09/24/2026
"Atuqpakhimajatka iliharvingmi nakuungitut. Amigaitut naglikhaaqpaktut uvalu ulugiahukpiaqhutik. Uqaqtukhaungitugut uqauhiptingnik. Ilaani mihigimajunga uqaqtailijauvakhimajunga, nipaitumik, uvalu naamangitunga. Tapkua atuqhimajatit qimalimaitatit. Ilauliqpaktut unipkaarnut.
Ilihimajukhaujutit humit qaihimajutit quviagijaangni. Kangiqhimajakhat atuqpakhimajatit. Kangiqhigungni atuqpakhimajatit inuuhirni, ajuiqtaaqtutit ikajurlutillu piliuriami nakuutqiamik hivunikharnik.
Havaktakhavut ublumi naunaijaijaangat annaktauvakhimajut puiguqtaulimaitun. Pihimalugit puiguqtaungitaangini inmi unipkaatik, piksatik, atuqhimajatiklu tutquumavikhaqaqtukhat. Mamiharniq havauhikhaa. Itqumajuq mamitiqpallialiqtugut nakuuhivaliajugut. Inuuhirittialiqtugut, takuvaktugullu inuulrammiit iniktiqtut ilihaqtamingnik, havaaniktitauplutiklu, itqaqpallialiqhugitlu atuqpalialiqhugitlu uqauhitik, ilihaqhutiklu humit qaihimajqmingnik. Inirnikhaavut talvungautivaktaatigut ublumimut. Tadja takujatka inulrammiit hivumuuqtitaatigut ilihimajamingnik, ilihautimingnik, uvalu akhuurutimingnik."
Levinia Brown pittiaqtaunginaqtuq Inirnikhaq Kangiqlinirmin, ilauvakhimajurlu talvani Agnico Eagle Kivallirmi Inirnikhat Uqaudjijunik Katimajiini, aulaqtitauvakhimajurlu aihinun ilihariaqtuqhimavakhimajuq, ilauvakhimajurlu Kavamaliqijunik Katimaviani talvani Nunarjuaptingni Katimaviani Itquumanikkut Nutaanguqtirinirlu. Atuqtilugu tatqiqhiut Itquumanikkut Nutaanguqtirinirlu, qujahuktugut pijakhanik tuhaalugit uvalu iliturilugit Leviniap inuuhiani atuqhimajait, uvalu ihumagilugit akhuurutit kangiqhimalugit kinguliit uvalu pihimalugit tapkua ajuiqhautit hivumut hivuniptingni kingulipta.
Iliturittiarumaguvin mikhaagun Leviniap havaangit hapkunuuna Nunarjuami Katimavia Itquumanikkut Nutaanguqtirinirlu, pulaarlugu: https://nctr.ca/about/meet-the-governing-circle/
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"My experience in school was not good. There was a lot of suffering and a lot of pain. We were not allowed to speak our language. Sometimes I felt shut down, silent, and not enough. Those experiences never leave you. They become part of your story.
You have to know where you come from in order to be satisfied. You have to understand your past. When you understand your past, you can learn from it and help create a better future.
Our work today is about making sure survivors are not forgotten. It is about making sure their stories, their pictures, and their experiences have a home. It is a healing process. The truth is that we are getting better. We are healthier, and we are seeing young people graduate, find careers, rediscover their language, and learn about where they come from. Our elders brought us to where we are today. Now I see young people carrying us forward with their knowledge, their education, and their determination."
- Levinia Brown is a respected Elder from Rankin Inlet, a member of Agnico Eagle's Kivalliq Elders Advisory Committee, a residential school survivor, and a member of the Governing Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. During the month of Truth and Reconciliation, we are grateful for the opportunity to listen to and learn from Levinia's lived experience, and to reflect on the importance of understanding the past and carrying those lessons forward for future generations.
To learn more about Levinia's work through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, please visit: https://nctr.ca/about/meet-the-governing-circle/