Nunavut sports hall of fame inductions begin

The Nunavut Sport Federation will induct its hall of fame’s inaugural class this weekend at the Aqsarniit hotel in Iqaluit.

The ceremony will take place during the Sport and Recreation Awards gala, where the Government of Nunavut recognizes the territory’s athletes, administrators, volunteers and coaches, according to a news release issued Friday by the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut.

Former NHL player Jordin Tootoo and Inuit games athlete Attima Hadlari are the first inductees into the hall.

Doors open to the gala at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m.

From 2003 to 2017, Tootoo, played 723 games for the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks. He racked up 65 goals, 96 assists and 1,010 penalty minutes during that time.

Hadlari was an Arctic sports athlete from Cambridge Bay who mastered the sealskin whip and went on to coach and officiate for young athletes participating in traditional Inuit games.

He also served in the first Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit, which gives expertise in how to apply Inuit traditional knowledge in government, from 2003 to 2005.

Each year, the Nunavut Sports and Recreation Hall of Fame plans to take nominations from community members for inductees.