HALUUQQARIT . ALIANAQ QUVIAHUGVIK TIKILIQMAN QILAMINNUAQ. IQALUKTUUTIAQMIUTGUUK UPLAQINAHUAT. QUANA. TAMNA AANIARUT PINGMAN PINGGNITTUT IMANI. PINGUUKMATA IPAKHANI KAMIUNITTI HAMI. NIUVIPKAIVAKTUTLU ILIHAKVIKMIT. MIQHAITLU PINNITAK, PINNIQHANIKLU AITUTIKHANIKLU TUNIJUKHAT ALIANAQ. INUIN NIRIVAKTUTLU. MUUQPAUJAKHANIKLU MAMAGAALUK. ANGNAT MIQHUJUKTUT QUANA. ILANI ANURI AKHUUKPAKTUK PIQHIINNAQHUNILU. HIQINIQ QULVAJUITTUK ILANI. TAMMAQNAQHIJUK UDJIKLUNI TATKIHIUT NUTAMI ATULIQQAT. INUIN IQALLIQIVAKTUTLU. TUKTUITLU UMINGMAITLU QAKLIVAKTUT IQALUKTUUTIAMUT. ALIANAQ NUNA PINNIQHIJUQ PIHUJARIAMI. INUIN NAMMAINNAQTUT. NUTAQQAT ALIATTAKPALIKMIJUT QUVIAHUGVIK TIKILIQMAT. UMIKHIMANIAQTUT ILIHAKVIIT DECEMBER 16MI ANGMAKLUNI JANUARY 3MI. NAAMMAKPAKLUHI. QINIQPAKLUGIT ILATIT.
Welcome to the little growing village of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
Winter has certainly settled in quickly on the island. Lots of snow already and snow storms come and go.
I think the sun will not rise now for a few weeks. It seems that the weather is milder too when there are no blizzard days.
Lots of snow makes it easier for hunters and fishers to head out on the ocean and the land to harvest food. Living by the Arctic Ocean is fun — you can walk for miles and enjoy nature, ice, snow and the fresh, brisk cold air.
One thing I am very proud of is my hometown of Iqaluktuutiak. It seems to be growing with more buildings coming up and a whole new part of town is full of new houses and buildings. We even have a beautiful brand new arena way up in the new part of town. We also have a brand new Nunavut Arctic College campus which comes with apartments for student housing and a beautiful kitchen for culinary courses.
Soon Christmas will be here, and the kids were scheduled to perform their annual Christmas concert at Kullik Ilihakvik on Thursday, Dec. 8. We as parents and grandparents always cannot wait for this show each year as we get to watch our beautiful children all dressed up to perform for their parents and community. Christmas concerts were postponed during the pandemic.
Schools will be shut down during the holidays for both Kullik Ilihakvik and Kiilinik High from Dec. 16 until Jan. 3. We hope all the students, teachers, staff and their families and the community have a safe holiday.
Some people lack food
With the pandemic funds coming through for Nunavut beneficiaries, it sure helps with groceries and other much needed items. Food insecurity is for real in Nunavut. We have some of the highest food prices in the world.
It is sad to say this but it is true.
Also our lively little Co-op was busy with dividends after they held their annual general meeting in November. Many Ikaluktutiak Co-op members received dividends, for a total of $750,000. They pay out in two payments — the first is paid to each member after the AGMs in November of each year and then the second payment of dividends is distributed in December. Everyone loves this time of the year to be able to shop at our Co-op.
They also held elections and three new directors were sworn-in to sit on the Ikaluktutiak Co-op board. The new president is David Kaosoni, the new secretary is Brent Nakashook, and Marie Luci Uvilluk joined the board. Karen Kamoayok remains vice-president for a two-year term and the remaining board members are Beverly Maksagak, Mona Taylor, James Panioyak, Emily Angulalik and Jessie Lyall.
Prize winners at the AGM included Jeannie Komaksiut, who won a trip to Edmonton, but she traded it to go Taloyoak instead; Christina Maksagak won a trip to the Kitikmeot; Marjorie Kemaktun got a TV; Ida Neglak won a tent; Doris Hokanak is the lucky owner of a new queen-sized bed; Mabel Etegik took home a new sewing machine and Nancy Maghagak won a meat pack. Others were given turkeys.
We wish to once again, like every year, thank Angela our awesome Co-op manager and her staff for always making sure the store is open, well stocked and members are well taken care of. Oh, and yes, we have our Co-op Hotel, usually known as the Arctic Islands Lodge and now renamed Inns North. There’s a popular restaurant on site, when their staff is there. Please continue to support your Co-op, that way there’s no need to shut down. We can be successful.
God Be With You Son.
