Today’s kids are the doctors, lawyers and pilots of tomorrow. They are also the rapists, thieves and murderers.

The people our children grow up to be is greatly dependent on the people who are there during their childhood, helping them form ideals, personalities and morals. In most cases, those people are not their parents.

More than half of Canada’s children are in care other than their parents’, according to a 2001 analysis. Of those children, 25 per cent were in daycare and 34 per cent were at babysitters of some other kind, says Stats Canada.

Those figures are surely rising because statistically, parents are more likely to work now than they were in the past - even in two-parent families.

So it’s sad that the workers raising the better part of our future society aren’t paid adequately or honoured more. Society doesn’t respect early child development as an admirable profession associated with a high level of esteem. And many young people don’t aspire for a career in child care because it isn’t seen as an exciting or challenging career choice.

In the Northwest Territories, parents are scrambling to find quality babysitting. But there simply aren’t enough quality child care workers. Last week, News/North reported on an Alternatives North Daycare report that said 67 per cent of day cares in the Territories have waitlists of up to 100 people.

We can only guess if there are hundreds of people across the territory waiting for child care services, then those people are either unhappy with their current child care situation or are unable to hold a job because of the problem.

But whose problem is it to look after our children? It’s not the government’s alone - although it must take some responsibility. Aside from the separate issue of low-income families covered by other social services, the onus has to also lie on parents and employers.

In Inuvik, the Midnight Sun day care facility was able to implement changes after the Gwitch’en Tribal Council chipped in with cash. The facility was able to raise the workers’ payscale and certify workers.

Other employers should be following the Tribal Council’s lead.

Imperial Oil is a key employer in Norman Wells. BHP Billiton and Diavik both provide jobs for hundreds of people. The Northwest Territories Power Corporation is boss to many. These companies would be better corporate citizens if they helped provide funding for future citizens.

It’s a start to finding an answer to not only the child care problem but easing the lack of skilled workers. An excellent and accessible daycare system in the North would be attractive to many working parents across Canada.

The future of the NWT would also be on much more solid ground.

The federal government has finally put a pricetag on losing a mother and father's embrace and guidance, nights cuddled with brothers and sisters.

Inuit can collect a $10,000 lump sum and $3,000 for every year spent at a residential school in Canada, if they choose to accept a federal government settlement agreement.

That's the compensation for the loss of their childhood.

Through no fault of their own, or that of their parents, residential school students were handed a pretty bad deal early on in life.

Also, those who suffered the most, through physical or sexual abuse, may receive up to $450,000, if they can convince a panel during a one-day confidential private hearing, according to a lawyer for residential school survivors based in Whitehorse.

They can take this settlement, or file a private lawsuit and see what happens.

Some residential school survivors might get more money - the highest court payment to date is $250,000 - if they don't take the settlement, but the legal process could drag on and outlast their lives.

The federal deal will likely fall through if more than 5,000 people decide to decline the package and sue the government instead.

Right now there are about 500 former Inuit students alive today. It may look like a small portion of more than 100,000 kids who walked institutional halls and slept in dormitory beds across Canada, including 13 schools across Nunavut, but their experiences still trickle down to the fabric of each community.

Some people tell about good experiences getting an education at the schools, but too many more tell horrific stories of mental abuse at least and physical or sexual abuse at worst. A whole culture was distorted because its children were taken from their families and forced to model emotions, relationships and behaviour on institutional rules.

The evil is done. The Canadian government formally apologised in January 1998 and we can't go backwards in time.

The average age of residential school survivors is 60 years old and they aren't getting any younger. Former students at least 65 years old can get a fast-tracked payment -- instant cash in the bank. And Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Assembly of First Nations both think it's a good deal.

So it's a real dilemma.

How much money can fix the damage done by residential schools?

There's no amount great enough. The only way to mend the past is to prepare for the future.

Editorial Comment
Andrew Raven
Kivalliq News

There is a little girl in Whale Cove who could use some help.

A few months ago, she accused her father of sexual assault. The allegations shook her family and the tiny Kivalliq community. But they meant, at least, she would fall under the long, protective arm of the law while the charges are proved to be true or false.

Well, that's how the story is supposed to unfold. Reality - as it developed in a Rankin Inlet courtroom last week - was far different. A series of questionable judicial rulings, confusion between the courts police and mind-boggling parental decisions mean the little girl has been living with her father while he awaits trial.

The sordid mess began when Whale Cove Mounties charged the man, who says he is innocent, with sexual assault. His bail conditions barred him from living at home. That kind of ruling is common sense.

But despite that order, prosecutors revealed during the June 13 court hearing in Rankin Inlet the man had been living at home because of a mix-up involving the court and police. The girl's mother had apparently welcomed the man back into the family home; he had been living with his mother.

Mounties declined to comment on the case because, one officer said, they were not sure what was discussed during the Rankin court session.

Whatever the reason, the girl should not have to face the man she has accused of a serious crime until they meet in court.

But things get worse. Nunavut Court of Justice justice Beverly Browne later ruled the man could, legally, return home during the day and visit the girl, so long as there was another adult around.

The decision is stunning. Crown attorney, Patricia Moise hit the nail on the head when she told Browne: "Who's to know what's going on in the house?"

