Could you repeat that? Memorable quotes from 2024

From tragedy to drama, here’s what people had to say about stories that affected the North this year

Perry Akavak, who lives in Pangnirtung, sits atop his snowmobile April 14 as spectators hoist it and his qamutik into the air. Akavak won Toonik Tyme’s annual race from Iqaluit to Kimmirut and back. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

By Nunatsiaq News

With polar bears, the signing of a historic document, an apology from the federal government and the usual oddities and dramas, 2024 was a year to remember for Nunavut and Nunavik.

Here are some memorable quotes from this momentous year:

January

“I could read on the bottom right that this X-ray was done in Kuujjuaq in whatever year it was, and I’d be like, ‘Oh, do I know this person?’”
Madeline Yaaka, of Kangiqsujuaq, the first student  from Nunavik to study at McGill University’s medicine program.

“It was never appropriate for our lands and resources to be managed remotely from an unaccountable federal minister.”
Former senator Dennis Patterson, on the significance of the signing of the devolution agreement between Nunavut and the federal government, the largest land transfer in Canadian history.

Kuujjuaq hunter Thomas Shea Lamb poses with the polar bear he killed. It was roaming the community in February. (Photo courtesy of Shanna Gordon)

February

“OK kids, I’m getting my gun, getting my bullets, and we’re going polar bear hunting.”
What Kuujjuaq hunter Thomas Shea Lamb recalled telling his family after a polar bear wandered into town, chasing a man and trying to force its way into his home.

“No one will ever take my grandchildren again, ever.”
Residential school survivor Navalik Tologanak, of Cambridge Bay, speaking on the second day of the National Gathering on Unmarked Burials, held in Iqaluit.

March

“They decide to stop going down south for treatment and they let the cancer kill them, because it is just too much for them.”
Dr. Nathalie Boulanger, professional services director at Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre in Kuujjuaq, on “big proportion” of Nunavik cancer patients affected by lack of northern services.

“Violent crime against Indigenous women is holding this territory back profoundly.”
Justice Christian Lyons, in sentencing William Autut to life in prison for manslaughter in the 2020 death of Leah Kilabuk of Iqaluit.

“The bus drivers are not being respected, they are not being listened to and they are being treated as if they are lesser, which is just insane.”
Nicole Giles, chairperson of the Iqaluit District Education Authority, on mistreatment of school bus drivers and monitors by children and parents.

April

“Hi, Dad, I made it in one piece. I’m alive … I’m OK.”
Perry Akavak of Pangnirtung, speaking with his father on a cellphone after winning the Toonik Tyme snowmobile race in Iqaluit.

“I want to get back to the thin man I was 10 years ago.”
Neil Sharkey, former chief justice for Nunavut, joking on his retirement that he hoped to start an Iqaluit walking club with his new-found free time.

May

“When you see a bear is running at you, your instinct is to leave because … there’s a bear running at you.”
— Wildlife photographer Martin Gregus, describing the 33 days he spent living among polar bears on a remote Nunavut island.

“You deserve to burn in hell, there is no justice for what you have done.”
— From a victim-impact statement read in court after Scott Hala was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Emerald MacDonald, an actress in Kugluktuk. The daughter of the woman making the statement was badly injured by Hala in the same incident.

June

“We almost died going, ‘Wow, we’ve made it to Newfoundland!’”
Sandra Rutledge, principal at Pond Inlet’s Ulaajuk school, after learning a soccer ball kicked into the ocean there about 10 years ago was discovered on a beach off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Fraudsters pay attention to what happens to other fraudsters, and they are deterred from such activity when a significant jail time is imposed.”
Justice Mia Manocchio, in sentencing Karima Manji to three years in prison for fraudulently acquiring Inuit beneficiary status for her non-Inuit daughters.

July

“Once I completely got the bag out of the sand, this large dancing walrus carving fell down.”
Erika Alexander, whose chance discovery of a Lululemon bag buried in the sand at Iqaluit’s beach led to the recovery of a carving stolen from a family’s home in 2017.

Passengers from the cruise ship Silver Endeavour arrive in Kinngait this summer. (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)

August

“I wanted to show myself I could do it. Biden couldn’t.”
Bob Smolenski of Florida, a cruise ship visitor to Kinngait, after climbing a steep hill to the Kanojuak Cultural Centre. Smolenski was the same age as U.S. President Joe Biden.

“I had a great time. But I also did a lot of things that I deeply regret when I was drunk.”
— Singer Beatrice Deer reflects on her 13 years of sobriety while preparing to perform at Kuujjuaq’s Aqpik Jam music festival in August.

“It just seems strange, we don’t have any trees and yet we are having to tolerate all this unhealthy forest fire smoke.”
John Ivey, Kugluktuk’s senior administrative officer, speaking of the effect of forest fires happening hundreds of kilometres to the south.

“I kept some of the request notes. There was quite a bit of swearing.”
Al Simmons, a children’s entertainer who performed in Rankin Inlet in August, on his early days in a band singing Buddy Holly songs.

September

“If the parents of these kids are too stupid to know you don’t toss the keys to an expensive motorized vehicle, along with a tank of gas, and then let them sleep all day, maybe the rest of us in the community shouldn’t be equally stupid.”
Janice Anderson, who at the time was Taloyoak’s senior administrative officer, in a public service announcement in September.

October

“I am unsure that the majority of Quebecers know what is going on. Nor would they accept this level of health care in their own region.”
Dr. Mauril Gaudreault, head of Quebec’s College of Physicians, in a report that examined health-care services in Nunavik.

November

“No matter what they invent, I feel pretty secure I will never really be out of a job.”
Suzie Napayok, who owns an Inuktitut translation service, after trying out Google Translate’s Inuktitut service.

“If the desire is to fix things, maybe we need to use a screwdriver” instead of a “sledgehammer.”
— Nunavut Health Minister John Main, after a failed attempt to oust P.J. Akeeagok as premier by disgruntled MLAs.

“There’s been lots and lots of encounters by polar bears — damage to cabins, close calls, people being chased by polar bears around here in the community.”
Alex Ishalook, who chairs the Arviat Hunters and Trappers Organization, describing the effects of a low polar bear hunt quota.

MLAs applaud John Quirke on his final day in the legislative assembly in November. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

“Inside of me was a roller-coaster because I knew this was the last time I’d be here at the table.”
John Quirke, who served as clerk of the Nunavut legislative assembly from the day Nunavut became a territory in 1999, speaking on his final day before retiring in November.

“What happened really devastated our way of life by misguided policies and the denial that followed for many years.”
— Makivvik Corp. employee Lucy Grey, who has worked for years to get the federal government to apologize for the dog slaughter in Nunavik in the 1950s and 60s. In November, the government apologized.

December

“I feel like I have been broken. I feel like all of the colours have been stripped from me. I only see black and white.”
Geneva Pikuyak on how the loss of her sister, Savanna Pikuyak, has changed her life. She spoke after Nikolas Ibey of Ottawa was convicted of first-degree murder in Savanna’s death.

“It’s been a very emotional day. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing.”
Jeremy Tunraluk, on the day following his Dec. 9 election as president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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