In loving memory of Anthony Alivaktuk

Tag : Bottom Roller

I would like to say "qujannamiik" to the following peopleand companies: Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., especially Sara Maniapik Qikiqtqani Inuit Association, especially Mary Akpalialuk Canadian North Maryann Mike Naomie Qumuatuq Selina Kisa Nuasaijiit of Panniqtuuq Qiniqtiit Pangnirtung ­Rescue Team Panniqtuuq MLA Peter ­Kilabuk Qumuatuk Kooniliusie of Qikiqtarjuaq
Also to the people that we didn't mention but who offered ussupport and prayers, qujannamiik!
Anthony, we love you always. May you rest in peace.
Nancy Kisa and family
Pangnirtung and Iqaluit

Racist "crap" from Paul Kaludjak
So did anyone else want to puke when they read the racist crap fromPaul Kaludjak, head of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.? (Nunatsiaq News,July 11)
Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. said the GNshould have tried to cut operating costs so it could go withouthiking fuel prices. The increases make it harder for beneficiariesto get by, he said. "We maintain it's unfair to ourbeneficiaries because they're already dealing with inflation."
Instead, he said the GN "should be looking within itself tosee if they can compensate for these increases in-house" byspending less money importing workers from the south and buying thecheapest capital items available.
Let me get this right. Nunavut has approximately 30,000 residents,of whom more than 80 per cent are Inuit. The GN has an employeebase of about 3,000, of whom nearly 50 per cent are Inuit.
So approximately 1,500 or so are non-Inuit GN employees. Of thatnumber, probably 50 per cent or so are northerners who lived inNunavut or the Northwest Territories long before getting jobs withthe GN.
So in reality, Mr. Kaludjak is blaming the GN's fuel price increaseon about 750 or so non-Inuit GN employees.
What a pile of racist garbage. And not a single voice has objectedto this guy's racist rhetoric.
On top of this, read the last part of the sentence regarding buyingcheap capital items. Is this guy for real?
For example, instead of buying capital items such as new graders orloaders, let's buy second-hand junk that will cost more to operateand maintain. Yeah, that's the ticket. Even Homer Simpson issmarter than that.
And correct me if I'm wrong, but what vehicle does he drive? A bighonkin' gas ­guzzling SUV. And where does he live? Why, in abig honkin' energy guzzling home that's paid for by, you guessedit, Inuit beneficiaries.
And who pays his salary, yep, right again, Inuit beneficiaries. Andlet's not talk about his boat and skidoos. That would be too AlGore-ish don't you think?
If you want to make some meaningful cuts in costs, try startingwith the president of NTI.
John Thomas
Iqaluit

Resolute enjoys polar bash, still craves arena
The July 12 bash celebrating the 50th birthday of the PolarContinental Shelf Project in Resolute Bay was a success and tons ofpeople showed up for this - thank you, PCSP.
It's very nice to see a federal government department devote timeto local residents. I am hoping that the Coast Guard ship Louis St.Laurent can bring smiles back to the younger residents of ResoluteBay.
Almost every kid in town was awake by nine. I think that's a recordfor a summer day in Resolute. The kids were anxious, eager andhoping to get a helicopter ride and tour of the ship. But becauseof ice conditions, a tour of the icebreaker was limited to eldersand VIPs.
On another note, aren't we all glad that Iqaluit's roads aregetting paved? Though I think they forgot to pave the part of theroad that goes to the new bridge.
While $12 million-plus gets spent on this, we are still one of onlytwo communities in Nunavut that do not have an ice surface with aroof over it - an arena.
We have been waiting and waiting. Each year we see it put on afive-year plan and then on another five-year plan, with anotheryear added on.
Our 180 votes don't really matter, because Arctic Bay willoutnumber our votes for the Resolute or Grise Fiord person whotries to get elected.
But the military training facility is still coming along nicely -somewhere. It's been almost a year since the announcement, and wehaven't seen a single difference.
No, but I've got a baseball cap that says "HMCS ResoluteBay."
Josh Hunter
Resolute Bay

