Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie today said that NTI is in full support of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Seal Day on the Hill, scheduled to take place in Ottawa today.

The event was organized by DFO to demonstrate the federal government’s ongoing support of the country’s seal industry. Officials from across the country, including Nunavut, are to attend the event with DFO Minister Keith Ashfield and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq. Each MP in the House of Commons will receive a seal fur lapel

pin from Nunavut today.

“Important events like these help educate and build awareness among all Canadians about Canada’s important seal industry,” said Towtongie. “All Canadians should take pride in this sustainable, humane harvest, and the economic and cultural benefits it provides to so many Canadians.”

A technical briefing for national media is also scheduled with the goal of highlighting how well managed the seal harvest is in Canada.

NTI will continue to help organize the Celebration of the Seal event, held in Iqaluit each spring.

The ASIST workshop is for anyone who wants to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over one million people around the world have participated in this two-day, highly interactive, practical, practice-oriented workshop.
Participation in the full two days is required. Enjoy small group discussions and skills practice that are based upon adult learning principles. Experience powerful videos on suicide intervention. Feel challenged and safe. Learn suicide first aid.

Dates: February 22/23 (Wednesday/Thursday)
Duration: 2 full days; 8:30 am to 5 pm
Community: Iqaluit
Training Location: Nunavut Arctic College — Nunatta Campus
Language of Instruction: English
Instructors: Dawn Stewart, Jack Hicks and Sunday Thomas

Contact: Jack Hicks — jhicks@arcticcollege.ca / phone 979-7298 / fax 979-7109

Registration: Seats are limited, and will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. There is a $50 fee to cover the cost of materials and refreshments. If you are a GN employee, you need to have your supervisor sign the attached application/consent form. Your department or agency will be billed for your fee. If you work for a municipal government or an Inuit organization, you also need to have your supervisor sign the attached application/consent form. Your employer will be billed for your fee. Anyone else is very welcome to apply for the course, and must submit a cheque for $50 in addition to their completed application form.

Send to: Jack Hicks, jhicks@arcticcollege.ca / phone 979-7298 / fax 979-7109

APPLICATION FORM
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Iqaluit – February 22/23, 2012
I wish to take the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshop being offered by Nunavut Arctic College on October 3/4, 2011. I understand that participation in the full two days is required. I commit to showing up on time at 8:30 each morning.
Name (print): __________________________________
E-Mail: __________________________________
Home phone: _____________________ Work phone: ______________________
Employees of GN departments/agencies, Inuit organizations or municipal governments must have this section signed off by their supervisor:
I am the supervisor of this course applicant. I agree to this employee taking the ASIST workshop on the dates specified. I am aware that my division/organization will be billed $50 upon receipt of this form. I am aware that this amount will not be refunded if the applicant withdraws from the course, or if he/she fails to attend.
Name (print): __________________________________
Position: _________________________________________________________
Signature: _________________________________________________________
Name of departmental finance person to whom the invoice should be sent:
_________________________________________________________

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie today announced that NTI is collecting names of students who lived at Kivalliq Hall while attending high school in Rankin Inlet in the 1980s.

NTI is collecting the information to help with legal action the organization is mounting to have Kivalliq Hall added to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement’s List of Schools so that former students are eligible for compensation under the Common Experience Payment and the Independent Assessment Process.

NTI filed a Request for Direction with the Nunavut Court of Justice in the fall of 2011 to ask the courts to determine whether Kivalliq Hall should be added to the List of Schools. Kivalliq Hall is currently not on the list, despite requests from former students to add it to the list. NTI is appealing that decision by filing the Request for Decision with the court.

If the appeal is found in favour of former Kivalliq Hall students, they may become eligible to receive CEP and IAP. However, if the appeal is found in favour of the Government of Canada, a former student would not be eligible for CEP and IAP, which is the situation now.

