Ladies and Gentlemen of Nunavut... The Agent needs your help. In order for this blog to stay alive we need submissions from our readers. This blog was designed as a venue for all of us to post our take on life around Nunavut without the fear of reprisal. There have been some really great debates in the comments, and lets keep it up. The trouble is, I live in one small community, and observe only a fraction of what really goes on. In order for this blog to work, we need your help. So how 'bout sending some sweet type written love this away...
arcticagent@gmail.com
- A.A.
25 comments:
I think I may understand the problem. Your terms of reference are, by implication, negative. Although your initial post suggested that you were open to positive stories as well, there simply haven't been any; and there's only so much engagement you can expect from a non-stop bitch session. Venting is essential, but non-stop depression and anger don't make for a great steady diet.
Not sure how you could repframe your existence to promote more positive engagement (if that's what you want). But if the sole purpose of the site becomes (or remains) cataloguing everything that people hate about Dept. of Ed., or Dept. of Health, or NTI, or Inuit, or newcomers to Nunavut, or whatever, then you're going to have a short and miserable lifespan.
I'm not trying to be a link-whore here, but you might find this discussion interesting, and relevant to your question.
http://www.stageleft.info/2008/02/16/so-what-do-you-think-makes-a-good-political-blog/
Your opinion would be most welcome: but you may also find some ideas in the discussion and comments that help grow this blog.
People probably wouldn't complain if there was good news worth telling.
The degenerate Government of Nunavut has given just about everyone alive and unelected a reason to complain. Anyone who even tries to defend them is an idiot.
Read the papers.
The Government of Nunavut is a disgusting embarrassment and a shameful example of what happens when lazy, stupid, inexperienced people get high on power (among other things) and abuse the system.
Enough is enough. It is time to call an election and restore dignity, integrity and honesty to this criminal government. Elect new, fresh minds who will put Nunavut where it is supposed to be.
If you're an MLA, and you're reading this - it is time to go.
Then we can start writing good stories.
Thanks for the illustration of my point. Like I said, when the premise of your blog is "everything is horrible", you're not going to generate much enthusiasm...as you can see from the dearth of new posts.
"Anyone who even tries to defend them is an idiot."
Excellent way to open up discussion. Heh.
I'll leave out the personal attacks and see what I can come up with over the next few days. There's lenty of fodder stewing around in my brain.......just need to organize it in a coherent manner.
While I enjoy reading the thought-provoking posts on this website, I agree with balbulican. It is good and much needed to vent once in a while, but I refuse to do it all the time.
We came up here two years ago to make a better life for our family... and it worked! We earn(and save) more money here, have more family time, and feel way, way less pressure (social, political, commercial, etc.) than we ever did living in the suburbs of Toronto. We participate in community activities, hunt and go on the land with locals, and have made friends with some truly inspiring people who are really making things happen for fellow Inuit.
Personally, I would rather spend my energy finding ways to make a positive impact on my community, than complaining about things that I cannot change. We all chose to come up here; some of us knew beforehand of the problems Nunavumiut face, and no one is forcing us to stay. For those planning to be here only a couple years, I can understand the anger and resentment you feel because it seems like things are not getting done. There are serious problems here that have no "quick fix," and thus, none of the instant gratification we have all come to expect in life. Furthermore, if you're the kind of person who only travels between your desk at work, the post office, and your TV at home, there's a good chance your time in Nunavut will be miserable.
I once heard that there are three types of people who come up North: missionaries, mercenaries, and misfits. Maybe it's time we all took a minute to think about why we are up here. Are we getting what we wanted out of our experience in Nunavut? If not, maybe it's time to move on to greener pastures. But if so, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and get ready for some hard work and not so warm-and-fuzzy times.
I believe this is an excellent forum for pointing out the problems in Nunavut, but what about working toward solutions? If we all sit by and wait for someone else (i.e. goverment) to do it, we are only maintaining the status quo... which ironically, is what fuels many of our perpetual complaints about the Inuit. The difference is, that many of us from the South have the tools and resources needed to start making positive changes, while most Nunavumiut don't even know where to begin.
Very well put.
Well last anonymous, I now who you are and you are not helping here either. Your skidoo was stolen, and instead of taking the proper measures of going to the RCMP and filing a complaint, you chose to do nothing. That is not helping this community at all. There won't be any change if you just let things slide instead of taking a stand against crime in your own community.
So, 1:56 pm Anon, which of the M's are you?
I think a bit of complaining is both great and refreshing, although balbulican is correct in asserting that it's not sustainable to be all be negative.
