Government of Canada Apologizes for 1953 Relocation of Inuit Families to the High Arctic

INUKJUAK, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 18, 2010) - Today, on behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, apologized for relocating Inuit from Inukjuak and Pond Inlet to Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay in the High Arctic in the 1950s, and for the hardship, suffering and loss they experienced as a result of the relocation.

"The Government of Canada apologizes for having relocated Inuit families and recognizes that the High Arctic Relocation resulted in extreme hardship and suffering for Inuit who were relocated," said Minister Duncan. "We deeply regret the mistakes and broken promises of this dark chapter of our history."

In the 1950s, 19 Inuit families from Inukjuak were relocated by the federal government to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord in the High Arctic. Three families from Pond Inlet were also relocated in order to assist the Inukjuak families with adjustment to the unfamiliar environment. Moved 1200 km from their home community, the relocatees persevered against the odds to build communities in the far North.

The Inukjuak apology is the first in a series of events taking place this year in the North to commemorate the sacrifices made by High Arctic relocatees. The Arctic Exiles Monument Project, led by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) will unveil monuments by Inuit sculptors in Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay in the fall. Minister Duncan will attend these events on behalf of the Government of Canada.

The Government of Canada is committed to renewing and rebuilding its relationship with Inuit across Inuit Nunangat, and to supporting social and economic development in the North as part of the Northern Strategy.

Labrador Inuit community considers going dry after difficult summer

Should Nain be a dry community? - News - The Labradorian

Bike patrollers on Kuujjuaq exchange to head home

Two women from Kuujjuaq are about to head home with strong legs and built-up confidence after a summer spent patrolling Montreal's streets.


The first Inuit women to take part in Sun Youth's summer bike patrol, Sharon Morgan and Manumi Gordon found pedalling the streets of Montreal a little different from the roads back home.


"There's a lot less traffic there," said Gordon, one of about 30 Sun Youth patrollers who provide additional aid to police by providing surveillance on Montreal streets, parks and bike paths.


After adjusting to the increased traffic and warmer temperatures, the young women fit in just fine, said Rob Ravensbergen, a fellow bike patroller.


"They took some adjusting. It's a much busier life here, but they've handled it very gracefully," he said.


The exchange is unique in the cycling program's 23 years of existence, said Sun Youth's Bike Patrol coordinator Marie-Jose Raposa.


"It's our first year of doing this kind of type of project exchange with the Kuujjuaq Kativik community," she said.


Morgan said she's adjusted well.


"At first I was nervous and then I got a bit excited about it," she said, adding that the program has brought her pride, and confidence she intends to take back to her home in Kuujjuaq.

View the CTV Channel 12 News Video at the following link
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100814/mtl_kuuj_bikepatrollers_100810/20100814/?hub=MontrealHome


ctvmontreal.ca

Young Sanikiluaq resident dies in tragic Winnipeg road accident

News Winnipeg
Inuit woman struck down
Visitor dies after being hit by truck

By CHRIS KITCHING, Winnipeg Sun


Relatives of a Nunavut woman killed in a collision in Winnipeg say she dreamed of being a mother and mentored youths in her remote Inuit community.

Louisa Sala, 20, died in a city hospital after she was hit by a pickup truck on Portage Avenue near Strathcona Street in the West End.

Const. Natalie Aitken, a Winnipeg police spokeswoman, said Sala was standing on the road and may have been attempting to flag down a vehicle for a ride.

The young woman’s father was with her and witnessed the collision, her aunt Lucy Sala said.

“He tried to tell her to get off the street but it was too late,” Lucy Sala said by telephone.

A source said police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor.

Sala was a resident of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, a hamlet located on the Belcher Islands in Hudson’s Bay, about 100 km off the coast of Quebec.

She was visiting Winnipeg with her parents and other relatives.

Her parents, through the Kivalliq Inuit Centre in Winnipeg, declined to comment.

Sala tagged along on the trip because she was about to move into her own house in Sanikiluaq and needed supplies, which are cheaper in a big city than in her tiny community, her aunt said.

Lucy Sala said the family flew to Winnipeg on Monday.

She said her niece attended school and worked for the Sanikiluaq municipality at its recreation centre, where she supervised children and activities.

Lucy Sala said her niece’s death occurred at what was a joyous time for the family, as her daughter, who is about the same age as Louisa, gave birth to a child Monday.

“Louisa talked to my daughter about having a baby of her own,” Lucy Sala said.

The eastbound truck which struck Sala stopped at the scene. No charges have been laid.





"Our prayers go out to this girl and her family"

The system has failed many urban inuit

A few months ago I mentioned that I would publish something on this blog about the Inuit experience in Montreal. While there are a large number of success stories , there are others that need our attention. The situation is far worse then any of us can imagine. This is a call to action!


