Survival & Guitars

Me holding a guitar. Drawn by one of my guitar students.

Going back to the beginning of the month, the people of Arctic Bay had a little scare: two teens were missing out on the land.  They had gone hunting with their father some fifty kilometres north of Arctic Bay.  The brothers were following their father on skidoo when they became separated on the ice.  Later, the father's skidoo broke down, prompting him to activate his GPS locator.  He was rescued on the morning of Tuesday, March 5th. 

            

The brothers continued towards the southeast, hoping to reach land but their skidoo ran out of gas.  With no GPS locator, radio, or sat phone, the brothers now had to rely on the knowledge and skills they learned from local Elders.  They abandoned their skidoo and walked along the ice.  They made sure not to follow the northern winds but to walk across them in the hope of reaching land.  Forced to overnight on the land, the brothers found a large mound of snow & ice, and slept on the side that was against the wind.  They huddled together to stay warm.  The brothers eventually made it to land and found a cabin with a radio inside.  They were picked up by rescuers later in the day, who had gone out three times looking for the brothers.

            

This whole ordeal was in the spotlight, from beginning to end.  One of the brothers, Jeremy, happened to be one of my students.  The school was kept informed through announcements.  Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief when the announcement came that the two teens were found.  A day or two later, Jeremy was given the opportunity to talk about his experience in Iga's Inuktitut language class.  Even though I couldn't exactly understand what was being said, I got a simple understanding of what happened through body language.  From the look on his face, he was glad to be alive.  The story made the CBC news.  The father and two brothers recovered their skidoos several days later.

As an assignment, Iga's students wrote about the experience and posted it in the high school hallway for everyone to see.

            

Fast forward to the middle of the month, my English students have begun to review the key literary elements with examples from literature and in depth writing activities.  I'm thinking the completion of these worksheets will replace a written test.  The only downside is that the worksheets contain a lot of big words that need to be explained.  We're slowly working through them.

            

Skinned Polar Bear.

In Socials Studies, my students studied the 1970 Coppermine Conference, possibly the most important meeting in Inuit (land claims) history.  Since the late 1800s, the Inuit of Canada's North were subjected to a harsh policy of assimilation by the federal government and Christian missionaries and had little control over their lands & lives.  By the late 1960s, it became clear to them that the only way to ensure the survival and preservation of the Inuit language and culture was to become involved in the political process.  Inspired by the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the United States, young Inuit activists began meeting in communities and established two organizations: ITC (now Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) and the Inuit Eskimo Association (IEA).

            

In 1970, the IEA sponsored a conference in Coppermine (now Kugluktuk), NWT, where delegates from 20 northern communities came together to voice their concerns about problems in the communities and how to take back control of their lives.  My students reviewed a transcript from one of the meetings and the problems discussed were: substandard housing, strict hunting regulations, land being developed without Inuit input, and Aboriginal rights.

 

Arctic Bay rock sign.

A follow up meeting was held in Toronto in February 1971 where the issues raised in Coppermine were stressed and reiterated.  It was interesting to see how the Inuit organized themselves and began making so much 'noise' that the federal government had no choice but to start listening.  It would have been nice to learn about this when I was in high school.  Following the Coppermine lessons, my students will look at Inuit land claims.

            

On Friday, March 15, my guitarists had another tabs test.  They had a choice of playing Johnny Cash or Eminem melodies.  They did very well.  Before the end of the period, we brought our guitars to Jill's Grade 4 class to do a sound demonstration.  Her students are studying sound and she had asked me if my guitarists and I could show how sounds are made on the guitar.  I happily agreed.  One of the activities Jill had prepared for her students was to build guitars out of small boxes, rubber bands, and popsicle sticks.

            

Jill's students are quite an energetic bunch but when I started the demonstration, they quieted down really quickly.  Was I like that when I was in Grade 4?  I started by explaining the parts of the guitar and how the strings are organized.  After plucking a few notes for them to hear the differences in pitch, I played several tunes for them (Mission Impossible, Smoke On The Water, & the James Bond Theme).  I then let my students come up one at a time and play a song or two that they wanted to share.  The Grade 4s really enjoyed it.  They now had an idea of what their guitars needed to sound like.

