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July 28, 2006

Nunavut insurance broker thanks clients

Thirteen years ago, when I moved back up north to Arviat, one of the most frustrating things I had to deal with was the extreme difficulty in obtaining insurance.

I had to deal with someone outside of the territory who basically had a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Since then, I thought there had to be a better way for people like me to obtain insurance in an easier, less frustrating way, with someone in your own part of the territory who understood the uniqueness of our environment.

After several years of pondering the idea, I decided to try and do something about it. I entered into an agreement with Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd., which at the time was owned by Arctic Co-operatives Ltd., IDC and Mones and Associates, to open an office here in Iqaluit. I became the only licenced insurance broker in Nunavut.

A few years later, ACL and IDC were bought out by Mones and Associates based out of Edmonton, Alberta. Over the last eight years, many Nunavummiut and Nunavut-based businesses were able to obtain their insurance with me as their broker.

I have really appreciated the opportunity that your business and loyalty have brought me over the years. It was a pleasure to help and serve you all.

On the evening of July 23, 2006, I was informed by the general manager of Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd. that they had decided to restructure and that I was no longer part of their structure. I immediately went to my computer to try and email the owner of Mones and Associates for an explanation and discovered that I had already been locked out of their email system.

I would guess that this information is something that Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd. would not let you know voluntarily and I feel strongly that you the customer have a right to know.

While I am no longer with Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd., I am certain that I will be able to partner with another insurance brokerage firm before very long and start fresh all over again.

Again, I sincerely thank you all for you patronage and support over the last eight years, and hopefully soon will be able to do business with you again.

Thank you.

Hunter Tootoo
Independent Insurance Broker
Iqaluit

July 28, 2006

QEC supports development of energy policy

Your recent editorial on Nunavut Energy policy makes a lot of sense to me and to members of the Qulliq Energy Corporation board.

To install cleaner and more efficient engines, build dams and run conservation programs, Qulliq Energy needs adequate and consistent revenues. The realities of northern life mean that this can result in high prices to consumers. The re-supply in 2006 will bring new fuel at even higher prices. QEC regrets those higher prices, but does not control these economic factors.

GN needs an overall energy policy and QEC would want to participate in its development, along with many other sections in Nunavut impacted by energy prices. We all need good economic information on how energy prices impact the Nunavut economy. We all need good information on the over-all GN subsidy structures and how such funds could be used to bring about change in our systems.

When the GN wants to impact energy prices it needs to look at a fair system of subsidies, rather than using internal payments or making crisis-driven transfers to crown corporations.

Qulliq Energy will continue to develop energy options at the most reasonable prices possible in Nunavut’s distinct economy. The price that consumers pay for that energy should be determined by actual economic costs and by a public, transparent and visible set of subsidies to appropriate consumers.

Simon Merkosak
Chair
Qulliq Energy Corporation

July 28, 2006

The RCMP deserve respect

Every time I see a new article produced by someone who wants to bash the RCMP, it irks me. Now here is a letter to give them the respect that they deserve.

I’ll start with an example: if someone is trying to break into your home while you are in the comfort of your own home (a personal experience of mine) who are you going to call?

The RCMP — they are the ones who have the courage and skill to help you in this situation and bring the culprit or culprits to justice. Would you feel safe in your community if there weren’t any cops? Absolutely not. They give us our security.

As well, they try their best to protect your children, for one, by putting drug dealers in jail. Drugs undoubtedly stagnate the success of your child’s education — your children need a bright future. What about encouraging your children to become an RCMP officer? It is a respectful and honorable profession that will make a wonderful character for your child.

I suggest we show the RCMP the respect they deserve and honor them as professionals. And anytime someone bashes their character, take a second to think and know that there are always two sides to a story.

Thank you to the RCMP, from those who are grateful.

(Name withheld by request)
Iqaluit

July 28, 2006

Bad fishermen, no enforcement on Sylvia Grinnell

I am writing this letter on behalf of my group of fishermen friends.

We would much prefer to be able to put our names at the bottom of this letter, but our current employment makes us fear various forms of reprisals.

We have to express our disbelief at the lack of courtesy and plain common sense shown by a number of fishermen on the Sylvia Grinnell River. We love fishing but some of the unpleasant situations with which we have been faced these past couple of weeks are seriously making us reconsider our favorite summer activity here in Iqaluit.

