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In Kahbamiue, in what some might see a palace coup, Chief Dora Duncan and her daughter, Coun. Jennifer Duncan, were dumped by resolution of the band council for missing three consecutive meetings and because they had lost the "confidence" of council.
Dora Duncan, a first-term chief, elected only on Aug. 8, had been at war with most of her council since her upset seven-vote victory over incumbent 16-year chief Richard Kochon.
Duncan's critics charged that she was power hungry and out of control at the gate, while her supporters suggested Richard Kochon had been in power too long and the losing side didn't want to accept the democratic election result. Wherever the truth lies, the band council has spoken, the chief is out, and power is shifting again.
In Acho Dene Koe, more than 100 people have reportedly signed a petition calling for the resignation of Chief Judy Kotchea, sub chief Jim Duntra and band councillor Philip Betthale. The petitioners are angry at the disparity between the wealthy and the poor in the community. Part of that disparity critics say results from high salaries paid to some Beaver Enterprises employees. Kotchea, a vice-president of the band-owned Beaver Enterprises board, has declined to comment on salaries paid to any employee.
In Bechchoko, North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty has jumped into an ongoing fight supporting disgruntled Dogrib Rae band members who claim the band council is repressive and corrupt.
Thirty-two members have signed a petition to split and form their own band -- two more than the minimum number required by DIAND to start such a process. Chiefs and band councils may quickly realize they only govern with the ongoing consent of the governed.
Ahh, the lure of bingo.
As News/North confirmed last week, Northerners love their bingo.
In Inuvik alone, where players regularly fly in from outlying communities, the game is bringing in big bucks. Last year alone the game raked in $2 million for the community.
But is bingo the beast many make it out to be?
Clearly, it can be a big addiction.
Inuvik counsellor Violet Doolitte says while she hasn't heard of any cases of people gambling their house away on bingo, for some it's a growing concern.
Some regulars are so addicted they're neglecting their children, and choosing to purchase cards, rather than food for their families.
All the more reason for people to realize, like all habits, moderation is the key.
One of the more difficult choices that has faced the territory from the beginning is the question of decentralization. How much power should rest in Iqaluit and how much in the other communities?
There are good arguments to be made for both approaches, but someone should tell the bureaucrats at the Department of Education to pick one or the other. As it stands, school principals and district education authorities (DEAs) are getting mixed messages.
From one direction comes a proposal to introduce standardized testing. The idea has merit. Many Nunavut's students, particularly those who speak primarily Inuktitut at home, are having a tough time handling an English learning environment. But without some a common standard, it's hard to know where to concentrate efforts to fix the problem.
From another direction, however, comes the opposite strategy, in the form of the end of District Education Councils. These panels used to serve as regional intermediaries between the DEAs and the territorial government. The authorities also used the councils to communicate among themselves. It's cheaper, but now authorities have to deal with the Department of Education and each other, on their own.
It is perhaps too early to judge the wisdom of either centralized standard tests or decentralized administration. We can see the logic, and recognize there are bound to be problems, with both. But the conflicting strategies hint at a lack of a comprehensive vision at the top levels of the department.
Nunavut is a new territory and those running it deserve some leeway to experiment. Some of those experiments won't work and the best we can do is learn from the experiences. Even so, the education of our children is too important not to allow programs to operate at cross-purposes for too long.
Hamlet elections are low-key affairs.
A quick chat at the Co-op is usually the closest you'll get to an all-candidates forum. Election signs? Who needs 'em . . . the mayoral candidate likely lives down the street and you could be related to some of those seeking a seat on council.
But that doesn't diminish the importance of this grassroots democracy.
These are the people who ensure your street gets plowed in winter. They watch over the safe operation of the water supply. It's their job to ensure there are recreation facilities, fire protection and more.
It's an important job that deserves the attention of voters and the respect of those running for office.
So make sure to get out and vote today.
It may be an understatement to say the city of Iqaluit is between a rock and a hard place. Faced with $42 million in critical infrastructure needs for the coming five years, the city will be lucky if it ends this year with seven per cent of that in its coffers.
Capital expenditures comes from reserve funds, which in turn are replenished by operating surpluses. This year, council has a miniscule $250,000 surplus, which doesn't go a long way. Unless the city is heir to a miracle windfall from Nunavut Tunngavik or the federal government, those critical infrastructure needs may never be addressed. Thus far, council has operated under a "pay-as-you-go" policy, avoiding debt. Perhaps it is time for that policy to be reassessed, before things get any worse.
The hamlet of Cambridge Bay must be applauded for the gun cabinets it built this fall.
Faced by the usual funding shortfalls -- which all too often hinder such worthy and sensible projects -- hamlet senior administrator Elwood Johnson persevered and located the necessary $45,000 in the Department of Education's proverbial pot of gold. His determined efforts were directly responsible for the construction of 120 gun boxes and the employment of four income-support recipients.
The end result? Free gun cabinets for those who need them, a much safer community and solid proof once again that where there is a will, there is a way.
Mr. Johnson should conduct lessons for the rest of us who give up when faced with the first closed door.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
The signing of the service contract for the Kivalliq regional health centre has, once again, sparked the flames of optimism in Rankin Inlet.
The signing, although not as important as a final development and lease agreement, is a significant step toward the long-awaited facility finally becoming a reality.
While we applaud the efforts of everyone involved with the service contract, we caution that there is still a ways to go.
In an interview this past week, Health Minister Ed Picco referred back to a Sept. 20, 2000 Kivalliq News editorial (No Ace up Rankin Sleeve).
