 |
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
First, both parties must quit playing the blame game and realize the most important thing: caribou are an important Northern renewable resource.
Unlike diamond mines, precious metals, oil and gas, carefully managed caribou herds will continue to roam the NWT when the non-renewable resources are exhausted.
North Slave outfitters shouldn't be surprised they're first on the caribou crisis chopping block.
After all, slashing outfitter tags by 70 per cent is the only thing the territorial government can do as it struggles to find a solution to plummeting herds.
Still, this $4 million annual industry generates more than 300 seasonal jobs and remains an important part of the North Slave economy. It's too important to let die.
On the other hand, First Nations have a constitutionally-protected right to hunt for food.
Figuring out how many caribou First Nations harvest each year is a bit of a guessing game, however. Estimates range from 5,000 to 20,000 animals.
While the food hunt cannot be stopped, aboriginal hunters must realize that the hunt has changed with the times. Hunters can go out and find the herds aboard planes and high powered snowmachines.
With that capability, Dene must show responsibility to protect and manage the herd. The first step is to count the number of animals harvested annually.
As Yellowknives Dene Chief Fred Sangris says, the caribou are a First Nations resource. So why can't the Yellowknives, North Slave Metis and Tlicho start managing the hunt and help outfitters at the same time?
North Slave outfitters had 1,243 tags last year but will only get 350 tags this year.
These hunters, mostly wealthy southerners, are only here for the experience of the hunt. Along the way, they stay in area hotels, buy souvenirs and fill airline seats. The meat, about 40,000 pounds last year, is donated to communities and the food bank.
First Nations could authorize outfitters to hunt some of their caribou on their behalf for a price. That money and the meat from each caribou bagged could go to families who can't get onto the land. If each tag sold for $500, that's a lot of cash to buy other food for the table.
That way, families will get some cash and meat and outfitters will continue to attract hunters North, preserving this important part of our tourism industry.
We have to do something to preserve caribou herds, but that doesn't have to mean gutting the outfitting industry.
It will just take co-operation and creativity.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Being a regional newspaper in an area as far-reaching as the Kivalliq presents a unique set of challenges.
The increased availability and performance of modern technology has made gathering information from our six communities outside of Rankin Inlet less daunting than when I first arrived in Rankin in 1998.
However, that being said, the technology would be useless if not for the people in each hamlet who take the time to keep me abreast of the happenings in their community.
As such, we like to take a moment at this time every year to acknowledge the efforts of those across the Kivalliq who aid us so much in putting out the quality of newspaper you've come to expect from the Kivalliq News.
Still at the top of my personal thank you list of contributors are Gord Billard in Arviat, Leonie Aissaoui in Repulse Bay, Noel (my hero) Kaludjak in Coral Harbour and our award-winning teacher, Glen Brocklebank, in Chesterfield Inlet.
I've long lost count of how many stirring photographs and great story ideas these four good folks have passed my way during the past six to eight years, or so.
Kudos are also deserved to Lyall Ford and Leo Lareau in Baker Lake who keep me up to speed with athletic events (Leo), as well as artistic happenings and human-interest pieces (Lyall) from our only inland community.
Kukik Baker helps to keep us informed of what the youth in Arviat are up to from time to time, as well as the rising popularity of snowmen in the community the past three years.
Ditto for all those in Arviat who send me great photos from their annual snowmobile races every year.
Staff members at more and more schools across our region are taking the time to highlight the accomplishments of their students every semester.
We deeply appreciate their efforts for -- call it a cliche if you must - today's students are the leaders of tomorrow.
Lest we have you thinking all the help we receive comes from outside of Rankin, there are a number of folks in this community who realize their local editor can't be everywhere all the time.
To that end, I would like to express my personal gratitude to Karen and Doug McLarty, Harold Goobie and staff at Leo Ussak, and Jesse Payne and his staff at Maani Ulujuk high school.
While the news of the week must always be reported in a fair and balanced way, it is the people of the Kivalliq and their stories that make this such a compelling region.
It would be far more difficult for Kivalliq News to tell these stories if not for the folks who take the time to send so much information and so many photos.
Space does not permit me to thank every person by name who has helped me do my job that much better during the past year.