KRG, communities, want Nastapoka protected
Jane George's article on July 11, "New Nunavik park threatenedby hydro plans," concerning the debate over including theNastapoka River within the proposed new park at Richmond Gulf-LacGuillaume-Delisle covered well the two sides of the issue.
It's worth pointing out, however, that environmental groups are notthe only ones calling for the river to be encompassed within thepark. Indeed, local communities were the initial proponents of theidea.
The first official recommendation that it be so protected came inJune 2006, from the working group that was set up to proposeboundaries for the park. The working group, composed ofrepresentatives of the local communities and of Quebec's ParksService, drew up a proposal that would include most of theNastapoka watershed, giving it an area of some 27, 000 squarekilometres.
That proposal is the one that's been promoted by the KativikRegional Government's Nunavik parks website (www.nunavikparks.ca)since its launch early this spring.
Yet the proposal that was ultimately presented by the Quebec ParksService to the public for discussion covers only 15,000 squarekilometres.
This is undoubtedly because the ministry of natural resources wasnot prepared to endorse public discussion of the working group'srecommendation that the Nastapoka be made off-limits to industrialdevelopment.
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, however, does supportthe proposal of the working group. The river is of exceptionalnatural significance, and its protection is worth discussing. Thefact that the official representatives of the residents of theregion share this conviction should not be ignored.
That is why we have been proactive in our efforts to make the issueof its protection better known to a broad audience.
Furthermore, having presented our brief in person at last month'shearings, we saw for ourselves that local support for including theNastapoka in the park goes well beyond that of the region'sofficial bodies. It clearly came out in the comments of themajority of the local participants as well.
CPAWS knows that conservation initiatives have little chance ofsuccess without the support of the people most directly involved. At the same time, local conservation efforts often fail unless theyobtain the support of a broader constituency.
Happily, the possibility of protecting the Nastapoka has mobilizedpeople at the provincial and the national level as well as at thelocal and regional level.
We hope our contribution will help ensure the success of thislocally inspired, but nationally important, initiative.
John O'Driscoll
President
CPAWS-Quebec
Montreal
July 11, 2008 Why defend David Simailak?
I do not know if you were defending Mr. Simailak or just beingsarcastic in your editorial on June 6.
If you were defending Mr. Simailak, I do not agree with it.Simailak and his business associates worked this same system duringthe good old Northwest Territories days when a few of them wereMLAs and finally, they may have been caught sticking their handinto the public cookie jar one too many times.
I know for a fact any expenditure over $5,000 by the Government ofNunavut must receive three bids before it is awarded so that publicservants and elected officals get the best deal possible withpublic money and why was this not followed?
The bigger the expenditure, the more requirements. Some tenders(depending on amount) have to be in the papers for weeks. I, forone, would really like to know how many thousands - maybe millions- of dollars worth of government business was conducted in thismanner? How much did certain people line their pockets with themoney of Nunavut residents, if any?
This is public money! All of this money belongs to everyNunavummiutaq and he was elected by the people in his riding whotrusted him to look after everyone's best interests and not justthemselves or their friends or business associates. This appears tobe very selfish of Mr. Simailak.
This type of behaviour is not okay and if Mr. Simailak has to bemade the patsy and publicly embarrassed so future Nunavut electedofficals do not repeat his mistakes, I am all for it.
After all, he should have shown better judgment and never repliedto any of the emails or or he could have just used a personal emailaddress and never been caught.
I would like the government to hold a public inquiry on this matterto get to the bottom of it so that every Nunavummiutaq knows howmuch - if any - Mr. Simailak and company may have benefited fromus.
If the premier will not call a public inquiry into this matter, itmakes me wonder why.
I work for the GN so please do not publish my name. It would hurtmy career.
(Name with held by request)
Cape Dorset
Editor's note: The main idea of the June 6 editorial is that underthe Northwest Territories, from the mid-1980s onwards, certaincompanies took advantage of GNWT policies that authorized theawarding of no-bid negotiated leases and contracts to politicallyfavoured entities, including community development corporations,with little or no public scrutiny.
The letter writer is correct in saying that GN practices are nowmore transparent, but most of the companies in question firstnegotiated their leases before the GN existed. Our purpose was totry to explain the policies and attitudes that gave rise to thecurrent controversy rather than make personal attacks onindividuals. Our purpose was also to suggest that Mr. Simailak maybe small player in a much bigger story, a story that concernsmisbegotten policies conceived with no regard for basic principlesof public governance or economics.
The letter writer does, however, raise serious, valid questionsthat we hope the Integrity Commissioner will help us answer and wethank him for his letter.
Jimmy Ehko will be dearly missed
Many thanks for the wonderfully comprehensive tribute to Jimmy Ekhoand his musical accomplishments.
On our many times in Iqaluit, Jimmy not only amazed us but alwaysbrought a smile into our lives.
His tours of the museum artifacts were fascinating in their unusualdetails. His expertise with computer technology was surprising - itranged from finding historical images of planes in Iqaluit torecordings of his mother, Naki, singing traditional songs of hischildhood (his picture at age 3 with Naki appears in the book,Eskimo Townsmen).
He often manned the sound system during Nunavut Day and for a whileat the Legislative Assembly. And his sockless ankles continued tosurvive the stormiest blizzards in the midst of winter.
Jimmy put his handicaps aside to push his talents to their limitswithin the constraints of his life in Iqaluit. We will miss himdearly.
Mary and Clive Clark
Ottawa

