In a bold stroke of political desperation, the territorial government ripped the heart out of the NWT's outfitting industry.

Now it seems prepared to gut the power of fledgling aboriginal wildlife management boards in the name of a caribou population crisis.

But rather than win friends to the cause of preserving the herds, the government has done little more than make enemies.

Everyone agrees that caribou are the North's most important wildlife resource. Thousands of residents depend upon herds for food and they also represent a multi-million dollar tourism boost to our economy.

Since population surveys released early last year showed most NWT herds declining, the government has been in crisis mode.

In the Delta, where the population of the Cape Bathurst and Bluenose West herds dropped by more than 80 per cent over the past 20 years, the sport and food hunts were cancelled. Likewise, the resident, non-resident and non-resident alien hunt in the Sahtu was banned.

In the North Slave, the government imposed bag limits on resident hunters, then proposed slashing the sport hunt for barrenland outfitters to 350 tags from 1,243. Even after a massive outcry, the tag limit was set at 750, a move that could decimate a growing industry.

Attacking outfitters was purely political. It served no purpose in helping caribou populations because most of the meat goes directly to aboriginal communities, likely reducing the number of animals harvested to feed folks in Lutsel K'e, Behchoko or Whati.

Outfitters reacted to the attack on their industry by poking holes in government science, raising enough questions that the population surveys should be redone.

Now, the government appears poised to trample the authority of aboriginal wildlife boards. That raised the anger of Yellowknives Dene Chief Fred Sangris and Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie.

These boards have the power to enact laws to manage caribou and set harvesting rates but rather than let them do their job, the territorial government is trying to impose its will, saying it can overrule First Nations in emergencies.

This is exactly the kind of paternalistic power grab that will continue to hobble First Nations from developing functioning governments.

Chief Mackenzie is right to demand Yellowknife treat First Nations governments as equals. The aboriginal boards can use territorial government science to manage the hunt. That way, Inuvialuit are beholden to Inuvialuit, Dene to Dene.

They can even sell hunting tags to outfitters, with the caveat that meat from kills be returned to communities.

This is a chance to let First Nations governments stand on their own two feet.

Let them do it.

Classrooms in Nunavut aren't just places where children learn Inuktitut, math, history and social skills.

Classrooms are also a place where hateful language, spitting and hitting occur.

The problem is so serious that the Nunavut Teachers Association has launched a campaign called Make Learning Safe.

Teachers logged 34 instances of physical attacks in 2006. But most of those were only recorded in the latter half of the year when educators were encouraged by the union to chart such numbers. But some teachers likely failed to report, so the number was probably higher, maybe considerably higher.

Violence and verbal abuse in Nunavut classrooms is disruptive to earnest students who are trying to learn in what should be a nurturing environment.

The negative conditions also mean that it will be that much more difficult to recruit and keep teachers.

There has been a great deal of discussion surrounding this topic in recent years, particularly in Iqaluit, where a discipline policy drafted by the district education authority has been a long time in the making.

DEA members and teachers generally agree suspensions are not the solution.

Removing students with behaviour problems from school fuels resentment and makes them feel alienated, increasing the likelihood they'll drop out. Society, particularly in small Nunavut communities, will inherit a troubled adult to deal with for a good many years.

Teachers and DEA members also agree that more resources are needed. Schools could benefit greatly from counsellors, people who are trained to recognize and treat distressed youth.

Traditional on-the-land programs are another alternative that educators and DEA members like to promote for troubled youth, but there's often not enough money in school budgets for such programming.

Thomas Berger's recommendation of tens of millions more in federal funding for education would be of great assistance, but it would be naive to believe the Conservatives will hand over that kind of money anytime soon, if ever.

In the meantime, it's tempting to advise teachers to call the police on the worst classroom offenders, but the Young Offender's Act lacks teeth. Such a response would, more often than not, just transfer a delinquent from one institution to another with little consequence.

The Department of Education is currently updating the Nunavut Education Act. That piece of legislation must identify clear steps in dealing with classroom abuse.

Teachers, who are at ground zero in this battle, should be given a strong voice in this issue. Their safety, and the well being of students, is at stake.

Their success or failure will largely determine the future health of Nunavut communities.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

One learns very quickly in the journalism game that, with a bit of creativity, numbers can say just about anything you want them to.

At the very least, they are capable of giving the reader, listener or viewer a distorted picture of what's really happening in just about any given scenario.

This is a valuable tool for any journalist who might be looking for a sensational approach to draw their listener in.

And, make no mistake about it, it is also a valuable tool to anybody feeding the media information who would like the story to reflect their point of view.

That is why anyone listening to radio broadcasts this past week was probably wondering why anyone in their right mind would want to live in Rankin Inlet.

Or, at least, spend any time there during the holiday season.

You see, the Rankin RCMP, apparently, had a dickens of a time keeping up with all the alcohol-related disturbances in the community.

In fact, the community was so out of control, the number of people incarcerated during the holiday season's big night actually doubled from the year before.

And, the number of calls the RCMP had to respond to also rose some 20 per cent from the previous year.

Of course, all this information was given much fanfare due to the fact there was no ban on alcohol put in place this year.

We have no doubt the numbers are true. However, in a community of about 2,500, you still don't need the fingers on both hands to count the number of people who found themselves incarcerated.

And, of course, if you go to the same address four times, you are well within your rights to count each one as a separate incident.

But Rankin was hardly in the throes of anarchy this past holiday season.

