Re: Nunavut Festivities

Posted by Rachel on April 04, 1999 at 09:39:18:

In Reply to: Re: Nunavut Festivities posted by Elaine on April 02, 1999 at 21:10:42:

: : : As promised here is another link for Nunavut. The festivities started
: : : last night with fireworks in Iqualuit( formerly Frobisher Bay), the new capital of Nunavut. The Premier of Nunavut, Paul Okalik,is the perfect choice to lead his people.He can relate to them in every way as he experienced many hardships. Among them were: numerous suicides in his family,alcoholism etc. BUT- he was strong enough to turn his life around, finish his education and became the first Inuk lawyer...

: : : Rebecca

: :
: : >>Hi, I was just glancing through your site, and I noticed NUNAVUT being mentioned.
: : I live in Iqaluit, the Capital of this new territory, and it's great to see people from the States etc showing an interest in this truely historic development. I have come across people in Canada who are oblivious of the Nunavut Territory.
: : We should all be standing and cheering for the first North-American aboriginal peoples to finally gain there own homeland and government.!!

: Hi Rachel,

: Let me say 'welcome' & congratulations!!! Please tell us more about Nunavut.

: Elaine

>> I'm not actually Inuit, myself, but I have lived and worked in Nunavut for about 5 years. Both my children were born here, and are true Northerners!!
I love this Region, I appreciate the tolerant and forgiving culture, and the way in which the people here have managed to maintain major aspects of their traditional way of life, whilst incorporating the unavoidable influences of southern Canada into the lifestyle.
The Nunavut Territory is comprised of 3 Regions, Baffin (where I live), Keewatin and Kitikmeot. The Territory basically follows the tree-line, where it ends the territory begins. The Baffin is probably the most traditional of the three regions, the language, Inuktitut, is very prevalent here, even amomgst the young people. There is a clear generational indication of who was around when the language was supressed, as the majority of people between 25 -55 speak English very well, this is not the case with younger people, who speak Inuktitut first, and english second.
Some areas of the Territory are exremely remote, Grise fiord, a town of about 150, is about 4hours by plane away from Iqaluit, never mind the rest of Canada.
There is tremendous political savvy amongst the Inuit, so I know that this territory will do just fine. I feel very priviledged to be living in this part of the world, I attended the Innaugural ceremonies on April 1st, and it was a moving experience, which I will remember for a long time. There is a lot of hope up here, I hope that it will be reproduced in other areas of land-claim negotiation in the near future.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Nunavut Festivities & Happy Easter! Elaine 13:19:34 4/04/99 (0)
• Re: Nunavut Festivities MMMMarcia 09:48:54 4/04/99 (0)

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Comments:
: : : : As promised here is another link for Nunavut. The festivities started
: : : : last night with fireworks in Iqualuit( formerly Frobisher Bay), the new capital of Nunavut. The Premier of Nunavut, Paul Okalik,is the perfect choice to lead his people.He can relate to them in every way as he experienced many hardships. Among them were: numerous suicides in his family,alcoholism etc. BUT- he was strong enough to turn his life around, finish his education and became the first Inuk lawyer...

: : : : Rebecca

: : : 
: : : >>Hi, I was just glancing through your site, and I noticed NUNAVUT being mentioned.
: : : I live in Iqaluit, the Capital of this new territory, and it's great to see people from the States etc showing an interest in this truely historic development. I have come across people in Canada who are oblivious of the Nunavut Territory.
: : : We should all be standing and cheering for the first North-American aboriginal peoples to finally gain there own homeland and government.!!

: : Hi Rachel,

: : Let me say 'welcome' & congratulations!!! Please tell us more about Nunavut.

: : Elaine

: 
: >> I'm not actually Inuit, myself, but I have lived and worked in Nunavut for about 5 years. Both my children were born here, and are true Northerners!!
: I love this Region, I appreciate the tolerant and forgiving culture, and the way in which the people here have managed to maintain major aspects of their traditional way of life, whilst incorporating the unavoidable influences of southern Canada into the lifestyle.
: The Nunavut Territory is comprised of 3 Regions, Baffin (where I live), Keewatin and Kitikmeot. The Territory basically follows the tree-line, where it ends the territory begins. The Baffin is probably the most traditional of the three regions, the language, Inuktitut, is very prevalent here, even amomgst the young people. There is a clear generational indication of who was around when the language was supressed, as the majority of people between 25 -55 speak English very well, this is not the case with younger people, who speak Inuktitut first, and english second.
: Some areas of the Territory are exremely remote, Grise fiord, a town of about 150, is about 4hours by plane away from Iqaluit, never mind the rest of Canada.
: There is tremendous political savvy amongst the Inuit, so I know that this territory will do just fine. I feel very priviledged to be living in this part of the world, I attended the Innaugural ceremonies on April 1st, and it was a moving experience, which I will remember for a long time. There is a lot of hope up here, I hope that it will be reproduced in other areas of land-claim negotiation in the near future.


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