Latest news with #NunavutTunngavikInc.
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Territorial leaders talk trade at premiers' forum in the Yukon
Eliminating trade barriers, establishing a territorial trade zone and securing funding for 'nation-building projects' were some of the priorities set out by leaders of the territories at the Northern Premiers' Forum in the Yukon last weekend. Premiers P.J. Akeeagok of Nunavut, Ranj Pillai of the Yukon and R.J. Simpson of the Northwest Territories met in Haines Junction and Whitehorse from May 2 to 4 as part of their annual trilateral forum. At a news conference Sunday, the leaders focused on economic development in the North through infrastructure and resource development. 'We're seeing so much uncertainty around the world, right across this country, and I think one thing as northern territories that we provide all Canadians is certainty,' Akeeagok said. The premiers spoke about a promise Prime Minister Mark Carney made to eliminate federal barriers to internal trade among provinces and territories by July 1. One barrier Simpson said needs to addressed was how regulations on the transportation and trucking of goods can vary from jurisdiction. Reviewing trade barriers will require consultation with Indigenous groups across the territories and respect for treaties, Pillai said. He wants the process to lead to establishment of a 'territorial trade zone' that would allow better commerce and transportation among the territories. 'I think it gives us an opportunity to be willing partners at the table, but it also gives us a chance to educate our other colleagues about what's unique here,' Pillai said about eliminating barriers across the country. 'But we do need Canada on this one. We need them more committed than ever, and I think that'll be how we position the conversation as we go into July 2.' To eliminate trade barriers, the three premiers spoke of the need to develop 'nation-building' projects across the North. Akeeagok repeated his and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s wish list of federal support for four major projects for Nunavut — West Kitikmeot Resources Corp.'s Arctic Security Corridor/Grays Bay road and port project, Nukik Corp.'s Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, and Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp.'s Iqaluit hydroelectric project. He mentioned the Alaska Highway, which runs through the Yukon from British Columbia and was built during the Second World War at a time of 'urgency.' 'We are at that moment again, but it requires Canada, as a great country that we are, to actually invest here right at home,' Akeeagok said. Pillai, who chaired this year's Northern Premiers' Forum, said he expects the trio to meet with Carney soon after the prime minister visits U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. on Tuesday — a visit the three said they will watch closely. The premiers also said they look forward to northern investments in the next federal budget, expected to be released sometime after King Charles delivers the speech from the throne in Ottawa on May 27.
CBC
05-05-2025
- CBC
Inuit push back after photographers made anti-polar bear hunting video while in Nunavut
Social Sharing A video posted by two tourists who visited Arctic Bay, Nunavut, last week where they made negative comments about polar bear hunting has sparked outrage among some Inuit in the territory. Süha Derbent and Murat Uslu are both photographers from Turkey who planned a 10-day trip to Arctic Bay to document how climate change is affecting the Arctic and to photograph polar bears. In a since-deleted Instagram video they posted while in Arctic Bay last week, the two men are seen in a selfie-video where they speak against sport hunting. "Some hunters are chasing them to kill as a sport," Derbent says. "We believe it is an unacceptable injustice. Be the voice and spread this message with everyone that you know, please. Stop hunting polar bears." Sport hunting is a strict system in Nunavut — polar bear tags are given out in small numbers each year to local Hunters and Trappers Organizations who can then choose whether to use some of them for sport hunting. Photographers apologize Interviewed by CBC News as they came off the flight from Arctic Bay in Iqaluit, Derbent said the two were told they could go to the floe edge to take photos, but were stopped by local outfitters who were there with sport hunters. "At that time, it was hunters, and us. And photographers. We didn't have any rights," Derbent said. "Hunters did. And that was the reason we said whatever we said. It was nothing to do with anything whatsoever with the culture of Inuit." He also said they didn't mean to cause harm with their video. "We have huge cultural respect to the past, current and future Inuit," he said. "I apologize personally if we have offended them but it was not our intention," he said. "We were given some promises to see the polar bears and they did not keep the promises." 