Circumpolar Musings: Nunavut

Art program launched in Arctic Canadian community

Amanda Graham — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:20:32 GMT

(CBC News via Eye on the Arctic, 8 April 2013) -- The principal of Peter Pitseolak High School in Cape Dorset, a community in Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, is trying to improve arts programming in the school. Mike Soares says he was surprised to find that arts were not a strong subject in the school when he arrived in the hamlet three years ago since Cape Dorset is famous around the world for Inuit art. “It had pretty much got to the point where art was just paint by numbers,” he said. He says he has a good reason to try to turn that around. “Some of our students over the years have left school because they’ve found that they can produce art and sell it and then school becomes less important, in the same way that in Fort McMurray kids might leave school to go work in the oil patch,” said Soares. Almost half the kids have a carver in their family. Soares has been working with a foundation willing to pay local artists to come and work in the school. Last week, some grade 11 students met with Wen Xie, a Chinese jade carver who was in town for a month to work with other artists. Xie said he feels that students are interested when he talks about the history of carving in China. “I know a lot of kids, like 13, 14, also younger, like 11 years old, they don’t come to school, but they do some soapstone carving. I try to find them to bring them here. I really want to find them,” said Xie. Soares is also working with the National Art Gallery and the Northwest Company to repatriate some works of art so that he can put them on display in the school and inspire others.

Inuk artist Kenojuak Ashevak dies at 85

Amanda Graham — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:02:57 GMT

(CBC News, 12 january 2013) -- World-renowned Inuk artist Kenojuak Ashevak died this morning at home in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, at age 85. Ashevak is considered a pioneer of Inuit art. Her drawings, prints and sculptures have been bought and displayed around the world. Her work has also been featured on several Canada Post stamps over the years, including her most famous print, Enchanted Owl. Ashevak was born in 1927 in a camp on Baffin Island and lived the traditional nomadic life on the land before settling in Cape Dorset. Okpik Pitseolak, an artist from Cape Dorset who knew Ashevak personally, said she brought Inuit art to the world but was "very humble about her work." Pitseolak said that when she appeared on the radio to talk about her art, she didn't want to come across "as someone who brags" about it. But she was "thankful for the fact that she was given this gift.” Ashevak died after a long battle with cancer. Director of Feheley Fine Arts Patricia Feheley, a Toronto dealer who handled Ashevak’s work, said she should be remembered as one of Canada’s great artists. ... Ashevak first became famous in her 20s, when the NFB film Kenojuak, made in 1962, showed her at work. She was creating drawings, prints and even sculptures in the 1960s. As her reputation grew, so did the reputation of Cape Dorset, the Inuit studio on Baffin Island that evolved into one of Canada’s most important artistic communities. ... Her legacy in Cape Dorset is “almost immeasurable,” Lalonde said. “She was so important to the print studio, the development of it – she influenced artists in the community to continue their artwork and become artists.”

Government of Canada’s search for lost Franklin ships delivers numerous collateral results

Amanda Graham — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 18:01:10 GMT

(Government of Canada press release via Heritage Daily, 21 September 2012) -- The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today gave an update on this summer’s Arctic archaeological survey led by Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Service to find the ill-fated 1845-1846 Franklin Expedition vessels: HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. “The search for the lost Franklin vessels continues, but I can unequivocally say that this year’s survey was by far our most successful one to date,” said Minister Kent. “I would like to congratulate all our amazing partners who were part of this Canadian-led research team. They reached new heights with this project, and I look forward to seeing what new possibilities open up in time for next year’s continued search.” This year, the search team ruled out more than 400 square kilometres in Canada’s vast Arctic waters, almost tripling the coverage of past field seasons and further narrowing the search for the elusive wrecks of the Franklin Expedition. With almost four weeks spent in the Arctic, the team employed a multitude of scientific data that will also greatly benefit Canada’s understanding and knowledge of the Arctic. Working from both the research vessel, Martin Bergmann, supplied by the Arctic Research Foundation, and Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the survey time was significantly extended compared to previous years. In addition to Parks Canada’s underwater archaeologists searching for the Franklin vessels, the broader project team included the Arctic Charting and Mapping Pilot Project, led by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Canadian Hydrographic Service. This project allowed for the collection of data for the production of official navigational charts in the Arctic, while supporting, marine archaeology and ecosystem management objectives.

Canada's military divers to explore Franklin-era wreck

Amanda Graham — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:01:19 GMT

(CBC News via Eye on the Arctic, 16 April 2102) -- Divers with the Canadian military will make their way under the sea ice to explore a Franklin-era shipwreck. The exercise is part of the annual Operation Nunalivut, which takes place in the High Arctic near Resolute. Divers from three provinces will head down with remote-operated vehicles to look at the HMS Breadalbane. In 1853, the ship sank off Beechey Island in Lancaster Sound. It had been part of the search for John Franklin's lost ships, the Erebus and Terror, and their crews. The Breadalbane's crew had to abandon ship when it became trapped in an ice floe, and the crew was later rescued by another ship. "We don't think anybody's conducted any dive operations on it in about 10 years, and the last time that they did it looked to be in really good shape," said Lt. Col. Glen MacNeil, who is leading the operation. "You could clearly see the outline of the ship and the masts were still there on it with sails so it'll be interesting to see what type of images we get." The Breadalbane is now a national historic site of Canada. Operation Nunalivut ends May 1.

Still waiting for Nunavut's mining boom

Amanda Graham — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:53:22 GMT

(Julie Gordon/Reuters via MineWeb.com, 2 April 2012) -- TORONTO - The prospects of a mining boom in Canada's Arctic territory of Nunavut - once as bright as the Northern Lights - are fading fast as costs in the inhospitable region spiral higher, forcing writedowns on two major gold projects there. The sparsely populated territory has gained a reputation as one of the most promising regions in Canada for exploration, with prospectors promoting discoveries ranging from gold to uranium. But getting the ore out of the ground is a different story entirely. While climate change has made it easier to find mineral deposits in Nunavut, the task of mining is complicated by a lack of roads and other infrastructure, the still-crippling cold and the challenge of attracting and retaining an adventurous workforce. Agnico-Eagle Mines, which owns the only working mine in Nunavut, recently booked a partial writedown on changes to the mine plan at Meadowbank, while cash costs at the gold mine have risen to more than $1,000 per ounce. That happened just months after a fire destroyed the mine's kitchen, crippling staffing levels and slashing into 2011 gold output, illustrating how susceptible remote projects are to the even the smallest operational hiccups. "It is a high-cost part of the world to operate in," said Agnico's chief executive, Sean Boyd. "There are risks in that part of the world, no doubt about it."

First ever caribou count on Baffin Island begins

Amanda Graham — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:59:08 GMT

(CBC News, 16 March 2012) -- A major project is about to begin to count caribou on Baffin Island for the first time ever. Last minute logistics are still being worked out in an Iqaluit hotel room which is serving as a operations base. Baffin regional biologist Debbie Jenkins is leading the survey. "So this really is going to provide critical, fundamental, baseline information on this population or populations,” Jenkins said. “We think there's actually 3 different populations of barrengound caribou on the island" Helicopters will fly at low levels over the entire island, to try to get the most accurate count possible. The data could determine conservation measures, or restrict development in some areas. Local communities are involved with the survey in the hope it helps their hunters. Noah Mosesee is the chair of Pangnirtung's Hunters and Trappers organization. “We support the survey and are looking forward to working together with DFO's and wildlife department to find out how many caribou and the location where they have migrated to,” Mosesee said. “This is very important to us.” The helicopters are set to take off from Iqaluit as soon as the weather allows. They'll focus on South Baffin this year and North Baffin next year.