There is a large number of Nunavimmiut and a few Nunavummiut & Labradorimiut that are choosing to move into the Montreal area without knowledge or support of basic needs available to them and are unable to find it according to many I have spoken to. Systematic prejudice amongst landlords and very little support from all forms of government are making the lives of many urban Inuit that have chosen Montreal very difficult and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Last month Nunatsiaq News had an article featuring students that joined an educational program in Montreal's Verdun district that made it look like the program was a success story when in fact a number of students in that very program lack basic funding or government support to survive in the city. The program most certainly has good intentions when we look look at the educational aspect of it but when it comes to the financial needs of some of the students there appear to be weaknesses. One young man featured in the article gets claims he receives only four hundred dollars a month from that program and has recently undergone a life-saving kidney transplant just six months ago. His basic government funding was cut off and he was told to go get proper documentation from emploi-quebec now that he's in good health and has had all of his funding cut off for several months now from the Quebec government's east end Emploi-Quebec office. Basic housing needs for southern inuk without employment are one of the most difficult issues according to many Montreal Nunavimmiut. I have personally agreed to give my name and number as a reference for some folks needing housing and requiring a reference because many landlords don't like to rent apartments to aborignals nowadays and unfortunately many pay the price because of a few party animals in our community. "Yes, racism does exist in 2010 and when you expect the government to do something about it, they're nowhere to be found". The system needs to be revamped when it comes to meeting the needs and demands of the growing number of inuit that have chosen to live in the Montreal area. Without employment or social needs met, I have personally witnessed many people fall into the vicious circle of drugs and alcohol. The least we can do is try to help these people out by giving them basic support in terms of housing or a government assistance every month or even try to get those that need it into a program that will help them out with certain issues they might be running into it. As the system stands right now, people are getting more desperate and unfortunately I have also witnessed many who have turned to bootlegging as a means of survival in Montreal. Remember, the consequences of a total failure to respond to the needs of Nunavimmiut living in the south can have an impact in Nunavik also. The truth hurts sometimes but unless these issues are discussed and unless improvements are done, things will not get better for urban inuk. Action is needed now before it is too late. Maybe 1% of the millions in profits at Xtrata's mine in Raglan can go towards meeting some of the needs of Nunavimmiut living in the south. Let's hope community leaders across Nunavik and Montreal get it right this time. As it stands now, the system does not work for too many of us that have chose life in the city. We should also get the message out that Montreal is perhaps not the right place for somebody unemployed considering a life in the city. There are thankfully some landlords that do not discriminate against others, if you're in need of basic housing let me know and I can give you some phone numbers. Although recent figures from the census have not been released, it is well know that there is a larger Inuit population in Montreal and surrounding communities then in many communities of the north. Let's just hope the message gets out and the real decision makers can some up with some solutions, we cannot continue to ignore the real issues that are happening.

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at concernedinuk@hotmail.com

White land developer chased out of Oka in area close to 1990 land dispute that triggered Oka crisis

A normally quiet Friday was interrupted this morning in Montreal with almost all local radio stations reporting that a local land developer would be heading to the native land he purchased to cut the forests down for development. The land was purchased a while back and sits on the border of Kanasatake and the town of Oka almost a across from the Pines area. The Mohawks have always claimed the land and a Mohawk friend of mine that lives in Verdun told me over the she would drive from Montreal to Kanasatake with some friends and get back to me on what happens. Kahnawake and Kanasatake are the last pieces of native land remaining in the Montreal area. This is a regrettable situation that has one greedy land developer that despite full knowledge of the consequences of his actions decided to go ahead with his project that sits over sacred land long claimed by the Mohawk nation of Kanasatake. This is exactly twenty years since that tense summer of 1990 that put Kanasatake and Montreal area mohawks in the headlines. They made a point back then that they would fight for their rights. Kahnawake on Montreal's south shore recently made the news when they decided to evict all the white folks in town even those that were married to a Mohawk. The mohawks have made it clear, they don't take any shit from the SQ, Quebec gov. or Federal gov. If there is any native tribe that is threathened by assilimation or the english language it is most certainly the Mohawks. I would imagine this gives them more of reason to fight back for their survival.

I support the mohawks 100%, and I am sure Nunavimmiut feel the same way even thou we are not the same.






Full Story (Montreal Gazette)
Developer told to leave Oka property

VILLE DE MONTREAL - CABINET DE LA 2E OPPOSITION | Oui pour un centre d'hébergement pour Inuits dans Villeray - "Bienvenue chez vous !" - Richard Bergeron

(Presse Release) City of Montreal Click on link below

VILLE DE MONTREAL - CABINET DE LA 2E OPPOSITION | Oui pour un centre d'hébergement pour Inuits dans Villeray - "Bienvenue chez vous !" - Richard Bergeron