Final Report 2010

General Unit Management

The Kativik Regional Government (KRG) Recreation Department has been responsible for the administration, coordination and participation of Team Nunavik Quebec at the Arctic Winter Games (AWG) since 2000. Since then, Team Nunavik Quebec has participated as guest unit with limited participation in selected events. The 2010 AWG were held in Grande Prairie, Alberta. As in the past, the region received financial and manpower contributions from the provincial, and regional organizations; including the Minister of Education, Sports, and Leisure (Quebec Government), Ungaluk Program, Makivik Corporation, Saputiit Youth Association, Kativik School Board, Cree School Board, Tulattavik Hospital, and KRG. Local recreation and education facilities were used in many municipalities in the region to support, train, and encourage our youth.

Preparation for Grande Prairie was began in the fall of 2008 with regional events. At the “Games”, team Nunavik-Quebec was successful in many aspects. Mission staff, coaches and athletes were consistent in making strong efforts to respond to the many AWG tasks and challenges, while returning with many medals. The Chef de Mission presence and leadership of Jean Dupuis contributed a strong support and direction for all of the delegation. Planning and operations set up by Assistant Chef de Mission Jennifer Matchett, was instrumental in helping all team members focus their efforts on a successful participation. Administrative support and engagement by the KRG Executive and Council from beginning to end ensured that the plan worked.

Accommodations

Regional Trials During the regional tryouts, the prospective athletes were hosted by families, schools, and youth centers in the villages where the trials were held. Prior to the games, the team members all resided in one common facility where catering, laundry, and transportation services were provided. This lodging facility was under an agreement with the Northern Village of Kuujjuaq.

Arctic Winter Games The accommodations at the AWG were comfortable and were organized by contingent and gender. Athletes and coaches resided in the same room for the duration of the games, and only the cultural contingent shared their room with other contingents. The successful security precautions at the schools were an asset to the wellbeing of our athletes.

Catering

Regional Trials During the regional trials, local caterers were employed to ensure that healthy breakfast, lunch and supper options were available to all those involved.

2 Prior to departure for the games, a local caterer was hired to provide nutritious meals and snacks to the team members. The hours were posted at the accommodation facility and meals were served in the kitchen at the facility.

Arctic Winter Games The cafeteria for the 2010 games was well organized. The food was fine however the selections were limited. The box lunches were provided for some of the athletes who were competing during cafeteria meal hours. These were well prepared and available in advance daily. This made the transportation of these lunches fluid.

Ceremonies and Awards

Opening Ceremonies were well organized and truly captured the spirit of the games with both artistic and modern pieces. One of the highlights of this ceremony was the singing, by the local choir, of five national anthems. The preshow for the athletes was chaotic however, as the groups were not assigned to specific areas in Bowes Family Center, and the wait was very long for the athletes in their winter gear.

The closing ceremonies were also well planned. The speakers and performers did a fantastic job to wrap up the games on an exciting and overwhelming note with a variety of local demonstrations of dance, song, and traditions. The procedure following the closing worked well and all our coaches, mission staff, and chaperones were well versed in what to expect and do following the closing; this in turn made it easier for the organization of the transportation of our athletes.

Awarding of the AWG Ulus after each event, made things run smoothly for the participants. Team Nunavik Quebec was able to return home with 36 medals and 1 new world record in triple jump.

Communications

The mission headquarters was well equipped with all the necessary equipment for communication. The team employed one staff to continually monitor the office and three communications staff.

The communications staff worked very hard to ensure Nunavik was well informed of everything that was happening. Through newsletters to the athletes, facebook, and the team website; Nunavik was able to view the results and events of the 2010 AWG.

The host society provided cell phones for all the mission staff; these were essential for the office staff, chef and assistant chef to keep contact with the mission staff who, in turn, was keeping their athletes and coaches informed. The Communication network worked very well at these games.

