Media Centre

2009 News Archive

NTI Releases Qauma Project Schedule

(December 18, 2009, Iqaluit, NU)Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. today released three more dates for healing activities led by the Qauma Mobile Treatment Project.
In early 2010, Qauma officials will deliver healing and treatment services in three communities as identified by a steering committee comprised of former residential school students from Nunavut. Healers will form a team to travel to communities for one month periods to provide healing and treatment to former residential …

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NTI Announces 2009 Photo of the Year Contest Winner

(December 18, 2009 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak announced today that Steven Lonsdale of Iqaluit won NTI’s Photo of the Year Contest for 2009. Lonsdale won $1,000 in prize money and an enlarged copy of his photograph after a selection committee composed of NTI employees judged the 2009 winners of the Photo of the Month Contest.
Leena Koonoo of Pond Inlet took second place and won $200 …

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Nunavut Tunngavik Launches Polar Bear Hotline

(Rankin Inlet, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Vice-President of Finance Raymond Ningeocheak today launched a hotline to give Inuit the opportunity to express concerns about polar bears.
NTI wants Inuit to call the toll-free or local telephone numbers and express concerns about polar bears. NTI is collecting traditional knowledge about polar bears and climate change.
NTI set up the hotline following the United States’ attempts to have all trade on polar bear products …

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Inuit Organizations Commit $1 million to Fund New NS Building

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak announced today that the Board of Directors approved a $500,000 contribution toward the purchase of a new building for the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program. The three Regional Inuit Associations matched the contribution. The initial installment of $200,000 will be made immediately, and the remainder will be paid in annual payments of $200,000. This contribution was made possible in November due to the support …

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NTI Congratulates Inuit on Lancaster Sound Agreement

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today congratulated the Qikiqtani Inuit Association for signing a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Canada on a proposed national marine conservation area called Tallurutiit, also known as Lancaster Sound. The Government of Canada announced the signing of the MOU yesterday in Ottawa. Kaludjak attended the event.
“Inuit in the Baffin region, through the Qikiqtani Inuit …

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Nunavut Tunngavik Saddened by Loss of Leader

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today expressed his deep sadness at the passing of former NTI Board member Thomasie Alikatuktuk. Alikatuktuk passed away last week in Ottawa.
“Thomasie was a kind, compassionate man, well-known for his leadership, traditional knowledge and artistic skills. He was a good friend, and I worked with him for many years. On behalf of our Board and all our staff, I offer my sympathies …

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NTI to Host Annual Year-in-Review Program Live on CBC Radio

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will host its annual Yearin-Review program live on CBC radio on Dec. 3 and 4, 2009 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. EST.
NTI President Paul Kaludjak will participate Dec. 3. First Vice-President James Eetoolook and Vice-President of Finance Raymond Ningeocheak will participate Dec. 4. Both broadcasts will be recorded live on CBC’s Tausunni Program by well-known host Lisa Ipeelie.
The annual Year-in-Review Program gives Beneficiaries the opportunity to call …

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Nunavut Tunngavik Annual General Meeting Closes

The members of the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Annual General Meeting wrapped up their meeting in Iqaluit last week. It was the first time members met since they agreed to reduce their numbers in half during last year’s meeting. NTI President Paul Kaludjak said the new AGM format made for a more efficient meeting.
“I am happy to say that we accomplished the same amount of work and met all of our …

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NTI says GN must work with Inuit to address the issues in the Qanukkanniq Report Card

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice-President, James Eetoolook isn’t surprised by the findings in the Qanukkanniq GN Report Card.
“A lot of the issues and recommendation in the report card are parallel to what we have been saying for years in regards to social issues.” said Eetoolook. “We have heard the same issues when the board of directors holds public meetings and during consultations and research for the annual …

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NTI Opposes US Proposal to Stop World Trade on Polar Bear at CoP

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Vice-President of Finance, Raymond Ningeocheak expressed his opposition to the US proposal to up-list the polar bear from the CITES Appendix II to Appendix I at the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
“NTI does not support the proposal to list the polar bear under CITES Appendix I. The proposal threatens and undermines the polar bear …

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NTI Congratulates Artists of the Cape Dorset Print Shop

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook congratulates the artists of Cape Dorset who have earned the community the title of being Canada’s art capital over the last 50 years.
“I congratulate the artists of Cape Dorset on their achievement. Their work is found all over the world and their work represents us all as Inuit in a positive light.” said Eetoolook.
In 1959 the first cataloged print collection …

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NTI Rebukes Prime Minster Harper on Colonialism

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook expressed his surprise at Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s statement, made at the G20 summit, that Canada “has no history of colonialism.”
“The Prime Minister cannot make such an inaccurate statement that clearly contradicts history. The history of Inuit interaction with the Government of Canada is a study in colonialism.  Our history includes relocations,  residential schools, forced settlements, dog slaughter, no voting right …

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Inuit say Baffin Bay Polar Bear Population is not decreasing

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Vice-President of Finance, Raymond Ningeocheak is calling on the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board not to make a hasty decision on Baffin Bay without full consideration of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Inuit feel that their knowledge is being ignored.
“Hunters are on the land 12 months out of the year and are constantly observing the land and animals on their travels.  Over the last several years, hunters in the Baffin …

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NTI Applauds New Book Connecting Arctic Sovereignty and Implementation of Nunavut Agreement

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook congratulates Professor Michael Byers on the occasion of the launch of his book Who Owns the Arctic? Understanding Sovereignty Disputes in the North. In his book, the international scholar urges the Government of Canada to fully implement the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement as one means of asserting Canada’s full jurisdiction over the Northwest Passage.
“We see this analysis as fully supporting and bolstering …