            

Speaking of guitars, my students have started an afterschool guitar club of sorts at the beginning of March.  For an hour after school, I let the high school students come in and jam on the guitars.  I just make sure they know not horse around with them and pluck on the strings too hard.       

            

Despite the town of Arctic Bay being surrounded by high hills and cliffs, it is prone to adverse weather.  There is fog now and then but a blizzard can also strike.  One blizzard happened on March 20 in the afternoon.  Cadets was cancelled that evening and the wind almost knocked me over when I was walking home.  It reminded me of the blizzards in Iqaluit.

            

And finally, I prepared a dinner meal for myself on March 25 with the Arctic Char I bought.  It was quite an eye opening experience; I wasn't expecting so much blood when I was cleaning it.  I made sure to thaw it out for 3 days before getting to work.  Looking at the dead fish before me, I whispered, "Mamianaq, (Sorry)," before slitting it open with my butcher knife.  (I have been told that Inuit hunters would shout this word before killing a seal(s) with their harpoon(s)).  I felt like a butcher . . . and a surgeon. 

            

After cutting off a few slices, I cooked them on an open frying pan for a few minutes.  I also had rice on the side.  The meal was delicious but there was a lot of cleaning up to do.  I placed the rest of the fish in Ziploc bags and put them back in the fridge.  I would be eating char for the next several days.  

Recess Duty & Parent Teacher Interviews

Arctic Char.

The weekend of March 2 - 3 ended with the purchase of a large frozen Arctic Char fish from an Inuit local for $20.  Compared to how much it would cost down south (maybe double?), this was a good deal.  He was the same person from whom I bought bannock for $2 a piece at the Northern Store.  Just like in Iqaluit, if you're Qallunaaq, local Inuit artists, hunters, or residents who have something to sell will approach you to make a deal.  You can accept or politely decline.  With a large fish in my possession, I now had to figure out how to clean and prepare it.  Thankfully, there is plenty of information on the Internet and I can ask a local resident.

            

Inuujaq School hosted a Scholastic Book Fair on February 28, and March 1 & 8.  The book fair was also open to the public from 3:30 - 5pm.  The event was organized & coordinated by Amber, a Student Support Teacher.  Scholastic shipped a limited amount of books, posters, games, and learning kits, but also provided catalogues and order forms.  Shipping to and from Arctic Bay was covered by Scholastic.  The books ranged from preschool to young adult.  The posters were of comic book heroes, teen music artists, and film actors.  During the school day, students who wanted to make purchases and/or submit orders were escorted down to the library by their teachers.  Mail orders would take about a month to arrive.  The book fair was a success, bringing in around $1300.  Amber was pleased by the turnout and delighted that the school didn't have to cover any shipping costs.     

            

Morning Clouds. March 8, 2013

For the week of March 4 - 8, several Inuit teachers & I had morning and afternoon recess duty.  Teachers are assigned recess duties for an entire week rather than a day per week. For twenty minutes a day, my main task was to supervise the high school students, making sure they didn't smoke too close to the building, and keep the younger grades from coming over to the high school wing.  My other task was to make sure everyone got along.  What made my first recess duty week more interesting was that I was the only Qallunaaq teacher on duty.  I was essentially, the 'Token White Guy'.

            

Me in my Canada Goose Parka.

It was nice to get outside for some fresh air rather than spending the ten minutes photocopying in the main office.  But, it was unfortunate to see the vast majority of high school students smoking.  The price of cigarettes is around $20 a pack.  It was shocking to hear them talk about Inuit kids as young as 9 beginning to smoke.  I had several debates with students as to why they should quit, the most obvious reasons being: you live longer and you save a lot of money every year. 

            

Even though ten minutes is not a lot of time, the elementary students enjoy every minute of it, playing on the school's two play structures.  Some use pieces of cardboard as toboggans to slide down a nearby mound.  There were even a few snowball fights (no one was injured).  Overall, my recess duties were not as hard as I thought they would be and I was glad the high school students helped me improve my Inuktitut vocabulary.

