This is the third part of a series of stories looking at Pangnirtung Fisheries and how it's helping the community by providing jobs and developing the economy.

"Pangnirtung Fisheries is an important industry to Nunavut, providing a valuable source of income for the community," said Nunavut MP Lori Idlout in a statement to Nunavut News. SA国际影视传媒淭he fishery has an aging processing plant that needs infrastructure improvements, and we need to review the quotas to support the community.SA国际影视传媒�

Hamlet councillor Julai Alikatuktuk is the secretary/treasurer for the fishery and has been with the company since 2018. He serves many roles in the community, including running the fishing gear store in town, a recent development.

He also oversees Fishers Diversification Development Fundings, which he said is related to purchasing fishing gear.

"[Fishermen] apply at the GN office, when they get approved, I provide the tools for fishing," he said.

In his capacity as councillor, Alikatuktuk gets reports from the every month regarding call activity and he's been noticing a trend whenever fishing happens.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen the fishery activity goes on, the number of calls go down for the ," he said. "Trying to keep everyone busy, is less busy. Each month, they get about 130 calls. When the fishing activity starts, their calls start to go down to 70 calls.SA国际影视传媒�

Nancy Aniniliak, a member of the fishery's board, said around 100 people are hired for what is a very short season,SA国际影视传媒�

"This has been ongoing for many years now, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 downsides to everything," she said. "Climate change has impacts to how the fishing will be for the season. Every year weSA国际影视传媒檙e experiencing late ice freezing in the Cumberland Sound, so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a big impact on many of the fishermen. If itSA国际影视传媒檚 late for one or two months, it makes a big difference."

The length of the season is important in terms of employment insurance (EI), which many fishermen depend on during the months of the year the fishery is closed.

Alikatuktuk said the fishery wants to create secondary industries, like dehydrating and smoking traditional foods, to provide employment year-round.

"This is seasonal right now and the workers are just trying to work seasonally and get enough to go on EI,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

"Our main goal is just creating work and building the company that way, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to benefit the community: by providing employment and training for locals,SA国际影视传媒� added Brittany MacLellan, the fishery's executive manager.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 much rather be on the waterSA国际影视传媒�

Being able to work in the community doing something they love is important to people like Tommy Nakashuk, who supports his family of six by fishing with his wife as a helper.

SA国际影视传媒淓ver since I can remember, I was helping my dad with fishing,SA国际影视传媒� says Nakashuk, who the day before brought in 2,000 lbs. of fish himself. SA国际影视传媒淚 myself hate working in town. ISA国际影视传媒檇 much rather be out on the water. ISA国际影视传媒檇 never want to move anywhere.SA国际影视传媒�

As someone in the community entirely dependent on feeding his family with his fishing and hunting skills, Nakashuk said the fishing quota established by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) needs to be higher. 

He said there's frustration with the local fishermen who cannot fish enough to survive while simultaneously knowing that in the waters they have grown up in, there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 a danger of over-fishing.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can see both sides,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t is what it is. Whatever they say, we have to do, even if we donSA国际影视传媒檛 agree with it.SA国际影视传媒�

He added that whenever government representatives are asked to come see for themselves the realities of the situation in the fishing water and deal with the situation head on, they seem to be too busy.

NakashukSA国际影视传媒檚 sentiments are echoed by Simeonie Keenainak, chairman of PangnirtungSA国际影视传媒檚 Hunters and Trappers Organization. He was born out on the land in the 1950s and has spent his life in PangnirtungSA国际影视传媒檚 waters and tundra ever since.

He, like Nakashuk, describes SA国际影视传媒渨atching and learningSA国际影视传媒� how to fish from other Inuit men and said the quota established by DFO is based on inaccurate assessments in Ottawa.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檇 like to make our own quota,SA国际影视传媒� says Keenainak. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 what we know - nature, and it always finds a way. It seems like anything worth money, [the government] wants to control. I feel like a child. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 fish if we donSA国际影视传媒檛 need it. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 part of our culture. They think we always want to overkill, but we donSA国际影视传媒檛.SA国际影视传媒�

Keenainak also said the entire community benefits from fishing.

SA国际影视传媒淸Hunting and fishing] gives us a bit of food to live with, a little bit of income to pay our bills," he said. "But itSA国际影视传媒檚 changed quite a bit from what I remember. We used to be able to Ski-doo in July. Now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 early May [when snow melts]. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 have control [over the weather], but we have to learn to adapt. To adapt to global warming.SA国际影视传媒