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Enforce the law on our streets Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, April 15, 2011
With a nod to the growing exodus of merchants leaving the downtown core, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce let it be known last week that Western Arctic candidates will have to support its demand for a rehabilitation centre if they want the chamber's backing in the federal election. The chamber joins Supreme Court Justice John Vertes and the NWT coroner's office in their pleas for a facility to treat the city's homeless addicts. A rehab centre may be of some help, but what the chamber fails to acknowledge is the proliferation of big box stores in Yellowknife's suburbs as well as online shopping's devastating effect on smaller city merchants, like those who would typically occupy Centre Square Mall - now largely vacant. It surely wasn't street people that caused the demise of CD Plus last January. Problems with downtown drunks and assorted hoodlums have been going on for decades - even when our downtown was economically vibrant - and will almost certainly continue for many more. From Yellowknifer's perspective - and we certainly have one considering how our newsroom faces a problem-plagued portion of 50 Street - the most immediate deficiency appears to be a lack of enforcement, particularly during daylight hours when businesses are open. Alcohol and drug abuse, fighting, and urinating in the street is something Yellowknifer staff witness through our office windows almost daily. It's not that there haven't been efforts made. With territorial government funding, the John Howard Society opened a day shelter on 51 Street in November 2009. As well, there's an established addictions counselling program downtown through the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. Both of these services help, but the constant parade of petty criminality persists in the downtown core. This newspaper has suggested before that the RCMP should conduct street patrols on foot and open a storefront location on 50 Street. Such a presence would go a long way to curb crime while assuring downtown shoppers and workers of their peace and safety. It would also be nice to see a revival of the Citizens on Patrol program, where volunteers report crimes to police. While a residential treatment centre seems logical, hardcore abusers are not likely going to participate unless ordered to by the courts - and most counsellors will tell you that treating someone against their will is extremely difficult, if not futile. Repeatedly throwing alcoholics in the drunk tank at the RCMP detachment may not sound compassionate, but the alternative is the situation we have on our streets now, and few people are satisfied with that.
Protecting what's important Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, April 14, 2011
While it may be hard for non-anglers to imagine, there are apparently a large number of fishers in Yellowknife and the surrounding area who have been eyeing the spring grayling run with covetous eyes. While those farther north are still waiting for the ice to melt off their lakes and rivers, anglers in Kakisa are enjoying free-flowing water and hungry grayling that are eager to bite. While the grayling are safe this year, the fear is that by next year when the Deh Cho Bridge is open Yellowknife anglers won't think twice about driving five hours to Kakisa to cast a line. More anglers will mean more fish out of the water, which will add further stress to the grayling that are already exhausted from their spawning trip. Some anglers believe the grayling population and future runs could suffer as a result, thereby damaging a world-class fishing site. What's being done to prevent that from happening is a testament to foresight and to the importance of locally driven initiatives. While most planners linked to the bridge and fishery regulations probably didn't think of Kakisa River when construction on the bridge began, people in Kakisa and fly fishers did. Both groups are doing their parts to protect something that is important to them. Kakisa has been using the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management program (AAROM) to develop and fund a customized program that allows them to track aquatic issues such as pressure from sport anglers. By using the program, Kakisa has already gathered two years worth of data about which types of fish are being taken out of the Kakisa River and the conditions in the river. This data will be supplemented by the creel count that a group of fly fishers have volunteered to undertake. The count will form a picture of what the grayling run looks like before the bridge opens. The information gathered between these two initiatives will allow both groups to determine if increased access to the site is having a detrimental effect on the grayling and give them a basis to demand changes to better protect the run. Kakisa River may prove to be a template for how other Deh Cho communities can use available resources and make partnerships in order to protect valued resources.
Inuvik Works important to community Editorial Comment Andrew Livingstone Inuvik Drum - Thursday, April 14, 2011
The sudden closure of the Inuvik Works program last week due to loss of funding, while said to be temporary, will be a blow to those who benefit from it - those who use the program and those who see the benefit. The program has been running for more than 10 years and has provided support to the community and its residents. Whether it be cleaning up garbage around town or helping with snow removal at an elders home, it was a much-needed service. Not only did it help elders and keep the town clean, it also provided residents - single mothers, low-income families, elders and people with disabilities - with the training or work they needed to live a normal life. Margaret Gordon, chairperson for the committee overseeing the program, gave the example of one individual in town who benefited from the program. Through training at Inuvik Works, the young man was able to procure employment and become a contributing part of the community - something she said he wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. Gordon said the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the town, along with the program committee, are working to restructure Inuvik Works to fit back into funding criteria with the hopes of getting it up and running again by summer. It's this effort to refocus the program that proves how important Inuvik Works is to helping those who are marginalized get the support they need to be a contributing part of society. By refocusing what Inuvik Works does, it will be more successful and help more people in the community. The loss of funding, while it puts a strain on the already successful program and the people it serves, is almost a blessing in disguise. Reinvention sometimes is needed to keep things fresh.
