Tusaayaksat Spring 2014 by Tusaayaksat Magazine

Tusaayaksat magazine / spring 2014 / $5

stories that need to be heard

Alaskan High Kick

Rebirth on the land Healing Trauma and Addictions

Jesse Cockney Olympian Dreams AWG 2014 WISE Woman Faith Gordon

tusaayaksat.ca

On the Cover:

Keenan Carpenter in an expressive moment drum dancing. He is wearing a rare traditional loon hat which was used in ancient times by drum dancers for special dances. Thank you the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers who played and sang the Simon Song with Keenan for this cover shot.

Published quarterly by ICS at Box 1704, 292 Mackenzie Rd, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, X0E 0T0. Contact us at +1 867 777 2320 or ics@northwestel.net Publisher Inuvialuit Communications Society Managing Editor Zoe Ho Art Creative Director Zoe Ho Art Director/Designer Marten Sims Designer Sarah Hay

Tusaayaksat means “stories and voices that need to be heard”. We celebrate the Inuvialuit People, Culture and Heritage.

Our Mission:

To empower, celebrate, communicate, heal and bond. To bring you the best coverage of our news, vibrant culture and perspectives.

Contents

Editorial Team Writer/Photographer Zoe Ho Writer/Photographer David Stewart Inuvialuktun translators Emily Kudlak & Albert Elias. Contributors Noel Cockney, Shiense Cockney, Tamara Moore, Ethan Allen, Dawson Smith, Angus Cockney, Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison, Charles Arnold & Dan Slavic. Proofreader Marie Jacobson Special Thanks to Northern Games Society, IRC, ICRC, our contributors, impromptu translators, elders and interviewees from all over the ISR! Business Office Inuvialuit Communications Society Board of Directors: President, Inuvik Lucy Kuptana Vice President, Sachs Harbour Donna Keogak Aklavik Director Colin Gordon Uklukhaktok Director Joseph Haluksit Treasurer, Tuktoyaktuk, Director Debbie Raddi Paulatuk Director Millie Thrasher

Achieving Olympian Dreams!

Northern Games are different... in a good way!

Special Features 2 Jesse Cockney Olympian Dream Come True 6 Arctic Winter Games 2014 10 Rebirth on the land 28 Keeping our tongue

Executive Director Tony Devlin Office Manager Roseanne Rogers Finance officer Cheryl Williams Advertising Zoe Ho Subscriptions Roseanne Rogers Email subscriptions to icsfinance@northwestel.net +1-867-777-2320 Funding made possible by Canadian Heritage – Aboriginal Peoples Program Inuvialuit Regional Corporation GNWT (Education, Culture and Employment) Get social Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Tusaayaksat.ca

10.

The best way to heal the heart… on the land!

30.

What do you see in the sky at night? Say it in Inuvialuktun!

Language game 30 Counting Stars language games Special Events 33 Northern Games Summit 22 IRC Hockey 50 NWT Skills Competition & Career Expo 52 NWT Skills Winner Vanessa Lennie

22.

Did you love the IRC Cup? Here’s more!

Northern Games Series 41 Alaskan High Kick News 47 Duane Smith on ICC GA 20 A Wise Woman – Faith Gordon 37 Clean Camps Clean Coasts

38.

Pull-out poster!

41.

Alaskan High Kick step by step!

Hunters and Trappers 53 Beluga Fact Sheet Inuvialuit Youth Writers! 54 Ethan Allen and Dawson Smith 56 Shiense Cockney 58 Tamara Moore Our Voices 44 James Day 60 William Allen Aklak Engineer

20.

Ooh. A wise woman… who’s also awesome!

54.

Elder Story 62 Annie Inuktalik on Happiness Youth writers from East Three Secondary rock!

Culture Feature 72 Inuvik Muskrat Jamboree 74 CFCT – Reminiscing Tuk Radio 76 Reindeer Crossing 36, 46, 49 News Blurbs

60.

Do you want to fly high?

62.

Beautiful elder Annie on Happiness!

Tusaayaksat in the spring Tusaayaksat upinrakRami Greetings! As our wintry landscape thaws, bits of green are eager to burst forth with aliveness, and the ISR is warmed by a sun that will soon not set for a season. Spring is in the air with gatherings all over the communities (Jamboree, p72). It is a time to celebrate. We are capable of scaling great heights, as Jesse Cockney has shown us by achieving his Olympian dreams (p2). In our communities, heroes young and old commit themselves to uplifting their fellow Inuvialuit, whether in teaching others to relearn the mother tongue (p28), to show by example how to live the spirit of the traditional games (p33), or rolling up their sleeves to host the best spring celebration and hockey tournament (p22). Our youth are making their voices heard, examining issues that matter to them (Youth Writers, p52–57), taking on the steps towards their dream careers (NWT Skills, p50).

On our cover, drum dancer Keenan Carpenter is in a raw ecstatic moment, as he makes a deep connection to the ancient rhythm of traditional drums. His energy here echoes our key article on reconnecting with ancestral and traditional roots to heal and to be whole (p10). Brave men and women, elders and youth are grappling with the changes and challenges of living between two worlds. More than ever, Inuvialuit are connecting to their gut desires, to excel, to be well. Those who seek treatment for trauma and addictions are courageous, and they are never alone. Some who walked the path to recovery before now offer their bushcamps as healing sanctuaries. In meeting the people who inspired the stories that follow, I’m impressed more than ever by the Inuvialuit’s wisdom, strength, and connection to the land. When everything seems like an uphill struggle, think of the magnificent view from the top. Keep going. May our hearts sing.

Quyanainni Thank You, Zoe Ho Managing Editor

Olympian Dream

Cockney s u g n A y Photos b

True

y e n k c o C e m o C

e s s Je 2

Photo: Nancie Battaglia

Your father has skied to the North Pole and you, to the Olympics. Is it in your blood to go for groundbreaking achievements? My family has been amazing with their support on my way to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Every athlete at the games needs support from caring people around them and my family played a huge role in my qualification for Sochi. How do you feel when you ski? Why do you prefer sprinting to long distance skiing? On quiet days when I’m skiing on my own I feel at ease. The peacefulness of cross country skiing is something I really cherish and look forward to when life gets hectic. I actually prefer distance races to sprinting but I just happen to be better at sprinting. Tell us about the hardest part of training for the Olympics, what are your days like? Training to get to the Olympics is a massive commitment and a goal I’ve been chasing for close to ten years now. The hardest part is truly believing in myself that I can compete at the highest level with anyone in the world. The actual physical training of running, weightlifting and interval workouts are things that anyone can get good

Jesse Cockney competes in the Sochi Olympic Winter Games, February 2014.

at fairly quickly, but believing you’re moving in the right direction towards a specific goal is much harder in my mind. Days for me consist of early morning workouts, usually around 2.5 hours, get home, clean up and cook lunch, then if I have time I’ll take a nap before our afternoon workout, usually about an hour and a half, then get home, cleaned up and cook dinner... and hopefully I have some time to myself... to see friends, practice my German, or even one more relaxing outdoor activity, like climbing or disc golf. How did you feel when you had the chest cold before trials for Olympics? I was very unmotivated when I was dealing with that cough, I know the level of fitness that’s required to win a race in Canada and I just couldn’t see it happening for me in that state with so little prep leading into the trials. Thankfully my family was very positive and they kept the ship afloat long enough for me to have some good days at the trials races.

What was being at the Olympics like? What were some magical moments for you participating in the Sochi games? What were your final results? The feeling of walking through that stadium towards the start line for the sprint race was a very special moment for me. This was my first competition at the games and feeling part of the Olympics was an incredible moment that I had been imagining since I was a kid in the JackRabbits program. Marching in the closing ceremonies was also an amazing feeling. I don’t even know my exact finish placing, I know I was in the 50’s in both the sprint and the 50km and our team finished 12th in the 4x10km relay. I had bigger goals for the games but I know the level of competition now and that’s only going to motivate me to work harder/smarter this offseason.

The difference between rankings are a matter of microseconds, how do athletes feel when they are just microseconds from the podium? Well it’s obviously disappointment when a podium is that close, we work so hard every day of our lives for the rewards of a podium finish and to feel that close but to be empty handed is a really gut wrenching feeling.

Did you have a major career spike since 2012, or was it years in the making, such as when your family moved to Canmore? The 2013 World Cup in Canmore was a major career spike for me, but I’ve had results leading towards a day like that for the past three or four years.

What were some mistakes that you’ve learnt from? I’ve learnt to be in the moment and to let go of worries of the future and to not dwell on the past. It’s so important to be present in skiing and this is something that has really benefited my day to day life as well.

What are some favourite moments in your skiing career? One of my best memories in skiing came four years ago at the 2010 Olympics trials in Sovereign Lakes, BC when my teammate and close friend Gord Jewett qualified for the games. He had been working towards the Olympics for 17 years and endured back surgeries and setbacks to stay in the sport and the pure joy that my teammates and I shared with him on the finish line is a moment I’ll always hold onto.

What’s next and how are you going to get there? I have National Championships in Corner Brook next week so I’m busy training at home in Canmore to prepare for that. As far as future plans are concerned I’ll have to wait and see which team I’ll be nominated to for this upcoming training season and move on from there with plans. What would you really like to share with Inuvialuit youth? I hope that Inuvialuit youth see that I’m one of their own, chasing a lofty goal and working hard every day towards accomplishing that goal. Not everyone will be an athlete but it’s so important to find a passion and work towards being better and enjoying what you’re passionate about.

Jesse with Dad Angus in 1995, Yukon

A ock C

Like any Father, I always wanted the best outcome for my kids. It was an emotional moment to finally see Jesse realize his dream of competing in the winter Olympics.

As the 2014 Winter Olympics are on, don’t forget our fellow brothers and [residential school] survivors who made it to the big leagues too. 1972 Olympians, Fred Kelly and Roger Allen, 1976 Olympians, Bert Bullock and Ernie Lennie. Your legacy lives on with Jesse Cockney and he knows it.

It was very easy to introduce the sport to Jesse; in fact, I had him on skis when he was three years old in 1992. Right away, I saw that he had inherited my skills of balance and weight-shift. And, right away too, I saw that he was very competitive in racing as he always wanted to win and beat other kids. Fair enough.

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Born in Tuktoyaktuk, Jesse’s father Angus Cockney was chosen to accompany the 1989 Robert Swan “Icewalk” expedition to the North Pole as the Canadian member of an international team of 8 adventurers. Angus completed 56 grueling days across the frozen Arctic Ocean under unimaginably extreme weather and ice conditions. Angus spent 13 years in a Catholic-run residential school in Inuvik, and where his talent in skiing was discovered and developed in the Territorial Experimental Ski Training (T.E.S.T.) Program run by Father Mouchet. The program became a national world-class training program for Canada’s top cross-country ski athletes, including Sharon and Shirley Firth who competed in the 1984 Olympics. Here Angus shares how he feels about Jesse’s achievements:

Jesse and Angus today on the ski trails in Canmore.

The family moved from Yellowknife to Canmore, AB, a national sport center for cross country skiing with a world class facility to give their children a better chance at skiing professionally. Jesse made the Canadian National Team and represented Canada at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Europe. He narrowly missed being part of the 2010 Olympics ski team in Vancouver. While a little disappointed, he persevered as he knew he was quite young. After those Olympic Trials, he Jesse was winning ski competitions even as a child.

went on to race internationally and at the 2011 U23 World Championships, he ended up sixth in the world in the sprints. There and then, he knew he was a world-class athlete. He then went on to qualify second in the Canmore 2012 World Cup sprints. That was a real milestone as that achievement catapulted him onto the world stage. Jesse then trained consistently with the gaol to race at the Canadian Olympic trials in Canmore, January, 2014. There, he qualified by winning the overall sprint title and was then named to the Olympic Team. While his races at the Olympics did not pan out as expected due to some illness and unforeseen mishaps, he really enjoyed the experience and has said he’s looking forward to the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. And, I know through social media such as Facebook, friends across the country and of course the Inuvialuit were very excited and proud to see one of their own at the Olympics. Go Jesse!

David Stewart photo

The Friendliest Competition: Arctic Winter Games 2014 Words by Noel-Leigh Cockney

time and place where countries across the Arctic come together to interact, make friends, and share stories of their communities, territories and countries. It is also a unique time of friendly competition. The Arctic Sports and DenĂŠ Games have no age limit in the

Moments from the Arctic Sports competitions at the AWG 2014.

John A. Rusyniak photo

The Arctic Winter Games (AWG) is a

open category, competitors just have competitors have to be younger than 19.

Focus is important in arctic sports.

Lesli Walls photo

to be 19 years or older, while Junior

I first went to the Arctic Winter Games in Kenai Peninsula, Alaska in 2006 for the Snowshoe Biathlon. A lot has changed in my life as I attend the Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks, Alaska this year, 8 years later. I am now older than almost all the other competitors. However the atmosphere of friendship and friendly competition has not changed one bit. The biggest distinction between competing in the Arctic Sports/DenĂŠ Games versus the other sports is the ever-present support offered by the current and former athletes to each other, as well as the ever-ready encouragement from Noel (R) coaching a competitor how how to make a better next attempt.

Photos courtesy of Fairbanks 2014 Arctic Winter Games Host Society.

Susan Paskvan photo

Greg Martin photo

coaches, officials and the spectators.

Head pull.

Greg Martin photo Lesli Walls photo

Sadie Grover photo

Cultural performances at the opening ceremonies of AWG 2014.

Greg Martin photo

Noel competing in the One Hand Reach.

Every athlete in the Arctic Sports and DenĂŠ Games benefits from receiving tips from the other groups, who also crack jokes to help the athletes relax between attempts in the high kicks, strength games, the respectful and lighthearted support help each athlete to go farther each game. My schedule was busy everyday with Arctic Sports events, so I didn't have much time to watch other sportsâ&#x20AC;Ś but I did go to a few soccer games, a hockey game, and a basketball game, most of them during their very last day of competition. The one game that I absolutely loved was the

Susan Paskvan photo

John A. Rusyniak photo

Greg Martin photo

Knuckle hop.

Greg Martin photo

Steve Cockney, Arctic Sports official and coach watches a competitor attempt the Alaskan High Kick.

gold medal game between the Alaska and the Northwest Territories Junior men basketball. Knuckle hop.

Susan Paskvan photo

When my friend Stacie Bengts and I got to the game we saw Nick Hansen from the Alaskan men Arctic Sports team, with whom I had become very good friends. As I sat beside him he told me that outside of the Arctic Sports he is a staunch supporter for Alaska, and would say anything to the opposing team to try to take them off their focus, and then I said I feel the same way in my support for the Northwest Territoriesâ&#x20AC;Ś as it should be! So, there we were, two Arctic Sports athletes from opposing teams sitting side by side cheering for their respective teams. He was of course screaming at team NWT when they were shooting free throws, and I was encouraging team NWT with every made basket and chance to steal the ball on defense. When one of team

Ear pull.

Greg Martin photo

Head pull.

NWT's players got hurt, Nick was respectful, an attitude which most athletes in any sport have for each other. Team NWT won with incredible gameplay, and I turned to Nick saying it had been great competing with him both in the gym with Arctic Sports and on the side lines of the basketball court. This basketball game reminded me of the glaring difference between the Arctic Sports/Dené Games and any other sport. In Arctic Sports/Dené Games we help each other, giving fellow athletes the confidence to go higher and farther, encouraging them to become stronger. In the other sports you are simply trying to overpower, out think, and beat the other team… even if in the end, it is all wrapped

Noel Cockney photo

up with a handshake and maybe a hug.

A podium moment.

Two Foot High Kick.

In Arctic Sports/Dené Games we help each other, giving fellow athletes the confidence to go higher and farther, encouraging them to become stronger.”

Steve Cockney giving advice to Mikayla Jacobson.

All of us go to the Arctic Winter Games to have fun, enjoy friendly competition, meet new friends, and show off our smiling faces and pride to be from the Arctic… and of course in the spirit of the games, we go to earn our bragging rights by winning that golden ulu, showing everyone who Mikayla Jacobson from Tuk shakes hands with competitors.

they can try to beat in two years' time.

Rebirth on the

Land

words by zoe ho photos by david stewart

On the Land Cultural Wellness and Healing Program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Elders and Youth camp organizers and participants.