Booze and bootleggers: Same old story
A year later and there's more booze at every corner in Kuujjuaq.
Yes, it's time for me to write a short note again about ourbootlegging problems here in Kuujjuaq.
I wrote a letter last year about this problem, but to no avail.Nothing has been done.
Do we all just turn a blind eye to this major problem? Is theKativik Regional Police Force too busy to stop this? If so, theSûreté du Québec is right next door to you. Askthem to take over this file.
What do they really do here anyway? Are they protecting the flagover their office or could we expect something else from thembesides them enjoying a pre-retirement package by working up here?
I asked you to look at the possibility of a non-profit beer storeup here. Hey, don't complain yet because these stores already existup here at every corner. Some of our bootleggers do home delivery,so you don't even have to leave your home.
That's what I call first-class service. For $180 a case, I woulddeliver it too.
Some say a beer store would be the downfall of Kuujjuaq, but italready exists.
People, just look around! At least with a beer store, thebootleggers wouldn't be around anymore. You could have more controlby eliminating or controlling delivery from Montreal and any profitwould be given back to the youth.
No solution is perfect, but just to eliminate bootleggers would bea step in the right direction.
We voted on this issue with our previous mayor but the council backthen just buried the file, as always.
It takes a big person to step up to the plate and make a decisionfor once, so let's see if we can finally get a big person tofinally do this.
Nothing in life is perfect, but if you don't try you'll never know.
Until next time. I wait for the rebuttal letters to come.
Pat York
Kuujjuaq

Inuk clarifies lawsuit over experimental program
This is s small note of clarification regarding your"experimental Eskimos" story last week.
There are two distinct groups who have filed claims against thefederal government.
One is comprised of Zebedee Nungak, Eric Tagoona, and myself. Theother group are the ladies from Panniqtuuq and Baker Lake.
While circumstances were similar culturally and linguistically, thetwo groups were from different times, under different programs andeven different jurisdictions.
We three, Zebedee, Eric and myself, did not choose to callourselves "the experimental Eskimos." But an internalfederal government memo in May of 1964 directly called the three ofus "The Eskimo Experiment." None of us have any knowledgeabout the other group's reason for calling themselves that.
One further point, your article mentioned a specific amount ofcash. We three have not yet decided on a specific amount ascompensation, so the amount you mentioned should properly beattributed to the other group.
Peter Ittinuar
Guelph, Ont.

Thanks from the Crazy Canucks
On behalf of the players, coaches, and families of the Crazy Canuckmidget hockey team, I would like to take this opportunity to thankthe residents of Iqaluit for such an amazing display of friendshipand warm hospitality during our visit this past April.
We'd also like to salute the teams who competed against us in theToonik Tyme Tournament. This was an experience unlike any other forour boys from Ontario and those parents who travelled up with them.Special thanks go to the Iqaluit midget team and coaching staff foran awesome final.
The following is a list of individuals and firms without whosegenerous support and assistance we would not have had thisexperience:
First Air; Frobisher Inn; Arctic Survival Store; Nunavut ArcticCollege Residence; Iqaluit Amateur Hockey Association; City ofIqaluit Recreation Staff; Monica Ell & Eeneasie Kanayuk; JoeKanayuk; Chad Taipana; Sylvia Cloutier (including Mr. Lee andBobert); Solomon Awa; Ed Picco; and last but not least, MotherNature for such awesome weather!
An unbelievable trip like this would be a once-in-a-lifetimeexperience for most but we hope we are fortunate enough to make itup again in the future. Until we meet again, thank you all, fromthe Crazy Canucks North.
Alex Belgrade
Head Coach
Crazy Canucks

