Monday, May 2, 2005
As most Inuit know, some Hollywood stars tend to jump on environmental issues with little or no understanding of the issues.
The seal hunt is a classic example. Celebrities are famous for getting involved in this complex issue, and really all they end up doing is harming aboriginal people by sending a negative, misinformed message to the south about what is going on up here.
This time the issue was global warming. Actors Salma Hayek and Jake Gyllenhaal made an appearance in Iqaluit to promote awareness about the real threat.
The celebrity factor worked. Everyone in town was talking about the movie stars, and more than 1,000 people showed up on the sea ice to create a giant drum dancer for an international project.
Not only is global warming a good cause we can all agree on, but Hayek and Gyllenhaal are also fairly young, new stars.
Kudos to Sheila Watt-Cloutier who is a bit of a celebrity herself. It is nice to see the good that celebrities can do.
Canada's presence in the North may be true and free, but it's certainly not strong.
The recent patrol to the Magnetic North Pole was a good attempt at stating our country's sovereignty, but it also highlighted deficiencies in the military's ability to monitor and maintain a presence there.
Bad weather forced a scaled-down version of the mission, but that can't be an excuse. Better equipment is needed to ensure patrols can overcome any type of weather. An emergency, which the exercise simulated, won't be delayed because of weather.
The North is a vast, unprotected border. While Canada claims the close to three million square kilometres above the treeline as ours, other countries aren't quite ready to accept that.
The area north of the treeline makes up almost 30 per cent of Canada's territory. You need a lot more than a dozen people on snowmobiles, one week a year patrolling the area to ensure sovereignty and emergency preparedness.
The South Slave communities of Hay River and Fort Smith made a spirited bid for the 2008 Arctic Winter Games.
Given the chance, they would have pulled the event off with grace and aplomb.
The 2008 games will mark the fifth time Yellowknife has hosted the event since 1970. But keeping the capital out of the competition wouldn't have eased the bid committee's concerns with the South Slave bid. The distance between Fort Smith and Hay River, busing to events in Fort Resolution, and the proposal to hold volleyball competitions in a tent, tipped the bid committee toward the territorial capital.
The Multiplex twin-pad arena, and enough hotel rooms to accommodate thousands of athletes and spectators, clinched the decision in Yellowknife's favour. As long as the bid committee is focused on the needs of athletes, any bid from the South Slave will be a long shot.
The South Slave communities have natural attractions, including a milder climate and longer summers. Hay River is host to the annual territorial track and field championships.
Fort Smith has an international reputation among white water kayakers. Building on those strengths could create larger opportunities.
"Strategy fizzles" the News/North headline said last week. The story was about public response to the Northern Strategy, a combined effort by the three territories and federal government to map out a course of action for the future.
Out of 21,000 surveys printed in three languages, 276 were filled out. Between the advertising, printing, travel costs and wages for civil servants to manage the project, more than $1 million was spent - some may say wasted.
It's important for governments to both plan ahead and consult the people for whom they work. We also realize the federal government is dangling $40 million dollars to give the Northern Strategy flesh and control the tight timeframe.
But looking back, that million-plus dollars would have been better spent on a high-powered polling company that asked specifics rather than generalities.
Example: What do people in Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope think about the healthcare in their community, the education their children get, the social services available, even the shopping?
Dreams for the future are always based upon the present. And people don't care about government policy. They want services, which is what governments provide.
Now we know what doesn't work. The people in charge should get serious about learning what people want for the future of the North.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Those of you who remember the original Gong Show TV series probably enjoyed the airing of the show's lost episode this past Thursday evening, MC'd by Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin and co-starring the leaders of Canada's other three political parties.
However, those of you trying to rekindle your faith in Canada's current political climate were, no doubt, gravely disappointed.
Martin was the first Canadian prime minister to address the nation on live TV since Jean Chretien's call for national sovereignty in 1995.
The funny part about this particular address, was that Martin and the three leaders were speaking more to each other than the general public.
And, basically, here's what they had to say.
Martin begged Jack Layton (NDP), Steven Harper (Conservatives) and Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Quebecois) to leave his government in power until the release of the (Justice John) Gomery Commission's report on the sponsorship scandal.
In exchange for that, he promised to call a general election within 30 days of the commission's findings and recommendations being tabled.
That would take us to the polls in January or February of 2006.
Harper, basically, told the prime minister his party has had enough and, if they like the vibes they hear on the road this week, they're going to call for a June election.
Layton's message was not so fast, there Steven.
The NDP leader let the Liberals know if they meet them halfway on a few things - among them removing corporate tax cuts from the upcoming federal budget - they could still get the NDP's support in an election call.
Duceppe, on the other hand, simply told Martin that no federalist can be trusted and he wants to be the first premier of the sovereign state of Quebec (no surprise there).