            

Inuktiturunnaqsivalliajunga.  (I am learning to speak Inuktitut).

            

The morning of Sunday, March 10 was one of slight tension because it was time for a haircut.  I'm normally calm but this time I would be cutting my own hair.  Arctic Bay does not have a hair salon but there are locals who cut hair for a fee.  Wanting to save money, I stood in front of the mirror with the electric razor I received from a friend in Iqaluit.  When it comes to cutting my hair, it's like mowing a lawn.  I go for an army buzz cut.  Easy to maintain and you don't have to worry about getting head lice.  As for sideburns, I cut them as well.  To make a long story short (pun intended), I was satisfied with the end result and only had to sweep all the hair off the floor. 

King George V Mountain. March 13, 2013

Wednesday, March 13 was one of my toughest days yet because the afternoon was dominated by parent-teacher interviews (2 - 6pm).  Midterm report cards were also handed out that day.  I was expecting to see the parents / guardians of all my students, but only saw four.  There was one parent who required a translator because she did not know English.  I explained how their child was doing in my class regarding class work, attendance, participation, and attitude. 

            

There were two moments when I was waiting for parents that I spotted and photographed a convoy of ten snowmobiles driving across the frozen bay.  The first time they were driving to the industrial area to pickup gas.  The second time they were heading in the opposite direction.  Even though they weren't dragging any qamutiks (sleds), I assumed they were heading out on a land trip.  My assumption turned out to be correct because they were Canadian Rangers, going out on another patrol of the surrounding area.

Canadian Rangers Convoy.

Back From P.I.

The Arctic Sun - February 28, 2013.

Teachers and students returned to Inuujaq School on February 25, after the conclusion of Professional Improvement (PI) Week.  I knew several high school students would be happy with the continuation of the semester because they had been bored for the last week, or so they told me.  As for me, I liked having a week off from teaching but now I needed a break from learning Inuktitut.  So much new information had been crammed into my head that my brain needed time to process it all.  I started by using the weekend of the 23 & 24 to prepare lessons and my classroom for the upcoming week.  The teachers who were out of town for PI had to prepare their lessons before they left. 

            

Mishak, my Inuktitut instructor, helped me write two motivational quotes for me to post in my classroom:

            

Sapilingilutit ilinniarniqmik - (Don't give up on learning), and

            

Iqianngungillutit ilinniarvigmik - (Don't get tired of school).

            

As I explained in a previous post, everyone knows what everyone else is doing in a small town.  So, it was no surprise for me to hear that the entire student body knew that I had been learning Inuktitut for the past week.  The high school students decided to put me to the test.

"Qanuippit? (How are you?)" they would ask.

            

"Qanuinngittunga. (I'm fine)," I would reply.  "Ivvilli? (And you?)"

            

"Qanuinngittunga," they answered.  I did receive some other responses, such as, "Uirngaqtunga (I am sleepy)", "Niaqungujunga (I have a headache.)", and "Aamai (I don't know)."

            

I also made sure to say "Qauppattauq (See you tomorrow.)" when I dismissed my students. 

            

In English, we continued looking at short stories that addressed the most important literary elements (plot, setting, characters, etc) in depth, and worked on answering questions with full sentences.  The only challenge my students faced is using prepositions.  On a positive note, my students were gaining more confidence in reading out loud.

            

For Social Studies, I decided to take a break from the Staking The Claim Unit, and have my students look at the Idle No More Movement.  Idle No More is an ongoing Aboriginal protest movement, (spearheaded by First Nations), that was started by four activists in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Nina Wilson, Sheelah Mclean, Sylvia McAdam, and Jessica Gordon were showing their displeasure and drawing the public's attention to Bill C-45, a large omnibus bill introduced by the current Conservative federal government.  They felt that the bill would seriously weaken environmental protection laws, Aboriginal communities (ie. reserves), Aboriginal treaties, and lead to more resources exploitation. 