Some examples:

A friend of mine was fishing on a flat rocky shelf about 20 feet wide last week and hooked into a huge char. As he was fighting the fish to bring it to shore, three people immediately jumped on the same small shelf and began casting in earnest in the area of water where he hooked the fish.

The shelf was barely big enough for one fisherman, let alone three more. Needless to say that he lost his fish, given his inability to move around to land his fish and the lines of so many people in such a small area getting tangled up.

There are typically two to four of us friends who go fishing together. Once by the river, we look for an area where no other fishermen are present and spread ourselves, giving each other about 50 feet of space on either side so that we have just enough space to fish without getting in each others way.

I can’t even begin to recall how many times people have arrived by the river and started fishing in between us creating very cramped fishing situations. I’ve had people start fishing five feet away from me.

There’s what, greater than 1.5 kilometers of river below the falls? They couldn’t find somewhere else to fish? And let’s not forget to mention that some of these people make all reasonable efforts to make us leave by casting across our lines on purpose.

We show courtesy to other fishermen on the river, and we expect the same in return.

As a separate note, we also deplore the lack of enforcement activity and presence on the river shown by the DFO and GN-DOE conservation-fisheries officers. We have all fished nearly every day for two to four hours since mid-June this year and have yet to see any enforcement staff by the river.

The same goes for all of last year’s fishing season, when only one of us was asked for his permit once. What we have seen plenty of, however, are people using “snagging” fishing techniques, people bringing what appears to be more than their one fish daily catch-limit home, and people tossing small fish into the rocks behind them.

If the content of this note rings a bell with your own behaviour, shame on you.

To all the other courteous fishermen in Iqaluit, we’ll see you on the river and good luck. To the others, either learn to respect others or please get lost.

(Name withheld by request)
Iqaluit

July 28, 2006

Mary Simon responds to Jim Prentice

I read with interest the letter to the editor sent by the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Jim Prentice, last week.

The letter was a response to the Canadian Inuit report to the 10th General Assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference in Barrow, Alaska on Monday July 7.

As newly elected President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, I delivered that report as the head of the Canadian delegation in Alaska. The report was a summary of both the positive and disappointing developments that Inuit in Canada have faced over the last four years.

Mr. Prentice and I have not yet had an opportunity to meet in my new capacity as ITK president, and there is a possibility that we may be speaking past each other on a number of important matters of shared concern. In order to reduce any confusion, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my views on some of those matters.

On the topic of the federal government’s post-election decisions on aboriginal program expenditures, I must repeat what I said at Barrow and what I said to provincial and territorial premiers meeting this week in Corner Brook.

Honouring the Kelowna accord commitments — $5.1 billion to be spent over 10 years on aboriginal housing, health, and education investments — is vital for two reasons. First, the investments are desperately needed to begin to close the shameful gap in living standards and prospects between aboriginal and other Canadians. Second, 19 governmental and non-governmental parties, including the Government of Canada, gave their word at Kelowna, after two years of non-partisan research and debate.

Much has been said in recent court decisions about the “honour of the Crown” in its interactions with aboriginal peoples. Upholding the honour of the Crown means, if nothing else, standing by high profile commitments made in its name.

I am heartened that Mr. Prentice and his colleagues are pledged to respecting the principles of the Kelowna accord and, in that regard, have announced the expenditure of $300 million on affordable housing in the territories, including $200 million in Nunavut, spread over three years.

These announced expenditures are badly needed and most welcome. But in order to be more than just a one-off, they must be situated within a comprehensive multi-year program of action that has reasonable prospects for concrete success.

The need for multi-year, adequately financed interventions on core Inuit social and economic challenges is a key message in Thomas Berger’s March 1 report on the state of Nunavut land claims agreement implementation. I note that, shortly after release of Mr. Berger’s report, NTI indicated its acceptance of his key recommendations. Inuit are still waiting to learn the definitive positions of the Government of Canada and Nunavut.

Government must, of course, take the time necessary to deliberate on fundamental policy choices; and, it is my hope that, having now taken that time, we will learn in the near future whether Mr. Berger’s recommendations have all party buy-in.

