HALUUQAFFI IQALUKTUUTIAMIT. INUIN NAMMAKPIAQTUT. QILAMINNUAQ APUTTAITTUQ NUNAKPUT. TARJUQLU IMMATARTUK. ALIANAHIJUQ AUDLARIAMI. TINGMIAKHIULIQTUTLU MANNIQHIULIQTUTLU. AUDLATTIJUTLU. ALAPAAKNAIKMAN INUIN AUDLALIQTUT QANITTUNUAMILU TAVANILU TAHIQMI. QUANA INUIN HULILUGAAKTUT HUMANGITTUT IILLA. INIKTIKMATA ILIHAKTUT KIILINIKMIT IPAKHANI.
QUVUAHUHUTIK TAMAPMIK ILIHAIJIITLU. HAVAAKHANIK QINIQNIAQMIJUT INUHUKTUT. QUANA IKAJUQTAUVAKTUT HAVAAKHIUKTUT INUHUKTUT. QILAMINNUAQ HIKUILIRAMI TARJUQ. KUUGALU HIKUIKTUK. NUNA PINNIHIJUQ. NUTAQQAT ANIRAAKPAKTUT. QINIQPAKLURIT NUTAQQATIT. IILLA INUIN NAMMAINNAQTUT. TUPIKNAHIJUQ IGLUKPAKNUT UPAKNIALIQMIYAIN.
Greetings from the land of the Inuinnait. It's early short springtime season, the ice is melting too quickly. Residents did not have much time ice fishing. Everyone has been ice fishing in spring time weather all their lives, but this year it is different, with warmer temperatures. Weather has changed and summer will be here much earlier than other years. This time of year everyone spends a lot of time outdoors egg hunting, ice fishing and geese hunting. It has been a busy time for youth and adults to spend more outdoor time out on the land just going on day trips or spending the weekends at their cabins.
The ice is melting and much water on top means travellers, hunters and fishers are using very slushy pathways. Early spring makes a short season for ice-fishing for trout and Arctic char. Inuit love spending time out on the land when weather warms up after a long winter. With 24-hour daylight, time is no matter up here.
Cambridge Bay is a very busy town. Where once it was a quiet small village, it's now booming with more housing and other buildings being constructed. With busy visitors flying in for work or family visits, the airport is busy also. A paved runway is needed in order for bigger aircraft to land in Cambridge Bay, to better serve a growing town.
In the old days, all we had were float planes and DC-3s, Twin Otters and whatever air force planes they had. Today ATRs are used to transport passengers, and some airlines are flying in freight. Often, residents here do food orders, which are cheaper. Prices here are among the highest in the world. It is one of our biggest issues is high food prices and high cost of living up here.
But jobs and education are plenty up here in Cambridge Bay. Newcomers to town are coming and getting jobs as there are not many employment opportunities like down south. Wages are much higher in Nunavut, so it is very important that there is enough housing up north.
Often, our ancestors are thought of and remembered and respected because they lived a hard life out on the land, but a peaceful one. I love looking at the old photographs and listening to stories of back then. But Inuit still practise and live many traditional and cultural ways of our ancestors. Being out on the land is healing and peaceful. This is how many of our Inuit are still living, but while living in communities.
Most of the residents from Perry River, Umingmaktok, Bathurst Inlet and many other camps where our ancestors and relatives resided have since moved to community-style living, such as Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk. Our Elders often tell stories of back home and how much they miss it — the good ol' days. So today we must make sure our Elders have cabins and tents as they love camping. It is to this day still happening to bring Elders and families out to camp.
A favourite pastime is to have tea and eat country food when you go visit them. It will always be. Also to this day, Elders and Inuit fetch fresh water from the land like out at the river to have better tasting tea and drinking water. You can also buy filtered water at the stores or take a drive to the river or get fresh, clean snow.
So proud of the grads
Congratulations to the 2025 high school graduates. They celebrated with graduation ceremonies at Kiilinik High School with their teachers. Families and friends, community members and sponsors gathered to witness our youth graduate from Grade 12. They even had their kindergarten teacher from 12 years ago present, and that was pretty awesome to see.
Many students won awards for various categories along with money. I remember all of them when they were little children and now we're watching them all grown up as young adults completing their high school education. It was a proud day for all families and teachers.
Many of the students will move on to continue secondary education and training, and some will travel to different education and training centres in Canada. But home will always be home. We are proud parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, cousins and best friends. We congratulate you and wish you all well. Even the Grade 6 students from Kullik Elementary School had their Moving On Up Ceremonies and will be heading to junior high at the high school.
Our kids are all growing up so fast. Congratulations to the Grade 6 graduates also. Have fun and be happy and stay in school. We are so proud of you all! All the parents, grandparents, relatives and friends cried tears of joy for you all. We are happy for all of you. Take good care of each other. We love you. Good luck!
God Be With you Son. Felix graduated. A proud Nana here. Jade is growing and is back home in Kugluktuk. She is loved. We miss her. Congratulations, Felix.