Rabbit soup It was a rabbit soup that made elders cry. An elder had taken her “adopted” youth to the trapline, and shown him how to release it, skin it, gut it and boil it – making a delicious soup which everyone at the bushcamp enjoyed. “It’s ok to cry,” elder Lillian Elias smiled as she wiped away her tears, reminding youth at the camp that expressing emotions are healthy. She was moved to see the elder connecting with youth, it transported her back to her growing up days. “Camp Elder” Lillian, Health Resolutions Support workers Jeffery Amos and Susan Peffer were leading a one week “On the land Cultural Wellness and Healing Camp” where sharing circles like these were a daily occurrence. There were 3 other elders from Fort McPherson and 4 youth from

Our ancestors followed the beat of the seasonal cycles, without it we feel lost. We grew up in the bush, there were no drugs or diagnosis then. If we were sick we had rabbit soup.”

various communities. It was nearing the end of the camp, and it felt like the elders and their “adoptees” were family. The healing camp is part of a threeworkshop pilot series by IRC through BDHSA. The Couples workshop focus on communication, jealousy, trust, stress and trauma; the Men-only workshop explores identity, spiritual and emotional health; this Youth and Elder workshop focuses on anger management, leadership, traditions and values. Difficult topics such as elder abuse and intergenerational trauma are addressed. “At first everyone was shy, keeping their distance,” said Jeffery Amos, who came up with the idea of “adopting” a youth to each elder participant so they could share one on one. “It was almost like seeing flowers bloom as it went on, one elder said it was like longtime ago, all family under one roof.”

Hurt people hurt people. Depression is anger turned inwards. Addiction is an outer reach for inner security”

Laura Arey is smiling as she lets go of ‘Alcohol’, ‘Drugs’, ‘Trauma’ and ‘Fear’.

Susan Peffer (R ) Health Resolution Support worker laughs as she washes dishes with a program participant.

There’s no need for drugs, what they need is for people to talk to them.”

Travis Thrasher, who moved to Inuvik from Paulatuk, was “adopted” to Lillian Elias. He has joined the camp to get away from “town”, marijuana, booze and peer pressure. He shared what he learnt from Lillian, “Remember where you come from... No matter what age you are, you always got to know who you are... The land is the healer of all her sorrows... As a young person, I want to pass on the knowledge and traditions to my families to come...” Travis’ voice breaks a little as he read “My grandfather Billy Thrasher told me one day I will live in his shoes, so he taught us everything he knows.” “I would really like to get together a group of youth and talk about how we can help each other out,” said Travis a week later, inspired by his new found knowledge about all the support that is available. Since the program, Travis found a new job and is enjoying a positive new start.

Back to our roots “On the land, this is where we first started, it’s like a rebirth, you can see the brilliance in their faces and smiles,” said Jeffery. His bushcamp, Lillian Elias’ and Reindeer Station have become healing sanctuaries for attendees. “One week is enough at first, not too long to miss family. Couples in their mid 40s were talking about trauma to each other for first time, out on the land there’s more freedom to express ourselves. Get away from bingos... enjoying country food, fresh air, sitting by the fire.” Jeffery said youth as young as 12 wanted to sign up for the programs. “People are very aware of the need to get well. They know there are programs on the land, they are thinking is it for real, I want to

Jeffery Amos’ bush camp, surrounded by trees and small lakes, is a serene setting for healing.

see results.” Jeffery was part of a Minister’s Forum last year on healing, where 4 months of consultation throughout the NWT resulted in the primary recommendation that “Many addictions and primary issues such as residential school trauma and child sexual abuse trace to a time when ties to the land were severed... Leading people back to their roots... reconnecting with their spiritual and cultural identities so closely tied to nature can help them heal.” The Department of Health and Social Services allocated $900,000 in its latest budget to establish community based on the land healing programs to combat alcohol and drug abuse, priority problems identified by Inuit communities and regional governments. Binge drinking is a major factor in violence, accidents and injuries,

I come from a people wise and strong. I live on a land that is wild and free. When everything seems like an uphill struggle, I think of the magnificent view from the top, where my heart will sing. My feet are connected to the earth, and all journeys begin with the first step that I will boldly take. The light within me will lead the way.

Pennie Lou photo

employment and family problems. Drugs such as marijuana, crack cocaine and crystal meth are being used more often and by younger people. Efforts taking place at the community level to help individuals, families and communities include addictions counselling services, self-help groups, sports and recreation activities, cultural and treatment programs, and treatment centres. “Our ancestors followed the beat of the seasonal cycles, without it we feel lost,” said Jeffery. “We grew up in the bush, there were no drugs or diagnosis then. If we were sick we had rabbit soup. Many youth going through the justice system have been diagnosed with FASD but I’ve insisted on running camps where the youth take no medications. At first they go through withdrawal, then with good healthy food, and freedom on the land, none of the kids were hyperactive by the time they went back to rehab. There’s no need for drugs, what they need is for people to talk to them.” Aftercare is just as important, and Jeffery makes sure to follow up after the camps with participants. “We call, email, phone, facebook... to let them know we care. These youth can have 3 way conference calls with their elders.” There is a toll free number for areas with less access to internet. Jeffery said every time someone returns to their community from healing camp, they learn tools they can share and are making a positive impact. “The groundwork is started, it might be just one couple in a community of 700 people, but I’m confident in their ability to help,” he said.

Remember where you come from... No matter what age you are, you always got to know who you are... The land is the healer of all her sorrows...”

Hurt People Hurt People Blacking out was a constant for Arnold Elias, who recalls wild partying where he woke up the next day remembering and wearing very little, such as during the 1995 “Polar Beach Party” where hard rock bands such as Metallica and Courtney Love came to Tuktoyaktuk to promote a new “iced” beer. “I was addicted at a young age, 9 years old, I started with drinking, then drugs a couple of years later,” said Arnold Elias softly. “I remember watching my parents smoking up, and seeing lots of abuse in the family.” When he turned 18 he left residential school at Grollier Hall and found himself with no home to return to. Arnold moved to Fort Smith, and then to Tuk, Whitehorse and now Fort McPherson. We met Arnold Elias towards the end of the 28-day Marmisarvik Addictions and Trauma Healing Camp held at Reindeer Station by IRC. Arnold said an immense transformation has taken place for himself, and the small group in attendance.

“When I walked through these doors, I didn’t know anyone, my biggest fear was failing...” Arnold took a month off work for this program having tried to quit drinking many times on his own without success. “This is my first time ever doing treatments. A few years ago, I slowed down on alcohol and drugs. I’ve three young kids, they made me realize what is more important.” Arnold is getting married this September, and wants to be a new man leading a new life. “My wife Ellen, we met in Whitehorse. I thank her everyday for taking me out of there or I’ll be dead.” Daily sessions explore topics around addictions and trauma. Addiction is de-stigmatized, with counsellors who have been through the same journey using substances in a bid to mask pain they did not know how to cope with, only to find their addictions were ruining their lives and family. Exercises and group therapy are practiced so participants gain tools for healing and making peace with their histories and emotions.

It’s really good to have pushed me to see life, family, everything we love as precious... I’m not afraid to say that I’m in treatment, I’m not ashamed, people say ‘right on, keep it up’.” Arnold Angasak Elias feels ready for a brand new start after shedding old ways through the Marmisarvik healing program.

Travis Thrasher enjoying connecting with nature, calling a Grey Jay to him.

The Grey Jay.

Elders at the On the land Cultural Wellness and Healing Camp.

The group learnt about anger, depression, abuse, boundaries, refusal skills, grieving, and the intergenerational impacts of residential schools. “Hurt people hurt people”, “Depression is anger turned inwards”, and “Addiction is an outer reach for inner security” were new perspectives that allowed them to know addiction was a symptom of their pain and not who they were, and that they were capable of moving beyond. “We teach Inuit history – perspectives of colonialism, from control to loss of it. The clients say ‘no wonder our community and our people and families are suffering.’ It is the empowering process component,” said Reepa Evic-Carleton, founder of the Marmisarvik program in Ottawa, who led sessions at this camp along with counsellor Rick Mayoh.

Each participant actively made aftercare plans to maintain their sobriety. “I learnt to do yoga, meditation, self-care, making changes, acceptance... I can’t thank Rick enough. Most nights we stay up talking till 3am, he encouraged me. It’s been quite a journey, dealing with everything in my life, learning about how I’m burying my trauma. I did all my crying in the first week, screaming it all out,” said Arnold. “I realized I held a lot of hurt in for 16 years. My best friend had woman troubles and asked me to help. I gave him money to go on a plane to see her, and the plane crashed...” Arnold paused. “Now I can talk about it without blaming myself. In a fire ceremony, I wrote a letter to Jason. We all have our ups and downs, the best thing to do is to be honest, to talk about it. I took off my layers, I’m

revealing who I am, it’s really good to feel the way I do today.” In the evenings, there are individual counselling sessions, art therapy, presentations on healthy sexuality, sewing, lots of walks, and northern lights. The atmosphere at the camp was embracing, each cabin kept warm by wood stoves. Reindeer Station is nestled at the foot of Caribou Hills, about an hour away from Inuvik by ice road. As part of their recovery, participants are encouraged to go back to town every Sunday, where they can test out their resolve to stay clean. “I went to Inuvik a few times on my own, I walked towards the bar, my legs got weak, people asked me to drink.” Arnold learnt that “to avoid slipping, avoid slippery places,” changing his route and rut.

“At first I missed home a lot, now I phone the kids and Ellen tells me not to worry, ‘do this for yourself’. ” Arnold misplaced his engagement ring one Sunday and stayed an extra day in Inuvik. At the home of one of his closest friends, his friend was drinking. “At first he said ‘I won’t ask you’. After he had four beers he opened two and put one towards me. I told him, ‘If you offer this to me, you have no respect for me. Even if you asked 100 times, the answer is still no.’ It was difficult. He had to accept I’m trying to sober up for me and my family. We talked for an hour and at the end he understood.” It was a relief to Arnold that he was able to say no. “Once you said no a couple of times, it gets easier.” “I just celebrated my one month sobriety on the 21st of March. I drank from 9 to 39, 30 years... my kids will never see me have another drink until I die,” he said. “It’s really good to have pushed me to see life, family, everything we love as precious. Release grudges, people we hurt in the past... I’m not afraid to say that I’m in treatment, I’m not ashamed, people say ‘right on, keep it up’. Relapse is just a word.”

Jeffery Amos, IRC Health Resolutions Support Worker.

Arnold felt that hearing other people’s stories gave him strength. “I feel my life is on track, I’m feeling confident about myself, and I’ve gotta have faith.”

Healing Past, Present, Future

When you forgive, something powerful takes place. Today I understand what my grandfather meant. You got to help ALL people to heal. Not just Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, ALL people,”

Jeffery Amos is passionate about his work as counsellor and health resolutions support worker. “I totally enjoy it. Why did I choose this field? If you knew me 20 years ago, I was an alcoholic, a partier, I was on the streets for awhile.” Although he made a good income as a house painter, Jeffery came back from blacking out on Mother’s Day in 1989, to his wife saying they had barely enough money for food. He looked around at his children, who were wearing hand-me-downs, and their dilapidated home. “I hit bottom,” he said. “I heard my grandfather’s voice. A long time ago, when I was three years old, I was sawing logs with my grandfather Amos Tumma, he told me ‘You’ll be helping your people one

day.’ I had no idea what he meant then, but it came back to me loud and clear that day. I stopped drinking.” The sobriety journey was difficult. “For three years I was so alone, where were my friends? One day I went into the Zoo (the bar then), and there were my friends, at same table, and my chair was still there, empty. I was so angry I yelled at them and left.” Jeffery has reconciled with many of these friends since then. “It was good at the same time, those were growing years for us, our children also benefited from our recovery.”

Comments from participants of the Marmisarvik 28 Day Healing Workshop “ Powerful, I learnt to use my words instead of lashing out, fighting, cursing...”

Jeffery also remembers learning about the strength of community. “When my wife and I were getting sober 25 years ago, we had lots of support. People didn’t want to see us stay on the streets,” he said. Today, Jeffery and his wife Dorothy specialize in helping sexual abuse victims. “Knowing that they are not alone, others have gone through it helps. Dorothy learnt how to forgive. She was sexually abused as a child. It’s easier for people to talk to you when they know you’ve been through the same thing.” Jeffery’s son Jordan has attended every one of the three pilot On the Land Healing programs, as participant and supporter.

“ It gave us tools to make healthy choices.”

“ It’s a process, it’s not overnight, once I healed, I’d do anything not to get back into it again.”

“ I have no more knots in my stomach.”

“ I learnt to be kinder to myself, to love myself.”

“ I went in heavy and came out lighter.”

“When you forgive, something powerful takes place. Today I understand what my grandfather meant. You got to help all people to heal. Not just Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, all people,” he said. Contact Resolutions Health Support Office at 1-855-777-5230 for more info on healing camps. “ This made trauma a memory, I am able to talk about it now without getting emotional.”

Watch “Inside Marmisarvik – A Place of Healing” http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/ TV+Shows/The+National/Canada/ ID/2325308449/ Visit Where are the children, an online exhibit: http://wherearethechildren.ca/en Visit www.gabormate.com to better understand trauma and addictions.

“ Like a skidoo, “maintenance” is key to sobriety. Have an aftercare plan just for you.”

A Wise Woman: Faith Gordon +F un ^

words by Zoe Ho photo by David Stewart & Zoe Ho

Faith Gordon with her Wise Woman Award along the banks of the river in Aklavik.

Faith Gordon is the Beaufort Delta recipient of the Status of Women Council 2014 Wise Women Award.

Many said they have been touched by her

Faye’s parents Danny A. and Annie B.

‘crazy’ sense of humour. “She can make u

Gordon have been integral to Aklavik’s strong

smile even if u r the grumpiest person on

cultural and community spirit. Faye joined

earth,” said Lorenza Elanik. “Someone who

the drummers and dancers after her father

will cheer you up in a matter of seconds...

passed away 7 years ago to carry on that

Before we interviewed Faith, or “Faye” as she

and the bestest naanak (grandmother)

precious connection.

is known, we asked Tusaayaksat Facebook

around,” said Jayda Sittichinli.

fans to share what they love about her. The

“She’s one of the main people reviving

“Well what do you want this “wise woman”

Drum Dancing, getting everyone back

to say,” said Faye with a deadpan expression,

to their culture and who they are,” said

when we arrived for her interview at the

Peggy Day, Health Promotions Coordinator

Hamlet of Aklavik. We burst out laughing.

at IRC, who nominated Faye for the award

Faye is working during the day as an admin

alongside Evelyn Storr. “I get the Brighter

Comments posted include “Faye is very

assistant and licensing motor vehicles and

Future program reports, you should see the

well involved in community activities &

that night she is going to Drum Dance

number of participants that take part. She’s

organizations, a great volunteer and a

practice, then attending two committee

really a core person in the community.”

woman with great leadership quality.

meetings, one for Mad Trapper Rendezvous

(Frederick Arey)”. Faye is Secretary treasurer

and one for Sam Arey Curling Club. There’s

of the Aklavik Drummers and Dancers. “She

also the Danny A. Gordon jigging contest

started the Shingle Point Games. (Gerry

to organize, and kiddie carnival tickets to

Kisoun)” – Faye and Carol D. Arey were

raffle. “I always say this is the last year

approached by elder to organizing Summer

I’m helping and then I continue the next

The Wise Woman award honors women

activities for the community, and it’s been

year.” She is happy to win the award but had

who are role models in their communities.

going strong since 1997; “[She’s the] First

never hoped to be recognized. “I feel good,

It recognizes the advocacy work, support

person to help, last to leave. Always smiling

helping out the community, I’m just glad to

and dedication to improving the status of

and loves to join events to get people

be helping out,” she said.

women and is meant to encourage women

responses were instant and an outpouring of congratulations, saying it is an award Faye well deserves, celebrating her volunteerism, leadership, and generous spirit.

going (Leanne Goose),”; “She is generous,

Next year’s Shingle Point Games falls on the weekend of July 19th. If you head out that way, remember to find our Wise Woman and give her a warm handshake for all her good work!

to continue their great work.

she once took her drum dance parka off and gave it to Minister Leona Aglukak in Aklavik (Peggy Jay).”

The Status of Women Council has been hosting this award since 1992. The Council has been recognizing women for their time, commitment and work in improving the lives of women and families in their communities through the Wise Women Awards. The awards are meant to honor women who are role models in their communities. It recognizes the advocacy work, support and dedication to improving the status of women and is meant to encourage women to continue their great work.

