It took “7,315,000 blinks” to bring Nunavut Sivuniksavut’s class of 2019 from the beginning of the school year to their graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, according to first year student Julie Alivaktuk in her graduation speech. Not quite the “blink of an eye” her teacher promised, but that only left more time to “learn, absorb and keep in our hearts.” The ceremony, which was held and live-streamed from Ottawa’s Museum of Nature, was filled with laughs, tears and fond farewells. The students were treated to congratulations from many Inuit leaders, like Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Aluki Kotierk and Nunavut’s minister of education, David Joanisie. The Johnny Karetak Award, which is given to the student “who most exemplifies those values of caring, of steadfastness, of humbleness and of doing better for everyone else,” according to NS coordinator Morley Hanson, was given to Ashley Kalluk of Arctic Bay. (Photo courtesy of NS/Facebook)
The celebrated carver Manasie Akpaliapik waits for a captivated audience to gather around him and a carving by Osuitok Ipeelee, titled Walrus-Spirit, at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa on May 9. Akpaliapik and John Houston, an award-winning filmmaker and gallery director, co-hosted the National Gallery’s Meet the Experts night. Akpaliapik and Houston led a crowd around the gallery’s Inuit prints and carvings before ending with a lively Q&A session. (Photo by Kahlan Miron; artwork credit Osuitok Ipeelee, Walrus-Spirit, c. 1977)
Actor and Inuit games athlete Johnny Issaluk has been named as an explorer-in-residence with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He’s seen here, second from right, standing with Arctic adventurer Adam Shoalts, storm chaser George Kourounis, and the world’s foremost female cave diver, Jill Heinerth, during a May 15 ceremony. See our story later at Nunatsiaq.com. (Photo by Nick Walker/Canadian Geographic)
Mosesee and Meekai Duval had a surprise visitor during a day trip outside Pangnirtung last week. The pair was on a fishing trip when a polar bear cub appeared. The Duvals said the mother bear was nowhere in sight. The Nunatsiaq News offices in Iqaluit and Ottawa will close on Monday, May 20, for Victoria Day. We’ll be back at it on Tuesday, May 21. (Photo by Mosesee Duval)
Students graduating from Inukjuak’s vocational and technical training centre, Nunavimmi Pigiursavik, celebrate around a campfire with family members and teachers on Thursday, May 9. Nunatsiaq News will be closed on Monday, May 20, for Victoria Day. We’ll be back at it on Tuesday, May 31. (Photo by Sylvain Paradis)
Cambridge Bay’s “The Bay” basketball team successfully defended their championship title at the annual Arctic Shootout basketball tournament in Yellowknife on Sunday, May 12, following their 98-96 double-overtime win against Yellowknife’s Dwayne Johnsons. Top, from left: Reggie Maksagak, Terry Aknavigak, Nathaniel Crooks, Travis Schindel and Zach Crooks. Bottom: Peter Ohokanoak, Kean Niptanatiak, Jonny Pedersen, David Ohokannoak, and Lance Akoluk. (Photo courtesy of Talia Maksagak)
Food truck season has begun in Iqaluit. Nanook Express brought its new menu of country food items to the city this past weekend, with tasty offerings like smoked Arctic hare poutine, seal burgers and caribugolgi, a riff on Korean barbecue. Nanook Express is parked across the road from Northmart on weekends. (Photo by Sarah Rogers)