Ottawa raises territories’ borrowing limits

Amanda Graham — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:29:33 GMT

(CBC News, 15 March 2012) -- Federal finance minister Jim Flaherty has raised the borrowing limit for the three territories, which allows the governments more financial flexibility. In an announcement this morning, Flaherty said the raise will likely be spent on large infrastructure projects. The debt increase has been called for by the territorial finance ministers. The federal government has invested in the construction of an all-weather road between Inuvik, N.W.T., and Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Flaherty said he won't micro-manage how territories use the new limit. "These are decisions for the territorial government, not the government here in Ottawa. But I expect that this will help facilitate the territorial contribution to the building of the highways. You know the federal government is committed to the completion of the highway and I would hope that the territorial government would use some of this spending authority to arrive at the same place," he said. The Government of the Northwest Territories can now borrow up to $800 million. Its previous limit was $575 million. Both the Government of Yukon and Nunavut's limits have been increased to $400 million. Yukon's previous limit was $300 million and Nunavut's was $200 million. Michael Miltenberger, Finance Minister for the Northwest Territories, said the new limit will help the territory fund infrastructure projects. "In these times of fiscal uncertainty with very real risks posed by external economic threats and internal cost pressures, the extra buffer between the borrowing limit and GNWT debt is welcome," Miltenberger added. Flaherty said the federal government is open to expanding the limit in the future.

Effects of fuel spill in Canadian Arctic community unknown

Amanda Graham — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:28:16 GMT

(CBCNews ᔥ Eye on the Arctic, 20 February 2012) -- There is still uncertainty about the environmental effects of a major gasoline spill in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, a territory in Canada's eastern Arctic. Officials say an estimated 87,000 litres of gasoline poured onto the ground at the hamlet's fuel tank farm between Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. The Government of Nunavut hired contractor Nunami Stantec Ltd., which submitted a draft report detailing the cleanup and spill assessment at the site. Using Access to Information legislation, the CBC has obtained a copy of the draft report the company completed Dec. 19. ... The engineers give a number of reasons for the level of uncertainty in their draft report. They said it would have helped them to have had accurate design drawings of the site. The document also highlights the challenges the crew had in doing their assessment, such as cold temperatures, blizzard conditions, short daylight and a limited availability of equipment. The draft report includes three pages of recommendations for the Government of Nunavut. However, those recommendations are unknown because the territorial government redacted that section of the document. The government cited a section of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act which deals with information which could be used to make future decisions.ᔥ

Nunavut unveils new high school curriculum

Amanda Graham — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:28:41 GMT

(CBC News, 10 February 2012) -- Nunavut's new high school curriculum will offer students a choice of six majors with an emphasis on practical skills, in the hopes it will keep more students in school. Inuit elders and education staff, who have been working on the new curriculum for years, also say it’s a better reflection of the territory’s unique culture. Nunavut’s current education guidelines were set before it became its own territory and they were based on those of Alberta and the other territories. The government has decided to move to a new multiple-option system. In addition to courses such as math and science, students can choose to major in one of six new areas: Introduction to trades and technology; History, heritage and culture; Community caregiving and family studies; Entrepreneurship and small-business studies; Fine arts and crafts; and Information technology. Diplomas will display students’ majors when they graduate. “We’re hoping it will keep more kids in school. Because right now, sometimes there isn’t as much practical hands-on coursework and it’s very ad-hoc,” said Cathy McGregor, director of curriculum development for Nunavut’s Department of Education. “So I think if it’s more organized and more co-ordinated, it might be more stimulating and challenging for kids.” Pascale Baillargeon, a guidance counsellor at Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit, comes face to face with the territory’s notoriously high drop-out rates and low attendance every day. But she says it is not a hopeless cause. “The kids are genuinely interested. It’s just making that connection,” she said. The Department of Education hopes the new curriculum will do the trick but Baillargeon said it won’t solve every issue. Some of the curriculum’s limitations are that few schools, if any, will be able to offer all six specialties. Most will only be able to provide two or three. The new curriculum comes into effect in September 2013.

Canada's census shows six Nunavut communities shrinking

Amanda Graham — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:26:36 GMT

(CBC News via Eye on the Arctic, 9 February 2012) -- Though Nunavut, a territory in Canada's eastern Arctic, is growing faster than most other parts of the country, at a rate of eight per cent between 2006 and 2011 according to census numbers released Wednesday, not all of its communities are growing. Resolute, Chesterfield Inlet, Igloolik, Rankin Inlet, Grise Fiord and Hall Beach all have fewer residents now than five years ago. The population of Hall Beach is decreasing faster than anywhere else in Nunavut. More than 100 people left that community in the past five years, for a decrease of 16 per cent since 2006. "We're not worried," said Paul Haulli, mayor of Hall Beach. Haulli says the 547 people in the community like living there. There aren't many jobs for people in town right now but he said mineral exploration nearby may change that. "So maybe down the road there will be good employment," he said. New jobs, he said, would bring more people back to the community. Iqaluit grew more than eight per cent in the past five years, to a population of about 6,700. Nearly 32,000 people now live in Nunavut, about 2,400 more than there were five years ago. The fastest growing community is Repulse Bay, where the population grew to 945 from 748 in 2006. That's a 26 per cent increase. According to Statistics Canada, the big reason for Nunavut's population growth is its high birth rate.

Eastern Arctic in line to get faster internet

Amanda Graham — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:14:10 GMT

(CBC News, 23 January 2012) -- A Canadian company is planning to build a fibre optic line which could bring significantly faster internet speeds to the eastern Arctic. Ontario-based Arctic Fibre Inc. wants to run 15,868 kilometres of the cable under water. It would stretch from northern Asia, under the Pacific Ocean, through the Northwest Passage and across the Atlantic to Europe. It would also provide high speed internet to some northern communities. The proposed network would include connections to Tuktoyaktuk in the N.W.T., and Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Igloolik, Hall Beach, Cape Dorset and Iqaluit in Nunavut. "And that will create so many different opportunities for people, just in terms of how they conduct their affairs," Arctic Fibre president Doug Cunningham told CBC News. "Within the cable itself, we'll have four fibre pairs. And those four fibre pairs will be capable of conducting 12.8 terabits, which is like moving 150 million simultaneous phone calls or slightly more than 1.2 million high definition movies at the same time. It's a lot of capacity," he said. Cunningham estimates the entire project will cost about $640 million, 40 per cent of which he said would be spent in Canadian waters. "The reason it becomes economic is because we can apportion part of that Canadian rate base or investment to the international carriers. And that's what gets it going; it's a combination of the international demand, along with having satellite displacement in Nunavut." The company is planning construction on the first phase of the project, a line between Newfoundland and Iqaluit, in the fall of 2013.

Arctic airbase expansion considered, documents say

Amanda Graham — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:09:08 GMT

(David Pugliese/Postmedia News, 27 December 2011) -- The Royal Canadian Air Force has looked at a major expansion at Resolute Bay, Nunavut, as it considers transforming it into a key base for Arctic operations, according to documents obtained by Postmedia. The construction of a 3,000-metre paved runway, hangars, fuel installations and other infrastructure has been proposed as part of an effort to support government and military operations in the North. Resolute Bay in Nunavut would be able to provide a logistics site for search-and-rescue operations as well as a base for strategic refuelling aircraft, according to the briefing from the Arctic Management Office at 1 Canadian Air Division, the air force's Winnipeg-based command and control division. The briefing was presented in June 2010 and recently released by the Defence Department under the Access to Information law. The long paved runway would allow fighter aircraft to operate from the site, with the suggestion in the presentation that could include NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) jets. Resolute Bay now has a 1,981-metre gravel runway, according to information provided for pilots by the federal government. Resolute Bay should be considered for expansion to become a main operating base because it is "the geostrategic centre to the Arctic and (Northwest) Passage" and is an "existing regional supply hub with a permanent population/sea access," according to the briefing. It would be seen as a "key Arctic regional development and sovereignty centrepiece."

