᐃᒐᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᓂᐱᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ, ᑐᕌᒐᖃᕋᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓯᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥ.

The Arnait Nipingita women’s leadership summit, in 2010, was an earlier attempt to collect, connect and create women’s voices in Nunavut, with the goal of advancing women’s leadership in the territory.


ᐃᓱᒪᓕᐊᕆᔭᖏᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᒪᐃᖁᔨᓯᒪᔪᑦ:


• ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂᒃ.

• More funding support for women’s groups in communities.


• ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ, ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᑭᓕᒐᕐᓂᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐸᐃᕆᕝᕕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ.

• Adequate, accessible and affordable childcare resources available in communities.


• ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᖅᑖᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓗᑎᒃ, ᐃᕐᓂᓱᒃᓰᔨᓂᒃ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖏᓐᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕆᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕋᔭᙱᒻᒪᑕ.

• Additional resources, such as midwives, to ensure that women don’t have to leave communities to give birth.


• ᐅᓄᕐᓯᒋᐊᕐᓗᒋ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᓯᒪᔾᔪᑎᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓃᕐᓴᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖅ.

• Increased municipal and territorial recognition of the importance of supporting women in leadership positions or leadership skill development.


• ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᑕᖃᕈᓐᓇᕐᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ.

• Adequate counselling resources in communities.


• ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓯᓚᑦᑐᖅᓴᕐᕕᒃᑯ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᒡᓗ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔪᕈᓐᓂᕈᑎᓂᒃ.

• Community workshops through Nunavut Arctic College or in partnership with other organizations and groups on specific leadership skills.


ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ


ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒦᑦᑐᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᐅᔪᓂᒃ

Northern-based committee to review program audits


ᐋᒐᓯ 21-ᒥ, ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᑦ ᓄᑖᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᓯᓂᕋᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᐃᓚᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᑖᒻᐹᓐᔅ, ᓱᕈᔪᐃᑦᑐᑦ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᑦ.

On August 21, the Government of Canada announced new items have been added to Nutrition North’s subsidy list, beyond perishable food items.


By ᐃᓚᐃᓐ ᐋᓐᓱᒥ


ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒐᕙᒪᖓ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓇᓱᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒥᑦ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᖅᖢᒍ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᒃᓴᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒃ, ᐱᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᓪᓚᕆᖕᓂᕐᒥᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓂᒃ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᑦ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᒥ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᐊᕐᓐᕋᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ, ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᖢᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅ.

The Government of Canada is working to clean up and shape up the Nutrition North Program with additional subsidies, more accountability and the roll-out of a harvesters support program, first promised last November, but beginning this winter.


ᐃᑲᕐᕋᐃᑦ ᖃᔅᓯᑦᑎᐊᕈᓘᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᑭᐱᓯᓂᐊᖅᓂᕐᒧ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᖁᑦᑎᒃᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᕕᒃᓴᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ, ᐃᕚᓐ ᔫᓐᔅ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᒧᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᐅᕐᓰᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐅᕙᓃᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᓘᒃ ᓄᕕᓕᒐᒃ ᐱᙳᐊᕐᕕᒃᒥᑦ ᐱᖓᑦᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐋᒐᓯ 21-ᒥ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᔭᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕈᑎᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᐅᕙᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᓗᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ.

Mere hours before cutting the rope on the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay, Yvonne Jones, parliamentary secretary to the minister of intergovernmental and northern affairs and internal trade, was at the Luke Novoligak Community Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 21, to announce changes to the food subsidy program that has been steeped in controversy.


ᖃᖓᑦᑎᐊᓵᖅ, ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᕕᓃᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖓᓂ ᖃᐅᔨᒍᑎᐅᓚᐅᕐᐳᖅ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᓕᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᑦ ᐅᕘᓇ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐅᑯᑎᒎᓇᕐᓕ ᑲᑎᑕᐅᕙᓪᓕᐊᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓂ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕈᑎᓂᒃ.

Most recently, research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that food insecurity had actually worsened in Nunavut under Nutrition North, according to data from the Canadian Community Health Survey.


ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓂᕋᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᑐᕐᓕ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑎᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᓱᕈᔭᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕆᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᓕᖕᓂᑦ ᓂᕿᓄᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᓴᐅᕙᒃᖢᑎᒡᓗ ᐊᔪᕐᓴᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᓄᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᓄᑦ—ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕋᓗᐊᕐᐸᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᙱᒃᑲᓗᐊᕐᐸᑦ.

A reason for this given by the researchers was that it targeted perishable store-bought foods only accessible to more affluent northerners—with or without a subsidy.


ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ, ᔫᓐᔅ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᐊᕈᑎᒥ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᒪᓐᓇ $1 ᑖᓚ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒧ ᑭᓗᒍᕌᒻᒧᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓱᕈᔭᙱᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᐊᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᑎᑭᑎᑕᐅᓂᑯᓂᒃ ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᒃᑯᑦ, ᓯᑲᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᒋᔭᐅᕙᒃᑐᒃᑯᑦ.

In Cambridge Bay, Jones announced an additional subsidy of $1 per kilogram will be added to certain non-perishable products transported by sealift, barge or winter road.


ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑐᕌᒐᕆᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑭᑭᓛᖑᓇᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᖁᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒃᔭᖅᑐᐃᔨᓂ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᑲᑎᒃᓴᖅ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᔪᓛᖑᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᒪᑯᓄᖓᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᖅ ᐊᑭᑐᓂᕐᓴᓂᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

By targeting these cheapest methods for transporting goods, the hope is that subsidy will benefit the most vulnerable people, rather than those who can afford a costlier purchase.


ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ ᒫᑲᕉᓂ, ᐅᕐᓱᒃᓴᖅ, ᓂᐱᔾᔭᐃᒃᑯᑎ, ᐃᓚᒃᓴᐅᑎ, ᐳᑦᑐᖅᓴᐅᑎ, ᐸᓂᖅᑐᑦ ᐲᓂᓰ, ᓚᓐᑎᐅᔅ, ᐲᓂᓰᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐸᓚᐅᒑᒃᓴᖅ.

The list of eligible items includes macaroni, cooking oil, lard, baking powder, yeast, dry beans, lentils, beans and flour.


ᐊᒻᒪᓗᑦᑕᐅᖅ, ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓇᓱᒃᖢᒋᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᐊᖃᖅᑕᐃᓕᓂᖁᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᕕᐊᕐᓵᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ, ᐊᕐᓇᕐᓯᐅᑏᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓛᖑᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓕᒫᖅ.

As well, in an effort to address the health and well-being of women and girls in the North, feminine hygiene products will be subsidized at the program’s highest rate, year-round.


ᒫᓐᓇᐅᔪᕐᓕ ᑖᒻᐹᓐᔅ ᐊᑭᖃᕐᒪᑕ $15-ᓗ $20-ᓗ ᐊᑯᓐᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓂᑦ, ᑕᐅᑐᙳᐊᖅᖢᒍᓕ ᐊᑭᖃᕐᓂᖏᑦ $10 ᑐᖔᓂᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓂᑦ.

Currently, a box of tampons can cost between $15 and $20 in Iqaluit, compared to less than $10 in southern cities.


ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖅ, ᑖᓐᓇᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑖᖅᑎᑦᑎᒍᑎᐅᓂᐊᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓂᒃ, ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᕐᑐᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖃᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᓂᖓ ᓂᕿᓪᓚᕆᖕᓄᑦ ᒪᑯᓂᖓᐅᙱᓐᓂᕐᓴᖅ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᖕᒥᙶᖅᑐᓂᒃ.

The Harvester Support Program, which will put money in the hands of harvesters, will bring Nutrition North more in line with the needs of northerners in allowing better access to country food rather than encouraging reliance on store-bought food.


“ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᓕᒫᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᒃ ᐃᓚᐅᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᑦ, ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᐅᑦ ᐅᖃᕐᓯᒪᓂᕐᓴᐅᖃᑦᑕᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᔭᕆᐊᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑖᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ,” ᐅᖃᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒧᑦ ᓯᕗᓕᐅᕐᑎᐅᓂᑯ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖅ ᓇᓕ ᑰᐊᓐᓄᐊᔨ ᑐᓴᒐᒃᓴᑎᒍᑦ ᑎᓯᐱᕆᐅᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᔪᒥᑦ.

“Throughout the public engagement process, Northerners most often expressed the need for further support for traditional harvesting,” said former NWT premier and Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board Chair Nellie Cournoyea in a release on the December announcement.


“ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᑐᙵᓱᒃᑎᓗᐊᖅᐸᕗᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᖕᓂᐊᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑎᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᒪᑯᐊ ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐊᑭᑭᓐᓂᕐᓴᐅᓕᕈᓐᓇᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᐊᔪᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᖕᓂᕐᒧᑦ.”

“That is why we particularly welcome the Government’s commitment to introduce a Harvesters Support Grant to help lower the high costs associated with traditional hunting and harvesting activities.”


ᓈᒻᒪᙱᓕᐅᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᓗᐊᕐᑐᑦ ᒪᑐᒧᖓ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 2011-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖔᓕᓚᐅᕐᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᓇᐅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ ᑎᑭᓴᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎ, ᒪᐅᓇ ᓴᕿᔮᙱᓗᐊᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᓇ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᖃᒻᒪᕆᒋᐊᒃᓴᖓᓂ ᑭᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᖃᕆᐊᒃᓴᖏᑦᑎᒍᑦ: ᐱᖁᑎᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᓕᒃ, ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ.

Much of the controversy around Nutrition North, which in 2011 replaced the Food Mail Program, has centred around a lack of transparency and accountability for who exactly the subsidy was benefiting: the supplier and retailer, or the customer.


ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒪᐃᖁᔭᐅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓂᐅᕕᕈᑎᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᕙᒡᓗᑎᒃ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᓴᕿᔮᑐᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᐃᑲᔫᑎᐅᑎᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᑦᑎᐊᕙᓕᕆᓂᖅ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᙶᑐᒥᑦ.

One move to address this was requiring receipts from the point of sale to display the subsidy applied through Nutrition North.