A point must be emphasized in relation to the wide geographic reach of areas traditionally and currently used by the Inuit of Canada. Since the signing of the 1993 Nunavut land claims agreement, there has been a tendency to equate Inuit issues with Nunavut issues; for example, however appreciated the federal government’s recent housing commitments, the Inuit of Nunavik and Nunatsiavut may be largely left out with no Inuit-specific allocations. They were completely left out of the federal government’s Northern Strategy.

Finally, I note Minister Prentice’s assurance to your readers that the Government of Canada is “... committed to protecting and promoting aboriginal and treaty rights domestically, and to working with other countries and indigenous peoples internationally.”

Consistent with that assurance, I look forward to working with federal ministers to restore Canada’s leadership role on human rights by taking a positive role in the adoption of the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations General Assembly later this year.

Aingai.

Mary Simon
President
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

July 28, 2006

ITK back-tracks on Simon’s criticism of Tories

The article published in the July 14, 2006 edition of Nunatsiaq News on my presentation to the 10th ICC General Assembly in Barrow, Alaska suffered from overheated adjectives.

Your interpretation of my presentation as “blasting Stephen Harper’s Conservative government” is an exaggeration, given that it was a balanced report on Canadian activities in Canada, with equal time given to positive accomplishments over the past four years, notably the completion of comprehensive land claims agreements. The report was reviewed by the ITK board, and Canadian delegation thoroughly before it was presented publicly.

I do hope that in the future you or others at Nunatsiaq News will be able to interview me in person, or by telephone, so that we have a mutual understanding of the message I am communicating.

For the benefit of Nunatsiaq News readers, the complete text of my presentation is on the ITK web site at www.itk.ca.

Mary Simon
President
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

Editor’s note: Actually, “blast” is a verb, and sometimes a noun, but not an adjective. And it is to be hoped that ITK’s brains trust would have sent a copy of the above letter to CBC North, who on July 11 reported Simon as saying: “When it comes to dealing with aboriginal people, Canada’s new Conservative government is taking the country backwards…,” and “Simon… slammed Ottawa for its lack of action…”

July 21, 2006

Jim Prentice responds to Mary Simon’s attack

I was surprised to see Mary Simon, the newly elected president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, starting off her term with statements that do not reflect the spirit of partnership and cooperation that has resulted in tremendous success to date.

In fact, our government has not only remained committed to the Inuit agenda but we have gone beyond the lip service of the past with concrete measures to improve the lives of Inuit in Canada.

Within three months of coming into office, in its first budget, this government announced real funding of more than $3.7 billion in initiatives that will make a significant difference in the lives of Inuit, First Nations, and Métis people.

As part of that funding, we committed $300 million for affordable housing in the territories, with the largest portion of that funding going to Nunavut, where Inuit will be among the key beneficiaries. This funding is being provided more quickly than the longer-term proposals coming out of the First Minister’s Meeting.

We also established a $500 million fund to support regional projects that will help to alleviate the socio-economic impacts on communities, including the Inuvialuit, who are affected by the potential Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP).

Even before the budget, we began to make investments. While I was in Nunavut in April on my first major ministerial trip, I was joined by Levinia Brown, a prominent member of the Nunavut cabinet, in a joint announcement of $6.36 million in federal investments to promote economic development in Nunavut under the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development initiative.

During recent meetings with the premier of Nunavut and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik, we discussed the importance of Thomas Berger’s report on the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. As Mr. Berger emphasized, collaboration is key and the challenge of bilingual education in Nunavut can only be surmounted through an effective partnership that involves both levels of government, Inuit organizations, and communities. Success demands cooperation, and I have invited representatives of the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc to work with me to see how we can proceed in practical terms.

We are moving forward positively like never before. Progress takes time and strong relationships are its foundation. Canada’s new government is committed to working with ITK and other organizations to improve the lives of Inuit. We are also committed to addressing the fiscal imbalance with the territories through renewed and strengthened Territorial Formula Financing (TTF) programs and to devolution in NWT and Nunavut.

Although territorial governments have the authority to raise revenues through taxation, rentals, and the sale of goods and services, a significant portion of their total revenues come from the federal government through territorial formula funding and other federal health and social transfers.

