Top 10 dislikes of 2003

10. The fact that a certain individual that is supposed to be working was able to fake a back injury for the entire year and collect compensation at the taxpayers’ expense, yet he is able to go hunting and fishing on canoe, and now skidoo every other day. He will probably continue to do so until management puts their foot down.

9. While we are on the topic of dicks, my vasectomy that went bad and laid me up for a month would have to make the list.

8. The number of letters to the editor on the gay-lesbian issue. My opinion: I’m pretty sure you guys and gals are not choosing this lifestyle to piss on Jesus Christ or because you like to get harassed. Get over it everyone. God will sort us out later.

7. The numbers of individuals who still, after all the information on FAS, refuse to stop drinking for a few months while they are pregnant.

6. The amount of money lawyers are making on the self-government battle between the Kativik School Board and the other organizations that could have gone toward books and educational material or youth programs.

5. The number of spouses that continue to believe their wives are personal property that they can slap around whenever they are not in a good mood, or if they are bitching. This is why doors have hinges. They are made to open, so you can leave and take time to gather your wits and return when you calm down.

4. The justice system and how it lacks punishment for youth who steal personal property such as snowmobiles and four-wheelers, as well as those same individuals who break and enter and are not punished.

3. The high cost of transport and airfare in and out of the region. The shipping on many items costs more than the actual cost of the items themselves when purchased.

2. The decision by Makivik executives and board members to take away my right to represent my children’s future as a Makivik executive or board of director due to my inability to speak fluently in Inuktitut.

1. “Potato” companies that are started by individuals from the South who team up with a silent Inuit partner in order to access lucrative contracts in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially when the jobs that can be done by local Inuit are being lost to imported white individuals from the South. A company like this has taken away jobs that local cleaners have been doing for many years.

I feel it is not right for the regional leadership to allow this to happen in order to save a few headaches or dollars at the expense of Inuit jobs. I’m sure the southern employees are very nice people and I don’t want them to take this personally, however, Inuit need these jobs as much as you need the income.

A belated merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year to all Inuit of the North.

Harvey Mesher
Kuujjuaq