Running for community support Editorial Comment Andrew Livingstone Inuvik Drum - Thursday, April 14, 2011
Ultra marathon runner Alicja Barahona completed a 370 kilometre run from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk and back, getting into Inuvik on Sunday at 4 p.m. with about a dozen local runners who completed the final 30 kilometres with her. The effort that went into raising the money goes to show how dedicated people in the community are to making Inuvik a better place for everyone. It's these kinds of events that show how passionate people are about this town and what they are willing to do to improve the overall quality of life for those who might be falling through the cracks. Kudos to all involved!
Animal hospital abuse Yellowknifer - Wednesday, April 13, 2011
It is also the dumping ground of countless lost dogs and cats, many in desperate need of a home. The hospital adopted out 158 dogs and cats in 2009 alone. Faced with these stresses, it's not surprising that trouble arises occasionally, whether it be over a dog turned in to the pound and adopted out without the owner being aware, or complaints over expensive veterinary bills. Residents should take the animal hospital's plight into consideration before judging it too harshly. Many pet owners in the North are not so fortunate to have a 24-hour veterinary service in their community that also takes in strays and unwanted pets and find them new homes. At the same time, vet clinic staff should realize that forcing unhappy and vocal pet owners to make public apologies, as dog owner Jocelyn Christensen-Blondin had to do to get her dog back, does little to engender public sympathy. In any event, a wise policy was borne out of that situation. Now, the hospital instructs staff to tell people to come and check the pound themselves rather than trying to verify the status of missing pets over the phone. It's a welcome part in the evolution of this invaluable service to the city.
More forethought, more input Yellowknifer - Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Though public turnout was modest, the two recent town hall meetings councillor Paul Falvo organized to discuss next year's budget are a promising step towards better money management. Last fall, three councillors - Falvo, David Wind and Cory Vanthuyne - bemoaned the city's inability to shave a single dollar off its expenses, while property taxes continue to rise. They were then chided by Coun. Mark Heyck for not bringing up concerns over spending earlier in the year. Traditionally there have not been sessions for public input into the budget before the grinding process of reviewing the document prior to the vote. Though there was not much of a turnout for the two public sessions - no one came to the session on March 7, while eight people attended the meeting on April 4 - these talks at least get councillors thinking about the budget earlier in the year. More Yellowknifers should step up and attend these meetings as the more public input that's provided, the better council will understand residents' priorities. With property taxes having risen for several straight years, these town hall budget talks are an ideal venue for people in Yellowknife to let their elected officials know the best places to put their tax dollars.
Digging out roots and the ghosts of Liberals past Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, April 13, 2011Wednesday, April 13, 2011 If there's anyone who wasn't surprised by the choice of former Nunavut premier Paul Okalik as the Liberal's territorial candidate for the federal election on May 2, I haven't talked with them. And, many people I did speak to about Okalik's candidacy seemed to think this was not a good choice by the Liberal party. We'll see soon enough, but I wouldn't be too quick to write Okalik off. NDP candidate Jack Hicks showed his social background when he almost immediately announced he wasn't running against Leona Aglukkaq, the person. Hicks, apparently, is running against a Tory majority, which he sees as a severe threat to the North. It was a politically correct way of starting his campaign, and an attempt at winning Inuit votes by implying what a good person Aglukkaq is, but we'll see if that approach produces any results. Green Party candidate Scott MacCallum is also in the race for the Nunavut seat, but, pitted against Aglukkaq, Okalik and Hicks, will have to run the campaign of the century to come out on top. Okalik may not be too outspoken against Aglukkaq, as attack campaigns are rare in Nunavut. In fact, the last time some true political sparks flew in the territory was when Manitok Thompson ran as an independent in 2004 and threw a few zingers incumbent Nancy Karetak-Lindell's way. It may have been Nunavut's version of Manny just being Manny, but the aggressive campaign had her finish second to Karetak-Lindell and the Liberal party, which was no small feat for an independent candidate. What makes this election interesting is that Nunavut, historically, has deep Liberal roots that stretch back to the heyday of Jack Anawak. And, while Okalik does face an uphill battle to defeat Aglukkaq, frustration with the Tories on a number of issues may have those roots showing once again. Now, let's be brutally honest here. Okalik has let his tongue get ahead of his brain on more than one occasion in the past, landing him in political hot water. And he sometimes falls victim to wishful thinking, rather than accepting reality when it comes to the current capabilities of Nunavut and its homegrown talent. But he, among all the candidates, seems to have the best grasp of just how important it is for Nunavut to pour as many resources into education as it can find, beg, borrow and scrape together. And say what you will about the Liberal candidate, but Okalik is nobody's puppet. Should he ever represent Nunavut at the federal level, you can rest assured he would pursue the territory's interests relentlessly. It remains to be seen if Okalik has enough political fire left in his belly to run an effective enough campaign to defeat such a strong candidate as Aglukkaq. Perhaps one of the biggest hurdles he and Hicks face is the fear Nunavut would be left in the cold should it go Liberal or NDP and the Tories win by a majority. With the odds being better than average of the Baffin vote being split, a strong showing in the Kivalliq could be key to success in this election. And the Kivalliq just happens to be home to many of the ghosts of Liberals past.
