Nunavut commissioner did not “party”

Re: your December 14, 2001 Nunatsiaq News headline: “ITK hosts booze-fest”

I want to make it clear that I went to Ottawa on December 2, 2001, to celebrate the anniversary of an organization at the heart of everything we are trying to accomplish in Nunavut. I did not go to party. There is a difference between a party and a celebration.

Celebrations are done with thought and caring – with remembrance, intent and recognition.

They do not necessarily take the form “party.” I, for one, along with many others, did not go to Ottawa to “party.” I went to celebrate. I think you have done ITK and many Inuit a disservice by using this headline.

I would like to ask why this was chosen as a headline? On what is it based? Was the party that accompanied the celebration different from, say, a party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of any other organization? What constitutes a “booze-fest?” Are you sure that the people in the photos accompanying the article were actually drinking at this event? Did you see them drinking?

In 1995, I made my decision to quit drinking. I wanted to play a big role in helping Nunavut to grow. Unfortunately, by using such a headline and including photos, you have implied that those in the photos were necessarily drinking and, as I have indicated, this assumption on your part, is certainly untrue in my case.

As Commissioner of Nunavut, I am responsible for representing all residents of Nunavut at official functions and of celebrating with them, our accomplishments and successes. In my Inuit culture, we used to hold big celebrations in a large iglu called Qalgiq/Qaggiq, to celebrate good life, by holding throat singing, drum dances and other games that were important for Inuit survival.

Your headline labels those of us who truly celebrate the history of ITK unfairly. On behalf of the many Inuit and Non-Inuit who both contributed to and celebrated the history of ITK, I want to express my disappointment over the way you have portrayed the event.

Peter Irniq,
Commissioner