Hope, fun on deck for Nunavut Day celebrations

Wednesday’s Nunavut Day holiday is a time to embrace hope, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said Monday in Iqaluit.

“The eastern Arctic became a territory just 26 years ago,” she said in an interview.

Mary Simon calls on Inuit to maintain hope whenever they gather together, during her visit to Iqaluit, this week. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

“It’s still a very young territory and I think Inuit like to celebrate the day, and to me that’s an important part of remembering things that we fought for and that we have now and that we are working to make things better for our communities.”

Nunavut Day celebrates Parliament’s passage of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the Nunavut Act — the laws that created the new territory — on July 9, 1993.

On Wednesday, the final day of her three-day Iqaluit visit, Simon is scheduled to join Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s public celebration at Nakasuk Elementary School at 12:40 p.m.

Here’s a roundup of more Nunavut Day events and activities being held across the territory on Wednesday, a statutory holiday.

Territory-wide — Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is bringing back its snowmobile and ATV draws across all 25 communities.

Premier of Nunavut P.J. Akeeagok and Commissioner of Nunavut Eva Qamaniq Aariak flip burgers at the community barbecue in Iqaluit on Nunavut Day in 2024. (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)

All Nunavut Inuit beneficiaries enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be automatically entered in the draws, but they must be reside in the community in which their name is drawn, NTI communications director Ivaluarjuk Merrit said in a news release. There is an exemption for those living elsewhere for medical and educational reasons.

NTI will also launch online contests Wednesday, with an entry deadline of July 25 at 5 p.m. ET. Details are posted on the NTI website. Winners will be announced Aug. 1.

NTI also plans barbecues, family activities and concerts in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.

Iqaluit — Nunavut Day events run from noon until 4 p.m. on the Nakasuk School grounds, beginning with a barbecue hosted by the territorial government. Queen Elizabeth Way will be closed from Sinaa Street to the school entrance from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The Iqaluit Aquatic Centre is offering free swim times from noon until 4 p.m.

Rankin Inlet — A parade starts outside the hamlet office at noon, followed by events in the Agnico Eagle Arena from 1 until 4 p.m.

Cambridge Bay — The Kitikmeot Inuit Association and Hamlet of Cambridge Bay staff took the lead in organizing Nunavut Day events. Children’s activities, games and giveaways will be held at the ball diamond from 1 until 4 p.m.

The Palvialok family will host a community event at 5 p.m. across from the Anglican Church at their red four-plex, an annual tradition in the hamlet. Details and updates will be shared on social media, said William Palvialok.

Baker Lake — Nunavut Day celebrations begin at 11 a.m. with the traditional caribou dress-up events in two age categories: 15 and younger, and 16 and older.

The hamlet has teamed up with the Sanavik Co-op to host a barbecue at the store at 1 p.m. following the noon-hour parade, which begins in front of the arena. The hamlet also joined forces with the Aupaktuq Shop to host a barbecue at the community hall at 6 p.m.

In between the two barbecues are games for all ages, including iglukitaaq, or juggling, and ajjajak, a ball-and-cup game using seal bone.

Then-senator Dennis Patterson dances with Janet Armstrong during Nunavut Day celebrations in Iqaluit, in 2023. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)

Live entertainment will follow the day’s events from 9 p.m. until midnight.

Grise Fiord — The High Arctic monument is the gathering spot at 3 p.m. for the Nunavut Day barbecue. Games will include an inuksuk-making contest and a tea and bannock-making competition.

Resolute Bay — The biggest and smallest catches will earn prizes at the hamet’s fishing derby, beginning at noon on the shore of Resolute Lake. The event runs alongside a rock hunt for all ages, a children’s boat race, prizes and lots of desserts.

Kinngait — A parade leads the community into Nunavut Day at 11 a.m., starting at the hamlet office. A country food barbecue follows at noon at the community hall, where there will be games until 4 p.m. The day will wind up with a traditional dance.

Pond Inlet — Pond Inlet welcomes Nunavut Day with an opening prayer broadcast over radio, followed by a country food barbecue and games outside the community hall. Mayor Joshua Arreak will address the community at 7 p.m., and at 9 p.m. Ms. and Mr. Pond Inlet will be crowned at the community hall.

Igloolik — Nunavut Day starts with breakfast at the community hall from 9 until 11 a.m.

At 1 p.m., people can head to the main road for outdoor games along with contests for cake and bicycle decorating and other activities.

At 3 p.m., a cardboard box boat race will commence behind Iglulik High School for those who built a cardboard box boat in advance. A five-kilometre race will wind through the sideroads of the community.

Indoor games and elders’ games will follow back at the community hall at 7 p.m.

With files from Jeff Pelletier