In 2006-07, it is estimated that more than $2.2 billion will be transferred to the territorial governments. In 2005-06, approximately 61 per cent of Yukon’s, 66 per cent of the Northwest Territories’ and 81 per cent of Nunavut’s total revenues were through territorial formula funding alone.

Overall, billions of dollars in federal funding have been infused into the North through land claim settlements, self-government agreements, transportation, municipal infrastructure and other economic development projects.

Through land claims settlements alone, the total capital transfer in 2005 dollars is about $1.86 billion. These investments are helping build a future that is full of promise. ITK also receives federal funding to represent and promote Inuit interests and rights; last year alone, they received $3.84 million.

Considering Canada’s leading role among the few nations in the world with constitutionally entrenched aboriginal rights, we are also committed to protecting and promoting aboriginal and treaty rights domestically, and to working with other countries and indigenous peoples internationally.

Canada’s new government is making significant progress on a range of issues. We continue to work in partnership and co-operation with Inuit, and are moving forward to improve living conditions and opportunities.

Jim Prentice
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

Brilliant student gets help after all

My name is Jason Annahatak and I was accepted to attend Columbia University. A letter recently was published concerning my studies and I would like to make a statement in response to that.

My previous university sponsors decided not to sponsor me in going to Columbia. After repeated requests and rejections, a concerned and highly educated friend wrote to your newspaper intending for the best to come out of it.

I was, in fact, fortunate enough to finally receive the financial support to study at Columbia starting this September and the person writing to your paper was not aware of it.

This funding came in shortly before her letter appeared in your paper. I did not announce this good news to everyone I knew immediately, because the person writing to you was in Montreal and I am currently working on a ship at sea across the North. I failed to inform everyone in this instance.

KSB and KRG may receive some scrutiny from this and I would like to elaborate on the importance of Louisa’s letter to all rather than making any apologies for anyone.

I received the tuition funds to go to Columbia only after I had given up on pursuing that goal. That happened due in large part to someone exactly like Louisa stepping up for me recently when I gave up hope. It is people like her who make achievement within reach.

To the Kativik School Board and Kativik Regional Government, I hope this serves as validation in your very final decision to sponsor me rather than seeing it as criticism. I have learned to live and travel the world through the funding you have provided and the skills I have thus acquired through education.

I thank you for your enormous past support and continued support and realization to fund me at Columbia. I also cannot thank individuals like Louisa Angotigirk enough for their care.

I don’t think we can be educated enough. Nakurmiik, iluunnasi.

Jason Annahatak
Kangirsuk

Still looking for lost chihuahua

I grew up in Iqaluit before it became a city. I spent my childhood years playing by creeks and biking around a community of just 2,000 people. This place felt like home.

I moved away for number of years and have recently come back home. In the time that I was gone, the population has more than doubled, many new buildings have been built, Iqaluit became a capital city, and the people have become very diverse, with new faces coming from communities all over Nunavut and from the south.

The small town I once knew has faded into an unfeeling fast-paced blur of a city, at least that is what I thought until recently.

On July 1, my chihuahua ran away from home and we have yet to find him. I put up flyers everywhere, with a picture of the dog and a contact phone numbers.

I have been pleasantly surprised at how many phone calls I have received regarding various sightings of my dog around town. I express sincere gratitude to all those individuals who have taken the time to make a phone call simply because they want to help. Our little dog is part of our family and is my 23-month-old son's best friend, so every phone call gives us some hope that things will turn out well.

My faith has been renewed in my home and I can now see again the small-town soul in this capital city of Iqaluit. We are still a community, even if we cannot see it. It takes but a kind-hearted gesture to make it so.

If you have any information regarding a little tan and white chihuahua with pointy ears please contact Steven or Teresa at the following:

Phone: 979-4812
Email: sitiivan@northwestel.net

With many more thanks.

Steven Lonsdale
Teresa Hughes
Our son Nutaralaaq

Thank you to the people of Kugarruk

I lived in Kugarruk in 1983 with my family. I birthed my daughter there.

Being with that community was a wonderful turning point in my life and I send my gratitude to all.

