The news that Yellowknife is the most expensive city in Canada in which to live, as reported in the Feb. 20 Yellowknifer, is no surprise. The triple-digit heating, electrical and grocery bills families pay monthly tells that painfully.

That's why it's so important the City of Yellowknife and council realize that every new service, every new city project, and every new levy adds to an already crushing burden - whatever the benefit.

Ratepayers must have the option of doing without some things.

Of course we can always do things smarter and more cheaply, using new technology and developing our own resources such as hydro and natural gas.

When the Ikhil gas well opened in the spring of 1999, the town of Inuvik entered a new era of self-sufficiency.

With the help of a two-thirds subsidy from the territorial government, over half of Inuvik homes and the majority of businesses converted their oil furnaces to natural gas and enjoyed a 25 per cent drop in costs.

Northwest Territories Power Corporation converted its power generation to natural gas. The savings over 15 years for customers should come in between $20-25 million.

This week Yellowknifer Chris O'Brien went before city council to pitch the idea of building an environmental super-house, one that uses water efficiently and presumably energy as well.

Would such a house be cheaper to run? If so, the city should encourage such efforts.

There is plenty of funding for environmental projects so the research shouldn't cost ratepayers beyond the price of a lot in Niven Lake.

Northerners pride themselves in being smarter than the average bear.

Using innovative technology and our own resources to beat down the high cost of living in Yellowknife would prove it.

Aboriginal history is largely an oral narrative, and its people are now working to get their voice written into the history books.

While they work to re-create Canadian history, all aboriginal people must continue to also use traditional methods of recording their past -- storytelling and pictures.

Theatre is another powerful medium, for it is only on the stage that stories and pictures come alive. And one Yellowknife woman is working to breathe life back into this art.

When Gail Cyr brought aboriginal playwright Tomson Highway's Rez Sisters -- a story about seven women living on a reservation -- to the Northern stage last year, it opened eyes that had been closed since 1996.

That is when the founder of the Native Theatre Group in Yellowknife, John Blondin died, and with him so did aboriginal theatre.

With its rebirth likely imminent, aboriginal theatre can only survive with one valuable resource: people.

Cyr has organized a workshop for aboriginals interested in theatre. Go if you can, but space is limited.

If you cannot attend, the next best thing is to let Cyr know that you are interested in doing your part. She will need a continuous show of support to get this troupe on the stage -- permanently.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

While the inaugural Avataq Cup memorial hockey tournament was a resounding success, it was marred by yet another case of a hockey player physically attacking a referee.

This blatant abuse of officials is reaching epidemic proportions in the Kivalliq -- across Nunavut for that matter -- and has to stop. During the past few years, hockey referees in Nunavut have been punched, speared, endured racist remarks, spit on and even assaulted in their change rooms and in an arena parking lot.

These actions not only endanger the safety of the officials, they show a total lack of respect for the game itself.

If these incidents are not soon brought under control, the already low numbers of those willing to referee ice hockey will be further diminished.

This is not even to mention the terrible example it sets for our youth in the arena who view these acts of violence against authority figures.

The solution to this on-ice crisis is threefold.

Although by this stage of the game, hockey players should be well aware of the possible ramifications of their actions, more information must be available when teaching them respect for officials.

The governing bodies, in this case Hockey Nunavut, must hand down severe penalties in these incidents to deter future infractions and protect their referees.

Finally, peer pressure must be levied on these players by others in their community who play the game.

In virtually every tournament, teams are provided with rules that clearly state alcohol and official abuse will not be tolerated. When a team knowingly lets a player go on the ice when they're under the influence of alcohol (as was the case in Rankin with a Whale Cove player who struck two officials on the ice), that team should also be reprimanded by the tournament's organizing committee.

Banning the offending team from competing in the next tournament may prompt those who play within the rules to lean on those who do not to clean up their act.

Co-operation must be achieved between all affected parties in handing out swift, substantial punishment when an official is abused. This is true for all sports, not just hockey.

It's time to put sportsmanship back into our favourite sports. If this is not done quickly, there will be no one left to officiate our sports.

With the end of officiating, comes the end of the games themselves. And, were that scenario ever to unfold, everybody loses.

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

The Midnight Sun Recreation Complex arena was the place to be Sunday evening.

