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Around
Nunavut
September
19, 2003
Waseskun signs new deal with Corrections
Canada
Waseskun Healing Centre, the only aboriginal healing centre for federal offenders
east of Manitoba, renewed its agreement with Corrections Canada to offer services
to male offenders from Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, the Maritimes, Nunavut and
Labrador.
Located north of Montreal, Waseskun has a total of 34 beds, 23 of which are
reserved for offenders under federal jurisdiction. The programs offered at the
centre reflect aboriginal spirituality, history and values.
September 19, 2003
Kids rescued from rocks
On Sept. 9, in the late afternoon, Iqaluit RCMP received a call saying two
small children were stranded on a large boulder on the beach behind the Iqaluit
library, due to rising tide waters.
Eliya Pudloo, several bystanders and Cpl. Jimmy Akavak brought up an aluminum
boat.
Pudloo and another RCMP member hopped on board and paddled 100 feet out to
the stranded children. They brought them back to shore, where emergency technicians
took over and escorted the children to the Baffin Regional Hospital.
One was suffering from mild hypothermia, but both were released to their parents
with a clean bill of health shortly afterward.
In a news release, police recognized the efforts of Pudloo and other bystanders
for their actions.
September 19, 2003
Cape Dorset teacher charged with sex offenses
A Cape Dorset school teacher has been charged with four sex offences involving
minors, and has left the community.
As the result of an investigation, James Rankin, 31, stands charged with two
counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference involving female
complainants.
Rankin will appear in the Nunavut Court of Justice on Oct. 28 in Cape Dorset.
On Sept. 3, the Cape Dorset RCMP detachment received a complaint of a sexual
assault alleged to have occurred at Cape Dorset's Sam Pudlat School during the
2000 school year.
"There was a disclosure by a victim," said Const. Viral Borkhataria
of the Cape Dorset RCMP detachment.
Borkhataria said the investigation is continuing, and that anyone with relevant
information may call the Cape Dorset RCMP detachment at 867-897-1111.
Police say Rankin may not be required to appear in person at the Oct. 28 court
date.
Officials at Sam Pudlat School said they have been asked not to make any comment
about Rankin.
September 19, 2003
Court staff makes Arvaluk wait
Former MLA James Arvaluk: humiliated by court staff.
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The Nunavut Court of Justice delivered former MLA James Arvaluk another humiliating
blow on Tuesday, this time making him wait in the cramped hallway of the Iqaluit
courthouse for the start of his sentencing hearing, while the entire courthouse
staff debated the placement of coffee machines and water fountains in a planning
session for the construction of a new building.
And while a posh new courthouse would certainly make the wait more pleasant,
no one informed Arvaluk, and several family members who came to support him,
of a change in schedule.
Arvaluk was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm this past June for
an incident in August 2000 in Coral Harbour. He resigned his seat in the legislative
assembly a short while later.
Whether through indifference or bad planning, Arvaluk's 9:30 a.m. time slot
came and went, while courthouse staff chatted with an architect in Courtroom
1 until 10 a.m.
After a short smoke break, a courthouse employee eventually drifted into the
hallway to inform Arvaluk that the judge was out of town and the hearing would
have to be postponed.
A new date for Arvaluk's sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
September 19, 2003
Nunavut Trust reports to NTI
Nunavut Trust, the body that manages compensation monies on behalf of Nunavut's
Inuit beneficiaries, gave Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. board members an update on
its performance during NTI's meeting in Pond Inlet this month.
Its message: curb spending, don't take on any new projects and keep to budget.
From May 1993 to December 2002, Nunavut Trust distributed $263.7 million to
beneficiary organizations.
This included:
- $18 million for economic funding
- $50 million to Atuqtuarvik Corp.
- $19.5 million to support elders
- $20 million for hospital projects
- $15 million for harvesters' programs
- $10 million for bereavement travel
But over the next five years, compensation payments will decrease, and this
means the cash to maintain the current 15-year plan will exceed revenues.
As cash flow demands from beneficiary organizations are "above the levels
funded by the typical endowment fund," Nunavut Trust recommends they "meet
the goals they have established for themselves," as any changes in their
cash demands can drain reserves more quickly than dips in the investment market.
September 19, 2003
First Air flight attendants in contract
talks
Flight attendants for First Air presented their proposals to the airline last
week during negotiations for a new collective agreement for the 114 workers
under the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Among the proposals are shorter duty days, a defined pension plan, better maternity
benefits, free uniforms and a per diem meal expense increase.
Flight attendants also want the reinstatement of the purser position. Solo
flight attendants do the same job as "in-charge" flight attendants,
but without the $8 an hour top-up.
Mary Lou Cherwaty, who represents the workers in negotiations, said in a news
release that not enough flight attendants are choosing First Air for a career.
Makivik Corp. has owned First Air since September 1990. The flight attendants'
current contract expires on Oct. 16.
September 19, 2003
New board for Qulliq Energy Corp.
Ed Picco, the minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corp., announced the
appointment this week of two new members to the corporation's board of directors.
Anne Crawford and Ross Mrazek were appointed to one-year terms as directors.
Crawford was most recently the acting deputy minister of health and social services.
Mrazek was previously the deputy minister of public works.
Picco also announced the reappointments of Simon Merkosak to another one-year
term as chairman, and David Simailak as vice-chairman.
Elisapee Sheutiapik, Jimmy Kilabuk, John Holmes and Ryan St. John were reappointed
to one-year terms as directors.