Although the Bloc leader was kind enough to say he does respect Canadians and their institutions (did we miss something in the Canadian province of Quebec?).
So, what does it all mean?
Well, call it a gamble, but we say it means a federal election will be called during the next month.
Harper is a former founding member of the Reform Party and leader of the Alliance Party who embodies the western motif of kick 'em while they're down, and the Liberals can't sink any lower than they are right now.
The Conservative Party of Canada may never have a better opportunity to end the Liberal reign and Harper knows it.
For Duceppe, an early election is a chance to use a lifeless Liberal carcass to trumpet the cause of separatism while, at the same time, standing a very real chance of becoming the next leader of Canada's Opposition party.
Good thing he respects our institutions, eh?
What this means to the North is that we're all going to miss a day of fishing this year, and, not much is going to come our way while the Liberal Party is busy fighting for its political life in the rest of Canada.
But, for regular readers of Kivalliq News, don't say we didn't already warn you
Editorial Comment
Chris Hunsley
Inuvik Drum
I'd have liked to learn more lessons earlier in life, such as work for what you want and don't forget: you can do anything you put your mind to.
But it's from this reflection that my usually cynical self was touched and inspired by the story of Inuvik's Youth Centre kids.
In a town where youngsters have often had a pretty bad rap, to hear they took the initiative, en masse, to go out and work for what they want is a lesson to us all.
Not only did they take the initiative, they grabbed it and ran in a way that's got the centre's co-ordinator dreaming up new ways to put the junior fundraisers into action more often.
"It was like a lightbulb went on in their heads," said Christina Chalupa of the fish tank collection.
After she informed the six- to 19-year-olds that the centre would struggle through the year due to funding cuts and couldn't afford to buy the aquarium and supplies they had hoped for, the kids and teens returned three days later with close to $500 gathered in loonies, toonies and other small denominations.
Each coin and bill came from a neighbour who's door they knocked on or from a stranger stopped on the street and asked for a pledge. All with the please and thank yous that go along with being respectful and gracious.
"It's almost like they accepted it as a challenge," said Chalupa. "And they succeeded."
The struggling organization, which recently changed its image from that of a drop-in centre for a few at-risk youth to a comfortable environment where more than 60 local youngsters do their homework and play games nightly, now has a team of eager workers ready for their next task.
"Now we're looking at helping with the spring cleanup and having a carwash," said Chalupa.
Spending Sundays at the airport helping elders with their luggage is another idea that's been thrown on the table.
"Right now they're just happy raising money, but it's important for us to move slowly," said Chalupa.
"This is a big step for them, but to tell the truth, I couldn't have asked for more."
Only three months ago, Chalupa feared the centre would have to close its doors.
The tough times are not over by any stretch of the imagination, but with enthusiasm, respect and the willingness to pitch in and help out being shown by the users, the future is definitely looking brighter.
It's not only about providing local kids with much needed supplies and tools, it's about the process of getting there, which is the best lesson of all.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
What happens when a fire occurs and there aren't enough trained volunteer firefighters to respond?
That scenario unfolded in Wrigley earlier this month.
Wrigley, a community of approximately 140 people, currently has one tried and true volunteer on the fire brigade.
Others apparently show up for training intermittently.
The low number has been an issue for years. Unfortunately that same situation exists in several Deh Cho communities at any given time.
Efforts to recruit more individuals have largely been futile. Is it time to pay residents to sign up for fire service? In Wrigley it seemed to have attracted some regular helping hands in the past.
Having more volunteers doesn't guarantee that every home can be saved - that was proven in Fort Simpson on April 22 when a call came in too late for firefighters to salvage a residence. Conversely, having too few volunteers almost guarantees a tragedy.
Firefighting is dangerous work. A stark reminder came last month when two members of Yellowknife's department perished while battling a blaze.
Two unequipped people who tried to help out with the Wrigley blaze suffered smoke inhalation.
Wrigley fire chief Wally Antoine said he's very thankful for the attempts to help with the fire. He certainly couldn't have battled the blaze successfully all by himself.
Yet the truth remains that some of the "helpers" were counterproductive, smashing windows and getting in the way. There's a reason that firefighters hold regular meetings: proper training is absolutely crucial.
It's a risky business, for sure. But life is even riskier without a trained and reliable fire corps.
Our new reporter
Hilda Day, an office administration student at Aurora College in Fort Simpson, is spending her practicum with the Deh Cho Drum. She has written a couple of stories for this edition and her work will be featured over the next few weeks. Welcome aboard, Hilda.
Your name please
There are some interesting letters that arrive in the Deh Cho Drum's mailbox. Some have names attached, others do not. Those that don't never see the light of day in the newspaper. The policy is firm: all letters must be signed (preferably with a contact number) before they are published.
Feel free to express your opinions, just let us know who you are if you want everyone else to read them as well.