However, from what I understand, this blog exists because of the urge of the GN to try to suppress ANY opinions of anyone who works for them. So, the stuff that's been pent up is not usually the roses. ;-)
But supressing dissent is not good. Sure, there are a trillion things better in Nunavut than in the south, but that's not a good reason to maintain silence on those things that need work, and there are at least as many areas of great problem as there are of great success. Talking about what's broken is the first step to getting it fixed. You'll never get to the next step without it.
Thanks Arctic Agent, for hosting this blog, I hope it draws lots of new contributors. I also wish it didn't need to exist, but right now, it does!
To Lucy: We were definitely misfits in the urban world, but we came up here for the adventure and experience!... and I agree with your comments all the way.
To Anonymous 1:48 PM: So you might think you know who we are, but you must not know us personally... or else you would be aware of the measures we took to get our machine back and deal with the thief.
We did take a stand against crime in our community, but it just wasn't the way most Kablunak deal with it. Sure, pressing charges might have resulted in a conviction, but that didn't stop this repeat offender from stealing our machine (he had just been released from detention only a week or so before). Why should we keep banging our heads on the wall expecting different results? Rather than depend on a flailing system, we took a more "personal" stance in defending our property... and for your information, the thief, his family, and the RCMP were all involved and an understanding was reached. Furthermore, simply removing all of the criminals from a society would be the kind of "quick fix" I mentioned in my original comment.
If you would like to know the true story before you start making implications, come on over. We can discuss things over a cup of tea. :)
Dear Anon Becky- You are trying to act like you are Inuit after only being here a couple of years. I find it frustrating that you as an american is running our heritage centre. I know the cops were not happy with how your husband dealt with your stolen skidoo. The rcmp want people to stand up and press charges so change can happen. I woulld not want to have tea with you since you keep trying to be inuit. We should be running our own heritage centre. You are not making a postive impact in Kugluktuk. You are bossy at daycare. We do not need you to tell us what to do and about our heritage. There are other kablunak here that are good. They are not fake and don't try to tell us what to do.
Sorry folks at Nunavut Uncensored... I will not give anyone the satisfaction of watching as I try to defend myself against personal attacks by someone who hides behind their computer. Good luck with your blog... I'll be taking care of things my own way.
An american running an Inuit heritage centre? That community should feel embarassed! There must be someone else there to run it! Perhaps they might not do as "professional" of a job as someone from the south, but seriously folks, it is still better to have a local person run something like that!! If that American is the person who did the anon comment Feb 18 at 1:56pm, it makes sense. That comment sounds like a typical American making themselves sound important and like they are out to save the world.
This "American" is married to a Canadian, has Canadian children and is a better representation of what a Canadian should be than you, James. As Canadians, we should display a tolerance and acceptance of other cultures, and we should strive to understand the cultural make-up of our own country. Have you ever visited the centre? Don't criticize something you have never seen with only the tidbit of one person's opinion that was posted here - someone with what seems to be a personal intolerance for Becky. Were you born Canadian, James? Were you also born a bigot?
As for Anon 10:58pm, you are a coward! If Becky has managed to piss in your cereal, why don't you personally speak to her instead of slinging shit on this site – I’m tired of reading your unsupported accusations. You are a coward of the worst kind because instead of facing problems, you take personal issues and personal information and post it in a public forum. COWARD! COWARD! COWARD!!!
I visited your community, have seen the centre and what has been done there, have met some of the artisans she deals with, and have heard of the programs she has tried to establish. Hell, wasn't the centre closed before she got there?!? Why didn't someone have the initiative and courage to develop the centre then?
You opinionated cowards make me sick and embarrassed to be Canadian!
Anon, Alberta (in case that shit-slinger knows me too)
ArcticAgent: Isn't this a site that is supposed to maintain a certain amount of anonymity/protection from this type of crap? Should you not be editing some of the personal information in the above posts?
Whoa! You mean to tell me that while Larry W. is being accused of not being "Inuit" enough, Becky is being accused of trying to be too much of an "Inuk?" Geez people. Does that mean that every Inuk who drinks Coke, drives a truck, or feeds their family Kraft Dinner is trying to be Kablunak? Puleeez.
Sounds like this is another game of "let's put down the people who are trying to achieve something." Reminds me of when I hear about Inuk men beating their spouses when the women decide to go back to school to better thier own lives. Why not. After all it's a lot easier to pull someone back down to your level than to try to reach the bar that they have attained.
Anon 10:58, let me ask you this: What have you done for Nunavut lately???
dear anon alberta- you don't live here. You don't see what really goes on in our community. Having to deal with people from the south who keep trying to be inuit makes us upset. They need to just be themselves instead of forcing themselves on families here and trying to be inuit. It is just annoying the families here. We have had enough.
Last anonymous - great stuff!
James - remember something: functional Inuit Heritage Centres in Kugluktuk without Becky = 0, functional Inuit Heritage Centres in Kugluktuk with Becky = 1. Great work Becky!!! James, phhht.
