HALU INUIT. TITIRALINIARTUNGA. NAMMAKTURUT. AYUKNAKMAN ILAA. INUIN IKALUKTUTTIAMI NAMAINAKTUT. UPINRALIKTUK KILAMINNUAK. MAHALIKPIAKTUK. APKUTIT APPUTAIKTUT. MAKLUINAKRUKNIAKMIYUK NUNAKPUT ILAA. APPUITUMIK ULAPKINIAKTUT AAHU MAIMI. AUDLAAT TIKITUT IPAKHANI UMINGMAKTUMITLU KINGAUTMITLU. QUANA TIKITUT NAKUYUMIK. IMMALIKTUKRUK AUDLAARIAMI SIKITUKUT. NUTAKAT ILIHALIRIALIKPAKTUT. ANIIRAAKPAKTUT NUTAKAT ALAPNAIKMAT. INGNUTANUARALU AKANANUAKLU. ILANITAUK, MUNARITIAKPAKLURIT ILANNUATIT ILAA. ILANI TITIRAKNIAKUNGA. AYUKHALIKPAKGAMA. IHUMALUKHIMAITPALAARUILUHI. PULAKATAKPAKLUHI. TEETURIAKPAKLUHILU. AYUKHALIRUVIT UNNIUTITYAVATU KINAMUN. IKHIHIMAITUMIK. KUVIAHUKPAKLUHI. AYUKNAKMAT ILAA. UKTUKPAKLUHI HAVAAKHAMIKLUNIT ILIHARIAMILU UKTUKPAKLUHI. IKAYULAAKTUT INUIT. KABLUNAATLU. PITIAKTAUHUNGNUYUHI. HULIHIMAITUMIK UKAKHIMAITUMIK PILIMAITUK. UPAKPAKLURIT PIKATINUATITLU ANGNAYUKATITLU. INURALINAHUAKPAKLUHI NAKUYUMIK. IMMIKPALAKHIMAITUMIKLU. AVALIRITUHI. TAMAPTA IKAYUKTAUYURUT. TOLOGAKNANUAK UNGNALITAKTARA AYUKNAKMAT. ILAIYARUVIT AKHUKPAKLUHI. AKHUTAK. ULURIANATUK ILAA. PITIAKLUHILII. PIKPARIYAUYUHI.

Welcome back to Cambridge Bay Tea Talk. We hope everyone has been enjoying the early spring weather that we are having here on Victoria Island Central Arctic area. Yes, we have so much sun lately and off and on with many white-out conditions. When spring starts coming we get many white-out conditions and it makes it very hard to be outdoors without sunglasses. This is the time more of our kids play out longer hours and tend to get snow blindness, so always make sure your kids and everyone else in the family have sunglasses to avoid getting snowblind.

We Inuit always have enjoyed springtime up here; it's also our elders favourite time of the year when they have longer daylight hours and ice-fishing begins. Cambridge Bay will be having its annual spring carnival "Omingmak Frolics" May 17 till May 24, celebrating the arrival of spring with games, feasts, dance, and being together outdoors. This year we may not have enough snow and the ice may be melting sooner than years past. Especially for the snowmobile races. The co-ordinator Brenda Mercer reports that if there is a problem with ice and snow melting, there will be other plans put in place.

I know our neighbours in Kugluktuk are holding their spring carnival Nattiq Frolics and they had to cancel some races due to melting snow. For sure our nuna is changing quickly weather-wise; we had a mild winter up here this past winter. There are many events planned which are family-oriented and fun for all. The schedule will be ready in the next week for everyone, the notices are posted and on channel 6 local ad channel for various events for people to sign up for and get their teams ready. Looks like we will have a good spring festival once again. Lots of people will be able to take their families out to enjoy family activities, lots of good food, games and laughter. Oh yeah, lots of prizes, too! Make sure to read the posters that are up to go see who is registering for these events. Once again we will have Colin Adjun and his son Gustin entertaining with their great fiddle tunes. We hope everyone enjoys this year's Frolics. The Hamlet's Recreation Committee members are Amanda Hanson, Sarah Jancke, Tracy Okhina, Wiz Mohammed, Janynine McCrae, Jaosn Tologanak and Anne Isnor. We need to relax after having a tough year for those who have lost loved ones. Enjoy each other's company. Everyone will be getting "brown."

I would like to encourage everyone to make sure to always look out for your family and loved ones, especially when they are depressed or going through a hard time in life. If they seek help, get some counselling from elders and those they trust and their good friends and relatives.

Don't let them be in danger, especially when they are being so quiet or different. Watch for others who may try and get back at them for some reason for another. Those who really need help usually try and do this; remember that they need to deal with their anger and seek help.

Listen to their cries for help. There are signs. Inform someone or help them yourselves. Living in small communities is especially harder, when there is not much housing. Alcohol and drug problems come around, and not much for our youth to do. Just love them and talk with them always. Encourage them not to get into bad stuff. If there is treatment available through the government, try and find ways to get help right away.

