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Tea Talk: Christmas lights keeping spirits bright

Holiday festivities are beginning in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
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Merry Christmas to Our Elders In-Residence at the Pitquhirniq Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society in Cambridge Bay. They received Christmas gifts from a fan in Yellowknife, NT. Elders, seated left to right: Panak Annie Atighioyak, Anakanerak Mary Kaotalok, Pongok Mabel Etegik, Pihoak Bessie Omilgoetok. Standing: Helen Okhina Blewett, left, and Emily Angulalik. Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒋᔅᓯ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᔪᕐᒥᔪᓂ ᐱᑦᑯᕼᐃᓂᖅ ᐃᓕᕼᐅᑎᓂᕐᒥ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑦᑎᐊᕐᒥ. ᖁᕕᐊᓲᓯᐊᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ ᐱᓐᓇᕆᔭᖃᖅᑐᒥ ᔭᓗᓇᐃᕝ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ. ᐃᓄᑐᖃᑦ, ᐃᒃᓯᕚᖅᑐᑦ ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ ᑕᓕᖅᐱᖕᒧᑦ: ᐸᓇᒃ ᐋᓂ ᐊᑎᒡᕼᐃᐅᔭᖅ, ᐊᓇᑲᓂᕋᖅ ᒥᐊᕆ ᑲᐅᑕᓗᒃ, ᐳᖑᒃ ᒪᐃᐳᓪ ᐃᑎᒋᐊᒃ, ᐱᕼᐅᐊᒃ ᐸᓯ ᐅᒥᐅᓪᒍᐃᑦᑐᖅ. ᑐᓄᐊᓂ: ᕼᐊᓚᓐ ᐅᒃᕼᐄᓇ ᐳᓘᕕᑦ, ᓴᐅᒥᖕᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᖑᓚᓕᒃ, ᕿᑎᕐᒥᐅᓂ ᐃᑦᑕᕐᓂᓴᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎ.

HALUUQQURUT IQALUKTUUTIAMIT. INUKGIAHIJUQ NUNAKPUT. MALIGALIUQTIIT NUNAVUNMIT KATIMANGMATA. QUANA PULAAKTIQARAGAPTA. TUNGNAHUGITTI. QUVIAHUGVIK TIKINMIJUQ. QULIIT PINNIHIJUT. NUTAQQATLU ALIHULIQMIJUT QUVIAHUGVIK TIKILIQMAT. ANGNAT MIQHUJAKTUT ALIANAQ. INUIN NAAINNAQTUT. QAIJUKNAHIJUQ NUNAKPUT. TAAQHILIQPAKTUK QILAMINNUAQ. ULAPQINAHUAT IQALUKTUUTIAMI QUVIAHUVIKMI. KIHIMI TAMNA ANIARUT PINGMAN HULI KATIMALIMAITTUT KIHIMI QARITAUJAKKUT UUKTUKNAHUAT QUJAGINNAQ ULAPQIJUKHATNIK. MAQPIRAQ NAUNAIPKUT QINIQLUGU. NIQIHANIK TUNIKHAINAHUAN INUNGNUN. UPAKLUGIT WELLNESS CENTER HAVAKTIIT TITIQKANIQ PIJUKHAUJUT.

Welcome to our Christmas town of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, land of the Inuinnait, Kiilinikmiutat. In December as you are flying into the hub of the Kitikmeot, the long darkness makes for a beautiful view of the growing community of Cambridge Bay all lit up with street lights and lots of beautiful Christmas lights during Christmas season. Soon Santa, who lives close by, will make his annual visit to those who were naughty or nice.

Weather is cold and winter has been a fast and quick snap of cold cold weather. Temperatures have already reached to -50’s. So we hope you all are dressed up warm to walk to school or work. The Christmas street lights on Omingmak Street have been turned back on since the Christmas holiday is upon us. Christmas lights around the community look so beautiful and peaceful. This time of year organizations and businesses have their holiday parties of potlucks, suppers, gatherings, celebrating each other and their co-workers with good food, games and laughter.

This year, due to the pandemic, Christmas activities and gatherings are once again limited. A schedule and calendar of activities during the holiday season has been done up and we hope you all get a copy made up by the Recreation Department from the Municipality of Cambridge Bay offices. Quana Hogaluk, Melissa and Valter for your assistance in getting the Christmas Activities 2021 program ready. It will also be available in Inuinnaqtut for our Elders to follow, quana Hamlet for ensuring that information is translated to Inuinnaqtut, language of the Inuinnait, for our Elders to understand.

We had some special visitors meeting in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut this past few days from all over Nunavut. Our newly elected Premier P.J. Akeeagok, the members of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly and the Board of Directors from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and their staff. We hope you all are enjoying your welcome and visit to our friendly hospitality community of Iqaluktuutiak. There have not often been meetings since this pandemic started, so there have been limits on attendance and they were not open to public.

Everyone is abiding by the restrictions from the public health office of Nunavut. Everyone continues to wear their masks and residents have been dligent in receiving their vaccinations. Quana to the public health nurses Nicole and staff for ensuring residents are safe and healthy and receiving the booster shot and vaccines.

Be safe everyone, more restrictions as the pandemic is still around the world, and is close to our homeland. Continue to watch your health, wear masks, keep washing your hands and enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Stay well, eat well, and be safe. Stay warm.

God be with you Son.