Feds deny export permit for Arctic shipwreck

Amanda Graham — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:01:58 GMT

(CBC News, 17 December 2011) -- The federal government has denied an export permit for the Baymaud shipwreck resting in waters off Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. A group of investors wants to move the 100-year old wreck to Norway to be the centerpiece of a museum. The ship, originally named the Maud, was built to the specifications of Arctic explorer Roald Amundsen. Amundsen, a national hero in Norway, led the first successful sailing expedition through the Northwest Passage in the early 1900s. He sailed the Maud to the Arctic in the hopes of reaching the North Pole, but after several unsuccessful attempts, Amundsen was not able to pay his debts and the Maud was eventually seized by creditors. The ship was sold to the Hudson Bay Company in 1926 and renamed the Baymaud. It was used as a floating warehouse and wireless station in Cambridge Bay until it developed a leak and began sinking in 1930. It is owned by people in the Norwegian community of Asker, who purchased the wreck from the Hudson Bay Company for $1 in 1990. The Norwegian group’s application for an export permit was refused earlier this week. "We were a bit surprised,” said Jan Wanggaard, a spokesperson for the group Maud Returns Home. ... Wanggaard said they are asking for a review of the decision to deny the export permit. That will likely take place in March. Wanggaard said the Canadian government wants to know more about how the extraction of the boat will take place, and also wants more archeological studies to be done. "We are willing to negotiate this because we want very much to bring this ship home."

Canadian Inuit to get millions from Arctic resource royalties

Amanda Graham — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:28:37 GMT

(Canadian Press via Eye on the Arctic, 28 November 2011) -- Inuit in Canada's eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut expect to receive hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade after passing a resolution to charge a new royalty on Arctic resources. The group that administers the Nunavut land claim, Nunavut Tunngavik, says it will start collecting the 12 per cent royalty on April 1, 2013. Nunavut Tunngavik estimates it will collect nearly half a billion dollars from the royalty in its first six years. The money will be placed in a trust fund and spent by Inuit organizations. Mining groups say the royalty was expected and isn't likely to affect operations in the territory. Nunavut's mining industry is increasingly active, with $2.4 billion spent on exploration since 1999 and 82 active properties.

Three Inuit women set to receive 2012 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards

Amanda Graham — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:38:13 GMT

(Nunatsiaq News, 23 November 2011) -- Three Inuit women will receive National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in 2012. The awards, which celebrate excellence in the country’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, go to federal health minister and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq in the field of politics, Nunatsiavut lawyer Violet Ford in law and justice, and Nunavik Regional Government negotiator Minnie Grey for her public service. ... The three Inuit recipients are among 14 winners announced for 2012. Recipients will receive their awards at a gala event to be hosted and televised in 2012.

Nunavut college offers free online course

Amanda Graham — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:24:04 GMT

(CBC News, 17 November 2011) -- For the first time, Nunavut Arctic College is offering a free online university course to residents of the territory. In co-operation with the University of the Arctic, the college is making the Introduction to the Circumpolar World course available free-of-charge. "If you've ever thought about taking a university course or if you have taken university courses but you'd just like to have a university-look at the Arctic, this is a good opportunity," said Jack Hicks, university studies co-ordinator with Nunavut Arctic College. Hicks said the college also offered the course last year, but at a cost, and the school now wants to see if that prevented anyone from taking the course. Introduction to the Circumpolar World is a broad, survey course on the Arctic, its environment, people and issues. It's a first-year university level course and is the pre-requisite for taking further University of the Arctic courses in circumpolar studies.

Arctic mayors soften stance on mine port in Nunavut, Canada

Amanda Graham — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:02:05 GMT

(Eye on the Arctic, 10 November 2011) -- Community mayors in Canada's eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, previously opposed to a planned port at Steensby Inlet for the Mary River Iron Ore project, now say they would not object to it if the communities were compensated. "I'll want to work with them directly to ensure people of Hall Beach benefit directly with Baffinland, not through QIA (Qikiqtani Inuit Association)," said Hall Beach Mayor Ammie Kipsigak, speaking in Inuktitut. "QIA and NTI (Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.) will be giving a bit of royalty money to our community, but we will want direct benefits. For example, a meat processing plant or a fish plant and they would pay." Paul Quassa, acting mayor of Igloolik, said his community is asking Baffinland for new houses and paved roads, as well as a fish plant. "They should give us a fish plant so that we can utilize the hundred thousand pounds of commercial fishery that is available in Steensby." “QIA and NTI (Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.) will be giving a bit of royalty money to our community, but we will want direct benefits. For example, a meat processing plant or a fish plant and they would pay.” Paul Quassa, acting mayor of Igloolik, said his community is asking Baffinland for new houses and paved roads, as well as a fish plant. "They should give us a fish plant so that we can utilize the hundred thousand pounds of commercial fishery that is available in Steensby." In a letter sent Oct. 4 to the Nunavut Impact Review Board, Quassa wrote that people in Igloolik "continue to express grave reservations over the Steensby site [but] many are at least willing to consider what benefits might accrue directly to our community if it becomes clear the proposed port site cannot be avoided."

Inuk doll one of Canada's top 10 toys

Amanda Graham — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 07:44:50 GMT

(CBC News, 8 November 2011) -- A doll named Saila Qilavvaq that hails from Iqaluit is one of the top Canadian toys of the year, according to the Canadian Toy Testing Council. Saila is the latest Maplelea doll from Avonlea Traditions, a company based in Newmarket, Ont. She's 46 centimetres tall and has long black hair, fake seal-skin kamiks (traditional boots) and comes with a journal in Inuktitut, English and French. The Ottawa-based council rates toys, after letting children try them out for a few weeks. The council said Saila made the top 10 of the 2012 Children's Choice toy awards because people like Saila's realistic look and her beautiful clothing — some of which is made in Nunavut. Kathryn Morton, president of Avonlea Traditions, said people who collect the dolls wanted one that came from the North, and they chose Nunavut. "I decided that the only way I could really learn what it was like to be a 10-year-old girl growing up in Iqaluit was to go there,” she said. “And so my family and I went there for 10 days over Christmas two years ago and we met a lot of people and talked to a lot of people and learned a lot about Nunavut." That trip helped Morton connect with some of Nunavut's artists and small businesses. Saila has many different accessories that can be purchased separately, some of which are made in Nunavut. One of them is a genuine "Pang hat," which are crocheted by women in Pangnirtung and worn by people all over Nunavut. Saila's hat was designed specifically for her and has created some new employment in Pangnirtung. "We were able to ask a number of younger women in the community to start crocheting Pang hats, but they’re doll-size Pang hats, so that has been very exciting to involve young women," said Deborah Hickman, co-ordinator at the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts in Pangnirtung.

Polar bear encounters on the rise in some Nunavut communities

Amanda Graham — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:53:53 GMT

(CBC News via Yahoo! 22 October 2011) -- Daisy Arnaquq of Qikiqtarjuaq says she is used to seeing polar bears on the hour-long boat ride to her cabin near the community on the southeast coast of Baffin Island. In the last five years, she and her family would encounter about one polar bear per summer and "they would just take off right away," she said. But this year three different female bears with cubs paid them visits. "The dogs would start barking, and we’d look out the window and see the mother with two cubs coming into our camp ... It's scary. You don't know what they are going to do — attack you, destroy your property." She said bears are also showing up year-round in the community itself and the area where the sled dogs are kept, instead of just in the fall and early winter. "That never used to happen," said Arnaquq. Internationally, three people have been killed by polar bears in the last three months, including a British teenager on Norway’s Spitsbergen island, a 33-year-old man in the eastern Russia region of Chukotka and a technician working at a weather station in Russia’s Franz Josef Land. Polar bear biologist Andrew Derocher of the University of Alberta blames melting ice and climate change.