Keeping busy always helps; visiting around with friends and family really helps. Problems from the past - leave them behind and start your new life and always keep positive. Life can be so hard, but we can overcome life's hardships. Live for you and your family the best you can. If your loved ones are having problems, try hard, very hard, and don't give up. Don't be afraid of anyone or those in authority. Just open up and nobody will turn you away. Live a good life; love, love, love always.

Getting lots of rest and eating good is important also. If you are having problems with relationships, work it out; I know it hurts, love can be so painful, but it can also be a joy. Always be strong and be positive. Try and live to the fullest, especially if you have your own children.

There are many children out there with no parents who acknowledge them, especially those kids who have no fathers around to help them and comfort them. Protect them always; don't let anyone hurt them by hearing rumours. Remember many people who start rumours are very in need of their own help.

If you have problems with alcohol or drugs, try and slow down, look after yourself. If you have health risks, go get check-ups right away. Don't be afraid; everyone is there to try and help. If you know of any health problems in your family history, go for a good check-up and ask lots of questions. If your family members are having to leave for hospital or to see doctors, try and go with them. Don't let them be alone, please. Don't be afraid.

One way to help is going out on the land to enjoy getting away for while, even if it's just for couple of hours or so. It really helps. Just like our ancestors and parents and grandparents grew up, out there in that peaceful beautiful land of ours.

If your kids are starting to quit school, find out why and try and encourage them to go back. Many have dropped out of high school and today there are the Arctic College programs, which have been very successful in people's lives. It's such a good thing for us all.

Don't give up. If someone is harassing you or your family members, talk about it, don't scold or be mad at your kids or family members. Life is so hard when family is not getting along. Live that good life you were meant to have and always you are loved. It is hard on our elders and parents and grandparents when family members are going through depression for some reason. Take care of it right away, don't wait till it is too late.

For those who have to go to court, don't be afraid, deal with what happened. Don't let the RCMP scare you or stop you from speaking to someone. It's OK if you made a mistake, just don't keep it inside you, making you scared or depressed. You can always forgive yourself. I know it's hard but tell yourself, "It will be OK." Don't be ashamed. You are only human like the rest of us; we all make mistakes at one time or another. Help each other.

If family has to go to hospital, don't let them be alone. Talk with the doctors and find out what is happening. Many times they don't phone family members, which is wrong and this is what happened to me with my beloved son Julian.

I wish each and everyone one of you all the best in making a better life for yourselves and take good care of yourself. I wish the federal government and the Nunavut government had so much money to help with avoiding so many problems around us.

Don't bother with those who do not tell the truth, it's their problem and they need to deal with it and start telling the truth, the truth sets you free! Yelling at family or friends doesn't help at all. Anger is such a disease and it stays with that person for many many years.

If you are being abused, report it right away, otherwise this is what makes you depressed and holds you back from living the life you want.

I wish that life was so much easier, but it does get easier when you help yourself and others to get through this hard life we live in. Make peace with yourself and talking and crying really helps, you feel so much better. Many times, making the move or decision is the best thing that ever happened to you.

There are so many opportunities out there for us, don't keep down, lift your spirits up by praying and having faith, be strong and remember you are loved! God bless, in loving memory of my beloved son Julian. Take good care.

Here are some greetings for family and friends around the Kitikmeot and Netsilikmiut.

We would like to wish our Dad, Colin Adjun of Kugluktuk, a happy retirement on Friday, April 30, 2010, which is his last day of work with Department of Environment. Thank you so much for providing for us throughout our younger years, now it's our turn to take care of you! Best wishes on your new lease on life in a relaxing mood. Love from all your children, God bless. xoxoxoxo.

Sending birthday greetings to my mom Cloe Totolik in Taloyoak. Love from Tina and her family, mostly from your grandkids.

I want to wish my parent's happy anniversary on May 4. They got married May 4, 1955, 55 years ago. Happy anniversary to Guy and Sophie Nuliayok Kakkianiun of Kugaaruk. From all the family. Guy and Sophie are the eldest living couple in Kugaaruk. Fifty-five years ago Kakkianiun was living in or near Repulse Bay and moved to Kugaaruk to marry his love Nuliayok. God bless them both for many more loving years together.

Happy birthday greetings to my nieces Elizabeth and Coral Newman here in Kugluktuk for May 15, and also to Mahik and Landon Aknavigak in Cambridge Bay also for May 15! From Kevin and Cheryl Niptanatiak and all the kids.

Happy 20th wedding anniversary to Eddie and Hatok Mala in Cambridge Bay for May 5. From Ellie and Brian in Calgary.

Take good care everyone, watch out for each other. In loving memory of my son Julian. God bless. I wish you love, I wish you happiness and life goes on.