Four Hall Beach men were given the grim task of digging up and moving human remains in 1968.
Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk holds the federal government accountable for giving the orders to relocate an estimated 20 graves to make way for housing. Kaernerk, like Hall BeachSA国际影视传媒檚 MLAs before him, is demanding compensation for the incident. What the settlement would entail hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 yet been determined SA国际影视传媒� it could involve cash and/or a ceremony, he suggested. He said the claim would largely be left up to the sole surviving widow as the four men who dug the graves SA国际影视传媒� Isaac Nangmalik, Moses Allianak, Simeonie Kaernerk and Moses Ulluapak SA国际影视传媒� and all of their other spouses have since perished.
One of the gravediggers, Simeonie Kaernerk, was Joelie KaernerkSA国际影视传媒檚 father. While talking about the details of the grisly historic circumstances, the Amittuq MLA occasionally paused and his voice became tinged with emotion.
SA国际影视传媒淲e still have scars,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淢y late mom would always clean my dadSA国际影视传媒檚 clothing. They had to strip their clothing outside the house because they had too much blood and the smell of a carcassSA国际影视传媒� they had to wash outside before theySA国际影视传媒檇 go in the house. Just imagine.SA国际影视传媒�
Some of the bodies were those of babies wrapped in blankets, said Kaernerk. They were moved approximately 50 metres to a new cemetery.
SA国际影视传媒淪till today itSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of emotional. I mean, they SA国际影视传媒榬e long gone but it still resurfaces,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that the men never received any compensation in their lifetimes.
Kaernerk wrote a letter to Carolyn Bennett, minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, in October. He pointed out that the Qikiqtani Truth Commission, which also researched the slaughter of Inuit working dogs, has documented the relocation of Hall Beach graves.
BennettSA国际影视传媒檚 office responded in April.
As a member of the Qikiqtani Truth CommissionSA国际影视传媒檚 Saimaqatiingniq Working Group, we will be working together with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and other stakeholders to continue finding ways to support and implement the Qikiqtani Truth CommissionSA国际影视传媒檚 recommendations while advancing reconciliation,SA国际影视传媒� BennettSA国际影视传媒檚 brief letter states in part, and promises further contact in the future.
Kaernerk submitted the correspondence in NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 legislative assembly in June. He hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 heard anything further since.
A federal election looms in October and a change of government could bring a setback, if any progress has been made.
SA国际影视传媒淗opefully sheSA国际影视传媒檒l respond soon,SA国际影视传媒� Kaernerk said of Bennett. SA国际影视传媒淲ith this fall election happening, ISA国际影视传媒檓 kind of concerned, but ISA国际影视传媒檓 still going to work on that issue.SA国际影视传媒�
The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations has not respond to Nunavut NewsSA国际影视传媒� questions on this matter.
