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Year in review
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 Nunavut News/North: 2010 - The Year in Review
JanuaryHigh Arctic exiles strandedUnaalik Air cancelled air services between Nanisivik, Pond Inlet, Resolute and Cambridge Bay, making travel difficult for people in Resolute and even more so for people in Grise Fiord. The loss of the routes meant Resolute's only regular flight path was to Nanisivik and southeast to Iqaluit. Losing the Cambridge Bay route cut the communities off from Yellowknife, the most easily accessible major city and a potential air freight route from the south. Losing the route to Pond Inlet also hurt family connections, as many of the families in Resolute and Grise Fiord have relatives there. Cabinet portfolio withdrawn after e-mail A leaked e-mail to Nunavut News/North produced a firestorm of controversy which eventually ended in a cabinet reassignment. Then-justice minister Louis Tapardjuk came under fire for an e-mail he sent to his staff, accusing the Canadian justice system causing suicides and divorces among Inuit, and preferring women over men in domestic disputes. He later retracted his comments, but not before Premier Eva Aariak stripped him of his Justice portfolio. She later assigned that role to Keith Peterson. Tapardjuk remained Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Education and Aboriginal Affairs. Nunavut's first commissioner dies Helen Maksagak, first commissioner of Nunavut and deputy commissioner at the time, died on Jan. 23 at the age of 77. Flags were lowered to half-mast and several members of the legislative assembly spoke in memory of her. "To all of her children, you are like my brothers and sisters and I will definitely miss your mom," said former premier Paul Okalik in Inuktitut. "I will definitely miss her great baking as she baked some great goods and I went for tea at her house. My thoughts and prayers are with you and for all of Nunavut." Maksagak received the Order of Canada in 2002 and held an honorary doctorate from Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia. She was also active in a number of community organizations over the years such as the NWT Round Table on the Environment, the Social Appeal Committee for Social Services, the Cambridge Bay Housing Association Board, and the Drug and Alcohol Management Board for the Kitikmeot. Mob demands drugs A crowd of more than 50 people in Clyde River gathered around the RCMP residence in Clyde River in an attempt to force police to return illegal drugs. Members of the crowd revved snow machines and threw rocks at the building, demanding police open up the detachment building and give them marijuana they believed the police had intercepted. After an hour's stand-off, the crowd dispersed at the urging of Mayor Andrew Iqalukjuak, who told the crowd the police did not have the drugs and reminded them it was illegal. No charges were laid.
February
Rankin man receives order of military merit In February, Rankin Inlet's Ollie Ittinuar became the first Nunavummiuq to be inducted into the Order of Military Merit. The ceremony took place at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, carried out by Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean. At age 88, Ittinuar was the oldest serving member of the Canadian Rangers, having joined in 1984 at the age of 60. "The legacy I would like to leave behind is that no matter who you are, or where you live, don't ever give up and be the best you can be for yourself and others," said Ittinuar. Ittinuar earlier served as an RCMP Special Constable from 1949 to 1957. Rankin-Winnipeg flights resume After a six month hiatus, First Air resumed flying between Rankin Inlet and Winnipeg, this time without the customary stop in Thompson, Man. Eliminating that stop, combined with a drop in the price of fuel, made the route economically feasible again, according to First Air's vice-president of sales and marketing. Others in the community suspected it was Canadian North's interest in opening such a route that prompted First Air to restore the service. First Air stopped passenger service on the route in September 2008 and was accused of doing so because the Government of Nunavut had awarded the local medevac contract to other carriers. Assault charges stayed for minister Crown lawyers chose not to pursue assault and sexual assault charges against Rankin Inlet/Whale Cove MLA Lorne Kusugak, also minister of Community and Government Services. Kusugak was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of common assault in August 2008 while serving as mayor of Rankin Inlet. Kusugak was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a gathering in his home in May 2001. Staying the charges means crown prosecutors have 12 months -- until February 2010 -- to resume prosecution.
