NUNAVUT
Twenty-eight Inuit have successfully completed training in the Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (N-CAMP) which took place in Iglulik, Coral Harbour and Kugluktuk, said Environment Minister Johnny Mike in the legislative assembly last week.

Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Programs were a success in Iglulik, Coral Harbour and Kugluktuk, with 28 Inuit trained. Here participants Natalino Piugattuk, left, Ken Fergusson of Aarluk Consulting, Todd Ammaq, Linda Orman, Samuel Ammaq, David Aqqiaruq and Jordan Imm sample fish from Atikittuq Lake near Iglulik. The community hopes to develop a commercial fishery. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Parks and Fisheries

Mike said the program is giving Nunavummiut the opportunity to be engaged as stewards of their aquatic resources.

"This program is unique because it is the communities that define the research, and participants from the communities who are being trained to go out on the land to collect the data required for developing commercial char fisheries," he said.

The program involved elders, youth, active harvesters, and scientists working together to achieve a common goal.

The training in Kugluktuk will allow the community to complete many of its fisheries development and aquatic health projects.

Mike said the GN is committed to supporting the communities who have completed the training program and it intends to continue holding camps across the territory as a central piece of its renewed fisheries strategy.

Work by youth singled out

Youth across Nunavut rising to the challenges facing them by forming dedicated committees were acknowledged in the legislative assembly on Oct 23.

"While youth committee members make sacrifices to their lifestyle by committing their time and energy to their work, they are also learning to plan for their future and getting involved in solutions for their communities," said Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Paul Okalik.

Okalik listed their many efforts, such as games nights, gym and sports events, skate nights or teen skate dances and outdoor events in summer and winter.

"Youth have delivered ice to elders in Iglulik, held kids dog team races in Rankin Inlet, and have taken standard First Aid courses in Kimmirut, to name just a few," he said.

He especially noted the youth of the Qikiqtaaluk region who were in the capital that week working to develop a new youth strategy with the Government of Nunavut.

Long-term employees honoured

Premier Peter Taptuna recognized on Oct. 23 government employees honoured the previous evening for their long-term service.

"Many of those individuals are in the house today and I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to these dedicated employees for their years of public service to the citizens of Nunavut," said Taptuna.

He noted the recipients of the long-term service awards "come from a broad spectrum of our workforce throughout the territory."

"This long-term service of our employees is an example of strong leadership within our own workforce. As our government matures and continues to expand our training and mentorship programs, I am confident that we are going to continue seeing positive results and a growing workforce that is committed to growing with us," he said.

Employees recognized for more than 30 years of service are Lena Metuq and Millie Kuliktana with the Department of Education, as well as Gail Redpath and Dimaris Saimaut with the Department of Health.

Those with more than 35 years of service are Tirak Parr and Mary Ellen Thomas with Nunavut Arctic College and Lorne Levy with the Department of Community and Government Services.

Call for a hospital board

The need for a board of management at Qikiqtani General Hospital was raised for a second time Oct. 23 by Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak.

Angnakak first raised the issue during the spring sitting of the legislative assembly in May.

"I asked the minister of Health if any consideration had been given to establishing a hospital board. The minister indicated that she would ask her staff to look into it. I am confident that the minister's staff will have identified a number of merits to having a standalone board of management for the hospital," he said.

Angnakak added that a board could fundraise for expensive equipment, reduce the levels of bureaucracy and deal with needs in a more efficient and timely manner.

Health Minister Monica Ell said in response, "The current government mandate does not list a re-examination of health boards as a priority, but saying that, we can look at ways on how we can engage with communities and to the public."

When Angnakak pushed the minister to address the merits of a board, Ell said that with the creation of Nunavut regional health, boards were dissolved.

Angnakak then suggested that the dissolution of the boards didn't necessarily mean that it was the best way to move forward with the hospital, later clarifying that she was calling for a hospital board and not regional boards.

"We can look into what you're saying, but I can't say ahead of time what results we will see," said Ell.

Arviat still without an adequate water pump

Reminding Community and Government Services Minister Tom Sammurtok that he had committed in the spring to fixing Arviat's water woes, Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq said that work has yet to be done.

"As of today (Oct. 24), there is still only one slow-running water outlet and, all the time, it creates the problem of people waiting for water," said Savikataaq. "At times, there are up to three water trucks waiting for water to get filled and, in turn, houses with empty water tanks are waiting to get filled."

Sammurtok said his department has been "continually" working on the problem.

"We are currently reviewing it to see if we can make improvements to it," he said.

Savikataaq then requested details on what had been done and when, as well as an anticipated completion date.

"We are working on that issue at this time to see what system would best fit and we are also looking at other community reservoirs to see which system would be the best fit. Based on that, we will decide which system will be provided to Arviat," said Sammurtok. Savikataaq questioned how looking at other communities would be helpful considering Arviat is the second-largest community in the territory, second to Iqaluit, which has limited trucked-water service.

"I'm asking the minister, by next summer will that problem be fixed?"

Sammurtok replied, "We have prepared a plan for it and further, we want to undertake that project next summer. We are working for the purpose of rectifying whatever problem exists by next year."

New deal for people with disabilities

Netsilik MLA and Family Services Minister Jeannie Ugyuk announced Oct. 27 that the Government of Nunavut (GN) signed a federal labour market agreement for persons with disabilities in September.

"The agreement, which will see up to $1.25 million transferred to Nunavut, will contribute to better understanding the employment barriers faced by Nunavummiut with disabilities and will help them transition into the labour market," said Ugyuk.

As a cost-sharing agreement, any federal money spent has to be matched by the territory.

Consultations with stakeholders suggest that there is a lack of accessible space for training persons with disabilities, a lack of support services for young people with disabilities, and a lack of employer education and support for working with and training persons with disabilities, Ugyuk said.

"In short, we know that persons with disabilities face significant barriers to employment in our territory, yet we require more information on exactly what those barriers are and how to overcome them," added Ugyuk.

The new funding is intended to help the GN work with community groups and organizations to create programming that will improve the employment outcomes

of persons with disabilities.

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