Iqaluit faces rolling blackouts as power plant sputters

Amanda Graham — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:45:45 GMT

(Chris Windeyer/Nunatsiaq News, 29 August 2011) -- Iqaluit faces the prospect of several days of rolling blackouts after the main generator at the city’s power plant broke down during the early morning hours of Aug. 29. Power was out early Monday in the Plateau subdivision, parts of Tundra Ridge and Apex. The Government of Nunavut also announced on Twitter that all schools in Iqaluit are closed. Schools will re-open Wednesday, Aug. 31, the GN said. Peter Mackey, president of Qulliq Energy Corp., said the outages began when the power plant’s main generator broke down at the same time that another generator had been taken offline for maintenance. The engine’s turbo system suffered a malfunction of a major component that’s not easily replaced, Mackey said. “It’s not something that’s kept on the shelf,” he said. The two remaining generators can only produce 5.2 megawatts of the 7.5 megawatts Iqaluit needs to fully function during the summer. QEC put replacement parts on rush order, but Mackey said the soonest Iqaluit could be back at full power is Wednesday.

Plane crash near Resolute Bay kills 12

Amanda Graham — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:22:12 GMT

(CBC News, 20 August 2011) -- A 737 passenger jet crashed Saturday near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, in Canada's High Arctic, killing 12 people and injuring three others on board, CBC News has confirmed. Nunavut RCMP said First Air charter flight 6560 was travelling from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay with 15 people on board, including four crew members, the CBC's Patricia Bell reported from Iqaluit. The RCMP said in a release it "was made aware of the possibility of some survivors." A flight list was not immediately available. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in CFB Trenton said helicopters and medical personnel are now at the site.

Nunavut defends rejecting Franklin search bid

Amanda Graham — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:42:55 GMT

(CBC News, 13 July 2011) -- Nunavut government officials are defending their decision not to give a Chicago man an archeological permit to search for Sir John Franklin's grave in the Arctic. Ron Carlson, a Chicago-based architect, pilot and Franklin history buff, had wanted to fly over King William Island with his DeHavilland Beaver aircraft and use thermal imaging equipment to look for the British explorer's grave. But Carlson told CBC News this week that his application for a territorial archeological permit was rejected just as he had arrived in Nunavut late last month. The territory's Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, which is responsible for issuing the permit, ruled that Carlson was not qualified. Doug Stenton, the department's heritage director, said many people want their name associated with Franklin, whose doomed 1845 voyage and disappearance in the Northwest Passage has fascinated historians for almost 170 years. "We feel for that reason that it's very important that these sites are investigated by individuals who have the proper experience, the proper qualifications, training," Stenton told CBC News on Tuesday. Nunavut is home to about 12,000 known archeological sites, and Stenton said his department needs to ensure the people who study those sites have the expertise and tools required to do the job. ... Carlson said he feels the Nunavut government never seriously considered his application and is intentionally blocking private searchers from accessing Franklin sites. But Stenton insisted that it's not a case of overly protecting high-profile undiscovered archeological sites. "I can't think of any reason why a well-resourced, competent, professional team wouldn't get a permit," he said.

CamBay group circulates petition to keep Maud in Nunavut

Amanda Graham — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:49:38 GMT

(Jane George/Nunatsiaq News, 15 July 2011) -- A group of Cambridge Bay residents, who have rallied to keep the Maud in their community, are circulating a petition that asks the federal government to keep the sunken hulk, once sailed by the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen, in Nunavut. Wealthy Norwegian investors want to bring the Maud back to Norway and then build a futuristic museum around it. The Cambridge Bay group’s members, who started meeting last month, want to keep Amundsen’s Maud — also called the Baymaud — in Cambridge Bay. Their petition, “Keep the Baymaud in Canada,” posted online asks “the Government of Canada to keep the Baymaud in Canada by denying all requests for export permits.” “I really think this is an important cause, and I’d like to encourage you to add your signature. It’s free and takes just a few seconds of your time. No need to register or give a password or anything time consuming. All you need to do is provide your name and email address and then click sign,” said Baymaud spokesperson Vicki Aitaok.

Explorer's Canadian trip cut short by threat of arrest

Amanda Graham — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:03:51 GMT

(Dick Johnson/NBC Chicago, 12 July 2011) -- A Chicago architect and pilot is back home after receiving a letter threatening him with arrest and fines if he continued his exploration for the remains of Sir John Franklin and his two ships. Ron Carlson said he's always been fascinated with the Royal Navy officer and arctic explorer and wants to help solve the mystery of what happened to the expedition that ended in disaster near the Arctic Circle 165 years ago. The leader and 129 men aboard two ships were lost during an attempt to discover the Northwest Passage. "I think the grail of it would be to find the ship's logs because that would tell the entire story of what happened to these men," Carlson said Tuesday. His journey began at the end of May. He took off in his specially equipped, personally funded bush plane packed with state-of-the-art thermal imaging equipment, navigation gear and a survival suit, determined to find the British explorer's grave and his two lost ships, the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror. Three weeks later, he arrived at his base camp, a cold, desolate Cambridge Bay. He eventually recorded aerial images of some of the expedition's already-discovered artifacts: the final resting place of the men in a rescue boat desperate for a way out of the ice flow that crippled their ships and killed their captain. "The bones of the 15 men were gathered by doctors about 20 years ago," said Carlson. "From the knife marks they determined they had cannibalized each other. When his permit to officially explore was suddenly denied by the Canadian government, he took off anyway and said he would just be acting as a tourist. All seemed fine, he said, until shortly after he posted video of his travels on his website. The Canadian government sent him a one-page letter last month. "You will be arrested. You will be fined and you can spend up to six months in jail. This is a warning," Carlson said the letter warned him. It cut short his long-planned summer adventure and diminished a dream of helping the Inuits showcase the ill-fated expedition witnessed by their forefathers. "I respect that. I'll try again next year," he said. Carlson's activities have sparked wider interest, especially among Canadian researchers. He now believes finding the rest of the Franklin expedition has a new challenge: territorial sovereignty.

Igloolik Isuma Productions going out of business

Amanda Graham — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:19:31 GMT

(CBC News, 8 July 2011) -- Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc., which made award-winning Inuit films like Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner), is going out of business, but its owners say they are still proud of their achievements. The Igloolik, Nunavut-based film production company has been placed in receivership, following a Quebec Superior Court decision last month to appoint a receiver to wind up the company and sell off its assets. The court action was initiated by Atuqtuarvik Corp., a Nunavut business lender. Isuma owes that company more than $500,000 and has not been able to make its payments. According to court documents, Isuma also owes about $1.2 million to 15 other creditors, including the Baffin Business Development Corp. Norman Cohn, one of Isuma's directors, says the company has paid off some of the loans to the banks. As well, the company is unable to pay its own staff. "It's hard being independent, living on grants. It's hard, and I'm amazed that we did it for 20 years," Zacharias Kunuk, Isuma's artistic director, told CBC News this week.

Inuit cultural school opens in Nunavut

Amanda Graham — Fri, 06 May 2011 07:28:36 GMT

(CBC News, 5 April 2011) -- Young Inuit can now learn about their language and traditions at a new cultural school that opened this week in Nunavut. The Piqqusilirivvik Inuit Cultural School officially opened Wednesday in Clyde River, Nunavut, a hamlet of about 820 on the coast of northeastern Baffin Island. Developed by the territorial government, the school aims to preserve the Inuit culture in Nunavut, where 84 per cent of the population is Inuit, by teaching youth the Inuktitut language and traditional activities such as hunting, craft-making, and Arctic outdoor survival. "It's not only the first for Nunavut, it's the first in our country," Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak said at the opening ceremony. The first set of 26 students — one selected from each community in Nunavut — are expected to begin classes with 14 instructors in September. The students will stay in dormitory-style rooms inside the school, which also has several open-concept classrooms, a wood shop and a sewing room. Semesters will be about three to four months long, matching the length of the seasons, according to officials. "Knowing who you are, as an Inuk, is just so incredibly important," said Becky Kilabuk, youth programs coordinator with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in Iqaluit.

