Nunavut welcomes its first baby of 2015

Baby Mosesie Mark Parr, born Jan. 1 at 2:31 a.m. at Iqaluit’s Qikiqtani General Hospital, with his maternal grandmother Lucy Mingeriak, left, his birth mother, Ruthie Mingeriak of Kimmirut, and the baby’s adoptive parents Jawlie Mingeriak and Tirak Parr, also of Kimmirut. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT)

At least one Nunavummiut family brought in the New Year with the celebration of a new life: Nunavut’s first baby of 2015 arrived in good health in the early hours of Jan. 1.

Mosesie Mark Parr came into the world a few hours after Iqalungmiut rang in the New Year. The nine-pound, eight-ounce baby boy was born 2:31 a.m. Jan. 1 at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.

His birth mother, Ruthie Mingeriak, travelled from her hometown of Kimmirut to give birth, along with the baby’s maternal grandmother, Lucy Mingeriak, from Clyde River.

But baby Mosesie will go home with a new family: Tirak Parr and Jawlie Mingeriak, also from Kimmirut, are the baby’s proud new parents through a custom adoption.

Parr and Mingeriak also have a two-year-old daughter named Mary.

The baby’s birth and adoptive families posed for a photo at the hospital Jan. 2, after baby Mosesie was presented with a new sealskin bunting, made by student Betsy Munick of Nunavut Arctic College’s fur production and design course and given to the family by instructor Meeka Kilabuk.

The bunting is a traditional Baffin design made for babies to wear on winter hunting trips, crafted from a single seal skin.