Keeping the doors open NWT News/North - Monday, April 11, 2011
Last year the GNWT announced it would be changing the way it funds alternative schools, shifting from a formula financing deal to a per student allocation based on full-time attending students.
Principals in both Fort Smith and Hay River said the change would mean a loss of approximately $200,000 for each school, mainly because many of the students attending the school are not considered full time.
The alternative schools - often called storefront schools - provide services to students who work part-time or full-time, have children, or for other reasons do not attend traditional classes.
By that very nature funding the program based on attendance misses the point. Any program that attracts students back to the school system and has shown success at producing graduates should be embraced, especially in the North where graduation rates are low.
A funding review is a good idea and shows the government wants to ensure it is making the right choice in how it funds the schools. We hope, however, more is taken into account than the hours students spend at a desk. These are not conventional school spaces and therefore applying conventional funding formulae will likely fail.
Perhaps the schools can manage their spaces more efficiently but taking money away from a solid investment that is generating gains would be a costly step backward.
For years Dehcho First Nations and its members have criticized the territorial and federal governments for their lack of communication regarding issues affecting Dehcho citizens.
However, recently, Jean Marie First Nation came under fire from its band members for neglecting to consult with them on plans to protect traditional lands used for trapping and hunting near McGill Lake. For Francis Nahanni, who has a trapline and cabins in the area, the region has spiritual significance to his family due to ancestral burial sites said to be located in the proposed protected area.
Nahanni and members of his family say they are shocked the First Nation did not consult them on the proposal. They worry what turning the region into a park will mean for their traditional practices and if it will draw more tourists to the area.
Acting Chief Stan Sanguez says he is confused by the family's reaction and told Deh Cho Drum protecting the region will preserve the land as well as traditional land-use rights.
That makes sense, assuming the federal government doesn't steal subsurface mineral rights at the last minute as it did with Edehzhie not too long ago, but that's not the point.
The people using the area weren't brought into the process early on and now confusion and fear of the unknown have clouded the benefits.
Dehcho First Nations has always demanded to be informed when it comes to decisions involving its lands and with good reason.
It must do the same with its own members.
Festering wounds heal better if they're cut open and the poison drained out. It's not pretty, and it's definitely painful. But without intervention the infection may spread, and eventually kill.
The same goes for emotional wounds.
A key part of the 2007 Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement was the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to provide survivors and others affected by the schools an opportunity to tell their stories.
Children sent to residential schools were removed from their families for 10 months of the year. The experience was designed to remove all aspects of their culture. Some were also subject to physical and sexual abuse from those charged with their care, or from other students.
The commission has held hearings in six Northern communities so far, with 13 more to come.
As people attempt to talk about what they went through and how it has affected their lives, many are being revisited by the feelings of shame, worthlessness and hopelessness they experienced while in residential schools. Those who are not yet ready to talk about their experiences are also subject to sickening jolts of recognition as other survivors' stories are told in newspapers, on radio and on TV.
Commissioner Marie Wilson told Nunavut News/North last week that people who have spoken to the commission are consistently overwhelmed by emotion, even if they don't intend to be. She also said many of those who are now speaking up say they have never told anyone before about what they experienced and witnessed at the schools.
So it's unfortunate that these hearings are happening a year after the federal government decided not to extend the Aboriginal Healing Foundation's funding. The foundation's funding for programs in communities by Inuit for Inuit was essentially replaced by what's called "Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support" from Health Canada.
Had the government seen fit to keep community-based healing programs running for another year or two, residential school survivors and their families would have more places to turn to for help as they go through this painful process.
As it is, survivors' wounds are being cut open, but then they're being abandoned on the operating table with the healing process half-done.
For those in need of immediate help, the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Helpline at 1-800-265-3333 is available from 7 p.m. to midnight. There is also a 24-hour national residential school crisis line at 1-866-925-4419, with an Inuit language speaker available on request.
But a crisis line cannot help a person get back the cultural skills and the language they lost. Nor can it help an entire community bridge generational gaps in parenting skills and traditional knowledge.
Residential school survivors and their families have been given the opportunity to share their haunting stories. Now they deserve the opportunity to heal.
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