QIA clarifies role in mine
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association would like to correct theimpression created by Tununiq MLA James Arvaluk that either QIA orits business arm Qikiqtaaluk Corp. is in a conflict of interest dueto having an ownership stake in Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.
Neither QC nor QIA has shares in the company, nor do we intend toacquire any, or to participate in ownership of Baffinland in anyother way.
On the other hand, QIA is working through the IIBA process toensure that Qikiqtani Inuit and Inuit firms have the greatestpossible access to training, employment, and contracts coming outof the Mary River iron mine project, if it goes ahead.
This is just good planning. Our IIBA team has recently conducted aproductive round of consultations in north Baffin communities tofind out Inuit concerns in those communities regarding the MaryRiver mine, and to explain our negotiating strategy regardingcontracting, employment, training, and workplace conditions.
We expect to hold further consultations in the fall onenvironmental issues once Baffinland has finished collecting datafor their environmental impact study.
Finally, our negotiating team includes Philip Paneak as chiefnegotiator, David Qamaniq, former mayor of Pond Inlet, and PaulQuassa, mayor of Igloolik and former chief negotiator of theNunavut Land Claims Agreement. As director of lands at QIA, JohnAmagoalik is also participating fully in the IIBA process.
It is hard to imagine a better team for protecting Inuit andcommunity interests.
Thomasie Alikatuktuk
President
Qikiqtani Inuit Association
July 4, 2008 Letters to the Editor
Don’t ever judge anyone by how they look

My name is Naiomie Hanson-Akavak; I am 22 years old and this is mystory:

I graduated from Inuksuk High School in 2004 and was received witha standing ovation and tears of joy from everyone in the gym. Idon’t think that one single soul did not cry at some point.

It was an amazing feeling to know how proud of me they all were. Itook the year off right after high school to work and save moneyfor the college or university that I had in mind.

I am currently in my second, going on third year, of college atAlgonquin College in Ottawa, and I also graduated from the NunavutSivuniksavut program in 2006.

Growing up was quite challenging. It felt like I was on aroller-coaster ride over and over again at times.

Not only was it difficult for myself but, for my family and theothers too that were around me because I have a physical disabilityknown as semi-hemiplegia, which is also known as cerebral palsy.

This “disability” affects my body movement and myspeech. I don’t consider it a disability.

I consider it as a special gift from God when I was born; I was atypical good-looking healthy baby. However, when I was small myparents decided to go to the hospital to see if the doctors hadanything to say about my health.

They said I was fine and was sent home, but still my parents knewsomething was different with me. They kept going and going everyday until the doctors were fed up with us. I was about three monthsold when it was discovered what it was I had.

As I grew up I began to start a lengthy life of having to go tospeech and physiotherapy to develop my speech and movement skills.I also had a few surgeries. When I was a young child I knew I wasthe “different child” but I did not care because I knewI was loved by many.

But when I started elementary school my life got way out of handbecause I started to get bullied by my peers, I would cry to sleepat night and my mom would ask why I was crying, but I refused totalk.

They didn’t think much of it until it started to become aroutine. My parents knew something was bothering me and decided tosit and talk with me so I told them everything. Their response was,do not believe what they tell you, and just ignore what they say.

In high school, I was a student with average grades, but then mygrades were slipping because the bullying got very controlling overmy life. I hated going to school every single day, I started tofeel disgusted about myself and felt so abandoned, but I hid myemotions to the point where I felt I wanted to die or wanted toescape from anything and everyone.

There was one particular bully that I will never forget. His namewas Kevin Dunphy, and he was a typical bully who would tease andmake fun of me. It got so bad that I felt did not want to try newthings and just live my life, until one day I got so fed up withhim bullying me that I ran out from class and ran home crying.

I told my parents and they told the principal to talk to this boyto smarten him up and to apologize to me. One typical day I saw himwalking towards me and thought in my head “Oh no, notagain.”

I was prepared for him to say awful words to me, but this time itwas different. He was very quiet for a minute, and he wasflickering around and walking in circles and then he approached mewith a straight face that I had not seen before on him.

I could hear in his voice that he was choking up until he burst out“I’m sorry Naiomie.”

When he said that I felt extremely relieved. What a feeling that Ihad not felt before! I asked him to repeat what he had said andsmiled.

