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George Hickes, Nunavut’s minister of health, says that the first wave of residents set to return to the territory this weekend after self-isolating in southern Canada may find that home seems unfamiliar. “It’s not normal anymore,” he said at a news conference on Thursday, April 9. Hickes said he knows that Nunavummiut will want to visit, but that “cruising around in a car with your friends is not social distancing. Going to visit extended family is not social distancing.” He said the coming weeks are critical “in our path forward as a territory.” By April 13, 286 residents who have been self-isolating in one of four southern hubs are due home. That includes FANS students and medical travel patients. They will arrive on four charter flights and two commercial flights. The Government of Nunavut says that residents who have been in isolation will be rigorously tested before they get approval to return, and they have to follow the isolation agreements they signed until they arrive home. (Photo by Meagan Deuling)

From left: Cambridge Bay’s Alina Mala-McCallum, five, Rayna Mala, seven, and Simone Mala-McCallum,10, take part in their community’s COVID-19 Easter craft competition. (Photo by Monica Mala)

Nunavut’s schools won’t reopen to students without the blessing of the territory’s chief public health officer, Education Minister David Joanasie said at a news conference on Wednesday, April 8. He offered the remarks after the territory’s teachers were asked to return to their home communities by April 21. “I want to reassure Nunavummiut that today and going forward, all of our work ahead is on the advice and recommendation of the chief public health officer,” Joanasie said. Right now, 93 teachers are out of the territory, which represents eight per cent of the teachers in Nunavut, Joanasie said. Any teachers currently out of the territory must undergo a 14-day isolation period in one of four hotels in the south under the Government of Nunavut’s mandatory isolation requirements. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief public health officer, will reassess if schools will reopen to students on April 21. Joanasie also said the Nunavut Teachers’ Association and the Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities support the decision to bring teachers back. Story to come. (Photo by Emma Tranter)

Volunteers and municipal staff in Rankin Inlet helped prepare 30 of these hampers, filled with food and cleaning supplies, to go out to families in the community of about 3,000, with another 30 hampers on their way shortly. The effort was made possible by a $25,000 donation from Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. to help residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Many Rankin Inlet residents have lost incomes while businesses have been shut down or reduced their efforts during this health crisis,” said an April 2 release from the Municipality of Rankin Inlet. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Rankin Inlet/Facebook)

Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief medical officer, is urging residents who smoke or vape to quit to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19. “Smoking and vaping are linked with increased risk of catching COVID-19, but also with more severe complications from COVID-19,” Patterson said a news conference on Tuesday, April 7. (Photo by Emma Tranter)

This image of Arctic char by Jonathan Cousins is one of several colouring pages offered online by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to help entertain Inuit children at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Image courtesy of ITK)

offered online by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to help entertain Inuit children at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Image courtesy of ITK)">

As of today, 356 people in Nunavut have been tested for COVID-19, with 247 under investigation and 109 people cleared. At a news conference earlier today, Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief medical officer, addressed an announcement made by Agnico Eagle late Sunday night that it would begin a pilot project to test workers for COVID-19. “At this time, there is no evidence that screening in this fashion is a substitute for 14 days of isolation,” Patterson said. The mine announced that starting today, it would offer testing to workers at its Meliadine mine site outside Rankin Inlet on a voluntary basis. “As a result, I informed management at Agnico Eagle that these tests do not change the current requirement for mine staff to stay out of the town of Rankin Inlet,” Patterson said. He also said the testing equipment used by Agnico Eagle does not meet Canadian standards and the Department of Health continues to pursue equipment that will allow testing to be done in all of Nunavut’s communities. See our story later at Nunatsiaq.com (Photo by Emma Tranter)

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Aluki Kotierk, seen here, and Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq announced on Friday, April 3, over $2 million in funding for community food programs for children and elders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be given directly to hamlets to deliver programming that fits each community’s needs. See our story later at nunatsiaq.com. (Photo by Meagan Deuling)

Wayne Gregory and Valter Botelho-Resendes stand next to a table laden with prizes they later handed out to lucky bingo players on Saturday, March 28, in Cambridge Bay. The community-wide bingo, sponsored by the hamlet, was promoted as a stay-at-home, social distancing affair. Another bingo is scheduled for this coming Saturday evening. (Photo courtesy of the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay)

Cars line up at Iqaluit’s new drive-thru pick-up for Canada Post parcels at 1057 Mivvik St. The post office has introduced the new service, when weather permits, to help with physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drivers stop their vehicles at the barricades, park and shut off the ignition. A postal clerk then comes to the window and takes their delivery notice cards. “Stay warm in your vehicle,” says a post office announcement. “The postal clerk will collect your parcels from the post office and place them on a table near your vehicle. Take your parcels and load them into your vehicle. Follow the barricades out of the parking lot. Please drive carefully—this is a residential area!” (Submitted photo)

George Hickes, Nunavut’s health minister, has extended the territory’s public health emergency until April 16. Hickes first declared the public health emergency on March 18. There are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut. Hickes also cautioned Nunavummiut against wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We want to make sure that our health-care workers have all the personal protective equipment that they need to do their jobs and help take care of us. People using masks for day to day … is unnecessary and, in fact, could increase the level of risk,” Hickes said. (Photo by Emma Tranter)

