Election 2013
'Right now it's not working'
Traditional knowledge and high cost of living top priorities for Quttiktuq MLA hopefuls
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 14, 2013
QUTTIKTUQ
It's time for the Government of Nunavut to not just acknowledge Inuit traditional knowledge but use it in its everyday workings, says Quttiktuq MLA hopeful Isaac Shooyook.
The government's policies and regulations aren't currently compatible with the Inuit way of life, the elder said in Inuktitut.
Shooyook's financial agent, Mishak Allurut, interpreted what he was saying.
Inuit are often told that traditional knowledge can't be recognized when it comes to the law because it's not written down in black and white, said Shooyook.
"He doesn't want that excuse anymore," said Allurut.
"One way to close the gap between Inuit and non-Inuit is to have something in writing that they can all agree on ... If they start referencing Inuit traditional knowledge, Inuit and non-Inuit can start going in one direction, start working together and understanding each other."
Every government department should be actively using this information to inform how it carries out duties.
For example, Shooyook said, the Department of Health and Social Services should encourage counsellors and social workers to draw on Inuit traditional knowledge when assisting Nunavummiut.
"Right now it's not working the way (they're) doing it because they only base their knowledge on information from books and from manuals that are written down south," said Shooyook through Allurut.
Shooyook has served on the local alcohol committee as well as on the board on directors for Taqqut Co-operative Ltd. He has also been an active member of his church group.
Running against him is incumbent Ron Elliott.
For Elliott, the main issues for Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay continue to be the battle with the high cost of living, food security and social issues.
It doesn't seem fair that elders who work their whole lives are getting the same old age security pension as someone living down south where the money can be stretched further, said Elliott.
Food, hygiene products, transportation, everything is more expensive in the High Arctic.
Nutrition North still needs a bit of tweaking, added Elliott, who pushed for the federal government to review the program during his term as MLA.
Nutrition North is reducing the amount Nunavummiut spend on perishable foods such as milk, apples, oranges and fresh vegetables.
But the savings, he said, don't extend far enough for items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, tooth brushes and other hygiene products.
Still, at the end of the day, the best way to help communities is by providing jobs, he said.
Elliott is confident Baffinland and the Arctic Fishery Alliance will help alleviate some issues.
"If families have a job and if families have an income they're a lot happier because their basic needs are covered and they have extra money for the fun things as well."
Shooyook expressed similar sentiments about the high prices and transportation costs faced by the three communities, especially Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay.
For him the issues are also a priority.
When it comes to Arctic Bay, one of his main concerns is the dusty streets. They are so bad, he said, that the dust is causing health problems for residents.
If elected, Shooyook would advocate for the streets to be paved.
Infrastructure is a concern for Elliott too, who plans to continue pushing for construction of a new utilidor system in Resolute Bay to get underway.
