January
GN, NTI renew commitment to work together
Iqaluit
The Government of Nunavut (GN) and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) signed the Katujjiqatigiinniq Protocol outlining the shared priorities between NTI and the GN on Jan. 21.
In the presence of Government officials and NTI members, Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq and NTI President Aluki Kotierk signed the document at the Frobisher Inn.
The Katujjiqatgiinniq Protocol outlines three shared priorities for the organizations.
-To mobilize Inuit identity and culture
-To foster the quality of life and well-being for Inuit
-To ensure Inuit participation in the design and development of policies, programs, services and legislation.
Mayor honours name change; reviews agenda
Kinngait
Re-elected on Dec. 16, 2019, Mayor Timoon Toonoo said he would honour the plebiscite that accompanied the mayoral by-election to change the name of Cape Dorset to Kinngait.
Kinngait means hills in Inuktitut, said Toonoo.
Other goals the mayor spoke of were to continue with the 10-year capital plan to acquire a breakwater, the construction of a mechanical sewage plant and to fix local roads.
Substantial water runoff from nearby hills is damaging local roads, which Toonoo attributes to global warming and can no longer be contained by existing culverts.
Difficulty finding a new spot for a sewage lagoon is also propelling the need for a mechanical sewage plant.
With a new breakwater Toonoo hopes to protect local boats and host a Canadian Coast Guard vessel in the harbour.
TMAC Resources in need of financial help
Nunavut
The owners of the Doris North gold mine at Hope Bay TMAC Resources considered selling the Kitikmeot property while completing an expansion feasibility study for April 2020.
The miner only recorded its first profit of $7.2 million during the first quarter of 2019, after spending close to $500 million developing the property.
Tom Hoefer, executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, expressed optimism that Hope Bay will remain viable.
BHP and Newmont remain shareholders and owned Hope Bay prior to TMAC acquiring the site in 2013.
Education Authority can’t afford to fix school bus
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
The Cambridge Bay District Education Authority lacked the funds to fix the community’s untrustworthy school bus and wanted the Government of Nunavut (GN) to take responsibility for the service.
“The bus still runs but is not safe to use,” said Alan Sim, chair of the Cambridge Bay District Education Authority.
There are multiple issues with the vehicle and the engine could need replacing at any time.
“The repairs would eat up most of the budget given to the DEA. The problem there is that we could repair it and we would have very little left to pay a driver and supervisors,” Sim stated.
Education Minister David Joanasie informed Nunavut News the department is already considering an October request from the Cambridge Bay DEA for a replacement bus and a heated storage space.
Kelly Fraser remembered
Sanikiluaq
A memorial service was held for Inuk singer Kelly Fraser in Sanikuluaq on Jan 5, Fraser died by suicide on Dec. 24, 2019.
Fraser had many friends in Sanikiluaq as a young child growing up in the southern Hudson Bay community.
“She helped a lot of people and even me,” said Annesie Appaqaq, a friend of Fraser.
“Kelly was a strong, resilient and independent Inuit artist. Her talent was undeniable and she loved rapping and singing in Inuktitut. It is my belief she played a strong role in the current revival of Inuit culture,” wrote Rise Ashen, producer of Silla and Rise.
For her next album, Decolonize. The musician had plans to collaborate with other artists such as Silla and Rise, Mob Bounce and Mamarudegyal MTHC.
Craig Frank Edes from Mob Bounce wrote, “she was more than a musician, she was an advocate and a voice for her people: that’s her legacy.”