March
John Ningark named MLA Five months after the territorial general election, John Ningark was finally chosen as the MLA for Akulliq. The vote was first delayed to Dec. 15 after Jack Anawak disputed his disqualification as a candidate because he did not fulfill residency requirements. The Dec. 15 election and subsequent recount found Ningark and Steve Mapsalak had tied in the vote. Ningark won the second election over Mapsalak March 2, 193-179. Ed Horne civil suit postponed The 70 students of former teacher Ed Horne and the lawyer for the Nunavut and Northwest Territories governments agreed to try and resolve the civil suit against the governments outside the courtroom. The trial, which was set to begin in March, was postponed after the court granted the request to delay the trial. Geoffrey Budden, lawyer for the students who say Horne sexually abused them while he was a teacher in Nunavut between 1971 and 1985, said about one third of the previous claims against Horne had been settled through a pre-trial, judicially-assisted mediation process. Brad Patzer, lawyer for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut said the mediation process is less costly and less stressful for both sides of the case. In 2002, an out of court settlement of $21.5 million was paid to 82 of Horne's former students by the Northwest Territories and Nunavut governments. Hunters survive night on the sea ice Two hunters from Coral Harbour returned to the community on March 13 after being trapped on an ice floe in Hudson Bay all night. Greg Ningeocheak and Sandy Pudlat were in Evans Strait hunting for polar bears when they realized the ice they were on was floating away from the edge. They made a satellite phone call to Greg's father Jimmy Ningeocheak to request a search and rescue. As the pair was now floating about five or six kilometres away from the edge, a Hercules airplane from CFB Trenton arrived and dropped supplies to the hunters and searchers. Ningeocheak and Pudlat then spent the night on the piece of ice with winds gusting up to 30 km/h and temperatures of -30 C. The next day, the ice floe reached the opposite end of the open water and the men were returned to the community by search and rescue workers. Paul Okalik in hot water over racial remarks MLAs stressed co-operation and unity in the legislative assembly after former premier Paul Okalik suggested Arviat MLA Daniel Shewchuk couldn't properly fulfil his duties as environment minister because he was not Inuk. Other MLAs were quick to respond saying racism both in the territory and the legislature should not be allowed. Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo issued an apology to all Nunavummiut for Okalik's comments. Okalik said his remarks had nothing to do with race and said he would not apologize.
April
Orcas in Hudson Bay Killer whales were discovered to be frequent predators in Hudson Bay, according to a biologist with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Steve Ferguson conducted traditional knowledge studies throughout the Kivalliq region, Iglulik and Hall Beach and determined orca whales were becoming frequent predators in Hudson Bay. Ferguson said the whales were taking advantage of thinning sea ice in Hudson Strait to enter the bay. Ferguson was part of a University of Manitoba research group that surveyed community members to gather information about orca sightings. No mention of Hudson Bay killer whales was found in commercial whaling records from the 1940s. Aariak and Aglukkaq announce funding initiatives Premier Eva Aariak and federal health minister and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq announced federal funding for infrastructure projects in Nunavut on April 9. The announcement included $32.2 million to build Clyde River’s Piqqusilirivvik Cultural Facility and another $60 million from the federal Gas Tax Fund to finance water and waste facilities in the territory. The federal government’s contribution covers 75 per cent of the total cost of the projects, with the government of Nunavut funding the remaining 25 per cent. Aariak said past federal funding initiatives only partially covered expenses because funds were based on population size. The new funding would have the federal government covering a majority, if not the entire, cost of the proposed projects, Aariak said. Pangnirtung fast-tracks harbour The community of Pangnirtung learned its small-craft harbour would need to be finished before federal funding slated for the project dries up. The federal government allocated $25 million in its last two budgets, but there was no guarantee the money would be available after the government's fiscal year begins in April 2011. But because the ocean outside of Pangnirtung will freeze in October, the harbour must be finished before October 2010. The project was scheduled to begin in June or July of 2010. Pangnirtung’s SAO Ron Mongeau said he was confident the harbour would be finished in time. Cambridge Bay man dies after jumping from plane Twenty-year-old Julian Tologanak-Labrie died after jumping out of a King Air 200 aircraft during a flight from Yellowknife to Cambridge Bay on April 15. Tologanak-Labrie had been in Yellowknife for a hockey tournament. He was taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital the night of April 14 under the Mental Health Act and was sent home to Cambridge Bay the following day. Tologanak-Labrie reportedly opened the exit door and leaped from the aircraft at approximately 4:30 p.m., about an hour and a half after taking off from Yellowknife. The aircraft was not pressurized at the time. His remains were never found. An inquest into his death is scheduled to be held in January 2010. Operation Nunalivut finishes Operation Nunalivut ended on April 17 after a three-week patrol of Ellesmere Island and Axel Heiberg Island. Rangers and military personnel left Fort Eureka on Ellesmere Island on April 4 and returned on April 17. Gaining knowledge about the terrain and testing equipment were two objectives for the operation. One Ranger had to be evacuated to Ottawa during the patrol after an accident with a snowmobile. The operation marked the first use of radar imaging to help determine ice conditions and the first time search and rescue technicians were part of patrol teams. Military personnel said improvements to communications systems will be needed for future operations. Operation Nunalivut 2010 will incorporate dog team patrols from Greenland, which will travel with Canadian Rangers.