Announcing this year’s Wise Women Award Recipients! · North Slave: Karen Willy of Yellowknife · Beaufort/Delta: Pamela Faith Gordon of Aklavik · Sahtu: Patricia Modeste of Deline · South Slave: Sister Margaret (Maggie) Ann Beaudette of Hay River Deh Cho: Harriet Geddes of Fort Providence Recipients were honored at the International Women’s Day Bread and Roses Luncheon on March 8, 2014. This event was open to the public and was held at the Tree of Peace from 11:30am – 1pm. Brunch was provided.

p u C C IR 4 1 0 2

arrison

erg-H lie Heib

a by Nath s d r o w eibergH e i l a by Nath Stewart s o t o h P David & n o s i Harr

he annual IRC Cup is more than just a hockey tournament. It’s tradition. It’s long-standing

rivalries and those butterflies you get before you hit the ice. It’s the roar of the fans when the puck meets the back of the net. But most importantly, it’s a true Inuvialuit katimavik, or meeting place. People come for the hockey – but they stay for the fans. “This is the place to meet everybody,” says Lily-Ann Green, who tries to attend every year from her home community of Paulatuk. “It’s always good to come, see family, friends, relatives.” Ulu Blades coach Eddie Okheena agrees, and says he

RC I l a u nn hts A h t 6 2 lig h g i h Cup ion s i v i D A Finalists 1. EGT Nanooks 2. Northwind 3. LJ’s Sabres

sees the tournament bring the Inuvialuit community closer together every year. “It’s something to look forward to for the region,” he says. “The fans cheering for their teams - it brings the region together as a whole.”

ion s i v i D B Finalists

Every single Inuvialuit community, except for Sachs Harbour, was able to send a team this year. Considering the high cost of travel, this is no small feat. “They’ve been fundraising for the past two years,”

1. PCM Pros 2. Aklavik Outlaws 3. LJ’s Sabres

explains Eddie. “From Ulukhaktok to here and back cost us $22,300 – just for the charter. That’s just getting here.” Most of the funds were raised through bingos and

ion yers s i v i pla D A ding tstan ou

player registration fees, but volunteers also sold baked goods and snacks at the canteen. Eddie says every little bit counts. “It’s hard because the community is so tiny. We have just over 400 people, and there’s different groups

Top defenseman: Phillip Harry, Northwind Top goalie: Jason Nasogaluak, EGT Nanooks Top scorer: Cody Pederson, EGT Nanooks MVP: Cody Pederson, EGT Nanooks

trying to fundraise as well,” Eddie explains. “It’s pretty much a whole community effort.” In the end they were able to send 16 players from all three of the local league’s teams. Aaron Ruben, Paulatuk’s recreation coordinator, first played in the IRC Cup 11 years ago and took on fundraising for the Storm two year after that. Like Eddie, he knows the challenges of raising money in such a small community. Every year Aaron sends out requests for sponsors, and this year received donations from companies and organizations like Kingland Ford in Hay River, the Paulatuk Community Corporation, the IRC, the IDC and Aklak Air. Aaron said they also held

ion yers s i v i pla D B ding tstan ou Top defenseman: Merle Robert, LJ’s Sabres Top goalie: Mitchell Jacobson, Aklavik Outlaws Top scorer: Morris Morrison, Aklavik Outlaws MVP: Chris Church, PCM Pros

bingo nights, sold casinos and 50/50 tickets, hosted bake sales and created a hockey pool. “I try to do as much as I can do,” says Aaron. In the end they raised enough money for a charter, and flew in nine players, plus their coach Bobby Ruben, for the weekend. “A lot of people get involved and everybody wants to support us,” adds Paulatuk Storm captain Ray Lennie Jr. “You don’t want to be in Paulatuk hearing about all the boys having fun, you want to be there with them.” “It’s pretty exciting. You don’t realize how great the fans are until you actually hear them and play your game in front of them. The fans alone are what makes us want to perform better, want to do better.” Ray first played in the IRC Cup when he was 16 years old, and was lucky enough to skate alongside his dad, Ray Ruben Sr., when he first started. His goal now is to play long enough so that he can call his son, Joel Thrasher, a teammate as well. “I look up to my dad and I want to do the same for my boy.” Perhaps nobody knows the power of the IRC Cup to bring the community together better than Pat and TerriLee Kuptana, who had recently returned from 10 weeks in Edmonton where Pat was receiving cancer treatment. “It’s really heartwarming. It’s so good, you know,” says Terri-Lee. “We finally can say thank you for the thoughts and prayers. You see everyone here.” Like everybody else, Pat has already begun planning for next year’s IRC Cup, where he hopes to put together an A-division team made up of family. He plans to call them the Mahlena Selects, after his father’s Inuvialuktun name, and have his nephew Max Kotokak Jr. act as team captain. Pat has been involved with the IRC Cup since the very beginning, and this year was the first he didn’t put on a jersey to represent Tuktoyaktuk. Instead, he was asked to drop the ceremonial first puck, and even watched his two nephews – Max of Northwind and Steven Kotokak of EGT - exchange hugs instead of a handshake after their first game. “It really warmed our hearts,” says Terri-Lee.

Pat Kuptana and IRC Chair Nellie Cournoyea awarding medals to Northwind players.

e n o Z n Fa

rite u o v a f your C s up? i C hat R I W of the part

Sydney Dunlop, Inuvik Spending the weekend with everybody thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in town.

Jewel Keevik, Tuktoyaktuk Angelina Joe, Aklavik

I get to watch my dad play hockey.

I like to spend time with my cousin.

Stefan Allen, Inuvik Everyone coming together from the surrounding communities, cheering on their hometown. John Billingston, Aklavik

Alexia Baldwin, Inuvik

I like watching my friends play.

When my uncle plays. Jimmy Kalinek, Inuvik

Shiense Cockney, Inuvik Leslie Nasogaluak, Tuktoyaktuk

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertaining watching the teams play against each other.

All the communities coming together to watch hockey and cheer their teams on. Seeing a bunch of old friends from different communities.

David Stewart photo

The final games on Sunday.

Ashlyn Hendrick, Inuvik Devin McLeod, Inuvik The goals.

I enjoy helping my parents put this tournament together so people can enjoy themselves and have fun.

Dawson Elias, Tuktoyaktuk Watching my dad Erwin Elias.

James Williams, Edmonton Kaleigh Greenland, Inuvik Hanging out with people from out of town.

Jazelle Pokiak, Inuvik When I see my dad play.

Getting all the communities together to celebrate the great game of hockey.

David Stewart photo

y Rivalr Whether you’re a fan of EGT Nanooks or Northwind, one thing is for sure – the rivalry is fierce, and it’s not letting up anytime soon. “At the end of the day, we are the two top A-division teams in the Delta,” explains Nanooks coach Jackie Jacobson. “It’s just straight up hockey. It’s who’s going to leave everything on the ice.” Jacobson led his team to a first-place medal this year, after the Nanooks beat Northwind 8-1 in the final, but next year is anyone’s game. “365 days couldn’t go quick enough for the next one,” he says. “The IRC Cup is like the Stanley cup of the Delta. It’s a big thing for everybody so everybody wants to win it.” After the dust had settled on this year’s 26th annual IRC Cup, Tusaayaksat spoke with representatives from each team to ask about the rivalry, the fans and their favourite moments from the tournament.

en, b u Gr Chrisanooks EGT N What’s it like playing in the IRC Cup? It never gets old. It’s always a lot of fun. It’s good to hang out with a bunch of friends, play some hockey, have fun. It’s a good time for people to catch up. What’s your favourite part of the IRC Cup? I’d have to say my favourite part of the weekend is seeing all the young kids enjoying the hockey. That’s probably the highlight of the weekend. Why do you think it’s such a big deal? When you’re a kid you dream of playing in the IRC Cup. It’s such a big tournament, you look forward to playing in it. Playing in it is the most fun, I guess. What was your favourite moment of the tournament? The highlight for me would have to be playing with the new team – EGT. I’ve always played with Northwind.

EGT Nanooks team.

Why did you choose to play with EGT this year? I’ve been living in Tuk for a little over a year now working on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway and I just felt it was right. It felt right to play for Tuk this year. I’ve never played for Tuk before – it’s always been Northwind – and I’m just trying to get back to my roots. My family is from Tuk and coach Jackie Jacobson gave me the opportunity to play for Tuk and I jumped all over it. Why is there an EGT-Northwind rivalry? Almost since the time it’s began the final has always been Tuk against Northwind, so people kind of grew accustomed to the two battling in the finals. Our teams have always been so closely matched that we end up in the finals and you never know who’s going to win, really, when the two teams play each other. That’s what the fans want – a good hockey game, right? Will you keep coming back? I always want to play in the IRC Cup. Try to play every year if I can. When am I going to stop? I’ll probably stop when my body can’t handle hockey anymore, I guess. I love the tournament so much I’ll keep trying to play for as long as I can. How does it feel to compete in the IRC Cup? All these people that come to watch you, you feel you have to play your best hockey. It makes you feel proud. That’s exactly what it is. You feel proud to represent your team.

David Stewart photo

nma ai W y Core Northwind

EGT Nanooks vs North Wind in the final game.

What’s it like playing in the IRC Cup? The players that haven’t played in it before, they come in and they don’t realize what it takes to really win or how intense it really is out there. It’s a lot harder out there than most people think. If you don’t play with everything you’ve got you’re not going to get too far. What’s your favourite part of the IRC Cup? We keep bringing our same team every year and I just enjoy playing with the boys and bringing our all. Why do you think it’s such a big deal? All the communities come in. it’s the biggest tournament of the year, no doubt. I think it’s just, everyone from all the communities come in and it makes it a pretty big event. It’s the one time of year they can get out and play good hockey.

EGT Nanooks.

When will you stop playing in the IRC Cup? I’m hoping I get in another good 10 years so I can play with my son. What’s it like playing for Northwind? I’ve been playing for the team for 15 years. Before we were Northwind we were the Huskies, and that’s who I started playing with, and then over time the sponsorship for the Huskies fell through and Kurt (Wainman) stepped up and got us some jerseys and it became Northwind. It’s been an Inuvik team for quite a while now. I used to play with a lot of these guys’ dads and now I’m playing with their sons. It’s kind of come full circle. How does it feel to play in the IRC Cup finals? It never gets old, as many times as I’ve played in the final. Your stomach is in knots. The build-up to it is pretty nerve-wracking. Some people say it’s just a game but to us it’s not. You just go out and try to play your hardest. After all these years you still get the butterflies.

David Stewart photo

What was the highlight of the tournament for you? It was probably in our semi-final game against LJ’s for me, when our team really came together. We had lost to them in the round robin and it took everything we had.

Everyone had to do their part to win. When we beat them that was probably our highlight. Our team did really, really well and the ingredients just mixed right.

Northwind.

words by Zoe Ho photos by Zoe Ho and David Stewart

Keeping our tongue Master-Apprentice Language Program

Verna Arey (L) and Sarah Ann Poliquin (R ) Inuvialuktun language apprentices have 15 hours of classes per week with Master teacher Barbara Allen.

Verna Arey (L) and Sarah Ann Poliquin (R ) learning pronunciation as Master teacher Barbara Allen demonstrates.

arah Ann Poliquin, administrator and Verna Arey Pre-school teacher work together full time at Aklavik’s pre-school. Ever since last December, over four months, they also meet Barbara Allen, Inuvialuktun master teacher together, for 3 hours almost daily to learn the Inuvialuktun language , up to 15 hours a week. While this sounds like an intense schedule, on this day, as we join the Master Apprentice Language class taking place in Sarah’s home, laughter fills the living room as teacher and students practice pronunciation. They are revising part of a thick folder of Inuvialuktun vocabulary, Barbara helping the students to fine-tune their pronunciation. “It goes so fast, we’ve so much fun. Barbara makes learning fun. She tells us stories about everything we learn, and she has created a dictionary herself. The hard part is retraining our tongues, Barbara has made this amazing chart of the head, throat, and tongue to use to pronounce the vowels, at first I felt my tongue muscle “strained” to get back to speaking Inuvialuktun,” said Sarah.

Barbara Allen created a vast library of teaching materials including this chart for sounding vowels and syllables.

Verna, who understands Inuvialuktun well is taking the program to improve her fluency. She can now see the connection between the words in various Inuvialuktun dialects. “I moved away after high school for twenty years, I’ve forgotten a lot of the little I know (of the language),” said Sarah. “What made me want to learn the language? The littles ones in pre-school were correcting me, teaching me how to say Inuvialuktun words.”

“I’ve spent so many years training for diplomas, if I had focused as much on the language, I’d have a degree by now,” she laughs. Sarah said elder Lillian Elias has been a tremendous support throughout her life, and gave her encouragement to pursue her passion to learn the language. When Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Center received Canadian Heritage funding for this intensive language program, Sarah jumped at the opportunity. “What better way for me to learn to teach? I’ve told Barbara that someday I’d like to teach adults, if adults speak at home, then its no problem for kids to learn.” The program which was originally slated for four weeks has been extended. ICRC Manager Cathy Cockney says the intention of the program is to have more proficient Inuvialuktun speakers and professional Inuvialuktun translators. The students learn on their own time, only the master teacher is paid.

“ The hard part is retraining our tongues! At first I felt my tongue muscle ‘strained’ to get back to speaking Inuvialuktun!”

Barbara Allen, who was a translator instrumental to the negotiation of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement during the days of COPE, has been working to preserve the language all her life. Born on Kendall Island, she went to Aklavik All Saints residential school and still remembers the days of going hungry at school. “I remember my mother coming to see me, and taking my hand, putting a bit of hidden caribou fat in it. We had to dig for cabbage leaves, they gave us bannock as hard as this,” she knocks on her table. Her two students are part of her extended family and she has passed on to them the drive to protect Inuvialuit rights. “These two are brilliant teachers. Now they have learnt enough language to teach tan’ngit (non-aboriginal) students. I didn’t get a lot of education growing up,” said Barbara. “I had to go to the Alec and Hope Gordon center to get educated, to fight for my land claim. What I am, they are to become, to translate for our people and to fight for our rights. It took me my whole life to learn, so 3 and a half months is not a lot of time. Our people don’t think about how many years, you’ve to think about your children, we have to keep the tongue for them.” The current funding for the program has ended, and the trio are hoping they can continue learning together soon. Sarah is excited to carry on Barbara’s fighting spirit, and wants to do more for her community to regain its mother tongue. “I want to start a local program, an Inuvialuktun only coffee house. The only way to practice is to speak it,” she said. This program is also underway in Tuktoyaktuk. Holly Carpenter is the student, learning from master teacher William Nasogaluak.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;counting stars gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inuvialuktun language games #3

UUMMARMIUTUN Look at the scene, what are they saying? write the inuvialuktun words into the space provided. What do you see at night? Humik tautugarivit unnuami?

Numbers Kihitchitit one atauhiq four hihamat two malruk five Tallimat three pingahut How many stars do you see? Qaffinik uvlurianik tautukpit? I see one star. Atauhimik uvluriamik tautuktunga. I see two stars. Malrungnik uvluriangnik tautuktunga.

Illustrations by Marten Sims. Game concept by Marten Sims & Zoe Ho

I see the stars. Uvlurianik tautuktunga.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;counting stars gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inuvialuktun language games #3

Siglitun

Look at the scene, what are they saying? write the inuvialuktun words into the space provided.

What do you see at night? Sumik takuvakpit unnuami?

Numbers Kisitchiun one atausiq four sitamat two malruk five tallimat three pingasut How many stars do you see? Qapsinik ublurianik takuvit? I see one star. Atautchimik ubluriamik takuyunga. I see two stars. Malrungnik ubluriangnik takuyunga.

Illustrations by Marten Sims. Game concept by Marten Sims & Zoe Ho

I see the stars. Ubluriat takuyatka.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;counting stars gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inuvialuktun language games #3

Inuinnaqtun

Look at the scene, what are they saying? write the Inuinnaqtun words into the space provided. What do you see at night? Humik takuvakpit unnuami?

Numbers Kihitdjutit one atauhiq four hitamat two malruk five Tallimat three pingahut How many stars do you see? Qaffinik uvblurianik takuvit? I see one star. Atauhirmik ublurianik takuyunga. I see two stars. Malrungnik ubluriangnik takuyunga.

Illustrations by Marten Sims. Game concept by Marten Sims & Zoe Ho

I see the stars. Ubluriat takuyatka.

Northen Games summit 2014 words by Zoe Ho photos by David Stewart Airplane, a new event at this year’s Northern Games Summit.

The Northern Games Summit 2014 was held at East Three Secondary School February 17-20, 2014. The gymnasiums were full with athletes who traveled from across the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu region to take part in the games. It’s the largest turnout yet, around 221 people, said Donald Kuptana, Recreation Development Coordinator at Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) and longtime Northern Games coach and advocate. Donald has been playing the games since he was four years old, and having gained much from it has spent great effort to develop youth involvement in the games through his work with MACA and the Northern Games Society. This is the 2nd large scale Northern Games Summit. “The games are a great way to engage elders and youth,” he said.

Donald Kuptana Animal Muk

Northern Games Society members Charles Komeak, Steve Cockney, Abel Tingmiak, Lena Kotokak, Robert Gruben, Roy Cockney, Darlene Gruben, Billie Lennie, Peter Lennie and Noel Cockney helped to support athletes playing the games, while Northern Games pioneer Edward Lennie also came out to support the players. Each year a new event is introduced, last year it was the Wrist Hang and this year it’s the Airplane and Leg Wrestle. The One Foot High Kick and Two Foot High Kick continue to be popular events. Donald said that traditionally Northern Games varied according to the regions. “Colder regions have more pain

resistance games,” he said. “It depends on food sources too, for example in Rankin, Whale Cove, food tends to be more strong and raw and their games expend more energy.” Although winning is not the greatest priority to Northern Games athletes, they are excited to break records. Donald hopes a new record can be achieved for Alaskan High Kick. “It also depends on the bounce of the ground, temperature, whether we play inside or outside,” he said. “The East Three School gym is so bouncy it’s unreal. Edward and I were sitting next to each other, just excited, waiting to see if the competitors can get higher.” New talents discovered included Chris and Caitlin Church from Inuvik, and Mikayla Jacobson from Tuk.

