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October 27, 2006

Do Pond Inlet voters feel the shame?

I am appalled by the announcement of the election of James Arvaluk to the Nunavut legislature.

Apparently, the voters of Pond Inlet do not feel the shame of having a twice-convicted violent offender represent them.

So what does this say to his victims? What does that say to all victims? What does it say to young people trying to learn that violence is wrong? What mockery does this make of the words “zero tolerance for abuse?”

In the same week, we learn that the new government in Ottawa is putting forward a three-strikes-and-you-are-out bill.

This might mean that should Arvaluk be convicted of a third offense, he will be labeled a dangerous offender and be put where the good citizens of Pond Inlet will not be able to elect him and all women will feel a little safer.

I am not confident that Arvaluk will be able to resist the temptations that led him to commit two previous offenses, but we will have to see what the future holds. Will be spend the rest of his days working in the legislature? Or in a federal prison bringing even more shame to those who voted for him?

Please do not release my name for fear of retribution, or for the fear that, God forbid, I may have to work with this violent convicted criminal as he carries out his new duties as the representative of the people of Pond Inlet.

(Name withheld by request)
Iqaluit

October 27, 2006

Ratepayers votes unfair and outmoded

Why is it that only properties owners were allowed to participate in the city hall and recreational complex plebiscites?

This 18th century voting practice does not account for the fact that rent payers and tenants pay property taxes through rent. The landlord passes this cost onto his tenants.

If you believe the rationale offered by the city, then perhaps all residents of Nunavut should not get any vote in any federal election. Given that the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, Alberta, and maybe B.C. provide various levels of monetary support to the rest of Canada (especially Nunavut, which would not exist as a political entity if it weren’t for transfer payments), then perhaps the rest of country should not vote in the next federal election.

I hope the city re-examines its electoral policy and adjusts accordingly.

Gord DeClerq
Iqaluit

October 27, 2006

Nunavummiut should be careful

As your article points out, Nunavummiut look to mining development to provide employment, training, and business opportunities. Along with its wildlife, its people, and its landscape, minerals are one of Nunavut’s great assets.

But development must be undertaken in a rational and responsible way if it is not to endanger other land uses or limit other economic activities.

The mining industry may call environmental reviews and water licences “bureaucratic hurdles,” but I would hope that they are more often reasoned assessments of the carrying capacity and sustainability of the environment rather than just obstacles to opening the flow of resources and dollars to the South.

Responsible mining is a challenge that can no longer be ducked by simply meeting minimal regulatory requirements.

Jamie Kneen
Communications Coordinator
MiningWatch Canada

October 20, 2006

A challenge to Nunavut’s male leaders

I totally agree with the editorial this past week regarding women’s shelters. Why is it that the government seems unwilling to deal with the issue of wife beaters, from Inuit organizations to the government?

Is it because it hits too close to home for a lot of these people who have the power to do something?

Is it because of their past or present circumstances? Are they afraid of being outed as spousal abusers, sexual abusers or emotional abusers of women?

Let’s face the fact that not too many Inuit men want to tackle this and most of the leadership is — surprise — Inuit men.

When I was growing up, wife beaters were snidely called, “angngotialugami” (because he is a real man), meaning, facetiously, that he beat up his wife because he could not not beat up other men or was afraid to try, so the only recourse he had was to beat up his wife.

Such little men, because that was their only real power, intimidating their wives.

I think it is time that more of us men start the ball rolling in dealing with this issue — otherwise the leadership will never take it seriously enough to do something about it.

Nunavut was supposed to be about bettering our lives, which includes the lives of women, yet we are told by Statistics Canada that we have the highest rates of spousal and sexual abuse in the country.

What a poor reflection on our new territory if we cannot do more to protect a very vulnerable section of our society.

Why are women and womens groups always alone in talking about it or Statistics Canada talking about it to the rest of Canada. When do northern men get real and talk about it?

Only when northern males admit the scope, impact and size of the problem and hold themselves and other men accountable, will we enable the population to develop in a truly equal and peaceful territory.

By dealing with the issue of funding for shelters, we can show respect to those who work there and those who suffer harm.

I issue a challenge to all the top leadership of the Government of Nunavut and the leaders of all Inuit organizations, who are all men, to start dealing loudly and clearly with this issue.

After all, your sister, mother, daughter, auntie, niece or cousin’s life may depend on it.

Jack Anawak
Ottawa

October 20, 2006

Health info scares elders?

I was listening to the radio on Oct. 13, and David Alexander had caught some walruses in Iqaluit.

That health co-ordinator went to the beach and handed out some pamphlets saying walrus meat can be bad. I felt bad for the elders who went to the dock to get some meat.

What I’m trying to say is, not all walrus meat is bad, elder’s grew up eating this meat and people like that health representatives should not go and attempt to scare people about eating bad walrus meat.

