It was only 60 years ago that people began to settle in Whale Cove, recently enough that some of the hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 first inhabitants are still alive to recount the story of its origin. The community is one of several towns the federal government created through forced relocations beginning in the 1920s.

Although its origins were built out of tragedy, today Whale Cove is a tight-knit community that is known for having hockey teams that travel hundreds of kilometres by Ski-Doo to play in tournaments. It also has one of the lowest suicide rates in the territory.

In February 2019 Kivalliq News editor Cody Punter and Suzie Napayok-Short travelled to Whale Cove to record oral histories of six residents. We will be publishing those interviews, which include two of the community's first inhabitants, one of whom unfortunately passed away last year.

These are the Words From Whale Cove...

EditorSA国际影视传媒檚 note: A version of this story appeared in the Summer 2019 issue of The Walrus.

Molly Okalik

My Inuktitut name is Ijakak. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 my grandmaSA国际影视传媒檚 name. That was my dadSA国际影视传媒檚 mom. And ISA国际影视传媒檓 named after the late Uluqsit. My mom had a dream about him in which he said he wanted me to be named after him.

Growing up in Whale Cove, there was always a fishing derby, and that was one thing we would always look forward to. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 one place we would go every year and never had luck, but weSA国际影视传媒檇 go there anyways because my dadSA国际影视传媒檚 the driver.

I started a family really young, and I had two of my kids when I finished high school. They were my motivation. Like, SA国际影视传媒淚 have to do this for them and continue to get an education so I can provide for them.SA国际影视传媒�

I was pregnant when I was in college in Iqaluit. I took at least a week off of school after giving birth. Luckily, my instructors didnSA国际影视传媒檛 mind me taking my baby to class. But I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 focus, so I left her at home and finished. And it was pretty hard. I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 get the certificate, but I finished.

A few years later, I went back to college, this time in Rankin Inlet. Moving to a different community SA国际影视传媒� a whole different environment, a bigger place SA国际影视传媒� it took a while for me to get used to it, but I did.

When I finished, I had no job or housing. I had no choice but to move back to Whale Cove. I got a full-time job as recreation coordinator.

I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 think I was going to get a job again in a small community, especially full time. And after two years of living in your own home, in your own space, and moving back to your momSA国际影视传媒檚 house, your parentsSA国际影视传媒� house, that was tough.

When I was in school still, I used to be involved in sports. Soccer was my favourite growing up. Back then we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have anyone willing to put in the effort with fundraising and getting a team to tournaments.

Since I started my job, itSA国际影视传媒檚 helped me want to fundraise for all the other kids: soccer, basketball, hockey, all those other sports.

This winter, I helped put together the girlsSA国际影视传媒� soccer team that competed in the U-15 territorial soccer tournament

I had received an email about the territorial tournament happening in Rankin. I talked to one of the teachers, and I told her, SA国际影视传媒淲e should get a team going.SA国际影视传媒�

So we put out a poster saying thereSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be tryouts, and then we got a team. My little sister Diana was their coach.

And we told the players, SA国际影视传媒淵ou guys are going to have to help us fundraise, you guys are going to have to attend practices and make sure youSA国际影视传媒檙e 100 per cent into it.SA国际影视传媒�

It was kind of hard at the beginning but once it got closer they were pumped up and they were running bake sales, penny sales, bingo, movie nights.

Our gold-medal game in Rankin, that was intense for us, because we were losing 1-0. But then one of the Iqaluit players did something to one of our girls in the goalie crease. That was a penalty shot, and we tied the game.

From there, the team got pumped. The time was up, so we went to a shootout. The first shot went to Iqaluit, and the shooter missed.

And then it was one of our girls, and she scored. Then the whole team ran to her, and the ref started whistling and saying, SA国际影视传媒淵ou guys didnSA国际影视传媒檛 win yet, you guys didnSA国际影视传媒檛 win yet.SA国际影视传媒�

And then Iqaluit shot again, and it hit the post and never went in. Then it was our turn again. It was either Adina or Macy SA国际影视传媒� one of them shot, it went in. Then the ref whistled three times, and then we started jumping. Everyone started cheering. It was probably the best feeling ever.

'Something to be very proud of'

The community was very, very happy for the girls, because theySA国际影视传媒檙e so young, all under 15, and for a small community to beat a city SA国际影视传媒攂ecause Iqaluit is considered a city, a bigger community SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 something to be very proud of for us small communities.

I know living in a small community can become really hard and dark when youSA国际影视传媒檙e growing up. Sports are an escape, especially in small communities SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檙e an escape from whatever people are going through.

There are more opportunities for these kids, and I can tell they need to be seen, and they have more to life than just living here and being stuck in a small community.

I know itSA国际影视传媒檚 home, but as a young person you want to explore, get outside of your bubble, what youSA国际影视传媒檙e used to. Home will never move anywhere. YouSA国际影视传媒檒l eventually have time to go home and visit family.

And me thinking of my kids all the time, I want my kids to experience growing up in a city or in a different community, to have more opportunities that I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have growing up here.

I think it would be a huge change for them. They would have to adapt to that.

ISA国际影视传媒檝e lived in Nunavut all my life and never had the opportunity. I want my kids to know our traditions, because that is how we have survived. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 harsh sometimes living in the North, but you still survive. You learn to adapt to your surroundings and a new lifestyle.