Awards will help 10 students each year

On July 9, Nunavut Day, hundreds of Iqalummiut turned out at the Nunavut legislature for a feast of barbecued muskox burgers flipped by apron-clad Nunavut leaders.

Wearing Nunavut Day giveaway hats to protect against mosquitoes and bright sun, they listened as Premier Paul Okalik and Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., unveiled two scholarship programs for beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.

Kakiniit, the Nunavut Day cultural and academic grants, will provide $1,000 to five students to improve their cultural skills and $1,000 to another five students enrolled at a post-secondary institution.

An NTI news release says the Inuktitut word "kakiniit" was chosen because marks or tattoos may symbolize important events in life.

"Because receiving a grant to pursue cultural or academic education is a significant event in a person's life, the word Kakiniit seemed appropriate," says the release.

As part of the Kakiniit application process, students will be asked to write a short essay about an individual who contributed to the negotiation of the NCLA and the creation of Nunavut.

Okalik and Kaludjak signed the agreement on Kakiniit outside the Cadet Hall, where some recalled the sun was as bright as when NCLA was signed in Kugluktuk 14 years ago.

Okalik told the crowd the sun made for wonderful way to celebrate a wonderful day and to honour the achievements of Nunavummiut like Enoki Kunuk of Igloolik, who recently survived a month on the land, drawing on his traditional survival skills.

Nunavut Commissioner Ann Hanson also urged Nunavummiut to celebrate their achievements, remembering their fellow Inuit in Montreal, Ottawa and other southern cities who are working on their behalf.

In Ottawa, Nunavummiut celebrated July 9 at activities planned by the Inuit Tungasuvinngat culture centre.

Nunavut Day in Iqaluit wrapped up with a gala dinner at the Arctic Winter Games arena. Sponsored by Canadian North, with NTI and the GN, the event offered entertainment ranging from throatsingers and singer Lucie Idlout to circus performers from Igloolik's Artcirq. Receipts went to the school breakfast program "Food First" and Iqaluit's Toonik Tyme spring festival.

On behalf of Canadian North, Nashville Predators hockey player Jordin Tootoo gave Jolly Kelley an award to help him pursue arts studies, while Nunavut's commissioner Ann Meekitjuk Hanson awarded $5,000 cheques – the first Nunavut Commissioner's Arts Awards – to traditional toolmaker John Towtongie of Rankin Inlet and printer Thomas Iksiraq of Baker Lake.