Final Report Team –Québec Winter Games 2006

Prepared by:

Frankie Gordon Chef de Mission

1 Table of Contents

Page

General Unit Management...... 3 Accommodations ...... 3 Banquets...... 3 Catering...... 3 Ceremonies and Awards ...... 3 Communications ...... 4 Cultural Program...... 4 Facilities and Equipment...... 4 Financial Support...... 4 Forms and Publications...... 5 Insurance...... 5 Media ...... 5 Medical Services...... 5 Team Booklet...... 5 Registration and Accreditation ...... 5 Results...... 5 Security ...... 6 Social Activities...... 6 Sports ...... 6 Transportation...... 6 Welcome and Send-off ...... 7 International Committee ...... 7 Team Selection Process ...... 7 AWG Unit Involvement Summary –2006 Games...... 8 Summary of Revenue and Expenditures...... 9

2 General Unit Management The Kativik Regional Government (KRG) Recreation Department has been responsible for the administration, co-ordination and participation of Team Nunavik–Québec at the bi-annual Arctic Winter Games (AWG) since 2000. On these four occasions (2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006), Team Nunavik–Québec has participated as a guest unit. The most recent AWG were held in Kenai Peninsula, . Once again, the region received the financial backing of provincial, regional and federal organizations, including the Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions (municipal affairs and regions), the Secrétariat à la jeunesse (youth secretariat), the Makivik Corporation, the Saputiit Youth Association, and the Canadian government’s new Relations Secretariat. For their part, the Kativik School Board allowed school gym facilities to be used for training and contributed certain human resources, while many municipalities in the region provided support for their local athletes.

Accommodations The accommodations provided were comfortable. The ‘beds to heads’ system allowed our Team to make roommate arrangements in advance and it also allowed for interaction with other contingents. Athletes and coaches appreciated the easy access to cafeterias, including the fact that special guests were welcomed in the main cafeteria.

With respect to sleeping quarters, it might have been suitable for security personnel to check for cleanliness. Perhaps a system could be put in place for the next AWG. Two other recommendations would be to separate the cafeteria from the sleeping quarters and to have the dedicated male/female showers closer to the male/female sleeping quarters. Finally, it would have been more convenient if the mission headquarters, accommodation and meeting room were located within walking distance from accommodations.

Banquets AWG banquets always provide delicious finger foods and desserts. This year in Alaska, the banquets were no different given the excellent selection of salmon and king crab. In the future, Team Nunavik– mission staff intend to be more present at these invitation-only events.

Catering At the cafeterias, catering services were well organized and the food was plentiful. We had no complaints this year concerning opening and closing hours. Team Nunavik– Québec didn’t require many box lunches; there were always food venues at or near the event sites. Our compliments go to the food services at the outdoor venues.

Ceremonies and Awards The opening ceremonies were well organized and were able to harness the excitement of participants. The mix of guest speakers, youth dancers and cultural performances was entertaining. Hobo Jim of Alaska did an especially good job with the theme song.

3 The closing ceremonies (speeches and entertainment) were planned to take into account the charter departures of the various contingents. Organizers did a good job making sure all participants made it to their designated buses.

It was also a very good idea to give special guests and VIPs an opportunity to present awards. However, if this is repeated in the future, it would be helpful to keep the special guests and VIPs informed of event times since some events do not closely follow their scheduled times.

Communications The mission headquarters was well equipped with the necessary communication technologies and volunteer staff were always available to provide assistance to mission staff and coaches. The cell phones provided were especially helpful.

Cultural Program The cultural program organizer was very enthusiastic and succeeded in bringing out the best in all participants. In fact, cultural performers were perhaps the luckiest of all participants; because they had to travel to many different locations, performers had a chance to experience a mix of Alaska’s scenic beauty and cultures.

Team Nunavik–Québec’s cultural coach expressed some concern about the similarity of performances delivered by another contingent. She recommended that programs (which is to say the songs to be performed) be scheduled at least a day in advance to allow all performers time to properly prepare.

Facilities and Equipment The facilities used for the Inuit Games were very well co-ordinated. Coaches and athletes had no complaints. As for the Games, the facilities were very handy as both indoor and outdoor games were located within walking distance of athlete accommodations. The same comment applies snow-shoeing events. The close distance between event venues and accommodations helped to keep most competitions on schedule. All the equipment provided worked well and all volunteers were very helpful.

With respect to snow-shoeing in particular, Team Nunavik–Québec would like to extend a thank you to coaches from the and the . We greatly appreciated their assistance both with equipment and coaching for our athletes and coach. This was the first year that Team Nunavik–Québec participated in the snow-shoeing event. The experience has taught us that further training needs to be developed and proper equipment purchased prior to the next AWG.