Former Kivalliq Hall students should contact NTI legal counsel Sandra Omik at 1-888-646-0006 or 867-975-4900 or somik@tunngavik.com to provide her with their information.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. officials today selected the 2011 Photo of the Year. Ipeelee Itorcheak of Iqaluit was awarded $1,000 in prize money for his photograph, entitled Passing Narwhal. Itorcheak also received an enlarged copy of his photograph, and the honour of having his photograph appear as the cover of the organization’s annual report.

Niore Iqalukjuak, also of Arctic Bay, took second place with his photograph, Waiting Under the Moon, and won $200 and an enlarged copy of his photo. Susie Qaunaq of Pangnirtung took third place with her photograph, Narwhal, and won $100 and an enlarged copy of her photo.

Beneficiaries are encouraged to continue to participate in the website photo contest. Details and entries are available at www.tunngavik.com.

Nunavut Tunngavik Vice-President James Eetoolook announced that Department of Fisheries and Oceans partially lifted international trade restrictions on narwhal tusks this week.

“This is excellent news,” said Eetoolook. “When DFO imposed the narwhal tusk trade ban on 17 Nunavut communities last year, the decision was based on questionable scientific data derived from partial aerial surveys in 2003. The reversal of that decision is based on an aerial survey done in Admiralty Inlet near Arctic Bay in 2010. This means Inuit in Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung and Iqaluit can now resume international trade in narwhal tusks and are no longer going to be economically penalized by DFO’s former data,” he said.

When DFO set the trade restriction in Dec., 2010, NTI was not made aware of the restriction prior to it being imposed, and Inuit were not consulted. DFO’s actions violated the Government of Canada’s legal obligation to adequately and meaningfully consult with Inuit. NTI launched legal action, but halted that process when DFO agreed to participate in consultations, and to work with Inuit on decisions affecting narwhal management and trade.

DFO’s decision to partially lift the trade restrictions was announced this week after DFO released 2010 and 2011 positive non-detrimental findings (NDF) reports on four of the six summering stocks of narwhal in Nunavut. Restrictions will continue on tusks harvested from summering stocks of narwhal in the Jones Sound and North Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin populations.

NTI began the project several years ago after a group of people in Gjoa Haven wrote to NTI Vice-President James Eetoolook, asking for help in getting their story told.

NTI hired oral history specialist David Pelly to conduct a thorough set of interviews in Gjoa Haven. That process included meeting the group, developing a plan with them, interviewing them individually, and ensuring the transcripts were accurate. Today’s launch includes photographs of the informants, the translated transcripts, and an introduction to the project written by David Pelly.

“It gives me great pleasure today to make this important material available to Inuit and all Canadians. The stories of the people who relocated from Perry River to Gjoa Haven are now very well documented, and the world can read about the hardships and the experiences they endured during their remarkable journey,” said Towtongie.

The Perry River Oral History project can be viewed on the NTI website:

http://www.tunngavik.com/current-initiatives/perry-river/

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will host the annual Year-in-Review program live on CBC radio from Rankin Inlet, Dec.19, 2011, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. CT.

“The annual live radio show provides an avenue for Beneficiaries to ask questions and express their concerns directly to me, and it provides NTI with the opportunity to update Inuit on our work in 2011,” said Towtongie.

Inuit are encouraged to listen to the program and take part by calling in with their questions.

Audience members can call toll-free at 1-877-548-2554.

This is the ninth annual Year-in-Review program hosted by NTI.

Nunavut Sivuniksavut is an incorporated non-profit organization which delivers a unique eight-month college program based in Ottawa. The program is for Inuit youth from Nunavut who want post-secondary preparation for the educational, training, and career opportunities that are being created by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the Government of Nunavut.

Board members have a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise and share a common interest in post-secondary education for Inuit youth. The Board normally meets 3 times per year.
Interested persons are asked to send a résumé and a letter outlining their background and their interest in NS to the address below.

Applications will be considered up to midnight, Dec. 31st, 2011

Nunavut Sivuniksavut
450 Rideau St., Suite 201,
Ottawa
ON K1N 7G3

Tel: (613) 244-4937
Fax: (613) 244-0058
ns@magma.ca

For more information about the NS program, go to www.nstraining.ca

Nunavut Sivuniksavut - Board of Directors