Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee was the only woman to put her name forward. She was a good choice.

During the 14th assembly, her leadership skills emerged ahead of the pack. While other MLAs slept last summer, fully accepting cabinet's excuses, she fought to get physician specialists and the GNWT back to the bargaining table. Negotiations had broken off, a strike appeared imminent.

Lee's last-minute stalling tactic in the assembly captured the public's attention and brought tremendous pressure for a speedy settlement.

She also boasts a legal background, a rare qualification for Northern politicians. And let's not forget that she, as a woman, represents half the population of the NWT.

But alas MLAs, voting by secret ballot, did not favour her. Instead they chose Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent and Yellowknife South MLA Brendan Bell as the two Yellowknife cabinet representatives.

These two, both in their second terms, are by no means outstanding leaders. Neither one of them fought for anything significant in their previous terms.

Bell wasn't even elected this time around and only won by 12 votes in 1999. Lee was the better candidate. Choosing her would have added an important voice.

They also ignored Hay River, the second largest population centre of the NWT.

Then we have the likes of North Slave MLA Henry Zoe, our new minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. This man was twice convicted in criminal court of assaulting women. Has he reformed? Only time will tell.

And yet our premier, Joe Handley, seems to think he has a wonderful cabinet on his hands, even without female representation, and minus a member from Hay River.

Something is just not right here.

There are usual accusations of backroom dealing but with a new twist -- a gentlemen's agreement to keep females (and Hay River) out of cabinet.

Who's responsible? Who knows how individual MLAs voted? In the future, the cabinet vote should not be kept a dirty secret. There should either be a show of hands or a recorded vote.

Let's abolish this secrecy for good! That way at least we'll know exactly where the hidden agendas lie.

New "blood," new energy behind the scenes at the Niqinik Nuatsivik Food Bank in Iqaluit means fewer people will go hungry this season in Nunavut.

What a change from last year.

A break-in at the food bank in 2002 shattered dreams, rattled nerves and cast a very dark light on an otherwise joyous, happy season.

This year a new group of organizers brainstormed for food-gathering ideas for the food bank and came up with the Stuff-a-Bus campaign.

A similar concept worked wonders in Halifax, NS, hometown of food bank volunteer Jen Hayward.

But you never know what will happen on a Saturday in December in Iqaluit.

Snow could be vicious. People might just not have enough money to make a donation.

But people did donate.

Not just one or two cans of goods but boxfuls.

Now the food bank wants to make it an annual event.

The colourful rainbow bus, which was retired earlier this year with the arrival of a fresh new public bus, has found a new purpose.

The old spirit, the one that started the food bank in the first place, is back.

Now they have enough to last until March.

If other Nunavut communities need food, Iqaluit can help.

In other words, Merry Christmas.

People should pay their power bills. There's no away around that.

But it's also inexcusable for Nunavut Power Corp. to allow overdue bills to pile up until it had to issue 401 disconnection orders to businesses and residents in Iqaluit. That's about 12 per cent of all houses, apartments and businesses in the city.

The government-owned corporation blamed slow computers for the delay in delivery of notices to customers.

This problem is compounded by the fact the bill collection office doesn't have a customer service representative who speaks Inuktitut, and hasn't had one for eight months.

Most of those who owed money paid up after getting the disconnect notices, but this situation must not be allowed to repeat itself.

Nunavut Power must do more to keep on top of its books. If more staff are needed, hire more staff, Inuktitut speaking especially. If better computers are needed, get better computers.

After all, if the power company can't keep its finances current, why should it expect its customers to?

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Well, it's that time of the year once again, valued readers -- time to send out our annual Kivalliq News Christmas gift list.

And what better place to start than at the top?

To Premier Paul Okalik, we send a brand new Spiderman costume so he can easily blend in with the guests at his next constituents party.

To Akulliq MLA Ovide Alakannuaq, we send a complete bound set of every bill passed during the past two sittings of the legislative assembly for his reading pleasure during the holidays (better late than never).

To Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell, we send a giant catching mitt to protect her Northern counterparts just in case Prime Minister Paul Martin's lacrosse skills are no better than Jean Chretien's.

To outgoing Baker Lake MLA Glenn McLean, we send a copy of Janet Jackson's golden oldie, What have you done for me lately?, personalized with the inscription, Out of sight, out of mind!

Looking for answers

To Arviat MLA Kevin O'Brien, we send a magic 8-Ball in hopes we may finally get a decision on his intentions for the next territorial election.

We won't, however, send O'Brien the 8-Ball until we know Karetak-Lindell has received her catcher's mitt.

To outgoing Rankin Inlet North MLA Jack Anawak, we send one hour's worth of surgical time to help dig the knife out of his back before he assumes his new position.

We also offer to read him the initials engraved on the handle.

To Rankin South/Whale Cove MLA Manitok Thompson, we send a new electronic locomotive set so she can finally stop using her old one-track train of thought.

Of course, that would mean her old steam whistle would have to go back in the closet.

Bright ideas

To Minister Ed Picco, we send one 100-watt light bulb from the Nunavut Power Corp. in hopes he will finally have a bright idea on how to lower the health deficit.

To outgoing Finance Minister Kelvin Ng, we send four former members of the Sakku Investment Corp.'s board of directors to be his new poker playing buddies.

