How radio is lifting spirits in a Nunavut hamlet hit hard by COVID-19

Story Transcript

Ask residents of Arviat, Nunavut, to describe their community, and they'll tell you what a friendly and social place it is. 

In pre-pandemic times, the hamlet would be bustling with activities to keep residents entertained, and neighbours would be striking up conversations in the streets.

But more than 110 days after the community went into lockdown, Arviarmiut are relying on radio airwaves to stay connected virtually, and to help each other through the pandemic.

"The local radio station is the lifeline right now," Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. told The Current's Matt Galloway. "It's used for anything and everything. So that's what we're taking advantage of … to send positive messages and daily updates on COVID numbers." 

Arviat is the southernmost mainland community in Nunavut, and is located on the edge of Hudson Bay. For most of the year, the only way in or out is by plane. 

It's been the epicentre of the territory's COVID-19 outbreak, accounting for 337 of Nunavut's 381 total confirmed cases to date. As a result, Arviat has been under tight lockdown measures since November, including a curfew, business and school closures, and a ban on social gatherings. 

Restrictions are set to ease Wednesday. But throughout the community's state of emergency, announcers at Arviaqpaluk radio, on 96.5 FM, have been serving up live music, games, and conversation in hopes of keeping people's spirits up while they remain physically apart. 

Savikataaq Jr. is a familiar voice on the local radio station. Every night around 7 p.m., he and his daughter, June Savikataaq, take over the airwaves to remind people they can persevere through this difficult time. 

After so many days in lockdown, he said people are feeling COVID fatigue.

"It's been quite a challenge to try and keep people calm," Savikataaq Jr. said. "And the mental aspects of it are just as dangerous as the virus itself, if not even more dangerous."

Bringing calm to the community

Laura Tassiuk, who manages the radio station, recognizes the psychological impact of the pandemic too.

She said Arviat went into "chaos" when the first COVID-19 case was detected there in November. The station doubled its hours on air to try to quell some of the anxiety in the community, she said.

Sometimes announcers ask listeners to send in their favourite photos through social media, or invite guests on to talk about mental health. Other times, people call in to share positive messages from other communities, or to connect with family members who live outside Arviat.

In one instance, Tassiuk said, a mother called from out of town to to tell her kids she was doing OK, and to remind them to clean the house.

Although the pandemic has been tough, she said the radio station is keeping people's minds calm.

"People [are] calling and saying the radio has helped them so much, mentally," said Tassiuk.

Amber Kadjuk agrees. She helps lead the effort at the radio station.

She said staying apart has been extremely difficult for her tight-knit community, because everyone is like family.

"I think it's the most powerful thing, right now — the radio — because it keeps everyone on the same page," she said.

Being able to bring people some laughter or enjoyment helps remind residents "that we're one strong community, and no matter what, we're always there for each other," Kadjuk added.

'We're a social society'

Joe Karetak, with the Arviat Wellness Society, hosts a show every Monday dedicated to traditional teachings. It's spoken mostly in Inuktitut, and features elders who share advice and offer their perspectives on different issues.

Karetak said the local radio station has always been important to Arviat. But it's become even more critical during the pandemic, because it's where the community can hear local people in conversation — something they haven't been able to do in person.

"We're a very social society. People just randomly talk about anything, and often they're quite humorous," he said.

"The radio station is one of the things that you can continue doing that, and so at a time like this, it really does lift up your spirits."

Savikataaq Jr. said it's been quite a year — his first as Arviat's mayor. Hundreds of COVID-19 cases have now been resolved in the hamlet, and about half of eligible residents have received their vaccine, he said.

After more than 100 days in lockdown, the mayor said he thinks his community is not only the friendliest in Nunavut, but also the most patient.

He said it will "make a huge difference" for people to be able to gather again in some small capacity starting on Wednesday.

But he's most looking forward to the day when life fully returns to normal in Arviat.

"First thing I want to do is see people visiting each other again and being able to see their children and their grandchildren, and get together and have games and dances at the community hall here, like we normally do," Savikataaq Jr. said. 

"And that will be quite the day when it does happen."

Written by Kirsten Fenn. Produced by Ben Jamieson.

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This story is the part of Canada's Road Ahead, The Current's series talking to Canadians about how the pandemic has changed their lives, and what comes next. Read more of those stories below.