May
Inuk woman offended by "Eskimo" candies Twenty-one-year-old Seeka Veevee Parsons spoke out about "Eskimo" candies she found during a trip to New Zealand. Parsons was travelling in New Zealand when she found packages of candy shaped like Inuit in a store with the name "Eskimo Lollies." Parsons said she believed the candies were racist. Parson's outcry got the attention of media from around the world. Cadbury/Pascall, the company that makes the candies, said the treats were not meant to be offensive. Grise Fiord on Oprah The Oprah Winfrey show conducted an interview with Grise Fiord residents using Skype – a type of teleconferencing over the Internet. Residents Laisa Watsko, Neevee Kakkee and Janice Anderson all spoke to Oprah and answered questions about life in a remote High Arctic community. The group did the interview outside to ensure Arctic scenery was in the background. Grise Fiord was one of several communities from across the world that participated in the show, titled "Where the Skype Are You?" Food mail program may discontinue personal orders An interim report on the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Food Mail program proposed changes to the program, including possibly eliminating personal orders, reducing food delivery entry points and increasing ways to ensure retailers are passing along savings to customers. Personal orders are not encouraged under the $64.5-million program, according to manager of the food mail program Fred Hill. The program's goal is to ensure reasonably priced foods are available in stores. Sanikiluaq man pleads guilty to child molestation A Sanikiluaq man pleaded guilty to charges of sexually touching a dozen boys under the age of 12. Jobie Crow, 70, sentenced to five and a half years in prison. Crow was convicted on 11 counts of touching for sexual purpose a person under 14 years of age stemming from 2006-2007. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault from an incident that took place in the community in 1973. The victims ranged in age from five to 12 years old. Sewage leak closes Kingait Inn A sewage leak at Cape Dorset's Kingait Inn prompted a public health order to close the hotel on May 6. The hotel, owned by South Baffin MLA Fred Schell, was under orders to clean up the leak, repair plumbing and dispose of the waste. Schell said the hotel was the responsibility of operations manager, Cheryl Constantineau, who said she was working to clean up the damage. Cape Dorset mayor Cary Merritt said Schell would be responsible for the cost of the cleanup. Statement of regret from Vatican City Former Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Mary Simon travelled to Vatican City as guests of the Assembly of First Nations to hear Pope Benedict XVI's statement of regret to residential school survivors. The statement was made to a private audience that included Phil Fontaine, then national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Simon said she hoped to invite the Pope to Nunavut so he could specifically address Inuit residential school survivors. Auditor general slams Housing Corp. Auditor general Sheila Fraser appeared to the standing committee in the legislative assembly to discuss her findings during an audit of the Nunavut Housing Corp. Fraser's report was tabled in May 2008 and determined the corporation had failed to plan for "known risks" such as delays and other issues that would inhibit the goal of completing 725 new housing units by 2010. Other issues involved lack of supervision of local housing authorities, lack of documentation and "poor information" about the state of housing projects across the territory. Kugluktuk's alcohol education committee reduces crime Gary Kennedy, chair of Kugluktuk's alcohol education committee, said crimes significantly decreased after alcohol was restricted in the community. RCMP Sgt. Maurice Poisson agreed. "By restricting alcohol in this community, and I will give credit to the alcohol committee, there has been a 30 per cent on average decrease and the trend has been continuing for the past two months," he said. Poisson said although bootlegging continued in the community, the majority of residents were using the education committee to make alcohol purchases.
June
June MLA no-show Pangnirtung MLA Enuk Pauloosie was suspended from the legislative assembly because he had missed too many sessions. Pauloosie was suspended until the assembly's fall session. There was no opposition to the suspension, and Pauloosie himself supported it. "I accept the judgment of my colleagues in this matter and will have no further comment," said Pauloosie in a press release. Nunavut in the red Minister of Finance Keith Peterson defended the Government of Nunavut's second deficit budget in a row as necessary to defend against the global economic decline. The 2009-2010 budget included a $29.1-million deficit, money which was focused on infrastructure construction and job creation. Peterson said Nunavut was "insulated" from the worst of the global economy because most of the GN's cash comes from Ottawa, not private industry, and with construction jobs less common than they used to be, the GN is paying less for infrastructure development than in better times. Language Act passes Parliament passed the Nunavut Official Languages Act, installing Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun as official languages in Nunavut alongside English and French. "Many of us have watched with sadness the declining use of the Inuit language," said Nunavut Languages Commissioner Alexina Kublu. "Now we have a chance to reverse this trend and to assert our language rights, along with the rights of English and French speakers." The act's passage meant territorial and federal government staff in Nunavut would be required to provide services in all four official languages. Shootout in Iqaluit An man was arrested after an exchange of gunfire with RCMP near Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit. Dozens of Iqalummiut witnessed the man's surrender and takedown behind the school in full view of much of the lower city. A crowd in front of NorthMart scattered at the sound of gunshots, and volunteers with Alianait! rushed nearby children into the festival's tent for cover. No one was hurt. Thomas Josephee was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder. Animal rights group hijacks Olympic logo An animal-rights group has come under fire for its criticism of Canada's sealing industry via the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals took the official logo of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics – a coloured Inuksuk – and depicted it clubbing a bloody whitefur baby seal. Inuit groups have called the campaign a "gross misunderstanding of the seal hunt." A PETA spokesperson said the group opposed the commercial seal industry of Canada's east coast, but not the subsistence hunting of the Inuit in the North. Inquest called Nunavut's chief coroner announced there would be an inquest into the death of Cambridge Bay resident Julian Tologanak-Labrie, who jumped out of an aircraft on his way home from a hockey tournament in Yellowknife. Tologanak-Labrie's body was never recovered. "At this point we have nothing but theory and innuendo," said the family's lawyer Steven Cooper. "This is what the family wanted as one step towards understanding what really happened and why." Research station contenders Federal government staff visited three communities under consideration to host the High Arctic Research Station. Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet and Resolute were each hoping to host the facility, which will bring jobs and construction contracts to wherever it is located. The feasibility study is supposed to run until the summer of 2010. Once it's finished, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs will make its report and recommendation to its minister and through him to the prime minister and cabinet for a final decision. Ramp appeal denied The Nunavut Court of Justice ruled in favour of the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay in a dispute over a ramp a resident had built to the entrance to his home, and ordered it removed. The hamlet had told Corey Dimitruk the ramp he had built was too close to the road. Dimitruk said the road had been incorrectly surveyed and was on his property, which did turn out to be the case. The road and a stop sign was moved, and Dimitruk agreed to tear down the ramp. Dimitruk, the lands administrator for the Kitikmeot region, said the dispute showed how important it was for an applicant and a lands administrator to properly communicate and mark boundaries before any new construction project.
July
Women receive masters of education degrees Twenty-one Nunavummiut women received their masters in education leadership degrees on July 1. The women completed their educations online through the University of Prince Edward Island and through class time in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet. The program, which was delivered through partnerships between Nunavut Arctic College, the Department of Education, UPEI and St. Francis Xavier University, is scheduled to be held again in 2010. Elders Mariano Aupilardjuk and Meeka Arnakaq received honorary degrees during a convocation ceremony held on Canada Day in Iqaluit. Iqaluit woman did not die from alcohol A coroners' report on the 2008 death of an Iqaluit woman found she had died of stress as a result of being beaten, and not from alcohol intoxication as had been previously believed. Della Ootoova, 46, was found dead in an Iqaluit residence on June 7, 2008. A toxicology report from Iqaluit's Qikiqtani General Hospital found her body contained a fatal amount of alcohol. A subsequent coroner's report found an atherosclerotic lesion on Ootoova's coronary artery, which can result in death if subjected to strenuous activity or stress. The report also said successive toxicology reports found less "ethanol toxicity" (alcohol level) then the original report. Ootoova's husband Amos Ootoova had been charged with second-degree murder on June 9, 2008, but the charges were stayed. He died in January 2009. Man pleads guilty to sex with young girl A 23-year-old Iglulik man received a 14-month jail sentence on July 8 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl. Caesar Arnatsiaq had been charged with sexual interference with a minor and possession of child pornography in August 2008. "An adult cannot have sex with a person under 14. Period. End of sentence. End of thought," Judge Beverly Brown said. Arnatsiaq also received 18 months of probation, is scheduled to have his name added to the sex offender registry and will be required to supply a sample of his DNA. Communities chosen for bowhead whale hunt Rankin Inlet, Kugaaruk and Cape Dorset were selected to hold the summer 2009 bowhead whale hunts. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans increased the hunt to three whales, one per community, in May. Inuit had been pressuring the department to completely remove limits on the total allowable harvest. Training hunters to use new equipment took place in each community. For the first time, hunters were trained how to use a penthrite grenade, replacing black powder grenades formerly used while hunting the whales. Each community also submitted detailed hunt plans to the department prior to beginning the hunts. RCMP officer charged with assault RCMP Const. Kipanik Eegeesiak was charged with two counts of assault on July 10 regarding incidents involving two prisoners in police custody. Eegeesiak was accused of assaulting the individuals on May 16, 2009. An independent prosecutor from Alberta decided charges should be laid after evaluating information from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC). The information had been sent to PPSC following a criminal investigation that took place after the assaults were reported. Eegeesiak was reassigned to administrative duties prior to his facing charges in the Nunavut Court of Justice in September.
Kivalliq woman dies of swine flu Nunavut's second H1N1 flu death occurred on July 15 after a young woman from the Kivalliq region, who was pregnant, died of the virus. The first victim of the flu was considered a resident of both Nunavut and Alberta and died on June 30. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Isaac Sobol said anyone in a high-risk group who had flu-like symptoms should call their health centre for information. He said high-risk groups included pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions. The total number of lab-confirmed cases of swine flu in Nunavut was 405 as of July 15. Europe bans seal products The European Parliament voted to ban all seal products from the European Union. The legislation exempts seal products harvested non-commercially by Inuit in Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia, but Inuit groups argued such an exemption will make little different to the damage to the market. "They (the EU) refuse to listen to us. To us an extension is useless because the price of the skin has already dropped and we can't sell any seals anyway," said sealskin designer and advocate Aaju Peter. New top cop Supt. Steve McVarnock arrived in Iqaluit to take command of RCMP's V Division in Nunavut, replacing Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak. McVarnock had 28 years policing experience, and started his career in the communities of what is now Nunavut. One of McVarnock's priorities was to lobby to lengthen the tours of duty of RCMP members in Nunavut to four years from two, which was implemented in November.
"That (two-year tour) fills a short-term need but also creates a longer-term challenge in that you lose half of your resources every year," said McVarnock. "So your business continuity is disrupted in a big way."
Woman drowns in attempt to save sons Iglulik’s Clara Apak Arnatsiaq drowned near Repulse Bay in an unsuccessful effort to save her two drowning sons. Arnatsiaq’s other two sons could only watch as their mother tried to rescue their two brothers from drowning in Old Water Lake. The two boys ran back to town for help, and the bodies of their mother and brothers were found five hours later. CPR could not revive them. Arnatsiaq had recently began working as a home care worker, and was described as an active member of Iglulik’s community. Tourism boom in Cambridge Bay An increased number of cruise ships visiting Cambridge Bay has led to an expanded guiding program. Cambridge Bay’s visitor’s centre ran tours showing visitors around historical landmarks and other points of interest. More than four cruise ships visited the community this summer, an increase over previous years. The new program trained youth and young adults to give tours through role-playing exercises and practices. Guides were encouraged to share their own stories about places in town and outside, including traditional stories. Old made new Several Nunavut women had recently received traditional tattoos, taking designs inspired by personal connections with tattooed elders or by investigative research. Facial and wrist tattoos were once common among Inuit women, but the last of the tattooed elders died in 2006 in Taloyoak. “I think there are so many Inuit women who have thought about this,” said Alethea Arnaquq-Baril. Sylvia Grinnell char studied Researchers and hunters collected Arctic char for a tag-and-release study to learn more about the char’s annual migrations. Each of the tags contain a number, which tells the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ scientists when and where the fish was first captured and tagged. Iqaluimmiut who catch the tagged fish are asked to call the DFO office in Iqaluit to let them know where and when they caught it. They can keep the fish. Death in custody A 52-year-old woman died after spending many hours in Iqaluit RCMP custody awaiting transfer back to the hospital. Elisapee Michael had fallen down the front steps at the Nova Inn in Iqaluit and hurt her head while she was intoxicated. After she was taken to Qikiqtani General Hospital, staff there said she was causing a disturbance and asked police to remove her. Also, the hospital was crowded that night. Police brought her back to the hospital the next day after it became apparent she was in medical trouble. She died five days later in hospital in Ottawa. Nunavut’s coroner will hold an inquest. CanNor location announced During a visit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Iqaluit would be the location Canada’s newest Northern federal agency. The Northern Federal Development Agency, or CanNor, was set up in Iqaluit because Nunavut needs economic development, according to the prime minister. “…The more I thought about this, was the whole idea of this agency is it’s supposed to be an economic development agency,” he said. “So why don’t we as the federal government face that directly by putting the agency where the challenges are the greatest and overcoming them ourselves?” New senator Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the appointment of Nunavut’s new senator Dennis Patterson. Patterson was once MLA for Iqaluit and premier of the Northwest Territories. Patterson’s appointment initially ignited controversy because he is not Inuk and Nunavut has not been his primary residence for years. However, he received immediate support from Inuit land claims organizations. “Knowing Dennis, he knows the issues of Nunavut inside and out,” said Nunavut Tunngavik first vice-president James Eetoolook. Operation Nanook The Canadian Forces’ annual Northern sovereignty operation brought hundreds of regular army soldiers and dozens of Canadian Rangers to Iqaluit to participate in field exercises. Apex was invaded as the military simulated securing a foreign unmanned aircraft near the Road to Nowhere and military and emergency services responded to a mock explosion at Iqaluit’s tank farm.