            

Word quickly spread through social media resulting in teach-ins, sit ins, rallies, and flash mob in cities across Canada.  Idle No More protesters even blocked CN railway lines and major highways.  International media outlets picked up the story leading to solidarity protests in the United States, Sweden, Britain, Germany, and New Zealand.  The movement is now being used to address all Canadian Aboriginal concerns: Third World living conditions on reserves, the cancellation of the Kelowna Accords, the former residential school system, and not supporting Aboriginal interests. 

            

The Inuit have expressed solidarity towards the Idle No More movement and even held several rallies in Iqaluit.  Despite the settling of land claims across the north, there are still many Inuit issues that require the federal government's attention: high cost of living, mental health, education, job creation, and infrastructure.  These views were echoed by my students.  I hoped the federal government and Nunavut territorial government were listening.

            

In guitar class, we reviewed the basic guitar chords, worked on a few classic rock riffs, and looked at the national anthem "O Canada".  Since my guitarists did a really good job of following instructions and learning the required repertoire, I rewarded them by letting them watch the movie School of Rock on Friday (March 1).

            

Water delivery.

On Wednesday, February 27, the teaching staff had an after school meeting to discuss PI Week.  Each teacher took a minute to explain what activity they completed and how it has made them a better instructor.  Teachers spoke of doing crafts, sewing, jewelry, badminton, and making kamiks.  When it was my turn, I explained how I learned Inuktitut and was now picking up the root words.  I had to throw in an apology because I couldn't do the entire explanation in Inuktitut.  "Ilippaliajunga (I am learning)," I reassured the Inuit staff.     

            

Since it was the first week back from PI, the pace was slow.  'Vacations' always go by faster.  Every second Friday, there is a staff get together in the staff room where snacks are served by a group of teachers.  There are several rotating groups, and my group just happened to be assigned Friday, March 1.  I didn't have time to prepare something like several teachers did, but I did go over to the Northern Store and bought two shrimp rings and two small bags of Babybel cheese.  The other teachers in my group served bannock, crackers, chocolates, and vegetables & dip.  By the end, there was nothing left.  My group received many thanks from staff.

Morning Sun - March 2, 2013

Air rifle pellets.

Wednesday is not the only day the army cadets of 3045 have training.  There are also weekend activities to keep them busy.  For the last several weeks, Saturday was reserved for air rifle shooting in the morning and sports in the afternoon.  I had been 'voluntold' (military term) to help supervise the morning shoot on Saturday, March 2.

            

Barb, the community's social worker, picked me up in the early morning and drove us to Inuujaq School.  3045 Army uses the school's gym for indoor training.  The sun was shining brightly over the frozen bay.  Just across the street, a water truck was refilling a house's water tank.  Cadets arrived at 9:30am and set up the rifle range with targets, mats, tables, scopes, safety goggles, and signal flags (red - live firing; green - stand down).  The Daisy Air Rifles were carefully removed from the secured storage locker and carefully placed on the mats. 

            

Me firing from standing position.

The air rifles are single bolt action and fire very small metallic pellets at around 490 feet per second.  They are always pointed down range.  For each relay, cadets fired ten pellets and shot either in prone or standing positions.  At the end of each relay, the rifles were cleared & secured before cadets recovered their targets.  Barb examined the targets with a transparent chart and wrote down the scores.  I got a chance to participate in the last relay but I had to fire while standing.  I can't remember the last time I had fired the Daisy but I know it wasn't in standing position.  When I was a cadet, I usually fired in prone.  Reviewing my targets after the relay, I concluded that I did alright for firing in standing position.

Everything was packed up and put away by 11:30am.  The cadets broke for lunch and Barb dropped me off at my residence.  

PI Week

Learning Inuktitut from Mishak Allurut.
Picture taken by Iga Muckpa.

Professional Improvement (PI) Week - sometimes referred to as Professional Development (PD) Week - takes place during the third week of February, giving teachers a mandatory opportunity to complete activities that will benefit them professionally.  Students get a week off to relax or catch up on any work they've missed.  Last year, the Nunavut Teachers Association (NTA) held a territorial wide PI conference in Iqaluit.  Teachers from all the communities participated in a variety of classes.  I happened to be teaching at Inuksuk High School at the time (you can read about my experiences here: Part 1 & Part 2).