As an artist I drew 10 portraits of the elders at that time. Many have passed on. I would love to send prints of these to the Kugarruk community as a gift.

I also created a large visual illustrated map of the traditional life, as a personal project. You may view it on my site at www.maureenwalton.com.

I am now working as a professional mural artist. My work is displayed on this site also. I worked there as an artist in the community and was close to Fabian Oogark and Sofia and Guy and many others. My heart is always with all of them. They taught me so much. Thank you.

Maureen Walton
Ottawa

KSB policy keeps brilliant student away from masters at Columbia University

Accepted by prestigious university, rejected by the Kativik School Board!

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Jason Annahatak. Here is an extremely smart, motivated, confident young man from Kangirsuk, who is one of the few great role models for Inuit youth all over the North. He got his bachelors degree from McGill University, and he has traveled and studied abroad, in Hong Kong and in France. This in itself is a big accomplishment.

Now, he has been accepted into a graduate program at the world-renowned Columbia University in New York City, beating competition from the most educated and intelligent people on earth.

But Jason is not going. What is the problem?

The problem is the Kativik School Board. KSB policy says that if a program is available in Canada, it should be studied in Canada. So it doesn't matter to them that Columbia University is a world-class university, with faculty and students who are the best from around the world. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Jason to pursue a higher education that will benefit himself and all Inuit.

KSB policies fund a lot of students who sometimes don't have the most outstanding academic records, people who have been given multiple chances after having failed more than once. They don't seem to realize that Jason is one of the few real success stories to have come out of the KSB system, and now they are abandoning him!

Funding Jason's masters program would not be a waste of money. He has already proven that he has the smarts and the perseverance to reach his goals.

The Kativik Regional Government is another organization that has the capacity to fund his program, but they also have rejected him. I don't know their policies, but I know policies are meant to be changed, and that is why they are not called laws.

Any millionaires out there who want to fund Jason Annahatak's masters program at Columbia University? I sure would, for this one exceptional Inuk man, if I could.

Louisa Angotigirk
Montreal

July 7, 2006

First Air crew deserves bouquets for professionalism during tough flight

On June 11, I received a call from a family member to tell me my brother, who lives in Oshawa, Ont., was seriously ill.

I started trying to get to Iqaluit from Resolute on June 13, but due to weather, flights were cancelled and I was unable to depart until June 15. The flight was to stop in Nanisivik and then on to Iqaluit, but we were unable to land in Iqaluit because of the weather.

Then the aircraft developed a mechanical problem and the crew had to shut down one of the engines. We were told that we were diverting to Hall Beach.

I must throw a bouquet to Captain John Millar, First Officer Kevin Heslop and Flight Attendant Sandra Oliviera for their professionalism in handling the situation. As soon as we arrived in Hall Beach, they were on the phone to arrange for another plane to take passengers to Iqaluit.

When the crew learned that I was trying to get out to see my sick brother they did everything possible to get me on a flight to Ottawa so I could make a connection to Toronto. I did arrive in time to spend the last three days of his life with my brother.

A sincere thank you to First Air and to Captain Millar and his crew.

Patrick Gaulton
Resolute Bay

The cowardly murder of Mutluck

Six years ago you came to me, a gift: a small white ball of fluff no bigger than my pocket. You grew to be a friend and protector.

The neighbourhood children all delighted in your frolics and often would sneak you treats. The children have all grown, many have moved and you have become a distant, pleasant memory of childhood past. I am glad they did not see you those last few days.

No person or animal could walk by or enter the house while you were on guard. The neighbourhood was safe because your bark could be heard by everyone around. This was an assurance and comfort to many, but an irritation to a few.

As I write this, the tears flow freely. It is difficult to accept that your life was taken by the cruelty of one and we are now forced to bid you goodbye.

You had no way to know that the gesture was not an act of kindness but of cruelty. Trusting of all, you accepted the gift that brought your life to an end. A cruel coward has done it and they hide their deed and gloat that you are now silent. Although they were not seen or caught, justice will be served for there is One who saw their act of cowardice.

You will be missed, my friend, but not forgotten. Rest in peace my dear friend and companion, Mutluck.

