Monday, August 8, 2005
GNWT cannot afford to pay for federal strategy
Sixty calves were taken from the wild and penned at Fort Resolution in 1996. The plan was to build a disease-free herd that would eventually replace infected bison in Wood Buffalo National Park.
Using a method that has been successful with beef cattle, the calves were isolated from their parent herd which was known to carry tuberculosis and brucellosis.
Everything seemed to be going well. But tests in June revealed tuberculosis in one animal. Subsequently, a dozen of the 130 animals tested positive.
Cormack Gates, co-chair of the Wood Bison recovery team, insists that the project has been half-successful: the animals penned at Fort Resolution don't have brucellosis.
Since the discovery of tuberculosis in the herd, nine animals have been destroyed and the others may soon follow, unless the federal government steps in with some money.
Environment minister Michael Miltenberger ran the idea of federal financial support past federal environment minister Stephane Dion at a meeting in Yellowknife last week.
Dion didn't immediately dismiss the idea.
But before Ottawa opens its wallet, Dion will ask the questions the territorial government should have answered before they took on the project: what's in this for taxpayers?
Miltenberger confessed to a reporter that the project was never designed to make money; it was a scientific and environmental undertaking. He said the project was part of a national strategy, a potential answer to Alberta cattlemen concerned about the spread of disease from wood bison to their herds.
It was hoped to grow the captive herd to 2,000 animals by 2015, which would then replace the diseased animals in Wood Buffalo Park.
If this was a national strategy, where was the federal money?
Miltenberger estimates that it will take $500,000 to salvage and move the herd, and another $300,000 a year to maintain it at a new home.
The people of Fort Resolution have protested the presence of the herd, which has contributed nothing to the community but a bad odour and now, the threat of disease.
We say $3 million is more than enough to spend on a dubious venture. Release the herd into the wild to rejoin their diseased cousins, or destroy them, but no more public money should be thrown at this half-successful project.
Repulse Bay hunters have their sights on a bowhead whale, but memories of a previous hunt should not be forgotten.
Until 1996, Inuit had voluntarily stopped hunting bowheads after whalers harvested nearly the entire whale population.
That year Repulse hosted the first hunt in 20 years, with hunters from across Nunavut.
However, many were left shaking their heads as the whale they had killed sank to the bottom of the ocean.
They were able to raise it two days later, but most of the meat was no longer fit for consumption.
Since then, three successful hunts have taken place - in Pangnirtung in 1998, Coral Harbour in 2000 and Iglulik and Hall Beach in 2002.
The Pangnirtung hunt wasn't without its controversy as some people didn't want the media on hand, saying the 1996 hunt was unfairly criticized.
The hunt is a much-anticipated event, and not just limited to the host community as the meat from the bowhead is distributed across the territory. Now one of the highlights of many hunters and elders, the hunt is also a way of keeping Inuit traditions alive. It should be celebrated.
By allowing witnesses, including the media, to view the hunt from a safe distance, the event will be well-documented and the importance of the hunt to Inuit will be passed on to others. A successful hunt, both in catching a whale and doing it openly, without secrecy and controversy, will ensure the hunts continue free from public criticism.
Nunavut's traditional sports are tests of strength and endurance that many of today's professional athletes likely couldn't conquer.
That past has lent to an unmatched natural ability displayed by Inuit youth in contemporary sports. Rankin Inlet's Jordin Tootoo is likely Canada's best-known Inuit sporting star.
His influence has helped lay the foundation that has inspired a growing culture of athletics in Nunavut.
Starting with the Kugluktuk Grizzlies, athletics associations are beginning to pop up around the territory.
As the sports culture evolves, youth are finding more and more success and their exploits are becoming well known across the country and beyond.
Sam Carter is still far away from the NBA, but by taking part in an elite basketball camp over the summer, persevering and following his goals and dreams, the Iqaluit teen is as much a role model and ambassador for the territory as Tootoo.
Sport teaches confidence and humility at the same time. Through travel it opens up a new world, not just to Nunavut athletes, but all of Canada as well.
Editorial Comment
Brent Reaney
Kivalliq News
It's always seemed a little strange to me that our territory's largest single employer, the Government of Nunavut, rarely if ever shows up in the media.
There are definitely weeks when you could read this newspaper without realizing the GN even exists.
Now some people, in some departments can be very helpful. But often, interview requests go days or weeks without fetching so much as a response.
Other times, people call back, but seem to fear losing their job for talking with a reporter about even the most straightforward of topics.
What will it take to break down the wall that exists between the government and the media?
A degree of tension between the two parties is healthy, but somehow this tension seems to have grown into a quiet animosity.
As I travel to communities, I talk with people who feel disconnected from their government.
And considering that many people may not even have access to e-mail, communicating in Nunavut can be a difficult and expensive process.
But there is one thing which everyone has access to: newspapers.
Yes, these pages are printed every week and flown all over Nunavut.
Poor weather can lengthen the time to delivery, but as I had one man tell me, no matter when the issue arrives, "it's still news to me."
And fridges across the territory are adorned with numerous yellowed story and photo clippings.
If I were heading up a government, I would see this vehicle as a perfect way to deliver a message to people.
Maybe to let people know that yes, the territory has problems, but that we have some people, and they are working on them.
But for some reason, it is often difficult to get the GN's side of an issue into the paper.