            

This year, PI (February 18 - 22) was done individually by teachers.  You could stay in your community, travel to another, or even travel outside the territory.  Before you can go ahead with your activity, an application needs to be submitted to the NTA for approval and funding.  At the end of PI Week, you have to submit a brief report, explaining what you learned and how it made you a better prepared teacher.

            

In my case, I was staying in Arctic Bay to learn Inuktitut since it is the language of choice in the community.  I wanted to be able to have basic conversations with Inuit teachers & students.  I had learnt some Inuktitut at last year's PI Conference in Iqaluit but never had the chance to use it because English is predominantly spoken in Nunavut's capital.

            

Most of the non-Inuit teachers were travelling down to Iqaluit to take part in jewelry and badminton workshops.  The Inuit teachers of Inuujaq School were staying in town to learn sewing, skinning, and making traditional clothes from local Elders.

            

The Inuit language is spoken from Alaska to Greenland and encompasses six main dialects: Inupiaq (northern Alaska), Inuvialuktun (northern Northwest Territories), Innuinnaqtun (western Nunavut), Inuktitut (Nunavut and Nunavik), Inutut (northern Labrador), and Kalaallisut (Greenland).  But it doesn't stop there.  The main dialects can be broken down into smaller dialects.  For example, all the Inuktitut dialects can be grouped into 9 main categories:  Inuinnaqtun, Natsilingmiut, Aivilingmiut, Kivallirmiut, Paallirmiut, Aggurmiut (North Baffin Island), Qikiqtaaluup kanannanga (Central Baffin Island), Uqqurmiut (South Baffin Island), and Sanikiluarmiut.  The people of Arctic Bay follow the Aggurmiut dialect.  Although there exist many dialects, communication between fluent speakers is not much of a problem despite slightly different vocabularies and pronunciations.

            

My Inuktitut instructor was Mishak Allurut, a local resident who works for the Hamlet office and as a freelance translator.  He was recommended to me by the principal.  For the lessons, we used three resources: Workplace Dialogues: Igloolik Version (loaned by the principal), Inuktitut Essentials, and Pocket Inuktitut: A Phrasebook for Nearly All Occasions.  We mostly focused on the Workplace Dialogues book because it was specifically designed for beginners.  The lessons with Mishak were intensive, from 9:30am to 4:30pm, with breaks and lunch.  

            

We started with a review of Inuktitut syllabics.  The Inuktitut writing system became standardized in 1976, thanks to the efforts of the Inuit Cultural Institute (ICI).  Two forms exist: roman orthography (using the Latin alphabet) and syllabics.  There are only three pure vowels: i (ee), u (oo), and a (ah).  As for consonants, there is p, t, k, g, m, n, s/h, l, j, v, r, q, ng, and ł.  For non-native speakers, the r, q, and ł sounds are the hardest to pronounce.  From there we moved on to basic words, greetings, and place names. 

Examples:

ii - yes

aakka - no

qujannamiik - thank you

ilaali - you're welcome

mamianaq - sorry

ullakkut - good morning

unnusakkut - good afternoon

unnukkut - good evening

ulluqattiarit - enjoy the (whole) day

kinauvit? - what's your name?

Mishak also taught me some very useful words and phrases that I could use in the classroom, such as:

uqallaktunga - I am speaking

uaittiaruait - One moment please.

angirraunnaqsijuq - Time to go home.

sapilingilutit - Don't give up.

iqqummalaurit! - Wake up!

uqallangillutit - No talking.

(I had to severely limit the amount of examples I could share, because I learned so much Inuktitut that I could write a separate blog.  Because of this, I encourage you to research Inuktitut online).

The lessons grew more challenging with each passing day.  There were noun endings, verbs, conjugations in past/present/future, numbers, days of the week, identifying items, and of course, how to carry a conversation.  I recorded as much as I could and completed all the writing activities in the Workplace Dialogues book.  I completed the writing activities using roman orthography.  There wasn't enough time to learn to write in syllabics.             