“ There are no time limits to the games, it teaches the youth patience. We always clap and encourage each other. It’s about our culture and it’s about positive reinforcement, it is a learning experience and we are always learning.”

Leg wrestle.

Chris Church shone with placing 1st in Two Foot and One Foot High Kick, 2nd in Airplane and 2nd Overall for the Northern Games, and a Bronze in Snow Snake. For Chris, this was his 2nd year of participating in Northern Games/ Dene Games Summit and he said he’s hooked. “In other sports the records are impossible to beat, but with practice and the help of Donald and the coaches, I will break them, one day. It’s a very sportsman-like sport, James Day is also my teacher, he teaches me what to work on and how to do better.”

Airplane.

Two Foot High Kick.

One Foot.

Chris’ sister Caitlin also emerged as a promising Northern Games athlete, kicking 6 ft 1” in the 2 foot high kick. Donald said the games bring the communities together, so that “everyone is like family by the end.” “We focus on the details, teaching the kids the games, telling them the stories, history and who from their communities are good at the games. Our youth ambassadors are building capacity for themselves and their communities, by the end of the games kids are asking Kyle and James for their autograph.”

Chris Church impressing the judges and audience with his One Foot High Kick.

“There are no time limits to the games, it teaches the youth patience. We always clap and encourage each other. It’s about our culture and it’s about positive reinforcement, it is a learning experience and we are always learning.” The Northern Games/ Dene Games Summit is sponsored by MACA, BDEC, and Sahtu Recreation Association.

Kyle Kuptana and Noel Cockney.

sachs harbour highlights

Calista Lucas and Jasmine Keogak from Sachs Harbour.

Sachs Harbour sent Roseanne Lennie, Calista Lucas, Jasmine Keogak and Alexis Lucas to take part in the Northern Games Summit. Their chaperone Emma Nakimayak said the girls were all

very brave, taking part in the games even though it was a new experience for them to be in a gymnasium with so many other students. “They really had butterflies,” she said, and added that it was a good experience as Sachs Harbour students have to leave their community to continue their education in Inuvik after Grade 9. Jasmine, 13 years old won Gold at the Dene Hand Games. She also got to watch the IRC Hockey Game, making friends with people from Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok and Tuk. Calista, who is 14 said she is now looking forward to coming to Inuvik to study. Both girls were a little homesick, but also took advantage of the opportunity to visit their family in Inuvik. “In Sachs Harbour, our weather might be tough, but we have a lot of open space and fresh air,” said Jasmine. “Usually, to keep ourselves busy, we play tag with skidoos, and hide and seek with four wheelers.” Roseanne, who is 11 said her favourite events are the 1 Foot High Kick, and Snow Snake. She made friends with participants from Tuk, Ulukhaktok, and Inuvik.

Paulatuk takes part

Julian Green from Paulatuk.

News Stories

2014 Walk to Tuk Congratulations to all the participants of the Walk to Tuk – the results are in: Of the 102 teams participating, 73 made it Tuktoyaktuk (1658 km), logging a grand total of 207,808 kilometres.

Paulatuk youth Julian Green is 11 years old and in Grade 6. It is his first time playing airplane and he is proud that he was able to make it all the way across the gym. He liked learning the reasons the games were played. “In Stick Pull, long ago people had to catch fish with their hands and they had to be fast in the cold water,” he said. Julian enjoyed making new friends from Inuvik and the Animal Muk social game, where players in teams had to try to make the other team laugh. “My auntie Marion Green teaches us kids in Paulatuk,” he said of the young woman athlete who had competed in the Arctic Winter Games in previous years. Julian enjoyed camping out in the classrooms, which were turned into athlete accommodations for the summit. It was also a chance for him to see his naanak Lillian Green who lives in Inuvik. “The Northern Games are as cool as hockey,” he said. “And it doesn’t matter who wins, it’s just fun trying new games and playing.”

On average, each participant accumulated 245 minutes of weekly exercise, which is 95 minutes more exercise than the 150 minutes recommended in the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. All this was done during the darkest time of the year, and by many accounts, one of our coldest winters in recent memory.

A draw was held for the prizes on Tuesday, March 4. Inuvialuit winners are: First Air Flight pass: Fredrick Arey of the Aklavik Never Say Die Team School Team Prize Winner: Ice Walkers 11 team from Tuktoyaktuk NWT Recreation Parks Association is looking for suggestions to make next year’s challenge even more fun, challenging and motivating.

Aklavik ‘Never Say Die’ Team Various Inuvik Participants

Idc gains 100% ownership of Norterra April 1, 2014 – Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) and Nunasi Corporation reached an agreement for IDC to purchase Nunasi’s 50% interest in NorTerra Inc. The purchase is in the best interest of both parties, allowing IDC to

IRC Board Meeting IRC successfully held its Board Meeting at the ICRC this Spring and also this April 14th - 16th. IRC Chair Nellie Cournoyea Chair and Vice-Chair Duane Smith met

Ice Walkers II Tuk

that there will be no change in the level of service provided by the companies, including Canadian North’s operations in Nunavut and NTCL’s operations in the Kitikmeot,” said Wayne Gordon, IDC Chair. focus on NorTerra’s operations and Nunasi to focus on its restructuring to be more accountable to Nunavut beneficiaries. “Under IDC’s ownership, NorTerra and its subsidiaries will continue to operate as usual, and customers can be assured

with Secretary/Treasurer Vince Teddy, and Directors Billy Archie, Colin Okheena, Vernon Amos and Lawrence Ruben from the respective communities. More info at www.inuvialuit.com

IDC will continue to promote business growth in the Arctic together with Nunasi. IDC and Nunasi are shareholders of two other companies, National Aboriginal Services Company (NASCo) and Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics (PAIL).

Dan Slavik photo

Clean Camps Clean Coasts Words by Dan Slavik, WWF Canada Arctic Program with input from Tuktoyaktuk and Paulatuk HTCs “Misiqilugu Nuna Piqpangnaqtuk” Watch over our land because it is beautiful! These words, shared by Mary Green of Paulatuk communicates the vision and passion of the Inuvialuit’s love and stewardship of their land, inspiring the first ever Clean Camps, Clean Coasts program in September 2013, where community members from Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk took to the shores of the Beaufort coast and in-land lakes to keep the land beautiful.

Millie Thrasher cleaning a fish on the lakeshore.

Using the land, caring for the land Harvesting and camping in remote places can present challenges for waste management, and these areas are often in or near important wildlife habitat. In recent years, the communities have become concerned with the amount of waste accumulated in some areas, and its affect on wildlife, water and the land. Cleaning up these sites is challenging logistics wise and in terms of costs, therefore the Hunters and Trappers Committees (HTCs) and WWF-Canada partnered to create Clean Camps, Clean Coasts.

Areas of shoreline cleaned around Tuktoyaktuk. (Google Maps)

A Paulatuk organizer noted that “the community takes pride in our land and our subsistence traditions, seeing this program as securing our lands, animals, and habitats for future generations”. The week-long project saw up to 7,000 lbs of waste and debris collected from almost 30km of shoreline along the coast and near camps, with a renewed sense of pride in the beautiful lands and waters of the Beaufort coast.

Clean Coasts for Tuktoyaktuk In Tuktoyaktuk, the HTC used program funds to hire a local coordinator and five workers. They spent a week in the nearby Tuktoyaktuk Harbour and at Hendrickson Island, the coastal camp that is the base for much of the community’s marine activity through the summer. Besides the bulk items that were removed – including oil drums, skidoo parts,

When out on the land, don’t be mean, and keep the land and campsite clean! Your garbage should be brought back to town, so when you go out on the land you won’t have a frown!” – James Pokiak

and older building structures – the workers collected over 150 bags of garbage from the harbour alone. This included a huge number of bottles, cans, Styrofoam cups, and fish nets.

Clean Camps for Paulatuk In Paulatuk, the HTC hired a coordinator and seven labourers for the shoreline cleanup project, supported by several youth and community volunteers. The clean-up focused on Fred Matthews Lake, Jacobs Lake, George Creek, and shoreline east of community. It required coordinating ATVs, boats, and labourers to move the waste over land and water from the remote camps and coastline, to the community’s waste management site. According to project coordinator Ken Ruben, “We had a great, hard-working crew that even worked through the rain”. Seven youth volunteers helped clean the camps and the shoreline east of town – an area that is used for geese hunting in spring. Ken expects a big difference in the quality of the habitat following the clean up. “This gives you pride back in our land,” he said, “to keep the land clean and be a great example”. Following the cleanup, one community member joked, “It was so clean, that I didn’t even want to pee there!”

600 years

Fishing Line

Watch over our land because it is beautiful

Misiqilugu Nuna Piqpangnaqtuk

50 years

Foamed Buoy

50 years

Tin Can

Estimated individual item timelines depend on product composition and environmental conditions. Source: NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), US / Woods Hole Sea Grant, US

Annotations above show estimated decomposition rates of common debris items.

10-20 years

Plastic Bag

Undetermined

Glass Bottle

450 years

Plastic Bottle

Leave the land the way you came on to it. Pick up all your garbage and belongings. You determine how future generations see our land.

Lawrence Ruben photo

One of the crew on the shores of Argo Bay, happy to be keeping the land clean.

Lawrence Ruben photo

The crew getting organized along the shores of Argo Bay.

The Significance of Fred Matthews Lake

Diane Ruben, Paulatuk HTC

The crew working hard at Fred Matthews Lake.

Many hands make light work WWF was an important partner to the HTCs on this project, bringing together the HTCs’ onthe-ground leadership and WWF’s resources to benefit communities and the environment.

– Tina Esau of Paulatuk

Keeping it clean WWF worked with ICS to produce the pull-out poster in this magazine and a brief radio announcement in English and Inuvialuktun to continue spreading the message. WWF will continue to fundraise for future clean-ups in other Inuvialuit Settlement Region communities, shorelines and camps.

Lawrence Ruben photo

“This project was really successful – it brought together community organizations and volunteers,” said Ray Ruben, Paulatuk HTC vice-president. The 2013 cleanup was funded by a number of partners, including Environment Canada and Walmart-Evergreen. Essential in-kind support was provided by several community organizations including the HTC and Hamlet office in Tuktoyaktuk, and the HTC, Community Corp., Hamlet, Health Centre and Elders Committee in Paulatuk, as well as KDN Contracting and Angik School.

We come from this country, learned to live off the land and what it gives – caribou, geese, fish, whale, ptarmigan, berries, wood. Keeping it clean would make these animals and berries better to harvest.”

Some of the items collected are brought to Argo bay for pick-up.

We felt this area had to be cleaned because it is used by almost all the members in the community when spring comes along for hunting and fishing. Not only to hunt and fish but also to bring elders to the area where there are warm tent frames and/or cabin to use, so they can enjoy the scenery and just be out. In the cold winter months, hunters use the area as their base camp to be closer to the animals they need to harvest for several days. For generations it has been the spot where families would camp and through those years waste has compiled and soon everyone was getting frustrated with the site. So in listening and hearing our Elders, we, PHTC, decided to go to avenues where there may be funds to use to begin a small clean-up, and thanks to Dan Slavik (WWF) for assisting in the important areas of the proposal, we managed to get funds rolling in. Using this clean site as an example, we will continue to encourage all harvesters and families to bring back what they bring out, for respect of our land.

part 3 NORTHERN GAMES SERIES

Words by No r photos by zo thern Games Society e ho & David Stewart

strength & agility

Northern Games and Proper Techniques

Alaskan High Kick

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us e Foc

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et n th

Stack shoulders

History

Lift hips high

The Alaskan High kick is an agility survival game, first brought to the Northwest Territories by Alaskans visiting family here. This game was played at family camps in the Beaufort Delta, and at New Year gatherings. It was a way to showcase the agility and strength of young hunters.

Traveling to the Beaufort Delta region from Alaska took weeks and sometimes months. Families needed to be mentally and physically strong. Agility and confidence was crucial. Playing agility games helped build resilience and strength to endure long distance travel for successful hunts.

The Inuvialuit passed on Northern Games as training tools for survival in the challenging arctic environment. Elders demonstrated agility games through young hunters, emphasizing proper techniques and attitudes. The games were also a fun way to socialize and to introduce new family members. The Inuvialuit adopted the Alaskan high kick, making it a Northern Games event in both male and female categories.

The Canadian record for the Alaskan High Kick is 7 feet 4 inches held by Matthew Anikina from Tuktoyaktuk. The world record is 7 feet 10 inches held by Jesse Frankson of Barrow, Alaska. The goal in agility games is not to make or break records, but to develop skills and patience.

Lift up and away from dome of the palm

James Day demonstrates the Alaskan High Kick

HOW TO: In this demo, we are showing lower kicking heights for kindergarten to 8th grade students. Kicking heights start at 10”–18”. Note: The right foot is the kicking foot here. If you kick with your left foot, reverse the instructions for left and right.

Start from a sitting position on floor.

3. When ready bend knee so that the foot is flat on the floor. Take a deep breath to relax.

Visit our Tusaayaksat Facebook page for an online instructional! Watch Inuit Games at the Canada Winter Games on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kkZQ7b22A8Q

Lift up off the floor. Get hips as high as you can, pulling the non-kicking foot up and towards the seal target, all in one motion.

Land with only the support hand and kicking foot touching the floor.

Stretch out kicking leg (right) with the foot below the seal target. The supporting hand (left) is placed behind the back for support. Hold the non-kicking foot with the right hand.

Push off kicking foot as hard as you can and kick the seal target, while holding the nonkicking foot.

To show balance hold the kicking foot for a few seconds, or bounce a few times to show control before letting go of the non-kicking foot.

There hasn’t been a day where I don’t feel proud to be who I am and where I come from.

the northern games link

James Day What sparked your passion for promoting the Northern Games?

I first started playing Northern Games in Sir Alexander Mackenzie School. There are so many people that have impacted my life in a positive way, including Edward Lennie, Abel Tingmiak, Steve Cockney, Gerry Kisoun, Donald Kuptana and the list goes on. They taught me keeping the Northern Games strong and passing it on to the youth of today is very important. They’ve passed the knowledge to me and it’s now my job to pass it on, to keep the culture alive. My taatak, Billy Day, was a huge part of the Drummers and Dancers group that revived drum dancing so it’s lively and well today.

How do you promote the games, and who promotes them with you?

There are practices at East Three Secondary School on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 3:30pm – 5:00 pm. My friend Kyle Kuptana and elder Steve Cockney hold practices at the Inuvik Youth Centre on Thursday evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pm. The practices are open to anyone who are interested in the games. Kyle Kuptana, Noel Cockney and Dang-Dang Gruben also work a lot to promote Northern Games.

What is special about the Northern Games?

Northern Games are special to me - I am connecting with my culture and ancestors when I play the games. I play all the sports I can and Northern Games is by far the most enjoyable, fun and help build my physical and mental toughness. If you watch hockey, baseball or any other sport they’re trying to beat each other. Northern Games were played for survival so everyone who plays the games helps and encourages each other. Every family and group had to survive together. Sure, there is competition on who can kick the highest but each competitor will help one another. It creates such a great atmosphere and at that moment when it’s all coming together while we play you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

How does it feel to be a Youth ambassador, how do youth respond to you?

As Youth Ambassador I feel responsible for passing on any knowledge I have and there is still so much more that I am learning each day. You never stop learning. When I demonstrate or teach the games I feel a sense of pride in my culture so hopefully I am passing that on to the youth. Feel pride for who we are and keep our culture alive. I hope the youth enjoy playing the games as much as I like to teach them. In most cases they do.

What has changed about you or your life since Northern Games?

The games teach you about discipline, respect and culture. Through the games I have definitely become a better individual. They taught me to respect others and our elders. There are stories and history behind each game and I’ve learnt a lot from that. When I play the games I feel connected to my ancestors and I feel proud and privileged. The games push your physical and mental limits further and you have to dig down to a part of you that you haven’t discovered before to find that extra energy you need to succeed. I took that mentality and work ethic to all I do in life, and have become much happier. There hasn’t been a day where I don’t feel proud to be who I am and where I come from.

The games push your physical and mental limits further and you have to dig down to a part of you that you haven’t discovered before... I took that mentality and work ethic to all I do in life, and have become much happier. There hasn’t been a day where I don’t feel proud to be who I am and where I come from.

Wyatt Morgan photo

News Stories

“We had a really good turnout. In Aklavik we come together as Gwich’in, Inuvialuit, Metis and many others from different backgrounds. Just seeing how our community comes together is very encouraging to us. Thank you to the elders for their prayers, stories and advice. Thank you to everyone who came out.”