Suffice to say I appreciate every contribution I receive, big or small.
As we start a new year together in the Kivalliq, I look forward to your continued support in helping me tell the many diverse and entertaining stories of the people who call our region home.
And, it is my privilege to do so.
Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
This is the time of year when people like to reflect on themselves, dig deep and work on ways to improve their lives.
I am talking, of course, of the New Year's resolution.
That little promise we all make in an effort to feel better about being ourselves.
I'm sure that some of you make resolutions that only last as long as the party, or maybe a few weeks into January.
I've heard lots of them, such as how badly someone wants to quit smoking or drinking pop.
It's always good to keep motivating yourself, so I hope you stick to your guns and make a reasonable resolution.
I haven't really given much thought to what I will pledge on New Year's Eve.
Maybe I'll cut down on video games. Maybe not.
All I know is that, looking back at the last year in Inuvik, we did pretty good.
We elected a strong, honest town council and a new mayor with the promise of keeping transparency in council, and a vow to keep the interest of the public in mind and to make good decisions.
Community gatherings were at an all-time high, with the music festival, the Gwich'in gathering, the arts festival and the strongly-inspiring residential school gathering as well.
I saw this past year as a great one for strengthening the community as a whole. I met a lot of new people with my new career choice. I've been on the Drum beat since April.
Believe me, if you think there is a lack of activity in town, you're just lazy.
With the good must come the bad, of course. It seemed like we had a break-in every week.
The RCMP were busy throughout the summer months, chasing little crooks.
When the smoke clears on 2006 and we find ourselves looking January in the face, we should be ready for the next step.
An important gathering is brewing for the region, with the caribou summit happening in late January.
Being a strong community takes effort from all of us, and I can tell you all that we did okay. You deserve to relax over the next few weeks.
So, cheers to you Inuvik, let's keep the momentum going into 2007 and maybe we'll even get some substantial news on this fantasy pipeline I've been writing so much about.
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
With Christmas just around the corner it's the time of year when hope, optimism and good will towards your fellow man (or woman) is supposed to reign.
While this can be difficult if you still have gifts left to purchase and wrap or large Christmas dinners to plan there seems to be a fair bit of optimism appearing recently in the events affecting the Deh Cho.
The award for highest recent optimism levels goes to Jim Prentice, the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs.
Prentice was recorded as saying that he hoped Dehcho First Nations would accept the federal government's land claims offer at meetings in Edmonton this week.
While it never hurts to hope, this is certainly a case where there seems to be little hard evidence to pin the hope upon. It was only a few weeks ago when Deh Cho leaders, after much debate, decided to allow negotiators to even talk about land selection.
It's wishful thinking to imagine that enough has happened since the special assembly held from Nov. 28 to 30 for a deal to be signed. Prentice might have been hoping for a signed deal as a stocking stuffer, but he's just going to have to wait at least a while longer.
High hopes were also recently displayed by the members of the 2860 Royal Army Cadet Corp Fort Simpson who participated in the Northern Region Cadet Biathlon Championship in Whitehorse.
Hard work and determination paid off for the six cadets who all had positive experiences and brought back six medals between them.
Hopes will continue to remain high for Brandon Norris, Jordin Snider and Josh Baton who have been chosen as members of the Northern regional team that will compete in the National Cadet Biathlon Championships in March in Whitehorse. Charlene Deneyoua is also an alternate for that team.
Having a goal is important, but through training and preparation the cadets have taken the steps needed to make a dream become reality.
Florence Brown just made one of her dreams come true by launching her first book.
While Brown had dabbled in writing before as a tool for language teaching, this was her first attempt at creating a whole children's book. Brown is hopeful that by recording elders' stories she can help keep their knowledge alive.
Although this step will help to achieve the goal, Brown isn't content with just one book under her belt. She's aiming high with the goal of producing a story from each of the larger families in Fort Simpson. This is an example of someone working to achieve something they believe in.
While stories of hope can probably be found in all Deh Cho communities this time of year, it's Trout Lake will be finishing the year off with a final note of optimism.
The marriage of Rebecca Jumbo and Robert Murdock on Dec. 30 will help send the year off on the right foot and hopefully act as a example for the things to come in 2007.