Friday March 13, 2026

 Hello friends

Living in the north requires strength, understanding, acceptance and many other unwritten personal qualities.  Qualities that can't me measured or quantified.  But they are necessary for survival.

Last week, a very young, talented and beautiful young lady, who just happened to share my birthdate, went home, and took her life.  She had just returned from another community, triumphant, from a girls volleyball tournament, and was busy planning for the immediate cross country ski trip, and the spring graduation.  A total shock to everyone, including her dearest and closest friends who lived in the same 4 plex.

The school has been operating, half days, with the support of grief councillors from around the north, and the local Truth and Reconciliation folks.  Yesterday, John Hill, from Kelowna, the best know grief councillor in Canada,  arrived, and will be here indefinitely.

Last Saturday morning, in an un related incident, a local Inuit man, armed himself with a shot gun, and was driving around the community shooting at everyone.  After a 5 hour pursuit and stand off, he finally surrendered to the Nunavik Police.  Very fortunately, no one was injured.

Yesterday, a well respected elder, suddenly passed away.

The entire community of 600 people is indeed in distress, shock, sadness and trauma.  This is a familiar state of affairs that we southerners have absolutely no idea about.  I am so sad about it all.  It is very difficult to face others at this time, but we have to do it because life does go on.

For me, I had a severe panic attack on Thursday evening at 10:00 PM.  I called the vice principal, and he immediately called for the ambulance to take me to our 2 nurse practitioner clinic.   They immediately set about doing the tests necessary to see if I was having a heart attack.  They were so worried, they called for the air ambulance, and at 3:00 am, I was flown to Kuujjuaq for further tests. By 6:00 in the morning, the doctor was able to tell me that I had had a clinical, mental break down caused by stress.  No heart attack.  I was released my noon, with medication, and arrived back in Kangirsuk by 5:00 pm.

Why am I sharing all of this--probably because we in the south really don't understand the reality of these rural indigenous communities.  It is so easy to dismiss the trauma that we are experiencing, and to make quick judgements about what should or should not be happening--the fact is it is happening, and how it is dealt with is the important thing.

Our vp has been amazing, and is keeping the school open, at least in the mornings.  What will happen next is unknown.  

Our staff is very fragile.  One teacher has vision problems, she will not be back, another teacher has had a recent family tragedy, he is leaving, and our dear, dear school councilor is going on leave.  We are down 3 teachers, and there are no substitutes.  We have not been told of the plan yet.  The Inuit staff is torn apart because of the death of the elder.  All around, it is pretty sad.

I am very  sorry to depress you, but this is the reality of the north.  If you believe in prayers, please send some our way.

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