September 12, 2003
GN appoints IQ advisory council
The Government of Nunavut has appointed 11 people to serve on a new body set
up to provide advice on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Called "Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit," the new body will:
- Provide advice on the development of public policy to reflect Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
- Provide advice, as requested by government departments, on efforts to develop
and deliver programs and services within the context of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
- Provide advice on efforts by Nunavut government departments to demonstrate
traditional Inuit values in their day-to-day operations.
- Provide advice on the viability of suggested approaches to Inuit made by
government departments.
The council's members are: Attima Hadlari of Cambridge Bay, Miriam Nilaulaq
Aglukkaq of Gjoa Haven, Peter Peetooloot of Taloyoak, Henry Ialuanik of Arviat,
Jackie Napayok of Whale Cove, Mary Ann Tattuinee of Rankin Inlet, Rynie Audla
of Sanikiluaq, Metuq Nowdlaq of Iqaluit, Kananginak Pootoogook of Cape Dorset,
George Qulaut of Igloolik and Albert Nurriaq of Hall Beach.
Each member will serve a two-year term.
Peter Kilabuk, the minister of culture, language, elders and youth, announced
the council's creation this past Monday.
September
12, 2003
Diamond hunters make new kimberlite finds
Exploration firms working in the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions reported this
week that their summer exploration programs have turned up new discoveries of
kimberlite.
Kimberlite is a mineral, usually found in long, narrow pipes under the ground,
that often contains diamonds.
In the Kivalliq region, just south of Rankin Inlet, a consortium of three companies
exploring an area called the "Churchill Diamond Project" reported
this past Tuesday that they've found four more kimberlite pipes, bringing the
total number they've found this year to 15. Samples from those finds are now
being tested for their microdiamond content.
Although the finds are highly promising, they do not necessarily show that
there are commercial quantities of diamonds in the area. But the companies —
Shear Minerals, Stornoway Diamond Corp., and BHP Billiton — say they are
becoming more confident in their belief that they have discovered a large kimberlite
field in the Kivalliq.
In the Kitikmeot region, Tahera Corp., a proponent of the small, $50-million
Jericho diamond mine proposal, says it has found a kimberlite dyke about nine
kilometres south of the diamond-rich Jericho kimberlite pipe.
Samples from the dyke will analyzed for microdiamond
September
12, 2003
Ottawa conference to ponder land claim implementation
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and four other aboriginal organizations will hold a
major conference in Ottawa from Nov. 11 to 14 to talk about the implementation
of land claims agreements.
Organizers of the conference say they hope to "lay the foundation of a
new and more effective relationship for claims implementation by bringing all
stakeholders together."
About 110 people — federal, provincial and territorial officials, aboriginal
leaders, negotiators, and academics - are expected to attend.
Speakers will include Pita Aatami, the president of Makivik Corp., Dr. Joseph
Gosnell, president of the Nisga'a Lisims government, Ted Moses, grand chief
of the James Bay Cree, and Tony Penikett, former premier of the Yukon.
September
5, 2003
Premiers ink pact
in Cambridge Bay
The three territorial premiers
were in Cambridge Bay this week to sign a co-operation accord to strengthen
the North's voice on the national stage.
Premier Dennis Fentie of
the Yukon, Premier Stephen Kakfwi of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Premier
Paul Okalik signed the "Northern Cooperation Accord" on Sept. 3 during
a ceremony at Kullik Ilihakvik.
"We will work cooperatively
in areas such as the economy, devolution, aboriginal rights, the environment
and social policy," Okalik said in a news release. "The strength of
northern solidarity was clearly demonstrated earlier this year when the federal
government committed an additional $60 million for the North as part a national
health-care arrangement."
As part of the accord,
the territorial premiers will hold an annual northern premiers' forum.
The accord will be valid
for three years and can be amended as well as renewed.
September
5, 2003
Election call for
Iqaluit
On Oct. 20, voters in Iqaluit
will head to the polls to elect candidates in the following positions:
A mayor and eight councillors
for the Iqaluit city council, seven members each for the Iqaluit and Apex district
education authorities and five members for the Conseil Scolaire francophone
d'Iqaluit, or the Francophone District Education Authority.
Nomination papers for all
candidates are due before 3 p.m. on Sept. 15.
September
5, 2003
New jail slated for
Kugluktuk
Prisoners from the Kitikmeot
region will be able to spend short jail terms in their region after a new 20-person
facility opens in Kugluktuk next year.
That was the news brought
by Premier Paul Okalik, the minister of justice, during a visit to Kugluktuk
this week.
A news release from the
Government of Nunavut says Kugluktuk's "healing facility" will house
up to 20 offenders serving short sentences or completing their sentences at
the Baffin or Yellowknife correctional centres.
The GN will save costs
by renovating an existing building in the community. That was a key element
in locating the new facility in Kugluktuk, the release says.
The new jail, due to open
early next summer, will create 12 new positions for the community.
September
5, 2003
Senators to meet on
northern fisheries
From mid-September to early
November, the Senate's standing committee on fisheries and oceans will conduct
a special study on quota allocations and benefits for northern fishermen.
The committee will look
at federal and territorial activities and plans for allocating quotas for turbot
fishing areas, the roles and plans of various agencies in the building of an
Inuit-owned and operated fishery, Inuit plans for entering the fishing industry
and efforts by hunters and trappers organizations to build up their fishing
efforts.
Witnesses from Nunavut,
Nunavik and Ottawa will appear before the committee. To learn more about the
issues and to follow the proceedings, go to www.senate-senat.ca/fish.asp.
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