Family dance keeps residents moving
After popular demand from youth and parents alike, Inuvik’s Children First Society hosted its first Family Dance in more than two years at the community hall in the Midnight Sun Complex on March 1. “It was so popular. Everybody was asking when we would do it again. We tried to get a date last year...
The many projects of the 2019 Learning Fair (Photo Feature)
More than 150 students in grades 4, 5 and 6 from East Three Elementary School displayed their Learning Fair projects in the school’s gym for peers, teachers, parents and judges to see. The Fair consisted of life, heritage and science projects, where students shared information on their family’s history, their favourite hockey players, slime creation...
Annual Learning Fair broadens students’ interests
East Three Elementary School hosted its annual Learning Fair on Feb. 26, with 154 students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 displaying their projects in the gym for peers, teachers, parents and judges to see. The fair was a mix of life, heritage and science projects. Students displayed bristol boards pasted with images and information on...
Show people what they’re drinking
When I went to Inuvik’s Community Healthy Living Fair on Feb. 21, I stopped by a booth that was warning Northern residents about the negative side effects high sugar consumption has on youth and their teeth. Adama Stevens, the regional dental therapist stationed at the booth, showed me a clear plastic cup that contained around...
Inuit reps give Heritage earful on Indigenous Language Act
Representatives for Inuktut speakers of the country gave the Canadian Heritage committee an earful this week about the government legislation to revitalize and protect Indigenous languages. Natan Obed Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation CEO Duane Ningaqsiq Smith echoed sentiments of independent MP Hunter Tootoo that there are no assurances Bill...
Team NT sees some success at Canada Winter Games
(Updated 12:17 p.m. Wednesday) They did what they had to do and thanks to a bit of help from Prince Edward Island, Team NT’s girls hockey team will get a chance to play with the big guns. The girls defeated Yukon on Tuesday by a score of 7-1 for their second straight win at the...
Music producer hopes to teach Inuvik how to create
A local music producer is looking to share his love and knowledge of creating music with community members by hosting a series of music production classes in the summer. Adam Kovacs, known online as “Beaufort Beats”, said he got the idea to teach music production after receiving a number of technical questions from Inuvik residents,...
Week two gets underway at Canada Winter Games for Team NT and Nunavut
And so begins another week of the North’s best and brightest doing their thing at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta. Week two officially got underway on Feb. 24 with three sports in action involving Team NT; Nunavut wasn’t in action. The boys and girls curling rinks took on Saskatchewan in the morning...
Youth skate night continues to be a hit
Every Friday from 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm, Inuvik youth are given exclusive access to free ice time at the Roy “Sugloo” Ipana Arena in the Midnight Sun Complex, all thanks to the Inuvik Youth Centre’s skate program. Matthew Skinner, the centre coordinator for the Inuvik Youth Centre, created the program last October to allow...
UPDATE: Public heath advisory issued after passenger with measles flew to Inuvik
The acting chief public health officer has issued an update to the measles public health advisory released on Friday. The laboratory-confirmed case of measles involved an individual who travelled to Inuvik from an international destination by airplane. The Department of Health and Social Services is now warning anyone who visited the following locations during the...
Inuvik health fair promotes colon cancer screening
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority hosted Inuvik’s fourth annual Community Healthy Living Fair at the Midnight Sun Complex on Feb. 21, with a special focus on promoting colorectal cancer screening for those aged 50 years and older. Dr. Matt Quinn, a local family doctor and regional public health officer, had set up...
Public health advisory issued for measles
The acting chief public health officer has issued a public health advisory on a confirmed case of measles in the territory. “This case involves an individual who travelled from an international destination to Inuvik by airplane,” states the advisory issued just shortly after 8 p.m. on Feb. 22. “The journey returning to Inuvik took them...
Youth Centre receives funding for outdoor basketball court
The Inuvik Youth Centre got a boost for its proposed outdoor basketball court Feb. 19, as 100 People Who Care Inuvik chose to devote $3,200 to the project during its quarterly meeting at the Midnight Sun Complex. Inuvik Youth Centre coordinator Matthew Skinner made the presentation. “We have an indoor basketball net at the centre and...
Limited food vendors means limited cultural diversity
On a good day, you can expect to see at least 10 to 20 different vendors at an Arctic Market event. While some come with arts and crafts, many bring with them traditional country foods from around the region, or dishes from countries such as India or the Philippines. The wide variety of foods the...
Team NT and Nunavut schedule: Day 6
Here’s what Team NT and Nunavut will be up to on Day 6 of the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., on Wednesday. All times MST Table Tennis 9:00 a.m. Girls singles placement round (continuing all day) 10:30 a.m. Boys singles placement round (continuing all day) Hockey 12:30 p.m. Nunavut vs. Newfoundland and Labrador...