'This is still how we live' For Nooks Lindell, an artist in Arviat, the photographers' video reflects a bigger issue. "We've had southerners come and tell us we're doing things wrong. The way you're living, the way you're doing things is wrong." Lindell said with the introduction of residential schools and the southern economy also came things like hunting restrictions. "We've lived here for so long. We've lived with the environment. And being told you know have to conserve nature and you have to respect nature, that's how we lived. This is still how we live." Lindell said polar bear tag systems are in place to ensure polar bear populations are kept stable. "And then if there's any issues, that's for Inuit to decide," he said. "That's not for outsiders that don't live here. That's not for them to decide on." Paul Irngaut, vice-president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., also said sport hunting is a practice that's carefully regulated. "The whole community, it gets the benefit in terms of the seamstresses that need to make all the clothes for the sports hunter, and then the meat is utilized by the whole community," he said. He also said communities should be careful about who they let fly in for tourism. "For these people to come up and say this is wrong, they don't even know what they're talking about," Irngaut said. "They should ask questions first before they make comments like that." CBC also spoke to Chris Mitchell, the head of Arctic Bay Adventures, a tourism operator in the hamlet. He said the hamlet's rules state that tourists cannot go close to hunters. And when the photographers wanted to get closer to the floe edge, they were told to leave. Lindell said as frustrating as the video was to watch, he hopes it encourages more Inuit to speak up.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, opens men's, women's shelters for people in need
People without a safe place now have homes to go to in Gjoa Haven. The hamlet has opened two shelters, one for men and the other for women and children. "It's real now," said Gjoa Haven Mayor Raymond Quqshuun Sr. "If they are ever in need, then we got places for people." The shelters opened after more than 20 years of advocacy. Quqshuun began working toward the shelters as chief administrative officer for the community in the 1980s. "It was really hard for people in the community when you have to send the mother or even sometimes a father with children to go to shelter, there's nothing in the community at that time," Quqshuun said. People would be placed with other families in the community or often flown to other communities until there was a safe home in town, Quqshuun said. The hamlet also heard of people breaking into furnace rooms of housing units simply to have a place to sleep. Gjoa Haven received funds from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Infrastructure Canada to purchase homes in the community, and the government of Nunavut is providing the operating funds. "Really pleased with the outcome and they are being used now, and that's a really good thing for our community," Quqshuun said. The Gjoa Haven women's and children's shelter has beds for any women or children in need. People can also learn skills including budgeting, sewing and cooking. (Submitted by Kendall Aknavigak) The Kitikmeot Friendship Society is operating the shelter and training staff, providing meaningful employment for Inuit in Gjoa Haven, Quqshuun said. The friendship society has been operating shelters and programming in Cambridge Bay for a number of years. "They have a whole lot of expertise on staff that most hamlets typically don't have," said Jennifer Wakegijig, Gjoa Haven's chief administrative officer. "All of those people have pooled their knowledge and experience to create a training program for our shelters." Nine people from Gjoa Haven have been trained in Cambridge Bay, and are now working in the Gjoa Haven shelters. Wakegijig said the hamlet doesn't have a timeline on when they may take over operations of the shelters as the society is the organization with the important expertise. The Gjoa Haven women's shelter has a common area for people to rest or take part in cultural and life skills programming. (Submitted by Kendall Aknavigak ) The society staff have been working hard to make sure the confidential homes are welcoming spaces for people in need as people began using them right away, said Kendall Aknavigak, co-founder and executive director of Kitikmeot Friendship Society. "We hope that it's warm and inviting," Aknavigak said. "We want to provide them that sense of stability." People staying at the shelter can do their own laundry and cook their own meals. The Gjoa Haven men's shelter has a full kitchen for men to cook their own meals or take part in cooking programming. (Submitted by Kendall Aknavigak) There will be traditional food, clinical therapists and programming for the people staying in the shelters specifically, Aknavigak said. There will also be follow-up care through partnerships with the Department of Family Services and Department of Justice. "They're able to really engage with somebody who knows that their traumas are not them, but they're their own person," Aknavigak said. The training given to the new staff in Gjoa Haven was part of the society's newly created dedicated training program for shelter staff, Aknavigak said. The Gjoa Haven men's shelter has three bedrooms with multiple beds in each for people without any safe place to go. (Submitted by Kendall Aknavigak ) Aknavigak said it's been fulfilling and rewarding to see Inuit trained and helping each other throughout the region. She said it's important to have locally trained staff who understand the community's nuances and the society hopes to train more people throughout the region. "We're building capacity, which is really, really important, especially for smaller communities like Gjoa Haven," Aknavigak said. The hamlet is working toward more support for people in the future, Quqshuun said. The council is working to build a more than 20-bed shelter in the future and transition homes for families, as well as building an eight-plex apartment and 12-plex homes.
