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Around Nunavut

February 25, 2005

Ravens smarter than they look

Dr. Louis Lefebvre, who has invented a method of measuring birds IQ, ranks ravens, crows, jays and other members of the corvidae family as the most intelligent members of the bird word, based on the number of novel feeding behaviours shown by birds in the wild. The research was presented at a major science conference in Washington, D.C.

The basis for the avian intelligence index is 2,000 reports of feeding "innovations" observed in the wild and published in ornithology journals over the past 75 years.

Falcons ranked second, according to Dr. Lefebvre and "the herons and the woodpecker rank quite high," he said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp.

February 25, 2005

Cape Dorset woman charged with murder

The victim and the accused were not a couple, RCMP said in a press release, but were known to each other. Alcohol was a factor.

Pitseolak Qiatsuq, 35, is being held in remand. The name of the victim is being withheld until family can be notified.

February 25, 2005

GN in Greenland

Jeff Heynen, who coordinated the trip for the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, says the trip served three purposes: it was a learning opportunity for future leaders, an opportunity to develop bilateral linkages between departments, and a way to enhance the relationship between Greenland and Nunavut.

The group met 15 - 20 senior officials from a variety of departments, Heynen said.

Following that, individual departments met with their counterparts in the Home Rule government.

Jamie Flaherty, TK of the Qulliq Energy Corp., also traveled with the group and met with the head of Greenland's power corporation, Nukissiorfiit.

February 25, 2005

Kitikmeot trade show a success

"That was extremely well received," said mayor Terry McCallum. "We kind of have a higher mark to achieve to make it bigger and better."

The show packed the local high school gym, and welcomed the teen-aged students.

"Many of them are our future business leaders," said Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

February 18, 2005

Talk, chat, gab for language week

Peter Tulugak, 9, teaches his classmate Lucatchie Kilabuk, 8, about playing string games during Inuktitut activities at Nakasuk school in Iqaluit. (PHOTO BY GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS)

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Louis Tapardjuk, Nunavut’s minister of culture, elders, language and youth, stopped over in Igloolik to hand out books and teaching materials during the week-long celebrations, from Feb. 5-12.

While visiting Ataguttaluk School and the local daycare, Tapardjuk delivered the 2nd edition of the Uqausirmut quviasuqatigiingnirmut activity book, and flash cards illustrating animals, traditional tools, and different emotions.

The Igloolik event was one of several taking place, including a book launch of Taimaniit, a book celebrating Inuit culture, at the Iqaluit public library.

Iqaluit schools held daily activities like Inuktitut concerts, story-telling with elders, and traditional games.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. hosted its own events with staff, such as an hour of word games, finished by a feast at the end of the week.

In a press release, NTI president Paul Kaludjak encouraged parents to speak more Inuktitut and Innuinnaqtun with their children at home.

Kaludjak also noted that the territory still has no legislation to protect and promote indigenous languages, although government plans to make Inuktitut into its working language by the year 2020.

February 18, 2005

Attempted murder in Pond Inlet

A Pond Inlet man accused of attempting to murder two people by shooting at a house in his community will appear in court later this month.

Alie Kippomee, 22, was arrested after an incident on Sept. 27 when police were called to a house with bullet holes around the door and at least one window.

Police charged Kippomee with two counts of attempted murder, and two courts of uttering death threats against Pamela Clarke and Nymon Innuarak.

Kippomee also faces seven firearms-related charges.

After waiting for a psychological assessment, lawyers agreed to hold his next appearance on Feb. 21.

February 18, 2005

Ell to appear Feb. 28

Jerry Ell, an Iqaluit man arrested after an armed stand-off with police will soon enter pleas to several charges stemming from the incident.

The charges include assault, sexual assault, resisting arrest, disarming a police officer and unsafe storage of a firearm.

Ell, who’s been in hospital in Manitoba since the event, is scheduled to enter his pleas on Feb. 28.

The former president of the Qikiqtaaluk Corp., was head of the Nunavut Economic Forum at the time of his arrest. He has since resigned from that job.

February 18, 2005

Owls flock to Ottawa

Grey great owls, a sub-Arctic bird usually found along the tree line and in the boreal forest, are ending up in downtown Ottawa this winter. A natural dip in the cycle of their small animal prey has sent them south looking for food.

But in Ottawa, the huge birds aren’t faring well: despite their keen vision and hearing, they are low-flying night hunters and often vulnerable to being hit by passing vehicles.