Health Centre

There were many things I found interesting about the Inuktitut language.  First, there were words that sounded the same in Ukrainian but meant something different.  Several examples made me laugh because they would be considered rude and/or awkward.  Secondly, Inuktitut is a non-sexist language meaning there are no distinctions between he/she/it.  Thirdly, there are 48 words that describe various appearances of snow!  (Aput is the general term).  Fourth, the Inuit do not name bodies of water; they are named according to the piece of land they touch.  And lastly, how words and phrases are constructed.

Mishak explained that Arctic Bay's Inuktitut name is Ikpiarjuk, meaning portage or "the land that is a short travel to the other side."  The 'other side' is Victor Bay.  'Pocket' is a second, but less accurate meaning of Ikpiarjuk. 

Inuktitut is one of those languages where words can be quite long.  The root word is placed at the beginning and everything else (time, action, possession, etc) is added on, like putting Lego blocks together.  Mishak explained that Inuit play a game by challenging opponents to create the longest possible Inuktitut word.  As a demonstration, he came up with:

            

Taimailauqsimajutuqaluulauqsimajututqalujuuiniuliq&uaiaasit,

            

which means:

            

"It is like that, and it has been like that for a long time, not knowing that it was happening all along, again."

            

Sometimes during our breaks, Mishak would talk about how the Inuit lived out on the land and what life was like growing up.  I found all of this quite intriguing because it gave me a more in depth and personal look at how the Inuit were able to survive and persevere in a harsh and unforgiving environment.   

            

On the last day of PI Week (February 22), the Inuit teachers were having a traditional celebratory lunch in the staff room.  On the floor, raw Arctic Char and narwhal lay on pieces of cardboard.  There were also other appetizers on nearby tables.  I was the only Qallunaat in the room.  Not bothered by this, I sat on the floor next to Iga who asked if I wanted Arctic Char.  "Ii," I replied.  As she handed me a small piece, an Inuit Elder sitting on a nearby couch asked me, "Inuktituusuunguviit? (Do you speak Inuktitut?)"

            

Silence filled the room and all eyes were on me.  I gathered enough courage and answered, "Inuktiturunnaqsivalliajunga. (I am learning to speak Inuktitut)."  Everyone was impressed by my response.  I enjoyed eating raw Arctic Char but skipped the narwhal; my body still needed time to get used to the smell.   

            

After the celebratory lunch, I thank Mishak for teaching me Inuktitut and assured him that I would do my best to use it and not to forget it.  He thanked me for giving him the opportunity and wished me all the best with my teaching career.

            

In the end, I had a really fun time learning the local language.  I learned the core basics in just five days.  There's still more to cover but right now, I need to strengthen the basics.  Inuktitut is a fun language.  I even have a favourite word: aullaqsimajuq ((S)he's out of the town).  It's my favourite because it sounds like a Ukrainian last name.

King George V Mountain - February 21, 2013

Diamond Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain ascended to the throne in 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI.  At the time, the British Empire was in its final days, going through a period of decolonisation.  When she was officially crowned on June 2, 1953, she became queen regnant over Britain, her oversea territories/colonies, and seven independent commonwealth states.  Today, she is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states and head of the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations.  The year of 2012 marked the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne.

            

I have always wondered why 60 is the diamond anniversary?  According to my research, it began during the British reign of Queen Victoria.  At the time, British citizens were not pleased that she had withdrew from public life after the death of her husband in 1861.  This prompted the moving of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to the 60th anniversary in 1897.  Originally, a Diamond Jubilee celebrates a 75th anniversary.

            

For the entire 2012 year, celebrations were held throughout the Commonwealth.  As an added bonus, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games were staged in London.  To commemorate the occasion, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was created.  Three versions exist: one for the United Kingdom (Britain), one for Canada, and one for the commonwealth nations in the Caribbean.  The Canadian version of the medal "honours significant contributions and achievements by Canadians."  Sixty thousand citizens and permanent residents would receive the medal.  Three of them from Arctic Bay.

            

The Diamond Jubilee Medal Ceremony took place at the Community Hall on the evening of February 18th.  This was the event that the cadets of 3045 Army had been preparing for.  Unfortunately, the special guest wasn't the Queen but Edna Elias, the Commissioner of Nunavut.  A Commissioner is similar to a provincial Lieutenant Governor.  She was touring the northern communities to award Diamond Jubilee medals to selected recipients and Arctic Bay was her last stop.  I had previously met and had breakfast with her while I was teaching in Iqaluit.