There may have been these rare occasions in Sanikiluaq and in my home town of Cape Dorset, that does not mean that the health department should ring the alarm.

Pilitsi Kingwatsiaq
Cape Dorset

October 20, 2006

An open letter to Jim Prentice

In a recent CBC radio report you are quoted as saying that Thomas Berger’s recommendations on education in Nunavut are extensive and expensive.

You are further quoted to say: “So it may not be a question of more money. It may be a question of ensuring we are getting the appropriate results from the appropriate effort.”

As parents of children in Nunavut’s school system we are pleased that the topic of education in Nunavut has caught your attention. There is far too much at stake in our education system for it to be overlooked by Ottawa or thrown to a debate over jurisdiction.

We are uncertain how to interpret your remarks about ensuring we are getting the appropriate results from the appropriate effort — because we don’t know how you are measuring effort. We know that the current results are not appropriate or even remotely satisfactory, when on average only 25 per cent of our students are graduating.

Mr. Prentice, children in Nunavut should be given better than a 25 per cent chance of completing school. Mr. Berger’s report was the first independent assessment and plan of how we can achieve better results.

The easy route is to dismiss Mr. Berger’s report as too expensive, but we expect more from our leadership. We expect our leaders to work with us in finding the ways and means of ensuring that today’s generation of students achieve higher levels of a meaningful education than our own generation experienced.

Whether this is achieved through an expansive interpretation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement or through a targeted program under our government’s formula financing agreement, is something only you can influence.

Years from now, when more and more Nunavut parents can point to the success of our school system by the number of their children graduating, we would like to be able to say that things began to change in earnest in 2006, through the concerted effort of leaders who understood, as Mr. Berger did, that the success of Nunavut will ultimately be measured by the extent to which Inuit can participate in their own government and in the changing economic life of the Arctic.

Christa Kunuk
Chair
Iqaluit District Education Authority

October 20, 2006

RCMP shouldn’t hit people

I am writing on behalf of our community. I am so concerned about our inuuqatiks in Sanikiluaq.

The RCMP in a small town like Sanikiluaq should never hit anyone, especially Inuit.

When someone gets arrested, they should keep them locked up and should never hit them. Just because they are cops, it doesn’t mean they are better than anyone else.

We are all humans, we have feelings and we get hurt if someone hits us. We as Inuit should be treated equally to Qallunaat and besides, this is our community.

(Name withheld by request)
Sanikiluaq

October 20, 2006

Pang’s drug-fueled crime wave is out of control

I am writing from Pangnirtung. I have concerns regarding our town and the growing crime wave that seems to have taken over.

Not only are there a magnitude of break-ins, and smash-and-grabs. We have tires slashed on vehicles for no apparent reason and within the last month, we have had two armed robberies.

I almost feel sorry for the RCMP. They seem to work hard, when they get out of the nine-to-five rut they’re in, but they don’t seem to get much help from the court system.

Most cases, no matter how violent they are, get held over again and again. It’s becoming a joke, and with the Christmas season coming upon us, you know that nothing will happen to the offenders once again.

Our excuse is that the lawyers aren’t ready — but let’s get serious here. How many times can something be held over, and better yet, for how long?

Where are the offenders while this is happening? Right here, doing the same things again and again. House arrest is a joke. Curfew is a joke. Nobody cares. Why not bring the lawyers in a couple of days early and then if they aren’t ready, fire the lawyers?

If you have a repeat offender, why send them to an outpost camp over and over again? What is that teaching them? Most of the young offenders in this town don’t even go to school. They can’t read and they can’t write. Where will they be in another five years or so?

I speak for a lot of people as I write this. We’re all becoming increasingly frustrated and even fearful of the things that are happening. This town has changed so much in the last 10 years, it’s unbelievable.

We have judges coming into town who are doing more damage than good, by not holding people accountable for their actions. The hamlet is definitely not doing anything. Let’s get a curfew going again.

Everyone seems to be worried about the human rights issues, but they seem to forget that the victims of these crimes have human rights also. What about them?

Why are we allowing common drug dealers in town? The police know who they are. Why aren’t they doing something about it? They let them go about their business and let more people commit crimes to be able to get the cash they need to buy drugs from dealers.

Many people and business owners are more than just a little irritated. The situation is quickly approaching a critical boiling point — if it hasn’t already.

If the situations can’t be resolved by law or by those paid to protect innocents from property damage, theft and armed robbery, then the victims of these crimes may be compelled to protect themselves by potentially catastrophic or devastating means.

What will it take to get this situation resolved? How many more people will get hurt and the biggest question, will it be an offender or a victim who gets hurt beyond the point of repair?

I feel that at some point, there will be someone just a little more fed up than we all realize and that person will definitely take matters into their own hands.