After that Kevin and I got to know each other, and became the bestof friends. I am glad I got to get to know him, even for a shortperiod of time. Kevin died in a terrible car accident shortlyafterwards.

My heart sank and I cried and cried, hoping it wasn’t truewhen I heard the sad news. It was so surreal and didn’t seemtrue. Kevin ended up opening my eyes to why I am here — I amhere for a reason.

I should not give up what I worked so hard to accomplish. He taughtme how to live life and accept the way I am and always will beforever. He taught me how to love myself for who I am.

I told you this short story because I want to tell as many peopleas I can about some of my struggles and what I go through every dayof my life.

I want to be a voice to other disabled people who can’t standup for themselves. We are people with feelings too. Don’tmake it hard for us. I’m not asking for sympathy, or trouble.

Please don’t doubt anyone, and please don’t judge ordiscriminate against people on appearance, race, religion or genderor whatever it may be that is “different.”

It is easier to smile and make someone’s day and make themfeel appreciated than it is to discriminate and hurt. Live life tothe fullest, and live life as if it is your last day on Earth.

Accept you and others for what they are. If you need to get helpfrom anyone or anywhere, there are plenty of resources to help.

Thank you for listening to my story and I hope I’ve left alittle thought into your day,

This is dedicated to my dear friend Kevin. I know I didn’tget to say good-bye to you, but I know you are with me here.

I am glad I got to know you and I am glad that you taught mesomething about myself that maybe I wouldn’t have knowwithout your help. I love you and I miss you.



Naiomie Hanson-Akavak

Iqaluit





Patik makes you a tulugaq to your family

I am writing to reach at least reach one person – or a few ifpossible.

I was brought up in a home where gambling was never an issue. Myparents were always against gambling, as they had seen theirfriends, relatives, cousins become very preoccupied by theirgambling addictions and became very controlled by those addictions.

I had friends who were brought up in a home where both parentsgambled. The children learned to cope with both parents not beingthere to see them grow up or to protect them.

My friend even remembers that because mom and dad weren’tthere, he learned how to make his own bottle when he was only threeyears old, and it was the same for all his siblings.

The parents were at home, but many times they neglected theirchildren for hours, evenings and days. Neglecting a child duringhis or her most important years can really do damage down the road,as studies have shown. I know that they have tried to fill thisvoid with new addictions to drinking and drugs.

My friends would spend hours and hours with us when their parentswere out gambling, and we never received one call, not even one, toask how their children are doing or what they were up to.

I see them as adults with many different issues. People sometimesare so offended when we say that gambling is very wrong. Sometimesyou see a family, sisters or brothers, even mothers with their owndaughters, trying to win each other’s money. I don’tthink that is family. That is a member of a family trying tooutsmart his family to gain his or her money. That is downrightwrong.

Every month, child benefit cheques are received and that becomesthe busiest time for gambling. Every child is entitled to themonthly benefit, but many times they don’t see it, becauseit’s just gambled away. They need their new shoes forschool, but then it’s gambled away. Every month you see thisbenefit being gambled away.

You would see more children properly fed and nourished, if gamblingwas not an issue for some families. There are many hungry childrengoing to school and it’s often the day after their parentsreceive their child benefit, and you know it’s because themoney is gambled away or used to buy drugs.

I have talked to ex-gamblers, and they have said it’s veryhard to get out of it, like any other addiction. So it’svery important not to get into it in the first place.

There are so many young gamblers out there now. My jaw just dropswhen I see how young they start. If you are young and read this,please, I hope you can see the bad side of gambling before youstart.

If you have never gambled, just spend one night at agambler’s house. You can see right away that it’s not ahealthy habit. You will see mothers and fathers who spend hours andhours at it, rather then stay at home with their children.

Sometimes you see disgruntled people who have lost all their money,and then you ask yourself if gambling is really worth it. Iteventually leads you to lying, even stealing, from your own family.

The name of the game is “tulugainniq” your partner– to outsmart your partner so that you can win the moneyinstead.

I have seen and heard of relationships falling apart because ofgambling, such as my cousin, who seemed to settle down well, andhad a family. But eventually the relationship fell apart.

So tulugainniqattautijut is the name of the game, that is the nameof the real game.

If you have never gambled don’t start, that is my message.Please don’t become a tulugaq to your own family throughpatik. Even the name of the game stinks.



Becky Taukie

Cape Dorset