“It comes down to a human health matter, it affects each and everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from, water is life and without healthy environment, we are nothing. One instrumental elder in yesterday’s walk was Annie B. Gordon, she shared stories about what elders told her when she was growing up, the main message was they knew what was ahead for our people and that they directed us to stand up for our land and water and our people.”

“Our community along with many others are impacted directly and we are the last community on the Peel River. Whatever development that takes place will effect the water and eventually it all flows down to us.” “We don’t need a handful of people in Government, many whom only been in the North for 23 years making selfish decisions that impact our lives and future when our people have roots herein the area going back thousands of years.” After the walk, protestors debriefed and discussed next steps including submission of a petition to the Yukon government the next day, and welcomed letters and suggestions from protestors who wanted to add their voices to protect the Peel.

Wyatt Morgan photo

Aklavik resident and hamlet councilor Bobbie Jo Greenland organized the community’s protest walk from Moose Kerr School to Hansen Road along the banks of Peel River, to the water treatment plant area. She was pleased with the turnout.

“Our message is to Yukon Territorial Government to rethink their recent decisions. It was almost dyslexic of them that they opened 79% to development and protected 21% when we supported the recommendations of 80% protected and 20% for development. They totally disregarded all the work and time and money that went into these community consultations and rejected the recommendations. It is unethical and immoral that they ignored the Land Use Plan that the First Nations and other groups had worked together on and supported. Lawsuits have been launched. We need to make some noise and show our stand on this matter.”

Jeremy Moscher photo

Peaceful protests were held in Aklavik, Inuvik, Fort McPherson in the NWT and Whitehorse, Mayo, Dawson City and Haines Junction in the Yukon, rallying against the Yukon government’s decision to open 71 per cent of the Peel River Watershed to development. The Peel River watershed is one of the largest undisturbed freshwater ecosystems in Canada. It spans across parts of Alaska, the N.W.T. and Yukon.

Wyatt Morgan photo

Protest Walks for Peel River Watershed

Eugene Pascal photo

Ukiuq ta

nun ng ti

words and photos by David Stewart & Zoe Ho

mi Hivuni p tu

Duane Smith on A United Inuit Voice tic

- On

Tusaayaksat invited Duane Smith, President of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada (ICC) and Chair of the Inuvik Community Corporation, to share the latest news on the upcoming ICC General Assembly, as well as on the progress of the new Inuvik Community Corporation building.

Canadian North Official Carrier for ICC GA How important is it to have ICC today compared to when ICC began, in terms of the need for a united Inuit voice? ICC has been established for over 37 years, it was created to unite Inuit from Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Greenland, to develop a united voice, a united front to advocate for rights of circumpolar Inuit as indigenous peoples, to provide an opportunity and venue for Inuit to get together periodically for discussion of common issues affecting Inuit, how we should try as a people not only to survive but to thrive in a world that is changing around us. It is even more crucial today than before, the arctic is opening up and we are seeing more exploration for renewable and non-renewable resources, and shipping. It is more relevant than ever to point out that we are people who live within the circumpolar arctic and activities cannot be conducted without our meaningful involvement and engagement.

Could you tell us what the Inuvik Declaration for 2014 will consist of? It would have some reflection in regards to what the Inuit leadership would want the Executive Circumpolar Council to act on for the next four years, to represent Inuit at the UN level, at the circumpolar level, at the Arctic Council level and at national and international forums, on where we should be raising awareness to Inuit issues, to the degree possible.

Canadian North, an Inuit-owned airline, was selected by Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) and Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Canada, as the official carrier of the ICC General Assembly in Inuvik, Northwest Territories July 21 to 24, 2014. Canadian North is providing special pricing to all ICC delegates and attendees, a special conference flight schedule has been developed to ensure easy and seamless travel for delegates coming from across Canada. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having Canadian North help us get all the delegates from around the Circumpolar World here safe and sound is no small task. We are pleased with the partnership and look forward to hosting the General Assembly in the Western Arctic,â&#x20AC;? said Nellie Cournoyea, IRC Chair and CEO. www.canadiannorth.com

Is the General Assembly (GA) a way to get citizen Inuit involved? The GA provides an opportunity for Inuit from all areas to join in, the assemblies are open to anyone. It’s unfortunate that we reside over such a big broad area, so it’s restricts us from getting all Inuit involved, but the assembly meetings will be broadcast over the internet. We welcome Canadian North as one of our major sponsors. This will mean a maximum number of delegates and participants will have the opportunity to travel to Inuvik.

What do you hope to contribute as a leader? Philippa Vos, Coordinator for the Inuit Circumpolar Northern Games is laying out seal skins to be sent to Ulukhaktok for the ICC Commemorative Tapestry.

I’ve been with the ICC for over 16 years, I hope I’m raising issues for Inuit wherever they might reside and and representing their rights, even for youth within the region.

What youth initiatives will be part of the ICC General Assembly in Inuvik? We are still developing the agenda as we speak and we are trying to accommodate all views, all issues and concerns. It was stressed that each country’s delegation has a youth component, so the youth can take part

New International Chair of ICC Canadian Inuit Leaders Nominate Okalik Eegeesiak for Position of New International Chair of ICC. Ms. Eegeesiak, who is from Nunavut, will take over the position officially at the quadrennial ICC General Assembly to be held in Inuvik in July 2014, where she is expected to be officially elected by Inuit delegates from across the circumpolar region. Ms. Eegeesiak will take over the office of the Chair from Greenlander, Aqqaluk Lynge, who has served in that capacity during three separate terms. The last Canadian Inuk to head up the international office of ICC was Sheila Watt-Cloutier who was elected in Kuujjuaq in 2002.

directly in the assembly.

What can we look forward to in Inuvik as part of the ICC General Assembly? There are the official representatives that make up the delegation for each country, who take part in the assembly deliberations itself. There are many others who are here not just as part of the official meetings, they are here to celebrate the Inuit culture. A major part of the assembly is having Inuit from all over take this unique opportunity, at this scale, to celebrate our identity, to share our culture, our respective practices from the different regions. There’s going to be drum dancing, country foods, Inuit games, we are going get together as a people, making new friends and gathering with old ones.

What is the progress on the new Inuvik Community Corporation building, and why is it needed? It’s progressing as planned, we’ve given the contract to a construction company that partners with IDC so we’ve kept it in-house. The hope and the intent with the contract is that it will be completed by June 1st. It’s always been my goal as Inuvik Community Corporation Chair and our board members to show that ICC is its own body with its own role and function within the community. We have roughly a thousand beneficiary members within this community so we have a large representation to look after and hopefully having our own office allows us to provide that better. The main floor is deliberately designed to have a large open venue, so we can provide members and the community at large a space to utilize for our sewing classes, our language classes, and our drum dancing classes in the evenings. There’s limited space for these functions so we want to provide a consistent stable base for that to support preserving part of our culture.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

INUVIK, NT (April 16, 2014) – The Board of Directors of Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) announces a distribution payment of $551.57 to all enrolled Inuvialuit beneficiaries over the age of 18.

2013 Drop the Pop Winners In 2013, three Beaufort Delta Schools were especially deserving of recognition for their efforts to support healthy eating and healthy living in their schools. Helen Kalvak School, Ulukhaktok participated in the preparation of lunches, and a variety of healthy snacks that included yogurt and healthy muffins. Students, teachers and community members played games in the gym (traditional games) and games on the ice (hockey). East Three Secondary, Inuvik provided students with presentations by dieticians, healthy beverage alternatives to pop, such as low cost 100% fruit smoothies and water. The food

preparation, service and recipe creation were done by the high school work experience students. Moose Kerr School, Aklavik had a week’s worth of healthy fun-filled activities such as a short story contest, a classroom poster contest and luncheon, a daily trivia question and an award for the best short story and poster served up with fruits and vegetables.

IYC Rainbow Club The Inuvik Youth Center kicked off its Rainbow Club in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth on February 14th with a dance, complete with a video wall. The party was well attended by local youth and community members, who were eager to speak up for LGBT rights. Youth Eric Kudlak had fun at the dance, and spoke up in support of the cause, “It’s important because most of the town knows if we hear of racism and it’s not right. LGBT rights should be respected too, just because you are not the same doesn’t mean you have to hate them. Everybody’s equal.” Wallace Goose and Ken Stewart who also attended the party agreed. The Kickoff party is funded by the Girls Action Foundation which supports bringing awareness to issues affecting females in Canada every valentines day. Youth Florence Thrasher helped Ali

In accordance with the IRC Distribution Policy, each enrolled Inuvialuit beneficiary will receive $551.57. A total of $2,404,855.35 will be paid to 4,360 beneficiaries enrolled in the Inuvialuit Trust. Payments can be expected May 1st, 2014.

McConnell, executive director of the Inuvik Youth Centre to write the proposal. Christina Thrasher, another youth who regularly joins programming at the youth center said she was invited by her sister. She shared that it was especially important to attend and to support the creation of a safe space as she has family members who face discrimination due to their sexuality. The Rainbow Club runs every Monday from 4–6pm at the Inuvik Youth Centre. Ali McConnell is hoping youth will learn to develop their confidence to advocate for their own voice.

Language Planning Workshop David Stewart photo

IRC Distribution Payments

The IRC Distribution Policy ensures that there is sufficient reinvestment of profits to guarantee the preservation and growth of the land claim capital for future generations of Inuvialuit. The establishment of the Elders Assistance Program and Inuvialuit Harvesters Assistance Program, the core funding of the Inuvialuit Education Foundation, Inuvialuit Charitable Foundation and community corporations have all been made possible through such reinvestments. (from IRC Press Release)

An Inuvialuktun and Inuinnaqtun Community Languages Planning Workshop was held at ICRC March 18 – 19. Community and language representatives, as well as ICRC staff came together to review the Inuvialuktun and Inuinnaqtun Regional Languages Plan. ICRC will receive proposals from communities for language activities, a responsibility transferred from GNWT. Proposal and report writing skills development, as well as the hiring of a regional language coordinator was discussed. It was also hoped that the GNWT will hire linguists to assist with the expansion of language and terminology. Cathy Cockney, ICRC manager, said the outcome of the workshop was that “The communities will have more control organizing and running their programs in the communities.”

Zoe Ho photo

News Stories

l u f l l i

h t h t u r o No

e in thwords and photos by Zoe Ho

Alaina Carpenter enjoys sewing, she made these moccasins in memory of her friend Paulou.

Youth learning about work prospects at the army.

Silver medallists in Electrical Wiring Martin Pokiak and Lionel Kikoak from Tuktoyaktuk.

Alaina Carpenter sewing at the NWT Skills Competition. She likes that winners of the contest get to travel to compete nationally and beyond.

he 6th Annual NWT-North Regional Skills Competition was held at East Three Secondary School in Inuvik on February 6th, 2014. Students in grades 9-12 from across the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu region gathered to compete in Baking, Carpentry, Cooking, Electrical Wiring, Hairstyling, Sewing (cultural), Small Engine Repair, Workplace Safety, and Photography, testing their skills in a trade they have been learning. Some medal winners were eligible to advance to the Territorial Skills Competition in Yellowknife in May. This was a draw to Alaina Carpenter (Inuvik), who became a Silver medallist in Cultural Sewing. She showed me moccasins made in memory of her friend Paulou. They were beautiful. Marten Pokiak and Lionel Kikoak competed in Electrical Wiring. “Light, electricity and everything,” they said of the electrical box, switches and plugins they worked on. “You could charge your phone here.” Competitors were enjoying being in the flow of their process, while also participating in the concurrent job fair learning about prospects in careers across the country and the north.

Leanne Ocko gold medallist in Hairstyling from Inuvik.

Dawson Kovacs from Aklavik learning from Kevin Allen about wildlife monitoring.

Photo: James MacKenzie

Gold medallist in Workplace Safety - Dawson Kovacs from Aklavik, Silver medallist Elliot Colin from Fort McPherson, and Bronze medallist Dwight Stefansson from Aklavik, with East Three Secondary School principal Deborah Maguire presenting.

Gold medallists in Electrical Wiring Jacob Klengenberg and Austin Kitekudlak from Ulukhaktok with Silver medallists Martin Pokiak and Lionel Kikoak from Tuktoyaktuk — at Inuvik.

Photo: James MacKenzie

Photo: Jan Fullerton

Bronze medallist in Cooking – Mariah Lucas from Inuvik.

Photo: James MacKenzie

Bronze medal in Baking, Rhea Klengenberg from Ulukhaktok.

Photography Bronze medallist – Amy Badgley from Inuvik, Silver medallist Natalja Bristow from Ulukhaktok, and Gold medallist Juliet Klengenberg from Ulukhaktok with Technical Chair James MacKenzie.

Bronze medallist in Hairstyling Shelby Lucas from Inuvik.

vaness a lennie

arrison

words and photos by Nathalie Heiberg-H

t first sight, Vanessa Lennie might seem like the typical 16-year-old girl – pink painted nails adorned with a bestfriend-forever ring, long black hair down to her waist. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find out there is something a bit different about her – she is a formidable force in shop class. The Grade 11 student at East Three Secondary School took home a gold medal in small-engine repair at the NWTNorth Regional Skills Competition this

past February, beating out three male counterparts in the process. “It felt different ‘cause I was the only girl,” Vanessa explains. “I almost never competed because I was so nervous and I didn’t know I was going to do well.” The Tsiigehtchic-raised, part Gwich’in, part Inuvialuit teen first joined shop class in Grade 9. That year it was mandatory, but she has continued to take it every year, saying she loves the hands-on work it entails. Her teacher, Randy Palsson, says she has a real knack for the class and serves as a role model for other students. “When there’s the occasion where we have a new student and they lack confidence, Vanessa’s quite willing to help them. That tells me that she’s not afraid to do what she’s doing. She knows what she knows,” Randy explains. “As a role model she’s a great kid for that kind of thing.” To prepare for the skills competition, Vanessa practiced taking apart motors and putting them back together again. In the competition, each engine had a problem that students needed to troubleshoot. In addition, competitors had to write about each part of the engine, what its purpose was and what tools they used in the process. They were judged on how successful they were and how long it took to complete their work.

Although she was nervous leading up to the event, Vanessa says in the moment it all came together. “It felt like I actually knew what I was doing,” she explains. Her teacher wasn’t surprised. “I have nothing but great things to say about her,” Randy says. “I think she made the effort to learn. She’s a great attender. She came every day. She has great auditory learning skills - she hears it, she gets it. She’s also very hands on.” Vanessa credits her parents, Sammy and Carolyn, as well as her aunt Naudia, for encouraging her. “My aunty has always done things that are usually just for boys,” she says. “My parents just want me to do whatever I like to do.” Vanessa says she will likely go into the trades sector after graduation, although she is still unsure which route to go. And her advice to girls interested in the trades? “Try it. You never know how it might turn out.” In May Vanessa will be competing at the Territorial Skills Competition in Yellowknife for her chance at a spot at the National Skills Competition in Vancouver.

Facts about Beluga & Toxoplasmosis There have been recent media stories regarding the finding of Toxoplasma parasite in beluga whales in the Western Arctic. To date, no cases of toxoplasmosis in humans have been linked to belugas that were part of this study. In general, beluga and other country food are safe to eat.

Who is at risk? Healthy people are generally not at risk, but the parasite can seriously harm an unborn child. Pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems, are advised to not eat raw whale meat and thoroughly wash their hands after handling raw meat. What are the symptoms? Most people with a healthy immune system won’t have any signs of the disease. Short-term effect may include:

What is toxoplasmosis?

fever, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, swollen

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma. lymph nodes, eye problems and an enlarged spleen. The parasite infects domesticated animals and wild Individuals who think they have toxoplasmosis animals. Toxoplasma is not new to the arctic.

should talk to their healthcare provider. How to prevent getting toxoplasmosis? At risk individuals, particularly pregnant women and immune-compromised persons should only eat meat that has been thoroughly cooked, frozen or dried. Wash hands, cutting boards and utensils after handling raw meat. Pregnant women should avoid cleaning litter pans and contact with cats of unknown feeding history.

For questions related to human health concerns around toxoplasmosis, contact the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer at either of the following phone numbers: (867) 920-6204 or (867) 873-2183.

DO MODERN DAY TECHNOLOGIES AFFECT YOUTH AND THEIR CULTURE? Hi, I’m Dawson, I am 16 and I enjoy listening to music, practicing drawing, and traveling across the world. I’m from Inuvik.

Hello, my name is Ethan Allen; I’m a 16 year old Inuk born and raised in Inuvik, attending East Three Secondary school. I wrote this article for Tusaayaksat as a school project and have enjoyed the creation process the whole way through.

