Eskimo-titut

September snow, where art thou?

2010-10-01T04:48:00.000-07:00

Happy October!

"I'm so excoited!!!" said the Cat in the Hat.

I have a new blogging friend so I thought I'd post a note to welcome her into the blogging world even though I do not blog regularly. Tunngasutsiarit ᑐᙵᓱᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ!

In a totally unrelated topic, Canada's Members of Parliament have voted in favour to keep the long gun registry only by a slim margin.

The entire issue reminds me of the time I was obtaining my firearms license (since I know that I'd be subject to registering any new firearms that I acquire or purchase). The process to obtain my firearms license gave me much resentment since I tried getting the fee for the license waived using a specific passage in the NLCA:

"Part 5.6.27 - Licensing

Subject to the terms of this Article, an Inuk with proper identification may harvest up to his or her adjusted basic needs level without any form of license or permit and without imposition of any form of tax or fee;"

A letter was sent to me with my application saying that I still have to pay or prove that harvesting is my only means of obtaining food or something to that effect.

So I take it that this is why NTI is fighting the registry with an interim injunction issued by the Nunavut Court of Justice - so that Inuit hunters do not have to register their firearms and/or pay the fee associated to getting a firearms license.

I wonder at what stage it is with the courts (?).

Inuktituuvut

2010-07-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

tiasting tiasting uan, tuu, talii. uil ta uiiul silim saiti pliis sitaan ap.

ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑉᐳᖓ ᐅᓪᓗᒥᑦ ᐃᓅᒐᒪ ᓱᓇᒥᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓇᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑉᐳᖓ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᒥ ᑭᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᒥ ᑕᑯᕗᖓ ᖁᖓᓐᓂᐊᖅᑯᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓪᓗᖓ.

ᓱᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇ ᑲᕙᕐᓇᑐ ᙯᒐᓗᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓗᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᓪᓗᖓ ᓈᒻᒪᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᐊᖅᑰᕋᒪ.

Almost three years ago, I felt a deep urge to move back to Nunavut as I and my young family were living in Peterborough, Ontario at the time.

Mainly, I knew it was due to the fact that my young children were not exposed to Inuktitut in their daily life even though I spoke it regularly at home. Everywhere else they went, be it daycare, school, a friends' house, stores (not forgetting the ever pervasive television and mainstream media) were running all in English. A seed was planted at that time when I had those thoughts going through my head.

Now, having lived in Iqaluit for just over two years, I can say that I am not completely satisfied with the results. However, I am comfortable at the moment to be a lot closer to family and good friends and can practice more of what I'd like to preach. I seem to be becoming more and more surrounded by Inuktitut and pray that it is rubbing off moreover on my family.

Tuniq Tyme 2010

2010-04-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

My blog is soooo neglected...

I just realized my posts have become so irregular, it has become a semi-annual thing (my second-last post was Tuniq Tyme 2009!).

Nonetheless, as a good friend of mine has started his own thing, I promised myself that I'd try to keep at this as well.

Anyways, This years' Tuniq Tyme has been jam-packed with fun activities for kids and families and i'm sure the night-life is alive as ever.

So far, we've gone to see contests for ice sculptures, tea/bannock making, iglu-building, fear factor to name a few.

It might be just me but I came across the Inuktitut phrases both on the website and booklet this year and have a few pointers:

"Iqalunnimiutauvunga – I’m from Iqaluit"
This should be: "Iqalummiutaujunga/vunga" because you do not say "Kinngarnimiutaujunga" or "Kimmirurnimiutaujunga."

"Ulaakut – Good morning" is missing the double "l" and "k": ullaakkut

"Qaniungi – I’m fine" is missing the extra "n" as well: qanuinngi

"Agga – No" is completele wrong: "agga" is "hand" while "aagga means "no.

"Naqurmiik – Thank you" change the "q" to a "k": nakurmiik

"Qujanamiik – Thank you" add one more "n": qujannamiik

And finally,
"Ilaali – You’re welcome" is perfectly arranged and so i'm out.

