Monday, June 11, 2001
As any Northerner can testify, food is expensive and gets more so the farther North you travel.
The differences in grocery bills can be truly staggering.
A recent study on nutrition and diets in the North found that food prices are 470 per cent higher in Paulatuk than in Ottawa.
According to the same study, young Northerners eat more sugar and less country food, and obesity and diabetes are on the rise in remote Northern communities.
It evokes an image of youth gathered about a snack machine, gorging on foods and flavours that people everywhere find irresistible: fat, sweet, salty. Imagine a machine that dispensed only bottled water, fruit juice, dried char, maqtaq and caribou jerky.
The study's authors did not gather evidence to connect diet choices with food costs, but common sense suggests that the two travel together.
That is especially true at freeze-up and break-up when food is flown to remote communities and costs rise even higher.
Agnes Rubin, a community health representative in Paulatuk, observed that when faced with seasonal price increases, people turn to less expensive alternatives.
Condensed milk takes the place of baby formula; powdered drink mixes replace apple and orange juice, she said.
Consumers can't be forced to eat healthier food, but lowering the cost would surely make it more attractive. The territorial government's plan to impose highway tolls will do the opposite.
The proposed transportation toll will directly penalize nutritious food and favour junk foods when it should be the other way around. Taxes should not be designed to fix one problem only to aggravate another.
The new toll must be applied with health in mind.
Sport Nunavut was created to give the territory's youth sporting opportunities they might not otherwise be able to enjoy.
It was supposed to be an independent organization, responsible for ensuring its $1.77 million annual budget gets the best possible use.
That doesn't appear to be the case.
Kivalliq News editor Darrell Greer broke the story about $15,000 in overtime pay going to three sport development officers. His pointed questions about why so much money is going to staff, rather than to the sports organizations that do so much for Nunavut's youth are important ones.
They raise fears of bloated bureaucracy and a forgotten mandate. The Department of Community Government and Transportation must do more than keep an eye on Sport Nunavut expenditures. It's time to review how sport in the territory is funded.
The NWT oil and gas boom is just in its infancy and Northerners have a taste of what's to come.
Thanks to the 2001 Inuvik Petroleum Show, they will get an even better understanding when 250 delegates take part in the June 21-22 conference and exhibition.
It's a credit to the town and show organizers that the event is being held in Inuvik, the heart of the Delta, at least where oil and gas is concerned.
This provides an opportunity for people to meet industry representatives from around Western Canada and Alaska. They'll be able to chat, ask questions and share concerns.
More than just a get-acquainted session, it's another piece to building a strong Delta oil and gas industry and a community ready to accept the changes that are coming.
Baffin beneficiaries are watching history repeat itself.
When former Qikiqtani Inuit Association president Pauloosie Keyootak was removed from office last October, the organization refused to explain why the elected leader was ousted. Inuit in the Baffin had the right to know, but the organization would only say he breached the code of conduct.
There was a glimmer of hope that things would change under the leadership of Meeka Kilabuk, but she is fast proving herself to be as unaccountable as her predecessor.
When Jerry Ell resigned as president of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation -- the business arm of QIA -- following allegations of fraud, Kilabuk should
have stepped forward and publicly reassured beneficiaries their dollars were not being misused.
Instead, she has refused to answer repeated calls and has not explained the events behind his resignation.
We elect these leaders. This is a democracy. Baffin beneficiaries would be wise to remember this and to make Kilabuk accountable.
It's about time health professionals, like those at Inuvik Regional Hospital, get on the bandwagon to promote breast feeding.
We've known for years that breast fed babies suffer fewer illnesses; that means lower costs for health boards and families.
The hospital is adopting "baby friendly" services. That includes everything from what drugs are used during delivery to educating all staff on the importance of breast feeding.
Considering that a can of formula costs upwards of $13 in Inuvik, this move will help young mothers who are struggling to keep up with the costs.
Other hospitals and health boards in the NWT would be wise to follow Inuvik's lead and implement a similar program.
Goodbye William MacGillvary MacKenzie. Thirty-eight years after arriving in Apex, you've left us.
Your dogs are staring at the bay, awaiting your return.
The collective gasp exhaled upon your unexpected death was genuine regret. Regret that a four-decade snapshot of Iqaluit went with you. You were one of the few outsiders who stayed to see this community grow from bedroom military outpost to Canada's 14th capital city. You saw the demise of shack-living, the first paved roads and the arrival of taxis.
If only we'd written your stories down. Let this be a lesson to us all -- for every town has its Bill MacKenzie.
Already we miss the sight of your converted yellow ambulance around town. Scotty Henderson and Bryan Hellwig continue meeting for breakfast but miss your worldly insights. Your distinct blue chair sits empty at the Toonoonik restaurant. A bouquet of flowers marks your seat at the Grind and Brew.
Your death, though, brings life. People praise a private man who opened his heart and his wallet.
Years ago, when Bill Hughes was visiting from Arctic Bay, he admired your Scottish tam. Years later, Hughes was sporting his own tam, compliments of you. You never forgot. And we will never forget you.
"If only there were more Bill MacKenzies," friends and strangers lamented last week. If only.
Death affects families. In your case, friends were family.
Thank you for the memories. For offering to help before people had to ask. For knowing that food on the table is about a hand up, not a hand out. For showing us wild pigs can live in the Arctic.
It's too late to buy you an Early Grey tea or raisin scone. You live on, though, in our hearts and at our tables. May you watch over us with your laughing eyes and easy smile.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
Last week parents were registering their tots for Kindergarten for the upcoming school year.
Meanwhile, last Friday graduation exercises were held at Samuel Hearne school.
Obviously, students don't just enter the school system one day and graduate the next. They have to start somewhere, and Kindergarten and Grade 1 are important first steps.
