The Current - “Welcome to Iqaluit” - The Current in Canada’s North

Episode Date: September 2, 2025

Inuit leaders and communities speak about everything from Arctic Soverienty, food insecurity, and an ongoing suicide crissis, in a special edition of The Current from Nunavut. This is a hard place to live, but also a beautiful and joyful one, and it’s having a moment. Hear from artists and youth about hope for the future and sharing Inuit knowledge and culture with global audiences.

It's not just you. News in Canada and around the world is moving at an incredible pace, which is where we come in. I'm Jamie Poisson and I host Frontburner, Canada's most popular daily news podcast. And what we try to do is hit the breaks on a story that you actually want to know more about. So try us out. Follow Front Burner wherever you get your podcast, Front Burner, stories you want to follow five days a week. This is a CBC podcast. Hello, I'm Matt Galloway, and this is the current podcast. This, we call summer, within minutes or hours, it'll be raining and windy or snowing. But we are troopers, right?

We're Canadians. It is a blustery August afternoon in the Kailawood. parka, took, gloves, long johns. Yesterday in Toronto, I was sweating in shorts and a t-shirt. We are on a boat on Frobyshire Bay going fishing. It's all a white cat because of the wind coming from the south. We'll go through that channel, eh, love? Yeah.

Okay. Everybody okay? Looks great. What I want to hear as a captain. So what else might we see out here on the water? Probably harp seals, some birds. chance of seeing whales, hopefully we'll be the first to see a mermaid. You let me know. Breaking news on the courage.

This place is unlike anywhere I have ever been in Canada, and it's having a moment. Politicians are talking about Arctic sovereignty. The smash hit North of North and showcasing Inuit life and culture to a global audience. It's also a place that most Canadians will never get to or fully understand. There are real hardships and traumas here. along with incredible resilience and joy. And today, we will meet the people tackling some of Nunavut's enormous problems head on and shaping the future of the north.

And we begin where so much of the life in this territory is based. Out of town, on the land. I'm Matt Galloway, Inichalewit, and this is the current. The landscape is incredible. I mean, it's just the rocks and the... Yeah, that's another thing. When you are going anywhere in Nunavut, each turn, you're going to see some different landscape. There's no trees to hide behind up here.

You're seeing nature up close everywhere you look. In the distance in front of us, you could see that there's layers of mountains coming up. It's just beautiful. When we're hunting out, looking for a caribou, and we see an antlers on top of the hill. In the distance, we call it Kilangwachton, which means almost. in the sky because behind it is the sky and you see a perfect shape of a caribou. It's caribou hunting season. It's what we'll be on the lookout for soon. Johnny Flarity is our captain. His wife, Sheila Flaherty, is a renowned chef.

Hey, Halipi. A manninga, rabbi? Hey, okay. A small boat pulls up alongside us. It's a friend of Johnny's, and he cautions us about the choppy water. There is a bin of raw. meat next to him on that boat. Earlier today, a polar bear was shot, and he's bringing some of the meat back to share with the community.

Polar bear meat is a delicacy in Nunavut, which explains why so many people suddenly gathered by the water carrying bags and boxes as we pulled away from the shore. We are out fishing for Arctic Char. Island, right there. That's where we're going. You want to throw that anchor overboard? Anchors away. Here's called Bay of Two Rivers.

We're going to set up nets over there. Okay. Hey, Lovis. We know what to do. I'm going to bring the dinghy down and put the kicker on. That's a little motor that will get you out to the island. You have a paddle? Okay, good.

Two thumbs up. What I need is my nets. rocks. I'm going to use those as anchor, and I'm going to tie the main rope on the island, set up the nets that way. And I'm going to the island. Bye, love. Good luck. Johnny ventures out to set the nets, and I stay on the boat with Sheila. We have been on the water for hours. Everyone is feeling the chill, but the chef has that covered.

Are you hungry? I braised some a caribou brisket and spine essentially we're eating the leftovers but we don't like wasting food we're really mindful of that oh nice blue flame Sheila fires up a small camping stove

with our meat we have to cook it slow whether it's caribou seal polar bear because all the meats are very lean tell me a little bit about being out here and what's important to you but being out here on the land Being out here with Johnny boating in the ocean, it's like I'm communing with what my people have done since time immemoral. There's a connection that makes me feel whole, boating, hunting, harvesting.

How does that play out in the food that you cook, that sense of connection? I think people really feel that from me. Every event that I've been asked to be the chef of or any catering I do locally, people are just blown away with the food and sometimes I cook very simple things like stew like we're about to enjoy it any minute now but sometimes I like elevating our Inuxutid our Inuit food to another level

like Kerou-Welington as an example so however I prepare a dish people really feel grateful for trying Inuxuteeat and that really brings me joy Tell me more about that because food is like this portal right like it's a door into cultures for other people It's not just sustenance, right? What does it give you?

It brings me to a level of peace. You guys want some? Are you ready? Oh, yeah. Okay, we'll talk more, but we should eat hot stew while you're cold. Of course, there's lots, so don't be shy. Here you go, Matt. Thank you very much.

Oh, welcome very much. Goodness. I'm just going to put my hands here to warm myself up. Wow, look at those fish. And then, success. Johnny is back. Look, Matt. Wow.

Those are huge. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Amazing love to time. Yeah, seven it is. The biggest one here, that's probably gutted and deboned, I would say that's five pounds of meat. Johnny, what do you think of that catch? I'm happy.

When we set out several hours ago from a Hallow it, cross the wild waters of Frovershire Bay, bouncing on those waves. Is this what you would hope for? Oh, yeah. Ooh, I'm excited. You'll have fresh Arctic Char. I'm excited. We'll have fresh Arctic Char.

