HALUU IQALUKTUUTIAMIT. INUIN NAMMAINNAQTUT. HIKUIKMAN QAJAKTULIKMIJUN AHIAKMUN. NAUTIATLU PINNIQHIJUN NUNAMI. TUKTUHIULIQTUTLU INUIN QUANA IILA. IQALIQIVAKTUTLU PIFFILIUHUTIKLU. AUDLALUGAAKTUT INUIN. INUHAATLU HAVALUGAAKTUT QUANA. ENIKNIGIIT HULILUGAAKTUT. APKUTIT HANAKIJAUVANGMATA IHUAKHIJUK PIHURIAMI. HIURAINNAQ ILANNAVJAKTUK QUANAA. AUJAMI INUIN AUDLAJUKKAMIK NUTKAJUITTUT. ILANI UUNAKPAKTUK HILA. ANURILIGAAGNAT ALIANAQ. NUTAQQAT ULAPQIVINGMIITPAKTUT MUNAQTAUVAKTUT QUANA UPLUMAAT. UMIAQJUAT TIKIQATAKNIALIQMIJUT QILAMINNUAQ AKJAKHUTIK TAMAJANIKLU NIQIHANIKLU NIUVIKVIMUN. NAMMAINNAQTUT INUIN HAMANI. QUVIAHUKTURUT IQALUKTUUTIAMI INUHAAT ULAPQILIAKHIMAJUT. UUKTUKHUTIK AKHUT. QINIQPAKLUGIT ILATIT NUATQATITLU NUTAQQATLU. ILANI AJUNGNAHIVAKTUQ AKHUUKPAKLUHI. IHUMALUKPALAAQHIMAITTUMIK. UPAKPAKLUGIT ENIKNIGIIT PULAAKLUHILU. NAAMMAKPAKLUHI. HALUUQQUGUT INUNGNUN HIMILIKIAK.
A year later, on the Pope’s visit to Nunavut, here he is meeting with a few Inuit residential school survivors from Nunavut. As you hear the silent cries of Our Elders, it’s a quiet, very emotional moment, as Pope Francis gets seated on a specially made sealskin chair, to apologize on behalf of the vatican. A most powerful moment for us survivors.
Welcome to the land of the Inuinnait, on Victoria Island, just busy in Cambridge Bay.
Many residents are busy in the summer season out boating, caribou hunting, fishing and staying at their cabins. It has been so exciting the hunters are harvesting caribou for their families and the community. Elders have been happy being able to have fresh harvest of arctic char, trout, seal and fresh caribou.
This time of year is so busy for our community stocking up for the winter, and today we are able to keep fresh country food in freezers. Many Inuit still carry on the tradition of sharing their harvest with their Elders, community and families. It is most grateful to be able to share country food especially for those that are unable to harvest and head out on the land and ocean.
It is the happiest times of the year in the spring and summer when families are busy out on the land, it is so relaxing and healing to be out on the land, just like our Ancestors lived. It was meant to be, and for many years and years to come for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and for generations on and on to carry on this culture with the most beautiful land we live in. Quana everyone for sharing good food from the land. I am always forever thankful and happiest when my grandson Felix brings home fresh country food for his grandmother. Quana Akana Heik.
“In this place, I want to tell you how very sorry I am and to ask for forgiveness for the evil perpetrated by not a few Catholics, who, in these schools, contributed to the policies of cultural assimilation.” “I was reminded of the testimony of an Elder who spoke of the beautiful spirit that reigned in Indigenous families before the advent of the residential school system.” (Pope Francis’s apology.)
It has been one year now since the Pope’s visit to Nunavut to issue an apology to residential school survivors and for those children who never made it home. Many Elders from across Nunavut and survivors gathered in Iqaluit to witness this historic event. Let us remember this while meeting the Pope in Nunavut, and how brave our Elders and survivors were and to hear those words in person. Let us heal and move on. The four Inuit that were allowed to give their testimonies directly to Pope Francis in a private meeting with survivors spoke of the abuses that happened at the hands of Catholic priests and nuns, and asked for justice.
God Be With You Son. Your son is out doing what he likes best, being out on the land. And your grandchild Jade Simone Tonokahak is most beautiful. We love her.
ᑐᖓᓱᒋᑦᑎ ᐃᓄᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓄᑦ, ᕕᑭᑦᓕᓂᕐᓂ, ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑑᑎᐊᖅ ᓯᓚᑖᓂᑦᑎᐊᖅ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ. ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕈᓘᔭᖃᑕᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᒥᐊᖅᑐᖅᖢᑎᒃ, ᑐᑦᑐᓯᖅᖢᑎᑦ, ᐃᖃᓪᓕᐊᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᒡᓗᕋᓛᕐᒥᓂ ᑲᔾᔭᐅᓴᒃᑐᑦ.