Nunavut’s chief public health officer, Michael Patterson, offered some mental health tips to residents who are isolated because of COVID-19 and live alone on Wednesday, April 1. Regular phone calls can help so you have “voice contact,” he said. Short walks with friends are “tolerable,” as long as you’re six feet apart. This expands the definition of a household, Patterson said, but the time together will protect other aspects of well-being. “We’re not doing anybody any favours if we deal with COVID-19 but cause a lot of other difficulties,” he said. Nunavut has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Eighty-five people have been tested and found to be negative, while 205 people are waiting for test results or have symptoms, or both, and must self-isolate for 14 days or until they’re cleared by the Government of Nunavut. (Photo by Meagan Deuling)

Saralynn Gadbois paints a rainbow on the window of her home in Kuujjuaq. Throughout Quebec, you see can similar rainbows, saying, “Everything will be alright” or “Ça va bien aller,” drawn by children who are not in school due to COVID-19 restrictions. This rainbow is “for everyone in this world fighting the virus,” Saralynn said. (Photo courtesy of Ina Gadbois)

Nunavut’s schools and daycares will stay closed at least until April 20 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister David Joanasie announced at a daily COVID-19 news conference today. The government originally planned to leave schools shut until April 7. Joanasie said the closure would be reassessed on April 20. The Department of Education has also launched a learn-at-home website, angirrami.com. “This website offers free access to some of the same educational resources used in our schools,” Joanasie said. The website offers e-books, audio-books and videos, Joanasie said. Links to the department’s Inuktut-language learning apps will also be available on the website. New resources will be regularly added. (Photo by Emma Tranter)

angirrami.com. “This website offers free access to some of the same educational resources used in our schools,” Joanasie said. The website offers e-books, audio-books and videos, Joanasie said. Links to the department’s Inuktut-language learning apps will also be available on the website. New resources will be regularly added. (Photo by Emma Tranter)">

Arctic Ventures in Iqaluit has installed plexiglass shields at its registers to help protect its workers from COVID-19. “For the safety of the community and our hardworking staff we’ve taken safety to the next level!” the store said in a social media posting. (Photo courtesy of Arctic Ventures)

Nunavut’s chief medical officer, Michael Patterson, asks out-of-territory residents who must self-isolate in southern Canada before returning home to be patient and calm when dealing with government officials and hotel workers. “There is no excuse for violent or cruel behaviour,” Patterson said at a news conference on Monday, March 30. The Government of Nunavut is also putting in place a mandatory self-isolation order, under Nunavut’s Public Health Act, for people with symptoms who are considered under investigation, effective tomorrow, March 31. (Photo by Emma Tranter)

Here are two terrific snow sculptures from Arviat, where the hamlet organized a community-wide competition this past weekend to get everyone out of their houses, while respecting COVID-19 social distancing measures. The large owl was created by Thomas Aniksak (also in the photo), and Angie Curley built the polar bear over a seal hole. (Photo courtesy of the Hamlet of Arviat)

The Alianait Arts Festival may have cancelled two pre-festival concerts and delayed its festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a few shows will still go on—online. Organizers now say they will present a virtual concert and workshop series, in partnership with Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation. The first show will air tonight, on Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m. EST, featuring Lazarus Qattalik. You can tune in on the Alianait Arts Festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/alianait. (Photo courtesy of Alianait)

www.facebook.com/alianait. (Photo courtesy of Alianait)">

There are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut, Premier Joe Savikataaq said at a news conference on Thursday, March 26. Savikataaq reminded all Nunavummiut to continue practising social distancing and self-isolation. Those wishing to return to the territory from other jurisdictions in Canada must isolate for 14 days in one of four designated hotels in the south, while critical employees can apply to return right away. Anyone wishing to return must contact CPHOTravelRequests@gov.nu.ca to make travel and isolation arrangements. As of today, 161 people have applied to return to Nunavut as critical workers, while 145 people have applied to return as residents. Health Minister George Hickes also urged Nunavummiut to be patient with civil servants helping them get home. (Photo by Emma Tranter)

A mini-documentary about Canada’s forcible relocation of the Ahiarmiut from their homelands in the mid-1950s is now available on YouTube. The Ahiarmiut: Out-of-the-Way Dwellers is produced by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting as part of their Tell Our Stories project. The film tells the story of the Ahiarmiut in the words of Ayaaq (Mary) Anowtalik and David Serkoak. It’s directed by Louise Abbott, who previously directed Nunaaluk: A Forgotten Story, a half-hour documentary about the forced relocation of Inuit in northern Quebec. (Screen shot)

is now available on YouTube. The Ahiarmiut: Out-of-the-Way Dwellers is produced by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting as part of their Tell Our Stories project. The film tells the story of the Ahiarmiut in the words of Ayaaq (Mary) Anowtalik and David Serkoak. It’s directed by Louise Abbott, who previously directed Nunaaluk: A Forgotten Story, a half-hour documentary about the forced relocation of Inuit in northern Quebec. (Screen shot)">

Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq speaks at a COVID-19 news conference on Wednesday, March 25. As of today, 166 people in Nunavut have been tested for COVID-19 and 116 people are under investigation and self-isolating, Savikataaq said. There are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the territory. This morning, federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller also announced $45 million in funding for Inuit communities during the pandemic. Savikataaq said Nunavut will receive $22 million of that funding, and he will meet with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk this afternoon to discuss how it will be distributed. (Photo by Emma Tranter)