CBC
10-03-2025
- General
- CBC
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, opens men's, women's shelters for people in need
Social Sharing People without a safe place now have homes to go to in Gjoa Haven. The hamlet has opened two shelters, one for men and the other for women and children. "It's real now," said Gjoa Haven Mayor Raymond Quqshuun Sr. "If they are ever in need, then we got places for people." The shelters opened after more than 20 years of advocacy. Quqshuun began working toward the shelters as chief administrative officer for the community in the 1980s. "It was really hard for people in the community when you have to send the mother or even sometimes a father with children to go to shelter, there's nothing in the community at that time," Quqshuun said. People would be placed with other families in the community or often flown to other communities until there was a safe home in town, Quqshuun said. The hamlet also heard of people breaking into furnace rooms of housing units simply to have a place to sleep. Gjoa Haven received funds from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Infrastructure Canada to purchase homes in the community, and the government of Nunavut is providing the operating funds. "Really pleased with the outcome and they are being used now, and that's a really good thing for our community," Quqshuun said. The Kitikmeot Friendship Society is operating the shelter and training staff, providing meaningful employment for Inuit in Gjoa Haven, Quqshuun said. The friendship society has been operating shelters and programming in Cambridge Bay for a number of years. "They have a whole lot of expertise on staff that most hamlets typically don't have," said Jennifer Wakegijig, Gjoa Haven's chief administrative officer. "All of those people have pooled their knowledge and experience to create a training program for our shelters." Nine people from Gjoa Haven have been trained in Cambridge Bay, and are now working in the Gjoa Haven shelters. Wakegijig said the hamlet doesn't have a timeline on when they may take over operations of the shelters as the society is the organization with the important expertise. The society staff have been working hard to make sure the confidential homes are welcoming spaces for people in need as people began using them right away, said Kendall Aknavigak, co-founder and executive director of Kitikmeot Friendship Society. "We hope that it's warm and inviting," Aknavigak said. "We want to provide them that sense of stability." People staying at the shelter can do their own laundry and cook their own meals. There will be traditional food, clinical therapists and programming for the people staying in the shelters specifically, Aknavigak said. There will also be follow-up care through partnerships with the Department of Family Services and Department of Justice. "They're able to really engage with somebody who knows that their traumas are not them, but they're their own person," Aknavigak said. The training given to the new staff in Gjoa Haven was part of the society's newly created dedicated training program for shelter staff, Aknavigak said. Aknavigak said it's been fulfilling and rewarding to see Inuit trained and helping each other throughout the region. She said it's important to have locally trained staff who understand the community's nuances and the society hopes to train more people throughout the region. "We're building capacity, which is really, really important, especially for smaller communities like Gjoa Haven," Aknavigak said. The hamlet is working toward more support for people in the future, Quqshuun said. The council is working to build a more than 20-bed shelter in the future and transition homes for families, as well as building an eight-plex apartment and 12-plex homes.
CBC
04-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Nunavut gov't form working group for Arctic sovereignty strategy
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Nunavut government have announced a working group to develop a strategy for Arctic sovereignty and security. In a joint news release Tuesday morning, they described the effort as "made-in-Nunavut" and a response to world events that have recently put the spotlight on the Arctic. "Nunavut stands together with other territories and provinces in opposing any threats to Canada's sovereignty and security," said Premier P.J. Akeeagok in the release. "We know what's at stake for the Canadian Arctic and Inuit Nunangat, and we know that Nunavut needs to be united and strategic to respond to the challenges before us." There is no timeline yet for when the strategy will be released or when work will officially begin on it. The two groups also called for the federal government to step up its investments in the Arctic and back critical Inuit-led projects, though they did not specify which projects. "Investments in infrastructure, food sovereignty, Inuktut and higher education and the formalization of the Canadian Rangers will greatly enhance the security and well-being of the Arctic region," said NTI president Jeremy Tunraluk in the news release.