We're out here in this little channel, and it's stone quiet. It's just so still. How does it make you feel being out here? When I'm here, it's my church. It soothes your soul. And I think you are feeling it, too. Everyone is feeling it. Like you're just calm to your bone, and you feel like you belong here,

even though it belongs to everyone. It's really good of you to bring us out here. It's good to have you guys here, especially if you never experienced it. No. And for us, it's like welcoming anyone. Part of what we want to do, like our company, Sijakut, which is an Inuit Culinary Tourism Venture, but we're also looking to offering our guests' opportunities

to come out with us by boat or by snowmobile. because you can explain it, but I bet you anything. When you take a picture of the nuna of our land, a photo doesn't do it justice. You actually have to be in the space to actually see how magnificent and grand our landscapes are. If people come from elsewhere, like from down south, what do you hope they learn from that kind of experience?

I would hope that they learn to be as best allies as they can, to Inuit knowledge, especially. and that everything we do is not only for ourselves, but we're thinking of the future. And what we did today is not only for a supper that I want to cook, but it also is an exercise of food sovereignty and food security, actually. I wish I were a Canadian could have the opportunity to see what we saw today. I feel really lucky.

I can see it on your face, and thanks for being here in Ikelewit, and welcome to Ikelewit. It has been an incredible seven hours on the water, and we return with a tub full of the freshest fish imaginable and a creative chef who knows just what to do with him. Look at that. Look at the color. Can I do anything to help? No.

Okay. This is my domain. Yeah, I know. I had to ask, but it's your kitchen. I'm just going to do a simple pan fry, make crispy skin. I think you need to really taste how delicious this fish is just in its natural taste. Hagar is over for dinner as well. So my name is Hagridlo Saldaneh, and I live in Haluidnau.

How do you guys know each other? I first met you when you and Gianni were seal hunting. Oh, yeah, that's right. Yeah. You helped me mutchuk my bearskin. Yeah, that was fun. I was so bad at mudjacking that you pretty well mudjacked my whole polar bear eyes. What does that mean?

You're removing the fat from the hide. How do you do that? Yeah. How did you learn how to do that? I don't remember that. Why is it important that these sorts of things continue from generation to generation? It's part of us. It's part of being a family.

You're passing down the knowledge. And like, I know, Sheila, you made comics before. the children to be beautiful. It's something that it brings pride. Part of the culture is also, and it comes with language. So, like, when you do, there's some things that it's hard to say it in English.

Like, it's a way of being. What did you say? There's certain things that are hard to say in English. Like what? Terms, like Kamik, it's a boot, right? But it's not just boot. It's made from seal skin, but if it's made from another hide,

it will have different terms as well. You just walked in the door. I'm asking you a million questions. I should let you. Relax, sorry. Jesus, it's like an interrogation. You want a glass of water? Sure.

Let's eat, guys. Yeah, anywhere. Here you can. St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral is a landmark in Echalwood. Maybe you've seen it before. It's built in the shape of an igloo. Next door, there's a community food center. Hi.

I'm Matt. Curtis Mecher is on the center's board of directors. We're here in Hayukovic Community Food Center. It's a very vibrant space. It brings a lot of people in and gives a lot of people some really great food. This place is filling up. People help themselves to items from the community fridge. And there's a sign on it.

It says, take what you need with an exclamation mark at the end. Others are getting lunch to go. Today it's freshly made tomato soup and hot lunches with chicken and pasta. So the doors opened up and there was a lineup of people. Down the stairs and around the corner, is this typical? Yes, yes. Yesterday was kind of a record-breaking number. It was just under 10%.

It was around 8% of the population. 10% of the people who live here came through the doors. Yeah, around 8. To get free food. You know, it's putting out 560-something meals in a day in a town of 7,500. That's sizable. What do you make of that? That's an enormous number.

Obviously, it speaks to the need. I mean, we've heard that this is an issue that affects everybody in town. How would you describe, and you're nodding as I say that, the impact of food insecurity here? It definitely touches everyone. Unfortunately, even people with like really good jobs, secure housing situations, have to go through low quality food or rotten food or have intermittent access in one way or another. Even people like you? Yeah, yeah.

Hopefully I'm a lot more insulated than other people in town just because of the fact I'm able to do well for myself as a lawyer. And, you know, I'm good. I don't have a large family or anything. I have to also support, but it's not uncommon for people with really good jobs to have, you know, rotten milk for certain items because it's only, you know, lightly expired or you go to the stores and someone will post, oh, there's only lightly molded berries for sale. So it's not for free. It's still for sale. But I had a discount. So everyone does a run on moldy berries and picks most of them away. And that's considered like a good day.

What do you think people down South, what don't they understand about that? Food insecurity is one of those terms that can mean different things to different people. What don't people who aren't in this situation understand? I think it's one of those things where food insecurity is very difficult to wrap your head around until you've experienced it, right? And it seems very conceptual and it seems really difficult to wrap your head around it because, you know, you don't know what that hunger is like and you don't feel how it ripples into other effects. I was going to say it's not just, I mean, that's not to discount being hungry, but it's not just being hungry. Yeah, how it affects people's outcomes in education, in long-term health, in my own experience from seeing things in the

justice system. How do you see it in the justice system? With my work primarily being in criminal law, it's already been the case where I've seen multiple different files, where all it is is that classic trope of quite literally I've seen people charge for stealing a loaf of bread and some craft dinner and some peanut butter just to feed their pregnant family. And that's something that it's not uncommon. What is the answer to this? I mean, There was this voucher program, the Hamlet voucher program for Inuit children, which gave families $500 a month for kids under the age of 18. That was scrapped around the time of the federal election, which has left families in a lurch. What's the answer to this?