Nine have ended up injured at the Wild Bird Care Centre in Nepean, where six have died as a result of their injuries.

“There was nothing we could do,” said Sophia Kipin, an avian care specialist at the centre.

The remaining three are recovering from broken legs and wings.

More than 3,000 birds are treated every year at the non-profit centre. Last year, an injured young tundra swan from Iqaluit was brought down for treatment and shipped back in the spring to rejoin the flock of geese migrating north.

Birds that can’t make the adjustment back to nature are put down.

February 11, 2005

Hall Beach man accused of witness tampering

A Hall Beach man accused of murdering a woman in his community will appear in court today on several charges, including alleged attempts to convince potential witnesses to lie to the court.

Silas Ammaklak, 36, is scheduled to appear in Iqaluit to discuss whether there will be a preliminary inquiry into the charges.

Ammaklak is accused of beating and killing Susan Nattar in Hall Beach more than a year ago. She was rushed to Ottawa for medical treatment, but died five days later, on Sept. 21, 2003.

Police charged Ammaklak with aggravated assault, and later, second-degree murder.

Investigators have also accused Ammaklak of two counts of obstructing justice. According to court documents, police believe he asked Karen and Simeonie Nattuk to provide false testimony.

The court attempted to hold a preliminary inquiry in March 2004, but adjourned at the request of Ammaklak’s defence counsel.

February 11, 2005

Amarok still short on financial data

At a special general meeting in Iqaluit on Tuesday, the Amarok Hunters and Trappers Association reported that financial data from the 2003-04 fiscal year was still not available.

The meeting was convened at the request of members who were not satisfied with the financial records that were presented at the annual general meeting in December.

February 11, 2005

Repulse Bay gets bowhead hunt

The Wildlife Policy Advisory Committee announced that Repulse Bay will host this year’s bowheard whale harvest.

“They captured the true spirit of traditional Inuit harvests,” Raymond Ningeocheak said of the Repulse Bay Hunters and Trappers Association’s application for the hunt. Ningeocheak is Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s second vice-president and chair of the committee that reviewed applications from six different communities.

Repulse Bay last hosted the bowhead hunt in 1996.

February 4 , 2005

Gem quality sapphires found

A 4.29 tonne sample from the Beluga sapphire project near Kimmirut has produced 3.39 kilograms of sapphires - including some sapphires of gem and near gem quality - a "remarkably robust" amount, according to a news release from True North Gems, who are exploring the site.

"The results from mini-bulk sampling are extremely encouraging," said True North's chief operating officer, William Rohtert.

February 4 , 2005

Inco-DeBeers link up in Baffin

Canadian mining giant Inco Ltd. and the world's largest diamond seller, De Beers, have signed a two-year exploration deal that will see the two companies combining forces to look for gems and metals in North Baffin.

The deal gives De Beers the right to any diamond discoveries, while Inco will have first dibs on any nickel, cobalt, platinum and copper deposits.

Working together will save both companies time and money.

"Our interests are not in conflict, so it's an opportunity for both of us to look at the one sample that's gathered," an Inco spokesman said.

February 4 , 2005

Gardens seeking art

The Montreal Botanical Garden is inviting native artists to submit designs for a large mural, which will cover an entire wall of a pavilion located in its First Nations Garden.

The garden, which was created in 2001, contains plants from Quebec, including those from Nunavik, in "natural" settings.

It features sections devoted to the Inuit and First Nations communities of Quebec. An inuksuk stands in the Inuit section of the garden.

A wall in the garden's pavilion was left unfinished, and will now be used to promote the work of aboriginal artists.

For details on how to submit a work of art, call 514-872-9613. All entries must be submitted by March 31.

February 4 , 2005

Nunasi and KC invest in Iqaluit building complex

The two birthright development corporations, Nunasi Corporation and the Kitikmeot Corporation, are investing $1 million each in Iqaluit's Inuksugait Plaza project.

Nunasi and KC will each own about 12 per cent of the project in addition to shares held by the Nunavut Investment Group.

The Inuksugait Plaza project involves the construction of a four commercial and residential buildings on a tract of Inuit-owned land leased from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

"We believe strongly in investing in the future of Nunavut. Part of that is ensuring sufficient commercial and residential space exists to support the growing economy of the territory and our capital," said Nunasi's chairman, Peter Tatty.

A four-storey building with 57 housing units and commercial units has already been completed. The entire project will be built by the end of 2006.

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