Cultural Critique, no. 87, Spring, 2014, pp. 84-143
Description
Discusses motives behind experimental relocation project where Inuit families were re-established in settlements in the remote High Arctic in the 1950's.
Northern Public Affairs, vol. 2, Special Issue 2014: Revitalizing Education in Inuit Nunangat, 2014, pp. 61-65
Description
Looks at the Nunavut Agreement and implementation specifically Article 23 dealing with employment within Government and Inuit education.
Entire issue on one pdf. Scroll to page 61 to read article.
Northern Public Affairs, vol. 2, Special Issue 2014: Revitalizing Education in Inuit Nunangat, 2014, pp. 23-29
Description
Edited transcript of conversation between Mary Simon, Chair of the National Community on Inuit Education and Paul Quassa, Minister of Education for the Government of Nunavut.
ICNGD (International Centre for Northern Governance and Deveopment) Report
Report (Conference Board of Canada) ; August 2014
[Conference Board of Canada Publication ; 6338]
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Ken Coates
Greg Poelzer
Heather Exner-Pirot
Joe Garcea
Thierry Rodon
Rebecca Schiff
Graham White Gary Wilson
Description
Examines the transitions in governance in the territories and Northern provincial regions; and discusses the accomplishments, challenges and opportunities facing organizations in Northern communities.
RCAP 18 contains files from the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in Iqaluit, Northwest Territories. This sitting of the Commission contains a variety of presentations such as children's and women's rights, education and Inuit issues. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.
RCAP 25 contains files from the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories [Nunavut]. This sitting of the Commission contains presentations by on a variety of subjects such as land claims and self-government, Inuit education, employment, pollution, and the arts. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.
RCAP 67 contains files for a sitting of the Royal Commission for Aboriginal Peoples in the Luke Novoligak Hall, Cambridge Bay, Northwest Territories (Nunavut). Subjects include residential schools, alcohol and drug abuse, the Katimavik Society, education, self-government and lack of employment and housing. Each submission can be viewed individually on this site.
File contains closing remarks and a closing prayer for the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Singituq Complex, Rankin Inlet, Northwest Territories, on Thursday, November 19, 1992. Closing remarks by Commissioner Viola Robinson and Allan Blakeney thank the day's participants, as does facilitator Paul Kaludjak which is followed with a closing prayer by Anglican minister Paul Williams concluding the day's proceedings.
File contains an individual presentation by David Akpalialuk, resident of Pangnirtung, who expresses frustration with the application of Unemployment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan and would like documents in both Inuktitut and English. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains an individual presentation by Davidee Arnaqaq, resident of Pangnirtung, expressing frustration with the lack of economic opportunities and employment to support his family. He hopes that the future government of Nunavut will support employment and business programs in his community as there has been little support in the past.
File contains an individual presentation by Harry Maksagak focusing on the life of the Inuit pre-contact and the negative impact of losing their nomadic way of life. He foresees the future government of Nunavut as being able to negotiate with the federal government for much-needed schools, employment and housing for the Cambridge Bay area. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Jimmy Ayalik focusing on his life in Cambridge Bay and how the once-plentiful hunting grounds have been damaged by area mining. He was a skilled hunter and can no longer support his extended family. His lack of education means that he must go on welfare and he can't gain employment because of that.
File contains a presentation by Joanasie Maniapik, representative of "the men's group in Pangnirtung" who states that the laws of the Canadian Government are not the ways of the Inuit. Maniapik calls for a separate Royal Commission on justice in the North. Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, says that previous commissions have dealt with particular justice issues and with the future government of Nunavut
File contains an individual presentation by Jonah Kilabuk, who attended school in Winnipeg to become an interpreter. He states that "I am still not recognized by my own people because I was never taught how to hunt. He hopes that culture-preserving programs will soon be available for younger generations
File contains an individual presentation by July Papatsie expressing frustration with government policy on research. Papatsie seeks a grant to interview elders in her community but she needs a diploma to apply. Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, states that "grassroots research" should be acknowledged as being equally useful, despite the lack of education of the researcher.
File contains a brief individual presentation by Looie Nowdla, young citizen of Pangnirtung, expressing concern for the youth in her community who use alcohol and drugs. Despite the ban on both, usage of alcohol and drugs is responsible for youth crime and high dropout rates from school. Nowdla calls for more recreational facilities for the youth of Pangmirtung.
File contains an individual presentation by Mary Evik, resident of Pangnirtung, who provides historical background on health services in the community. Evik believes the old hospital that operated from the 1950s-1970s gave superior care to Pangnirtung and area residents, and feels the present nursing station is an inadequate band-aid solution to caring for residents.
