Imagine your mother sitting you down one day and saying: "My darling son, I abused alcohol while pregnant. It was a terrible decision and it is the reason you will have learning disabilities for the rest of your life."

It is an admission no mother would ever want to face. However, it is a reality when you consider cases such as the 25-year-old man from Hay River -- "From FAS diagnosis to healing," (Yellowknifer, March 20).

He was diagnosed at age 16 with fetal alcohol syndrome. Learning is a lifetime struggle for him, in addition to his anger and resentment.

The man, who spoke about his life with FAS at a conference in Yellowknife, said "this doesn't have to happen and shouldn't happen any more."

He is right. FAS and FAE (fetal alcohol effect) are preventable birth defects caused by a mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

In addition to public education, families and children affected by FAS/FAE sharing their stories is the only way expectant mothers will learn about the dangers of alcohol.

While we shouldn't point fingers at those who gave birth to FAS/FAE children, mothers need to put aside their feelings of shame if their child struggles to succeed at school, at home, and in the community.

According to a study by the Status of Women Council of the NWT, a mother's guilt for contributing to their child's disability, and the rigorous testing process to diagnose FAS/FAE are reasons why the number of children affected is unknown.

Mothers owe it to their children to have them tested if necessary. It is only then that the healing can begin for both mother and child.

And it is only then that family and community can give a mother, who made a bad decision while pregnant, the emotional support she needs to forgive herself.

The city's decision to create a committee to oversee the running of the Wildcat Cafe is long overdue.

Built in 1937, this heritage building plays a vital a role in offering tourists a taste of our city's past, both as a restaurant and as a landmark.

But despite its historical importance, the cafe has been plagued with problems over the last few years, both in terms of management and upkeep.

The city agreed Monday to set up a four-person committee including members from the Old Stope Society and the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre. While the city will still tender out the running of the cafe, this committee will act as a watchdog group to ensure that whoever gets the contract, tourists will get what they deserve.

Longer days and warmer weather have perked up the city's population. If you needed any extra incentive to rouse yourself from winter doldrums ... Caribou Carnival is it.

The annual festival starts tonight with Caribou Capers and crowning of new royalty.

It continues through Sunday with the Canadian Championship Dog Derby, games for kids, corporate challenge, food galore, Saturday's thrilling fireworks show and much more.

New this year is the Cariblues Festival at night spots around town.

The four nights of music add a new dimension to the city's spring coming out party.

So be sure to hit the ice on Frame Lake for a weekend of fun.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

A hearty congratulations to all our Kivalliq athletes who performed so well at the 2002 Arctic Winter Games in Iqaluit and Nuuk, Greenland.

Special congratulations, in particular, to Joseph Nakoolak, who captured a golden ulu with his wrestling talents at the Games.

Nakoolak's star continues to shine brightly on behalf of Nunavut. He is going to the Canadian amateur wrestling national championships this coming week and is looking to improve on his fifth-place standing of a year ago.

It will be an interesting time for Nakoolak, who lost twice to the reigning Canadian champion during a tournament in Saskatchewan this past month. He is aiming his sights at a third-place finish in this year's championships.

However, this corner says that with a few breaks here and there, Nakoolak is capable of following up his performance at the AWG with a golden encore on the national stage.

Win or lose, Nakoolak continues to be a solid role model for the youth of Nunavut and deserves all the support our territory can give him.

Tip of the hat Two thumbs up going out this week to Tess Rodnunsky and Susie Kritterdlik of Whale Cove. The pair volunteer their time to continue cooking for the breakfast program at Inuglak school in their community (please see story page 13).

All too often, people who volunteer their time in order to keep such worthwhile programs alive aren't recognized for their efforts.

Although the two receive a modest stipend for their services when funding is in place for the program, it was a wonderful gesture on their behalf to continue their efforts after funding ran out.

The improvements in both the learning abilities and attentiveness of students who have access to a breakfast program have been well documented by teachers across the region.

Rodnunsky and Kritterdlik are doing their part to give the students at Inuglak school the opportunity to start their learning day off right and, for that, they are to be commended.

Realizing rewards

Another thumbs up goes out this week to the group of staff and former students on their way to Greenland (please see story page 19).

Their determination to realize their dream is a shining example to people across the region on the rewards one can reap through hard work and dedication.

