Garbage-strewn river shoreline a reflection of Iqalummiut

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

As a person who enjoys fishing and who rarely ever has any luck in catching char, I always saw that on the other side of the river, the char were jumping.

Of course, that old saying is that the grass is greener on the other side and that’s where all the fish are.

So a few years ago I was pleased to hear about the bridge that would be built across the river. Finally I would get to the other side where the fish are.

But recently I walked up the river shore from the transmitter site to the mouth of the river.

After that walk I was disgusted and ashamed of my fellow citizens.

The shoreline is a complete reflection of Iqalummiut. The shoreline and land is littered with garbage and abandoned camp sites with even more garbage. And even with all the tents presently set up, garbage is prominent.

It’s just like living in downtown Iqaluit: garbage here, garbage there, garbage everywhere. There is no community pride, which translates into no pride or concern about the beauty of the land.

I also walk around quite a lot around the end of the river by the airport runway.

It is a difficult walk, as the land was been ruined by drivers of four-wheelers. These vehicles, used for recreation and part-time hunting, are destroying the beauty of the land.

Now these same people want to cross the river via the bridge so they can leave their damaging marks on the tundra. You might as well be an equal destroyer of land by ensuring both sides of the river are treated the same way while recreational hunters can shoot some okaliqs.

I encourage you to walk the river shoreline to see for yourself. I believe you will feel what I now feel.

I want the other side of the river to be always green and not littered with garbage and ruined by drivers of four-wheelers.

I no longer support any type of bridge across the river. Let that side remain as it is in all its beauty. I now do not mind that the fish are jumping on the other side.

G. Anderson
Iqaluit

Editor’s note: A version of this letter was also sent to Environment Minister Daniel Shewchuk.

 

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