Not only were the "A" and "B" finals of the IRC Native Hockey Tournament exciting, but the hundreds of fans provided great atmosphere as well. Loud cheers for both sides rang out, which was good to see, and it's fairly safe to say all those present had a good time.

Congratulations to the organizers and, of course, to the EGT team, who captured the "A" title for the third straight year.

Golden moment

Speaking of great hockey, Sunday's Olympic men's hockey final was terrific.

The game was superb, and the ending ideal.

Many Canadians were not even born the last time this country snared the Olympic gold medal in this event, so most would agree it was high time to do so again.

Delta fans were among those caught up in the anxiety leading up to the game, and they shared in the ensuing excitement. Many agree the event is quite significant for the sake of the pride of Canadians, and for the sake of the sport too.

It provided one of those moments Delta residents will be able to recall and cherish for decades, along with other Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Farewell

It has been a fun ride but it is time for me to sign off as editor with The Drum.

Since I came up here in June 2000, I have covered lots of meetings and games and conducted quite a few interviews.

I have visited Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic and, in the summer of 2000, journeyed to Tuktoyaktuk to cover the visit there by the St. Roch II.

For the first time I have experienced what it is like to have sunlight around the clock, and then go a long stretch without it.

That has been quite interesting, as have been the various situations where I have learned about the cultures and unique ways of life within the Delta.

What I will remember most about my time with the paper, though, is the people I have met along the way. Many have been quite helpful and while I can not thank you all individually, I wish to express my appreciation nonetheless. You made my job a lot easier.

Mussi cho.

Special week being marked

Local youth are helping to mark Scout/Guide Week.

Both are very worthwhile organizations, and there are clubs spread out all over the world.

From the time I have spent around the local groups, the youngsters seem to learn a lot of useful information while having a lot of fun along the way.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Having committed and effective chiefs comes at a price, but how much is too much?

First Nations in the Deh Cho have a finite number of dollars, obviously. How those dollars are earmarked is up to each band.

It is true that leaders of small communities still have fundamental issues to deal with such as education, power, water, medical services and on and on. Chiefs in larger communities, on the other hand, often have staff assigned to oversee such issues. However, chiefs in larger communities have more demands placed on their time by the greater number of band members with various concerns.

If First Nations leaders opt to create a salary grid and divide community funding in a way they find more equitable, so be it.

The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is increasing band-support funding by 20 per cent over the next four years, freeing up more funds. In that time, the Deh Cho will continue to move closer to self-government and, ostensibly, self-sufficiency.

What appears questionable is paying salaried chiefs $300 daily indemnities to attend DCFN leadership meetings when expenses such as travel and accommodations are already covered. That indemnity money must come from funds that could be applied to other programs and services in Deh Cho communities.

How much will First Nations band members stand to bear?

Not a bad idea

Granted, the timing stinks, but the idea of renaming Virginia Falls after Pierre Elliott Trudeau is worth serious consideration.

Unfortunately the suggestion comes on the heels of a failed effort to arrive at a new name for the Northwest Territories. At this point, the mention of renaming anything is generally met with the rolling of eyes or the shaking of heads. However, if aboriginal people do not object (and that's a very important factor), it's a proposal that has some merit.

Although his legacy has been debated, Trudeau, the flamboyant leader of this country for nearly 16 years, has earned a place in the hearts and minds of most Canadians. That become obvious with his death in Sept. 2000. He had a real affinity for Nahanni country. Naming the falls in his honour would be an appropriate gesture.

Antoine is right, the publicity generated by the deed would surely translate into increased tourism, likely thousands of extra people. Of course with park restrictions on the number of visitors per season, tourists would have to plan carefully if they were all bent on touring Nahanni.

It would not be a tourism panacea. There is still much work to be done to promote the Deh Cho properly, but renaming the falls would result in a good return on what little it would cost to file an application. And, just as importantly, it would be a tribute to a man who helped preserve a magnificent natural wonder.

Inaccurate information appeared in "Who will be queen?" (Yellowknifer, Feb. 27) Julia Seaton was quoted as saying both queens were guaranteed a spot this year. Her statement was actually that both had applied this year. Yellowknifer apologizes for the error and any embarrassment it may have caused.