Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (July 12/99) - Iqaluit RCMP have charged two former teachers at Gjoa Haven's Kekertak Ilihavik school with a combined total of 28 sex-related charges.

Ben Kogvic, 43, faces 18 charges and Abraham Hiqniq faces 10 charges. Both are still residents of the hamlet.

"The investigation has been on going, give or take, for nine months," said Iqaluit RCMP Staff Sgt. Tom Blum.

"There were no search warrants issued that I know of."

The offences all allegedly took place between 1972 and 1988 and they range from sexual assault to indecent assault on a female.

Blum said after one witness came forward, several others followed and were involved in what turned out to be an extensive investigation.

Most of the witnesses were minors at the time the alleged offences took place.

The two were arrested earlier this month and have been released, with conditions, pending their first appearance before the Nunavut Court of Justice, which is set for Oct. 19.

Hamlet Mayor Michael Angottitauruq said that many people in the community are keeping quiet on how they feel about the charges against people they know well.

"I have the feeling from the people...they will not approach me completely in regards to what you're asking me," he said when asked for a reaction from the community.

"For that reason I can't really explain to you how the community is feeling about it."

Still, Angottitauruq said that when he first heard of the charges he wondered, "how can we keep the victims in the community in good order?"

"That's what I thought: 'How can we as a community and as part of a local government do something?'"

"That's the primary concern."

He said the main concern is for justice and since the two men have not appeared in court yet, many people are not sure what to think.

Angottitauruq said he could not recall such charges ever being laid in Gjoa Haven before.

"I guess it's not really what you'd call a really big surprise with all these connections to the south (such as Internet and television). That's what I feel."