Can you repeat that? Top quotes from our news stories in 2023

From “humdinger” storms battering northern communities to allegedly false claims of Inuit heritage and the jailing of a notorious, sexually abusive school teacher, a lot happened across Nunavut and Nunavik in 2023.

Here’s what people had to say about it, including links to the stories and the dates they were published.

“It’s way beyond ‘wow’… I don’t even know how to describe it anymore.”

• Sanirajak MLA Joelie Kaernerk, describing Arnaqjuaq School where staff and students were waiting months for repairs to issues like broken water fountains, plumbing issues and a six-month wait for parts to fix its broken fire sprinkler system. Jan. 27

“It was out of hand. People didn’t even let their children go play outside because it was too dangerous.”

• Kuujjuaraapik animal control officer Fredrick Reuther, describing the extent of the dog problem there before steps were taken to control the local dog population. Feb. 10

“They can fix anything. Everyone wants to hire these boys.”

• Mark Slatter, a teacher a mentor at the Red Fish Art Studio in Cambridge Bay which is both a welding workshop and a space for artists. Feb. 24

“People think that, ‘Oh, they’re the only airline, they’re making millions.’ Instead of making millions, we’re losing millions.”

• Makivvik Corp. president Pita Aatami, speaking at the Northern Lights trade show in Ottawa on the state of Canadian North airline. March 3

 “I think seeing an elder on a trolley really moved everyone.”

• Julia St-Aubin, speaking about the reaction to a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to buy more wheelchairs for elders staying at Ullivik, the Quebec facility that provides short-term lodging for Nunavik medical patients. Her grandfather, Jean-Guy St-Aubin, had to be taken to his room there on an airport luggage cart when no wheelchair was available. March 17

Aasta Idlout, left, and Isaiah Brown are two of five students who graduated this May from Resolute Bay’s Qarmartalik School. The class was one of the largest group of graduates the school has had in years, teacher Rhonda McKenzie said. (Photo courtesy of Rhonda McKenzie)

“I was just so shocked because I wasn’t expecting it … I had never thought anything like this would happen within my lifetime.”

• Iqaluit high school student Akutaq Williamson Bathory, after learning she’d received a $100,000 Loran Award scholarship to help with her university studies. March 24.

 “We find it entirely unacceptable for anyone to falsely claim to be Indigenous and use it for personal gain.”

• Erin Durant, a lawyer, commenting on allegations that Amira and Nadya Gill and their mother, Karima Manji, had falsely claimed Inuit heritage to receive financial benefits. Apr. 7.

“Inuktitut should be set to an academic standard for graduation. It presents Inuit culture as something valued by students.”

• Iqaluit high school student Ella Estey, who spoke to MPs in Ottawa in April saying Inuktitut classes should be mandatory in Nunavut schools for students to graduate. Apr. 21

 “I think I’m more excited than they are.”

• Qarmartalik School principal Odet Lywood, speaking of Resolute Bay’s graduation class of five students — the largest number of grads in years in the community with a population of 183 residents. May 26

“Over the past 12 years we have painted the picture of a failing system. One that is failing the people and, most importantly, the children it is meant to protect.”

• Canada’s auditor general delivers a devastating criticism of Nunavut’s child protection system. Karen Hogan cited poor foster home management, inadequate tracking of children in the system and improper monitoring of children in care. It was the third time Nunavut’s child-welfare system had been the subject of an auditor general’s report in 12 years. June 2

Johnny Meeko, right, hides his face from cameras while being escorted from the Iqaluit courthouse in October after a judge gave him a 29-year sentence for sexually abusing children over several decades. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

“More than a hundred times.”

• A witness testifies at the trial of former Sanikiluaq school teacher Johnny Meeko that during the 1990s, Meeko touched her under her shirt dozens of times. Eleven people testified against Meeko, who was charged with numerous sex-related crimes. He was later convicted and jailed 29 years for his offences. June 2

“There is nothing intrinsic about Inuit that makes them of high risk for suicide but the poisonous byproducts of colonialism like inadequate housing, substance abuse and cultural erosion remain potent.”

• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed speaks after a Senate report highlighted the disproportionately high rate of suicide among Inuit. June 23

“This building is for the people, from the people.”

• Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre executive director Etua Snowball speaks after the organization opened a new 22-bed healing facility in Kuujjuaq. June 30

“I never woke up so happy in my life, this morning.”

• Paul Gordon, a unionized employee at the Iqaluit Housing Authority, reacts to a collective agreement that ended a 19-week strike by the Nunavut Employees Union. Aug. 4

“My mom tells me that at the age of five I was watching the news.”

• CBC reporter Juanita Taylor, who is from Arviat, discusses what it means to become the first Inuk journalist to guest-host The National, CBC’s flagship news program. Aug. 4

“It seems the crime severity in the summer months is exceptionally higher than in previous years.”

• Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone speaks in the legislative assembly about increasing incidents of intimidation and assaults in the area around Iqaluit’s beer and wine store, leading the GN to bolster security there. Aug. 18

“Receiving 4,000 service requests is notably high.”

• Hala Duale, a spokesperson for Nunavut’s Department of Community and Government Services, on the number of requests for repairs at Nunavut schools filed between January and December 2022. Sept. 1

“Hardly anything was printed in Inuktitut, so I thought this would be a good way for our people to have something to read other than the Bible.”

• Ann Hanson, the first editor of the Inukshuk newsletter which was founded in 1973 and grew to become Nunatsiaq News. The paper celebrates 50 years in 2023, and still provides news coverage in Inuktitut. Sept. 22

“People say, ‘Oh, pay them more. Pay them more.’ No, dummies, Nunavut is scary.”

• Jessica Garner, a nurse who formerly worked in Baker Lake and Gjoa Haven. She was one of more than 10 nurses who spoke out about what they say is a toxic work environment for health-care workers in Nunavut. Oct. 27

This photo that Iqaluit resident Jason Harasimo posted on Facebook on a Friday afternoon in late October was an early indication something wasn’t right about the unloading of a sealift ship in Koojesse Inlet on Oct. 28. Twenty-three sea cans had fallen off a barge; one worker was injured and had to be medevaced for hospital care. (Photo by Jason Harasimo, special to Nunatisaq News)

“There was nothing out of the ordinary to talk about on this particular day or on this particular time.”

• That is, until 23 shipping containers fell into the water off Iqaluit’s deepsea port while they were being unloaded on the night of Oct. 27. In this quote, NEAS Arctic Sealift chief executive officer Daniel Dagenais describes the events leading up to the incident. Nov. 3

“I’d like to think one day that half of these chairs will be filled by women.”

• Iqaluit Coun. Kim Smith talks about being the only woman elected to the nine-member council in the Oct. 23 municipal election. Nov. 17

“Try explaining to a seven- or eight-year-old why there’s no gifts on Christmas because they’re held up at the post office; you couldn’t get them because Santa’s stuck at the post office.”

Iqaluit resident Alex McConnachie expresses frustration at what he calls the “chaotic” situation at the new post office. Dec. 15