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QIA 2006: roundup

NUNATSIAQ NEWS

Nunavut Commissioner Ann Hanson told QIA delegates meeting in Iqaluit last week that she is work on two new awards: an “Order of Nunavut” award, and a Nunavut arts award. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

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Here’s a sample of what they heard:

We want Jordin!

A delegate from Arctic Bay told Norterra officials that High Arctic residents want to see Jordin Tootoo, who works as a publicity representative for Norterra companies such as Canadian North airlines

”We’ve never seen Jordin Tootoo,” the delegate said, pointing out that youth in Arctic Bay are eager to meet the Nunavut hockey star.

She also said that people in communities not served by Canadian North are unable to take advantage of the airline’s Pivut fare for land claim beneficiaries. All Nunavut beneficiaries are entitled to one Pivut ticket a year.

Carmen Loberg, the CEO of Norterra, responded by saying that they could arrange for Tootoo to visit the High Arctic next summer.

Language law consultation starts soon

Louis Tapardjuk, Nunavut’s minister of language, culture, elders and youth, told QIA delegates that the Government of Nunavut will soon conduct community consultations on two proposed language laws: a new “Inuktitut Protection Act,” and an amended version of the Official Languages Act.

About three or four years ago, Eva Aariak, then the official languages commissioner, recommended that Nunavut adopt such new laws.

An amended Official Languages Act would make changes to provisions to the language law inherited from the Northwest Territories and would have to be approved by the federal parliament; an Inuktitut Protection Act would create new measures that would not require Ottawa’s approval.

Tapardjuk said it’s likely that two draft language bills could be ready for the legislative assembly by about March of 2007.

Who put that airstrip there?

Officials from Indian and Northern Affairs Nunavut region office were left scratching their heads after a QIA executive member from Igloolik asked them about an airstrip and fuel dump that recently appeared near Steensby Inlet.

George Qulaut of Igloolik said Igloolik residents discovered an airstrip with a larger number of fuel drums at a spot on the east side of Steensby Inlet.

But he said the community can’t find any permits for the project, and that they weren’t consulted about it.

“Are you aware of this? Because we aren’t,” Qulaut said.

Carl McLean of INAC’s regional office responded that he would look into the matter and get back to the community with information.

Steensby Inlet, located on Baffin Island north of Foxe Basin, is an area used by Igloolik hunters for countless generations.

Commissioner works on new order

Ann Hanson, the commissioner of Nunavut, told QIA delegates that she’s working on the creation of two new awards for Nunavummiut: an “Order of Nunavut,” and a Nunavut arts award.

Hanson said that each year, only one outstanding person would get an Order of Nunavut award. She said the idea comes from similar awards given out by provincial governments, such as the Order of Alberta and the Order of Nova Scotia.

She said the arts award would come with a $5,000 prize, and would recognize skilled Nunavut artists.

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