The 13-member group set a goal and continued for the better part of three years until accomplishing it. Hopefully, more people, especially youth, in our region will use this success story as motivation in accomplishing their own goals.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

The new initiatives for improving literacy in the NWT are a much-needed change to the way we look at the health of our population.

Recognizing the need for literacy in all official languages will help preserve languages and foster a richer cultural environment for future generations.

The fundamentals of reading and writing are more important now than ever in the Delta, with employers and organizations scrambling for educated people to fill high-paying jobs.

The focus on early childhood programs are an especially needed change in the world of words.

Teachers of kindergarten and Grade 1 are already noticing the rapid growth of children who have taken part in Head Start programs.

The "get 'em while they're young" philosophy not only makes for better students and happier teachers, but also saves governments huge amounts of money in the long-term social payout.

Learning on the land It was a real treat to get out to the Rachel Reindeer camp with the kindergarten kids and the Gwich'in elders last week. It's wonderful to see that kind of interaction of ages and cultures.

The legacy passed on from Rachel Reindeer and the Gwich'in elders will ensure that traditions will continue and this culture will survive.

Children have so many modern distractions to pull them away from these time-honoured traditions. But seeing their faces and hearing that laughter every time a fish came up through the ice on that net, reminds us all that life's real pleasures don't happen in front of a television.

The camp brings the Gwich'in children back to the ways of their parents and grandparents, but equally important is the gift of sharing that culture with the other children of Inuvik.

It's a rare thing for children to be cradled in such culture and these kids will be better friends and better people because of these experiences.

Back to the Valley

Good to hear the minister of housing will be seeking RWED's support to keep Happy Valley Campground open, for now.

If given the town's approval, the proposed elder's complex will allow enough space so both campers and the elders will have a place of their own. The RV campers will be pushed out, however. This will no doubt lead to people parking their rigs on our roadsides and parking lots rather than stay out of town.

There is also the issue of the sani-dump. Happy Valley is the only place in town where RV 2 s can dump their waste and take on fresh water. Let's hope RWED can work out something to keep that service operating or we could face a loss of tourist traffic or worse, a messy situation if these campers can't find a place to "go."

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

It's spring break in Fort Simpson. There's no activity at the schools, other than a few teachers here and there preparing lesson plans.

Yet the silence belies that fact that there is action being taken on the education front. Behind the scenes, the Fort Simpson District Education Authority is hiring more staff.

The war of words between the DEA and the Department of Education has gone on for four long years. DEA chair Shane Thompson says that the government isn't meeting its territorial objective of a 16:1 student-teacher ratio at Bompas elementary school, where the number is actually higher than 19:1.

The government cites the regional figure, which is right on target. During Education Minister Jake Ootes' November visit to Fort Simpson, he also stated that the student-teacher ratio across the NWT has improved over the past year.

That must include Bompas elementary school because the student-teacher ratio that used to be routinely referred to was as high as 25:1.

So things are getting better, but there's a ways to go yet. The DEA is able to bring more classroom hands on board by extracting dollars from the operations and maintenance portion of their budget. It's not an ideal way to handle a shortfall for additional staffing positions, but it's a sufficient stopgap measure (providing the school doesn't fall apart structurally, which doesn't appear to be an imminent threat).

The regional education council can, in the short-term, continue to help bail out Fort Simpson's DEA with additional funds, but there's pressure to do the same in Fort Liard and Fort Providence, where more staff are also coveted. The only problem is, as education board director Nolan Swartzentruber has pointed out, once the $1.2-million surplus is tapped out, it's gone for good. If we're lucky, the government will have met or exceeded its pupil-teacher ratio in all Deh Cho schools by then.

Raising children

The Traditional Parenting Program sounds like a project worthy of consideration. If the cultural elements make aboriginal parents feel comfortable and encourage them to attend, all the better. The program is also open to non-aboriginals. It imparts enhanced parenting skills and a greater appreciation of aboriginal culture. The blend of elders' wisdom and expertise from professionally-trained counsellors would provide a wide range of guidance.

The phrase "it takes a whole community to raise a child" was a traditional way of life for First Nations peoples, according to Joe Migwans. All band members would look out for children. It's a far cry from what goes on today. Many parents become defensive if anyone else scolds their children (not to mention the sometimes indignant responses from the children themselves). Whether people wish to seek their advice or not, there are still strong individuals within the circle who can help show the way.