I am aware that I don’t know much about my culture except for bits and pieces – about language, clothing, and games, although I’ve always wanted to learn more about hunting and surviving on the land. I want to know more about my Inuvialuit background. It’s appalling seeing and hearing youth my age complaining that we are losing our old ways of life and yet not taking the time to learn. Young people like myself lead busy modern lives, focused around our technological devices. Imagine if all our elders and parents (the people who know most about our language and traditions) disappeared and we had to rely on our own knowledge to survive on the land. We’d probably not make it that well, if at all. Every generation needs to learn how to keep our culture alive. We went out to ask people in the community what they thought. Dawson Smith, 16

Yes. We rely on technology too much but we need technology for educational purposes.

Whyatt McCooeye, 16, Barry, Ontario

Raven Firth, 17, Inuvik

Ethan Allen, 16, Inuvik

Tamara Moore, 16, Inuvik

It doesn’t encourage them [youth] to learn their culture, but there’s a possibility it may hurt them more in the future.

It depends on how you use it. It’s a tool that could either be used to learn, or used to avoid learning.

In the beginning Dawson and I thought that modern technology such as the internet hurt our chances of reviving our culture. With further investigation we learnt that these technologies are key to keeping our culture alive. Information about our culture is on the internet, documenting how to hunt and survive on the land effectively; there are apps that teach you how to spell and pronounce words from our language! For these reasons we believe that technology is crucial to help us and our future generations to continue the passing on of traditional knowledge.

Ethan Allen, 16, Inuvik

Dawson Smith, 16, Inuvik

Ethan and I thought about how much the technology has changed our way of life. Technology can be helpful to people who are new to the Delta, because they can look up the history of the region, how elders lived, gathered food and found different types of shelter, or learn about drum dancing, traditional foods and different uses for medicinal plants. However, technology can have a negative effect on culture by taking us away from spending time on the land doing traditional activities like hunting for geese, whales, and muskrats.

There is not enough information on the internet dealing with culture. Maybe putting videos on YouTube about how to do arctic sports would help. It should be a collective effort between elders and youth. Technology is here and is not going anywhere. It would be nice if it could become cross generational.

Les Skinner, Inuvik

Dawson Smith, 16, Inuvik

Technology has more of an influence if I have to pick between the two. It is very beneficial in promoting, supporting and maintaining cultural ties. For example the internet can be used as a tool for defining language, increasing language acquisition so it’s more current and available to all people. The languages I am thinking of are Inuvialuktun, Gwich’in, English and French.

Edward Lennie, the Delta

Anna Pingo, Tuk

Camilla Verbonic, Inuvik

Technology and its influence on our culture is our decision. Youth can use it to build a stronger culture, or we can let it break it all down. It’s in the hands of the youth to carry it through... our northern games can help us achieve that, by letting us know that we shouldn’t say we ‘can’t’ and that we can do what we choose to do.

I think it does influence... you see kids playing on their devices rather than going out on the land, so they are now making language apps so people can learn the language. It hurts because it takes kids away from the land, nowadays we are not practicing what our families did. Ethan’s uncle Kevin would leave Baseball (which he loves) to go and practice his traditions like getting traditional food for the winter (whale). Once that is done he has to go back to everyday life.

When we started this article it seemed to me that technogy is taking youth away from their culture and traditions more and more, but now that we’ve pondered the topic further it seems the two can work together and support each other. Technology and culture can work together, it doesn’t have to be a choice of one or the other.

Ethan Allen, 16, Inuvik

Dawson Smith, 16, Inuvik

S MY EW I F P N I MO AI RS G CCR O T AS F IN S

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I am Shiense Cockney, 17. Born and raised in Inuvik, and oldest of 6 siblings, I am attending grade 11 at East Three Secondary School. I work at the Inuvik Youth Centre. I enjoy time off my with family and friends, driving and traveling. I’m a small town girl trying to accomplish big dreams!

How to make your own pair of mitts!

Gather together the material needed.

Photo copy pattern 3 times. Cut pattern pieces, and trace complete patterns for each mitt on the lining, flip over the pattern and trace other side as opposite mitt pattern. (Remember: 2 sets of everything)

After patterns are traced, cut it out.

Sew the lining together! Using a whip stitch, make sure your stitches are close together!

Trace back pattern, thumb, and top pattern on fur, Tip: make sure the fur goes down in one direction (2 sets)

After you’ve completed tracing patterns on the fur, trace palm pattern on moose skin. (2 sets)

Once you’ve completed sewing the thumb and fur pieces together, attach to back of the pattern starting in the middle making your way to the top of the mitt.

Sew fur and thumb together starting in the centre (2 sets) Use a thimble for this part to push moose skin and fur together.

10.

Almost done, once you’ve completed the previous step, put the lining inside the mitts!

One more step to do, add the top pattern to complete your mitts. Fold over: sew fur downwards to the mitten.

Hooray you’ve completed your own pair of mitts! Hope they keep you warm!

Lost Souls 58

The only thing I found was a white, perfectly clean fur mitt hanging on a twig. She had crystal blue eyes, with hints of green, and streaks of glistening white. It was like looking into the beautiful frozen Arctic Ocean. She had beautiful wavy blonde hair that was frozen at the tips. Her face was pale enough to blend in with the snow, except for her small and narrow nose which was glowing a soft pink colour. I reached in. It was minutes before I found it. Her pulse! She had a pulse! My heart started pounding faster and faster. This beautiful angel was still alive. I needed to get help right now.

I threw the heated blankets in the sled off to the side and placed her in gently. She reminded me of Milka, the only survivor of the beautiful pups that mama Tuska gave birth to. Milka laid next to where I had put the girl’s feet. Milka was a pure, golden white Husky. How could that be when both her parents were dark black Huskies? I moved Milka up to the left side of the girl’s hip. Then I grabbed the blankets and tucked them in to keep them both warm. “Mush!” And off to Aklavik we went. When I got to the cabin, I saw my uncle dragging a moose to the side of the cabin. He looked different, although it took me a while to realize it. “Uncle Auktallaq” I called, “Ata, I need your help!” I began to take her out of the sled gently, as my uncle made his way over. “I found this girl near the ocean! She’s not dead yet, and we can’t let her die,” I said. “Where does she come from?” My uncle asked. “I don’t know! By the looks of it, she’s not from around here.” I replied. “Hurry, get her inside!” He grabbed her legs, and helped me carry her in. She weighed nothing more than an average eight year old girl.

It has been nearly three hours since uncle Auktallaq tried to revitalize her. I didn’t know what to do. She was too beautiful, too sweet to die. My Uncle took some pine boughs from the trees, and told me to wait outside. She was going pale too fast. Her pink nose was surely fading into the same pale colour her cheeks were. When her beautiful blonde hair thawed it turned grey. I’m sure I have seen her before, sometime before I found her laying on the Arctic ocean but I just couldn’t figure out where or when. “I did everything I can Taktuk, I’m sorry,” my uncle said over my shoulder. “What? You mean she’s dead.” He looked at me, almost as pale as the girl. He backed into the cabin a little and said, “Come inside son, we must prepare to send her away.”

I stepped into the cabin. Both my uncle and the girl were gone. Where did they go? Did my uncle move her body? Where were they? I searched the cabin up and down but they were nowhere to be found. How could this be? I sat down, in confusion. The longer I sat, the more confused I got. Later that night, just as I couldn’t stay awake any longer, I found a feather. The feather was nothing like a bird’s feather, or any kind of feather I had seen before. Was it from the girl’s mitt? I glanced underneath the

coffee table there was a photo lying underneath. The photo was old and worn out. I looked at it closely. My uncle was in it, holding the head of a caribou. Beside my uncle stood a man that looked very much like him, almost identical. Did my uncle have a twin brother? A tingle went down my spine like a lightning bolt. When my uncle walked in I was waiting for him. I needed answers. “Who is this man?” I asked him. He looked at me, worried. “I knew this time would come.”

“Wait, you found a girl?” “Yes, when I went to the ocean, you were here.” I answered. Then it dawned on me. “My father was here, and I mistook him for you.” “Where’d they go?” He stood up. “I wish I knew.” I said. “Was she really an angel?” “No.... Angels are eternal creatures, they can’t be men or women. I see her sometimes, and your father too. I mean they visit me in my dreams. “What happened to them, where is my father?” I asked.

I stood up. “Uncle, who is this man?”

“I can’t tell you, I don’t know. The only thing I know, is she has your father trapped.”

“That man... he is your father.” He answered slowly.

As the sun arose, Milka came bouncing on top of me, she has gotten so much bigger lately. She made me love her, she was my precious pup. She was not like any other dog. As I ran my fingers through her fur it felt oddly familiar, like patches of the same feather the girl had left behind. What does all this mean? Why did I find her? I was left with more questions than answers. Where can I find my answers? My eyes were left staring at Milka.

“Why have you never told me?” I said. “He went missing when you were turning two. He always talked about a beautiful angel he would visit,” his words came out like a long sigh, “He said he was falling in love with her, and that he would do anything to be with her.” “Would he kill himself for her?” I was surprised by my own question. “I don’t know, that was my thought too.” He replied. “So the girl I found, that was her?”

words by Tamara Moore (above) illustration by Natasha Moore

Words

zoe ho Photos

David Stewart

Sky’s the limit william allen aklak engineer Ingenuity with mechanics runs in William Allen’s family. The 44 year old airplane engineer has been working at Inuvialuit owned Aklak Airways since he was 19, and will be celebrating his 25th year of employment at Aklak this year. “A number of people inspired me as a kid. My grandfather William Chicksi, he was a natural mechanic. Once someone couldn’t get their schooner going, so they drove to his camp and asked for help. In those days, the machines had McNeedles which sparked the engine. He knew it took compression, fuel, and the spark... when he took the engine apart he noticed the spring missing and thought ‘where can I find another spring?’ From his lighter! I heard that story when I was 14,” William laughs. William’s uncle Tommy Chicksi was also known to be able to work on any outboard motor or snowmobile. “It was all magic to me,” says William. Right after graduation from High School, William worked as a “rampie” at Aklak for six months. He was offered an apprenticeship, including a four year training program at the Stevenson Aviation Technical Training Center (now Red River College) to be certified as a AME – Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

With his father Elijah Allen’s encouragement, William left Inuvik for Winnipeg from 1989 - 1992. “It was hard to leave home, I couldn’t have done it without motivation from my dad. He said, ‘Once you start don’t quit. I know how hard it is, that will pass, let it pass.’” Elijah has inspired many with his efforts to become literate, going to school at 48 years old, after navigating the challenges of transitioning from living on the land to having to have a salaried job in town. Elijah has been honoured with many literacy awards to date. “I just wanted to make him proud,” says William. To William, every effort to maintain the aircraft and to continue learning is directly related to ensuring the safety of crew and passengers and the integrity of his license. He chuckles as tells us about calling elders such as Bill Aleekuk, fellow Inuvialuit aircraft engineer sometimes when he hits a mysterious snag at work. “In the old days, he showed me the ropes. We did a twin otter change together, Bill showed me how.” With his work, William has

Aircraft engineer William Allen with a plane he works on, outside the new Aklak Air hangar. William is celebrating his 25th year of employment at the Inuvialuit owned airline this year. For more info on Aklak: www.aklakair.ca flown to Africa, Russia, even over the North Pole, delivering airplane parts and repairs to other regions served by Aklak’s co-owner Ken Borek Air. He enjoys test flights, and has flown quite a few hours, shot approaches and is working up to landing the planes. In rotation with another Aklak Aircraft Engineer, William works 28 days on, 28 days off. “When I look back as I come close to completing each rotation, I feel pretty good about what I’ve accomplished. Inuvik’s my home, and it’s nice that I get to go home after work every night,” he said. William stays close to his roots, still going out on the land to hunt with his family. He has met life’s challenges with determination and continues to learn everyday. To youth who might want to pursue aviation work, William says, “Stay in school no matter how hard it may seem. You can overcome anything if you put your mind to it and things will always get better.”

Annie Inuktalik: Aliahungniup Mikhagut On Happiness Kangiyuatihungmi Nunahimatilutik Iqaumayait Memories of Minto Inlet words by Zoe Ho photos by David Stewart translation by Emily Kudlak

nnie Inuktalik uqaraangami nipaa nipaukaittuq kuvianaqhunilu inuuhianut qunguyukangami aulayuq. Ulukhaktuup una iningniutaa nuyaqaqhuni takiyunik piniqpiaqtunik, ukiuqaqhuni 57nik kihimi nukaqhiutqiyaanik itjuhiqaqtuq. Iglaqhuni imailiyuq, “pihulukangniuplu, niqilulu nakuuyut,aliahulukangniuplu iningninguqtailivaktanga”. Tahamna amaamamnit ilamnitlu ilitimayara. “Inuutivut ikayulukaaqhugit taima aliahulukaangniqaqpaktugut”. Avanmut aitungniq ayungnangittutut ittuq Anniemi. Piksanik amigaitunik qagitdjivaktuq qangaraaluuk itdjuhiinik unipkaaqtaminut atuqtauhyukhanik. Piksani hapkunani itdjuhiit imaa aliagiyait piqpagiplugitlu - amaamani Jean annuratdjaaqtuni miqhuqtamingnik akimahimayuq, Inmilu akimahimapluni. Uinilu Donald irninilu Phillip

nnie Inuktalik has a soft, graceful voice that matches her gentle, gracious smile. The Ulukhaktok elder has glossy long dark hair, and looks much younger than her 57 years. “A lot of walking, good food, and being happy, that’s all part of keeping myself young,” she laughs. “That’s what I learnt from my mum and our family, helping our people makes you happy.” Sharing seems to come easily to Annie. She has brought many photos to accompany her story of the old days. What is most important to her is captured in each photo – her mother Gene winning traditional dress sewing contests, and herself doing the same. Hunting caribou with her husband Donald and son Phillip, gatherings out on the land, fleshing polar bears and other harvests, prizes she won at Ducks Unlimited shooting contests. Annie taught Inuinnaqtun, an Inuvialuit dialect at Helen Kalvak School in the late 80s. Today, she continues to pass on culture, patiently showing young mothers and youth in Ulukhaktok the intricacies of traditional sewing. As Annie spoke, her words transported us back in time, to Minto Inlet, a traditional fishing area. “My name is Annie Kongyuatokgaluk Kagyut Inuktalik, my parents are Gene and William Kagyut. I was named after my maternal grandfather, my grandmother is Alikamik.

Everything in life mum tried to teach me, even hunting. She did her own hunting once in a while. People would come around when they were traveling. They moved in different seasons to places where animals were to do their hunting, I would go along with them too.”

tuktuhiuqatigiplu, Nunamiulukaaqhutiklu hulilukaaqatauplutik, nannunik amiqiplutik allaatlu anguniarutit, akimahimayaitlu Ducks Unlimited hiqurauyaqtittingmatta. Annie ilihautdjihimayuq Inuinnaqtun Inuvialuktunlu Helen Kalvak Ilihakviani 1980 ukiungit nunguliqtilugit. Ublumi pitquhini aulapkaqpaktait arnarutit amaamangulihaqtut, inuhaatlu Ulukhaqtuumi miqhungnikkut ilihaqtitugit. Annie unipkaaqtilugu tautuktuuyaaqtittaatigut Kangiryautihungmik, taimani iqalukhiurvik. “Atira Annie Konguatokgalak Kagyut Inuktalik, ilatka Jean &William Kagyut. Amaamangma atattiagata atianik attiqtauhimayunga, anaanatiara Alikamik”

I was born in the falltime, September 24th 1956 at Minto Inlet Sound, about 40 miles northwest of Ulukhaktok. Kuugyoak is the Minto Inlet River, where the fish go in by in the falltime, and char in the spring. My mother told me right after I was born, it snowed. The ground was really white the next morning. Everybody was going out to Fish Lakes to do their fishing. It used to be colder long ago and the lakes were already frozen.

Long ago people lived in different areas, some in Prince Albert Sound, some over by Walker Bay, others by Minto Inlet Area, where I grew up. My mum did a lot of sewing. Her husband had tuberculosis, he had to leave for so many years, almost 10 years, to Edmonton Charles Camsell Hospital. My mum was so alone but she had her brother Al Palvik and Esau Egliyayuk. They were very close to her, and looked after us when we were growing up.

My mum told me we had a caribou tent and it kept us warm, until she was strong enough to go up to Fish Lakes. That is the first place I ever went to, I just love that lake. I feel so good there, fishing with the nets under the ice.

My mum watched her mum sew. She was taught to be patient, sewing properly and neatly so the clothes can be worn nicely. She taught me kindly, patiently, starting off with making little tiny mitts and shoes. She taught me how to prepare skins. It was very hard to catch animals in those days, so it was very important not to spoil the skins. Skins were special, you had to do a good job. I got very good at making flowers and embroidery and was only about 12 when I started making shoes and flower mukluks for my four siblings. Every Christmas, they’d have new clothing, new shoes, new covers for their parkys, or even mitts for going to church. We didn’t have TV in those days, so sewing was a big thing for me, helping my mum. I remember my first parka cover. I really wanted a new one in the summertime. I must have been 14... and my mum had a sewing machine, you’d have to sew like this (Annie motions hand cranking) – so without telling her, I cut out my own cover! I couldn’t get how to do a little ruffle on the arm, and the braid. My mum got a bit angry when she knew. She helped me out, but she gave me a little disciplinary action. She told me never to take things without asking again. I must have cried (she laughs).