It's been a while...

2009-09-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

...I've started a new job/department, got married, the Prime Minister has graced us with his presence (and made a flurry of announcements across the north), and we took a months holiday since my last post. Oh, and my brother-in law also got married.

Did I mention we drove across canada this summer?

What's new with things?

Toonik Tyme

2009-04-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

Toonik Tyme to me has existed forever. Toonik Tyme means hockey, games, feasts, singing, races, and enjoying the spring thaw. It is held in Iqaluit, Nunavut every year for over 20 40 years.

Interestingly, 'Toonik' (or 'Tuniq' in standard roman orthography) translates to the ancient giant beings that once occupied the same lands where Inuit have found a home in. The plural term for 'Tuniq' is 'Tuniit.' These strong and sturdy beings mysteriously vanished from the Arctic region leaving only a few traces of their existence.

On another note, the festival was probably brought about due to the fact that the Arctic experiences some extreme contrasts between the darkness of night which peaks in late December, and the oft-stated 24-hour sunlight that does not appear to dim in June.

It is this time of the season (spring) when Inuit have a very good reason to celebrate - We have survived another year! A time when we know that things will be easier and to look forward to the warm weather and all things that come with summer!

So, if you're in the neighbourhood, go out and take a walk, go sliding or skidooing and participate in the activities that the have been organized for everyone's fun - And remember to stay safe!

Those Eskimos

2009-03-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

Eskimos were those smiley, brown-skinned, fur-trimmed and round-faced people who inhabited the Arctic region.

Eskimos were those that were labelled by another tribe of humans for eating raw meat.

Eskimos were those families who traded fox skins for guns, ammunition, tea and flour.

Eskimos were those who experienced racism without even knowing what racism meant.

Eskimos were those strong and fit men who could lift a half-tonne rock without much strain and run alongside a dog team for hours on end.

Eskimos were those patient and resilient women who seamed countless skin boots, mitts, parkas, snow pants, avatait, qajait, umiat and tupiit and also found the time to establish the warmth of a home.

Eskimos were those children who obeyed the words of their parents by going outside every morning when they woke up.

Eskimos were those people that gave their last bit of food and tools so that another person would eat or be able to hunt.

Eskimos were those innovative and resourceful people who built Inuksuit to mark land of significance and transformed stone into a cooking stove (not to mention heat and light).

Those Eskimos are my role models.

Is climate change getting to your head?

2009-02-10T06:53:00.000-08:00

apparently for some, it is.

"Last year, an anxious, depressed 17-year-old boy was admitted to the psychiatric unit at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. He was refusing to drink water. Worried about drought related to climate change, the young man was convinced that if he drank, millions of people would die. The Australian doctors wrote the case up as the first known instance of 'climate change delusion.'"

This is more extreme than the idea of climate change damaging polar bear's hearing through the sounds of melting ice.

what more will climate change bring?

Akulliq by-election woes

2009-02-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

i've been keeping away from blogging as I don't have a "full-time" computer.

I suppose that's why i'm about to cover some old news...

i feel for the riding of Akulliq in Nunavut. They have suffered a pretty long election that just seems to never end.

Meanwhile, Tagak Curley was recently inducted in the Nunavut Government Cabinet. Congrats to him - he finally decided to accept that he will likely never get voted in as Premier and this was probably his last chance in being a top decision-maker.

That means the Akulliq Member will not have a stab at taking on responsibilities in the Executive Council. How's that for democracy! After residents in the Akulliq riding go the polls once gain on March 2 it will be the time to say "bye bye elections!"

untitled

2009-01-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

As told by Mariano Aupilardjuk

A wise elder was teaching his grandson about life.

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves."

"One wolf is evil; he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego."

"The other wolf is good; he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

"This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought for a minute and then asked, "Which wolf will win?"

The wise old elder replied, "The one we feed."

iskimuu.