Financial Support As was the case for the AWG in 2004, Team Nunavik–Québec received financial support from the KRG, the Makivik Corporation, the Saputiit Youth Association, Nunalituqait Ikajuqatigiitut Inuit Association, the Québec government’s Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions (municipal affairs and regions) and its Secrétariat à la jeunesse (youth secretariat), as well as the Canadian government’s new Inuit Relations

4 Secretariat. The airlines Air Inuit and First Air also provided discount fares for travel to regional trials held in 2005 and to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.

Forms and Publications The annual reports of three major Nunavik organizations provided accounts of Team Nunavik–Québec’s participation at the AWG in2004 in addition to publicizing the 2006 AWG. Two promotional posters were produced to publicize Nunavik’s regional trials and the AWG. The annual calendar produced by the KRG Recreation Department to announce recreation and social events also underlined the upcoming AWG. Finally, the Eastern Arctic Summer Games hosted in Kuujjuaraapik–Whapmagoostui showcased potential AWG athletes.

Insurance As in other years, Team Nunavik–Québec purchased its insurance from Québec Blue Cross. The coverage provided protection while participants were travelling and throughout the ten-day event.

Media Nunavik’s Taqramiut Nipingat Inc. (TNI), a regional radio and television broadcaster, was present at Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, for the AWG games. They provided special broadcasts to Nunavik and throughout via the Aboriginal People’s Television Network. In addition to TNI, CBC North also covered Nunavik’s participants at the AWG.

Medical Services Fortunately, no one from Team Nunavik–Québec required medical services. Some participants however expressed interest in the services of the massage therapist.

Team Booklet Similar to the last AWG, summary information booklets for participating teams were distributed to the members of Team Nunavik–Québec, while coaches and mission staff received complete information manuals. Although no formal information session was offered to Team Nunavik–Québec was provided mission staff were able to underline important points prior to departure for the AWG.

Registration and Accreditation This year the on-line registration procedure was simple and convenient. Team Nunavik- Québec will be better prepared for this procedure for the next AWG. The only difficulty we experienced involved photo identification. The on-site accreditation procedure with customs officials flowed very smoothly. Everything was ready on our arrival at the airport terminal.

Results The posting of results for the events in which Team Nunavik–Quebec was involved was very satisfactory at the respective venues. The Ulu News provided great daily coverage. Congratulations to the organizers and publishers in Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.

5 Security Security services were fairly tolerant as regards some curfew issues but also were very reliable. A wallet that had been lost by one member of Team Nunavik–Québec was returned with no money or identification missing. Security at Arctic Sport accommodations seemed a little loose given the presence of the cafeteria: all accredited participants had access to the sleeping quarters and washroom facilities of athletes, coaches and cultural participants. It is recommended that sleeping quarters and washroom facilities be kept separate from the main cafeteria in the future.

Social Activities Both athletes and coaches commented positively about the social activities organized during the AWG. There were plenty of evening activities for the athletes who in their home communities do not normally have access to movie theatres, shopping malls and dance halls. Athletes also spent a good deal of time watching all the other AWG events.

Sports In 2006, Team Nunavik–Québec participated in all categories of the Inuit Games and three categories of the Dene Games. Participation in the junior female category of the Dene Games was new this year. As well, instead of participating in the snowshoe , Team Nunavik–Québec took part in the simple snow-shoeing event and for the first time in the event. By continuing to be involved with Arctic Sports, Team Nunavik–Québec’s mission staff gained further experience as regards the training required by athletes. We are optimistic that we skills and knowledge will continue to increase if Team Nunavik–Québec is permitted to participate in still more events at the 2008 AWG to be held in . After all, the purpose of the AWG is to challenged athletes and coaches and allow them to gain new experiences, or in the words of Hobo Jim “release the spirit within.”

Team Nunavik–Quebec greatly appreciated that the AWG International Committee permitted the region an opportunity to increase its participation at the 2006 AWG. The region participated for the first time in the junior female category of the Dene Games, in the badminton event and in the snow-shoeing event. For the 2008 AWG, Team Nunavik– Quebec will be asking the AWG International Committee to participate in all categories of the snow-shoeing and badminton events. The region also remains interested in participating in hockey and other team events. Nunavimmiut’s passion for hockey, in particular, runs very high. In the future, we would also like to expand our participation into individual sports such as Inuit , speed-skating.