Nunavut issues left out in cold during election

Amanda Graham — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:49:29 GMT

(Chris Windeyer/Nunatsiaq News, 12 April 2011) -- So far, the federal election campaign has focused on the national economy, health care, and plenty of nasty personal attacks between the major political parties. There’s little sign that issues specific to Canada’s North will play much of an issue in the national campaign, especially since the three main parties are battling one another for seats in cities like Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. Here, presented in alphabetical order, are summaries of the Arctic components of each of the national party platforms. Election day is May 2, advance polls are scheduled for April 22, 23 and 25, and voter information is available in English, French and Inuktitut at the Elections Canada website. The [Conservative Party is still touting new ships for the Coast Guard and their] platform also contains promises to expand Northern adult education, promote green energy in Northern communities and build an all-weather road connecting Inuvik and Tuktuyaktuk, all measures contained in last month’s defeated federal budget. The Green Party takes a lot of heat in the North for its opposition to commercial sealing and whaling. ... The Greens propose more infrastructure, research and sustainability projects for Northern communities, including local renewable power generation and a pan-Arctic waste management strategy. They also want to follow through on the construction of a polar-class icebreaker. ... The Greens want to reinstate the position of circumpolar ambassador, which the Conservatives axed in 2006. Much of the Liberal Party’s Arctic policy is found in the foreign affairs section of their platform document. Like the Greens, the Liberals want to reinstate the circumpolar ambassador’s position and want to see a permanent secretariat for the Arctic Council, as well as an expanded mandate. They also call for a cooperative, international Arctic mapping exercise. ... There isn’t much specifically for the Arctic in the NDP platform — the word Arctic doesn’t even appear in their platform document — but the party does say it wants to “build a new partnership on a nation-to-nation basis with First Nations, Inuit and Metis.” ...

Okalik sets sights on Ottawa

Amanda Graham — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:44:39 GMT

(Chris Windeyer/Nunatsiaq News, 6 April 2011) -- Paul Okalik is leaving territorial politics after more than a decade to take a shot at winning the Nunavut riding back for the Liberal Party. Standing on Iqaluit’s causeway, Okalik, with a –29°C wind chill bringing tears to his eyes, said he’ll step down as speaker of the Legislative Assembly and as MLA for Iqaluit West to run against Conservative incumbent Leona Aglukkaq. “I know it will be a challenge,” Okalik told reporters. “But it’s something that I haven’t done before, so I’m looking forward to the campaign, and I’m overwhelmed at the support that has been shown to me already.” Okalik is the only MLA the riding of Iqaluit has ever had since its creation in 1999. He has served as premier, justice minister and most recently as Speaker. Okalik slammed the Conservative government’s record on wildlife, pointing to an attempt by federal government scientists in August, 2010 to undertake seismic testing in Lancaster Sound and a decision to ban the export of polar bear parts. He also said he chose the causeway to announce his Liberal candidacy to underscore the point that a promised deepwater port for Iqaluit has never materialized. “We can’t just stand by and take those,” he said. “We have to show the country that ... we should have a voice.” Okalik is the third candidate to enter the Nunavut race. Aglukkaq, the federal health minister is running again for the Conservatives, while researcher Jack Hicks announced April 4 he’s running for the New Democratic Party. Nunavut MLAs will now have to elect a new speaker when they sit again in June.

Young Inuit mix news, comedy in hit video series

Amanda Graham — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:06:56 GMT

(CBC News, 4 March 2011) -- Young Inuit studying in Ottawa mix news, humour in video series that's become a hit in Nunavut.

One Inuit language, many Inuit dialects

Amanda Graham — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:22:19 GMT

(Jim Bell/Nunatsiaq News, 15 February 2011) -- People from every region of Nunavut gathered in Iqaluit this past week to confront a thorny problem that’s bedeviled linguists and educators for more than half a century: how to create a form of the Inuit language that’s understandable in all regions of the territory. “We have to be understandable in all dialects to everyone, from Kugluktuk to Sanikiluaq,” Elijah Erkloo, chair of the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit language authority, said Feb. 10 at a discussion session on language standardization. It’s Erkloo’s Taiguusiliuqtiit group that’s expected to lead a movement towards standardization made necessary by the Inuit Language Protection Act and the obligations it creates for the Government of Nunavut. The symposium, which started Feb. 8 in Iqaluit and ended Feb. 11, was organized to help the language authority kick-start its work. Erkloo said a big part of that work will involve terminology, that is, choosing common words that every one can understand. “The proper terms have to be chosen and researched and agreed-upon by terminology committees — there should not be disagreement over the Inuit language,” Erkloo said. It’s likely that a sub-committee of Taiguusiliuqtiit, which is provided for by a section of the Inuit Language Protection Act, will work on the development of standard terminology. To that end, Erkloo urged communities to develop local language committees, similar to one that already exists in Sanikiluaq. And to preserve knowledge local dialects, he said the language authority would sponsor the recording of Inuit language speakers in every community. As for a standardized writing system, Erkloo said he doesn’t know if Nunavut will eventually choose Roman orthography over the syllabic system, the use of which is nearly universal throughout Nunavik and eastern Nunavut. “I can’t predict what it will be,” Erkloo said about the future of syllabics. But he reminded participants that a writing system is not a new language, but a representation of the spoken word.

Worst TB outbreak in Nunavut’s history a national problem: CMAJ

Amanda Graham — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:51:14 GMT

(Bob Weber/The Canadian Press via Toronto Star, 14 February 2011) -- Last year's outbreak of tuberculosis in Nunavut, the worst ever since the region became a territory, is a problem for the whole country, not just the North, says an editorial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. One of the editorial's authors calls the spread of a disease virtually unknown in the south an international embarrassment. “We are a rich, developed nation that has the resources to solve the problem in Nunavut if we choose to employ them,” says Dr. Matthew Stanbrook, a respirologist at Toronto Western Hospital. “The fact that we have failed to do so, not just once but over a century, should be an embarrassment to every Canadian.” The editorial reports that Nunavut suffered 100 new and active cases of tuberculosis in 2010. That's the highest number in the territory's 10-year history and represents an infection rate 62 times the Canadian average. Worse, most of the new cases occurred in younger patients, suggesting the disease is being actively spread. “Nothing will change without the federal and territorial governments coming together with Nunavut communities to address the current outbreak,” says the editorial. “This is not just Nunavut's problem — it is Canada's problem.”

Nunavut Arctic College launches online course

Amanda Graham — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:36:16 GMT

(Nunatsiaq News, 11 February 2011) -- Nunavut Arctic College has launched its first all-online course as part of its new university studies diploma. Thirty-two students from Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Pangnirtung, Resolute Bay, Rankin Inlet and Ottawa are enrolled in the course that started Jan. 31. In a news release, the college said students have formed study groups in each community and a bilingual instructor based in Iqaluit is also available to help. The course, introduction to circumpolar studies [sic, Introduction to the Circumpolar North], includes a range of topics including science, studies of the Arctic’s indigenous populations and contemporary issues. It also aims to build student skills in critical thinking, essay writing and online learning. The course is recognized as a credit by many member institutions of the University of the Arctic.

