Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 7, 2008

IQALUIT - William Saimaniq Charlie Iou Lalonde entered the world as many firsts.

The tiny, healthy baby boy was the first born in Nunavut in 2008, at around 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.

Three generations of family gather around William Saimaniq Charlie Iou Lalonde, the first baby born in Nunavut in 2008. Proud mom Renee Iou-Lalonde is joined by grandmother Noolee Iou and great-grandmother Marje Lalonde at the Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit. - Karen Mackenzie/NNSL photo

He's also the first child of Renee Iou-Lalonde and Willie Onalik, as well as the first grandchild for Noolee Iou and Marc Lalonde, and first great-grandchild for 84-year-old Marje Lalonde.

All three senior generations have been gathered around the baby almost since the first moment.

"I want to keep holding him but she won't let me. He's going to get so spoiled," teased Noolee.

As most of the family lives around Iqaluit, a steady stream of visitors had already been by to see their newest relative, according Renee's older brother David Iou.

"He's getting so much attention already," he said.

David, the godfather, cancelled a plane ticket to Las Vegas about seven hours before departure, in order to be in Iqaluit for the big day.

"My first little nephew - I wasn't going to miss that," he said, with a big grin across his face.

Little William was named for all of his uncles, according to Renee.

"I had the names chosen already," she said.

Although born pretty much on his due date, it wasn't a very easy pregnancy, she said. After many trips between the hospital and home with early labour pains, she finally delivered him by Caesarean section. Some of her family spent about 30 hours in the hospital by her side.

"It was pretty exciting but I was pretty worried for her," Marje said, adding that she had yet to hold the baby herself.

"I'm going to wait until he's a bit older. It's no simple thing when you're 84 years old," she said.

Tired but happy, Renee said she was looking forward to heading home from the hospital the following day.