It's very difficult just because it's such a multifaceted issue. I know, at least with Hayukovic, we're doing quite well in trying to empower hunters to provide country food at a low cost or no cost for people who need it, because often that's the cheapest or most nutrition. it's food you can get in town. And even then, that's kind of a drop in the bucket in terms of food insecurity overall, because as you're mentioning with schemes like the voucher program or even the Nutrition North program, they're well-intentioned programs, but it still ends up with a lot of issues when it's really just something that people need to provide for their family. How are people meant to survive in a community like this then? I mean, I think you see it here. Maybe we're not meant to survive this way, but we

do survive in terms of relying upon each other, having a community that supports each other, be it through providing staples, free food, prepared food, looking out for each other. It's not an ideal answer, but it's something that works with us and is pretty well-intwined with our culture as in you eat for taking care of others, making sure everyone has what they need and has what they can to keep on living. So people are wrapping up their meals. My name is Martha Cohnley. Good afternoon.

How are you? I'm full. Full. How is lunch? It's very welcome. And I heard a lot of my people enjoying their food today. And it's very important to all the new people, especially with the kids and the homeless. This is the place they end up eating. I got a good home and a good food,

but sometimes I like to see people's what's going on. Today I find the food too expensive now in the Kalurit. And so a place like this really helps? Yeah, this is the best place in the Kalurit right now, for especially a lot of people who want to help. Please do funding to soup, kitchen, and to my people. It's nice to meet you. It's true.

Thank you. El Lale. In this space, there's a country food store as well, right? Can you take us down there? Yeah, of course. Just across the hall. Country food is such a big deal for our culture, not only as proof that it is still active

and knowledge is still being passed along, but honestly, too, it's just sometimes it's the cheapest food in town, the most nutritious food in town, and it's something that we've been doing for thousands of years and hopefully we'll be doing for thousands of more. So it's important to have this here. Well, we just go around this corner. Good morning.

How are you? I'm from CBC. My name's Matt. Hi, Matt. How are you? I know. Tell us about this place. We sell caribou, mottock, fish.

And I'm seeing the stock is good on our whale and our seal and everything. Okay. That looks like some narwhal. This is narwhal here. Yes, this more kind of spotted textured. You can kind of see a little like Dalmatian style texture to it. grey and white. What does narwhal taste like? Narwhal's good. It's my favorite of

all the whales. I love it. Yeah. Raw. Okay. I've never had narwhal, so it's really interesting to see it. Thank you very much. Ilali. Back in the main hall, we meet Sheila Papazzi. I'm a service coordinator with the Koppondock office. Eichalu is fortunate enough to have

a soup kitchen. There's a lot of people posting on social media, asking people if they have leftovers, or if people are able to, you know, provide food for sometimes even just their children or the whole family. I myself have struggled here and there being the only person, like the only income earner for about a month or two, when, you know, my family had to take some break off of work

where I had to focus on rent, which is really high, and just barely making it past that as a full-time worker, which is considered like my income is great. However, it's harder for myself to, to be able to purchase groceries, and I hear a lot from the parents that I speak to, especially those who are on income assistance, who struggle significantly more. You have a two-year-old daughter? Yes, I do.

I'm a single mother as well, and constantly having to budget monthly is hard. I have to think about my daughter's child care, food, diapers. A box of diapers is up to $60 for about 40 to 50 diapers, a box, which is really expensive. And to think about smaller communities where the prices are higher is a lot. I can only imagine how much they struggle as well. And, you know, my brother is also working too and living with me, and it's still a struggle. Do you worry about your daughter's future in this community, or are you hopeful for her in this community? I worry about her future. Just growing up here in Khali, we've had some people who moved from, like, southern Canada,

and we're in the same grade as us. However, like, there was a couple new classmates telling us that what we're being taught was taught, like, in the sixth grade. before you're in grade 10, and I really sometimes consider like traveling south so that my daughter can have a better education. So you think about leaving the community and going south? Yes, just for a better life for my daughter. However, there's that connection to culture that I want her to have to, so there's a lot of conflict between wanting to travel for my daughter's future or to stay in the community for her to stay connected to culture. That's a hard decision to make. It is definitely hard.

I have family who are nearby. And despite the struggles that people face on a daily basis, there's always somebody there. We're there for each other when things get difficult. As we get set to head back outside, Curtis reflects on what he's hopeful for. There's a lot of reasons to be optimistic. There's a lot of academic success. There's a lot of people who understand what we,

need politically and are finally getting to the point where we don't feel shy and not only saying we need it, but asking for it, demanding it, and holding people accountable to get it. And that's something that's changed a lot in the last 10 years or so. And I only see things increasing to the point where I'm happy for the future because, like I was saying, I'm on the older end of Inuit, you know, in my early 30s, mid-30s. And, you know, people used to say, you're young and you're the future and everything. And now there's kids I used to take care of or work with at the daycare. And meanwhile, they have wonderful careers of their own, or they're going to great

schools in Europe, and they're coming back, and they're hoping they can change things for everyone. So it's very exciting to be a small part in helping out and build that better future. It is a glorious sunny day in Akalewit, and Johnny Lee Pudlet has found a shady spot under a house where he's hard at work. I'm carving a polo beer. This one is a dancing polo beer. He's using a long, rounded file

to shape this block of soapstone into a playful looking bear. Like that. Like this. He hopes to get at least $400 for it once it's polished smooth. It's going to be nice and black when it's done. The colloet is full of artists like Johnny,

carvers, painters, and musicians. That's what I'm going to be. It's a bit. That's Nancy Mike. You might know her from her time in the Juno-nominated band, the Jerry Cans. She is a force in the Akalewit Arts community. She does it all. Throat singing, printmaking, fashion design,

and textiles. You can even spot some of her work in the smash hit CBC television program North of North. She also works in community health care. And when she's not doing all of that, Nancy is busy raising a growing family, which welcomed a new little boy just a few weeks ago. We sat down in her yard in Apex, just outside of Echaluit, overlooking the bay and with baby in arm. I love being on the land. Obviously, it creates this like sense of like I feel grounded when I'm you know either hiking or being on the land

the land and the ocean like have so much to offer I find that it's rejuvenating I guess I mean you could live anywhere right like anywhere in this country like why do you want to be here it's where I was born

where I grew up where my family you know have survived for thousands of years or our ancestors obviously I feel like this is where I feel the most comfortable, I guess, as a person. What does that feel like? You kind of, you were like almost like going to grab your heart or something like that as you were saying that. Like, it feels like, you know, when you, when you're traveling and you feel a little bit unsettled or you feel culture shock. To me, being home is like my entire body, entire beauty.