File contains an individual presentation by Olassie Machmer who has lived overseas in the past. She compares the red tape involved with taking ill in England (none) to taking ill in the Canadian North (substantial). She states that "when you see overseas governments, they seem to run a lot better than here." Machmer concludes by saying the government has to change to meet the needs of the people.
File contains an individual presentation by Rhoda Karetak of Rankin Inlet. Karetak discusses social and health issues facing the people of her community, including the cost of travelling to facilities in the south, problems with fatigue among elders, sniffing activity, and suicide concerns. Following her presentation Michael Kugak asks a question on childcare which Kartak answers. Following this, Facilitator Paul Kaludjak makes some comments and welcomes the next presenter.
File contains an individual presentation by Rosie Joamie, who is an educator and teacher of Inuktitut. Ironically, when Joamie began teaching in the 1970s, she consulted community elders for information on Inuit culture and traditiona because she had not been taught them as a child. Joamie calls for more funding to continue the teaching of Inuit culture. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains an individual presentation by Tommy Evik, resident of Pangnirtung, relating to the difficulty that Inuit people have in dealing with Canadian government documents written in English. He states that the government sought to abolish Inuktitut in the past but "our parents and ourselves have hung on to our own language and we teach it to our children every day." He urges provincial and federal politicians representing Pangnirtung and area to also visit the smaller communities, not just the larger centres.
File contains an opening prayer and opening remarks from the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Singituq Complex, Rankin Inlet, NWT (now Nunavut), on Thursday, November 19, 1992. Following an introduction by Facilitator Paul Kaludjak, and an opening prayer by Rhoda Karetak, Commissioner Viola Robinson commences the days proceedings by giving an overview of the Commission, its composition, and its work to this date.
File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair and Mary Sillett, Commissioner, and the two Commissioners for the Day, Naki Ecko and Abraham Okpik. Dussault discusses the purpose and mandate of the Commission.
File contains opening remarks by Joe Otokiak, Facilitator and by Allan Blakeney and Viola Robinson, Commissioners. The Commissioners explain the purpose and goals of the Commission. John Maksagak, Commissioner for the Day, is introduced.
File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, who introduces the Commissioners for the Day, Aksaayook Etuagak and Youth Commissioner Lucy Mike. Dussault explains the purpose and mandate of the Commission. He introduces Pauloosie Angmaalik, the first speaker.
File contains a presentation by Abe Okpik. Okpik discusses the significance of midwifery to the Inuit people, and on Baffin Island in particular. He also discusses traditional knowledge and its importance in contemporary midwifery. Following the presentation are some comments on it by Commissioners Mary Sillet and Rene Dussault.
File contains a presentation by AK. She discusses the suicide of a family member and the lessons she drew from it. She then goes on to discuss some mechanisms for helping people deal with grief and family tragedies.
File contains a presentation by Alethea Baril, Adam Kilukishak and Tara Lindsay, Grade 7-8 students, Nanook School, Apex, Northwest Territories [Nunavut]. The students call for amending the Education Act to accept elders as qualified teachers, consultation from students and parents when building schools and planning classes, and free daycare for those students babysitting siblings during class time. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Annie Napayok on behalf of the Keewatin Legal Aid Society. She discusses justice issues in the Keewatin region, for which she is the only legal aid representative. Among her concerns are culturally insensitive applications of law, a lack of funding, and youth justice concerns. Following the presentation Commissioners Robinson and Blakeney discuss some of these issues with Napayok.
File contains a presentation by Bertram Maksagak, Kim Tologanak, Vicky Palviolok and Michelle Gillis relating to the difficulties of keeping the Cambridge Bay youth away from drug and alcohol abuse. The group proposes a recreational facility as the young children and teenagers "have nothing to do and nowhere to go." A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Bill Gower. Gower, an active member of the community who's on the hamlet Council, discusses the problems he sees with the Education system. He stresses that unless something is done to create jobs in the area in the near future the effects of its failings will be catastrophic. Commissioners Robinson and Blakeney discuss these concerns and possible solutions with Gower.
File contains a presentation by Bill Riddell and Leah Inutiq, members of Tuvvik, a committee of the Baffin Regional Council that delivers alcohol and drug counselling programs in Iqaluit. They express concern that social programs are being funded as a result of "political decisions that are popular and are likely to result in re-election." There is no longevity with social programs which ultimately harm the people they are trying to help. They also state concerns with the justice system. Following the presentation is a discussion with the commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Bryan Pearson. Pearson discusses problems faced by Inuit communities in the fields of health and education. Pearson also discusses the cultural gap between Inuit and Euro-Canadians and the problems that can cause in implementing social policy. Following this presentation the Commission's sitting for the day is officially ended with a closing prayer.