September
Councillor forbidden to attend in-camera meetings Jim Little was barred from in-camera Iqaluit city council meetings after alleging to RCMP that another councillor had been offered a bribe for a development permit. Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik introduced the motion to ban Little on Sept. 8. She said he should have discussed the matter with council members before breaching the confidentiality of an in-camera session. Little said he had brought the subject up at an earlier in-camera council meeting, but other members of council did not want to discuss it. Little would not reveal the identity of the councillor he alleges was bribed. Lawsuit against Okalik dropped Lynda Gunn, former CEO of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, withdrew her defamation lawsuit against former Premier Paul Okalik in September. Gunn’s $600,000 lawsuit was in response to comments Okalik made at a dinner in Labrador in June 2007. Guests overheard Okalik making profane comments about Gunn. Gunn filed her lawsuit in April 2008. Okalik apologized to Gunn and the public a few days later and was also reprimanded by MLAs in the legislative assembly. Cape Dorset RCMP confiscate marijuana RCMP made two arrests and searched two homes in Cape Dorset, seizing 114 grams of marijuana worth $7,000 and $3,110 in cash. One gram of marijuana is worth $60 in the community. Two individuals were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and illegal possession of alcohol during the busts. “There is a substantial (drug trade here). I couldn’t even put a number on the amount of drug trade going on in town,” said Cape Dorset RCMP Sgt. James McLaren. Constable found guilty of assault RCMP Const. Colin Allooloo was found guilty of assault in September of the 2006 pepper spraying of a 16-year-old youth in police custody in Fort Simpson, NWT. Supreme Court Justice Leigh Gower convicted Allooloo of assault with a weapon for spraying the teenager underneath the door of the detachment's drunk tank where the boy was being held. Allooloo was previously accused of assaulting prisoners in 1999 in Iqaluit and Behchoko. Charges were not laid in the Iqaluit incident and he was found not guilty for the incident in Behchoko. Resolute residents petition to keep utilidor In September, community members and Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliot started a petition against the Nunavut government’s plan to replace the town’s utilidor system with trucked water. Resolute’s utilidor system has been in the community for about 35 years. Utilidor systems usually last about 20 years, but constant repairs had maintained it an additional 15 years. If implemented, the switch to a truck system would take about two years. A new utilidor system would cost more than $30 million to construct. Man receives life in prison for child's murder A 23-year-old Kugaaruk man who pleaded guilty to murdering a five-year-old girl in March 2006 was given a life sentence in a federal prison on Sept. 17. He will have no chance of parole for 18 years. It was the longest sentence for second-degree murder in the history of the territory. Shawn Kayaitok also pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy. He was 19 at the time of the murder. City of Iqaluit pledges to remove scrap metal In September, a pile of scrap metal in Iqaluit was expected to be removed from the city and sent south by the end of the sealift season. The metal was stored in Iqaluit’s West 40 section, a former fuel and vehicle storage area used by the U.S. military in the 1940s and 1950s. The city said it would clean up the area in 2010 after the metal was removed from the site. However, the scrap still remains at the West 40, now awaiting the 2010 sealift season. Iqaluit city council hears traffic light proposal A traffic light at Iqaluit’s four-corners intersection would significantly reduce traffic congestion during the city’s busiest hours, according to a report a consulting company submitted to city council. ITrans consultant David Banks told councillors the $465,000 light would reduce drivers’ wait times to 10 or 15 seconds instead of the current 30 to 40 seconds. But councillor Glen Williams said the convenience didn’t justify the cost of the project. “It’s not like it takes anyone in town more than 10 to 12 minutes to get to work as long as they live in town,” Williams said.
