Commissioner delivers 26 awards to Arviat

Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq was to be in Arviat today to present 26 Commissioner awards to the following people, to recognize their efforts above and beyond the call of duty:

Kudloo Tom Curley — in April 1987, four young people were lost near Crazy Lake in Iqaluit. Searchers had been unable to find them for five days due to severe weather conditions. Despite the weather, Kudloo set out to look for them and followed the tracks he could find. He finally located one of the survivors, gave him warm clothes and went on to locate the others. The search and rescue team arrived on the scene shortly afterwards.

Henry Isluanik — in the early 1940s, Henry provided food and clothing in a time of hardship for Martha Illnik and her family. “His kindness and generosity saved them from starvation.”

Dominic Pingushat — in the early ‘80s, Dominic saved the life of both David Owingayak and Luke Suluk while traveling to Baker Lake. He arrived by dog team to their tent and noticed they were asleep due to the kerosene heater overheating during the night. He quickly flipped the tent and rescued them from the deadly fumes.

Philip Kigudsiutnak — in the fall of 1978, while traveling home from Padlei, Philip saved Dominic Pingushat’s life when he fell through the ice along with his snowmobile and sled. Philip jumped in the icy water and rescued Dominic as he was helplessly drifting away from the shore. He also managed to rescue the snowmobile and sled.

Peter Suwarsiork — sometime in the early 1950s, while traveling by dog team, Peter came upon a family who were in desperate need of food. He quickly made tea and fed dying Anowtalik and Tikiaq. Some members of the family, Pingushat and his sister, had already died of starvation, and Peter also buried Kablutjuaq. His quick and courageous actions saved Anowtalik and his relatives from certain death.

Elizabeth Alareak — during the early 1960s, Elizabeth Sewoee and Agnes Komakjuak, along with other children, were playing on the shore in Whale Cove. The two young girls slipped and fell into the water. Elizabeth managed to pull them both out to safety.

David Mikitok Alagalak — on June 14, 2002, 12-year-old David Mikitok Alagalak went out egg-picking 15 miles south of Arviat with his parents Sam and Maryanne Alagalak. He was traveling on an ATV with his mother when they fell through the ice. He managed to pull himself and his mother out of the water. Shortly after, his father’s snowmobile also went through the ice. “Mikitok, still in his wet and freezing clothes, managed to help his dad pull the snowmobile and sled to the shore.”

Javan St. John — in June 2000, two 13-year-old boys, Kalukjak and Kidlapik, went out goose hunting. On their way back, the bridge they were travelling on was swept away. Javan went to help the stranded boys, which saved them from being carried away into the water.

Leo Kaludjak — in 1992, Panniuq Karetak was being mauled by a pack of husky dogs. Leo, then six, managed to distract the dogs by throwing rocks at them.

Paul Kablutsiak — during the 1960s, Makkigak was seal hunting near Whale Cove. He suddenly went through thin ice and was struggling for his life. Paul, who was traveling in the area, noticed the man in distress and quickly went to rescue him and took him back to Whale Cove.

Clive Alareak — one summer day in 1990, Jack Ubluriak went swimming at the end of the old airstrip with other young boys. He swam too far from the shallow area and became unable to swim back to shore. Clive noticed he was not able to stay on top of the water and that he was in trouble. He reacted quickly and managed to save him from drowning.

Lewis & Rosie Voisey — in Aug. 1959, Susan Mamgark’s tent caught fire while she was refueling a Coleman stove. Peter and Susan Mamgark were severely burned during the incident. Lewis and Rosie immediately took them on their boat and brought them from Whale Cove to Rankin Inlet where they could receive urgent medical attention.

James Kigusiunaaq — in the fall of 1957, James was playing outside when he saw Sewee Aiyarani, staggering towards the camp and falling to the ground. James picked him up and noticed he was very thin. He put him on his qamutik and brought him quickly to the camp. “James saved Sewee’s life and helped in saving other members of his family because if Sewee had died, nobody might have known about the other members of the family that were in desperate need for food.”

Eric Anoee Sr (deceased) — in 1957, when Eric heard about Sewee Aiyarani who had walked to Usuvana’ngna in a desperate effort to get help for his starving family, he immediately left by dog team with supplies. He built an iglu and gave the family good caribou skins. He contributed in saving the lives of mother Lucy Angnapak, sons Charlie Panigoniak and George Arlook and daughter Melanie Arnaruluk.

Ovini Jimmy Gibbons (deceased) — Ovini went by airplane with the RCMP to rescue Sewee Aiyarani’s family when they were dying of starvation in 1957. Without wasting time, he evacuated the mother Lucy Angnapak, two sons, Charlie Panigoniak and George Arlook, and daughter Melanie Arnaruluk.