Jose Kusugak, Nunavut’s cheerful muse, dies at 60

Amanda Graham — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:38:07 GMT

(Whit Fraser/Nunatsiaq News, 19 January 2011) -- Jose Kusugak never lost that unique ability to find and express humour in every situation, even in his final days. He died very early on the morning of January 19, at his home town of Rankin Inlet. Barely a week after doctors at the Winnipeg Cancer Centre told him he had only a few weeks to live because cancer of the bladder had spread to other vital organs, he was still able to laugh at his predicament. He was at his kitchen table, visiting and drinking tea. His brothers and sisters were providing constant hugs and love. His four children and Nellie, his loving wife of 34 years, cared for him while half dozen grandchildren played quietly on the floor. His hair had turned almost snow white, he had lost considerable weight, but the twinkle in his eye remained and a smile came across a face wrinkled from a lifetime of laughter as he shook two packets of Sweet and Low into his tea. “What the hell am I doing with this stuff? How can real sugar hurt me now?” Everybody laughed. Jose Amaujaq Kusugak, died as he had lived, candidly, publically and above all, with courage and control. He was 60. ... Jose Kusugak leaves behind a remarkable legacy, and family, including his wife Nellie, whom he credits for looking after him every moment of his illness “It was never when am I going for my treatment? It was always we are going for our treatment!” He and Nellie had four children: daughters Alana, Alicia and Special, and a son, Pujjuut, who this past Dec. 13 was elected mayor of Rankin Inlet. They also have 13 grandchildren. He is also survived by seven brothers: Michael, Cyril, Peter, Johnny, Lorne, Sean and Sikkate as well as three sisters: Monica, Joan, and Jean. A fourth sister, Donna, [predeceased] him as well as his mother Theresa and father Thomas. During his final days he put his life in context with three simple words. “I was blessed.” Family was his priority, though he regretted spending so much time away from them. His passions were music, sports and of course politics, but it was his humour that sustained him. “Every situation has a funny side to it. We owe it to our soul and spirit to laugh and see the sunny side of life.” To the end, he never failed to do that.

Arctic iron mine raises concerns over ship traffic

Amanda Graham — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:29:21 GMT

(Reuters via moneycontrol.com, 19 January 2011) -- A truce called in a bidding war for Canada's Baffinland Iron Mines sets the stage for an environmental battle over the Arctic project and the impact of shipping the ore through ocean ice to world markets. The development, on the drawing boards for decades, took a big step forward last week. ArcelorMittal and Nunavut Iron agreed to drop competing bids and extend a joint, C$590 million (USD 596 million) offer to take control of a project that could end up costing more than C$4 billion to build. Baffinland's board has endorsed the joint bid. The company, which hopes to have the mine producing by 2014, is expected to file a draft environmental impact study with territorial and federal regulators in the next few weeks, government officials say. While mining is not new to Canada's Far North, nothing has been attempted on the scale of Baffinland's Mary River project on Baffin Island, about 1,000 km (650 miles) northwest of Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut territory. The mine is thought to have enough high-grade iron ore to meet Europe's needs for years. But plans to get the ore off the island include building the North America's northernmost railroad and bringing in a fleet of ships that can break the ice year-round. The impact of ships cutting through water that's covered with ice in winter is a concern, said Martin von Mirbach, Arctic program director at World Wildlife Fund Canada. "It's something that has to be carefully studied," said von Mirbach, saying it has the potential to change life for people and wildlife in a region that experiences 24-hour darkness in winter and round-the-clock daylight in summer. Some local Inuit fear year-round ship traffic will disrupt the migration corridors of wildlife, ranging from polar bears to beluga whales, as well as their own travel on the ice.

Arcelor wins bid for Baffin Island iron ore deposits. But not all of them

Amanda Graham — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 08:55:52 GMT

(Mia Bennett/Foreign Policy Blogs, 15 January 2011) -- After several months of bidding wars, ArcelorMittal has beaten out Nunavut Iron Ore Acquisition to acquire a majority of Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation’s shares, thereby winning control of the Mary River iron ore deposits on Baffin Island, in Canada’s Eastern Arctic (map). The world’s largest steelmaker will control 70% of the shares, while Nunavut will control the other 30%, all in all a $590 million valuation. Previously, Arcelor had offered $1.40 a share and Nunavut $1.45, until the two companies agreed to jointly offer $1.50 a share. While Arcelor appears the winner, it is still a major coup for Bruce Walter, the Canadian behind the scenes of many mining deals. He formed Nunavut Iron Ore only last August for the sole purpose of bidding on the Mary Island deposits. Arcelor was set to take over Baffinland last August until Walter attempted a hostile takeover, sending stock prices soaring. The deposits can produce up to produce 18 million tons per year, with an estimated lifetime of 21 years. If the price of iron keeps rising as it has done in the past 10 years, the investment could pay off. But still, it is expected to cost CAN $4 billion to develop the site, which Baffinland had tried in vain to do for years. The project area is expected to consist of an open-pit iron mine and a crushing and screening pit.

Inuit lives and diets change as ice shifts

Amanda Graham — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:50:08 GMT

(Catriona Davies/CNN, 30 December 2010) -- Climate change is altering diets and lifestyles among Inuit people, according to a scientist who has studied the human face of global warming in the Arctic. Barry Smit, a professor at the University of Guelph, Canada, has spent five years leading research projects into how melting ice and changes in wildlife habits are impacting the lives and livelihoods of far northern communities. mong his most striking findings was that increasing difficulty in hunting for traditional food was leading to much more junk food in the Inuit diet. "People looking at the health of the Inuit have demonstrated that the traditional diet, which is almost exclusively raw meat, is in fact very healthy for them," Smit said. "But because of the new difficulties hunting, people are adapting their diets to what's available in the stores. "The stores only have food that's easy to transport and doesn't perish, so there are no vegetables. The young people are increasingly eating highly processed junk food, so we are seeing more teeth problems and obesity." The difficulties in hunting are caused by shifting ice and changing migratory patterns among animals such as seals, walrus, types of whales and polar bears, which form a large part of the traditional diet, Smit said. He also noted that the shifting ice made hunting and traveling more dangerous. Smit said: "Ice is fundamental to their livelihoods and culture. Most of their activities involve traveling on the ice. "Over the past decade or so, they have noticed that the behavior of the ice is changing, so their traditional roads are not as safe as they used to be."

Climate change blamed for warm Nunavut weather

Amanda Graham — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:14:23 GMT

(CBC News, 21 December 2010) -- Climate change is contributing to unusually warm weather in Nunavut and Nunavik, according to a senior climatologist with Environment Canada. "I often say you don't see climate change when you look out the window. The exception is Nunavut," said David Phillips. Temperatures are 10 to 12 degrees warmer than usual in many places, Phillips said, resulting in fall-like weather in many places in the region on Tuesday, the first official day of winter. A high-pressure system stuck over western Greenland is causing warmer weather to move over Nunavut, but the warming climate is contributing, as well, Phillips said. The temperature on Tuesday morning in Iqaluit was –9° C and in Baker Lake –3° C, far above normal. "We clearly know this is going to be, in Iqaluit, for example, the warmest year on record," Phillips said. Temperatures should be between –19° C and –28° C over southern Baffin Island, Phillips said. But on Frobisher Bay, some hunters are still travelling by boat because the bay has open water at a time when they're usually crossing it on snowmobiles. Some people in Nunavut would prefer normal winter temperatures. "It's kind of crappy for snowmobiling, I guess. Makes it hard to get out on the land," Iqaluit resident Chris Lewis said. Even those who enjoy the warmer weather are concerned. "It's wonderful for us humans, but I don't think it's very good for the animals," said Monica Ell, also from Iqaluit.