October
Government gets poor Report Card The long-awaited report card on the performance of the Government of Nunavut slammed the government on a wide range of issues including decentralization, quota hiring and the high turnover of staff. Sky North Consulting staff had travelled all over Nunavut collecting personal stories and opinions from Nunavummiut for the report. “One thing that I really noticed is that we have a lot of work to do,” said Premier Eva Aariak. “I’m very happy to see the report as presented.” Auditor general criticizes Health finances Canada’s auditor general Sheila Fraser reported the Department of Health and Social Services’s record of paying its bills was “inaccurate, incomplete and untimely," and in consequence the department was having a hard time retaining suppliers. She also said the department was not good at collecting money that it was owed, and was chronically short-staffed. Health and Social Services Deputy Minister Alex Campbell said the report’s conclusions were "not a surprise." Sealift vessel crippled The MV Avataq, a sealift freighter with Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping, had engines trouble in the Hudson Strait near Salluit and had to be towed to port. As a result, the sealift supplies were weeks late in arriving in Iglulik, Hall Beach and Repulse Bay. NEAS’s president Suzanne Paquin said the incident highlighted the need for safe ports in the North. “We are convinced today that safety has to be the top priority in the North and infrastructure development is the way to go,” said Paquin. “No history of colonialism” controversy Prime Minister Stephen Harper ignited criticism from Canadian aboriginal groups by stating Canada had “no history of colonialism” during a speech at a press conference in the U.S. Without an official clarification from the Prime Minister’s office, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Nunavut Tunngavik both stated the comment damaged the reconciliation the prime minister had supported with his national apology for the abuses under the Indian Residential Schools system. Iqalummiut march for sexual health awareness Dozens of Iqalummiut marched to raise awareness of sexual health issues, organized by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. Four people dressed up as brightly coloured giant condoms to highlight their message. President at the time Rhoda Innuksuk said it was “draining” for people to talk openly about issues like sexual health, especially in the North. “It’s difficult when it’s involving the Inuit culture because we don’t want to hurt that either, but these type of issues were not openly discussed before,” Innuksuk said. Cam Bay gets first midwife Sharyne Fraser arrived in Cambridge Bay as its first certified midwife, heralding a change in the community’s approach to childbirth. Previously expectant mothers had to go to Yellowknife weeks prior to their due date and wait to give birth. “Just the thought of going down (south) for a month before, sitting twiddling my thumbs, it would be very easy for any woman to sent into depression,” said mother-to-be Kelly Lear. “Being home around family makes it so much easier.” Pyjama-clad teacher shoots bear Early one morning before work, Rebecca Hainnu saw a polar bear less then 20 feet from her house. Fortunately, the Grade 4 teacher at Quluaq School had won a hunting tag in the lottery the night before. “I ran into the house and went crazy, trying to find my camera, pull on a jacket and snow pants over my pyjamas and call my brother all at the same time,” Hainnu recalled. She went out with her brother on a ski-doo, bagged the bear, and still made it to work on time. Iqaluit mayor re-elected Incumbent mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik was re-elected for a third term with 58 per cent of the vote over opponent Jim Little. Sheutiapik credited her win to Iqalummiut’s desire for her to continue the long-term planning process she began in her first term. “It’s going to be interesting with new councillors because all have identified needs and wants,” she said. “That’s going to be a real eye-opener." Greenland and Canada to co-manage polar bear populations In a memorandum of understanding, Greenland, Nunavut and Canada agreed that all three governments will supervise polar bear populations in Baffin Bay and Kane Basin, which are hunted by hunters in both Greenland and Canada. An advisory commission with representatives from both countries is expected to be formed. The total allowable harvest for polar bear hunting will continue to be reviewed by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and ultimately decided by the territory’s environment minister.
November
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER Delivery driver robbed at gunpoint A delivery driver at Iqaluit’s The Snack restaurant was robbed on Nov. 5. At approximately 7:30 p.m., two masked individuals approached Judy Ann Soucy outside the restaurant and demanded money. One of the individuals had a rifle. Soucy handed over less than $100 to the individuals who then fled on foot. RCMP later recovered a .22 rifle used in the robbery, as well as a balaclava, a blue hoodie and a blue jacket near the scene. RCMP contracts increased to four years Members of the RCMP stationed in Nunavut will be required to stay an additional two years in the territory after a decision was made to increase tours of duty to four years in October. Supt. Steve McVarnock said officers will be stationed in one community for the first two years then will be moved to another community for the remaining two years. Officers will be given the opportunity to negotiate the location of their next contract prior to coming North. Nunavut turbot quota increased Nunavut was set to receive 90 per cent of Canada’s new turbot quota, which was increased to 1,500 tonnes on Nov. 9. The turbot quota in the fishing area off the southeast shore of Baffin Island, the 0B fishing area, is now 7,000 tonnes with the increase. Greenland also received an increase of 1,500 tonnes. Nunavut’s quota is scheduled to take effect in 2010. Pauktuutit president ousted Rhoda Innuksuk was removed from her position as president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada on Nov. 16. Iqaluit mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik replaced her after the board voted unanimously to remove Innuksuk during a meeting. Discrimination against non-Inuit employees and discussing confidential matters with media were listed in a Policies and Procedures report to the organization’s board of director, which was also sent to Innuksuk before her dismissal. Innuksuk had been interim president of the organization in January 2008 before being elected in March 2008. Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. holds annual general meeting in Apex The annual general meeting of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. took place in Apex on Nov. 17. Representatives from the three regional Inuit organizations attended the meetings, and focused on polar bear quotas, ship traffic and a new corporation. Kitikmeot Inuit organization president Charlie Evalik discussed the organization’s proposed Nunavut Resources Corp. which Evalik said would give Inuit organizations more control over mining resources in the territory. Kivalliq Inuit Association president Jose Kusugak discussed holding a conference to talk about possible environmental impacts of increased ship traffic. Body found near Iqaluit airport A 69-year-old Hall Beach man was found dead near the Iqaluit airport on Nov. 26. Percy Pikuyak had been in the community attending Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board meetings. An employee of the gas station found Pikuyak’s body between the Co-op Gas Bar and the Worker’s Compensation Board office on Airport Road. The employee then called the police, who arrived at the scene shortly after 8 a.m. Foul play was not suspected. Report finds Okalik in breach of integrity act Nunavut’s privacy commissioner Norman Pickell determined that former premier Paul Okalik violated Nunavut’s integrity act during his 2008 re-election campaign. Okalik was running for MLA of Iqaluit West but was still premier during the election. The report found that Okalik’s staff had requested donations from deputy ministers during the campaign with Okalik’s knowledge. The premier appoints deputy ministers, so requesting funding from them violated the act, Pickell determined.