"The court has the power to protect this (girl)," Moise said.

"We can't turn our backs on the person who came to us seeking protection."

And that should be the paramount concern of justice officials.

The much-repeated mantra of "innocent until proven guilty" is more than dialogue fodder for Law and Order. But that pure-as-the-driven-snow principle needs to balance with the realities of life. Courts often place restrictions on people who haven't been convicted of so much as spitting. Suspects are jailed, forced to fork over bail and placed on strict release conditions.

While living at home with his mother might be a drag, the court should order the Whale Cove man to stay away from his house and his daughter. With his trial six weeks away, those conditions aren't too onerous.

And in a messed-up ending to a messed-up story, the Rankin court hearing came to a forbidding close last week. Clearly confused by the legal wrangling going on a few hundred kilometres away, the man asked: "So I have to stay at my mother's for one more night?" Nope. Not even close.

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum

I spent some time at the high school last week for the year-end celebrations and cleanup.

The faculty of Samuel Hearne held a nice lunch for departing principal David Reid.

It more or less resembled a roast, which is always a good time.

I know that through most of my high school life, I asked myself questions about Sammy and why our school was named after him.

Turns out he was an explorer in the early days of the Mackenzie River and this area.

I guess he was such a stand-up guy that the powers that be flexed their bureaucratic muscles and named a high school after him.

After a brief read through a biography I found on Google, I found he was instrumental in Northern exploration.

Good for him and I'm sure he deserves to have his name on a school.

So, I was in the high school, and talked to a teacher who had some questions regarding the new "super school" that will be erected here in the future.

She asked me what the new school should be named.

I quickly replied that the names might stay the same, Samuel Hearne and Sir Alex, respectively.

She told me that we had the only schools in the region that were named after explorers like them.

Not to be proven wrong, I made my way back to my office post haste.

Sure enough, nearby communities like Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok and Aklavik all had their hometown heroes named on their schools.

Now I understand that this town was built by the government, for the government, so I'm not going to question their choices for school names.

But maybe, just maybe we could name the new schools after some local flavour from the area.

Since we became a community, there have been many great elders and local people who have made their mark on our lives.

Why not name the school after the people who actually taught there?

Now while I'm not old enough to start spitting out names, I'm sure many of you can think of a couple right now.

All I am saying is this: The new schools will need a name.

Now what can they be called? I'm sure they didn't let the town decide on the current ones.

Not to draw too much attention to myself, but I was born here and I am a Samuel Hearne alumni.

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum

On July 1, 139 years ago a collection of governments and people on the upper half of the continent of North America joined together to become the Dominion of Canada.

A new nation was born on that day. It included the areas that today make up New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

The decision to become a nation was not an easy one, but three significant factors that still affect us today played a role.

For one, the province that would later become Ontario and Quebec, was having political problems. Leaders on both sides of the language divide had disagreements with each other and thought joining with the other colonies might help.

There was also the problem of economics. Each colony needed a market to sell their goods to and wondered if they could make life easier by selling to each other.

Then there was the issue of unstable relations with the U.S. Britain didn't want to pay to defend the colonies any more so joining together was seen as a way to increase protection.

The legacy of Confederation is still with us today and extends much further than having a reason for a long weekend in July.

Notable in its absence during the process towards nationhood was any sort of consideration or consultation for the numerous aboriginal people on the continent. In the Deh Cho this is still being dealt with today.

While most of the provinces and territories have had a long time to adjust to life within the larger entity of Canada, the Deh Cho is still trying to address and clarify how it fits.

It's not uncommon for Deh Cho leaders to phrase their struggles in the terms of the Deh Cho versus Canada. This wording can sound strange to newcomers from the south who are used to a stable concept of Canada as a nation.

But the Deh Cho is working through a process much like the Fathers of Confederation did. The notable difference is that the Deh Cho is already part of the country that it's in negotiations with to hammer out land and self-government rights.

Just as the original colonies had to compromise when creating Canada, it appears that either the country or the Deh Cho will have to do the same on their positions.

Tim Christian's presentation during the Dehcho Assembly in Kakisa was notable for its clarity and straightforwardness.

As the chief federal negotiator on the Dehcho process, Christian stated that he wanted to be honest that neither this government nor the previous one is prepared to accept the Dehcho proposal as it stands.

Canada is not willing to offer anything more than land selection instead of jurisdiction over all the land that the Dehcho leadership has asked for.

What is to be done?

Canada has set forward its firm stance and leaders from the Deh Cho, particularly Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, have maintained that they are sticking to their guns.

Somewhere something will have to give. The two key questions will be, how long will it take and who will come away with the most satisfaction?

In the end, the best possible outcome will be an agreement that will be as enduring as Canada has proven to be as a country.

In the June 19 edition of News/North the names Eddie and Bobby Gruben were transposed. Also, Merven Gruben is one of four owners of E. Gruben Transport Ltd. News/North apologizes for the errors and any embarrassment or confusion they may have caused.

In July 3’s Streetbeat Eemali Kolola and Sandra Ikkidluak were incorrectly identified as one another. Nunavut News/North apologizes the error.