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 (?).
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Inuktituuvut
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.
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.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Tuniq Tyme 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
It's been a while...
...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?
Did I mention we drove across canada this summer?
What's new with things?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Toonik Tyme
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!
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!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Those Eskimos
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Is climate change getting to your head?
apparently for some, it is.
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?
"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?
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