Conspicuous in their absence from these reports were those who worked the Christmas Games and oversaw the community hall during the numerous dances and New Year's gathering, all of whom reported relatively trouble-free events during which everyone had a good time.

And yes, Rankin was only two behind Iqaluit, a community more than twice its size, when it came to people who were nabbed while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Of course, for the past year, the Rankin RCMP have been working under the direct order of hamlet council to be extremely vigilant in their efforts to nab those who make such a terrible decision.

And they've done a great job at it, which has made our community a safer place to be, but that has nothing to do with alcohol bans at Christmas.

Neither Mayor Lorne Kusugak nor the Rankin RCMP were happy about council's refusal to support Coun. Justin Merritt's motion to impose a ban this past year.

And, the release of these statistics, presented in the worst-possible light, almost seems to be a way of telling the community we told you so when it comes to the ban.

Maybe it's time to hold a plebiscite every two or three years during the municipal elections asking the community if it wants a holiday liquor ban during that time frame.

Then, everyone on both sides of the cork can learn to accept the will of the people.

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum

I want to know what the police of Inuvik are doing to protect us from crime and violence.

A man is in hospital because he was stabbed by a youth on Saturday morning. I don't know the details of the incident yet, but it is becoming obvious that we have a crisis on our hands.

Last year our town was plagued by rash after rash of break-ins and vandalism. We found out that it was a group of kids who were being helped by an adult.

People in this town don't seem to care about the police or the law. That is becoming more and more apparent by the volume of calls the RCMP have been getting.

But now, why aren't the boys in blue responding to these calls? Why do victims of break-ins have to wait days before they get a response from the Inuvik RCMP?

Since I became editor of the Inuvik Drum, people have been coming to me with their beefs with the police.

I know a guy who had some expensive property stolen from right in front of his house, a motorbike that could easily be identified.

The person stole it because they knew they could get away with it. They took the risk because they knew all they'd get was a slap on the wrist.

Hopefully someone in the RCMP detachment will read this column and spend more time on the street tonight. Go on patrol and spread that authority where it counts. I don't want to be afraid of the cops; I just want to respect them again.

A person on the street said it best: the crack dealers and vandals are still going strong; it seems like all the cops want to do is spend their resources busting pot dealers.

I was talking to the manager of a store that was broken into recently. The guy said he knew who broke into his store less than 10 hours after the fact, but the RCMP have still not done anything. He even supplied the kids' names to the cops. Maybe they will call him back now.

I am also a victim of theft. Someone came in to my office and stole my portable Playstation. The police have no leads yet, but they assured me over a month ago that they were on the case. Hmmm...

My issue may be with the state of our laws and how we handle our criminals, but police need to enforce the weak laws that are in place.

If the crooks aren't taking our prosecution system seriously, why should we? I don't think the good people of Inuvik deserve to be punked like this.

Youth don't get punished for their crimes and they keep being bad apples. Adults who are now grown-up criminals can't stay out of jail.

Maybe we should make their jail time less inviting. People who have spent time in the slammer tell me they haven't eaten that well in years. They get to read, work out and yes, play video games.

Why can't I play my video game? Oh yeah, because I obey the law.

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum

Wrigley is without a chief again.

The resignation of Chief Tim Lennie from the position marks the third leadership change in just over 12 months.

The revolving door of leadership in Wrigley perhaps says less about that community than it does about the other communities in the Deh Cho. It is, in fact, a credit to the region that more communities are not stuck in this unfortunate position.

Speaking to the leaders gathered at the Dehcho First Nations' special leadership meeting in Fort Simpson, Lennie offered some insight into the role of chief.

"This is not a thankful job. We all know that," he said.

Later Lennie said that he admires other leaders, especially those in small communities for their strength.

Being a chief or a president cannot be an easy job.

Lennie cited exhaustion as his primary reason for leaving leadership and he's not the first to do so. Although he remained in the position, Chief Eric Betsaka of Nahanni Butte recently almost hung up his hat for the same reason.

Both stated that they were looking forward to a bit more personal time and being with their families.

As a leader, especially in a small community, all residents become your extended family. While juggling the needs of a biological family can be difficult in itself, keeping the proverbial balls in the air for a community full of family members is that much trickier.

To add to the confusion, many of the community members are probably blood relations to the leader in the first place. As a result a delicate tightrope walk has to be maintained. Non-family members and members of different family branches are bound to be watching for any real or imagined signs of favouritism.

In smaller communities there is also the added burden of lack of human resources. Often there are fewer people than there are jobs needing completion and leaders are ultimately held responsible for the result.

When all the responsibilities are looked at together, it's amazing that anyone wants to be a chief or president in the first place.

But in the end much of the credit for long-lasting leaders can be given to those they are leading.

A leader is suppose to act as a spokesperson and champion for their people. If they aren't representing the people's wishes their rule becomes a dictatorship.

In return for hopefully sound guidance and leadership those who are being led also have a number responsibilities to fulfil.

While leaders are often criticized, providing constructive criticism is more helpful than other forms. The occasional bit of praise never hurts either.

Providing direction for chosen leaders is also important. Without the people to act as a compass, leaders often don't know where they should be heading.

By working together leaders and community members can help ensure mutually beneficial stability.

Inaccurate information appeared in the Jan. 29 edition of News/North. In an article about the NWT Barren Ground Caribou Summit, ('It's not going to work,' p.3) Fred Sangris was not correctly identified as the Chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (N'Dilo).

Jim Peterson was also not correctly identified as the spokesperson for NWT outfitters.

News/North apologizes for any inconvenience or embarrassment caused by these errors.