The major recommendations in the report are as follows:

• Enhance promotional activities to encourage Inuit to pursue nursing as a career choice.
• Introduce new measures to prepare students for success in the nursing program.
• Adapt the Nunavut Arctic College nursing program to better include Inuit culture and values.
• Increase supports for Inuit students enrolled in the nursing program.
• Eliminate systemic barriers to aspiring Inuit nurses in transition from education to employment.
• Develop a systematic culture of mentorship within the Nunavut nursing sector.

“With our combined efforts with the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Canada, and the dedication of Inuit who aspire to be nurses and are already working as nurses, we know we can build a strong, sustainable Inuit nursing workforce in Nunavut,” said Eetoolook.

The project was led by NTI with the collaboration of the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health and Social Services, Health Canada Northern Region, and Nunavut Arctic College.

Electronic copies of the report are available on NTI’s website.

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(March 9, 2010 – Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1^st Vice-President James Eetoolook said the Government of Nunavut’s 2010/11 budget addressed social and cultural areas of importance, and NTI looked forward to working with the government on shared priorities, including education, language, culture, housing, homelessness and poverty reduction. Finance Minister Keith Peterson tabled the budget yesterday in the Nunavut Legislative Assembly.

Eetoolook said the GN needed to clarify what it meant by developing a long-term comprehensive housing strategy. He pointed out that NTI and the GN developed the Nunavut Ten-Year Inuit Housing Action Plan in 2004, but following the announcement of federal funding in 2006, many of the principles in the action plan were abandoned. Eetoolook said NTI looked forward to working with the GN again on housing, but he said it must be a true partnership.

Similarly, with the $1.5 million to be provided over two years for a comprehensive review of child protection programs, services and legislation, Eetoolook said NTI must be involved in this process, consistent with Article 32 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. He added that NTI planned to lobby the GN to open the office of the Child and Youth Representative as soon as possible.

Eetoolook said the budget held no real surprises, and NTI hoped the GN would be able to deliver concrete results from the $1.3 billion budget.

“NTI is pleased to see increased funds committed to Piqqusilirivvik, the Nunavut Trade School, adult education and the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit. NTI looks forward to the actual completion and operation of this trade school, which we have been seeking for so long,” said Eetoolook.

He also said NTI was pleased to see additional funds earmarked for the development of a homelessness secretariat and an anti-poverty strategy. “Poverty is a serious problem for Nunavut, and NTI agrees there is a need to tackle it head on. NTI welcomes Minister Peterson’s recognition of the problem. NTI will work closely with the GN and the other members of the Nunavut Economic Forum to develop the poverty reduction strategy,” he said. The poverty reduction strategy must be closely related to the Nunavut Economic Development Strategy, which NTI has supported since 2003.

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pirurtu Photo by Norman Enuaraq of Clyde River

For more information on the Website Photo Contest visit:

http://www.tunngavik.com/websitePhotoContest

http://www.tunngavik.com/2010/03/05/nunavut-tunngavik-reacts-to-federal-budget/

“NTI recognizes and welcomes the renewal of a number of health programs that were set to expire, including programs for maternal health and diabetes, but it is surprising and disappointing that we do not see any new money to address the housing crisis in Nunavut, or to provide further help with respect to health and education issues,” said Ningeocheak. “NTI is also disappointed at the absence of new money for Inuit language programs and services, and the improvement of small craft harbours in more communities in Nunavut.”

Ningeocheak said NTI was pleased to see some funding earmarked for residential school survivors, but this appears to be driven primarily by extra claims arising out of the court settlement on this topic. “The closing down of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation is troubling. Former students need those healing services,” he said.

Ningeocheak was pleased to see proposed reform and $45 million committed to the food mail program. “This integral Northern program is designed to improve access to affordable healthy food. While the specific changes have not been made public, NTI hopes that an increase in transparency and accountability by all who access the program is present. The subsidy is intended to provide access to healthy food by the consumers.”

Ningeocheak also said the $8 million allocated over two years for a Nunavut General Monitoring Program was welcome news. “NTI does not take hesitate to take credit for this, as the absence of this program has been an ongoing breach of our land claims agreement and we have identified this in our major implementation lawsuit.”

Ningeocheak said he was concerned by the decision because it was based on outdated scientific population information, and reversed the decision the GN made in October, 2008, not to reduce the quota after consulting Inuit.

“The first decision was based on Inuit values and principles. This new decision creates a conflict between contemporary wildlife management systems and Inuit,” said Ningeocheak.

Ningeocheak is asking Minister Shewchuk to compensate Inuit from the affected communities, which include Pond Inlet, Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq. “The minister must ensure that Inuit who have been impacted by the government’s decision are duly compensated. This reduction will profoundly impact the Inuit economy in those communities.”

Ningeocheak said Inuit report that the polar bear population in the area has increased in the last decade, but the GN maintains it has significantly decreased. The GN has indicated they plan to conduct a new population survey in Baffin Bay.

If Inuit have additional concerns about polar bears or the hotline, please contact Paul Irngaut at NTI at 867-975-4915 or 888-646-0006.

http://www.tunngavik.com/2009/12/14/nunavut-tunngavik-launches-polar-bear-hotline/

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Board of Directors’ Meeting
February 23-25, 2010
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut

Daisy Eyegotok, MVC Finalists

Daisy Eyegotok of Cambridge Bay was one of 875 coaches nominated in December for the Campbell’s Chunky Soup Most Valuable Coach Contest. She is now one of the top six finalists.

Daisy is a student in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program in Cambridge Bay. Daisy has been coaching the Cambridge Bay Wolverines girls basketball team for 10 years.

Daisy and the five other finalists have made videos that you can view at www.chunkymvc.ca. Each coach will be evaluated based on their values and the number of fans they have and the winner will get $20,000 to benefit a sports organization in his or her home community. The winner will be announced on March 21.

Help Daisy and the Wolverines, become a fan of Daisy and go online and vote.