Government defends decision to ban narwhal tusk sales

Amanda Graham — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 16:26:51 GMT

(Randy Boswell/Postmedia News, 17 December 2010) -- The Canadian government is defending its controversial decision to ban the export of narwhal tusks from most of the Nunavut communities currently selling the spear-like objects that inspired the unicorn myth. Officials with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans told Postmedia News on Friday that Canada's hands are essentially tied on the issue because of its commitment to the protocols of an international wildlife treaty controlling the global trade in animal parts — including the long, spiralling tooth that serves as a sensor and mating adornment for the iconic Arctic whale. The tusks, which can grow longer than three metres, are coveted by collectors as rare keepsakes or used by ivory carvers to make canes, figurines and other objects. A few hundred from Arctic Canada are sold annually to buyers abroad, fetching prices of as much as $2,000 each and generating significant supplementary income for many Inuit hunters. In 2006, a single mounted narwhal tusk sold at a U.S. auction for more than $16,000. While acknowledging it was a "difficult decision" that will have a financial impact on Inuit communities, DFO spokesman Alain Belle-Isle said: "The result would be even worse if we skirted the rules," regulating foreign sales of the tusks. "If we didn't follow our obligations," he noted, "we could face sanctions," including a total ban on all narwhal products from all Canadian suppliers. The federal department informed Nunavut communities earlier this week that in order to comply with the terms of CITES — the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora — Canada would suspend foreign sales of narwhal tusks harvested in 2010 in 17 of the 22 Inuit communities that are now exporting the objects.

Nunavut Inuit decry narwhal tusk export ban

Amanda Graham — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:43:28 GMT

(CBC News, 15 December 2010) -- Inuit leaders are accusing the federal government of banning whalers in most of Nunavut's communities from exporting their narwhal tusks. Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the territory's Inuit land-claims organization, says the trade restrictions, which were imposed by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, violate Inuit harvesting rights. In a release Wednesday, Nunavut Tunngavik president Cathy Towtongie called on Ottawa to reverse its decision. Her organization is considering legal options, she added. "DFO does not have the right to impose such restrictions on Inuit, particularly when the [narwhal] population is thriving and harvest numbers do not threaten the species," Towtongie stated in the release. Nunavut Tunngavik says it was notified of the trade restrictions last week. The group said under the federal order, export permits will not be issued under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) for narwhal tusks harvested from 17 of Nunavut's 25 communities, including the territorial capital of Iqaluit. Inuit whalers in Kugaaruk, Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven, Igloolik, and Pond Inlet are still permitted to export their harvested narwhal tusks. "They've decided that there are different subpopulations, that some populations may be at risk," Gabriel Nirlungayuk, Nunavut Tunngavik's wildlife director, told CBC News. "We don't really know what that means. We would like DFO to explain themselves."

Ottawa proposes boundaries for Lancaster Sound marine conservation area

Amanda Graham — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:41:22 GMT

(Nunatsiaq News, 6 December 2010) -- John Baird, the federal environment minister, on Dec. 6 laid out the federal government’s position on boundaries for a proposed national marine conservation area around Lancaster Sound. Ottawa’s boundary proposal would protect about 44,500 square kilometres of marine territory that encompasses most of Lancaster Sound and all the waters surround Bylot Island, including Eclipse Sound. It’s part of a negotiation process in which the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the federal government would enter into talks about how and when a national marine conservation area will be created in Lancaster Sound. But the completion date for the project still appears to be several years away: a steering committee that would produce a feasibility study on such a protected area has yet to be created. “I welcome the honourable minister’s announcement as an indication that all parties are committed to advancing on the feasibility study. Beyond boundary proposals, QIA is eager to establish the project steering committee and complete discussions on how the feasibility process will unfold,” Okalik Eegeesiak, the president of Qikiqtani Inuit Association said in a statement issued Dec. 6. She also said QIA “is setting its sights on a longer term vision for Lancaster Sound,” through the Inuit impact and benefits agreement that must be negotiated before the conservation area can be created.

Canada set to declare Arctic marine sanctuary protected: officials

Amanda Graham — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:25:03 GMT

(Randy Boswell, Postmedia News via Vancouver Sun, 4 December 2010) -- The leading advocates of a new national marine park in Lancaster Sound — a wildlife-rich but controversial expanse of waters off the north coast of Baffin Island — say the Canadian government is poised to end doubts about the area’s future and officially declare it protected. The government issued a cryptic alert Saturday stating that Environment Minister John Baird will make “an important announcement concerning the long-term protection of Canada’s North” on Monday in Ottawa. Representatives from a key proponent of the park — the Pew Environment Group’s Oceans North Canada — told Postmedia News on Saturday that all signs suggest Baird is set to expedite the process to formally establish the marine sanctuary, based largely on boundaries proposed by Inuit communities that have lived and hunted in the area for centuries. “We’re very hopeful that what we’re going to hear is the confirmation from the federal government of expansive boundaries for the marine conservation area,” said Chris Debicki, Nunavut director for Oceans North Canada. Lancaster Sound was the focus of a high-profile dispute this summer between the government — particularly Natural Resources Canada — and Baffin-area communities represented by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

Independent journalists explore Nunavut in online broadcasts

Amanda Graham — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:08:09 GMT

(NNSL/Happenings Around Nunavut, 2 December 2010) -- NUNAVUT NEWS/NORTH - Three Ottawa-based independent news anchors are covering current affairs for a Nunavummuit audience under their own online broadcasting label, 280 Productions. Pictured: Hugh-John Karpik, left, Randy Kataluk, and Kevin Iksiktaaryuk are the creative minds behind 280 Productions, an online video program that explores contemporary arctic issues.

Inuit women's works draw Montreal crowds

Amanda Graham — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:26:56 GMT

(Sarah Rogers/Nunatsiaq News, 2 December 2010) -- The works of three generations of Nunavik women now line the walls of a Montreal art gallery. Their work, in ink, pencil and stone prints, tells the story of Inuit women to curious passers-by who can see into the gallery located along a busy stretch of Saint-Laurent Boulevard. There are the iconic images of a mother in an amautik with her infant’s face peaking out the back, and women fishing, sewing sealskin and throat-singing. La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse launched Women of the Arctic Nov. 19, the first in a series of exhibitions and events showcasing works by Inuit artists from Nunavik and Nunavut. The launch drew a full house, eager to view the work and listen to a throat-singing performance by Evie Mark and Taqralik Partridge. The series itself features the work of artists Laina Nulukie, Jennifer LaPage, Jessie Koneak Jones, Maggie S. Kiatainaq and the late Leah Nuvalinga Qumaluk.

CanNor unveils new headquarters location in Iqaluit

Amanda Graham — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:36:06 GMT

(Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency press release, 10 November 2010) -- Iqaluit, Nunavut (November 10, 2010) – Showing its continued commitment to Nunavut and the North, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency revealed the location of its permanent headquarters in Iqaluit. The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Minister Responsible for the North and Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women and the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), today announced that the permanent CanNor headquarters and regional offices will be located in Inuksugait Plaza Four in Iqaluit. CanNor will occupy the first and second floors of Inuksugait Plaza Four. The ground floor will house regional staff, and the second floor will be for headquarters personnel. The office accommodations are expected to be ready for occupants by late 2011. CanNor is responsible for coordinating and delivering Canada’s economic development across the North, and for related policy development, research and advocacy.