ᐱᑯᓇᑲᑕᒃᑐᖅ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒃᑏᑦ ᐊᖑᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᑐᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᐅᖃᐃᑲᑕᖕᒪᑕ ᐃᓚᒥᓄᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᒥᐅᓄᓪᓗ. ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᑲᑕᒃᐳᑦ ᓄᑖᖅᓱᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐃᖃᓗᒃᑐᑲᑕᒃᑲᒥᒃ, ᓇᑦᑎᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᒃᑐᓂᒃ. ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕋᒍᑎᓐᓂ ᐱᓕᕆᕈᓘᔭᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᖁᐊᑯᕕᒃᐳᑦ ᑕᑕᑎᖅᖢᑎᒍᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᒃᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑕ, ᖁᐊᑯᕕᑦᑎᑦᑎᓃᑎᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᑕᓗ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ. ᐅᓄᑦᑐ ᓱᓕ ᐅᒃᐱᕈᓱᑦᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᖁᓯᕕᓂᐊᓂᑦ ᐊᖑᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᖅᓴᐃᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᒌᖕᓄᑦ.
ᐱᑯᓇᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖕᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᑐᓂᓯᔪᓐᓇᖅᖢᓂ ᓂᕿᓂᒃ, ᐱᔪᑎᖃᖏᑦᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒍᓐᓇᐅᑎᓂᑦ ᑕᐅᑯᓄᖓ, ᐳᐱᕐᖓᖅᓵᖅ ᐊᐅᔭᕐᓗ ᐊᓕᐊᓇᓛᖑᕗᖅ ᐃᓚᒋᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒋᑲᑕᕈᓘᔭᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᒃ ᓄᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᒥ, ᓯᕗᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᑎᑐᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᐃᑦᑕᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ, ᐊᒥᓱᓄᑦ ᐊᕌᒍᒐᓴᖕᓄᑦ ᐱᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕐᓗᑎᒍᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖁᓯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᐃᓐᓄᑦᑎᓐᓂ ᑲᔾᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᒥ. ᖁᐊᓇ ᑭᓇᓕᒪᖅ ᑐᓂᖅᓴᐃᓲᖅ ᐊᖑᑕᒥᓂᒃ. ᐅᐱᒍᓱᒃᐸᒃᐳᖓ ᐃᙳᑕᕋ ᕕᓕᒃᓯ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᐅᔾᔨᒑᖓᒥ ᓄᑖᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᒃ ᓂᕿᓂᑦ ᐊᓈᓴᑦᐊᕐᒥᓄᑦ. ᖁᐊᓇ ᐊᑲᓇ Hᐃᒃ.
‘ᑕᒪᓂ ᒪᓇ ᓄᓇᒥ, ᒪᒥᐊᓂᖃᖅᓯᒪᕗᖓ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᐱᕆᓂᓪᓗᖓ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔪᓐᓇᐃᕐᕕᐅᔪᒪᓪᓗᖓ ᓵᑕᓇᓯ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕐᓘᑎᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ, ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᑰᖏᑦᑐᖅ, ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ, ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒦᖃᑕᐅᓚᖅᑐᑦ, ᐱᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑐᐃᓇᓱᒃᖢᑎᒃ ᐱᖁᓯᕐᒥᒃ.’ ‘ᐃᖃᐃᓯᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᐊᓂᕐᓂᖅᑕᖃᕐᒪᑦ ᑲᒪᔪᒥᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖃᑦᑕᖅᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᐱᒋᐊᓚᐅᖏᑎᓪᓗᒍ.’ (ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᕋᐱᐅᑉ ᒪᒥᐊᔪᑎᖓ.)
ᐊᓂᒍᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᕌᐱᒃ ᐅᒡᓚᖅᓯᒪᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒧᑦ ᒪᒥᐊᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅᖢᓂ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᑎᖐᓇᖅᓯᒪᓂᑯᓄᑦ ᐊᖏᕋᒥᓄᑦ. ᐊᒥᓱᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᑦ ᐃᓂᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᑲᑎᓐᓂᖃᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᓖᓚᐅᖅᐳᑦ. ᐃᓱᒪᒋᓚᕗᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᕋᐱᒃ ᑕᒪᓂᓂᖓᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ, ᐃᓐᓇᓪᓗ ᓴᙱᓂᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓪᓗ ᑐᓵᔭᕆᐊᖅᓴᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᓱᒃᑯᑦ. ᒪᒥᓴᓕᖅᑕ ᑲᔪᓯᓕᕐᓗᑕᓗ. ᑎᓴᒪᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᓱᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᕋᐱᖕᒥᑦ ᐃᓄᑑᖃᑎᖃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᑕᐃᑯᓄᒐ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒍᓐᓇᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᖃᓄᐃᑕᐅᓂᕆᕙᓚᐅᖅᑕᒥᓄᑦ ᓇᔭᖑᐊᓄᑦ ᐃᒃᓯᕋᕐᔪᐊᓄᓪᓗ, ᐃᐱᒋᔭᐅᔪᒪᓪᓗᑎᒃ.
ᐃᕐᓃᒃ, ᒎᑎ ᐃᓕᖕᓃᖏᓐᓇᕐᓕ. ᐃᕐᓃᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔪᖅ ᐊᔪᖏᑕᒥᓂᒃ, ᓄᓇᐃᓐᓇᕐᒦᓂᕐᒥ. ᐃᕐᖑᑕᐃᓪᓗ ᔭᐃᑦ ᑐᓗᒐᕐᓇ ᐱᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᓪᓗᓂ. ᓇᒡᓕᒋᔭᕗᑦ.