feels like I can relax and be able to breathe and do all the you know basic necessities that my body needs my mind needs and whatnot here for sure how have you seen this place change I feel like so I'm originally from Pan Nocto which is you know further north but I've been in Akhalit here for over 20 years and we used to be able to know everybody like basically say hi to people that we passed by and we knew who they were and we knew all the new people that came by but now we don't we don't know a lot of people a lot of people come and go and there was a period where i i didn't want to make friends at all and i didn't want new friends because it was

too much energy too tiring to get to know someone and they would leave i'm i think i'm still in that phase of it unless I know that they're going to be here or they are from here. The coming and going thing is, I mean, we've heard from a couple of people about that. I mean, as the place gets bigger and as money comes in here, there are opportunities for people perhaps from down south who come up and then they work and then they go out and maybe they don't connect with the land or the people who are from the land. You're nodding as I'm saying that. Yeah, like, I find that.

you only get to see the tip of the iceberg when you come up for just a short period of time. And right now, currently, with the system in place, especially in the workforce, I guess, within the government or within various organizations, a lot of the higher positions are filled by those people that are just coming and going. And then it gets quite hard because then they feel they have the power to, you know, make change. for our community when really the people from here should be doing that work. But it's not quite balanced yet because

you need that degree or that piece of paper in order to get to fill those positions as endued. So what do you do about that? It's our fault. It's okay. Just feed him and then

we'll continue if that's okay. Yeah, of course, yeah. One of the shifts that I see happening is that not labeling them as these big titles where, you know, a hunter might go out with a group of young people to teach them very important life skills. But we acknowledge them as being like one of the most important people to teach the next generation. You know, it's not only just hunting. it's like teaching them what it means to live a good life not the good life but the system makes it impossible to give them that like environmentalist title or you know like despite the fact that they're the expert and they know more about the environment yeah so even though it's not

being officially done we're acknowledging them now as important people you know so there's that shift of okay let's kind of move you know around the system so that we do it our way but still it's not quite enough tell me about about the role of art in your life people know you as a musician as an artist as somebody who that's a huge part of your life but for you what is it meant art has always been a part of innate whether it be you know facial tattooing or singing drum dancing, whether it's documenting the history or expressing your emotions, that sort of thing. For me, it has helped me to cope with the struggles that I've gone through in my life, but also to reclaim my identity as an inok and to learn knowledge that I feel like

I normally wouldn't gain if I didn't ask questions or if I didn't. draw something and then people are asking like what does that what does that represent or what does that mean um and sometimes if i'm if i'm inspired by you know being on the land or um creating traditional clothing or that sort of thing i i start to ask questions within my family like why why did you make this or why did you use this like whether it's a tool or a piece of clothing or or how to butcher a seal or anything to do with our culture. I find that art has helped me to gain knowledge that I feel like I wouldn't otherwise if I wasn't curious

or wanting to express my own feelings through art. So it's brought me to a place where I'm not only expressing my feelings, but also gaining knowledge in a very, I find very holistic way. Like, one of the things we've been asking people is, is what is something from up here that folks down south don't understand? Do you see that as an opportunity, the art that you create, to help tell people a bit more about the story of here? Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah.

In my music career, for sure, it was a lot of wanting to empower youth. But then we toured all over the world, especially in southern Canada, that it was. It almost became telling stories of what life is like up here without adding those stereotypes that everybody portrays. But now I'm kind of focused on utilizing art as a tool for reclaiming various different things, especially in the work setting, or making textiles that are based off of like inspired by our animals in the land.

in hopes that not only do we have more in-made things, but we also get to learn more knowledge around like a fish or, you know, different things that come around through that. He's speaking up for what he wants. Yeah. Just last, I mean, what would you want for his future? He's almost a month old. Yeah.

And so when you think of this place, what would you want to see for his future? I think one really special thing we do as part of, you know, life goes. When a baby is born, we name them after people who have passed on. And his name was special because it comes from Greenland. His name's Tuilik. And it means it's a park specifically made for being out on the kayak. which is a waterproof parka, and it represents strength and protection

for Inuit to feel that sins of pride and to carry that knowledge forward, I guess, is one thing that I want him to follow as a inuk. But also, it's been very tough to go from not feeling comfortable in a school system where it feels very forced I guess in a way to trying to figure out like who am I who am I like to be from here and how do I fit in in what feels like two worlds like I've always been drawn to any way of being or doing all my life

but in order to pay for bills or even this spot where we are our house we need to have a job. So like having to get that nursing degree and then balance it out with going out on the land or catching a fish or, you know, as simple as just living our life the way our ancestors taught us in a holistic way

definitely hasn't been easy. So finding that balance has been hard. But I'm hopeful because now I feel like I've come to a place where I feel like maybe I've found the balance quite like a bit more than I have in the past. So I'm hopeful for my kids that they'll find that as well. It's neat to see you smile when you say that. That's really powerful.

Yeah. Thank you very much for talking to us. It's a real pleasure to talk to you at any time. But here, like, looking out over this land and with a little baby there, it's awesome. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Oh, de, Domit, Ida, Domit.

Tilly. Oh, Oh, and I'm you've got a little oh, oh,

oh, oh, and I'm a Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,

At this time of the year, day and night, people in Nicarouet are out on the land, hunting caribou, seal, and beluga whales. They're picking cloudberries, blueberries, and crowberries. And along the rushing banks of the Sylvia Grinnell River, people are lined up, rods in hand. hoping to hook some Arctic Char. My name's Emily. You're the fish whisper. Shake your hand.

