It is one thing to have a personal identity crisis; it's another thing when the government and industry are bickering about who you are.

The GNWT and BHP have managed to include two separate definitions of a Northerner in their agreement.

Because the mine has hiring targets, this is important.

The purpose of hiring targets is two-fold: firstly, they are there to ensure that available jobs go to Northerners, so that it is Northerners who benefit from the extraction of their resources; secondly, hiring targets are intended to make sure that the money that spins off from increased employment stays in the community.

When residents are employed, they spend money locally, they pay taxes locally, and this increased activity boosts the local economy.

If, on the other hand, employees are flown in from, let's say, Edmonton, it is the city of Edmonton that reaps these benefits.

In order to keep the local economy rolling, therefore, it is important that the definition of a Northerner do more than pay lip service to Northern residency.

Among other things, there must be some obligation on employees to prove that they actually live in the North. Property tax payments or rent receipts would provide adequate proof.

There is, however, another side to the coin.

Many of the projects that are being developed in the North, or that have been proposed for development, require a huge amount of expertise.

Northern hiring targets shouldn't be viewed as either punitive or restrictive. Companies developing businesses in the North shouldn't be punished for importing the skills they need to get a project off the ground.

Hiring targets should be in place to boost regional economies, not hinder them.

When setting standards, the GNWT has an obligation to the electorate to be both clear and fair.

We all benefit from well planned economic progress.

These are trying times for the North's municipal politicians.

Grants from the territorial government are being cut back. They are being told more authority is coming their way. But they are unwelcome at the devolution table and are scrambling to understand their role in the process of defining aboriginal self-government.

In a territory that is redefining itself through self-government and land claim talks, politicians from our cities, towns and hamlets are feeling left out in the cold.

It must be a frustrating feeling to be on the outside looking in while dramatic changes are under way.

But that is the way it must be.

The first step in the change has to be the settlement of outstanding land claims and conclusion of self-government talks.

Then, the roles of the federal, territorial and aboriginal governments must be fully defined under the current devolution process. Only then can municipal leaders come to the territorial government to hash out their role.

Until then, they must be content with continuing to lobby the GNWT against new funding cuts and play the role of an advisor to the territory when it comes to self-government.

They must also be aware that the future may bring more dramatic changes, even funding transfers, as aboriginal communities assume the role played by some municipalities, and get the cash that goes along with that.

It will likely mean changes in how the North is governed, but, we hope, will clearly define the roles of aboriginal, municipal, territorial and federal governments.

That should lead to less duplication of efforts and better use of taxpayers money.

There's a lot more to teaching children than meets the eye.

Most people would think immediately of the obvious, that of a teacher instructing an entire group of children in the classroom day after day.

What might not be thought of is that same teacher staying after regular hours until a struggling student solves a troublesome problem.

And that teacher might then spend an hour or more coaching a team or directing a play, before grading papers and preparing lessons that evening.

Likewise, the janitors and secretaries and other staff who keep the school operating are not thought of by the public as much as they should be.

The same would hold true for school board members.

This week marks the final board meeting of the Kitikmeot Divisional Educational Council (KDEC). The council, along with all other education boards, will be integrated into the Government of Nunavut's Department of Education as of July 1.

Starting last month, KDEC members have been visiting communities in Kitikmeot as sort of a farewell tour.

They have presented plaques and mementoes to all current staff members in their jurisdiction.

KDEC director Jean Phelps explained this was a way to thank people for working for them, as well as to celebrate the past while looking forward to the challenges ahead.

The council has existed for 12 years and up until two years ago was known as the Kitikmeot Board of Education.

KDEC members are holding their final meeting in Kugluktuk.

Though no doubt the educators and other staff derive satisfaction from their work, it must make them feel a little better just to know that their efforts have been noticed and are appreciated.

The Nunavut Literacy Council is on the right track when it continued the tradition of the NWT Literacy Council with its first Northern Writes writing contest.

Last week the council released the names of dozens of winners from all regions of Nunauvt.

Writing contests allow Nunavummiut the chance to express themselves in the languages that are the anchor of their heritage.

With entries accepted in English, French and Inuktitut, the contest was an important vehicle in bolstering Northern culture.

We look forward to the book the council is preparing to publish with all the winners.

Ten women from Iglulik overcame great odds last week when they received certificates and diplomas for their participation in Nunavut Arctic College's social work program.

In one form or another, the group will now go on to offer counselling and helping services to those in need of assistance.

The people controlling the purse strings at Nunavut Arctic College shouldn't need any clearer indication of what works and what doesn't and where they should put their money as a result.

Although the students faced many challenges over the duration of the program, one complication they didn't have to deal with was the hardship of living away from their families while attending school.

If Arctic College, and indeed the government, is serious about their commitment to educating Nunavummiut, they have no choice but to begin to offer more programs that actually work to residents in their home communities.