Monday, September 21, 1998
Empowerment is one of those things that's easier to accept than it is to make work.
Fort Simpson found that out two weeks ago, when MACA told the village to scale back infrastructure improvement plans.
When MACA expressed its concerns about the level of debt the village was carrying, one community councillor noted the village always ends up getting the short end of the stick every time it makes a deal with MACA.
When considering taking over territorial responsibilities, communities need to very carefully weigh the big dollars empowerment provides against the big responsibilities that go with them.
Fishing figures largely in the economic make-up of the North. A traditional food, fish are proving to be a potential modern asset.
This past year's harvest was down from the previous year. Peculiar weather was a factor.
Asian markets are interested in both whitefish and whitefish roe. A lower Canadian dollar helped boost foreign enthusiasm. All this points to an industry that is worth developing. High on the list of priorities must be the preservation of the environment in which fish flourish.
A look at the state of fisheries on both the east and west coasts underscores the importance of stock management.
Fish, a truly renewable resource, are a Northern asset. Let's make sure that we keep the long term in view.
Each year, hunters, hikers, fishermen and other outdoor types who travel into the Northern wilderness get far more adventure than they bargained for when they get lost.
The immense wilderness here makes getting lost easy, and makes rescuing very difficult and very costly. This was clearly demonstrated on Labour Day weekend, when a search was mounted for an Edmonton resident with 25 years hunting experience who got lost while chasing caribou on the barrens.
Camps and lodges who deal with southerners bear some responsibility for making their guests understand that wilderness experience in the south counts for little in the North, where you can walk in a straight line for two months and never cross a road.
Editorial comment
Glen Korstrom
Inuvik Drum
Despite hail and near- freezing weather, dozens of people took part at the noon- hour Inuvik Peace Day ceremony Sept. 14.
Organizer Mary Beckett touched on the noble yet naive notion with which many supported involvement in the two World Wars.
That was the notion that each war would be the last war. Unfortunately, one constant in the history of humanity has been war and violence whether by governments, individuals or religious sects.
Thankfully, living in Inuvik means less violence than in many places around the globe. Things would be different living in Israel or northern Ireland not to mention many parts of the United States.
The peace ceremony turn out could have been larger.
Maybe cold hail kept people away. Maybe it was that people can take things for granted. That's why there are often low voter turnouts in places where democracy is strongly entrenched.
With Russia still testing nuclear missiles in Arctic waters and undergoing internal political instability, who knows how long peace can survive here.
If there is one thing this world needs more of, it's love.
And more people who can love like it's never going to hurt.
Discretion and tact needed
Regardless of the job, sometimes tact and discretion are in order.
I thought about this while sitting through the liquor board hearing on potentially suspending the Blue Moon Bistro's liquor licence Sept. 15.
Debate focused on whether Bistro manager Talal Khatib removed liquor from the tables by 2:15 a.m. or 2:25 a.m.
Khatib said staff removed bottles as usual at 2:15, but some customers thought it would be funny to hide their drinks underneath the tables so they could keep them.
Though the hearing verdict was unavailable by press time, the decision is set to have been rendered by the time you read this.
Khatib has operated the business for years and knows how to keep the peace while following the intent of the law.
I have to say I am personally uncomfortable with laws limiting the freedom of business owners to make money and of individuals to buy a legal product just because of the time on the clock.
Khatib was not operating an after-hours booze can at 4 a.m. He is a restaurateur who tried his best to keep the peace while whittling down the number of customers with alcohol left.
For that he should be commended.
Clamping down after a few minutes may make for a lot more work for police.
Editorial comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
Fort Simpson was abuzz with activity last week.
A couple of meetings convened on Tuesday evening alone.
The youth group met and decided to research what activities are currently available to youth. They will meet again next week and chart their course from that point.
A few blocks over, representatives from Municipal and Community Affairs broke the news to village council that funding for an upgrade to the sewage treatment plant is not available. Not surprisingly, MACA has had its budget slashed like everyone else, according to Don MacDonald, the senior advisor for community monitoring. At the same time, it was made clear that Fort Simpson's deficit is a growing concern. Last year, despite block funding that was supposed to help eliminate the deficit, the village wound up $869,000 in the red. One of MACA's suggestions to help generate revenue was to make local taxpayers cough up some money for the sewage and road work along 100 Street. Doesn't sound good. MACA left that decision in council's hands.
Another meeting, this time in the guise of a "public hearing," took place Thursday evening when the Electoral Boundaries Commission landed in the village. Several people showed up to express their concerns about Yellowknife potentially getting too many MLAs and too much say. The consensus among those present was that the Denedeh district ought to be split along the Mackenzie River, with Fort Simpson, Wrigley and Jean Marie River remaining together while Fort Liard, Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte would form a riding of their own.
Friday evening was the feeding the fire ceremony for the Y2Y Conference. The delegates gathered over the weekend to discuss conservation efforts from Yellowstone National Park to the Yukon.
From what I heard, the majority think that people in the North have a promising opportunity to continue protecting natural habitats. Liidlii Kue Chief Rita Cli pointed out that the First Nations people have always cared for the land. She made it clear that the government should sit up, take notice and respect their rights and wishes. The event closed with a well-attended community feast and drum dance.
Saturday marked the return of the Fall Fair. Considering it had been on a 20-year hiatus, it would have to have been deemed a success. An incredible array of produce, baked goods, preserves, crafts and artwork bedecked the tables. Congratulations to all who took part. Next year, the event could be twice as big if only half of the visitors get involved.
Sunday saw the annual two-day First Air Golf Tournament wrap up. The golden leaves on the trees indicate that golfing season is hanging on by its fingertips, but there are a couple of events left on the links before Fort Simpson's golfers pack the bags away for the winter.
Something that has to be mentioned is the fact that I, like so many others, pop in and out of these events. When I get there, they are in progress and everything is running smoothly. Well, it certainly doesn't happen by itself. There are some very dedicated individuals who ensure success by spending countless hours setting up, checking details and cleaning up after it's all over. Without them, there would be no conferences, fairs, feasts, drum dances or tournaments. My hat is off to you.
See you next week.