2009-01-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

inuit uqausia avitturiinnaugaluaq. sanamaninga tukisinaqsivuq avitturlugu.

suurlu nilliagunnatalimaangi inuit nalunaiqtausimaanittuit. i, u, a, pi, pu, pa, ti, tu, ta...etc. nalunaikkutauliqsutit. taimaimmat atira taiviti (ta-i-vi-ti). inuit uqausingita taigusingit ajurnangittukuluugaluaq ilangit nalugijauvakkaluaqtuit asini uqausilinnut. taigusiit pimmariuningitta ujjiritsiaqtakka. ammaluttauq uqausiqatigiinngikkaluasuta inuujutigu piugivattara sunatuinnait uqaqtauningit ajjigiinngikkaluaqmata tukingi ajjigiippattuit. ajjigiinnginniit inuit uqausinginni katigutigingaariaqaqquuqtavut uqausivut pirurniarattigu. isumaga angillinnasuqattaqtara tavvuuna uqausikkut.

sunalimaat inuusirmi tukiqaqtuinnaummata.

Inuit qaujivallialauqtillugit qallunaat iliqqusinginnit tavvattauq uqausiq titiraqtaugunnasigivuq inunngnut. suuqaimmat inuktituuqtuit qallunaatituuqtuit amisuulirmata/unuqtuulirmata.

taakkua titirartakka nalunaikkutiralaat ajuriqtuijinut ammalu maanauliqtu gavamanut inungnuungaliqtausimammata inuktitut tukiqattitausimavut. atii inuusitta isuanu atuinnalaurlavut kinguvaattinnullu qaangiutinnasuinnaqpallugulu.

Taima.

holiday cheer

2008-12-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

with x-mas over and the new year to come i figure it's time for a new post.

I finally got my hands on some pond inlet maktaaq and brought it to my family as I spent just about 2 weeks with them and just got back to YFB.

it was good to be back "home" around family and old friends. played poker it seemed like almost every night, went to the community games a few nights and just enjoyed visiting around with people close to me.

the food was always good too as we ate country food practically every other day.

thanks to my family for a good visit and wish everyone a Haapi Nuu Jaa!! and stay safe!

narwhal maktaaq galore (in Pond Inlet)

2008-11-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

it appears there is much more narwhals that are trapped near pond inlet than was expected.

check out the latest CBC North news article here (don't forget to visit the 'related' link/s).

I wonder now if this issue would've been bigger news if an alternative option was decided upon for the situation.

I take it from the lack of presence from animal rights organization that this situation is not worthy of a fight (?).

how i would love to chomp down on some soy sauce-smothered, partially frozen maktaaq followed with a cup o' tea and palaugaaq - mmmmmm!

Did you hear...

2008-11-18T06:41:00.000-08:00

Nunavut got its first female Premier? Eva Aariak is the Premier-elect and the second to serve after Paul Okalik held the top job in the Government of Nunavut for the past 9 years.

Many people no doubt are anticipating some changes and to some, it is a refreshing renewal while to other, it was an upsetting takeover.

She's the second politician to say these words in this new government (Lorne Kusugaq said it soon after being elected in Rankin South/Whale Cove).

Happy New Government!

Nunavut Leadership Forum

2008-11-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

So, the leadership forum is scheduled to start tomorrow morning. Should be interesting - I'll maybe check it out in the afternoon if they have not already announced who is in what position.

twiddling my thumbs...

SB By-election results

2008-11-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

Fred Schell, now the former Mayor of Kinngait has been elected as South Baffin's MLA after 59% of the elegibile voters cast their ballots.

What I find rather odd is that Kimmirummiut chose the out-of-towner over their local candidate.

More coverage here.

Voting day

2008-10-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

so tonite will show a new set of MLAs for the GN and all I can say to that is: the Nunavut Elections Act should be one of the first things to be reviewed and amended. My after-thoughts are: would my non-voting ability play at least a significantly minor part? We'll see after tonite.

And what of next week when South Baffin holds its by-election? I don't think many people will notice. The other by-election is what interests me more despite being from SB.

happy voting Nunamiut - I can wait to cast my ballot in 4 years. Maybe then my residency should be cleared up.

update: results can be found here, read coverage on the voter turnout decrease, and a call for gender-parity.

