Extreme violence an every day event in Nunavik

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

I have lived in Nunavik for the past 10 years, and have lost many friends and acquaintances to death.

I think it’s sad. In the first year I moved to the North, 1996, there were only two or three deaths a year.

Does anyone realise how severe it has become? The stabbings, beatings, shootings, sexual violence and suicide have become every-day events. People now hear of such incidents and shrug it off as if it was a regular daily affair for them.

What is going on? Are people really that blind? It’s frightening and very sad to see.

A place we call home, a place where we never used to have to fear for the safety of our children, never needed to lock our doors, where all were once welcome, no longer exists.

Our police officers have grown weary. No longer do they have the heart to carry out their duty. They suffer as we do, in some ways more. Our government is turning a blind eye to all of it, casually brushing us off with “agreeable” excuses and false hopes and promises of help.

Maybe we can open someone’s eyes, go back to the news articles and find any and all violently caused deaths (10 years’ worth) perhaps post a memorial page, a reminder of all those who we’ve loved and lost, as a reminder, perhaps of what we have become, what we are teaching our children.

This is just an idea, but I really would like to hope this idea can give something to others to consider.

I thank you for your time. Keep up the good work.

Name withheld by request

Kuujjuaq

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