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Grateful for an apology

HALLU INUIN. KANURITPIHI. NAMAKPIAKTURUT IKALUKTUTIAMI. KUVIAHUGVIK TIKKILIKMAT KILAMINNUAK. IPAKHANINIUVIKTITTIYUT ILIHAKVIKMI.

PINNIKTUNIK NIUVIKTUKHANIK QUANA. IIGAYUTLU MAMMAKPIAKTUT. MUKPAUYALIUKTUTLU . AITTUHIAKHANIKLU TUNIYUKHANIK ALIANAK. MIKHANIKLU NIUVIKTUKHANIK PINNIKPIAKTUTLU. ALIANAK IILA. NUTAKKAT HUMANGNIITTUT. NAGUYUT. TAKHIHAINNAKPAKTUK KILAMINNUAK. HIKINIK KULVAKPAKTUK ILANI. KANNIINNAKHUNI NUNA PINNIKHIVAKTUKLU. TUKTUHIULIKPAKTUT IKALIKIVAKTUTLU KUVYAKILIKTUTLU INUIN. ULAPKIYUKHAT KATIMANIAKMIYUT HAMLATKUNI. TAPKOAT IKAYUGUMAYUT ILAIGINNAGIALIK. QUANA INUIN IKAYUGUMAYUT. UPLAKINIAKTUT DESEMPA 15-31 ILIHAKVIKMI ANGNIYUK ULAPKIVIANI. NAMAKLUHI. AKHUKPAKLUHILU. AYUKNAK ILANI. PIKPAGIYAUYUHI. PUIGUKTAILUGU.

Hello from the wintery white land of snow and ice on the island. We have so much snow this year, and it has made our land so beautiful. With the last of the sun till New Year's, the warmer weather has brought some icy conditions in town and when I am flying over the Arctic Ocean to mainland Canada, you can see bits of open water. These are signs of climate change I believe. When you sit and listen to the stories of our elders about weather, it has really changed.

Enjoy the longer days with limited daylight now and look forward to Christmas with your families and friends. Christmas is coming and our best friend will come to see us even if we are naughty or nice.

The community of Cambridge Bay has already begun celebrating the season of Christmas, with an annual Christmas bazaar held on Saturday, Nov. 18, with many good ideas for gifts, presents, and lots of yummy food, homemade baked goods, and so much more. Everyone looks forward to the annual event, which has been going on now for many, many years, and with the famous Arctic char antipasto made by the Ohokannoak family, the beautiful handicrafts made by elders and their families. Cambridge Bay's annual Christmas bazaar will always get bigger and more popular as each year goes by.

There is also a committee set up to help plan the Christmas games which will be held Dec. 15-31. Most events will be held at the Kiilinik High School gymnasium, but watch for announcements and notices around town. Volunteers are always needed and meetings are being held at the hamlet council chambers Thursday, Nov. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 14. For further information, please contact the Recreation Director Fred Muise at the hamlet office.

Quana to the Government of Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for acknowledging and apologizing to the residential school survivors of Labradorimiut and Newfoundland, Nunatsiavut. I was honoured to witness this event in Goose Bay, Labrador on Friday, Nov. 24. More than 10 years ago I was legal assistant with lawyer Steven Cooper and partners, who took this important task of getting the Inuit of Labradorimiut to receive compensation for attending residential schools in that province. It was a very emotional time for our fellow Inuit of Labradorimiut, and for our elders who waited long enough to be included in the apology that the rest of Canada received a few years back. Prime Minister Trudeau gave a speech with Toby Obed on his side to accept the apology on behalf of his people, the Labradorimiut.

I will always continue to help my people, Mom taught me that.

God be with you son, forever in our hearts.