3 Cultural Program

The cultural program was a huge success this year. The cultural group consisted of four dancers and two throat singers who performed a beautiful mélange of the modern and the traditional. The group was asked to perform for the local fashion show in Grande Prairie during their stay.

The group enjoyed their time in Grande Prairie. They were able to perform at many venues in Grande Prairie. The group was asked to host a workshop in their accommodation venue for the other participants.

The cultural groups did not have an opportunity interact with each other. This is something that would be strongly recommended for future games, to have a cultural exchange where the different groups would be able to see one another perform and learn from one another and create a unique piece that blends all the cultures together

We would also recommend a second technical practice for the groups on the day of the second gala performance. Also, the master of ceremonies should be present at the practice for the galas this would eliminate mistakes in the presentation of the cultural groups.

Facilities and Equipment

Regional Trials For the regional trials, the facilities used in the communities, was fine for the events being held. However, new equipment will need to be purchased to ensure the proper training of athletes.

Arctic Winter Games The facilities for the AWG 2010 were great. Although the snowshoe course needed to be adjusted probably due to mild weather, everything worked very well.

Financial Support

As in previous years, Team Nunavik Quebec received financial support from KRG, Makivik Corporation, Kativik School Board, Saputiit Youth Association, Quebec Government’s Minister de l’Education, Loisier, et du Sport, and Ungaluk Program.

Air Inuit was instrumental in providing discounted airfare for travel to regional trials and to the Arctic Winter Games.

Forms and Publications

Multiple promotional posters were produced to publicize the regional trials in Nunavik, and to encourage youth to participate in the games. Press Releases were handled by the KRG Communications Department.

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Media

Nunavik’s regional radio stations were the main source of communication to the region. Updates were given by Sarah Beaulne, Office Administrator, and various team members while attending the games.

Facebook, Team Nunavik Quebec Website, Taqramiut Nipingat (TNI) and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC Tuttavik), the two regional radios, were the major form of communication about the games. For upcoming games, TNI would like to be informed in advance so they might be able to register for the games as media and be able to have more emphasis on the team’s activities.

Medical Services

There were a few minor injuries during these games. Services received at the AWG Polyclinic were professional and all encompassing. Massage therapy, Chiropractic x- rays, and physiotherapy were all available.

Team Handbook

This year the development of the team handbook held all the critical information for the team to function. The handbook gave job descriptions, code of conduct information, appeal process, and consequences for major and minor misconducts. Formal information sessions were held for all participants during the regional trails and once immediately during the pregame meetings in Kuujjuaq prior to leaving for Grande Prairie.

Registration and Accreditation

All registrations were completed online. The entire team was registered through the recreation department and all photos were registered at the final selection camp in November of 2009. Missing photos were taken by the recreation advisors during their village trips and submitted.

The deadlines for registration were very accommodating for all contingents. However the registration timeline was short. There was no on site accreditation required for Team Nunavik Quebec this year.

Upon arrival in Grande Prairie, all the accreditation badges were available and the process flowed smoothly and quickly.

Results

The posting of results was once again satisfactory.

5 The posting on the team website, updates on the regional radios, and updating facebook worked very well.

Security

In the athlete’s village, there were some discrepancies with the security personnel at the being at one of our accommodations. However the host society was very quick at responding and things were drastically improved

Security services were uniformed in red at all venues, however at the schools, not everyone wore their assigned uniforms sometimes making it difficult to spot security.

Security at the activity venues was very good. They were continuously checking accreditation and ensuring the safety of those in the buildings.

Social Activities

Athletes and Coaches were extremely grateful for the events; the only complaint by the participants was the wish to have more opportunity to socialize with others.

Prior to the start of the games, the team members had some time to enjoy shopping, movies, and fast food.

Sports

For the 2010 AWG, Team Nunavik Quebec participated in 5 sports: Arctic Sports, Dene Games, Snowshoeing, Table Tennis, and Badminton.

Arctic Sports included three age categories (Open Male, Open Female, and Junior Male) and each age category participated in all sporting disciplines.