Annie Inuktalik and her husband Donald. Annie is working on a caribou that he harvested at Prince Albert Sound.

Everything in life she tried to teach me, even hunting. She did her own hunting once in a while. People would come around when they were traveling. They moved in different seasons to places where animals were to do their hunting, I would go along with them too. We spent a lot of time out on the land hunting animals like rabbits, ducks in the springtime, and ptarmigans in the falltime, for food. She taught us how to shoot .22 guns. Every shot used to count a lot because we didn’t have very much money for buying more. I guess that’s why I became very good at shooting (she laughs). My favourite cousin was Susie Alikamik (now her last name is Malgogak), we were like sisters.We would hunt birds, play, pick hungaliks (berries) in springtime and mahu (you know, roots) in summertime.

Annie cutting up caribou meat at Prince Albert Sound.

Apitilirviani 24, 1956mi ukiaqhami inuhimayunga Kangiryautihunmi,Ulukhaktuup uataani. Kuugyauq tahamna Kuugyuap kugaa, ukiakhami Iqaluit aulaviat, uppin’ngakhamilu iqalukpiit aulaviat. Amaamangma unipkaaqhimaya inugiaqtilungalu qanniqhimayuq. Aqarungungmat ublangani nuna qaquqhiqpiaqhuni. Inuit aullangaqpiaqhutik Tattinut iqalukhiuriaqtuqhutik. Qangaraaluk hila niglaumatqiyaugaluarami ublumimit, tattit hikuhimayariiqpaktut. Amaamangma unipkaaqhimaya tuktumik tupiqaqtugut , uquqpiaqtuguuq, hakugikhittiqhuni, hakugikhigami Tattiingnungauhimayugut. Hivulliqpaaq tahamna aullaarvigiyara, tamna tahiq piqpariqpiaqtara. Inuhingmi tutqingnaqtuq talvani, kuvyaqtuqhuni hikup ataagut. Qangaraaluk inuit inuuniaqhimayut humiliqaaq nunami, ilagit Kangiryaurmi, ilangit Walker Baymi, ilangitlu Kangiryautihungmi qauyivimni. Amaamaga miqhuqpiaqhimayuq. Uini anniarutiqarami tuberculosismik aullaqhimayuq ukiuni amigaitunik, qulit ukiut naatqayukhugit, Charles Campsell Anniarvianut Edmontonmi. Amaamaga avaliitpiaqpaktuq, kihimi anilik Albert Palvikmik Esau Elgayakmiklu. Ilaktik piqparikpiaqtaak, munarupluta inunguliqhuta. Amaamaga qun’ngiaqhimayaa amaamani miqhuqtilugu. Ilihaqhuni miqhuqtiangningmik, amigahuqhimmaitumik annuraat atimmarigiangini. Miqhungningmik ayuiqhautiyaanga amigakhuqhimaitumik, uqqautittiaqhunga pualunialiuqtitunga, kaminualiuqtitungalu. Amingniklu hanaiyainingmik ayuiqhiaplunga. Anngutit aguyami ayungnaqtut taimani, amgit nakun’ngiqtailinaqhugit hanaqqitpaqtavut. Amgit atungniqangmatta nakuun’ngiqtailiplugit hanaqittiaqpagait. Qulit malrungnik avatqumayunik ukiuqaliqhunga nautsialungniqmik ilitpiaqhimayunga hivurallangnik nukkatka hitamat kammiuqhugit, Kraisimangniq tamaat nuttaanik annuraaqaqpaktut, kamingnik nutaanik, uvvaluuniit nuttangnik puallunik aturiaqtuutikhamingnik.Taimani TVqanginapta miqhungiq aliagiyara, amaamaga ikayuqhugu. Hivuliqpaaq kalikuliara itqaumayara. Auyami nutaamik kalikuqarumaliqpiaqtunga. Qulit hitamanik avatqumayumik ukiunigunaqhiplunga… amaamaga miqhuqtitaqangmat, imaa miqhuqtaaqtumik

Annie Inuktalik, then a young mother of one at Minto Inlet making tea over the campfire. I found out later on: my family had so much love for one another. My uncle Esau would always tell me how to be kind, to not to talk back to elders, to not fight anybody. Way before I was born missionaries started to come around. They were traveling by dog team long ago, they never used airplanes then you know. When we heard about religion being so loving and caring, my uncle became a lay reader in our language right away. He taught me a lot about the missionaries, and God. It means so much to me, I had a little tear there remembering my uncle. Those were my growing up years. As I got older, I had to go to school. I had no understanding of what it was. We first started seeing planes

in the summertime in Minto Inlet, the policemen went around to do a census. Susie and I were the ones who had to go to school. The plane with floats came in the first part of 1960s to take kids to Inuvik. It was around my birthday in the falltime, I was just turning 8. We were having boiled fish heads for lunch, and fish broth before we were taken away. I remember it was very good... I remember saying bye to my mum, I felt a big part of me is going to miss her, but I was so excited, you know, a big part of me wanted to see what’s going on. We were flying, I can never forget this part – I look out of the plane’s windows, and the big mountain – Minto Inlet bluff, it was getting further and further away. I fell asleep.

(Annie miqhunguaqtuq algani atuqhugit) uniutihimaitumik kalikukhamnik iliktiqtuqtunga! Atikhaanik ayuqtunga, aingata pinniqutikhait ayuqhugit iliktiriami. Amaamaga ningavyaktuq ilitturigami. Ikayuqtaanga, kihimi huaqtuvyaktanga. Uqautiplunga appiqhihimaitumik tiguyihittailiquplunga. Qiayungnaqhiyunga (iglaqhunga) Ayuiqhautivaktaanga inuuniarutikhanik, annguniangningmiklu. Ilaani inmigut annguniaqpaktuq. Inuit qaivaktut aullaraangamik. Inuit aulavaktut humulliqaak anngutit malikhugit anguniaqhutik. Mallauvaktungalu. Nunaminginnaqpaktugut anguniaqhuta, ukalinik, uppingami tingmianik, ukiakhami aqilrinik niqikhaptingnik anguniaqhuta. Hiqurangningmik ilipkaqataatigut 22 hiqqut hiqqutituqtitugut. Hiqurniq tamaat anningnaqtuq kiinauyaqalluanginapta qaryuqhitikhaptingnik. Taima hiquqhuqtunga (iglaqhuni) Arnaqqatinnariyara Susie Alikamik (hatja atia Malgokak) nayagiinguyutut ittuguk. Qupanuaqhiuqhunuk, ulapquiyaqhunuk, qunguliqtaqhunuk kaplataqhunuklu uppin’ngaami mahutaqhunuklu auyami. Kinguagut ilitturiyunga: Ilatka piqparitdjutiqapiaqtut avanmut. Angaga Esau uqautivakanga inungnut pittiaqublunga, iningninut uqamiluktailiqublunga, inungnutlu ningaqtailitqublunga. Inuutinnanga minihittat tikitiliqhimayut hamunga. Qinmiqtuqhutik aullaqpaktut qangaraaluk, tingmitikut tingmihimaittumik. Uppiirut tahmna tuhaumayaqqut ima nakuuqpiaqhuni ikayuutauplunilu. Angaga minihittanguinnaqtuq Inuinnaqtun. Minihittat, Godimlu pitquhiinik ayuiqhautihimayaanga. Ayuiqhauttaa piqpariqpiaqtara, qulvipilukpunga anga itqariplugu. Tahapkuat ukiut inunguqtuutitka. Ukiunikpaliagama ilihaqtitauyunga. Tahamna ilihangniq kangiqhimmangitpiaqhimayara. Auyami Kangiryuatihungmi tingmittinik

Annie staying in a tent as a teenager in the summer.

tautulraaqpaliqtugut, Pukiqtalit inuknik kihitinniramik.Susielu uvaguk ilihariaqtitauhimayuguk. 1960tit ukiungani tingmit puptattiqaqtuq tikittimayuq nuttaqqat Inuviliarutiplugit. Anniviga ukiakhami tahamani. Tatlimat pingahunik avatqumayumik ukiuqalingniqtilunga. Pautaunik niriliqtiluta imiraqtuqhutalu aulautdjtauttinnata. Puiguyuittunga nakuuqpiaqttuq. Amaamga ilaanittauqtaraa puiguyuitara, ungalingniaqtara ilihimapluga, kihimi quviahuktunga, ilihimayumaplungali huliyunik.

Annie’s brother David Notaina harvested a polar bear – Annie is on the right, helping her sister Martha to clean the hide.

Tingmiyugut, hamna puigulimaitaratingmitip igalangatigut itaurama Kangiryuatihup iriqpaa ungahikhivalliayuq. Hinaaqhiplunga. Hamnainaq ilihaqtuni puiguyuitara: Stringer Hallmungauttuayugut, munaqhiyikput angut angiyuqyuaq, uvagut mikkannuagupluta anngaupluni iqhinaqhunilu. Atia Mr. Holman. Mrs. Holman angiyuqlu kihimi iliranaittuq. Annialiraangapta iglumiupkaqpaktaatigut, angauqpiarami avaliingaqtutut innaqtuq, igiliit inuiqpiaqpaktut. Annialirangat nakungitpiaqtuq. Qiaqpiaqpaktunga, tahamna puigulaitara. Ilihavingmungaqaramnuk Susielu ikhivaqatigiiktuguk. Ilihautdji itngmat nuttaqat tamatkiqpiaqhutik qailikaqqut, arnaqqatigalu Susie. Inuinnaqtun uqallakhuni imailikaquq “ taki, ilvitlu qaiyukhauyutit” Taimailiuqtukhaunahugipluta, qaiyunga. Qangangungmat uqarigaptigu iglakpaktuguk. Qablunaatut uqauhingmik ilitqaan’ngaqtunga ilihaqvingmi. Uppin’ngakhangungmat Ulukhaktuliaffaaqtugut tingmitikkut.Ukkuaq ukkiungmatdjuk hikumi mittimayugut, amaamaga aqaluaralu takuinnaqtatka. Hilatihimaqpiaqhimayuk hiqiningmit anuqimitlu. Amaamagalu , aappagalu aqaluaralu angiyumi iglumiituuniqtun Ulukhaktuup akiani. Nakuuqpiaqtuq iglumi. Uqauhiqput atuffaliinakaqhimayara. 1980 ukiungit nungutdjuqiliqtilugit Inuinnaqtun uqauhiinnik ilihautdjihimayunga ukiuni pingahuni.Martha Notainalu Kugluktukmutlu Iqaluktuutiangmutlu

Annie (third from left) at a traditional dress contest.

Annie’s husband and son turning over the polar bear. I only remember this about school: we were taken to Stringer Hall, and our supervisor was a very big big big big man, we were so tiny and he looked so big and scary. His name was Mr. Holman. Mrs. Holman she was a big lady too but she was very nice. When we got sick, we had to stay in the dorms, it was so big and it felt like you’re all alone, there were so many empty beds. Being sick was horrible. I cried a lot, I remember that part. The first time we went to a classroom Susie and me were sitting together. When the teacher came in all the kids started crying, even my cousin Susie. She said in the language, “Come on, you got to cry too.” We thought that’s what we had to do, so I did. When we talk about it later it made us laugh. The first time I learnt English was in school. By Springtime we came back to Ulukhaktok by airplane. They opened the door and we landed on the ice, I could see my mum and my brother right away. They were very dark in the spring, from the sun and the wind. My mum, dad and brother were staying in a big iglu across from Ulukhaktok. It was very comfortable. I adjusted back to the language right away. I was a teacher in late 80s – I taught Inuinnaqtun classes for 3 years. Martha and I went to Kugluktuk and to Cambridge Bay

An avid hunter, Annie remembers insisting on hunting more caribou once during a hunt. She is holding a 223 rifle she won in a Ducks Unlimited shooting contest.

Annie’s brother David Notaina harvested a polar bear – Annie is on the right, helping her sister Martha to clean the hide.

Annie’s son Phillip in a parky made by her. This parky is now used by Phillip’s son.

We spent a lot of time out on the land hunting animals like rabbits, ducks in the springtime, and ptarmigans in the falltime, for food. Mum taught us how to shoot .22 guns. Every shot used to count a lot because we didn’t have very much money for buying more. I guess that’s why I became very good at shooting!

ilihariaqtuqhimayuguk Millie Kuliktanalu Rosemary Meeyoklu ilihautigiplugik uqauhikkut. Uqauhivutlu pitquhivutlu ilihimainnaqtatka taima, quyahukpiaqtunga talvaniinama 1950min 1970mun, nutaanut hapkakniani. Pitquhiit hakugikpiaqtilugit. Pitquhiqput ilihaqhugu alianaqpiaqtuq, Uqauhiqputlu. Qablunaatutlu ilihaqhutalu inuuniangniqlu nutaaq ilihaqhugu. Qangaraaluk auyami ilagiit atautimiuqattauvaktut. Niriqatigiikhutik, tiituqatigiikhutiklu. Tupingmi hilataanit niritquhiplutik. “Niriguitii” inungnik niritquhiyun, “tiituritii” (inungnik tiituquhiyut) Amaamangma unniutivaktanga, talvungauguvit inungnut nakuvaklutin. Niqinut unitailutin. Iningninut inungnutlu nakutqublungalu.

Hatdja alanguqpiaqtuq.

In center, Annie’s mum and Dad – in traditional clothing. (L-R) Laura Inuktalik (Annie’s sister), Delma Klengenberg, Sam Oliktoak, Gene and William Kagyut, Elsie Nigiyok, Leanne Kuptana, Darlene Nigiyok, the little girl is Katie Inuktalik (Laura’s daughter). Annie Inuktalik’s family in Prince Albert Sound on a caribou hunting trip They have dry meat and dry fish on the racks around them. (L-R) David and Bella Kuptana, Joseph Kitekudlak, Helen Kitekudlak, John Kaodloak, Alice Kaodloak, and Annie’s husband Donald.

Inngutatka uqautinahuaqpaktatka iningninut nakuqublugit. Hunaliqaak pitquhiriliramitdjuk. Ublumi nuttaqqavut taniqtauginaliqhutik qaffiqtuqhutik unuitdjauplutik iliharvingmi,katimaqqatigiiktunilu itdjuhikhanik, imaalu inuniaruhikhainniklu pitquhiraluavut qangaraaluk atuqublugit. Quviahungitpiaqtunga inuhaangutivut uqauhiqput tuharungnaingmatdjuk. Iliharvingmi ilihautdjit ilihaqtitivaktugaluat nuttaqanik kihimi qablunaatut kangiqhipkaiplutik pivaliqtuq nuttaqqat kangiqhilimaingmatta Inuinnaqtun. Pitquhiqput tammaliqtuq, inuuniarutiptingni aturluarungniaqtaqput. Hatdja qiyungnik igluqaliqtugut pauwatuutiqaqtunik, huliyakhaiqtugut niamgiyaariaptingni, ikittinnarialingnik kihimi. Qangaraaluk inuuyumaguvit uquuyumaguvitlu akhut havakpiaqpaktutit. Hikutarlutitlu tiikhangnut, ignirviup hanianilu uqhumik avguiplutin, qamitailiplugu, qitdjuiqhutillu. Inungulirapta qulliqtuqpaktugut, tahapkuatlu Inuinnait qullit. Amaamangma ilihautdjihimayanga quliqtungningmik, iglumi uquumatauvaktuq ikumagangami Inuhangutivut ikayuuhaingningmik ilituripqaqtitauyut. Apiriplutit havagiakhangnik havangitkuvitluuniit,

havangitkuvit kinauyakhaqniq tuniniaqtaatit taimainmat hatdja inuit havangitut. Kihimi ayungnangmat havaakharlungmalu hamani. Inuhaat aullaalukaarungnailiqhutik. Ukuat taima aulaaqihimayut ikayutikhat (Nunamin Ilihakvia, pitquhipta ilihautiniit) inuhaat ikayurumaplugit. Ilaani katimapkiyivut ayuqhaqpaktut, kiinauyanik paqittinahurritutik aulatdjuhikhanik hulilukarutikhanik kihimi ikayuqhimmaaqtuhauyut. Inuuhanik ilihautdjinik aliagiyara, ilitquplugit inmikurlirumik atugakhamingmik pitquhimikkut. Iliharvingni, nunalaanilu inuit tamaita piqparitdjutiqatuhauyut, taima hilaryuami inuit tamatkirlutik qaviahungniaqtut!

where Millie Kuliktana and Rosemary Meeyok were instructors for basic language teacher training. I’ve always known the language and our culture. I felt very fortunate to be there in the 50s to the 70s, it was such a turning point. There traditions were really strong yet. It was so interesting to learn my culture, my language, and at the same time learn English and a new way of life. Long ago different family groups stayed together in the summertime. They’d always invite one another to supper or tea. They just yelled outside their tents, “Niriguitii?” which means come on over and eat, or “Tiituritii (come on over and have tea).” My mum used to tell me, if you go over, respect the people there. Make sure you

I like to teach our young people, to make sure our younger ones at least have the skills and some knowledge to do it on their own one day. In school, and in our communities, and everyone should love one another, that’s what makes the world so happy.

don’t be greedy about food. She taught me to respect our elders and our people. It’s really different now. I try to tell my grandchildren to respect the elders. They have so many distractions now. Our kids need today, to be told many times, even in school, in our community gatherings how to be, how to live the way our culture was long ago. It makes me very sad that young people don’t hear the language very much. They teach it at school but our teachers have to use English too so the children can understand. We are losing our culture, we are not really living it anymore. Now we’ve wooden houses and electricity, we don’t have to do anything to be comfortable, we just put switches on. Long ago you’d have to work very hard to keep yourself alive and warm. You’ve to do chores like get ice for tea, cut up seal oil by the wood stove, keep it going, cut up wood. When I was growing up we used the lamps, you know the eskimo qulliq lamps? My mum taught me how to do it, it sure kept the iglu warm when it got going. Our young people were introduced to things like social assistance. They ask if you are working or not, you have to be unemployed before they’d give you a cheque so people are not working. But its hard, most jobs in town are taken.