Offenders and victims will then come together or unite to attend the funeral of the person, whoever it may be.

Name withheld by request
Pangnirtung

October 20, 2006

Expectant fathers need travel assistance

I applaud the nurses and doctors at the Baffin Regional Hospital here in Iqaluit for their ongoing good work in delivering babies.

And mostly I applaud the new mothers who deliver without much support.

It has been less than hundred years that our parents and grandparents delivered babies out on the land, with no technology but with only families and experienced mid-wives. That was part of life, and part of being family.

I am grateful that many babies are coming in — it’s good to see Inuit are not near non-extinction. Although some are unplanned pregnancies, these babies are our future. We need these babies to create our future for our own government and to help us stand on our own feet.

After helping deliver two births this past month, my sister-in-law Lucy and my brother Pat had a healthy baby boy named Steven and my cousin Saqpinak and Enoki had a healthy baby girl named Renay Umik.

It has occurred to me that there is not enough support for the mothers and fathers-to-be. Most pregnant women come to Iqaluit alone to deliver babies and stay here for a month without seeing their kids and spouses.

I know it is very expensive to send patients for medical trips. Some fathers pay there own air fare and accommodations to be with their expectant spouse if they can afford it. They have to provide their own accommodation, which is very expensive.

Being with their pregnant spouse and experiencing the joy of a new baby, creates bonding for both parents. Being part of it, fathers have more respect for the new mothers and for being closer to the baby. It also helps the fathers to know that women are strong.

I suggest the airlines and hotels give discount prices here in Iqaluit for fathers-to-be or family members to attend births. The majority of fathers in Nunavut had never seen their children being born, missing one of the most important things in life.

More support is needed for expecting parents. The mother has to deal with her pregnancy mostly alone when she has to deliver a baby, and raising a child is both parents’ responsibility. After all the woman did not get pregnant alone in the first place.

If we need to have a good solid future for our children, then it has to start at home and right in the delivery room.

Sheba Pikuyak
Iqaluit

October 20, 2006

Cocaine and crystal meth destroying Iqaluit

I am a concerned beneficiary of Nunavut. I was so disappointed while I was in my old home town of Iqaluit last summer.

There are so many cocaine users this year, more then ever before, and I noticed that there are more family issues then ever before with all the cocaine and crystal meth in town.

There are kids out there who are not being taken care of because their parents are spending their money on cocaine and crystal meth.

How could you live with yourselves knowing that your kids are starving while you are using these hard drugs? You get more pleasure using this hard drug while your kids are starving? Do you even think about your kids when you’re high?

Do you ever start to wonder if your kids are being sexually abused while you‘re high on cocaine?

I have a message for all those people and parents who are using crystal meth and cocaine.

Now you know why there are so many suicides in Nunavut. It’s because of the amount of hard drugs that are coming in your community and because of all the bootleggers.

Think about it. The dealers and the bootleggers don’t give a damn about kids in Nunavut because they only care about themselves. As long as they make money and then leave Nunavut, they don‘t care about anyone except themselves

What would you do if you sold the hard drugs to someone and they died from overdoses?

I love my old home Iqaluit, but I am so happy, in a way, that I moved, as it’s hard to watch my people destroy their lives because of hard drugs.

I can name the stuff you can do besides getting involved with that cocaine and crystal meth as we all say what is there to do.

Go on the land and teach your kids about their culture. Take them out during the weekend for a little treat instead of using your money for hard drugs or booze. Take them out swimming as there is a swimming pool in the community. Do their homework with them. Get them a dog so you have an excuse to take them for a walk. Go visit more with them to let them know who is their family is. Go to watch movies with them during the weekends,

Take them out for a Sunday brunch and make that a habit every Sunday,

I have one more thing to say to those cocaine and crystal meth users.

Take a good look at your self in the mirror and ask yourself, do I look cool now that I am high from that yummy drug. I am sure you will come to realize one day that this isn’t worth it as life is way too short. So please wake up and smell that coffee, and start realizing that hard drugs aren’t worth it, especially if you are a parent.

Pauline Alainga
Alberta

October 13, 2006

Indebted to you forever

Laura Ann Saimaiyuq Demcheson
Nov. 28, 1988 – Aug. 29, 2006
In loving memory of our daughter, mother, sister, niece, cousin, friend. You were gone before we had a chance to say goodbye. It broke our hearts to lose someone so special and dear to us. Our hearts still ache and tears still flow. Although your time here on earth was short, you touched many lives with your genuine sense of caring, sense of humour, your smile and your easygoing nature. You were looked up to by your cousins and friends. You are still greatly missed by Mom and step-Dad, brothers and sister, baby Jennifer, relatives, cousins and friends. We will see you in Heaven some day where there is no sadness and heartache. We love you.

---

We thank each and everyone, our neighbours, family & friends whom we may not have listed for your prayers and condolences and for bringing food and just for being there with us during our saddest time.

