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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - When asked about 2009 as the old year was ending, many Northerners voiced concern about the same thing - the economy.

Concern centres on the current uncertain economic times in the NWT and throughout the world.

Alex Tambour, an elder with K'atlodeeche First Nation, holds a New Year's greeting. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Terry Villeneuve, a respected elder in Fort Resolution, is one of the people worried about the economy.

"The downturn of the economy will affect many people, especially people with families," she said.

Villeneuve, who is a pastoral leader with the Roman Catholic Church, said the downturn will affect people in Fort Resolution and across the NWT.

She said Northerners really depend on the wage economy these days, not the fur industry as in the past.

"People depend on their pay cheques nowadays," she said. "In the past, they lived on the land."

Because people lived on the land in the past, Villeneuve, 69, said elders told her the NWT didn't feel the full effects of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Still, Villeneuve is hopeful about the future.

"I'm always optimistic," she said. "I don't like to be pessimistic."

On the Hay River Reserve, Alex Tambour is also worried about the economy, but is optimistic for 2009.

"I'm hoping for the best, I guess," he said.

Tambour, who works part-time teaching the South Slavey language and music at the reserve daycare and as an interpreter/translator, said he is not so much worried for himself as for others possibly losing their jobs.

Tambour said he would like to see more support from government for education and employment in the NWT.

"That's what's needed across our territories," he said.

Tambour said he hopes things will change for the better in the NWT.

In Hay River, the economy is also on the mind of Brenda Hall, executive director of the Growing Together program for children and families.

"What I am hoping for for the territories is our economy gets better and hopefully the recession won't affect the communities of the North to a large degree," she said.

Hall said, overall, she is hopeful for the coming year.

"People are pretty resilient and we adjust," she said.

Hall is also hoping things will improve around the world when Barack Obama becomes president of the United States later this month.

"There's so much hope with him," she said. "Hopefully, that will bring out the best in people."

In Fort Smith, Rev. Ann Bush of St. John's Anglican Church said she is hoping and praying for the economy to stabilize.

"I think the days when we could have anything we wanted are gone, she said.

Bush said that may be a good thing in some ways because western society is becoming too materialistic.

The downturn in the economy will help people see what's really important, such as sharing and helping the less fortunate, she said. "I think we're going to gain important insight on what's been lost."

In Enterprise, Mayor Allan Flamand is optimistic for his community.

Flamand said, in 2009, Enterprise is planning to start and finish a community centre, create a swimming and picnic area, and landscape its new hiking trail system.

The mayor also said a new business is considering opening in Enterprise and employing six people.

"We're looking forward to that being successful," he said.

Flamand is also optimistic Enterprise will benefit once the Deh Cho Bridge is completed over the Mackenzie River.

The mayor said it is hard not to be concerned about the economic downturn, but he believes Enterprise is in a good location on the highway to weather the recession.

"I think we're going to have a good year," Flamand said.

In the Beaufort Delta, leaders are speculating about the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP). With so many leaders getting good vibes about the project despite the recent hold up announced by the Joint Review Panel (JRP), one can't help but suspect that it is a full-blown premonition.

"This will be the year that we get the green light on the MGP," said Inuvik's Mayor Derek Lindsay.

He said he has a feeling it will happen before December, which is when the JRP has said it will release its report. Lindsay said he is hoping to hear the answer by June.

"We always look for some sort of announcement at the Inuvik petroleum show," said Lindsay.

He said the Inuvik Petroleum Show is always a good venue for making major announcements on the oil and gas industry, and he hopes to hear something from the federal government this year on the MGP at the show.

If not, he said the project should get a green light at least before next winter for the sake of the local economy.

"If we get a somewhat positive JRP report prior to next winter,

"I believe we will see exploration and activity happening again next winter," he said.

Tuktoyaktuk Mayor Mervin Gruben said oil and gas development is still looking positive thanks to the recent offshore leases by Imperial oil and BP.

"We're hoping that in 2009-2010 they'll firm something down and they'll start working up here," said Gruben.

Like Lindsay, Gruben thinks the JRP will finish its report before December of 2009.

"I would expect with all the pressure that's been happening with the JRP ... there is going to be some action."

In Fort McPherson, residents are also counting on the pipeline for some much-needed economic stimulus.

Fort McPherson's senior administration officer Mary Rose Tetlichi said she has high hopes for a pipeline green light.

"I would see a lot of our community members becoming employed and revenue being generated in our community.

"It would make a new economy for us," she said.