Proud and painful insights from an event-filled year captured in quotations

"From the federal government's point of view, this place is not well run. They see it as a money pit."

– John Bainbridge, then the executive director of the Nunavut Employees Union, commenting last March on the Nunavut government's 2007-08 budget, adding he's seen federal officials react with derision when asked about the prospect of Nunavut getting more money from Ottawa.

"The government doesn't help us. We still get it done. Some day we'll be an independent territory."

– Bob Lyall at the Kitikmeot Inuit Association's AGM in Cambridge Bay last October, explaining why many Kitikmeot residents hate being part of Nunavut

"The Inuit society is suffering, suffering with the children it sacrifices too often to satisfy addictions of all kinds."

– Pita Aatami, president of Makivik Corp., reacting to a report by Quebec's youth and human rights commission that revealed widespread failures in Nunavik's youth protection system that violate the rights of abused and neglected children.

"It's simply not realistic for us to be in every house every night as a government, settle the problems that come up and intervene. The state has a limited capacity to get involved because we're dealing here with family problems."

– Benoit Pelletier, Quebec's native affairs minister, commenting on the same report.

"After spending $300,000 and talking to many Nunavummiut, weﾕre rejecting everything in the report. For what?"

– Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson's reaction to the legislative assembly's rejection of the electoral boundary commission's report, a decision opposed in the Kitikmeot region.

"The officers are treated like mushrooms. They're fed nothing but garbage and kept in the dark."

– A demoralized member of Nunavik's troubled Kativik Regional Police Force who later quit his job.

"It's like trying to buy $100 worth of groceries with a $20 bill."

– Art Stewart, president of the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators, describing how he and other members of the Nunavut infrastructure advisory committee divided up $26 million in federal municipal infrastructure money in a territory where the infrastructure deficit is estimated at about $300 million.

"I've had 17 years of being on call nearly every night. I just said that's enough."

– Steve Leck, one of many veteran Nunavut nurses who fled the territory in 2007, explains why he moved away.

"People here want more autonomy … so they respect that Quebec wants more autonomy too within Canada. So it's perfectly compatible."

– Mario Dumont, leader of Quebec's Action Démocratique party, explains why Quebec nationalists support Nunavik's proposed new government.

"An appropriate education system is essential to the success of Nunavut. The one now in place is currently failing."

– Paul Mayer, the federal government's ministerial representative on Nunavut devolution, stating one of the many reasons for his recommendation that Nunavut get new responsibilities in a slow, cautious step-by-step manner.

"They're just putting up these artificial barriers so they can keep their cushy jobs in Ottawa and exploit our resources."

– Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik, in a statement condemning the federal government's approach to devolution, which is mostly based on Mayer's report.

"I believe that it is fair to say that no matter how fast you run, the mistakes of the past will eventually catch up to you."

– Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo, in a member's statement, sums up GN's performance since the 2004 election.

"The pride, the tradition and the self-esteem you feel when you're going to bring back a beluga for your family. That's something that's going to be taken away from us."

– Paulusi Novalinga, former president of Nunavik's Anguvigaq hunters and trappers organization.

"It doesn't matter what we do right now. We're committed to this warming."

– Tom Agnew, a researcher with Environment Canada, commenting on satellite images that show the Arctic Ocean's ice cap melted to an all-time low last year.

"He was a fantastic leader. We got things done under him."

– A former technical advisor to the Nunavut Water Board on Phillipe di Pizzo, who was dismissed from his job after his staff rejected a water licence application from Miramar Mining Corp.

"No way. We've got to catch up."

– Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., responds to suggestions that Nunavut take a slower approach to mining development.

"The message should worry every single member of this house and every member of the public. If you ask questions about this organization, you or those you represent will suffer."

– Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo commenting on the behaviour of the Keewatin Business Development Centre, which said that an Iqaluit couple defamedﾓ it when they asserted their right to defend themselves against a KDBC legal action.

"Inuit of Quebec are in some way the guardian angels of our territory, particularly in the context of climate change, sovereignty and the occupation of the Quebec territory."

– Quebec Premier Jean Charest at the Nov. 30 opening of Pingualuit provincial park.

"January 1 means the rents go up and people are howling – or leaving."

– Doug Workman, president of the Nunavut Employees Union, commenting on the effect of the GN's staff housing rent policy.