That point was driven home during the graduation by James Anderson, director of the Beaufort Delta Education Council. Anderson told those assembled that he was principal at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school in 1988, and that nine members of that year's Kindergarten class were on stage with him, receiving their high school diplomas.
It's worth thinking about all the adventures those nine had from their days in Kindergarten up to and including last Friday. The math problems in class, the homework (done and not done), the schoolyard games, friendships made and crushes felt -- school life is full of triumphs and pratfalls.
Plus, imagine all the teachers who helped those nine along, by giving and repeating instructions and advice, wiping noses, and just being there when needed.
Ditto for all those volunteers who supplied cookies, or rides, and any other valuable help.
Let's not forget the administrators who hire the teachers, address parents' concerns and do a hundred other necessary tasks. As it happened, the Beaufort Delta Education Council held a regular council meeting last weekend.
Those nine (plus the other graduands) made it onto the stage last Friday due to skill and hard work, but it must not be forgotten that they had a lot of help along the way.
This was touched upon by the valedictorian. Kristine McLeod thanked all the parents for making the graduands get out of bed on school days. She also noted that while teachers sometimes asked a lot from them, it was because they knew they are capable of great things.
Cleaning up
Speaking of great things, lots of people have been busy cleaning up litter around town as part of community beautification efforts.
It's certainly a worthwhile project, because while it's nice to see the snow melt, it's not so nice for residents or tourists to see bottles and other trash scattered all over the place.
Of course, these efforts will need to continue to truly be effective. Plus those who are tempted to litter will need to change their ways and put their garbage where it belongs -- in cans and bins, out of sight.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
In this week's story regarding the next steps in self-government negotiations, DCFN chief negotiator Chris Reid suggests that First Nations are welcome to begin conducting seismic tests for petroleum deposits on their own lands if they so choose. Why then did Nahanni Butte receive such a cold reception when its leaders proposed a seismic project with Arcis Corporation?
The answer to that question, according to Reid, is that Nahanni Butte's joint-venture partners were giving the impression that they were moving quickly towards opening the lands to exploratory drilling, a process known as a "rights issuance."
Indeed, Bill Beaton, of Northern Projects Incorporated, had said during a public meeting in April that without a promise of a rights issuance, the Nahanni Butte seismic project would likely draw little or no interest from oil and gas companies. Those companies are inclined to pay for seismic data only in areas that they can bid upon to explore, not areas to which they can't have access.
The suggestion of a rights issuance was what had the DCFN concerned, Reid said. Other First Nations who share traditional lands with Nahanni Butte are worried about the affects of oil and gas development on their territory, he said.
It should be noted, too, that Nahanni Butte chief Leon Konisenta told his fellow leaders at DCFN leadership meetings last week that his community is not yet willing to open its lands to drilling, only to seismic activity.
Underwater mystery
The declining pickerel stocks in Kakisa Lake and Tathlina Lake, in particular, are cause for concern. The loss of commercial fisheries has been well-documented on Canada's East Coast, but the circumstances seem to differ so much from a couple of remote lakes in the Northwest Territories. Yet the levels of fish have fallen in both places.
The 20,000-kilogram quota for Kakisa Lake has existed for nearly 20 years with little in the way of adverse effects, according to fisheries biologist George Low. Nevertheless, stocks appear to have dropped to some degree.
In Tathlina Lake, a commercial fishery involving fishermen from outside communities had existed in the 1950s. A practice known as "pulse fishing" used to be employed, in which the lake was fished heavily for two years and then allowed to recover for four years. Later, a 20,000-kilogram annual limit was set, with Kakisa residents getting first priority, but it now seems that quota is too high. Of note, chief Lloyd Chicot said there has been additional fishing taking place that hasn't been applied toward the quota, but nobody knows how much extra fish have been taken. Let's hope measures taken to correct the situation prevent the seasonal livelihood from being lost forever.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
There's an old saying dealing with the concept of throwing good money after bad. Suffice to say, the adage implies it's not a very good idea.
Let's hope this is one lesson Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and its president, Paul Quassa, don't need a practical experience to learn.
In fairness to Quassa and the NTI board, they really didn't have much choice but to help bail the Sakku Investment Corp. out of its financial difficulties.
While it is fairly common knowledge in the business community that you can expect to lose money in your first few years in operation before turning a profit, Sakku has taken the concept to new heights.
The business development arm of the parent Kivalliq Inuit Association, Sakku is arguably one of the worst examples of an investment and business development firm in recent memory.
The corporation's financial woes have spilled over to adversely affect the plans of the association and have taken the parent organization from black to red ink quicker than a university professor with a freshman class of journalistic wannabes.
That being said, having cleaned house for the umpteenth time, Quassa says he has confidence in the new Sakku board and staff to right their badly listing financial ship -- confidence and an independent financial investment analysis.
Quassa says NTI cannot, and will not, be a babysitting service for the regional birthright organizations.
That's really too bad because if past history shows us nothing else, it shows Sakku's definite need for a babysitter in its day-to-day operations -- that and a well trained business personality at the helm.
We here at Kivalliq News sincerely hope Quassa has made the right move and Sakku finally gets its act together. After all, a strong and profitable Sakku strengthens the KIA which, in turn, helps strengthen our region.
However, other than putting a recovery plan together which NTI actually accepted -- no small feat for a corporation that rarely has its books ready in time for audits and annual general meetings -- we must still adopt a wait-and-see approach to deciding if NTI's confidence in Sakku in justified.
If not, this could be a wonderful time for investors in our region to buy up as many stocks in Pablum-producing companies as they can get their hands on. Sometimes the difference between babysitting and assisting is merely semantics.