Inuvik’s fruit man contemplates retirement
After 33 years of delivering fresh produce and dry goods to Inuvik residents, the town’s “fruit man” said his aging body is warning him that he doesn’t have much gas left in the tank. “I made a living. My daughter’s through university. I make my payments all the time. It’s just that my body is...
IRC hosts 31st annual Native Hockey Tournament
The 31st annual Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) Native Hockey Tournament wrapped up on Feb. 17, with 190 players from communities across the Beaufort Delta Region participating in the event at Inuvik’s Midnight Sun Complex. “It’s the best time of the weekend. There’s good hockey, everyone comes to visit and you get to see old friends,”...
Inuvik project wins $500,000 prize
An Inuvik-based project that will create an association of Northern Indigenous artists from across the Beaufort Delta Region to help support their work and their businesses was one of three ideas awarded $500,000 at the Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) awards in Whitehorse on Feb. 12. The project, titled “Traditional Techniques Tweaked to Galvanize Indigenous Northern...
Legislation change limits Arctic Market participation
Local food vendors are being forced to limit their Arctic Market appearances after a recent change in the interpretation of a food permit legislation has reduced the number of days they are allowed to set up shop. The change in the understanding of the temporary food establishment permit came into effect on Jan. 1, when...
Team NT and Nunavut schedule: Day 5
Here’s what Nunavut and Team NT will be up to on Day 5 of the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., on Feb. 19: Table Tennis 9:00 a.m. Mixed doubles – Team NT vs. Yukon 9:30 a.m. Mixed doubles – Nunavut vs. Newfoundland and Labrador 10:30 a.m. Boys doubles – Team NT vs. Nunavut...
Team NT and Nunavut schedule: Day 4
Here’s what Team NT and Nunavut will be up to on Day 4 at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta. All times MST Hockey 9:00 a.m. Nunavut vs. Prince Edward Island 4 p.m. Nunavut vs. Team NT Table Tennis 9:00 a.m. Boys and girls singles matches begin Speedskating 9:10 a.m., 10:18 a.m. and...
Team NT and Nunavut schedule: Day 3
Here’s what Team NT and Nunavut will be up to on Day 3 of the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., on Sunday: All times MST Hockey 9:00 a.m. Team NT vs. Prince Edward Island Nunavut vs. Yukon 7:30 p.m. Nunavut vs. Newfoundland and Labrador Team NT vs. Yukon Table Tennis 9:00 a.m. Boys...
Record-breaking numbers at 18th annual Gwich’in Cup Tournament
The annual Gwich’in Cup Tournament continues to be a huge sporting event for minor league hockey players in the Beaufort Delta region, as a record breaking 225 youth participated in this year’s tournament, improving on last year’s 211. “I think it’s working, that kids are enjoying it. I think there’s an element of inclusivity that...
Music teacher prepares for album release
After two-and-a-half years of reimagining, rewriting and recording, local folk artist Abe Drennan is ready to release his album by the end of April. “I had high hopes in the beginning. I was all gung-ho. I thought I was going to be done in three months. When I realized the songs weren’t ready, it kind...
Gwich’in Wellness Camp to be converted into a cultural retreat
The Gwich’in Tribal Council is in the early planning stages of converting its Wellness Camp into a “cultural experiential retreat” in order to increase tourist attraction to the region by offering more authentic cultural experiences to visitors. Joy O’Neill, the economic development officer for the Gwich’in Tribal Council, announced at an Inuvik tourism stakeholders committee...
Inuvik Ski Club seeks community support
The Inuvik Ski Club is calling on members of the community to step up and help restore the club as it continues to struggle with a lack of volunteers and board members. Holly Jones, the club’s volunteer program coordinator, said that there are currently five volunteers who sit on the club’s board of directors, but...
Inuvik youth get their curl on
The Inuvik Curling Club hosted its second annual Rockstar Festival for junior curlers at the Midnight Sun Complex on Feb. 3, with youth from the ages of five to nine competing for a trophy that stood six feet tall. For many of the 35 budding curlers, it was their first time playing the game. “We...
Jeremy Dutcher brings music to the North
In an effort to showcase more art to smaller communities in the North, Jeremy Dutcher, a composer and vocal artist from the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, teamed up with the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in Yellowknife to add cities such as Inuvik and its neighbouring towns to his touring list. “It’s my...
Inuvik resident shares $100,000 jackpot with others
Georgina Firth thought her eyes were playing tricks on her when her scratch card told her that she had a winning ticket of $10,000. After scanning the ticket at Inuvik’s RX Drug Mart, it turns out her eyes had indeed deceived her – she had actually won $100,000. “I said ‘gee-whiz, no way!’ I’m still...
Potential tax on sugar-sweetened drinks met with controversy in Inuvik
Inuvik residents were not so sweet in their responses to a potential tax on sugar-sweetened drinks during a public consultation hosted at the Mackenzie Hotel by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) on Jan. 28. “For me, an added tax to the already high costs of living in Inuvik – and the cost of...