Transportation The challenges posed by air transportation are always the same: distance and high costs. Nunavik comprises 14 isolated villages. As a result, we must rely on the airline company Air Inuit to first gather all participants at a central location in the region prior to a final departure for the AWG. This year, the airline company First Air carried Team Nunavik– Québec to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Both airlines offered excellent discounts and service.

6 One travel highlight this year was the first ever landing of a Boeing 727 jet in the small Nunavik community of Puvirnituq (population 1500) on our return from Kenai Peninsula.

In Kenai Peninsula, bus services were seldom used due to the fact that all accommodations, food services and competition venues (except for the snow-shoe venue) were located nearby. With respect to the snow-shoe venue, transportation services were very well co-ordinated by organizers. Great work and congratulations to all transportation volunteers for getting all the participants to their departure on time.

Welcome and Send-off Team Nunavik–Québec was well received. In fact, we were pleased that a photograph of one of our athletes made it on the front page of the Ulu News. This raised our spirits and made us feel like a major player in the 2006 AWG. The accreditation procedure was a little confusing due to the colour-coded system. While some participants’ luggage was misplaced, it eventually found its way to the right accommodations. It would have been helpful if directions (colour-coded signs and volunteers) had more clearly indicated which bus was to take participants to the accommodation venues.

Once again, volunteers did a good job getting participants to the airport for their departures after the end of the closing ceremonies.

Arctic Winter Games International Committee For the past four AWG, the AWG International Committee has welcomed Team Nunavik–Québec as guest unit. These four AWG have provided our region with a great opportunity to become acquainted with the ins and outs of participation at the AWG. And now, we are optimistically awaiting an invitation to participate in the 2008 AWG being planned for Yellowknife.

The chairperson of the KRG and the president of the Makivik Corporation attended a brief meeting with the president and executive director of the AWG International Committee. The major topics of discussion were the governing body that will be responsible for future regional participation, an assessment of the current AWG and the future involvement of Team Nunavik–Québec.

Team Nunavik–Quebec’s presentation made it clear that the KRG will remain responsible for regional participation in future games, in co-operation with the Québec government and Nunavik partners such as the Makivik Corporation. As mentioned above in the section concerning sports, Team Nunavik–Québec is interested in expanding its involvement at the 2008 AWG, possibly participating in more snow-shoeing and badminton categories, in new individual events such as Inuit wrestling and , as well as in certain team events such as hockey, or soccer.

Team Selection Process There were two major phases for selecting the 50 members of Team Nunavik–Québec. These included the bi-annual Eastern Arctic Summer Games (held in Kuujjuaraapik– Whapmagoostui in the summer of 2005) and the regional trials (held in Quaqtaq in

7 December 2005). At the Eastern Arctic Summer Games, the KRG Recreation Department scouted potential athletes who could be invited to participate at the regional trials where the final selection was made for the 2006 Team. Because Nunavik’s 14villages are not connected by road, all travel to these events was by air. As well, there were a few last minute changes prior to departure for Kenai Peninsula as four members (two athletes, one coach and one mission staff) did not possess proper identification. Similar procedures are being planned to select athletes and coaches for the 2008 AWG.

AWG Unit Involvement Summary –2006 Games

Arctic Sports (Inuit and Dene games, badminton and snow-shoeing)

Participation Summary Eastern Arctic Games Regional Trials AWG Athletes 330 estimated 115 estimated 36 Coaches 12 10 5 Mission staff 4 7 4 Cultural - - 5 Chaperone 20 2 - Sport officials 10 4 - Total 376 estimated 138 50

Communities involved 13 12 10 Aboriginal athletes involved 320 135 49 Male athletes involved 200 estimated 78 estimated 27 Female athletes involved 176 estimated 60 estimated 14

8 2006 Arctic Winter Games Summary of Revenue and Expenditures

REVENUE

Kativik Regional Government (Nunavik organization) 147 304 Makivik Corporation (Nunavik organization) 81 000 Bi-annual Québec government contribution (MAMSL) 30 000 Federal government (DIAND) 25 000 Saputiit Youth Association and Secrétariat à la Jeunesse 63 600 Air Inuit 8 571 est. First Air 39 000 est. Nunalituqait Ikajuqatigiitut Inuit Association 5 000

Total $399 475

EXPENDITURES

Transportation - First Air 299 000 - Air Inuit (30% airfare discount offered for regional trials) 28 571 - Travelling expenses 5 000 Uniforms and accessories 38 000 Cultural performers 6 000 Membership / registration fee 5 000 Equipment and materials (vehicle rentals) 5 862 Publicity and promotion 4 500 Incidentals 5 000 Team insurance –travel coverage 2 542

Total $399 475

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