While Nunavut Day is two months away, this weekend marked a perhaps more important anniversary for the territory.
As of April 1, itSA国际影视传媒檚 been 20 years since the first day a person in this territory walked outside their doors as a resident of Nunavut.
Twenty years ago, Richard Tiktak told Kivalliq News the realization of what was about to happen occurred to him the night before, during a snowmobile rally and parade in Rankin Inlet to celebrate the birth of the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淚 started to feel last night like weSA国际影视传媒檙e finally going to get the chance to govern ourselves,SA国际影视传媒� said Tiktak.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l have our own voice, the voice of our own people.SA国际影视传媒�
Traditional games, a community feast and snowmobile races took place in Coral Harbour. Fireworks lit up the sky in Chesterfield Inlet.
Naujaat, then Repulse Bay, kicked off celebrations with a snowmobile parade.
While Whale Cove celebrated, Arviat raised the flag and picked its first Mr. and Mrs. Nunavut. Baker Lake held a carnival and launched fireworks as well.
Then-youngster Alex Angidlik told Kivalliq News heSA国际影视传媒檇 always remember the day.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy because itSA国际影视传媒檚 now our land,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The significance of that is huge, not only in the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 own young history but in that of the country.
The Nunavut Land Claim Agreement, now called the Nunavut Agreement, was the largest Indigenous land claim settlement in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 history, with the greatest number of beneficiaries.
As Indigenous peoples around the country began to rise up and demand the fulfilment of old promises and obligations on the part of the Crown, the idea of self-government also gained particular prominence.
Several Inuit SA国际影视传媒� including John Amagoalik, Eric Tagoona, Peter Ittinuar, Zebedee Nungak and many others SA国际影视传媒� worked hard for years to hammer out the NLCA.
While Kivalliq News couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 arrange an interview by press time with Piita Irniq, the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 second commissioner of Nunavut, he told Nunavut News he sees the last 20 years as a success.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have graduated about 10 Inuit lawyers. We have graduated more Inuit in the medical field, such as nurses. We have graduated a young Inuk surgeon from Igluligaarjuk (Chesterfield Inlet),SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat is a big achievement for a young territory.SA国际影视传媒�
Looking forward, a few Kivalliq residents named one particular project theySA国际影视传媒檇 like to see accomplished in the next 20 years: a road from Manitoba to the region.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 one project that should be aimed for,SA国际影视传媒� said Unainak Lorraine Kablutsiak. SA国际影视传媒淚t would drastically lower the cost of food and necessities. It would also open doors to taking real vacations for everyone that live up here.
SA国际影视传媒淢ost donSA国际影视传媒檛 take vacations because of the high airline transportation costs.SA国际影视传媒�
Alex Tunalaaq suggested the link could be a winter road.
Last year, the federal government rejected a proposal to begin developing a road between the province and territory, but the discussion over it has been ongoing for years and is certainly still alive.
Beyond the enormity of the project SA国际影视传媒� 1,200 kilometres through the tundra SA国际影视传媒� some residents have concerns with what it could bring in.
Natasha Angajaaq Tattuinee suggested that such a road could increase bootlegging into the territory.
Michelle MallaSA国际影视传媒檚 vision for the next 20 years had to do with a different sort of link SA国际影视传媒� the one between people in the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淚n the next 20 years here in Nunavut, my vision is to see Inuit girls and women supporting each other,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲omen power. Imagine girls and women understanding and respecting each other.
SA国际影视传媒淚magine confident girls and women everywhere working towards the same common goal which is to make our territory strong in the belief of getting more role models for the generation that is yet to come.SA国际影视传媒�
Kaila Anawak-Gamble says there is lots of work to be done.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping for nothing but the best for our future generations SA国际影视传媒� updated housing units, elders facilities in each community, no open pit mines as itSA国际影视传媒檚 ruining our lands, our catches and our waters,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd I hope our children learn freedom of speech but also keep our language strong.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒� with files from
Michele LeTourneau