Commentary: The next step in Nunavut’s journey

Amanda Graham — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:13:08 GMT

(Eva Aariak/Nunasiaq News, 8 November 2010) -- When Inuit leaders began to meet back in the 1970s, they were setting out on a journey. The first step of this journey was the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. The second step was establishing our territory and the Government of Nunavut. The next step of Nunavut’s journey is a process called devolution.It is something that all Nunavummiut need to understand and to think about.Today, many people believe that when Nunavut was created, Canada transferred the territory’s lands to the GN and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.That, however, is not what happened.Under the land claims agreement, NTI became responsible for Inuit Owned Lands, but they amount to just under 18 per cent of the territory. The GN took on responsibility for Commissioner’s Lands, but they comprise just one per cent.So the Government of Canada still controls over 80 percent of Nunavut, generally called federal Crown lands, as well as the resources under the seabed.That means Ottawa still has final decision-making authority over most of Nunavut, and will receive the royalty and tax revenues from any resource development that takes place on those lands or seabed areas.This brings me to devolution.Devolution means the transfer of authority for Crown lands and the resources they contain from the federal government to the GN.There are two main reasons why devolution is so important to Nunavut.First, if Nunavut can gain control of its own resources, especially minerals, oil and gas, over time it will become less dependent on southern Canada. Second, by bringing decision making back home to Nunavut, Nunavummiut will be able to exercise responsible local management over those lands and resources.

EU seal ban decision reinstated - ITK to appeal

Amanda Graham — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:33:35 GMT

(Eye on the Arctic, 29 October 2010) -- Since the European Union voted to ban seal products, the North American seal market has collapsed hitting Canadian Inuit communities hard – both economically and emotionally. A legal challenge filed by Inuit leaders delayed the ban for about two months, but on October 28th, the EU Court declared the ban final. (Story updated from original publication April 2010). See also VIDEO: Seal Ban: The Inuit Impact. The ban on seal products was passed in the European Parliament last spring by a vote of 550 to 49. It was adopted following a relentless campaign by animal welfare activists who opposed the commercial seal hunt, calling it inhumane. While the EU ban makes a partial exemption for seal products obtained through the Inuit subsistence hunt, Inuit sealers say the exemption makes little sense, as the ban has completely devastated the seal product market. "Back in 1983 the Europeans placed a ban on baby harp seals and at that time we were told that the Inuit would be exempt from the ban. However, when the seal market collapsed, even though there was an exemption for the Inuit, the Inuit suffered," Nunavut Deputy Minister Simon Awa said. "It's getting more and more difficult for a hunter to put food on the table." A coalition of organizations, including hunter and trapper organizations, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (Greenland) and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (representing Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement – 53,000 Inuit) were involved in a court challenge on the ban. They say there is no environmental justification for the trade ban, that seal populations are being harvested at reasonable levels, and their hunting practices are humane. The EU court imposed a temporary suspension on the ban while they reviewed the challenge, but it was officially reinstated October 28th. Canada's Inuit and the fur industry will appeal the EU court ruling. "I am disappointed and angered that the suspension of the ban has been lifted, now that the judge has had ample time since Aug. 19 to properly consider this immoral legislation," said Mary Simon, president of Canada's national Inuit organization, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, in a news release. "We plan to appeal the ruling as we believe the original seal ban was based on colonial perceptions of our sealing practices, and this week's ruling is a perfect illustration of this." Meantime, the Canadian government is planning to challenge the ban before the World Trade Organization, saying the ban is based on false information and violates trade obligations. The Inuit subsistence seal hunt differs from the commercial hunt that has drawn the ire of animal rights activists. Unlike Atlantic coast fishermen who hunt harp seals to supply tanneries with skins and pharmaceutical companies with Omega-3-fatty-acid-rich blubber, the Inuit hunt ringed seals to feed their communities. The hunting methods are different as well. Inuit hunters mostly use high-powered rifles, not clubs, to kill the seals. The skins have always been a by-product of the hunt, while providing a much-needed source of income. ... In a climate where the ground is covered in snow for 10 months of the year, livestock farming and agriculture are impossible. For the Inuit, the hunt is a way of life; a cultural mainstay, a way of living sustainably, and ultimately, of surviving. The Inuit harvest resources that the land and water provide. They rely heavily upon the seal.

Arctic Mounties counselled after shootings

Amanda Graham — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:39:41 GMT

(AP via Yahoo!, 15 October 2010) -- CAPE DORSET, Nunavut - Four RCMP officers from a remote northern community are getting counselling after several shootings, including one in which a bullet tore through one of their homes. Five new officers have replaced the four that were removed from the detachment at Cape Dorset, Nunavut, on the southern end of Baffin Island. Chief Supt. Steve McVarnock says the officers left for a "health services debriefing." McVarnock says that in the last six months there have been six standoffs involving gunfire in the community of about 1,200. Murder charges have been laid in two of the standoffs.

Iqaluit, Whitehorse rank last in social media savvy

Amanda Graham — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:11:59 GMT

(CBC News, 6 October 2010) -- Municipal officials in Iqaluit and Whitehorse are not embracing Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites to interact with their citizens, according to a recent ranking of Canadian cities. The report by Intelegia, a Montreal-based technology and marketing consulting firm, ranked 20 Canadian cities on how they use the internet to connect with their residents and with the outside world. "The more you become a router for your region, capturing the right information and sharing it, the more people will look at you as the catalyst and they will start to share information also," Intelegia president Isabelle Poirier told CBC News on Tuesday. The report gave Whitehorse and Iqaluit each a score of zero, putting them at the bottom of the rankings. At the top was Edmonton with a score of 60, followed by Halifax, Ottawa, London and Hamilton, Ont. Intelegia ranked the cities based on how much they employ sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr, as well as blogs and podcasts. ... Poirier said cities must generate useful information on a daily basis and deliver it with popular social media tools so more people will get it, whether it's via their computers or cellphones. "There's a lot of information that is being produced every day around the world. Static information that is contained on a website cannot be easily retrieved by search engines like Google," she said. "Organizations that are just tapping on static information are putting, I would say, the bar very high for themselves to be found." Not only can social media tools help cities reach out to their populace, they can also help cities target foreign investors or federal bureaucrats, Poirier said. "A government representative that goes on the internet and finds out that the whole community is very well-linked, they will have a feeling that there is a very strong energy and leadership in the region," she said. Poirier said social media can additionally help promote culture, noting as an example the website of the Avataq Cultural Institute, an Inuit cultural organization in the Nunavik region of northern Quebec. "Things like Facebook and Twitter, they're great for the North," said Taqralik Partridge, Avataq's director.

ICC eyes Ottawa for Inuit summit early next year

Amanda Graham — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:39:35 GMT

(Nunatsiaq News, 1 October 2010) -- The Inuit Circumpolar Council may choose Ottawa as the venue for an Arctic-wide summit on resource extraction issues they’re planning to hold early next year. The proposed dates were originally Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, but an ICC press release issued Oct. 1 said the meeting “will in all likelihood be held in Canada next March.” The press release also said the exact location of the summit will be announced “in the next few weeks.” A source told Nunatsiaq News the summit will likely focus on three issues: mining, especially uranium mining; offshore exploration and drilling; regulatory processes. Aqqaluk Lynge, the new president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, said Sept. 22 that Inuit have an urgent need to discuss resource development issues, especially in light of Cairn Energy’s discovery of oil off western Greenland on Sept. 21.

Overcrowdedness defines map of northern Canada

Amanda Graham — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:12:22 GMT

(Nunatsiaq News, 24 September 2010) -- The title of the map “Sleeping on the Couch” may sound almost whimsical, says the Conference Board of Canada, but the reality of overcrowded housing in Canada’s North is no laughing matter. Virtually all social and health problems increase dramatically when combined with overcrowded housing, says the organization in a Sept. 24 news release. “Almost all social and health problems increase dramatically when combined with overcrowded housing,” said Gilles Rhéaume, the Conference Board’s vice-president for public policy. “Crowded housing is an issue that clearly demonstrates a north-south divide in Canada.” In Statistics Canada’s Keewatin census division, which covers the Kivalliq region in Nunavut, 25 per cent of homes have six or more people living in them — the highest percentage of overcrowding in Canada. Close behind are regions in five provinces which also have census divisions showing that 10 per cent or more of the homes are overcrowded.