Crown-Indigenous relations minister makes apology to Ahiarmiut

A family of Ahiarmiut, including David Serkoak, pictured behind his mother Mary Qahug Miki (centre) at Ennadai Lake in the mid-1950s before the Canadian government forcibly relocated them from their homelands. Today, the federal government apologized for those relocations. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett made the apology at a ceremony in Arviat on Tuesday, Jan. 22. “We are sorry. Mamiapugut,” Bennett told the group of 21 surviving Ahiarmiut relocatees, their families and community members. “We are sorry that we moved the Ahiarmiut from Ennadai Lake. We are sorry that the Ahiarmiut suffered so immensely — experiencing indignity, starvation, and death — as a result of our actions. We are sorry that you were not treated with the kindness, respect, and humanity that you deserved,” Bennett said. “Finally, we are sorry that it has taken so long to settle your relocation claim and to acknowledge the wrongs of the past.” Bennett met privately with the members of the Ahiarmiut Relocation Society on Jan. 22 and also helped to unveil a new memorial plaque in the Kivalliq community. Read more later on nunatsiaq.com. (File photo)