The community of Pangnirtung for helping to fundraising efforts of Jeannie Kalai Alivaktuk & Lucy Nuvaqiq - thank you so much
And many friends of our beloved daughter

From the Saimaiyuq, Demcheson, Akulukjuk & Nuvaqiq Families
Iqaluit

October 13, 2006

Literacy programs essential to our culture

My name is Tiffany Muckpah. I am taking the Nunavut Teacher Education Program here in Arviat. We entered our fourth year, where we will receive our bachelor of education degree at the end of the school year.

As an educator, I strongly believe that literacy plays a vital part in our culture today. Literacy in today’s society is very important, as it educates people at different levels, whether as information, notices, posters, newsletters and newspapers, essays and stories.

Inuit and non-Inuit alike use literacy in everyday life, and cutting back funding for adult literacy will have a negative impact on our lives. It is through these types of programs that our elders are able to pass on their traditional knowledge.

In many cases, these stories and sessions are recorded then transcribed for archiving. These records of interviews, stories and legends are an important part of our culture. As the number of our elders are decreasing every year, so does the language and culture of our past generations lost.

Programs such as literacy programs are a vital part of preserving our culture, especially our language.

It is in the best interest that funding for literacy programs be offered again for the sake of future generations of aboriginal peoples. As an educator, I believe that it is my duty to voice my concerns if it will affect the quality of education in the future.

Tiffany Muckpah
Arviat

October 6, 2006

Reader fumes over anti-tobacco program cut

Today the federal Conservative finance minister said he was “trimming the fat” from the federal budget – in other words – getting rid of what he thought were unimportant or unnecessary programs.

Unimportant? Unnecessary? What planet does he live on?

The fastest growing population is aboriginal youth who smoke. The highest female cancer rates in the entire country are now for Inuit women.

Smoking in many communities seems normal, even to little children who breathe the many poisons, beginning inside the amautik.

What looks normal is not normal anywhere else, as right across the country in the south we see the numbers of people still smoking going down everywhere.

In Ontario, for instance, it went from 23 per cent last year down to 18 per cent this year, while in the North, it is stuck at around 60-70 per cent, which is way out of line with the new knowledge we all have on the dangers of tobacco use.

For the federal government to turn its back on trying to encourage people to butt out is criminally irresponsible. We cannot abandon people, who, through addiction or ignorance, continue to use a harmful substance to themselves and others.

It should matter to everyone that Nunavummiut and aboriginal people elsewhere are not abandoned in the area of health promotion and harm reduction.

When the Conservative government announced that one of their new budget cut initiatives was to cut out the Aboriginal Anti-Smoking Funding, I thought I was reading it wrong.

To find that I was reading it correctly sends shivers up my spine as this government, which likes to now call itself “Canada’s New Government,” is instead so out of date and old-fashioned and unable to care about people that should be given increasing amounts of assistance – heartless and very short-sighted.

In fact, if the federal government were really awake on this issue, they would be targetting the North and First Nations communities elsewhere with a great deal more money to educate and help treat this serious addiction, rather than cutting everybody loose to suffer even more.

I shake my head at their silliness, their short-sightedness and their total lack of concern for people.

Hopefully governments, both local and territorial-provincial, and their respective health authorities, will raise a great deal of noise about this and fight hard to re-instate and increase programs for those in need.

Caroline Anawak
Ottawa

October 6, 2006

Remembering Steven Tertiluk

First, I’d like to thank God our comforter, hope and refuge during the difficult time when we lost our youngest son Steven Tertiluk, who tragically died on Aug. 4 at the age of 23.

I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart that came to comfort us people from Quaqtaq, Salluit, Inukjuak, Aupaluk, Kangirsuk, Arviat, Nova Scotia and everyone who called personally to send us condolence cards, donated food, cooked and cleaned our house.

I also thank the teams of first responders, police, and women’s helpers who tried to save and help our beloved son. My husband and I were not here when he died.

It was saddening to read and realize that he was identified as a “drunken driver” in the Nunatsiaq News article dated Aug. 18, 2006.We understand that alcohol was the factor in his death but we will remember him as being quiet, organized person, kind, loving, gentle, always willing to help others.

He was a hard working man at home as well as at work as a gymnasium manager. Kids and young people loved him. He had friends all over in Nunavik and Nunavut.

All of us will greatly miss him. He was always loving, good to his nieces and nephews. He was our youngest son with four brothers and two sisters. All of us loved him and will be in our hearts forever. It was a great loss to lose him.

Again,we thank our God and His people for the strength and comfort He continue to give us daily. We are grateful for your prayers and love from everywhere and anyone. Without God and His people we know that on our own we would not stand. May God bless everyone of you.

Annie, Mark Tertiluk and family
Kangiqsujuaq

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