About 600 people attend award ceremony
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Baker Lake (Oct 11/00) - Peter Irniq honoured two Northernerns last week in Baker Lake.
The Nunavut commissioner presented bravery awards to Norman Haqpi and the family of the late Hattie Amitnaaq, Amitnaaq was mauled to death by a polar bear n July 1999. It is believed she was trying to protect two young boys at the camp, including her grandson.
 Commissioner Irniq |
About 600 people attended the ceremony at the community centre.
Irniq says the ceremony went well, but was extremely emotional.
Amitnaaq's family accepted the award on her behalf and presented the commissioner with an award of their own.
"They gave a me a plaque, thanking me for my assistance to them during the past year in my role as Nunavut commissioner," says Irniq.
"The family will start to heal from here. It was very touching for me to be there to make these presentations."
New stamp
Irniq also presided over the unveiling of a Canadian Millennium stamp at the hamlet office.
The stamp, entitled the Shaman's Power, bears an image taken from the work of Baker Lake craftsman Paul Toolooktook.
The stamp captures the moment a woman is transformed into a muskox.
A special stamp had to be flown in for the occasion because the original stamp is part of the Millennium Collection.
Toolooktook's newest work, The Helper (Ikjurti) was also unveiled during the ceremony.
The impressive carving features a man sitting on a cloud overlooking a musk ox and an inukshuk.
Great statesman
Baker Lake MLA Glenn McLean says both ceremonies were very touching.
He says the proceedings were further enhanced by Irniq's presence.
"I have to say we have one true statesman in this territory and that's our commissioner, Peter Irniq," says McLean.
"He did an excellent job here. We couldn't have asked for anything more than the class and dignity Mr. Irniq brought to the ceremonies."
The commissioner's visit ended with a community feast and traditional games.