Minto Inlet Sound. Annie’s son and husband camping to fish – the big bluff is in the distance.

Annie Inuktalik and Rheanne (her first grand daughter) one Christmas in the 1990s. The blanket behind her is a prize from a Ducks Unlimited shooting contest.

Annie Inuktalik’s parents Gene and William Kagyut – Annie’s mother made these traditional dress outfits, she often wins sewing contests.

Annie’s parents William and Gene Kagyut.

Young people are not getting out on the land as much as they should. That’s why we have these programs (Nunamin Illihakvia, a cultural education program) to help young people. It’s hard for our leaders sometimes, to get money for programs but they have to try to help us out. I like to teach our young people, to make sure our younger ones at least have the skills and some knowledge to do it on their own one day. In school, and in our communities, and everyone should love one another, that’s what makes the world so happy (laughs).

Manrit Makpiraani Tusaayaksaq

Akiliusiamanikuvit taavyumanga “Common Experience Payment” $3000.00 – mik pitaqsilangayutin ilisarnikkun atuaksat. Itqilit Tukkunaqtut Ilisarviit Iluriliutait. Nakurumun igliqtuq. 2007 ukiungani, 80,000 qanimaklugu ilisaqtuat akiliusiaqtuat taavyumanga “Common Experience Payment (CEP)” taiyauyuq taamna malirullugu Itqilit Tukkunaqtut Ilisarviit Iluriliutait. CEP-min akiliusiaqtualuit ikayuqtaulayut “makpiraakun kisian” (Personal Credits) $3000.00 nallirlugu inmikluuniin ilaptikluuniin ikayuutiksait ilisarnium tungaanun. Sut uva ukuat manrit makpiraani? (Personal Credits?) Taapkuat manrit makpiraani ittuat inugiaktunun aturnaqtut: ilisarvingnun sukuliqa. Inungnunlu itqilinunlu ilisaruktuanun, uqausitigun, savaatigun, tamatkununlu ikayuutinun pitqusipta tungaanun. Qanutun angitigiva taamna maniq? Manrit makpiraani ittuat taapkuat akiliusiamaniktuanun tajvuuna CEPkun pitaqsilayut $3000.00-mun aglaan. Qanuq atuaksat manrit nalunaiqtuksauyut angiqtaksauyurllu. Apiqsuutitin makpiraakkun angiqtaulraaratik pilaittuq.

inrutamingnunlu, makpiraat malirullugit. Tamatkuat CEP-tkut maningit atuqtaulayuq qapsiulutik. Qanuq uva taamna maniq pitarilavigu? Makpiraanik tuyurniaraatin taiyauyuq “Aknowledgement Form”. Taavyumanga takungitkuvit January nungukpaung uvuuna 1-866-343-1858 uqatiginaqtut. Makpiraat iniqpata utiqtitaksauyut titiqatigun October 31, 2014 sivuani.

Qanuq uva taamna “Personal Credits” makpiraangit uvamnunutirniaqpat? Angiqtaukpan, tuyurniaraasi makpiraamik atilik “Redemption Form”. Atautchim Akiliusiamaniktuanun “CEP” maniqtik inuum atuaksa qapsini ilisarvingni. taamna pigupku ilisarvingnun “Personal Credits” atuqtilagait ukuanun: Makpiraaq takupkaaksaq. Taapkuat ilisarviit •Qitunramingnun •Inrutamingnun savaktingit makpiraaq “Redemption Form” taamna sannaiqtaksat. Ubluq •Tuvaaqatimingnun •Nukkamingnun kinguliq December 1, 2014 aglagvingmi “Post Office” takunaqtuksaq.

Kitut uva ilisarviit aturnaqpat? Canadam-lu, Assembly of First Nations-lu, Inuitlu katillutik taamna sanaigaat. Aglaktaunginiqpata ilangit ilisarviit qaritauyakun tutqiqsalayut.

Suvakpagit manrit atuqtaungitpata? Manrit atuqtaungituat ilakut nuutiniagait ukuanun: National Indian Brotherhood-kunulu Inuvialuit Education Foundation-munlu ilisarnikkun atuaksat.

Manivialungmik pitaqsilavik? Naagai. Maniq taamna ilisarviit kisian tigumayaksaat.

Apiqsuutiruaruvit maniqtigun “Personal Credits” taapkuatigun CEP-kun akilisiatuanun tuquyuanun uvuuna ilitchurinaqtuq: www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca uvuunalu 1-866-343-1858.

Kitut uva atulavaung manrit? Tamatkuat CEP-tkun akiliusiamaniktuat maniq tamaan atulagaat. Tamanluuniin ilangaluuniin atuqtilagait ilamingnun. Tuvaaqan, nutaqqat,

1-866-343-1858

Taamna ilisarviktigun “IRS” isumaaluktuanun nangituanunlu uvuuna uqarnaqtuq: 1-866-925-4419.

• www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca

Personal Credits Notice

If you received a Common Experience Payment, you could get $3,000 in Personal Credits for educational programs and services. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The healing continues. Since 2007, almost 80,000 former students have received a Common Experience Payment (“CEP”) as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. CEP recipients are now eligible to receive non-cash Personal Credits of up to $3,000, for either themselves or certain family members, for educational programs and services.

of multiple CEP recipients can be combined to support a group learning activity. How can I get Personal Credits? Each CEP recipient will be mailed an Acknowledgement Form. If you do not receive an Acknowledgement Form by the end of January 2014, please call 1-866-343-1858. Completed Acknowledgement Forms should be returned as soon as possible and must be postmarked no later than October 31, 2014.

What are Personal Credits? Personal Credits may be used for a wide range of educational programs and services, including those provided by universities, colleges, trade or training schools, How do I redeem my Personal Credits? Once approved, you Indigenous Institutions of Higher Learning, or which relate to literacy will be sent a personalized Redemption Form for each individual or trades, as well as programs and services related to Aboriginal using Personal Credits at each educational identities, histories, cultures or languages. entity or group. Once the Form is received, CEP recipients have the option of How much are Personal Credits? provide it to the educational entity or group sharing their Personal Credits with Adequate funds are available for each CEP listed. The educational entity or group certain family members, such as: recipient to receive up to $3,000 in Personal must then complete and mail back the Credits, depending on your approved • Spouses • Children Redemption Form postmarked no later than educational expenses. • Grandchildren • Siblings December 1, 2014. Which educational entities and groups are What happens to unused Personal included? A list of approved educational Credits? The value of unused Personal Credits will be transferred entities and groups has been jointly developed by Canada, to the National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund and Inuvialuit the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit representatives. If an Education Foundation for educational programs. educational entity or group is not on the list, please consult the website for more information. For more information, including how Personal Credits can be redeemed by certain family members of CEP recipients that Will I receive a cheque? No. Cheques will be issued directly to are deceased, visit www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca or call the educational entity or group providing the service. 1-866-343-1858. Who can use Personal Credits? CEP recipients can use the full The IRS Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) provides immediate and amount themselves or give part or all of their Personal Credits culturally appropriate counselling support to former students who to certain family members such as a spouse, child, grandchild or are experiencing distress. sibling, as defined in the terms and conditions. Personal Credits

1-866-343-1858 • www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca

words & photos by Zoe Ho

Muskrat jamboree

Jamboree season kicks off in the ISR with the 57th Inuvik Muskrat Jamboree from April 4-7. This jamboree is dedicated to the “The Emergency Warming Centre” and indeed brought warmth to the hearts of many as family and friends from neighbouring communities and further gathered to play games, compete in trapper skills, skidoo and dog mushing

races, talent contests and dancing. Liz Gordon, Muskrat Jamboree organizer summed up the successful event, “I would like to thank all the sponsors, cooks, volunteers and especially my committee who worked extra hard each and every year to make the Muskrat Jamboree a success... gathering of people during spring is always the best.” Dog mushing.

Jade Inuaslurak (center) and the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers on the opening night of the Muskrat Jamboree.

Pennie Soi photo

It almost seemed as though throngs of trucks were competing with the dog mushers as they sped down the ice road to follow the race.

A young and upcoming drum dancer.

Pennie Soi photo

The official jamboree security officers!

Liz Gordon, lead Muskrat Jamboree organizer speaking at the opening ceremonies.

Liz Gordon, Muskrat Jamboree organizer and leaders of Inuvik at the opening ceremonies.

Taking a picture of the Muskrat Jamboree cake.

Games on the ice get a little slippery.

Skidoo races.

Justin Frost and Maranda Blake, King and Queen of the Muskrat Jamboree.

Gametime!

Jamboree parade.

words by Charles Arnold

A Look Back in Time

CFCT ‘Tuk Radio’

“ Welcome to our Eskimo Program, presented by CFCT, Tuk Radio, each Monday and Thursday at 7:30...” T

hese words, spoken by Father Robert LeMeur with strains of music from far-off places playing in the

background, are still remembered by people who lived in Tuktoyaktuk in the 1970s. Community radio broadcasting in the Western Arctic began shortly after World War II, when the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals installed and operated low-power radio broadcast transmitters in several northern communities. CHAK 1230 in Aklavik (‘The Friendly Voice of the Arctic’) was one of the first of these community stations, going on the air in December 1946. In 1958 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation assumed control of existing broadcast stations in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, including CHAK, which was soon relocated to Inuvik. CBC-CHAK’s Inuvik transmitter was expected to reach other communities, but in Tuktoyaktuk the radio signal was weak, and power lines

It began in 1969. A lawyer from the city of Toronto came to Tuk. He had a vision of the North, and of what was called the Mid-Canada Corridor, a plan recommending the opening up and development of the North […] He’d heard about Tuk, about the spirit to be found there, and

in the community created interference.

he’d come to ask us if we would

Father Rober LeMeur, who served as the Roman Catholic

like to have a radio station.”

priest in Tuktoyaktukfor many years, described how the radio station in Tuk was started:

The lawyer was Richard Rohmer, the driving force behind

Starting in 1972 programs from radio station CHAK in

the Mid-Canada Development Corridor Foundation, an

Inuvik were brought in over the telephone line and were

organization that was examining ways to support economic

rebroadcast to supplement local programming.

development and communication in the middle and northern regions of Canada. Richard Rohmer was also legal counsel for CHUM radio in Toronto. Through this connection Rohmer was able to secure an agreement with CHUM to provide broadcasting equipment, technical support and operational funding. The Tuktoyaktuk Broadcasting Society was formed and applied to the Canadian Radio and Television Commission for a broadcasting licence. The call letters were to be CFCT – the last two letters standing for ‘CHUM’ and ‘Tuktoyaktuk’. Father LeMeur wrote that the Canadian Radio and Television Commission: “ … approved [the application] without any objections. On the contrary, they were even moved by it, quite a rare occurrence in that department. Usually all the applications were made by presenting figures and dollar amounts. In our case, on the contrary, it wasn’t a question of commercial considerations or brainwashing, but simply of communication, news, Arctic life, etc. For example, so-and-so is back from his trapline and he killed a wolf or caught so many foxes, or the weather conditions, etc. It wasn’t a commercial undertaking at all. Instead it was a question of human contact, and what’s more, the station would be operated by the local people.” In short order a building was converted to a radio station, and technicians from CHUM arrived to put everything together. On January 20, 1970 CFCT – ‘Tuk Radio’- went on the air, providing local news, weather, childrens’ programs, programs for adults, and a ‘request show’. Father LeMeur hosted the ‘Eskimo Program’, consisting of drum songs, legends, and people’s life histories and experiences, mostly told in Inuvialuktun, that he recorded around the community and replayed with commentary and with English translations.

Georgina Jacobson Masazumi worked at CFCT as an announcer. She recalls that the experience provided her and others with valuable lessons: “We made our mistakes, but we also had a lot of fun.” Dennis Allen also remembers the announcers’ humour: “I remember listening to Billy at Whitefish Station, ‘And now for the announcements and messages. Only one announcement, there’s no messages.’” When television came to Tuktoyaktuk in 1974 interest in the radio station waned, and the funding arrangement with CHUM eventually came to an end. The Tuktoyaktuk Broadcasting Society put out an appeal for financial support, and received a response from a surprising source. A letter arrived from Radio Moscow with an offer of free use of taped recordings, including “Moscow Mailbag,” “Soviet Press Review,” “Life in the USSR,” and weekly commentaries on relations between the Soviets and the Americans. Although the offer was declined, the international publicity it created brought in financial support to keep operating for another year. However, faced with mounting costs and the need to replace aging equipment Tuk Radio ceased operations in 1982. CFCT’s radio programs did more than keep people in touch with each other and connected to their culture during a decade in which major political and economic changes were sweeping through the North. According to Father LeMeur, it also “… showed the people the power of radio and what they could obtain through radio, by forcing issues, and by making even influential men listen and big companies go about things the right way.” For more stories about from the past visit the Inuvialuit History Timeline (www.inuvialuithistory.com)

The send-off ceremony for the CFCT radio tower, Toronto, 1969, with Richard Rohmer standing second from left. (From ‘Generally Speaking’, by Richard Rohmer, 2004)

Father Robert LeMeur, 1981. (Henry Palmer)

Reindeer words and photo by Zoe Ho

he only Canadian reindeer herd was first brought to the Mackenzie delta area via Alaska almost 80 years ago, when caribou numbers there were dwindling and government sought to supplement food sources. Back in the day, herders patrolled on skis, traveling 20 – 30 miles a day to keep up with the reindeer, who are freely ranged. Otto Binder, then 17 years old, saw the first reindeer crossing through Shingle Point and thought, “One day when I’m

old enough, I’d like to work with the reindeer.” His dream came true and he became a reindeer apprentice herder, falling in love with Ellen Pulk, daughter of one of the original Saami herders – the Inuvialuit and the Saami are intimately intertwined with the history of the reindeer, and while the herd has experienced the Binder family’s connection to the herd continues today as owners of the herd.

Crossing

It was a magnificent sight as on 6th April, the 3,000 strong herd of reindeer made their annual crossing at Swimming Point, from their wintering grounds at Jimmy Lake to their calving grounds on Richards Island. The herd moved together gently as one, flowing over the banks of the frozen Mackenzie River and ice road, as herders on skidoos guided them. Many from the communities connected through the ice road came to witness the crossing, many visibly

moved to be so close to the animals as they watched from both sides of the road. The herd today is owned by Kunnek Resources Development Corporation. Lloyd Binder, herd manager is advocating for limitations on caribou hunting on Richards Island as reindeer poaching has become a concern. IRC holds shares to the reindeer herd through CEDO, and distributes harvests of reindeer meat to beneficiaries in need.

PREVENT

BOTULISM

• skin and wash the whale right away • cut excess blubber off the top • keep maktak off the ground • keep maktak cold, below 4ºC during preparation and storage

Inuvialuit elders Sam and Margaret Lennie share their tips for enjoying country food safely.

TRADITIONAL F O O D S P R EPARED

T H E

TRADITIONAL WAY ARE SAFE AND

GOOD

FOR

YOU

• provide air circulation of maktak, blubber side up • hang for a few days • cover the pails but don’t seal them - make holes in the lids • cook maktak thoroughly before eating it

DON’T

• cut the whale right into the pail • don’t seal the pails, air needs to circulate over maktak

PM 40049465

Note: When selling maktak, you are subject to Department of Health rules and regulations.

Tusaayaksat Spring 2014

Articles inside

Rebirth on the Land