Nunavut Day to see live concerts, community barbecues
Celebrations are set to be a mix of in-person and virtual events
Seven-year-old Alexis Akulukjuk picks up a Nunavut flag on her way to Pangnirtung’s Nunavut Day celebrations in 2021. (Photo by Mélanie Ritchot)
Nunavut Day across the territory will be filled with live concerts, community barbecues, door prizes, and tea and bannock with elders.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. released its full lineup of Nunavut Day activities Friday.
It includes a mix of in-person and online festivities after the COVID-19 pandemic forced mostly virtual events for the past two years.
In Iqaluit, a community barbecue will kick off celebrations at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Igluvut parking lot, running until 4 p.m. A live concert will take place at the same time in the parking lot, and door prizes will be drawn throughout the afternoon.
In Rankin Inlet, people will be able to grab burgers at a community barbecue and enjoy some live music from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. near the Singiituq Complex.
A tea and bannock-making session for elders will also take place in Rankin Inlet.
Over in Cambridge Bay, similar events will take place including a community barbecue and door prizes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Municipal Heritage Park.
For Nunavut Day, all hunters and trappers organizations in the territory will receive funding up to $5,000 to organize their own events, said Joanasie Akumalik, who works with NTI, in an interview.
The money will be allocated based on each community’s population.
Akumalik said if it rains on Saturday, the events in Iqaluit will likely be held indoors at the Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre.
“We just ask that people come out and enjoy and celebrate Nunavut Day,” he said.
“It will be nice to see people gather again and see people we haven’t seen for a while. It’s for all kids and adults.”
Sanikiluaq has also released its own full schedule of events, including a Nunavut Day parade starting at 10 a.m. and a country food feast at noon. A bonfire is set to take place at around 11 p.m.
NTI has already kicked off its virtual Nunavut Day celebrations across the territory, including a home cook challenge and a house, boat and shack decorating contest in all three regions.
Prizes for the home cook challenge include $3,000 for the top adult recipe entry and $5,000 for the top house, boat or shack decoration.
More details on events and how to enter contests for Nunavut Day can be found on NTI’s website.
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