Backlash against Greenland’s premier over Arctic Council boycott continues

"We do not believe that Aleqa Hammond’s decision was judicious or wise"

If there was a honeymoon period for Greenland’s new premier Aleqa Hammond, elected March 12, it’s over.

The backlash against Hammond’s decision to boycott the May 15 Arctic Council ministerial in Kiruna, Sweden continues.

Since May 14 more than 30 online stories in Greenland’s leading newspaper......

Missing since May 13, Nunavut man survives blizzard on land

Search and rescue teams recover traveller who lost trail

Lost for six days on the land as the Kivalliq region’s biggest blizzard of May hit, Whale Cove resident Colin Kabloona managed to pull through, thanks to his survival skills and the ceaseless efforts of volunteer searchers in the area.

On May 21 Whale Cove mayor Stanley Adjuk thanked Rankin Inlet...

Assault trial for Iqaluit taxi driver starts May 22 at Nunavut court

Business owner gives evidence of altercation outside laundry business

An Iqaluit taxi driver, Abdullahi Omar, who is alleged to have got into a fight with the owner of an Iqaluit dry cleaning and laundry business, appeared at the Nunavut Court of Justice May 22 for a trial on five weapons and threat-related charges.

Omar, 48, was charged after he and another man got...

Reflect on Aboriginal peoples during Aboriginal Awareness Week, ITK says

“I hope this week will strengthen the relationship between Aboriginal people and all other Canadians"

Aboriginal Awareness Week, May 21 to May 24, is an “excellent time to commemorate the contributions that Aboriginal people have made and continue to make to this great nation,” said Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s president Terry Audla, in a May 21 statement.

“Canada proudly presents itself to the...

An Arctic economic boom? Not so fast, analysts say

Myth-debunking paper warns Arctic development is fraught with risk

Two Finnish analysts warn that due to its enormous risks, the world’s Arctic regions won’t likely experience a big boom in shipping or gas and oil development any time soon.

In the paper, published by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, analysts Harri Mikkola and Juha Käpylä say the...

Montreal college to train Nunavik health, social service workers

In September 2013 courses start in Puvirnituq and Kuujjuaq

Collège Marie-Victorin in Montreal is teaming up with the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services of health to offer training for Inuit who work as community workers in frontline health and social services in Nunavik, the college recently announced.

With no equivalent of Nunavut...

Nunavut homeowner’s guide spells out hazards of permafrost

"Damage to buildings caused by thawing permafrost can be costly"

Mindful that most buildings in the Nunavut are built on permafrost, which is subject to greater danger of melting due to global warming, the territorial government released a booklet called “A Homeowner’s Guide to Permafrost in Nunavut” on May 13.

“The new guide provides homeowners in Nunavut with...

Nunavut’s new tourism strategy seeks to boost tourism revenues

Strategy looks for ways to encourage more tourists to spend more money

Despite some success, the Nunavut tourism industry remains underdeveloped, says the “Tunnagasaiji: Tourism Strategy for Nunavummiut” tabled by Nunavut’s minister of economic development and transportation in the legislative assembly May 16.

But the five-year strategy, which includes an action...

ICC slated to go to Inuvik for 2014 assembly

"We look forward to many guests coming to help celebrate"

Inuit from Russia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland will meet in Inuvik July 2014 for the general assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the organization representing Inuit around the circumpolar region said May 21.

The last assembly took place in 2010 in Nuuk, Greenland when the current ICC...

Traditional indigenous cultures can teach world how not to waste food: UNEP

About one-third of all food ends up in garbage bins

Traditional indigenous cultures can teach wasteful modern cultures about how not to waste food, the United Nations Environment Program says.

UNEP’s World Environment Day, this coming June 5, is this year dedicated to the theme of reducing food waste.

In a statement issued May 20, UNEP estimates...

Exposure to peer suicide makes youth more suicidal: new research study

Researchers recommend school- and community-wide prevention programs

New research from two public health researchers suggests that suicide may be contagious, particularly among children aged 12 and 13, and that school or community-wide suicide prevention efforts may be the most effective.

“We found that exposure to suicide predicts suicidality [suicidal thoughts or...

Baker Lake halts search for missing elder

Search committee calls off two-week search until after snow melts

Search and rescue parties in Baker Lake have called off their search for Baker Lake elder Alvin Kannak, who was reported lost May 7 while travelling to the community from Rankin Inlet.

On the advice of community elders, the Baker Lake search and rescue committee decided May 20 halt the search...

UN Indigenous Forum opens May 20 with focus on health, education

"Indigenous peoples are still lagging behind in terms of access to basic services"

More than 2,000 indigenous people from around the world are in New York City for the twelfth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, May 20 to May 31 at the UN Headquarters.

During the session members of the Permanent Forum meet with indigenous peoples, UN Member...

Nunavut school ponders land trip that went awry

Snowmobile parties on Cambridge Bay school trip get separated

A May 16 day-trip outside the western Nunavut town of Cambridge Bay was intended to give elders and Grade 8 students at Kiilinik High School a chance to bond over a traditional activity — ice fishing.

Instead, the day’s experience turned out to be a test case for the school’s emergency response...