Might be a fishy smell, but. Why do they call you the Fish Whisper? I guess because I just caught some nice big fish. It's Arctic Char. Yeah. The two I just caught are fairly big. I'd say maybe about 10 pounds, the biggest one there. Yeah.

How did you become the fish whisper? What is it that you have? They were down there. They were like, you've got to talk to the fish whisper. Like, what's the magic that you have? Well, they really like orange. So this lure is called a buzz bomb. And when you're fishing with it, you kind of have to jig it a little bit.

It goes up and down like this, and it catches the fish attention. You should get back in the water. Oh, that's okay. I'll probably catch more. No problem. Thank you. Nunavut's premier, P.J. Akiyaguk, is also itching to get out on the water. And we caught up with the premier as he was launching his boat into Frobyshire Bay.

Just describe where we're standing right now. Yes, God's country, really. We're right in the shores of Echallorin. Can't ask for anything better, right? You're getting on your boat and off you go. Well, it's family too, eh? And that's what it's all about. Tell me about what makes this place special for you. Boy, it's home. It's home for my kids. My wife's originally from here. So it's really special. I've had the utmost highest honor to be able to serve. Colomion as one of the four MLAs for here. That's going to end in October. You're not running for re-election.

No. So. Why? You know, I spoke with the family, and we felt it was time. I've been in politics for over a decade. I'm really proud of the important milestones we were able to achieve. Like what? Whether it's like the devolution agreement, which is really bringing decision-making back to the people. It's covering 20% of Canada's landmass, and I don't think Canadians realize just how significant

that devolution agreement is to the people of Nunavun. And you look around here, and really it's the people who call this home should make decisions about their future, and that's always been at the core of it. So looking back, getting that was something I feel very proud of, whether it's the implementation contract where we secured $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to really fulfill the Nunavut Agreement,

which is really the foundational piece of why the territory was created. So, yeah, this is just another chapter, but there's a lot more, I think, over time as we start looking at building our own resources and building up the, the economies that we see, whether it's in the resource extraction or whether it's in the blue economy, fisheries right here, you look at the deep, deep water port here, the only deep water port here in the territory as well. And you're seeing a boat just coming off here as well? It's a good day. Everybody wants to get out to the water. This is a beautiful place, right? But one of the things we were saying is, when you talk to

folks, young people in particular, and they talk about how hard it is here, do you think that they feel that promise being achieved? I think it takes time. You look at the country where over 150 years, you've seen Confederation build up all the way from the East Coast to the West Coast, and there's still issues that are being addressed now. So I truly feel we've made some huge headways around fulfilling the vision of what that dream was to, make none of it a reality.

But there are big problems. I mean, when you talk about housing with people, they talk about food insecurity. We've been speaking with people all the course of the time that we've been here, just about how difficult it is to get healthy food that's not spoiled, for example, under the table, the addictions issue, but also, I mean, suicide and people, they live with a lot. And I just wonder how you square that promise with the reality that people are living with now.

Well, I think we've made some huge headways around addressing the root issues. So you look at housing, we've made huge historic investments around for the first time in our history, building in every community. And that's never been done before. Is that enough? No, we have to continue to do more. And that's where we look to Ottawa. We brought partners in together. We brought inuit organizations who are actually building with us. We've secured long-term contracts to address the housing crisis.

that's been there for decades. And yet, do you understand the frustration that people feel? I do. I come from the smallest community of Greece Fjord, so it's the most northern community in North America. It was a community that was created through forced relocation. But I'm really a proud Canadian. I truly am, even though our family were pushed there.

So I know what struggle means when you look at the sacrifices Inuit have made in there. but I've always seen hope in all the struggles. You look across as challenges everywhere. Can I ask you just about one of those challenges in particular? Everybody that we have spoken with here has some connection to the crisis of suicide in this territory. I mean, everybody knows somebody. What is going on here? Why is this happening?

There's a lot of things. We're all touched by suicide. We really are. small population. We've really seen some really challenging moments around that. We've really tried addressing a lot of it, but really at the root of it to me is housing. That's really where you've got to address at the root of it. And there's a lot of the programming that you have to bring the connection to the Inuit culture, to land and to environment. So we're doing some really innovative work around what we could do there.

right when everybody has some connection to this crisis um it says something about about again this is a beautiful place but that there's a harshness to it there's it's it's hard as well oh there is and that's where i think it's important to really focus on the great things that we are doing and we're doing everything that we can bringing action plans together bringing partners together you declared an emergency like a crisis in pond yeah well we've yeah some communities yeah have really needed to see a lot more investments to come in to really get to provide the adequate resources to address the challenges that are there. And you think it's housing? Housing is at the root of it. Housing is at the root of it. The overcrowded housing that you see here, really

driving a lot of the challenges that you see, whether it's education outcomes or whether it's the suicide epidemic. You look at the tuberculosis rates. These are third world country numbers that you're seeing here. You mentioned forced to be. location. You and I've spoken about this before and the way that your family was pushed north. One of the things that people have said is they worry about that kind of history repeating itself, that you have elders who can't live here, that they are going to be forced to live down south in Ottawa, for example, that people, young people might feel like they don't have a future here and that they're forced out of the community that they want to be in the community

that's theirs to try and make a go of it. Do you worry about kind of history repeating itself in that way? No. I think Inuit are very resilient and I have full confidence that will overcome these challenges that we're facing right now. And that people can stay here in a community again that you choose to be here, you want to be here, but it's hard to be here too. Yeah, and that's what we're doing to bring investments really that are nation building. So I just look down the bay, I look at the deep water port here. That's the only deep water port you see in the whole territory. So we really feel there's an

incredible opportunity to really build Canada. And I really feel Nunavu brings a lot of that certainty and the opportunity to build Canada as we're starting to see the pressures from our friends in the south, but also around the world. We talk about nation building, and most people down south won't make it here. We talk about being a northern country,