I get all my other "news" through the grapevine aside from CBC North, Nunatsiaq News and News North.

federal election results...

2008-10-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

not much new - more seats for the Tories, less on the Liberals.

Was a pretty tight race in 'Nunavut' between the 3 main parties if you ask me.

let's see what happens next...

Update: Leona Aglukkaq has been appointed into the Cabinet of the 40th Parliament - Pretty cool huh?

need new computer

2008-10-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

laptop no working good....me think to go "the Source" to find better machine that acts like brain. Need lots of pieces of paper or valuable small plastic to exchange for this. anybody want to buy igunaq?

The Airline of the North

2008-10-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Sounds like they are putting their execs way "first" before their customers...read about it here.

If I were to get a $600K bonus, let alone $250K, I think i'd donate most, if not all, of the money in some way or another (scholarships, youth projects, or devise a cool contest) whereby it would ensure that the money is invested back to the communities. ~~All I have to say now is, if this amount is roughly what they get or annually,~~ It is in fact $25 and $60 K bonuses a year that were mentioned.... STILL WOW! At least the guy is honest (?).

Update: more coverage is being done on this at CBC North

Voting in the Nunavut Elections

2008-10-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

So I moved back to Nunavut after 5 and half years 'down south' and was looking forward to take part our 'democracy' this fall as the territorial elections started out soon after the federal writ was issued.

Unfortunately for me, my anticipation to participate in voting (in the territorial elections) was shot down like a duck ~~near~~ outside Cape Dorset in July. Apparently, I must be a resident of Nunavut for at least one year.

It doesn't end there. After pondering it some more, and checking out the Nunavut Elections Act, it appears that I may have a case since I moved to Ottawa for education and employment reasons. So, I could argue that I am only 'temporarily absent' from 'my place of home or dwelling' under the section "Determining Residence." Would you buy that? or do I need so seek a laywer? I do still fully intend to return to my place of home or dwelling.....at one point or another.

Update: apparently, the employment part (of the NEA) is referreing to short-term work (ie. taking on a term position to cover someone's maternity leave who is on a leave of absence). Oh well, I suppose (or hope) I won't have this same trouble 4 years down the road. Happy (non)voting everyone!

Also unrelated but related: the current mayor of Kinngiat has put his hat into the race - now I DEFINATELY hope someone else runs for South Baffin.

Up-update: it seems that I ain't the only one with this problem. It will be interesting to see what happens out of this.

Coinkidink?

2008-10-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

I started my blog after a couple months of saying to myself "this is the new thing to do and it could be my own little corner of the web(log)" - and now blogs are sooooo 'in' that the President of the national Inuit organization of Canada has its own.

I've been honoured to work for Ms. Simon and some good people at ITK - keep up the good work and remember: do not jay-walk near Laurier & Metcalfe :)

candidacy apathy?

2008-10-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

there is not one person that ran in my howntown riding of South Baffin in the Nunavut Territorial general elections.

Elections Nunavut has scheduled a byelection on Nov. 3 for South Baffin. Outgoing MLA Olayak Akesuk, who had not wanted to seek re-election, told CBC News he may run if nobody else is interested.

I do hope that someone else does run this time around - I can think of at least a few people that could/should be good representatives in the House for Kinngait & Kimmirut.

Update: the by-election writ has brough up four hopefuls for South-Baffin riding - first and foremost, I'll be happy if the incumbent speaks Inuktitut. And secondly, can read and understand English clearly (talk about mediocre expectations!). That's my standard that one of these these candidates will have to prove and live up to if am to support them in office. Only time will tell.

The effects of climate change are so harmful that...

2008-10-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

This made me laugh!

as a person with minor hearing problems, and despite the ~~initial~~ obvious finding that bears have much more sensitivity to sound than humans have, can I say that ~~"global warming"~~ the noise of melting ice has impeded on my listening since I have grown up in ~~a melting climate in my~~ the Arctic the first 19 years of my life? huh?