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President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated meets with Prime Minister of Canada

Paul Kaludjak, President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, stated that he was glad to have met with Prime Minister Harper in Iqaluit last night.
President Kaludjak and Mary Simon, the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami met with Prime Minister Harper and Ministers Aglukaaq and Strahl during the Prime Minister’s Arctic tour.
Kaludjak added that there was agreement at the meeting that more steps had to be taken to improve Inuit economic and social …

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Recognition of Inuit in Arctic Sovereignty Urged

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice President James Eetoolook, today called upon the Government of Canada to recognize the central place of Inuit in Canada’s Arctic.
“Inuit are the Original Peoples of the Arctic. If we were not living here, there would be no Canadian flag flying over the Arctic today,”  Eetoolook said. “Inuit are what brought people from southern Canada up here in the first place,” he added.
“Traders, RCMP, teachers, government …

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NTI launches new Residential School section of website

(Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today announced that NTI has launched a new information section on its website for Nunavummiut affected by Residential School.
“Residential Schools have affected thousands of Inuit, both directly and indirectly,” said President Paul Kaludjak. “NTI is pleased to launch a clear and accessible directory specifically for Inuit seeking the information and support they need to begin or continue healing themselves and their families. …

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NTI to celebrate efforts to finalize the World’s First Bowhead Sanctuary in Nunavut

(July 16, 2009 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak today announced that a community celebration will take place in Clyde
River on August 6, 2009. The celebration will mark one year of successful implementation of the Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement (IIBA), for the future Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area.
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement obligates the Government of Canada to negotiate an IIBA with Inuit for the designation of any …

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Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Government of Nunavut Announce Kakiniit Grants Program Recipients

(July 9, 2009 – Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak and Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak today announced the names of the successful recipients of the annual Kakiniit Grants Program. The program awards funds to Beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) seeking to improve their cultural and academic skills.
This year there were six successful applicants who will receive funds to continue their studies in cultural and academic …

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Inuit Celebrate Nunavut Official Language Act Obtaining Parliamentary Concurrence

(June 12, 2009 – Iqaluit) The Senate of Canada unanimously passed the Nunavut Official Languages Act after much debate in Ottawa on June 11, 2009. The Act needed concurrence from Parliament as per section 38 of the Nunavut Act.
NTI President Paul Kaludjak stated, “This is truly a historic moment. The Inuit Language is now considered an official language of Canada within the jurisdiction of the Nunavut Territory. We, as Inuit, …

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NTI Urges Canada to strongly oppose EU seal ban

(May 6, 2009 – Rankin Inlet, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Vice-President of Finance, Raymond Ningeocheak, was shocked to learn that European Union Parliament passed the first reading of the ban on the import of seal products.
“Although we braced ourselves for the worse , the ban still comes as a shock. It seems that a decision of this magnitude should be based on facts and not moral …

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NTI Announces Creation of Monuments to Commemorate High Arctic Relocations

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. 1st Vice-President James Eetoolook today announced that NTI has commissioned the creation of two monuments ­­- one in Resolute Bay and one in Grise Fiord – to commemorate the sacrifices made by Inuit relocated to these communities in 1953 and 1955. Two of Nunavut’s leading carvers have been commissioned to create these monuments: Simeonie Amagoalik of Resolute Bay and Looty Pijimani of Grise Fiord. The …

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Discussion Paper Released to Engage Nunavummiut on Development of Suicide Prevention Strategy

IQALUIT, Nunavut (April 14, 2009) – Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit (Embrace Life Council) and the Government of Nunavut today released a discussion paper entitled Using knowledge and experience as a foundation for action: A discussion paper on suicide prevention in Nunavut.  The discussion paper is the first step in gathering feedback and input from Nunavummiut on what should be included in …

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Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Accepting Applications for Kakiniit Grants

(April 9, 2009 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is now accepting applications for the 2009 Kakiniit Grants. This program was launched by NTI and the Government of Nunavut in 2007 to encourage and assist students with their cultural and academic education.
The grants program awards $1,000 to five students seeking to improve their cultural or traditional skills and $1,000 to five students enrolled in academic training at a post-secondary institution. …

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NTI Announces 2008 Photo of the Year Contest Winner

(April 6, 2009 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Paul Kaludjak announced today that Niore Iqalukjuak of Arctic Bay won NTI’s 2008 Photo of the Year Contest.  Iqalukjuak won $1,000 in prize money and an enlarged copy of his photograph after a selection committee composed of NTI employees judged the 2008 winners of the Photo of the Month Contest. This is the second time Iqalukjuak has won this contest.
Nathanael …

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NTI Responds to Mandate of Third Legislative Assembly

On the 10th anniversary of the creation of our territory, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. welcomes Tamapta: Building Our Future Together, the new mandate of the Third Legislative Assembly.
NTI President Paul Kaludjak was very pleased with the government’s mandate, in particular, its commitment to full implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. This was further emphasized today by Premier Aariak in the Assembly.
“I was delighted to hear the government will be …

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NTI brings Inuit voice to National Polar Bear Roundtable

(January 19, 2009 ) Representatives from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. delivered a clear message at last week’s National Polar Bear Roundtable: do not underestimate the accuracy of Inuit traditional knowledge or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) when dealing with issues surrounding the polar bear.
Raymond Ningeocheak, Vice-President of Finance, and Gabriel Nirlungayuk, Director of Wildlife, were among the Inuit representatives from NTI that joined scientists, environmentalists and government officials, including federal Environment Minister Jim …

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