Becky bashing anonymous - In 2007, according to the Nunavut Court of Justice, there were 678 criminal charges in Kugluktuk for the 1,302 residents. That's the highest per capital rate in Nunavut! Good for Becky for thinking outside of the box and trying to resolve the issue using an avenue other than the one that clearly is not impeding crime.
source: http://nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/
80215_934.html
I think maybe Becky basher and James, phhht, could use a dose of Becky's tea. I'm sure it would be enlightening.
new Anonymous
whoa, this is a hot one. My first comment ("Last anonymous - great stuff!") in my post (anon 11:23)was intended for anonymous 10:32. Clearly not for the anonymous Becky basher that posted a minute before me.
to Becky Basher - What exactly does it mean to "try" to be Inuit? You know, imitation is the best form of flattery. Suck it up.
It means they pretend to be like us when they have only been here a short while. They think they can use our customs when it suites them. My family is overrun by this southern family. They push themselves on us and my family it to polite to say no.
This sounds like a personal problem to me... not something that will be remedied by posting in a blog like this. Maybe you should try a new approach. Good luck.
I'd love it if "Becky Basher" anon or another Inuk wrote an article for this blog on the subject of non-inuit who try to act inuit. I'd be very interested to read your take on it. I'm not Arctic Agent or speaking for him/her, just suggesting a topic that might make for a good read and get a good discussion going.
I'd also like to say that I hope that people won't identify people they recognize here- I've never even met commenter "Becky", and enough info has been given here by others that I know who she is too! Many of us will recognize friends or aquaintances here, or think we do (and be wrong about it!), but people want to remain anonymous for the sake of honest discussion, I think we should respect that.
How catty has this become... to Becky - I think this person is just jealous that your family has bought their childhood home or I could be wrong perhaps it is just the emotions of her pregnancy!
to Anon: Grow up! This site is not intended for personal attacks or defamation of character- use another means to voice "your" opinion... you do not speak for all of "US"! And for the record is your family not "1/2 white" and from the South? Does ones "make up" really matter?
Okay Okay time for the moderator to step in... Geez you all have really gone wild with this one.
First, the Agent will not edit comments unless they are threatening or off-color as in name calling or swearing. If you post a comment on this blog and are "outed" that's your own fault for giving us too much detail. I'm not going to come to your rescue, and it's up to you to either defend yourself or drop the issue.
Second. To respond to Balbulican's original comment. There are lots of good stories in Nunavut which don't make the news. In fact, a friend of mine has done a boat load of good things for this community , and probably has volunteered over 300 hours of her own time, and has she ever been recognized for it? Nope - I would love to write a post about her, but she won't let me. For obvious reasons....
We all know that "bad" news makes for good headlines... how many people died in that car wreck, or how many dollars have the government wasted are typical stories which usually make headlines in the media. This Blog has a lot of negative stuff, but If you have positive things to say that don't get press coverage, lets here em!
Some of the comments on this post read like a cheap daytime soap. I have been in the north for 11 years now and no matter how hard you try or how much work you do, you will never be accepted up here as a southerner.
On April 1 1999, I was asked about 8 times, "Why are you still here? All white people are supposed to leave as this is our land now!"
I have been told by the GN what I can post on my personal; website. I thought this was a free country but I guess I am wrong. Agent was right in saying that there are many good storied up here as well but unfortunately they are far less than the negative ones.
Take for example the latest HR tour. There are two Inuit representatives traveling the territory giving a lecture on the GN. Part of that lecture goes like this, quote" We are tired of white people taking our jobs and retiring on our money". This is what the GN is pushing out to the population. I have had some of my Inuit friends say they had to leave this presentation as they started to feel uncomfortable.
In my 11 years up here I have seen this territory go backwards. I have seen the racism get more prevalent. And it is only going to get allot worst before it starts to get better.
It actually saddens me to see the state of affairs in Nunavut. I thought as Canadians we go over the whole racist discrimination but it looks as if Nunavut is keeping it alive.
Arctic Agent:
Happened upon your blog today - I can understand the need to vent in a way that doesn't get people in trouble.
Was surpised by your washing your hands comment re. the "outing" of that dastardly American. She didn't "out" herself, she didn't indicate her community, nor did she describe her job. She did provide a personal story that obviously involves the family of anonymous 1:48.
It was that (did someone say chicken shit?) sick little coward who is hiding behind her computer that did the outing based on her own racist agenda.
I would like to point out the dastardly American isn't outing this person back (we know about her cultural background, community, family history (or at least former living quarters), and fecundity, so it's not like she can't be identified). Indicates something of this horrible American's character I think.
I think you're making a mistake in not insuring the privacy of anonymous 1:56. I certainly won't post further on this site.
Post a Comment