It shouldn't be this way.
Granted, we can't have every disgruntled government employee blowing off steam in the media.
But we do need the people who are accountable for programs and services to be able to respond to questions they can answer.
Whether this idea of getting fired for giving an unauthorized interview is real or imagined, we need to extinguish it.
Allow me to point out some of the benefits to our government of communicating through the media.
First, the entire edition of Kivalliq News is translated, which means it can be used to inform the entire family.
More importantly, we the media are the only way to talk to the entire territory at little or no cost.
This is not a limited time offer, but for the sake of having informed constituents when the next election comes around, we need you to take advantage of it and return our next call as soon as possible.
Now that that's out of the way, I want to thank everyone who helped me out during my brief stint at the Kivalliq News.
Though my time here would add up to less than a drop in the bucket of life, I've learned a lot.
As you read this, Darrell Greer is likely back in the editor's chair putting together this week's issue.
Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum
Those interested in the goings-on of space shuttle Discovery - currently floating in orbit - will know that a mission is underway to repair the vehicle for safe re-entry into earth's atmosphere.
This past week, astronauts have been attempting to fix problems on the craft's underbelly hoping to avert a disaster similar to the one that destroyed Discovery's sister-ship Columbia in 2003.
For a novice space watcher like myself, the events reminded me of a simple fact concerning most astronauts and their credentials.
Prior to becoming space travellers - perhaps the ultimate in extreme professions - most if not all of them possessed training in another field. Biologists, chemists, doctors and engineers make up the bulk of NASA's contingent of astronauts.
When people talk about the opportunities a pipeline can provide, most are focused on the actual construction and the opportunities for Northern people to learn trades.
However, little is said about other types of work involved in building the pipeline and maintaining it once it is operational.
Not to mention the host of industries not directly associated with oil and gas that will benefit from the spin-offs of the pipeline.
Now what does all this have to do with space travel, I hear some of you asking? On the surface, not very much. But those with a vision of the future, those who subscribe to the notion of continuing education, might be able to see the link.
In addition to career opportunities in the sciences, learning a trade can be a gateway to future studies.
I'm not saying that the guy who welds struts for a pipeline river crossing is automatically going to be the next Neil Armstrong.
On the other hand, dreams are the first step to realizing one's potential. And who's to say that hypothetical welder doesn't have what it takes to become a rocket scientist?
Similar to when the Twin Lakes MLA talks of job opportunities for Northerners, he's not just speaking of people holding shovels for the big oil pharaohs. He's talking about potential careers in science, medicine and engineering - all of which are possibilities for anyone with the determination to see them through.
I was speaking with a local about higher education late one evening over beers.
My friend was a bit frustrated with the idea of paying for the education of people from this region when they may not return here to practice their profession.
"It's a big waste of money," was his position.
That's not an uncommon sentiment but it's not the right way to look at the situation.
The education of one's people, regardless of where they may end up working, is of great importance here. In Inuvik there are people from all corners of the globe working in a variety of fields - all of them ambassadors for their country of origin.
Fast forward a few years and picture an Inuvik where a healthy contingent of aboriginal people are leading environmental assessment teams, practising medicine at the regional hospital or working at any number of highly-skilled professional careers in our town.
Nothing outlandish about this possibility at all. And who knows? Maybe one day the Northwest Territories will boast its first home-grown astronaut.
When that day comes, my guess is nobody will be complaining because that person left the community in pursuit of a dream.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
The people of Fort Liard have never been more caught in the middle.
Two men who want to lead the Acho Dene Koe are locked in a bitter struggle for power. The fallout is crippling the community.
Harry Deneron won the July 14 election by 54 votes. In a community with fewer than 400 eligible voters, that is a substantial margin of victory.
Floyd Bertrand appealed the outcome of the election due to alleged coercion and intimidation of band members. Rita Cazon, the returning officer, said an appeal board could not be formed because community members were too fearful of repercussions if they took sides. Cazon consequently issued her own judgment based on written statements by band members. The problem is that Floyd Bertrand collected those statements. In a case like this, any statements, even if they are signed by the band members themselves, should have been taken by a police officer or a justice of the peace. It should have been done by somebody impartial, not by another candidate for chief!
In an open letter to band members, chief-elect Harry Deneron and four of the five new (and unofficial) band councillors state: "Our customary laws are unwritten and do not include any appeal process for challenging elections results."
That may have been the way it was done in the past, but it obviously poses a problem today. The Acho Dene Koe First Nation, like others in the North, has adopted democratic elections.
That's a departure from the bygone practice of having elders and designated family members come together to select a tribal chief or a "head man."
Because their method for choosing a leader has changed, the band needs to devise and ratify a written procedure for responding to appeals (or even borrow a workable precedent from another First Nation).
The democratic election process is not foolproof, unfortunately. There is potential for wrongdoing.
Therefore it is crucial to have an independent body that can objectively assess whether election guidelines were followed - even if some or all the members of that body have to come from another community to do it.
The question now is who is going to draft an updated election code? It is probably best left in the hands of a mediator, someone who can get both sides to agree on the rules and regulations.
Then it could be enacted in a closely-monitored election to be held as soon as possible.
Barring that, this big ball of wax could very well be headed to federal court. If that is the case, it could be months before a ruling is made.
In the meantime band members will be left shaking their heads in disbelief.