Editorial

In a world where security is such a prominent issue, it is no surprise to see new federal guidelines for air travel that will come into effect this summer.

Starting today, new identification rules for air travellers come into effect. Anyone flying through Yellowknife to southern Canada will need a piece of government-issued photo ID (driver's licence, passport or government ID) or two pieces of government-issued non photo ID - birth certificate, health card. Youth aged 12-17 will need the same starting Sept. 18.

That could be a challenge for NWT residents, because getting access to photo ID is a costly proposition. Right now, people can only get drivers licence/government identification photos in 14 of the territories' 32 communities. Passport photos can only be taken in Yellowknife or Hay River.

Making people pay hundreds of dollars in airfare to have a picture taken is absurd.

Faced with greater geographical challenges than the NWT, the government of Nunavut has recognized it had to do something. It is spending $125,000 to train workers and purchase digital passport systems that will be set up in hamlet offices in all 23 communities.

As security requirements change, so should government services. The territorial government needs to talk to its counterpart to the east to find out how its program works and look to adopt it here.

It's not a lot of money to spend, but it will go a long way to ensuring NWT residents have the identification they need to be able to travel.

Let tourists make their mark

The territorial government has picked a senseless battle it can't hope to win.

Parks workers are constantly refurbishing the 60th Parallel sign visitors pass when they drive into the NWT from Alberta because tourists - and the occasional resident - have taken to signing it on their way by.

Since the dawn of humanity, people have felt compelled to leave their mark on the world. The more interesting the location, the bigger the impulse to let all those who will follow that you were there before them.

Canada's North is certainly one of the most exciting tourist destinations on the planet. Those of us lucky enough to live here may know the frontier days are long gone, but visitors to the NWT - especially first-timers - generally feel like they're one step removed from Alexander Mackenzie or Samuel Hearne.

Why discourage that? Let's create an acceptable spot for people to sign their names.

It would be an oversized guest book and at the end of each summer that portion of the sign could be swapped for a fresh slate and moved to a permanent display at the visitors' centre just a little further up the road.

People could look back over the years to see when their friends or relatives came to visit and a feel like they're part of a something special for having been to the North.

After all these tourists are very much a critical part of something special - our Northern economy. Let's not forget to treat them that way.

Funding cuts ground Nunavut's youth

It's looking like the only trips that Canada's federal government care about are ones to the ballot box.

Overseas experiences for young people in Nunavut, through the Northern Youth Abroad Program, are no longer worthy of funding from Ottawa. The Conservatives eliminated the federal government's $80,000 contribution to that program in late May.

This program isn't an extravagance. It isn't a lottery where some lucky youth get their names drawn from a hat and win an all-expenses paid vacation to a resort. This is a chance for hard-working students - they have to meet academic criteria to be eligible - to interact with people from Third World countries like Botswana. They learn about a foreign culture, different ways of life and how some of the world's poorest people survive each day. Not only that, they lend a hand.

Keith Irving, chair of the Northern Youth Abroad Program, points out that close to 95 per cent of Northern Youth Abroad alumni go on to become high school graduates. That's head and shoulders above the territorial average, which hovers around 25 per cent.

An argument could be made that it's the more gifted students that are attracted to Northern Youth Abroad. However, it's also conceivable that some of the 120 alumni blossomed as a result of the program. That is what guidance counsellor Simon Komangat said he has noticed. He's seen students return from Africa with more confidence, he said, able to give presentations to their peers, able to describe situations in places they knew so little about only months earlier.

Dianne Iyago, of Baker Lake, said the program helped her choose a career in nursing.

Many other alumni have spoken highly of Northern Youth Abroad in the pages of this newspaper over the years.

In his report on the state of Nunavut education, Thomas Berger cited the program as an example of success in creating mentors for the territory's youth.

That all lends much credibility to Northern Youth Abroad's positive influence. Unfortunately, that's not enough for the federal government. To date, the Conservatives have not given any indication that they are paying heed to Berger's recommendations at all (he also called for tens of millions more to improve education in Nunavut, particularly to bolster Inuktitut instruction).

These are the same Conservatives that slashed $17.7 million in funding to the country's literacy programs, anti-smoking campaigns and heritage projects in September. How is an area with one of the poorest literacy rates in the country going to turn things around without resources to help?

It's not too late to reinstate funding for all these causes. Politicians in Ottawa should be thinking long-term rather than the expediency of saving what amounts to a small amount of money in federal coffers. That money means so much more as an investment in the development and education of Nunavummiut.

My Rankin welcome

Editorial Comment
Christine Grimard
Kivalliq News
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

When I first stepped out of the airplane in Rankin Inlet two weeks ago, I must admit I was a little intimidated.

Coming from Ottawa, Yellowknife had been my big adventure when I moved up there last December.

However, a few days in Rankin Inlet has made me realize that my time in Yellowknife was hardly different than in any other Southern town.

With pubs, malls, dance clubs and even a movie theatre I had all the comforts of home, even if I was North of 60.

I was warned before I came here that I haven't really experienced Northern life yet, and to be ready for the adjustment.

Well here I am, and even in the second largest community in Nunavut I'm starting to understand how foreign a person can feel in their own country.

I'd like to thank the people who have helped me start to get to know what this town is about.

A weekend at Andrea Duffy's, with friendly visitors stopping by and a family that could not have been more welcoming, was a lifesaver to a stranger drowning in the unknown.

I was lucky enough to be in town when Adina was visiting, and shared some time with the sisters sipping coffee and working on paintings.

A friendly game of cards with a giggly group of ladies was also a great taste of home.

Having left a little bit richer, I'll be glad to meet up with you ladies again.

