Over the past 20 years, Nunavut has witnessed dramatic changes as the climate warms
We’re celebrating Nunavut’s twentieth birthday by reviewing the territory’s successes and its challenges in areas ranging from music and the visual arts to the economy, the state of Inuktut and climate change.
ᐊᕐᕌᒍᓂᒃ 20-ᓂ ᐊᓂᒍᓵᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑕᑯᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐊᓯᙳᕈᑎᒻᒪᕆᖕᓂᒃ ᓯᓚ ᐅᖅᑰᓯᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ
ACL teams up with Chrono Aviation on iron mine passenger-cargo deal
Interested in an Arctic read? Nick Newbery’s autobiography, “Never A Dull Moment: Forty Years in Education in Canada’s North (and in a few other places),” is released this month. In Iqaluit, the author will launch the book and sign copies at Arctic Ventures this weekend. Newbery’s book offers his perspective on historic events—particularly in Northern Ireland and the Canadian Eastern Arctic—and his critiques on the northern education system. It also shares his thoughts on the changing world of Inuit and situations faced by youth. Alongside these insights, the book follows Newbery’s time in the British residential school system, university life in Ireland, his teaching French in Toronto and moving North. The author now lives in Nova Scotia, where he’s taught courses on Nunavut at Mount St. Vincent University. Newbery will hold his book launch and signing in Iqaluit on Friday, April 5, at 5 p.m. and on Saturday, April 6, at 11 a.m. (Photo courtesy of Nick Newbery)
“There’s so much that Nunavut has created and there aren’t many places to see it”
Brian Penney, president and CEO of Baffinland Iron Mines, and David Akeeagok, Nunavut’s minister of economic development, sign an agreement on Tuesday, April 2, to work together to maximize Inuit employment at the Mary River mine. The memorandum of understanding, which is non-binding, calls for both parties to collaborate on four priorities: reducing barriers to unemployment, employment and training opportunities, community wellness programs and infrastructure and transportation. The agreement has been in the works for two years, said Akeeagok. (Photo by John Thompson)
ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᙵᕕᒃᑯᑦ ᐃᒪᓐᓇᐅᓂᐊᕈᒪᒥᓇᖅᑐᑦ 40-ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑖᓚᓂ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᐊᖅᑕᕕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑎᖅᑎᑦᑎᓗᑎᒃ
Sewage issues close Iqaluit middle school on Monday, Tuesday morning
Commission urges Quebec government to invest in region’s social services, housing
Fireworks explode outside Iqaluit on the evening of April 1, 2019, to celebrate Nunavut’s 20th birthday. (Photo by Clare Kines)
Stephen Poloz, the governor of the Bank of Canada, kicked off the Nunavut Mining Symposium in Iqaluit on Monday, April 1, with a speech about the challenges faced by the Canadian economy. “You are already feeling the impact of climate change here, and it will affect almost every aspect of life in the North. Lowering barriers to trade could certainly help mitigate these economic impacts,” he said. That includes trade barriers between the provinces and territories, said Poloz: “In a time of slow economic growth, this is too good an opportunity to pass up.” Poloz didn’t offer many hints where interest rates are headed. His next interest rate announcement will be on April 24. Members of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce and Nunavut-NWT Chamber of Mines gathered for the speech. (Photo courtesy of the Bank of Canada)
“We have come so far from where we started”
Prices for five different products standardized across the territory
Premier Savikataaq appoints DMs for Health, ED&T and CGS departments
Sixteen players from the Pond Inlet Narwhals Peewee hockey team returned home on Sunday, March 31, after a week-long trip to Toronto. While there they made an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada, seen here, while attending a Toronto Maple Leafs game. Their visit was part of an exchange with the Mimico Canadiens Major Peewee Hockey Team, which will visit Pond Inlet in late April. (Screen capture)
Anyone who becomes sick after eating the recalled nuggets should see a doctor
“We need to make sure we keep on speaking”
Thomas Angoshadluk captured the sunrise outside of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, on March 21. (Photo courtesy of Thomas Angoshadluk)
Elijah Thomassiah, 60, died in an evening altercation March 20
“There are really big needs in the region”
April Fool’s!
“Rest easy, my friend. You will be missed by us all”
Flags in front of the Nunavut legislature in Iqaluit are at half-mast on Sunday morning in Iqaluit to honour Speaker Joe Enook, who passed away March 29 in Ottawa. A statement from Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq reads: “On behalf of the Government of Nunavut, I extend our sincere condolences to Joe Enook’s family and constituents. I had the honour of serving with Joe for a number of years and can attest to his commitment and dedication to the well-being of our territory. Rest easy, my friend. You will be missed by us all.” A book of condolences will be hosted at the Legislative Assembly. Deputy Speaker Simeon Mikkungwak also issued the following statement: “It is my sad duty to announce the passing of Speaker Joe Enook, who left us yesterday following a short illness. My colleagues and I take comfort in knowing that his beloved wife, Mary, was with him at the end. Speaker Enook served his constituents with passion, and represented our institution with dignity. Our thoughts are with Joe’s family and the entire community of Pond Inlet.” Enook, born in 1957, had represented the constituency of Tununiq since September 2011. (Photo by Jane George)
Wayne, left, stands with his polar bear carving and Lucasie, right, holds an inukshuk he made (no last names were provided). Both shared their artwork at The Open Door’s open house on Saturday, March 16. The Montreal drop-in centre, which provides services to the homeless and those with low-income, and often serves Inuit clients in the city, recently relocated its facilities and used the open house to thank community members. A post on the centre’s Facebook page said: “The move has been an incredible success and we are overwhelmed with the support from the community!” (Photo courtesy of The Open Door)
Participants in a Gjoa Haven Elders’ Committee project—from left, Simon Aaluk, Johnny Porter, Saul Aksalok, Jonah Kununak and Kirby Tungilik—show off the seal-hunting tools that they made on March 21. Elder Aksalok taught the young men tool making, and the importance of each tool, as a way to pass on knowledge. The program gives the younger generation a sense of belonging and self-esteem and teaches the importance and purpose of the equipment used by their ancestors through elder instruction. (Photo by Helen Tungilik)
