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Around Nunavut
September 16, 2005
QIA convenes in Hall Beach
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s Inuusilirinirmut Parnaijiit/Department of Social Policy will be in Hall Beach for a meeting next week.
The group plans to review recent activities and prepare for the QIA AGM.
While in town, QIA also promises to hear and respond to the social and cultural concerns of Sanirajaq (Hall Beach).
September 16, 2005
One drowned, one missing in Kivalliq boating accident
Two out of four men have been rescued from a boat that overturned outside of Whale Cove last Friday.
Luki Simik, 42, and Nipi Alogut, 39, were rescued on Saturday in fair condition.
On Monday, a search and rescue team from Winnipeg found the body of Kevin Naitok, 28, of Chesterfield Inlet. Naitok had managed to swim to a small island and make camp, but did not survive long enough to be rescued.
A fourth boater, Kamil Simik, 63, of Chesterfield Inlet, remains missing and is presumed drowned.
September 16, 2005
CBC strike continues
Locked-out CBC workers continue to picket in Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet as negotiations continued between the Canadian Media Guild and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
Eighteen issues remained to be negotiated at press time this past Wednesday, including the controversial issue of contract employees. The CBC hopes to add more contract employers to its staff, while the CMG favours more permanent positions.
The CBC locked out about 5,500 employees on Aug. 15, pre-empting the CMG’s threat to strike after 15 months of bargaining for a new labour contract.
September 16, 2005
Baker Lake company prepares for mine
If Cumberland Resources goes ahead with building a gold mine near Baker Lake, local company Arctic Fuel Services will be ready.
On Wednesday, the company announced a partnership with Edmonton-based Clark Builders that would see the companies make joint bids during the possible construction of the mine.
Arctic Fuel has both NNI and NTI designations, and offers services in retail and wholesale, fuel supply, property rental, janitorial and bussing services and heavy equipment.
September 16, 2005
Inuit left out of residential school compensation
Duane Smith, the acting president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, expressed his displeasure this week with the federal appointment of a former supreme court judge as a special mediator to handle compensation for students of Indian residential schools.
“Many, many Inuit will be left out of the process because the abuses they suffered were at federal day schools or in student hostels,” Smith said in a press release.
The federal government made the deal with the Assembly of First Nations and announced the appointment of Justice Frank Iacobucci along with AFN president Phil Fontaine on May 30.
Fontaine said the news marked a “turning point” in relations with Ottawa.
By limiting Justice Iacobucci’s mandate to victims of Indian residential schools, however, many Inuit victims will be left out of the deal.
ITK has requested an urgent meeting with Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Andy Scott.
“Inuit want to resolve this issue,” said Smith. “We don’t need more time and money down the drain.”
September 16, 2005
Watt-Cloutier pushes climate change agenda in NYC
The president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference is in New York City today to make a passionate plea on climate change to the Clinton Global Initiative conference.
“I pledge to put a human face on climate change,” said Sheila Watt-Cloutier in a pledge she plans to share with delegates, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, French President Jacques Chirac, Israeli Vie Premier Shimon Peres and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Our region gives the globe an ‘early warning’ of what is to come,” Watt-Cloutier said in a press release.
Former President Bill Clinton launched his global initiative to address poverty, religious conflict and reconciliation, climate change and enhancing governance. The conference is taking place in tandem with the millennium summit of the United Nations General Assembly.
September 16, 2005
Madeleine Allakariallak is the new host of APTN National News: Contact. (FILE PHOTO)
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Nunavut celeb hits national airwaves
The Aboriginal People’s Television Network will launch the seventh season of APTN National News: Contact on Oct. 7 with a brand new host.
Madeleine Allakariallak recently moved from Iqaluit to Winnipeg to take over the show.
Originally from Resolute Bay, Allakariallak was previously a producer with CBC North, as well as the host of Qulliq, an Inuktitut and English morning show featuring news and current affairs.
Allakariallak is also an accomplished throatsinger and mother of three. This spring, she was selected as one of Nunavut’s Top 10 Under 35 in Nunatsiaq News.
September
9, 2005
Attempted murder, arson charges follow fire
An Iqaluit man faces charges of attempted murder and arson endangering life
in connection to a blaze set in the spring last year.
Police and emergency services responded to a fire complaint at a residence
on Federal Road on March 19, 2004. When they arrived they discovered a badly
burned man, who was taken to Baffin Regional Hospital, then evacuated by plane
to an Ottawa hospital burn unit. The victim has since recovered from his injuries,
police said.
Johnny Salomonie, 33, is in custody and faces two counts of attempted murder
and two counts of arson endangering life.
September
2 , 2005
Ex-MLA named to Order of Canada
Uriash Puqiqnak of Gjoa Haven, the former MLA for Nunavut's Nattilik constituency,
was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada this week by Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson.
Puqiqnak, who is an accomplished artist, served as mayor of Gjoa Haven for
five years, and as a Nunavut MLA from 1999 until 2004. While a member of Nunavut's
first legislative assembly, Puqiqnak served as deputy speaker and on various
legislative committees.
He'll get his Order of Canada medal at a ceremony in Ottawa, on a date to be
announced later.
September
2 , 2005
Police seize booze
Iqaluit RCMP seized a large amount of liquor after executing a search warrant
on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
Twenty four 60-ounce bottles of liquor were confiscated by police. Anthony
Rumbolt faces charges of illegally importing liquor into the territory. He's
set to appear in court on Sept. 30, 2005.
Tory defence critic tours North
The Tory opposition critic for national defence matters, Gordon O'Connor, finished
off a northern "fact-finding" tour with a visit to Iqaluit this week.
O'Connor, a retired brigadier-general, represents the Ontario riding of Carleton-Lanark
for the Conservative Party of Canada.
While in Iqaluit, O'Connor met with City of Iqaluit officials, and toured Iqaluit.
September
2 , 2005
Pep rally draws 85 college staff
When 85 teachers, administrators and support staff from Nunavut Arctic College
met in Iqaluit last week, Nunatta campus director Peesee Pitsiulak took note
that only half of the people present were Inuit.
But, like Meeka Arnaquq, an elder and adult educator in Pangirtung who spoke
during one of the sessions, Pitsiulak is convinced that the only way to boost
the number of Inuit staff and instructors is by working "slowly and surely."
That was just one of the messages the college elite heard from staff from around
Nunavut who participated in a day and a half of "visioning sessions,"
where staff discussed how the college was doing, and what they'd like to see
change.
Top of the list was more emphasis on Inuit languages and culture - both as
an academic pursuit and as an element in other courses.
The week-long event was the first territorial college get-together in seven
years. Mac Clendenning, president of the college, hopes to increase the frequency
to every three years.
"We're not a large college by southern standards, but it's hard for people
to stay connected," Clendenning said .
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