Theresa Rodrigue
Iqaluit

July 7, 2006

Thanks for help with Joamie's drum dance festival

For three days, April 11-13, the sounds of drum beats and traditional Inuit music filled the air at Joamie School when we held our first drum dance festival. Wht started out as a good idea several years ago became a reality thanks to the staff and students of Joamie School, their parents and numerous community organizations.

Together we worked hard and had fun raising funds through bannock sales, noon our dances, a cake walk, cookie-grams, a garage sale and popcorn and a movie. Many, many thanks to parents and staff who donated items and baked.

Thanks you to Neevee Hanson and Lesley Serkoak for coordinating the school's fund-raising drive. I would lso like to thank my VP, Eelee Higgins and Opah Picco for helping all of us learn traditional Inuit songs leading up to the festival.

Thank you to Maggie Gordon, Oolootee Peter and Lena Ipeelie for preparing the feast and coordinating the bannock sales. hank you Jane Tagak for compiling the festival songbook.

Putting Inuit Quajimagaturqagit ideas into the actual practice takes many hours of planning and lots of money. I am so grateful to the Joamie School Family and to our sponsors for making this DrumDance Festival happen, mat'naluavik.

I would like to thank the following elders who passed on their traditional knowledge to us: Silas Aittauq and Winnie Ikinilik of Baker Lake, Silas Illungiayok and Elizabeth Nibgoarsi of Arviat, Ollie Ittinuar and Berndette Saumik of Rankin Inlet, Peter Putulik and Elizabeth Aglukka of Repulse Bay and Celestin Ekidjuk and Ikaluk Juralak of Iqaluit.

Our festival sponsors donated through discounts and with financial assistance: Iqaluit District Education Authority, Candian North, Calm Air, Tukisiniarvik Society, Rotary Club, Dept. of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Nunavut Teacher's Association and Arctic College.

Thank you to Ed Picco, Minister of Education, for showing interest and moral support in this project. I am hoping the visiting elders will go to other schools in Iqaluit next year to share their talents in drumming and singing.

David Serkoak
Principal
Joamie School

Our grandfather's spirit still lives at campsite

Although it has been nearly 16 years since our late and beloved grandfather physically died, I finally had the chance to visit one of his favourite camp sites, called Nauligarvilaaq, this past June.

The life of all things was still there. Two caribou over here and one over there, geese,hummingbirds, bird eggs, black flies and spiders, plus the big fat silver arctic char with red meat completed the beauty of nature.

The sunset hardly comes down for the night. You could see seagulls hunting after the fish in the far distance at 11:30 at night. There were hardly any clouds in the light blue sky with the green grass beneath the horizon. The wind was perfect to protect us from mosquitos. We couldn't ask for anything more.

If my grandfather hadn't shown me all this, I wouldn't have the feeling of his warmth and presence when I first stepped down to the rocks onshore. It is then I knew he was a very happy spirit to meet my two-year-old daughter, Qanna Biibi Nakkaguak, as she calls herself.

We miss you, Ataatak, with lots of memories.

Mary Nowkawalk
Inukjuak

Elementary class in France seeks Inuk pen-pals

We are French pupils from Saint-Exupéry primary school in Talence near Bordeaux. We are beginners in English (three years of English learning) and we look for English-speaking pen friends. There are 27 pupils (nine to 11 years old) in our Cm1/Cm2 class (fourth and fifth grade), the last years of the junior level. We'll go to the secondary school in next September.

We are very interested in ways of life of aboriginal people today.

We are living in south-west of France, next to Bordeaux (Gironde), in a gentle area where there are many varied landscapes: fluvial valley (Garonne and Dordogne rivers), calcareous plateau with caves, a long sandy coast with lot of dunes and pine forest, a very large estuary (la Gironde), a famous wine land, and the biggest forest of Europe (Forêt des Landes). People have been living here for few hundred thousand years (prehistoric settlements).

Bordeaux is an old fluvial harbour on the Garonne river, near the Gironde estuary. It's a very big town, it's the capital of the Aquitaine region. More than 450,000 inhabitants are living in this built-up area. Talence is a suburban town (about 30,000 residents about) in the south of Bordeaux. We are living in a new district in the south of Talence where they are big blocks of flats beside the highway and near the swimming-pool.