but they won't come to the north. They've not been to the north. They may not understand the north. Why do investments here matter to the whole country? We're Canadian as much as anyone else as well. And I think it's important that you look across, we've seen some huge investments in southern Canada. There's so much Nunavut could offer not only the country but the world,

whether it's our fish that's so abundant or whether it's access to critical minerals. It's just the potential is just incredible. And I think Canadians are starting to. understand that one of the things you said is that you are incredibly proud to be a Canadian what does being a Canadian mean to you in this moment there's something that's happening across this country oh absolutely I I know the sacrifice you know it have made including my family they've been used as human flagpoles

for the sovereignty of our country so when we talk about the impacts to the threat that we're seeing I know firsthand just the this huge sacrifice, Inuit, have made to be a Canadian. And looking at just the strengths and the resilience of Inuit, I truly am really proud to be able to come from the territory, but to be able to come from a small community of Greece, Fior, to be able to serve in this capacity. My parents really raised us to give back to community,

and that's where, as a Canadian, I think it's so important to know where you come from. to know where you're going. So from that perspective, I think we are at that moment where our identity is being questioned, our sovereignty is being threatened, and from that perspective, I feel very proud to be a Canadian.

I'm just looking at my sons here, and it's really I want to make sure that they truly have a future that's rooted in the environment that we're in, but the incredible opportunities that they have moving forward. Do you think there's fish in these waters? Oh, absolutely. You're looking for a char?

Oh, a char. And, yeah, it's incredible to see just the abundance of wildlife here. Inuit have been the stewards for thousands of years and will continue to be the stewards moving forward. But what better people to manage the wildlife and the environment than the people that call this place home? So I feel very lucky to be right here in the Chalwit. Well, let you get out on the water.

I appreciate you taking some time to talk to us. Okay, thank you so much as well. P.J. Akiakuk is the outgoing premier of Nunavut. When you come up from the south of this country, one of the things that you notice straight away is that there are no trees here. Instead, the horizon is outcroppings of rock in between these rolling green hills of mosses and lichens. There are swaths of white arctic cotton and the territory's official flower, the purple saxifridge. Up along a ridge, across a small river, there's a group of kids who are in those rolling hills and they're picking big

And they were kind enough to show me the ropes. With that? You're the expert. Come on and show me. Take that rake and scrape it through, and they just go in there. If you look hard enough, hidden in that thick, mossy floor, there are little blue crowberries. The kids are using these plastic scoops with what looked like prongs of a rake at the end. Hi, everybody. I'm J.B. Poisson and I host Front Burner. It's Canada's most listened to Daily News podcast. Just the other day, we were in a story meeting talking about how we can barely keep up with what's going on in Canada and the world right now. And like, it's our job to do that. So if you are looking for a one-stop shop for the most important and interesting news stories of the day, we've got you. Stop doom scrolling. Follow Front Burner instead.

To scoop up as many berries as they can hold. That's fast. It's a lot faster than just picking them with your hands. Yeah. You want to check? Sure. So what do I do? I just go like this, kind of rake it through the grass and through the flowers.

You got more than I did. You're much better at this than me. Should we eat one? Yeah. Okay. It's good. It is good. Thanks for taking us, berry picking.

Yeah. Bye. Nunavit has one of the youngest populations in the country. And young people here face the same challenges as they do everywhere in Canada, skyrocketing costs of living, housing shortage, difficulty in finding a job. But here, these pressures, like the landscape itself, feel more extreme. Gwen Natsik is studying at Nunavut, Archev. college in Eichalwood. She is also president of the National Inuit Youth Council,

and we caught up with her at the college's food bank, a food bank that she helped start. We just had a food order come in this morning, and then we'll have another one. So hopefully we'll be all set up for students to come in on the second when most of the other classes are starting. We have bananas, pears, and apples. We have potatoes, instant oatmeal, evaporated milk, peanut butter, tea. What does that say that there's a food bank here on campus? So a lot of students here struggle with getting funding on time or just transitioning into the city. So what we do here at the college is we make sure that we have basic necessities when they first come into the school.

The freezer has eggos, burgers, chicken nuggets. And a giant fish? Yes. Giant Arctic char. Yeah, we're trying to get more country food and hopefully we'll have very. a bigger freezer for that because this is also a tarmican oh wow yeah so you know typical fridge in the north you were born and raised here yes what does it like to grow up in akeloid i enjoyed it um it was quite the experience i think i've done a lot of fun things my boyfriend's from the south

so every time i explain things to him he sits there and he's in shock sometimes but to me it's just like normal, you know? It's just the way of life up here and that can really amaze people because it's just complete different. It's a good life up here. What's the hardest thing about being a young person here? There's no housing. What does that mean for you? I mean, describe, we've heard that since we got here. What does that mean there is no housing? It means that when I graduate from college, currently I'm at residence, I'm not sure where I'm going to live unless my job provides housing. If that's not the case, then I either probably have to move to Coral Harbor, the smaller community, which might not have housing either. I might have to live with my five other

siblings and my parents and teach there until housing is available, but the housing list, I've heard that people joined the housing list back in 2018 and they still haven't heard anything. What does that mean for young people? If there's nowhere for them to live, and we've heard stories of people, you know, 15, 17 people in the same house, for example. If you are 17 or 18 or 21 years old, and this is where you, this is your community and this is where you want to live, but there's nowhere for you to live. What does that mean for them? I think the sense of belonging kind of goes away at that point because you don't feel connected to your community anymore as much as you try. and a lot of youth at that point decide, like, okay, I'm just going to go to school in the south

and they'll see how that goes. I feel for them, you know. It's very tough, you know, not being able to afford anything, not knowing where you're going to move, once you're done schooling, or if that's even going to be an option for you up here. And a lot of people now who are taking college have families with them, and they have a lot of people who depend on them. So it's a lot of pressure put on to someone and not having the proper supports can really damage your mental health. Our students are not going to be able to focus on their future and their success. Is this something that you yourself have gone through?