            

Community Hall setup

On the afternoon of the 18th, Commissioner Edna Elias and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ron Elliott were touring Inuujaq School.  No regular classes were taking place because it was Professional Improvement (PI) Week.  However, there were teachers taking part in PI classes.  I happened to be learning Inuktitut in my classroom (more on this in a future post). 

            

The Commissioner was surprised to see me in Arctic Bay and wanted to know what brought me here.  I explained that I recently completed my teaching contract in Iqaluit and was looking for ways to stay in the north.  Luckily a teaching position had opened up in Arctic Bay.  I was surprised that Ron Elliott knew of my recent arrival to the community, but he later explained that he was informed through cadets because he also volunteers at 3045 Army.  Before they left, the Commissioner and MLA wished me all the best in my new teaching position and hoped to see me at the ceremony. 

            

Cadets on Parade.

I arrived at the Community Hall at around 6:45pm, wearing formal attire and armed with my new digital camera (Nikon Coolpix S9300).  Rows of silver foldout chairs, organized into two rectangles, sat in the middle of the hall.  At the front hung the flags of Nunavut and the Queen.  To the right, a line of tables were set up for an after-ceremony reception.  By 7:10, the hall was packed with people.  I was able to snap a quick photo of the large cake that was specifically prepared for the occasion.

           

Lt. F. May (Mayor) and Geela
Arnauyumayuq (Deputy Mayor).

The ceremony began at 7:10, just after the cadets of 3045 Army took their positions to the left of the podium.  Everyone stood for the arrival of Commissioner Elias, MLA Elliot, and Lieutenant Frank May (Mayor of Arctic Bay).  They were escorted to the front by a member of the RCMP and two senior cadets from 3045.  Everyone remained standing for the playing of the national anthem ('O Canada') and the opening prayer.  When the opening prayer was finished, everyone took their seats.  Opening remarks were made in English and Inuktitut.

            

Cadet J. Olayuk poses with Commissioner
Edna Elias.

Commissioner Elias was given the opportunity to inspect the cadets on parade.  While people snapped photographs, she spoke to every cadet on parade.  After completing the inspection, Elias addressed the cadets and complimented them for their dress, drill, and deportment.  Several cadets were then called upon to receive promotions and awards, presented by Commissioner Elias and Lt. May.  The biathlon team recently competed in the Northern Stage III Biathlon Championship in Whitehorse, Yukon (Feb 9-10) and one cadet, Jesse Olayuk, won a junior gold medal.

            

RCMP Officer, Commissioner Edna Elias, Qaapik Attagutsiaq, Piuyuq Enoogoo, and Lt. Frank May

Cutting the cake.

The ceremony continued with the awarding of the Diamond Jubilee Medals.  The recipients were Piuyuq Enoogoo, the vice-principal of Inuujaq School, and Qaapik Attagutsiaq, a respected Elder.  Lt. May received his medal in April 2012.  There was an extended applause and a lot of cheering from the audience as the two recipients received their medals and certificates.  I did my best to snap perfect photos of them holding their certificates and cutting the large cake with the Commissioner.  After photos were taken, the ceremony concluded, and everyone was free to attend the reception.  There was bannock, tea, coffee, juice, and of course, cake.

            

Commissioner Edna Elias addresses
the audience.

I approached Commissioner Elias after the ceremony to personally thank her for presenting the awards and successfully completing her walk for breast cancer research.  Last year in May, she and five of her female friends walked from Umingmaktok to Cambridge Bay, a distance of 250 kilometres, to raise $70,000 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.  She and her friends walked around 22km a day and were looked after by a support team on snowmobiles.  Elias added that they surpassed their goal and raised around $90,000.    

             

Several minutes before 8:30pm, people began moving chairs to the side, creating an open area in the middle of the hall.  The hall was being prepared for an evening square dance.  Not wanting to be pushed onto the dance floor by my students, I quietly made my exit.