This photo was taken just south of Kugluktuk overlooking the Coppermine River valley, near the mouth of the river, on June 18, in the 24-degree heat. (Photo by Olivier Forbes-Bouillon)
Rayelle Allen of Iqaluit was among the winners of Skills Canada Nunavut’s #museumathome challenge for her recreation of Ningeokuluk Teevee’s famous print “Sedna’s Wonder.” The challenge, a collaboration between Skills Canada Nunavut and Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, tasked Nunavummiut of all ages to recreate a piece of famous Inuit art using items from around the house. (Images courtesy of Skills Canada Nunavut
and the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum)
With a ban on big gatherings in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuujjuaq’s recreation committee organized a decoration contest, asking residents to create an Indigenous-themed scene outside their home on Monday, June 22. The $1,000 first prize went to Mary Mosesiapik and Willie Sequaluk, seen here, who turned a dog house into a small cabin, complete with a small working wood stove on which they made tea. Beside it is a drying rack for nikkuk (dry meat) and pitsik (dry fish) and a small tupik, or tent, sewn from scratch. (Photo by Isabelle Dubois)
The staff at Nunatsiaq News would like to wish our readers a happy Canada Day. To help put you in a festive mood, here’s a photo of Kuujjuaq residents enjoying a feast of country food on Monday, June 22. The offerings included beluga amirruk (flippers) and maktak (skin and blubber), as well as seal meat that Markusi Qisiiq and his son Elijah caught the previous day. There was also beluga nikkuk (dried meat) given by Elijah Grey from Kangirsuk and fresh mussels picked the day before. Our offices will be shut on Wednesday, July 1. We’ll resume publishing on Thursday, July 2. (Photo by Isabelle Dubois)
The Terry Fox, a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, approaches Iqaluit on Saturday, June 27, at 8:30 a.m. The ship was leading the MT Kitikmeot W, an oil/chemical tanker, into Koojesse Inlet. (Photo by B. Williams)
Volunteers at the food bank in Sanirajak help prepare food baskets on May 24. Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. says that the food bank is one operation it’s helped support with donations of more than $115,000 to organizations in Nunavut’s North Baffin region during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Baffinland)
Qaapik Attagutsiak holds a letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday, June 27, sending her birthday greetings and wishing her well for the year ahead. Arctic Bay resident and regular Nunatsiaq News contributor Clare Kines delivered the letter to Attagutsiak, who was making bannock when he arrived. (Photo by C. Kines)
A moment of silence is held on Friday afternoon in Iqaluit to remember those who have died by suicide in Nunavut. A crowd of over 200 gathered at the city’s main intersection, carrying signs with the names of loved ones lost, and that called for mental health support. The protesters marched to Nunavut’s legislature and handed a list of those names to Premier Joe Savikataaq. The crowd heckled Savikataaq when he said the government is doing everything it can. People shared stories of their healing journey and their struggles to get the mental health care they need. The protest’s leaders are demanding more front-line workers immediately and that mental health be taught in schools. Similar protests took place at the same time in communities across Nunavut. (Photo by Meagan Deuling)
Katie Kalluk is the first recipient of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s Inuktut Language Award. She received the honour during her graduation ceremony at Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit on Tuesday, June 23. The $1,000 award, created as a partnership between QIA and the school, aims to celebrate students dedicated to using Inuktut throughout high school. “I started speaking Inuktut pretty early, when I was in early elementary school,” Kalluk said in a news release from QIA. “I plan to develop my Inuktut skills further in the future.” Kalluk, originally from Resolute Bay, plans to attend the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program in the fall of 2021.
Arviat’s Bart Aggark receives his diploma on June 19 from John Arnalukjuak High School’s acting principal, Chi-chi Arinze, as Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. looks on. In August, graduates will receive their official government diplomas, special awards and prizes. (Photo by Patrick Taleriktok)
Arviat high school graduate Russell Suluk is accompanied by his proud mother, Theresa Suluk, as families head off to take part in a community parade on June 19 to celebrate this year’s graduating class of 40. There were food hampers distributed to all the grads’ families in lieu of the banquet the school normally hosts. (Photo by Daniel Nipisar)
Sharon Akammak, a graduate of Arviat’s John Arnalikjuak High School, celebrates receiving her diploma on June 19 as she heads off to take part in a community parade, accompanied by her chauffeur, Aaron Ivuniryuk. (Photo by Daniel Nipisar)
The pride flag will now fly at Iqaluit city hall for one week every June after a unanimous vote during last night’s city council meeting. In the past, as was the case last night in a motion brought forward by Coun. Kyle Sheppard, the raising of the flag needed to be voted on every year by council. (Photo by Meagan Deuling)
Arviat graduates on ATVs line up along John Arnalukjuak High School on June 19, after receiving their diplomas at a drive-through presentation, followed by a graduate parade through town. Forty students are graduating from Arviat’s high school this year. (Photo by Patrick Taleriktok)
Iqaluit’s graduating class lined up in vehicles in front of Nakasuk School on Tuesday, June 23. They sang along to Song of the Land, and then proceeded to parade through the city. Onlookers waved and honked their horns. Vehicles were decorated with balloons, signs and paint. Some grads wore dresses, suits and graduation caps. (Photo by Meagan Deuling)
Following a successful beluga hunt, Kuujjuaq residents share maktak on Sunday, June 21, on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Here, Ayaana Berthe gives out maktak to people lining up alongside the boat of her grandfather, Simeonie Berthe, who went hunting with his son, Simon Berthe, and Juanasie Saunders. (Photo by Isabelle Dubois)
Following a successful beluga hunt, Kuujjuaq residents share maktak on Sunday, June 21, on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Here, hunter Simeonie Berthe’s wife Betsy (right) and daughter Julie-Ann (left) are seen cutting up maktak. (Photo by Isabelle Dubois)
Following a successful beluga hunt, Kuujjuaq residents share maktak on Sunday, June 21, on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Thomas Shea is seen here distributing maktak. He went hunting with his son Thomas Jr., seen sitting on the boat, and his daughter Matilda, not pictured. (Photo by Isabelle Dubois)
Tents are popping up in Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park for summer camping, as this photo taken by Bill Williams on the evening of Thursday, June 18, shows. Nunatsiaq News staff wish our readers a happy National Indigenous Peoples Day. (Photo by B. Williams)
Families and neighbours are working together to pick up litter in Iqaluit today. From left: Peter Akavak, baby Jamesie Giles, Lesley Giles, Nicholas Tremblay, Nicholas Firman (with umbrella), Lindsey Panniluk and Tony Michael Manning (in front with the bike). (Photo by Meagan Deuling)
Pond Inlet celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s high school graduates on Friday, June 12, with a parade around the community. Pond Inlet’s Nasivvik High School had nine graduates this year. (Photo by Norman Koonoo)
Nunavut singer-songwriter Riit’s latest album, Ataataga, released in October 2019, has made the Polaris Prize’s 2020 long list, announced on Monday, June 15. The Polaris Prize annually honours the best full-length Canadian album, regardless of album sales, judged by a panel of music experts. The organization will announce a short list on July 15 and host a winners’ gala on Sept. 21. (Photo courtesy of Riit)
A male willow ptarmigan in breeding feathers is seen under the midnight sun on the tundra near Kugluktuk, Nunavut, on June 7. (Photo © Mathieu Dumond/Umingmak Productions Inc.)