Dene Games had four age categories (Open Male, Junior Female, Juvenile Female and Junior Male) and the team participated in all events. One issue that continued to arise often were decisions made by officials who are sometimes unaware of the Tech package information, or they sometimes overruled technical package, because of their regional application of rules according to the spirit of the games as they know them. They have a valid point, except that for athletes and coaches from outside the area, who are using the technical package as a guide, it is difficult to learn the changes and adjustments during the competitions. It's stressful on officials, athletes and coaches alike

Badminton athletes were in the junior male juvenile male and junior female categories.

Snowshoeing athletes were in the juvenile male, junior male, junior female and juvenile female categories.

6 Table Tennis athletes were in the Junior Female, Juvenile Male and Junior Male categories.

The recreation department will continue to work with the Kativik School Board to implement a number of sporting disciplines at the AWG into the physical education programs at the schools throughout Nunavik. This collaboration between the two organizations will increase the interest, performance and abilities of youth in the region.

Team Nunavik Quebec greatly appreciated that the AWG International Committee permitted the region an opportunity to continue their participation in the 2010 AWG. For 2012 AWG, Team Nunavik Quebec will be asking the AWG International Committee to maximize our participation in the above listed events, to allow participation increase in all individual events.

Transportation

The challenges posed by air transportation are always the same: distance and high costs. Nunavik comprises 14 isolated villages and as a result, we must rely on Air Inuit to first gather all participants at a central location in the region prior to the final departure to the AWG. This year, Air Inuit was responsible to get all the athletes to Kuujjuaq to prepare for their departure to Grande Prairie, and the charter to the games.

Airlines offered superior service and excellent discounts to the team.

Welcome and Send Off

The team was welcomed to Grande Prairie by a happy group of volunteers cheering at the airport.

The Send Off was well organized and prepared. The group received clear instructions on how to proceed and the team was transported to the airport with no issues.

Volunteers were great and did a wonderful job in these processes.

Arctic Winter Games International Committee

For the past six games, the AWG International Committee has welcomed Team Nunavik- Quebec as a guest unit. These six AWG have provided our region with a great opportunity to become acquainted with the all the policies and procedures for participation in the AWG. We are now optimistically awaiting an invitation to participate in the 2012 AWG in Whitehorse, Yukon.

The chairperson of KRG, the Director General of the KRG, and the Chef de Mission attended a meeting with the president of the International Committee to discuss increasing participation in future games. Though no decision is final, we will continue to work towards that goal.

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Team Selection Process

There was one major phase for recruiting athletes for the 2010 AWG. This phase included multiple trials for the each discipline at various communities in Nunavik. Each person who wished to participate in the 2010 games, needed to attend a minimum of one regional trial to qualify for selection.

Once the team was selected, all identification was photocopied and information for registration was collected to ensure that all athletes would be prepared for the departure. All athletes were required to have a KRPF id card; these were distributed prior to departure to Grande Prairie.

AWG Unit Involvement Summary – 2010 Games

Participation Regional Trials AWG Summary Athletes 193 43 Coach/ Official 28 16 Mission Staff 10 9 Cultural 6 6 Chaperones 25 2 Total 262 76

Communities 12 8 Involved Male 170 42 Female 92 32

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2010 Arctic Winter Games Summary of Revenue and Expenditures

REVENUE

Kativik Regional Government Regional Fund (Nunavik Organization) 92 000 Quebec Government (MELS) 30 000 Saputiit Youth Association 73 625 Ungaluk Funding 828 678

Total 1 024 303

EXPENDITURES

Transportation: Air Inuit 644 870 Traveling Expenses 78 162 Hotel 7 600

Uniforms / Equipment / Accessories 196 750

Membership / Registration Fees 5 000

Vehicle Rentals 6 761

Publicity and Promotion 31 000

Incidentals / Technical Staff 54 160

Total 1 024 303

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