I mean, those sorts of struggles? Yeah, there was one point in my college years where I was really struggling and I had so much going. on at the time. But it was also really hard for me to go to someone and say, hey, this is something I need help with. So once I slowly made my way to get better, I realized I need to make it easier for other students to access these things. So when I was going through my depressive episodes, the food bank here wasn't properly stocked. And I would get a lot of emails and I see a lot of posts on Facebook asking when the food bank's going to be refilled. And it didn't take long for me to be like, okay, this is silly.

I need to get this done. I might as well put my hand in it. How are you doing that? It's good. I'm enjoying it. It's opened up opportunities for me. So, you know, I'm excited and I'm learning things as I go. What needs to be done?

And I ask you this, kind of as somebody who's lived through this, but also now you have the ears of people who are making decisions. What needs to be done to address the issues that young people face so that they can not just survive in the community that they want to be in, but that they can actually thrive, that they can be all the things that they want to be? We need more peer-on-peer support training in the mental health aspect. A lot of people in the smaller communities depend on their peers,

and that's how we're all connected as a community. So if one person's struggling with mental health issues, we're all struggling as a whole. So giving each person their own mental health toolkit, essentially, and also training them on suicide prevention and how to deal with an overdose. I also think a lot of youth need more support when it comes to post-education.

So I said it before, but a lot of youth travel to the same. south for school and it's really great and I'm personally I wish sometimes it was something that I did because I see the benefits of being in a new space and interacting with different people and making those types of connections but also being able to bring it back home and use it. I'm really proud of all the other inmate who are able to go south and take schooling in the south but a lot of them sometimes struggle while they're down there and they get really homesick and they come home early or they just have issues, you know, like we go through a lot back home,

so when you're far and you can't be connected to family members when they need it most, it's really tough. So having that type of support for them or even just tutor training for Inuit from the smaller communities because I know there's some language barriers there and some hesitancy to speak English. And there's like so much that could be done, you know, and I think we definitely need more job opportunities in the smaller communities

if we want youth to stay. How do you see, I mean, the territory is 25 years old. If you were to go 25 years into the future, what would you want Nunavut to be? I want us to have better Wi-Fi access. Which, I mean, again, for somebody down south, seems like that's a small thing, but that's a huge thing. It's a huge thing up here. Like a lot of our work is done in communications with the South, which is done online. So if we didn't have proper Wi-Fi or satellite connection, we'd be kind of screwed up here, you know?

Yeah. What else? Better health care, for sure. A better rehab and addiction center with all the addictions that we face up here and all the mental health issues and everything. It would be really beneficial if we had our own center up here. Are you optimistic about the future here? I am, yeah. I think it's a little bit hard for me personally to think of the future. I'm constantly someone who thinks in the present and wants to make sure that I'm making the most of what I have right now

and enjoying the life that I was given because I'm really privileged to be at the place that I am now. And sometimes I try not to think too far in the future and really think of what's coming because you can't really enjoy what's happening now or realize what's happening now if you're, you're focusing too much on what you want to get done later. As Gwen mentioned, mental health is a top concern for this community. Just a warning, this next interview deals with suicide. Nunavut has the highest rate of death by suicide in the entire country. Earlier this summer, three young people died by suicide in the tiny community of Pond Inlet.

Janet Pizzulek Brewster is an Inuk-M-L-A in Nunavut. And for years, she's been working to get this crisis declared a public health. emergency. Janet took us for a walk through rows of painted woodhouses leading us down to the shore. Tell me about this sign. I saw this sign this morning and it says stop suicide. You're doing amazing. You're beautiful. What do you make of the fact that a sign like that is very prominent here on the side of the room? I think it's really important for individuals to do everything that they can to encourage people to continue on. And that sign has been on the side of this house for probably over 10 years. And it's seen every day by people that walk and drive by, and it's on

the main road. And it's a good reminder that we always have to continually think about this issue and and do what we can to build a safer community for everybody. What does it tell you about the fact that a sign like that is, you said it's been there for 10 years? Or more. Or more. Yeah, I don't remember not seeing it. Yeah.

Well, it tells me that this has been an ongoing struggle and issue for so many people. And I would say we're even decades away. from addressing the issue, it's going to take generations. Our family has had a bit of a difficult summer due to losing a really important person to suicide. I'm sorry. Yeah, it's been, it's, he wasn't the first, and we all hope he'll be the last.

This summer, this was the father of one of your sons, is that right? Yeah, my youngest son's father took his own life on June 1st. We spent a lot of time supporting Bruce, his name was Bruce, through his ongoing crisis. And that meant making really difficult decisions. to call for help and to encourage him to take that help, which meant that he was on a number of mental health holds in the hospital, and he was actually in Manitoba at a mental health facility as well for a brief period of time.

and all the while he was continuing to do what he could to maintain his employment. He was employed by Nunavut-Tungovik Incorporated, and they were incredibly supportive. And they have been very supportive even to this day. And so it was challenging. because my son was in his mid-teens when it really became a parent to him. And so it was challenging for me to both be a support for Bruce, as well as to be protective of our son, to ensure that he didn't experience anything that would cause a great deal of trauma

that he would carry with him. And my goal in raising my son Miles was to raise him in the absence of trauma. And that might seem like a really strange goal to people who aren't living in community where there's ongoing trauma, there's intergenerational trauma, and there's a cycle of trauma. And so we, both Bruce and I worked really hard to do that. And then as our son got older, he was providing more support to his father and was a key to helping Bruce to survive as long as he did.

And Bruce also worked really, really hard to persevere. And I think that perseverance was a really huge part of what allowed him to stay on this earth for so long. And his resilience and the resilience of our friends and family and community. uh was part of that as well uh however it's really clear that that people don't have an infinite amount of resilience and and when that resilience runs out uh that's when we lose people it's awful i'm sorry you know just about everybody we've talked to has some sort of connection to this and to go through this once is one that you this is as you said not the first time that this has touched you.