We should be pleased to start our project with postal mail, audio tapes, or the internet next September (2006-07 school year). It would also be nice to correspond with us at the same time with your language and English (or French maybe.) We accept any way of corresponding with an Inuk class or school.

If our suggestion is a bit difficult for your class, could you refer us to another other school about this pen-pal project ? Thank you very much.

Our projects areas are about: Geography, history, sciences, citizenship, heritage, culture, legends, way of life (we got in touch for few years with North American, Australian and Amazonian aboriginal people.) This year we will do a special topic concerning circumpolar people, the sea and the climate.

Ecole élémentaire Saint-Exupéry
Classe de Cm2
Rue Eugène Delacroix
33400 - TALENCE
France
Email : groupescolairestexupery@wanadoo.fr

Taima assunai.
The CM2 class
L'école primaire Saint-Exupéry à Talence

Way too many teen mothers in small towns

I'd like to talk to readers about high school dropouts.

It is hard to be a teen mother - I myself am one - but maybe if the government targets the problem head on it would really make a difference.

The only thing I learned about sex in school is that it's bad and I should wait until I'm old enough.

As I look at the small towns, the number of teen moms is escalating. Most of their first-borns are adopted. I myself went through that and it would really help if parents talked to their kids about it.

In my town 14-year-old girls are getting pregnant. The fathers are still in school or even dropouts. That's a big problem. I'm just sharing what I see in my town thanks for your readers.

(Name withheld by request)
Igloolik

Do not minimize horrors of child sex abuse

We are writing to respond to a letter published June 9 from Brian Martel, who complained that Sara Minogue's story on June 2 about a child sex abuse case was too descriptive.

Mianiqsijit Board, a community based counselling service in Baker Lake, commends Minogue for having the courage to report such a horrific issue.

Our board has been in existence since 1990 to deal with the terrible problem of child sexual abuse in our community. This terrible sickness is in every community in Nunavut along with all the other social problems you can think of.

Mianiqsijit counsels both family violence victims and offenders in both Inuktitut and English. It takes a lot of courage to deal with sexual abuse, especially when a child is a victim.

We have seen sexual abuse being minimized in courts (sometimes not interpreted properly); and through news media, where pornography is sometimes described in Inuktitut as "taking pictures."

The more we minimize it, the more communities normalize it. We have to tell it like it is for people to realize that these terrible things happen to children and the more people are aware that it is not okay, the less it will be tolerated.

Mianiqsijit Board
Baker Lake

Ai, Bonjour à tous!

Nous sommes 24 élèves de Cm2 (6ème année chez-vous) de l'école primaire Saint-Exupéry à Talence (banlieue sud de Bordeaux.)

Bordeaux est une grande ville du sud-ouest de la France. Le paysage de notre région est constitué par des plateaux calcaires avec des grottes, des vallées fluviales qui portent le plus grand vignoble de France et la plaine sableuse de la forêt landaise. L'océan Atlantique est à 50 km plus à l' ouest.

Notre projet d'école porte sur la langue orale, l' ecriture. La découverte de notre culture et celles des autres, en particulier celle des premiers peuples des divers continents, en constituent un des supports. Nous souhaiterions correspondre avec des élèves Inuit soit individuellement, soit collectivement de classe à classe, en échangeant des lettres, des textes, des dessins, des enregistrements, des jeux, des chansons, des journaux, des étiquettes de produits commerciaux...

Nous aimerions connaître votre pays et vos habitudes actuelles et traditionnelles, vos musiques, votre langue (correspondance bilingue Inuttitut-Français ou Anglais), la vie des enfants, les problèmes (changement de climat, pollution) et traditions. Cette année nous développerons un sujet d'étude autour des peuples circumpolaires, de la mer et du climat.

Avez-vous une adresse e.mail pour vous joindre (école, association ou administration communautaire?)

Nous espérons que notre idée vous intéressera et nous attendons votre réponse et nous vous en remercions d'avance.

Ecole élémentaire Saint-Exupéry
Classe de Cm2
Rue Eugène Delacroix
33400 - TALENCE
France
Email : groupescolairestexupery@wanadoo.fr

Élèves de Cm2
L'école primaire Saint-Exupéry à Talence

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