Nunavut sends seven delegates to Copenhagen Seven delegates from Nunavut were selected to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, to attend an international climate change conference. The delegation included Premier Eva Aariak, Environment Minister Dan Shewchuk, Deputy Minister of Environment Simon Awa and Energy Secretariat Dave Wright. The group will be looking to other countries represented at the conference for ideas on how to implement alternative energy while on the trip. The trip was expected to cost $70,000. Former QIA president dies Thomasie Alikatuktuk died Nov. 24 at the age of 56. Alikatuktuk served as president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association from 2001 until he retired for health reasons on Oct. 22, 2009. Alikatuktuk was also a well-known artist. On the day of his death, a Facebook group entitled “Prayers for Thomasie Alikatuktuk” contained posts from people who remembered him.
December
Anti-uranium group makes its case Nunavummiut Makitagunarningit held its first public meeting on Nov. 28, to discuss its members concerns with uranium mining in Nunavut. The group said Nunavut needs more information about uranium mining and asked for a public inquiry. About 40 community members showed up for the meeting in Iqaluit. All of Nunavut's MLAs were also invited, but none attended. Inuit certified as midwives Two women from Rankin Inlet became the first Inuit to be certified as nationally licensed midwives. Catherine Connelly and Rachel Jones passed the Canadian Midwifery Registration Exam, and will soon be among the first midwives to be licensed under Nunavut's new Midwifery Act. Both women came though Arctic College's midwifery program at the Kivalliq Campus in Rankin Inlet, which incorporated Inuit traditions in midwifery with the help of the late elder Annie Netser. H1N1 on the rise again New cases of H1N1 "swine flu" had health officials worried the disease was returning to Nunavut. Despite thousands of inoculations at the territory-wide mass-vaccination clinics, it's possible the virus was able to take hold among the mostly-immune population. More than half of Nunavummiut received the H1N1 vaccine. The clinics also administered the regular seasonal flu vaccine, but there have been few cases of seasonal flu in Canada this season. H1N1 has become the dominant strain of flu this year. New Larga Kitikmeot opens The Kitikmeot's new medical boarding home in Yellowknife opened on Dec. 2, with room for 56 people. It also has a kitchen and dining room, offering three hot meals a day. Its location is also an improvement over the older facility, being closer to Yellowknife's Stanton Territorial Hospital. The facility cost about $6 million to build through Kitikmeot Corporation and Nunasi Corporation. Forty-four patients arrived on the building's first day of operation. Jet jumps fence For two days, a corporate jet sat atop the clear, windblown ice on a small lake between Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park and Iqaluit Airport after a driving off the airport's runway and through the fence during a windy landing. The jet had been on its way to California from England, stopping to refuel in Iqaluit. Dog disease Iqaluit city council temporarily amended a bylaw to allow the city to destroy dogs after only 12 hours instead of the usual 72 during an outbreak of parvovirus. The Iqaluit Humane Society's animal shelter was quarantined and the city's municipal enforcement department did not have the capacity to house dogs they seized without the shelter's help. Council and shelter personnel asked Iqalummiut to keep their dogs inside and make sure they were properly tagged and vaccinated. NTI establishes polar bear hotline Nunavut Tunngavik created a hotline for Nunavummiut to call with their observations of polar bears, to gather information. The upcoming Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) will decide whether to consider polar bears "threatened with extinction." That category would make polar bear imports illegal worldwide. The information NTI gathers from its hotline will be presented at CITES to argue against such a classification.
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