We also include a straight-face mask for Ng to wear at the table when he realizes the other players always think he's bluffing.

And, finally, to Rankin Inlet Mayor Lorne Kusagak, we send a brand new Toronto Maple Leafs hat to be worn on special occasions when he absolutely, positively has to look impressive!!

May these gifts be received in the spirit for which they were intended.

Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum

I have always found travelling to different places and learning about different cultures to be a rewarding experience.

That is probably why I find myself in this line of work as it offers me an opportunity to travel and learn.

And I want to underscore the word 'learn', as there seems to be a common misconception that journalists are some omniscient species.

For example, the other day a person asked me why the heck I was here, as a journalist, if I didn't know anything about the region's land and its people. It must be noted that this person just assumed that I knew nothing after I asked a question about settlement areas.

And to be fair, that assumption was nearly correct. But, as any newcomer should endeavour to do, I'm getting to know Inuvik and, because of the nature of my work, I'm sure to become acquainted with the area faster than other first-timers.

To do this, however, I must ask questions -- as ridiculous as these questions may sound to some, it is one of the methods in which to learn about this place where I now live, and to do my job.

Now, if I did know everything that really would be some bonafide White Man magic. I could just sit in my office all the live-long day and write glorious stories about what I was already aware of. (Come to think of it, I could simply bet the wad on the next Super Bowl and retire).

For the record, I'm from Southern Ontario, a place where the Northwest Territories is seen more as a concept rather than an actual place.

Similar to those Americans who believe that all Canadians live in iglus and ski to work, many folks in my hometown would have trouble locating Inuvik on a map, much less identify the ethnicity of the aboriginal people who call this place their ancestral home.

A few years back, I would've fallen into that same category -- hence the reason for coming to live in the North.

When I inform friends back home that in Inuvik the vehicle of choice is a pick-up truck and that I can get the 11 herbs and spices across the road from my office, the enthusiasm in their voices tends to drop off as hopes of hearing tales of dogsledding down main street and other such Jack London-inspired visions fade.

I began my sojourn in the North a little more than a year ago, arriving in Fort Smith to work at the local paper there. Each day since then, I've felt privileged to be living in the territories and, to me, it is Canada's best kept secret. It is a converging point for diverse cultures, landscapes and wildlife.

More importantly though, it is home to many interesting people who have many interesting stories to tell. And while I've had the opportunity to hear a few, I'm always keen to hear another and I look forward to the chance.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

Those two words have surely been uttered thousands of times in the Deh Cho over the past five years, especially pertaining to the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

Well, there was finally some movement on the capacity building front over the past week. Nogha Engineering and Environmental Services Ltd. got the ball rolling by offering a week-long training program -- six days of which were devoted to practical learning. Twelve men from Fort Simpson, Wrigley and Nahanni Butte were introduced to surveying, drilling and soil sampling.

It's true, it was just a taste of the occupations. The trainees worked with engineers, they didn't become certified, but it's a starting point. There was plenty of enthusiasm and commitment during that short span. The participants have been encouraged to pursue a technology diploma, perhaps work six months and then go to school for six months. Some may do just that, others may be content to work as helpers to those who are fully qualified.

Either way, while many of us are at a loss to define anything "geo-technical," these individuals cannot only explain it, they can roll up their sleeves and do it, at least the basics.

Of course, that training program is far from being the only example of capacity building in the Deh Cho. In essence, capacity building is education and training for local people so they can advance on the career track. By that definition, the graduates from Aurora College's three-month programs (also featured in this issue of the Drum) have also broadened their skill set.

Season's greetings

No bombs obliterating buildings and killing people, no sporadic gunfire and no land mines to worry about.

These aren't images that one associates with Christmas, but they are the reality for some unfortunate people around the world during the holidays.

Christmas isn't Thanksgiving or Remembrance Day, but it is a poignant time of the year to reflect on why we should be grateful for our lives here in Canada. That said, our country, like every other nation, has its problems: people living in abject poverty or just scraping by on minimum wage, those with addictions, others whose physical or mental health is failing.

For those who have lost a loved one over the past year, this Christmas won't be the most joyous of occasions, understandably.

If reaching out to someone on the other side of the globe seems too distant -- many students have done it through Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes -- there are likely people in your own neighbourhood who are down on their luck.

Whether you can write a cheque, donate some food or old clothes or old toys, there are plenty of ways to help. Maybe volunteering to help an event is more appealing. Extending an invitation to others to come and visit during the holidays may brighten their Christmas. It may prove more worthy than any merchandise wrapped in glossy paper.

To all readers of the Deh Cho Drum, we wish you the best of the season.

The Gruben clan of Tuktoyaktuk are so busy everywhere, they got us confused.

Tuktoyaktuk's 2003 election hamlet councillors are Annie Gruben, Ethel-Jean Gruben, David Lucas Jr., Shaun Lundrigan and James Pokiak.

Different Grubens and others were mistakenly identified as councillors in our Dec. 15 News/North story. We apologise for that error.

Ellen Smith, the alcohol and drug specialist in Inuvik, has been dedicated to helping people in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions for the past 10 years.

Smith was one of nine Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Authority staff who were recognized for their decades of service during the annual IRHSS Christmas party in Inuvik, Dec. 6.

Unfortunately she was left out of the paper last week.

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.