Joachim Ayaruak, centre, leads his group during one of many square dances during a community dance at the arena in Rankin Inlet, to top off Canada Day celebrations on July 1. Whale Cove will host a community square dance this evening as part of their Nunavut Day celebrations. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo |
Nunavut turns 15
Communities across the territory celebrating Nunavut Day
Candace Thomson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 9, 2014
KIVALLIQ
Nunavut has officially been a territory for 15 years and its communities are celebrating today.
Most of the communities in the Kivalliq region were still finalizing their plans for Nunavut Day by press time but officials said the celebrations would be much like Canada Day last week.
In Whale Cove, a community barbecue, a variety of games throughout the day for children and adults alike and a community square dance will take place according to hamlet officials who planned to have a finalized list of events by Monday.
In Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is hosting the events and while they were still hashing out the details at press time, Lorie Flynn was able to tell Kivalliq News a few of the plans.
"So far we have a barbecue scheduled as well as live entertainment in the evening," Flynn said. "We've got games for elders, children and adults and we've got various prizes that'll be drawn with raffle tickets."
Some of the raffle prizes will include tickets through Sakku First Aviation from the Kivalliq region to Winnipeg or Ottawa, or Calm Air tickets anywhere within the Kivalliq, Flynn said.
The games will include a mix of traditional competitions, relays and other fun activities.
"We'll have stuff like tea boiling for the elders, a bannock making contest," Flynn said, adding that there will also be games and goodies for children.
Rankin's live entertainment for the evening will include performances by Saali and the Ravenhearts, headed by Charles 'Saali' Keelan, an Inuk singer born in Iqaluit. The band performs original songs in both English and Inuktitut.
Nunavut officially became a territory on April 1, 1999, six years after parliament passed the Nunavut Act with the plans to create the territory and separate it from the NWT, according to the GN's website. In 2000, Nunavut Day was celebrated for the first time on April 1 but it was later decided by GN officials that the celebration should take place on July 9, the day the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was finalized.
