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June17, 2005

Prize-winning humour

Votes are in from Nunavummiut who picked the winners of the 2005 Nunavut Literary Prize by voting for their favourtie funny story by phone or email.

The winning story, written by Susan Avingaq of Iglulik, is about the misadventures of a family camping trip. Neevee Uttak of Iglulik won second place with her story about trying to fix a disconnected telephone. Honourable mention went to Pangnirtung resident Jonah Kilabuk for a story about his first walrus hunt.

The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth launched the annual literary prize in 2003 to increase the amount of Inuktitut literature available for adult readers. This year over 160 entries were received.

The theme for the 2006 Nunavut Literary Prize is Inuit Legends. Authors of all ages are invited to submit their work. The deadline to submit entries is October 1, 2005.

June17, 2005

Round-the-clock health care coming to Igloolik and Gjoa

The government of Nunavut has announced that Igloolik and Gjoa Haven will receive expanded 24-hour health care facilities in the coming years.

That means fewer Nunavummiut will have to leave the territory for constant medical attention.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said government planners will consult with the communities on the design and location of the two "continuing care" centres, according to a statement released on June 13.

The facilities will provide 24-hour services for patients needing residential care, such as palliative and respite care. The buildings will provide a possible venue for community care programs, like counselling and minor medical procedures.

The first new facility is to open in 2008.

The government currently spends $4.7 million annually on continuing care services for 55 adults from Nunavut, who receive advanced medical care outside of the territory.

June17, 2005

Okalik gets honary doctorate

Premier Paul Okalik will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws from Carleton University tomorrow, as a tribute to his work for Nunavummiut.

Okalik will attend convocation ceremonies in Ottawa to receive the honours with five other accomplished Canadians, including former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow.

Carleton officials describe Okalik as "a person who cares deeply about Nunavut, its people, and the role Nunavut plays within the rest of Canada and the circumpolar world."

Okalik previously earned an undergraduate arts degree at Carleton, before getting a law degree at the University of Ottawa.

The award cites several of Okalik's accomplishments, such as serving as deputy chief land claim negotiator for the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut in the 1980s, and later becoming the first premier of the territory.

June17, 2005

Labrador land claim nears final bend

William Anderson III shakes hands with Prime Minister Paul Martin.

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After 30 years of negotiation, Labrador Inuit are nearing the final stage of their land claim agreement.

The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act was introduced in the House of Commons last Monday.

Labrador Inuit voted for the deal in May 2004. The Newfoundland and Labrador legislature passed the agreement last December.

The deal will create the Nunatsiavut Government, ruling an area of about 72,500 square kilometers. It comes with about $296 million from the federal government.

This marks the final Inuit land claim in Canada. William Anderson III, president of the Labrador Inuit Association, said the deal "closes the circle of negotiations."

June10, 2005

Indigenous Film Festival

The imagineNative Film and Media Arts Festival is accepting submissions for its annual fall festival in Toronto until June 15.

The festival presents a selection of compelling and distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe. Features, shorts, documentaries, dramas, comedies, and animation, as well as radio programming and new media (such as websites, CDs, DVDs) programs are invited, from emerging as well as established directors.

There is no entry fee and the festival pays screening fees for programmed works. Cash awards are offered to winning pieces. For more information, or to download an application form, visit www.imaginenative.org.

Alaskan village leads the way on Arctic shipping route

An Aleutian fishing village plans to study the social and economic returns of an Arctic shipping route from Alaska to Iceland.

Adak, population 120, could received $50,000 from the state capital budget, the Juneau Empire reports, to determine what kind of investment could open the shuttle route this decade.

Ben Ellis of the Insitute of the North in Anchorage, Alaska, said the study will determine the economics of the proposal, and also look at the international political implications.

The money would be spent on an agreement with Aleutian and Icelandic ports to share information and further research.

Ellis expects it could be at least 20 years before the ice melts enough to open Arctic passages.

More breakdowns at Iqaluit airport

Technical problems with instrument landing equipment at the Iqaluit airport forced two planes to re-route to Kuujjuaq this past Monday, prompting one airline to continue its push for compensation from NAV Canada.

Two flights were delayed on May 30 when the airport's landing equipment broke down for three hours in the afternoon. A cargo plane from Ottawa and a passenger flight from Rankin Inlet landed in Iqaluit later that day.

The incident prompted First Air to repeat its demand for compensation from NAV Canada, which receives sizeable fees from airlines for its air traffic control service.

"We would certainly be making an effort for that [compensation]," said spokesperson Tracy Beeman.

First Air and other airlines were outraged earlier this month when NAV Canada's instrument landing system in Iqaluit broke down for four days, leaving passengers stranded around the region.

NAV Canada said their system failed this week after snow piled up on an antenna. Spokesman Ron Singer said a technician based in Iqaluit was able to fix the system quicker than last time, because he didn't need replacement parts.

Singer also said NAV Canada is not liable for airline expenses caused by glitches with their equipment.

"Sometimes there are breakdowns, sometimes there are electronic difficulties," he said. "But... we go to great lengths to maintain our equipment and repair them as quickly as possible."

June 3, 2005

Quick turnaround at First Air

A First Air passenger plane landed safely in Ottawa this week after the flight was recalled earlier due to a mechanical problem.

Passengers on Flight 872 to Iqaluit were surprised on June 1 when their plane returned to the Ottawa International Airport, only 15 minutes after taking off.

Tracy Beeman, director of marketing for First Air, said the plane had to turn back when the pilot noticed a "minor hydraulic issue."

Beeman declined to explain the details of the problem.

The passengers got off the plane without incident, and took another First Air plane to Iqaluit later that day.

June 3, 2005

Broadcasters Scholarship

MuchMusic and the Aboriginal Youth Network are offering a scholarship to aboriginal youth worth $3,000. The scholarship is open to all Canadian aboriginal youth under the age of 25 entering their first or second year of post-secondary schooling in broadcasting. The scholarship is open to students in fields such as journalism, media arts, radio and television arts, and communication.

The deadline to apply is November 30, 2005. For more information or to download an application form, visit MuchMusic's website at www.muchmusic.com/mays.

June 3, 2005

Miss Nunavut 2005

The Miss World Canada Organization is searching for Miss Nunavut 2005. The Miss Nunavut contestant will compete against 27 other young women from across Canada for the title of Miss Canada in Toronto in July. In December, Miss Canada will compete for the title of Miss World in China.

Contestants for Miss Nunavut must be "naturally born" females between the ages of 19 and 24 who have graduated from high school. They must be single, having never been married or pregnant. They must be dedicated and motivated individuals with an interest in becoming Miss Canada.

For more information, contact Ashley Dean at miss_nunavut@hotmail.com and visit www.missworldcanada.com.

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