Press Release
Qikiqtaniq Voices: Live Broadcast of QIA Community Engagement Hearings
Igloolik, November 9th, 2015 – IsumaTV and NITV are pleased to announce the live broadcast of the QIA Community Engagement Tour for Phase II of the Mary River Project.
As part of its community project Qikiqtani Voices, NITV is broadcasting radio shows live from the QIA engagement tour, airing in Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Hall Beach, Igloolik and Pond Inlet as well as live streaming and archiving on IsumaTV at www.Isuma.TV/Qikiqtani-Internet-TV.
This week, QIA is travelling to the 5 communities directly affected by the Mary River Project to consult face-to face with beneficiaries, and discuss the proposed changes to the project. Community Hall open houses and radio show conversations hosted by, among others, by QIA President PJ Akeeagok and NIT President Cathy Towtongie, are scheduled in each community.
Qikiqtani Voices is an initiative by NITV and filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk to bring community capacity and infrastructure to help the North Baffin communities participate constructively in ongoing dialogue and consultation about the Mary River mine.
Since 2012, Zacharias Kunuk and his team, including human rights lawyer Llyod Lipsett, have been working together with people across the region, Inuit organizations, and the Nunavut Impact Review Board to help transmit information about the Mary River project and share what everyone has to say.
To help connect people, media equipment has been installed in all 5 communities involved. NITV is producing local radio programs for broadcast, as well making them available online on IsumaTV. The website, at www.Isuma.TV/Qikiqtani-Internet-TV hosts a page for each community with live streaming from their local radio, as well as archived radio shows, video interviews and supporting documents about the Mary River Project.
Content is available 24/7. Listeners can leave comments and questions, or join their Community Page to upload their own videos or audio recording, and share information and ideas between communities.
NITV invites everyone affected by the Mary River Project to tune in to their local radio or visit www.isuma.tv/Qikiqtani-Internet-TV to listen to live consultations and learn more about the project.
People who want to have their own voices heard but cannot attend the open house meetings, can visit www.isuma.tv/user to register for a free user account and upload their own recordings.
Radio shows begins tonight in Pond Inlet at 8pm (EST). The full schedule is available at www.isuma.tv/Qikiqtani-internet-tv/schedule.
Qikiqtani Voices is funded through QIA’s Ilagiiktunut Fund created as a result of the Mary River Project Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement
