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AROUND NUNAVUT: Pangnirtung's Rita Claire Mike-Murphy named emerging talent, food centre receives $3000, and films galore at visitor's centre

This week, the multi-talented Rita Claire Mike-Murphy is recognized for her work on children's TV series Anaana's Tent, as she prepares to release a new album, the Qajuqturvik Food Centre receives a $3000 donation, and the visitor's centre continues to feature important films about Inuit and the land.

Pang actress receives emerging talent award

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung 

What do Rita Claire Mike-Murphy of Pangnirtung and a Canadian icon of children's television have in common?

Both will be honoured at the Youth Media Alliance gala May 29 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto.

Mike-Murphy will receive the Emerging Talent Award for her work on Anaana's Tent.

Host of Anaana's Tent Rita Claire Mike-Murphy, seen here with her friend Qimmiq performed by puppeteer Ippiksaut Friesen, will receive the Emerging Talent Award from the Youth Media Alliance for her work on Anaana's Tent, an Inuktitut television program, which also has an English version, for two- to five-year-olds.
photo courtesy Taqqut Productions Inc.

"In her leading television role, Rita Claire Mike-Murphy is delighting children as host of Anaana's Tent, an educational and bilingual preschool series on APTN that teaches Inuktitut, the language spoken by the majority of Inuit in Nunavut, to the next generation of Canadian children," states the Youth Media Alliance.

Fred Penner, who has performed at the 2014 Alianait Festival, is receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award for his decades of dedication to children via his CDs, concerts, videos, books and television programming.

Mike-Murphy, also known as the singer Riit, is currently finishing up an album.

Catch her newest single Qaumajuapik here.

 

New partnership signed, with bonus contribution to food centre

Iqaluit/Mary River

A new partnership and service contract between Arctic Co-operatives Ltd., Chrono Aviation and Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. was made official April 2 at Iqaluit Qajuqturvik Food Centre.

The Iqaluit Qajuqturvik Food Centre's Wade Thorhaug accepts a $3000 donation from Chrono Aviation president Vincent Gagnon, vice-president of stakeholder relations for Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. Duane Wilson and Baffinland president Brian Penney April 2 at the official signing of a new partnership and service contract between the three entities. photo courtesy Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.

"Local co-operatives work together in a business model where everybody shares in one another's success," said Arctic Co-op's vice-president of stakeholder relations Duane Wilson.

"By choosing the Co-op system, Baffinland is ensuring that ordinary people in communities share in the benefits of the Mary River Project."

Baffinland president Brian Penney said Arctic Co-ops'  "unique structure and ability to give back directly to communities is in line with Baffinland's commitment to deliver benefits to the North Baffin communities and all Nunavummiut."

But the initial big winner was the food centre, which offers daily meal service for those in need in the capital. The centre depends largely on donations, as well as funding from government and other agencies.

During the event, Arctic Co-op announced it was donating $1,000 to the food centre, while Chrono and Baffinland each matched that figure, bringing the donation to $3,000.

 

Catch a film, or a literary performance, at the Unikkaarvik Visitor’s Centre

Iqaluit

The visitor's centre in Iqaluit has an exciting line up in April.

A National Film Board double bill April 11 sees the screening of Land of the Long Day and People of the Ice. The first film features Joseph Idlout and his family in 1952, with Idlout recounting his experiences. Idlout became known as the "most famous Inuk" of his time.

People of the Ice, scheduled to screen April 11, is one of several films showing at the Unikkaarvik Visitor's Centre this month.
photo courtesy National Film Board

Featuring Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Meeka Mike, Joshua Kango, Jamesee Mike, Namomai Ashoona and Qovianatoliaq Tapaungai, the 2003 People Of The Ice is a documentary exploring the threat of global warming to the Arctic environment and the challenges and adaptations that Inuit face due to it.

Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World – the Nunavut episodes screens April 18. The documentary, hosted by actor Billy Connolly, sees him travel the Northwest Passage, with stops in Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Iglulik, Pond Inlet, Beechey Island and Gjoa Haven.

April 25th's showing, The White Dawn, is a 1970s Hollywood feature based on the novel by James Houston and stars Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Timothy Bottoms and Louis Gossett Jr.. Filmed on location in Iqaluit, this is a story about three sailors who are moored in the Arctic and welcomed by an Inuit village.

Finally, nestled between films, on April 16, Wayne Johnston returns to Iqaluit after a 20-year absence to share how the area had a formative impact on his life. A librarian, Johnston worked for the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board between 1997 and 2001 to develop a wildlife management resource centre. He explores the relationship between place and memory through writing and drawing.

Events at the Unikkaarvik Visitor's Centre begin at 7:30 p.m.