Yeah. Before Bruce and I had our child, actually at the beginning of our relationship, I was fostering one of my young cousins. He came to us a day after he turned nine, and within about a year, just over a year, My aunt, his mother, was murdered. And so we did our best to support Jaco.

And our family and community wrapped around him. And he grew into adulthood and had young children. And he took his own life. in in 2023. It's so difficult to talk about it. I can't imagine what would you and what your family have been through. This territory has the highest rate of death by suicide in the country. How do you understand that?

How do you understand what's going on? Why is that happening? A huge part of that is related to intergenerational trauma. There really hasn't been enough done to address the issue. of the lack of substantive equity. Our communities are struggling with high unemployment rates. They're struggling with lack of housing, with food insecurity. And unless people are well-housed and fed, it's really hard to deal with old trauma as well as new trauma. You had talked about the push to have this declared a public health emergency. What would that do?

To me, I think it would create an opportunity to address the factors that impact the daily lives of Inuit and it's not just about bringing more mental health support in or creating more programs. It's about creating an opportunity in an emergency to be able to create more health support in. housing to address food insecurity, to address issues of why people are leaving school early. And I think it's an opportunity to create a huge stopgap that floods all sorts of resources into shoring up the systemic issues that are plaguing the government of Nunavut in terms of providing services. Do you believe this is an emergency? What you're seeing right now is an emergency? It is. Absolutely.

Do you think that the government is responding with the urgency that's required? We know that our employment rates are below 50% and so so many key positions are vacant right now. So why not ask for help? It's, you know, we say to individuals and community members ask for help. you're not alone and yet we're not walking that talk where a public health emergency is is an option to say we need help what would you as a leader in this community um what would you say to people who who don't see um because of the issues that that that they face here i mean we're

as we've been saying this is a beautiful community but it's hard as well that they don't see opportunity, they don't see hope, they don't see a path forward, and they don't see the ability to fulfill the potential that they have in them. What would you say to them? I think that's a question that so many people struggle with because we know that every day we're having those conversations with people around us and people that we love, people that we know. Um, part of my personal approach has been to, uh, to talk about my own, uh, experience, having, uh, been

homeless and having lived in a shelter and with my children and having, um, been jobless. I, I know that through my own perseverance, that I was able to build a home and, and, and, and, um, and raise children in a healthy way, and that there are so many small steps that one has to take in order to gain those grounds, and it can seem insurmountable if you consider how far you have to go, yet you can't get there unless you continue to take all of the small steps. And it's okay to not be okay.

and it's okay to stumble on the way and and it's okay to ask for help and to um to have periods of time where where you just stay where you are until you're ready um and and able to take to take a more personal action as as much as i see you know, the difficulties that people are facing. I'm seeing people doing really well and thriving. And that's part of the hope that one always brings when we're supporting people who are having mental health issues and who are suicidal, is that there is a way through this

that can bring you to a place. where life is full of sunshine and happiness. If you're in crisis and need to talk to someone, the National Suicide Prevention Line is 9-88. muny-pom-jim-ponging-during-d-d-b-pah-jing-chin-b-pah-jing-chin-pah-pah-dring-chin-pah-dring-dh-dhy-dden-dum-dinhet-dun-dun-dye-dda--man-pun-dye-dun-dye-dol-duny-dunny-d-dny-ddol-d-duny-dun-duny-dunny-dun-dut-unny-dun-duny-duny-duny-dun-dun-dun-duny-duny-n-dy-duny-d, Mour bad, nitty, ma'a, m'a, nitty, tony, chagin,

chagin, pan and, chagin, pangin, chagin, man, jing, man, ching, chagin,

pa, jing, jing, jip, pah, m'an tigit, dame, ma'i,

ma'i d'i d'i, Tungan, money, but, and money, bad. Tengen, ma, pa, tig, taekin, ma, pa, tini, taekin, ma, bae, dungi, ma'an, boon-a-money, moono-punny, puny, moonit, honey, pa, moonit, boon, boon, ma'an, ma'an, ma'a, ma'an, jim, jim, man, pa, jim, man, Well, that is the current from Iqalwaite.

We will have more from this community coming up in the days ahead. And we want to hear from you. There are great stories across this country. Do you think we should come to your community next? Tell us about something that we don't know about what's happening in your community. You can email us, the current, at cvc.ca.ca. We're going to leave you with some more music from Mikhailoit. I'm Matt Galloway.

Thanks for listening. We'll talk to you tomorrow. My name is Mia Maris. I'm a drum dancing and dirt singing instructor for elementary school students at Nakasuk-Ill-Nir-Nir-Kig and Inoksuk-Suk-I-Nir-Nir-Wik. My name is Mary Al-Qhasa. I do throat singing in drum dancing. dancing. Tell me what you love about throat singing. I love not only because it's tradition and women have been dirt singing for many, many years. I love that it's very calming. When you're

listening to throat songs, you know, when I was a baby and I would hear my mom throat singing and being on her back, it was so relaxing. It was so nice and, like, calming. You're going to perform one more song for us. Tell us about the song that you're going to do. It's called Khrimuqvabik, which means poor little puppy. And this sort song was created by a little girl whose father ran a dog team. So they had puppies, and the rent of the litter was small. So her father told her that,

no, we cannot keep the rent of the litter. It's not going to be strong enough to run the dog team. It will definitely slow down the entire pack. This is just the way things are. And she managed to convince him that she will take care of the puppy. Every single day, she will sing to it, she will feed the dog, and she'll take care of it with everything she has. She managed to convince her father to keep this poor little puppy. We're going to be it.

because it's sort of a competition. Like, you want to see if you can mess up the other person. She messed me up. You've been listening to the current podcast. My name is Matt Galloway. Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you soon. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.ca slash podcasts.