In that editorial of 15 months ago, we compared the minister's ability to play his cards close to the vest to that of the Cincinnati Kid's -- the infamous gambler portrayed on the silver screen by Steve McQueen.
Picco was in Rankin at the time to bring the hamlet council up to date on the health centre situation.
In alluding to that editorial, Picco said his cards are now on the table for everyone to see as far as the Kivalliq regional health centre is concerned.
The main card of Picco's we're happy to see (as we mentioned in the same editorial) is that the health centre has moved in the direction of ultimately being owned by the Nunavut Government.
We didn't need an auditor's report 15 months ago to point out the Nunavut Government wanted to own, not lease, the facility.
Evidently, neither did Picco or Finance Minister Kelvin Ng.
There was another part of the Sept. 20, 2000, editorial in which we alluded to Ng still having an ace up his sleeve.
That's one card we're waiting to see sometime during the next 90 days.
Hopefully, that ace will protect the future of the Rankin facility should any of the players drop the ball during its development.
As enthusiastic over the service contract as we are, there has been little change at the site of the future health facility during the past 15 months.
The last time we checked, it was still an empty lot.
Our loonie is still on the Iqaluit project being completed ahead of the Kivalliq facility.
And, we still dare the health minister to call our bluff!
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
Plans to make the community of Inuvik more attractive for residents and visitors alike are reaching a new plateau.
A representative from Gibbs and Brown Landscape Architects Ltd. is visiting the town to present the final draft of the Community Revitalization Plan, which sets out a vision for the community for the next five years or so.
Members of the public will be able to hear about the plan, and comment on it, during a meeting Dec. 11.
Already plans are in the works for next year to perhaps redevelop Jim Koe park, and make a new gateway entrance.
It's taken many months and lots of effort by quite a few people to get to this point.
One significant step was taken in the spring of 2000 when the newly formed Community Beautification Committee came up with a simple but effective idea to make Inuvik more attractive -- namely, clean up its litter.
Hence the spring clean up was born, and was conducted again this year.
Lots of other projects have taken place this year, including improvements to the Mackenzie River waterfront and along the Boot Lake waterfront.
It's encouraging that many more projects will likely take place each of the next few years to spruce up the town. Such improvements will benefit all.
Role of volunteers acknowledged
It's fitting that during the International Year of the Volunteer, the important role they play would be acknowledged once again.
It was recently announced that Northwest Territories Power Corp. is becoming sole corporate sponsor for MACA's NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards program.
The move is expected to boost the program. An official with the program pointed out that for 2001 about 100 nominations were received, more than ever before, and that they can now expect even more in 2002.
Volunteers play an important role within Delta communities. Their roles can vary from serving on the board of a non-profit organization, to helping out at social functions.
It can also be something as simple as shovelling out a neighbour's driveway.
Nominations for the 2002 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards program don't close until Feb. 28, but now would be a good time to start thinking about people to nominate.
It's also worth remembering that a simple "thank you" is appreciated by all volunteers, any time of the year.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
Last Tuesday's public education meeting had a sense of deja vu. Turn back the clock a few years and then Education Minister Michael Miltenberger was being grilled on the same issues -- inclusive schooling and pupil-teacher ratios.
It's hard to say when things will get better. Jake Ootes, the current minister of Education, came and went without making any promises to help Fort Simpson in particular. He's said he's trying to improve the system in general, and he kept citing the statistics to prove that the government is making headway.
Shane Thompson, chair of the Fort Simpson District Education Authority (DEA), said Fort Simpson is not seeing the benefits yet.
Thompson reminded Ootes that the regional Deh Cho pupil-teacher ratio is considerably lower than at Bompas elementary school. The regional figure encompasses communities like Kakisa, where there is one teacher and seven students, and Jean Marie River, where there are 16 students and two teachers, Thompson said. At Bompas, the pupil-teacher ratio jumps to 19.3:1. He said Bompas needs another teacher to significantly improve the pupil/teacher ratio.
Ootes said the same complaint exists at some schools in Yellowknife. Of note, one of Yellowknife's school boards has a massive deficit. The Deh Cho, on the other hand, has been fortunate (and wise) enough to be working with a substantial surplus. However, the Dehcho Education Council (DEC) has been generously doling out chunks of that surplus to help meet Fort Simpson's needs.
Let's hope the minister's course of action has a measurable impact in Fort Simpson before the Deh Cho Education Board's surplus runs dry. An ugly regional education crisis looms otherwise.
A more immediate problem may arise with student busing service. The DEA doesn't want to assume the contract from the DEC because it says the funding will be inadequate. The cost of that service will jump considerably if and when four more students from the subdivision need to use the bus. Then a second run or a second bus will be necessary. Where is that money going to come from?
Chamber watchdog
The Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce has assumed the role of consumer advocate, to some degree. By taking on issues such as gasoline prices and mail delivery, the chamber is not only working for the betterment of local business, but also for every citizen of Fort Simpson.
In some cases this might mean that local businesses are called upon to explain their practices and policies. That's fair enough.
Not in every instance will there be a wrong to be righted. Sometimes it's simply a matter of reaching a better understanding of the way things work and what variables affect goods and services. Either way, it doesn't hurt to ask questions.
In the Dec. 3 edition of News/North, it was reported that Tiger Woods visited Tulita three years ago. In fact, it was Dave "Tiger" Williams. Also, Williams did not play hockey in Benny Doctor's back yard ice pond, but inside the community arena.
In the Nov. 26 issue of News/North, hockey great Al Hamilton was misidentified. In the same article, the selling price of a Montreal Canadiens hockey jersey should have been more than $2,000.
News/North apologizes for these errors and any inconveniences they may have caused.