While I enjoyed a Sunday drive with Andrea out on the land, I must say that the excitement of my week was an invitation to go snowmobiling on the bay.

This may be difficult for people who have grown up on snowmobiles to believe, but it was only my second time on one in my life, and the first time I got to drive one myself.

What a wonderful freedom racing out on the Bay.

With no roads to define our path, we set out free on what turned out to be the only sunny night this week.

As my time here progresses and my job at the newspaper pushes me into the community, I'm getting to know Rankin Inlet a little more.

It's tricky trying to write my impressions, having hardly spent two weeks in this place.

I can say from what I've seen so far, I'm looking forward to getting to know it a little more.

I've been made promises of beautiful tundra, weekends on the land, hopefully some fishing and hunting as well.

As you read this, I have just five more weeks here before I return to Yellowknife and Darrell comes back.

Until then, I welcome any invitations to take part in whatever you can image.

From fishing to hunting, sewing to singing, I'm hoping you'll welcome me and show me what the true North is as about.

For the warm welcome I've received so far, I thank you all.

-- Darrell Greer, the regular editor of the Kivalliq News, returns July 16.

Support your neighbours

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
Friday, June 15, 2007

We've all been down and out in our lives, whether it be a bad day at work or just the blues.

The thing about feeling bad is that most of the time it can be fixed by performing a random act of kindness.

I feel the best way to do something good, is by affecting someone in a positive way.

I want Inuvik to extend a hand and help out the people who live here. We all chose to be here and we should do our best to strengthen our community from the inside.

There are plenty of good causes out there to give money to. You don't even need to give money, just your time.

I'm not advocating any specific charities or people. I just want to spread the word that there are people in the community who need our help.

Through whatever circumstances, we have people in this town who might need a hand making ends meet.

We have established a food bank and thrift store for those people who need assistance.

I think those services are great for aiding those who might not want everyone to know they need help.

There are also other groups of people raising money and resources. They might be a non-profit organization or the family of someone who was in some sort of accident.

The Inuvik Children First society is raising funds for their programming. This weekend they chose to bring in comedian Jimmy Flynn to entertain adults.

I like that because you get something from the donation. Not to say that you should always get something for giving, but I think it improves the chances of getting some cheddar from those penny-pinchers out there.

I will be in the audience for Flynn's performance. I commend the group for bringing someone who can turn a frown upside down.

Another good source of fundraising is unique events, like the upcoming "Wheels on Ice" challenge. Perform a task in a wheelchair. Sounds easy, but the smart money says looks are deceiving.

I'll also be in a wheelchair to prove I can step up. I hope I am joined by many well wishers for Chris Schab.

The Samuel Hearne sports teams have done a great job of fundraising as well.

While the track team chose to hold a car wash, other groups in the school have held in-house tournaments.

I took part in the volleyball tourney and it was a great time. Tons of people were out to support me (I think) and give for a worthy cause.

The best part of a tournament is that once you pay to get in, you have a full day of fun and exciting sports to watch. Perfect for those armchair athletes or parents.

I'm glad to live in a town where the people can band together and make things work for everybody.

Remember that your life can change forever in an instant.

Nobody asks for misfortune. Nobody asks for life-changing injuries. I wouldn't wish bad luck on anyone I know, and I don't want it to happen to me.

I hope I will never experience how it feels to lose something as precious as the ability to walk, and I support anyone who is struggling to make ends meet after an accident.

I hope that everyone reading this will take the time to give to a cause they find worthy because there are enough people in this community that we can make someone's life easier.

Local initiative on global problems

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
Friday, June 15 2007

Participants at last week's Dehcho Climate Change workshop took on a challenging role.

When it comes to overwhelmingly broad topics, climate change is right in there. The term climate change covers a wide variety of changes that are being caused by an equally wide variety of sources.

Heading into the workshop, Doug Ritchie, the program director of Ecology North, the organization that held the event, was up front with the fact that the topic of climate change is so big that people often feel overwhelmed by it.

"With climate change it's easy to be overwhelmed by the negative and the doom and gloom," said Ritchie.

Participants gathered around the tables in Fort Providence for three days, however, didn't seem fazed by the enormity of the problem they were looking at.

Taking it all in stride, participants went right to the heart of the matter - how is climate change going to affect the Deh Cho?

Divided into groups, they came up with long lists written on flip-chart paper. Many of the problems were uniquely Northern.

While climate change is raising temperatures globally it won't be the much discussed ice melt and resulting water level increase that will be the big problem in the Deh Cho.

As temperatures rise there will be increased problems with ice crossings and winter roads. Both are important to many communities in the region, especially Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake. Participants pointed out that with warmer weather the season for winter roads will be shortened, effecting the community's chances to be resupplied. Other problems will include weakening of the ice crossings and less safety on ice in general.

Other changes will come in the form of loss of permafrost and changes in animal species.

Having identified what the Deh Cho has to lose if climate change continues unchecked, participants also did some hard thinking on what can be done locally to help fight the changes.

Recommendations from the workshop included increased use of alternative energy sources like the solar panels in Jean Marie River and for each community to develop a community energy plan so they can assess where their energy is coming from and if it's being used effectively.

These measures might not seem like much in the face of the enormity of the problem, but the key is that they are a start and, more importantly, they are things that can be done locally.

As Ritchie stated, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the negative news about the size of the problem, but that shouldn't be allowed to stop individual communities and people from taking it upon themselves to work towards a solution.

The recommendations from the workshop will now be presented to the delegates at the upcoming Dehcho Assembly, in Fort Simpson, at the end of the month. Leaders will have the chance to provide feedback on the short-term goals.

Although the recommendations will be fighting for space and attention amid a variety of pressing local issues, it can be hoped that leaders will take the time to give the issue some serious thought.