File contains a presentation by Charlie Evalik that first describes the life of the Inuit in the Cambridge Bay area beginning in the 1950s, where the Inuit were forced to adapt to a more permanent home life in settlements, rather than continue with their nomadic way of life. He discusses some issues that are affecting Cambridge Bay residents, such as lack of post-secondary opportunities, employment, lack of proper housing, and a high rate of residents on welfare. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by David Kaosoni on behalf of the Katimavik Society, a counselling service for persons in the Cambridge Bay area who are dealing with alcohol and drug-related problems. He states that the staff turnover rate is extremely high as the number of cases overwhelm his staff. Kaosoni calls on the Commission to increase the federal government's funding of his organization. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by George Ikaluk. Following an opening prayer for the days proceedings, Ikalkuk discusses the importance of the Inuit language to his people, and introduces the next presenter, Ineaq Korgak.
File contains a presentation by Harry Maksagak, whose organization supports territorial Aboriginal training and employment policies, and provides a territorial forum for discussion and possible adaptation of policy that will encourage programs and services for Aboriginal people seeking to enter the unique labour markets of the Northwest Territories. Citing census statistics, he calls on the Commission to help provide more funding for Aboriginal youth to obtain the necessary post-secondary education to fill urgently needed jobs.
File contains a presentation by Ineaq Korgak, executive assistant for the Baffin Regional Health Board. Korgak discusses many of the social issues facing the Inuit people of Baffin Island, including high mortality rates, low life expectancy, drug abuse, AIDS, alcoholism, gambling, poor nutrition, and a lack of economic opportunities. He also discusses midwifery and makes some suggestions on how these subjects can be addressed in a productive manner. Following the presentation Korgak discusses some of these issues with Commissioner Dussault.
File contains a presentation by Ipeelee Kilabuk concerning with the lack of adequate health care facilities in Pangnirtung. The hamlet once had a hospital, and now seriously ill people must be flown to Edmonton, Winnipeg and other cities. He hopes that the future government of Nunavut will build a hospital and staff it with Inuit health care workers. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by James Kavana and Moses Koihok that first provides a brief history of Cambridge Bay. The presenters state that "we would have been better off out in our own hunting grounds away from the settlement" of Cambridge Bay but with the forced 1950s relocation of Inuit into the settlement created a culture and lifestyle crisis for those Inuit who were relocated. John Maksagak, Commissioner for the Day, adds some remarks about the history of Cambridge Bay and his experiences growing up in an alcohol-free environment.
File contains a presentation by James Panioyak that initially describes a harsh life in the bush for Inuit children pre-contact, but a fulfilling one as children learned to respect their parents, their elders and the land. By a person's late teens, survival skills had been learned and upon marriage, a man was capable of fishing and trapping to feed his family and a woman was able to make and repair clothing and to prepare and cook food. Panioyak hopes the Inuktitut language will not die out and believes that elders should be utilized to teach children and youth the old ways and language.
File contains a presentation by Jaypeetie Akpallaluk, Mayor, Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories, who begins by comparing the "qallunaaq" (European) way of life and the Inuit way of life and how the two do not work together well. He states that Inuit culture is being lost and that the wisdom and knowledge of elders is not being utilized by younger generations. He hopes that the future government of Nunavut will provide more funding to allow the creation of much-needed cultural, educational and family programs in Pangnirtung.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Jim Antoine
Description
File contains a presentation by Chief Jim Antoine, Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly for Nahende. He gives a brief introduction to Treaty 11 relating to his constituency and to the future formation of Nunavut. Antoine discusses what land claims and self-government would mean to the Northwest Territories, focusing on the extinguishment clause. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Joe Ohokannoak that covers a number of subjects, including no high school courses past Grade 10 in the Cambridge Bay area, potential employment with the expected construction of a new mine, a lack of radio broadcasting facilities, and health issues. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Kevin McCormick
Description
File contains a presentation by Kevin McCormick, representative, Inuik Fisheries, and a resident of Pangnirtung. He feels that the Canadian government should be dealing with important economic and social issues in the Baffin region and that negotiations relating to the formation of Nunavut should not take precedent over these issues. He calls for the Canadian government to subsidize airfares and hotel costs in the Eastern Arctic to create growth in the tourist industry.