Game on!
Rankin Inlet
Hockey madness hit a fever pitch as 10 teams squared-off for the full-body-contact Polar Bear Plate midget-juvenile championship from Feb. 15-18 in Rankin Inlet.
The tourney featured play in two divisions with Rankin Inlet, the Arctic Winter Games midget squad Team Nunavut, Arviat, Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet competing in the North Division and Iqaluit, Coral Harbour, Naujaat, the Rankin Rock midget team and Baker Lake butting heads in the South Division.
Final results at the tournament were not known as of press time.
Inquiry visits Rankin
Rankin Inlet
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) is holding its community hearing in Rankin Inlet this week from Feb. 20-22 at the Siniktarvik Hotel from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The MMIWG's mandate is to examine and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S people in Canada by looking at patterns and underlying factors.
The mandate also includes examining institutional practices and policies implemented in response to violence experienced by indigenous women and girls, including police investigation practices and responses, as part of this public investigation.
The commissioners will hear all stories of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, survivors of violence, and LGBTQ2S individuals who have experienced violence, including those instances where death may have been ruled accidental or a suicide, or was classified as undetermined.
Appeal heard on Kivalliq Hall
Rankin Inlet/Kivalliq
Crown lawyer Cynthia Dickens appeared in the Nunavut Court of Appeal on Feb. 13 to represent the federal government in its appeal of a 2016 decision that classified Kivalliq Hall in Rankin Inlet as a residential school under the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
The feds are arguing Canada was not responsible for the hostel's operations in Rankin from 1985 to 1995, or the children who stayed there, meaning it does not meet the criteria necessary to be included under the residential schools settlement agreement.
Under the original 2016 ruling, students who boarded at Kivalliq Hall during its decade of operation would be able to claim compensation from the federal government under the settlement agreement.
Three judges heard the federal argument. No date has been set for their decision.
Coast Guard interviews begin
Rankin Inlet
Interviews began for positions at the Canadian Coast Guard's inshore rescue boat station in Rankin Inlet this past week.
The station will be operated by indigenous students from Arctic communities.
The youths will initially be under the leadership of an experienced Coast Guard officer.
The initial training for selected applicants will include Canada's national search-and-rescue system, search patterns, boat handling, marine first aid and radio communication.